The assistant secretary excused herself and closed the door to Gio’s office, leaving just the three of us.
All I managed was deep breaths. I didn’t know what to say. I couldn’t find the words I wanted to convey. All the things I had prepared to tell him earlier slipped my mind. My mind went blank when I saw Aleeza with Gio.
Perhaps they were here for a meeting or had something to discuss privately. Yes, that could be it. But no matter how I tried to convince myself, it hurt to see Aleeza beside Gio.
I looked at Aleeza again, and she raised an eyebrow when she noticed me staring at her.
“I brought some food. I didn’t have much to do in the office today, so I thought I’d drop by.”
I have a lot to do here, Millie. Aleeza and I have things to discuss.
Gio walked away from Aleeza and headed to his desk. He took off his suit and rolled up the sleeves of his shirt.
“S-Sorry, I just thought… I just wanted to, you know, be with you. I felt like I was begging for your time, and I didn’t want Aleeza to notice or realize that we’re not on good terms.”
“Oh, it seems you have a visitor,” Aleeza remarked with a condescending tone, making me look at her again. “Should I leave, Gio? We can talk another day-”
“No, Millie is leaving as well.”
I stiffened upon hearing Gio say that. I clenched my fist to control the welling emotions. Aleeza sighed and I saw her smirk, as if she was delighted by Gio’s words.
I didn’t want to give in, but I also didn’t want Aleeza to witness a fight between us. We could talk later, just the two of us.
I walked quietly towards the door without even glancing at Gio because I was annoyed with him.
“Loser, bitch.”
I halted as I passed by Aleeza, who said that loud enough for me to hear. I looked back at her, and she pretended as if no offensive word came out of her mouth.
I had reached my limit by that point. Besides what Gio had said, my blood had been boiling since they spent time together, and this was the last straw. I couldn’t take it anymore.
“What did you say?!” I confronted Aleeza and grabbed her hair in frustration. “Who did you call a loser and a bitch?”
“Ouch!” Aleeza yelled, but I didn’t let her go. I forcefully pulled her hair and made her face me. Gio and I had been clashing repeatedly, but I ignored him. This woman had pushed me too far.
I’m not a violent person, but I was seething. It had been building up since earlier. I knew she was enjoying our quarrels with Gio.
“If there’s a bitch here, it’s you!”
Aleeza was so wild that she inadvertently scratched my cheek. She was screaming and trying to make me stop. She grabbed my hand and scratched me back, but I didn’t relent.
“Enough!” Gio’s voice resounded in his office. That’s when I stopped and realized what I had done.
I released Aleeza quickly and stepped back. I felt the stinging pain from her scratch on my arm, but I didn’t pay it any attention because the emotional pain I felt right now was more overwhelming.
Aleeza was crying, but I couldn’t tell if it was genuine or fake because I didn’t have time to analyze it. Gio approached her and helped her stand.
“I didn’t do anything, Gio. She just suddenly attacked me.”
Gio didn’t listen to her, as he glared at me with intense anger in every fiber of my being.
“Gio, I didn’t mean to. She called me-”
“Go home, Millie.” Despite the calm tone he used, his words were sharp and piercing.
My lips quivered as I looked at Gio. My vision blurred because of the tears forming in my eyes. I shook my head at him, feeling disappointed as if I were the one who came off as the bad person here.
“I hate you, Gio. I hate you,” I mouthed and then rushed out of his office. I still heard him calling my name, but I paid him no more attention.
I headed straight for the elevator and broke down in tears when I was alone inside. I composed myself before going to my car and telling the driver to take us home.
I was furious. I was beyond angry. If I had known it would end like this, I wouldn’t have come. I’m making an effort here because I feel like I’m at fault with Gio. So, as much as I can, I want to make amends and prove that I haven’t done anything wrong to him. I’ve spent days justifying Gio’s actions and convincing myself that I’m at fault. I’ve been the one apologizing and humbling myself, but enough is enough. I haven’t done anything other than cry for days. I don’t want to do this anymore. Stop it!
As the car pulled into the garage, another car followed us and parked as well.
Gio got out of his car and walked towards me. I avoided him and hurried inside the house.
“Millie.”
I didn’t respond. I quickly went up the stairs and headed straight to the bedroom. If he wanted Aleeza, I wouldn’t force myself on him. I love him, but I’m not a fool. I love Gio, but I’m not desperate. I’m his wife, but he embarrassed me earlier. He didn’t even take my side!
“Amelie!” Gio called out to me, but I locked the door. I quickly secured the bolt so he couldn’t enter.
He knocked loudly and called my name, but I ignored him.
“Millie, open this door, or I’m going to destroy it!”
I pretended not to hear and let him rage outside. I was taken aback when I heard a strange noise coming from the other side.
My lips trembled when Gio broke the doorknob and entered the room.
He approached me quickly, but I didn’t back down. I pushed him away.
“Don’t come near me, Gio! Go to Aleeza! She’s the one you want to talk to, right? She’s the one you’re taking sides with, even though she’s the one who started why I confronted her!” Tears welled up in my eyes again, but I wouldn’t let any of my emotions hold me back. Whatever the outcome of all this, I would tell Gio how I felt. “I pursued you for days! I apologized to you! I explained that I didn’t want what happened, and I didn’t let Rory kiss me, but you didn’t listen to me! I accepted your anger, thinking maybe I deserved it. I gave you time, just as you wanted. But disrespecting me like that in front of that woman and taking her side is something I won’t accept!”