Ray smiled and chuckled. Jimmy is angry and he might take it out on him for what he’d just said. “I meant to say, I’ll eventually make her my woman and she’ll be the only woman in my bed for the rest of my life”
Jimmy glared at Ray with a frosty stare. He had paraphrased his words to suit his ears but that is not the real content of his words earlier.
“Aurora is my sister and I don’t joke with my family. If you nurture a filthy desire in your heart against my sister, then don’t come anywhere close to her.
I’m saying this because if I find out that you only want to get between my sister’s legs and dump her like your numerous fleet of women, I will forget the rank differences between us and I will strangle you” Jimmy threatened.
Aurora must have been through a lot to make her nurse this hatred in her heart against men who want a relationship with her. The feeling of the past still taunts her that she wouldn’t say anything about Elsie’s father.
“You should know that I’m head over heels for your sister, Jimmy,” Ray confessed. Though what he is obsessed about, is something else. He really cannot say it’s love anyways.
Jimmy glared at him speechless, mainly thoughts crossing his mind per seconds.
In New Jersey , Adrian received a Pop up on his phone. He glanced at it, a conference was coming up and he had been invited.
He thought about it and would perhaps decide if he would go. He was already planning a vacation, to be away for a few months, and to calm his head and mind off work and other activities his life was revolving around.
Maybe he might attend the conference and then go elsewhere for some peaceful days to come. He just needed to be away to put those memories of the past behind him.
Next morning, Adrian got to the company and accepted the invitation, thereby reserving his seat. He got his things in order and informed Clem that they would be leaving for a trip the next morning.
He asked him if he’d been able to track Ms Luna and the latter said the woman had not been seen. She lives in that address but she hasn’t been home for days.
Adrian gave a shrug. He would find out more about her. Her name and information was already in his mail. But more than that, he wants to meet her again and ask her what she wants to say to him about his late wife.
He decided to visit Patrick that evening. Since he would be travelling, he wants to reconcile with him. Patrick Connor should accept him back as his friend.
When he arrived at Patrick’s apartment, the latter was shocked to see him at his door and he simply turned away from him and got back to his computer.
He hastily said “… I’ll talk to you later Aurora, someone visited” without waiting for the other person to say alright, Patrick hung up and disconnected his Bluetooth.
An uneasy feeling ran through Adrian’s spine. It appeared to him that Patrick was hiding something. His pale face when he saw him and the hasty way he shut down the computer.
He’s a CEO too but didn’t expect him to be so hasty. He shut the door behind him and came face to face with his friend. He saw how Patrick kept his gaze on him calmly so that Adrian felt happy.
“I’m sorry I visited unannounced” Adrian apologised but remained standing. He didn’t take a seat because Patrick hadn’t offered him one.
Seeing that Patrick was quiet, he continued “I missed you, Patrick. Let’s get back together. We’ve been friends from childhood and there’s virtually nothing you don’t know about me. You’re the only lasting friend I have from childhood.
I know that you are still mad with me because of Ava. You can say over and over that I was responsible for her death, I won’t deny it. But are you going to keep me at a distance because of that?
Ava is no more. Do you think she would be happy that we fell apart? That we ceased to be friends and it’s all because of her? Even if you knew little about my wife, you definitely know she has a beautiful heart.
The heart that expresses the pureness of her soul. I regret everything and I think I have paid a price for all I’ve done to her. I may not be able to pay in full in this life but I paid for it some way” Adrian paused, his voice choking.
Each time he talks about his life and actions to Ava, his emotions let loose like a woman who just discovered that her husband cheated. But he can’t help it.
The memories of it had refused to get faint in his heart despite the years that have passed. He can’t help himself but he wished he could.
Patrick just stared at him without a word. Everything he was saying doesn’t mean anything to him again. The pain he now feels doesn’t have to plunge his soul anymore.
“Do you even know that Ava was pregnant with my child when she died…” Adrian paused and sniffled, his eyes reddened. He lost his baby as well.
Patrick was dazed. Did Aurora say he didn’t know? Who says he didn’t know? But seeing Adrian’s looks, he looked away. How can he tell him that with his hands, he has carried his daughter?
“She was pregnant and she chose not to tell me. Everything was oblivious to me, and I didn’t know a thing until it was too late. I lost Ava, and my own child as well.
The last thing I want now is to lose my friendship with you, Patrick. These few years without you, Ava and my child seemed so empty and void. I need you back in my life, Patrick” Adrian stuttered.
The business grew. The company tripled in worth and assets. He has worked so hard these years and all he did was to silence that emptiness in him. He wants that void to be forgotten.
But he would always come back to it. No matter how he tries to run, his shadow would always be with him. This emptiness he feels is like his shadow, he couldn’t run away from it.
Patrick turned away. Adrian is in pain and no matter what happens, he still loves Adrian very much. Only the love for a woman can surpass what he feels for Adrian.
“But if you chose to prefer this estranged friendship, Patrick. I won’t blame you at all. I would respect what you feel and never bother you again. But I’m sorry about everything” Adrian concluded and turned to go.
Patrick didn’t even say a single word since he stepped in. He didn’t offer him a seat nor look at him more than a brief glance per minute. His body language has spoken loud enough.
He doesn’t want him. They can never be friends again and he would never come to him again. This is the end of the road, this is where their friendship ends forever.
He got back to the door and pulled the door knob when he heard his name.
“Adrian..” Patrick called.