55

Tomas.
She squirmed in my grasp, frantic and pleading. “What?! Please, no! Stay away from me!” Jennifer screamed, her small hands desperately trying to push me away, panic clear in her eyes. Her body was slick with sweat, her cheeks flushed from a mix of fear and humiliation. I could see the terror in her eyes, and it sent a shiver down my spine, igniting something primal within me. I enveloped her hands in mine, holding her firmly yet feeling the trembling beneath her skin, the delicate pulse of her fear coursing through our connection. In a swift motion, I tossed the towel aside, exposing her vulnerability to the dim light of the room. I watched as she tried to sit up, attempting to cover herself, but I lifted her effortlessly, throwing her onto the bed before jumping on top of her.
She struggled against me, but it was futile; escape was impossible. I began kissing her neck ferociously, pinning her hands above her head, my body pressing against hers, parting her legs slightly as I captured her lips in a fierce kiss. I could see tears streaming down her cheeks, her breath coming in ragged gasps, each one a reminder of the conflict raging within us. I narrowed my eyes, pulling my head back to stare deeply into her face, searching for any sign of the woman I knew, the woman I thought I was close to.
“I thought you wanted me!” I said, clearing my throat, the words sounding harsh even to my own ears, echoing in the tension-laden air, laden with unresolved emotions.
“Not like this, Tomas! I always dreamed of my first time being romantic, not forced! Do you even understand the difference between making love and just having sex? Have you ever considered my feelings at all? You want to take everything from me! I’ve already lost my dignity after what you did-throwing me into that dark place, beating me! Do you remember that day, Tomas? You almost killed me! Do you even trust me at all?” Jennifer sobbed, her voice rising in a crescendo of anguish, each word a dagger aimed at my heart, piercing through the walls I had built around my feelings.
I released her hands, stood up, and retrieved the discarded towel from the floor, sitting beside her on the bed, offering it to her as a fragile peace offering. “Jennifer, you’re right. I guess I forgot you weren’t mine anymore. I guess I forgot how to apologize to the woman I love,” I said softly, my voice laced with regret and longing. I turned to her, gently wiping away her tears with my thumb, feeling the warmth of her skin against my hand, the softness of her features contrasting with the turmoil between us. “I’m sorry, Jennifer, for not trusting you. I’m sorry for hurting you. I’m sorry for shattering your feelings. I’m sorry for never telling you that I love you,” I confessed, my heart aching as I leaned down to kiss her forehead tenderly, hoping to convey the depth of my remorse.
“Jennifer, I wasn’t sure I loved you until everything that happened, until you came back into my life! But I promise I’ll do everything I can to make you forgive me, to deserve your love,” I told her, my voice sincere and filled with determination, an urgency coursing through me. I stood up, preparing to leave, hoping to give her space to process everything, to think without my presence overwhelming her.
“Tomas!” she called out, her voice laced with a desperate plea. “Please, close the door and come back here.”
“What?” I asked, my eyes widening in surprise, not fully grasping her request.
“At least let me sleep next to you, close to you. I want to hug you. You were wrong, Tomas, but I want you more than anything. I even got jealous when I saw Amanda and your child. I envied her because she has a part of you. Can I have one too?” Jennifer smiled nervously, her eyes shining with unshed tears, her vulnerability drawing me back in like a moth to a flame.
“I don’t understand. What do you mean, ‘a part of me’?” I widened my eyes, taking a few steps closer before sitting on the edge of the bed, my heart racing as I stared at her, trying to decipher her intentions, the weight of her words settling heavily in the air.
“Can I have a son with you, Tomas? Even if we aren’t married, I know I’ll never love another man! I love you more than air itself! I deserve to be a part of your life forever. Can you give me that chance?” Jennifer asked, her voice soft and sweet, each word wrapping around my heart like a warm embrace, igniting a flicker of hope. My hand flew to my chest; I could hardly breathe, my gaze locked on hers, filled with a mix of hope and fear. I leaned in, kissing her lips softly, a long, loving kiss that felt like a promise, an unspoken vow hanging between us.
I pulled back, playing with her hair gently, feeling a connection that was both exhilarating and terrifying. “Jennifer, I think we should wait. I don’t want you to regret this decision,” I said, but she pushed me away, kicking me fiercely in the legs and sending me sprawling to the floor, my mind racing in disbelief.
“What? Are you crazy!?” I shouted, my eyes narrowed in disbelief, confusion swirling in my mind as I tried to process her sudden aggression.
“You want more time; you don’t want Amanda to get angry about our relationship! Then go back to her! I’ll make you regret this, Tomas! Just wait and see!” Jennifer threatened before running to the bathroom and locking the door behind her, her defiance echoing in my ears.
“What did she mean, ‘make me regret’?” I muttered, leaving the room, my mind racing with possibilities and scenarios. Amanda was waiting for me in my room, her expression a mix of concern and annoyance. I pushed her out, locked the door, and went to the bathroom, stripping off my clothes in a fit of frustration. I filled the tub with cold water, sitting there, hoping the chill would numb the chaos in my mind. As I sank into the icy water, I thought about crazy Jennifer and tried to make sense of what she’d said. Jennifer had so many secrets! Could she be hiding something else? She was like an unsolvable puzzle, a beautiful enigma who could make me feel both burning desire and icy dread.
I wondered if she was going to make me jealous again, the thought sending a wave of anger through me. I could feel it-someday, I would kill that girl. She was the only woman who could make me feel such extremes. I mumbled to myself, whispering into the silence of the bathroom, hoping for clarity and resolution.
A few minutes later, Carl knocked on my door, asking for permission to enter.
“What, Carl?” I opened the door, looking at him, my irritation barely concealed.
“Um, Mr. Tomas! Jennifer!” Carl stammered, his face etched with concern, his eyes darting nervously, as if he were afraid of what he might say.
My eyes widened. “What about Jennifer!?” I yelled, my voice sharp with anxiety, my heart racing as dread filled my chest.
“She’s going to a film shoot,” Carl said, his tone serious, the weight of his words hitting me like a punch to the gut.
“What do you mean, ‘film shoot’? Explain yourself, Carl!” I demanded, my frustration building, a storm brewing inside me.
“Well, sir, you know Jennifer is a journalist. She wrote a script for a movie, and the producer asked her to be an actress. In fact, she’s the lead role. She told me a few days ago, but I thought she’d told you. But from our expressions now, it seems she kept it from you. The problem is, she’ll be staying at the lead actor’s house, and he’s a very famous, rich, and dangerous playboy. And she already signed the contract,” Carl explained, and I gaped in shock, disbelief washing over me like a tidal wave.
“She did all that without telling me or asking for my permission!? Okay, then call the producer and cancel this contract, pay them whatever it takes to cancel…” I commanded Carl, my voice rising with anger.
“No, sir, we can’t this time. They’ve already shot a couple of scenes, and I’ve already tried, but he refused, saying the actor wants Jennifer! He even told me he thinks the actor is in love with her!” Carl informed me, his expression full of concern, his eyes wide with the gravity of the situation.
“What the hell are you saying!? Actress! And the actor loves Jennifer! This woman is driving me insane! I know she’ll push me to the edge, unleash my inner monster. Someday, I’ll kill her with my own hands!” I ground my teeth, my voice low and menacing, each word filled with barely contained rage, the darkness within me threatening to surface.
“So what do we do now, Mr. Tomas?” Carl asked, raising his eyebrows, his expression cautious, as if he were afraid of my next move.
“I’ll stop her from going,” I said, and I stormed out of my room, determination fueling my steps.
“Wait, Tomas, she’s already left!” Carl informed me, his voice urgent as he tried to catch up with me. I kicked the door in frustration, spinning around to face him. “She left! Without telling me! I’ll make her life hell from now on…” I yelled, my rage barely contained, a tempest brewing inside me.
“But I have something else to tell you, an idea!” Carl said, his voice steady, a glimmer of hope in his eyes.
“What, Carl? Tell me!” I moved closer to him, my attention captivated by the possibility of a way to regain control.
“Do you know who else is in this movie? Selena! What a coincidence! Maybe you could ask for her help,” Carl informed me, his tone optimistic, his enthusiasm contagious.
I put my hands on Carl’s shoulders, feeling a surge of determination. “Yes, that’s a good idea. And Selena is the only person who could make Jennifer jealous. She’s beautiful and famous, and she loves me very much. What makes Jennifer fear her is that Selena knew me years ago, and she’s actually the only one who knows my true personality,” I said to Carl, a plan forming in my mind, the pieces of my strategy falling into place. I walked to my room, the thrill of revenge electrifying my senses. I stopped at the door and turned back to Carl. “Hey, Carl, get ready. We’re going to join them. Call the producer and tell him I’m investing in this movie.” I said, my voice steady with resolve, a sinister smile creeping onto my face.
“Now let’s see who makes the other jealous, Jennifer,” I murmured, a dangerous glint in my eyes, the thrill of the impending confrontation igniting a fire within me, propelling me forward into the chaos of my desires.