*Alejandro*
It took Andrea over an hour to come over. I felt restless during that period. I was torn between going to her house and waiting for her. I called her repeatedly, wanting her in front of me.
But now, as she stood in front of me, about to answer an important question, I held my breath.
For the first time, I was crying in front of a woman, and I didn’t care.
“You are already out of my life, Alejandro; you are married, and you have Nora and Lucas, your son, by your side; isn’t that what you have always wanted?” She wiped the tears streaming down her face with the back of her palm.
“Just answer the question,” I said softly. I didn’t need to be reminded that I was married.
“You are already out of my life, Alejandro; leave me alone.” She said, “You have your life now, and I have mine. Please stop whatever you want to do and stay out of me and my son’s life.”
Her response could only make me think she was avoiding the question. She couldn’t answer because she knew the truth would likely hurt me.
She has a life now; she has a son with Dave. She couldn’t wait to go back and meet him. The thought of that made me mad. I clenched my fist, jealousy burning right through me.
“It wasn’t enough that you dated my son, but you had to jump between my bed and Dave’s bed? I..” before I could complete my sentence, her hand collided with my face.
The world seemed to stop. I looked at her, surprised at her actions. She looked surprised too, like it wasn’t planned at all
She stared at her hands and then at me.
Her chest heaved up and down. Without another word, she walked out of the penthouse. I didn’t stop her this time. I couldn’t. I just allowed her to walk away.
After a while, I walked to the window and watched her as she walked out.
She didn’t enter the car even though the driver opened the door for her. She hailed a cab.
My chest broke into a million pieces. I was still astonished that she had slapped me, but I deserved it.
I felt like a jerk. I had said hurtful things to her.
My phone on the table vibrated.
I hoped it would be her; maybe she wanted to apologize for slapping me. But my hopes came crashing when Luca’s name appeared on the screen.
I didn’t answer the phone. I wasn’t in the right mood to do so.
I placed the phone in my pocket and walked out of the penthouse. I went to a club that night, drank in a stupor, and didn’t return home until dawn.
“Where have you been? I was… hmm, what’s that smell? You were drinking? Why would you?” Nora blabbered on and on, but I walked past her.
.
.
.
The following week, I tried all I could to ensure I thought about her less.
It wasn’t the best decision, though, but it was all I could do. However, this didn’t stop me from parking in front of Nexus company and following her car home.
As I pulled over a few distance away from her house today, I watched as her son Austin jumped out of the house and into her hands, hugging her.
I smiled; the scene was so beautiful. Although Austin was Dave’s son, I couldn’t hate the boy.
He did nothing wrong; he was too innocent to hate. I still wanted to be his friend and have those meaningless conversations with him.
I had a busy day the next few days. I walked through the sliding glass door with Jane trailing behind me.
I called an emergency meeting this morning after learning that a few directors were not pleased with our partnering with Nexus.
Everyone stood immediately. I stepped in. I took my seat at the head of the table.
“I’ll listen to just three reasons why working with Nexus is a bad idea. If your reason doesn’t make sense and doesn’t seem pleasing to me, then submit your resignation letter at my desk immediately.”
Everyone shifted uncomfortably in their seats.
I meant my word. I was the chairman of the entire company. No one would question my decision; if they dared question my decision, then I’d show them why I’m the boss.
The room became silent.
“Sir, I think there has been misinformation,” someone on the right finally said. He adjusted his glasses, pushing them up the bridge of his nose.
I kept my gaze on him, intentionally making him nervous, “what?” I asked meanly. I recognize him as the one who always has objections to whatever I propose at meetings.
He knew this was a sign to explain further, so he began, “When we heard of the patternersgip, we were puzzled simply because we were not informed. We had no idea. It came as a surprise to us. But since it’s on your watch, we trust it will do well. We trust your every decision,” others nodded in agreement with his words.
I smirked, “Good, if that’s what you feel,” I gagged their expression, “Then it’s perfectly fine. We should move to the next agenda.”
The meeting lasted over two hours, and by the time we were done, I was exhausted.
I had dinner with Jane at a restaurant. She must have read my mood, as she has been acting with caution around me.
Dave called me late that night. We were to launch a brand together next week. “My team will prepare the event to the best of their capacity; I simply hope you can cooperate,” he said in a professional tone.
I couldn’t quite place the type of emotions I felt toward Dave. If I say anger, that would be correct; he had the woman I wanted.
But within me, I knew jealousy was the right word to use for my emotions. It was slowly eating me away.
I tried to be professional. Although I tried to deny it, one of the reasons I have been pushing this meeting is because I wasn’t ready to face him yet.
I fear my face will give me away if I dared face him.
“Are you still there?” He asked.
“Yes. Sorry, what did you say?”
“About the publicity. I’ll handle that, too.” He said but I couldn’t agree with him on this.
“No. I’ll join in. It also includes my company.” It was enough that he handled all the planning of the event. I’ll take care of this with him.
After the call, which lasted over thirty minutes, I went for a drive.
As usual, I’d pulled over close to her house and watched her window.
.
.
.
It was the day of the event. As promised, Dave’s staff did a good job. I went earlier than I should have.
I wanted to see Andrea up close. She was a designer, so I was sure she would be here. Just as I thought, she was there, helping set up the designs’ posters patched at different parts of the hall.
I couldn’t help but wonder why she was doing such a menial job. She didn’t see me, but I had my eyes pinned on her all through.
When she playfully slapped a colleague, my hands found their way to my face. My mind quickly drifted to the night I had been slapped by her.
I knew I had to talk to her again. She regretted slapping me as much as I regretted saying those hurtful words.
I didn’t mean them; I had been consumed by so much anger and jealousy that I lost control.
It’s something that would not happen normally, but that day, I couldn’t help it.
“You came earlier than planned,” Dave said behind me.
“I had to see how everything is going,” ‘Because I don’t trust you fully.’ I didn’t tell him that, but he knew.
Dave nodded at my words. I groaned internally as I had to pull my eyes away from Andrea because of him.
“I called a few reporters not stated on the list we had both agreed on; I hope you don’t mind,” he said, and we started walking around and checking things.
“As long as they don’t cause trouble.” Seeing that he kept his eyes on me, I was sure he was here because he thought I’d want to speak to Andrea.
Maybe he knew because I doubt he was oblivious to the fact that each step we took brought us closer to her.
But on second thought, he could be doing that on purpose.
He wanted to taunt me, ‘Hey, here’s the woman you want, but you can’t have her.’
I gritted my teeth and threw him a dirty look.
The event soon began. Dave and I sat on the chair closest to the podium. When it was time to introduce the designers and their designs, I couldn’t keep my eyes away from the beautiful designs.
Reporter’s flash flooded the room, each trying to get the best take of the beautiful accessories.
One reason why this partnership we had was great was that it allowed the designers to present themselves to the public.
The reason was simple: if they can make more beautiful designs that are pleasing to the public, they’ll have more exposure, which will boost their careers.
Soon, it was Andrea’s turn.
Her eyes swept across the room, meeting Dave’s and then mine. Her smile did shake a little when she saw me.
I smiled at her; I was proud of her. There were more squeals when she unveiled her designs.
She bowed as she was about to leave the stage.
Something dangled down her neck as she bowed. I squinted my eyes. It may have been brief, but I recognize it.
Was my mind playing some kind of joke on me? I will recognize that necklace anywhere because I specially requested that design.
I wanted to be sure. I shook my head.
No, I was mistaken.
I tried to keep my attention on the stage for the remaining part of the event, but I failed. I couldn’t anymore.
I excused myself from the table. Dave glanced curiously at me but didn’t dare ask me anything.
I walked to the hallway I knew she would walk out from. I hoped she hadn’t left by now.
Fortunately for me, she had not left. I saw her walking down the hallway, a boutique of flowers in her hands.
She was with the same girl I had seen her with the other day.
“Andrea,” I called, and she raised her eyes to meet mine, surprise etched in them. Her friend had her mouth open in surprise, “spare me a moment,” I said. She couldn’t refuse as it would only make her friend suspicious.
“I’ll see you in a while.” She said to the girl who gave us the privacy we needed at that moment.
“You still have the necklace,” I noticed it wasn’t on her neck. Maybe she had tucked it in her shirt.
“What necklace?” She asked, avoiding my gaze.
“You know,” I was sick of her pretending all the time. She looked around.
“I don’t know what you are talking about, Mr. Costa. Now, if you’ll excuse me, ” she said and walked away.
I had my eyes pinned on her as she walked away. I didn’t want this to stop her, not with the many eyes around.
I lost focus on the remaining parts of the event.
Maybe it was time I truly let her go. Maybe Lucas should be the one here.
So I decided I’d apologize to her after the event and leave the city.
It was for the best.
……
I pulled over in front of her house. I stepped out of my car and stood in front of it for a while, considering her neighborhood.
She has a new life now, and it didn’t include me. Although it hurts, it was the truth.
It was time to finally let her go.
I stepped up to the slightly open door. I raised my hands to knock, but my hands stopped midway when I heard Alison say,
“Now that he has found the necklace, what if he finds out Austin is his son? You have to get rid of the necklace ’cause…”
Austin is my son?
I pushed the door open without knocking. “Austin is my son?” I asked, watching as both girls stiffened in their seats, staring at me with wide eyes.