Chapter 11
LILY’S POV
I wanted to go visit my mother at the hospital but changed my mind after seeing how miserable I looked. It’ll only get her to worry about me and the last thing I wanted was for her to worry in her state especially now the doctor mentioned she was responding to treatment.
I felt like a lost puppy alone, lost and unsure of what to do next. I thought of going to the family house but after remembering Robert’s harsh words and false accusations, I quickly erased the thought. I wasn’t ready to see him again for now. I feared he might have told his family members I was on a mission to sabotage his company and steal it from him. They’ll see me as a bad person and might never accept me as a part of the family or worse, throw me out. I was already struggling to fit in.
Robert might use that chance to convince his grandpa that I wasn’t the right wife for him, that I wasn’t the good, decent woman he believed me to be. If he manages to do that and his grandpa believes him, then I was finished. That will literally BE the end of my existence. Not only have I lost my job but I will also lose the money that came with this contract marriage. I won’t be able to take care of myself and worse, cover my mum’s medical bills. I prayed silently that Robert wouldn’t make such a disastrous decision. But with the way Scarlett was controlling him and determined to kick me out of his life, I feared the inevitable.
After much thought and a long time walking under the scorching afternoon sun, I decided to settle at a bar. I couldn’t think of any other place to be. I would have gone to my apartment. But I didn’t want to be alone right now. I’ll only end up overthinking and doing something I might regret later. I couldn’t confide in my friend, Jane because she will be occupied with her family now.
This bar was the best place to be. At least, the sight of people drinking, laughing, trooping in and out will help distract me from my wrecking thoughts.
The bar was cosy, with dim lighting that made the space feel calm. Wooden tables and chairs were scattered around, and a long counter stretched across one side.
I settled at the counter and ordered vodka. I wasn’t an alcohol person. And I shouldn’t be taking alcohol in my pregnant state. But I have heard a lot of people say it fixes things. Let’s hope it fixes how badly my heart ached.
Soft music played in the background. It helped lift my mood and stay a little bit relaxed as I sipped my drink, occasionally glancing around to observe the faces around me. Most laughed loudly as they chatted with friends. A few were on dates and I could see some of them blushing like they were receiving compliments. Everyone seemed happy. Everyone except me.
I hadn’t taken more than three sips when someone moved a stool close to where I was and sat down. I looked to the side to see who it was.
He was a man roughly Robert’s age, dressed in a sleek tailored suit with a red tie and dark, neatly slicked-back hair. He had that same polished and refined CEO look like Robert. Everything thing about him seemed to remind me of Robert. In fact, everything about a lot of men in suits I have seen since leaving the office reminded me of Robert. It was torturing. I didn’t know if my mind was playing tricks on me but it needed to stop because it was slowly driving me crazy.
He ordered whiskey. When he noticed I was staring at him, he turned to look at me and said, “Hey!” with a broad smile.
Just by looking at him, anyone can easily tell he was the kind of person who smiled very often, evidential to his high cheekbones. It reminded me of Martin. That was the first time someone has smiled at me today and it warmed my heart a bit. Robert rarely smiled at me his expressions were always cold, angry, stern or serious. Even when he did smile at me, it was always amid family members, mostly his grandpa and the smile always appeared forced. Like he couldn’t wait to be free from me. Remembering all that made the little warmth in my heart fade away.
“Hey…” I muttered back to him with a forced smile and quickly continued with my drink. I wasn’t in the mood to get into conversations with anybody, much less with someone who looked like a billionaire CEO who reminded me of Robert.
But it was too late.
“I’m Noah,” he pushed on, doing his best to raise a conversation. “And you are?” He looked at me expectantly.
“Oh God…” I sighed inwardly in exhaustion. I didn’t have the time and energy for this.
I looked back at him and said as politely as I could muster, “No offence sir, but I’m just trying to have my drink in peace here.”
“Oh…I’m sorry,” he apologized with a nervous smile.
I had succeeded in wounding his ego. It made him awkward and feel a little less of himself though he tried to hide it as he smiled at the bartender who placed a glass on the coaster in front of him. He seemed like a nice guy but I just wasn’t in the mood for anything aside from having a drink today.
As the bartender poured the whiskey into his cup and also refilled my empty cup at my order, I could still feel his gaze on me. It made me very self-conscious and uncomfortable.
When I had just about enough of his creepy stare, I wanted to give him a piece of my mind before finding another spot. But he said something that stopped me.
“Looks like you’ve had a rough day,” he said softly as he glanced at me. “Trust me, the feeling is mutual.”
“And how is that your business?” Staring at him, I snorted and rolled my eyes in frustration.
I stood up, about to go find another spot when he stopped me by holding me on the elbow. I looked down at his fingers loosely wrapped around my elbow and back at him, amazed at his guts.
Seeing the look in my eyes, he quickly let go and raised his hands as if to surrender. “I’m sorry. I was only trying to help.”
“You can help by staying away,” I responded coldly in hostility.
But then he spoke quickly before I could turn and walk away.
“I know how it feels. Sometimes life throws us curveballs we don’t expect. Trust me, I have been there several times. But we shouldn’t let all that bad stuff drag us down. As long as we’re still alive, we’ve still got a chance to turn things around. Look at me,” a wistful smile spread his lips. “My wife of five years just asked for a divorce through text. But I try not to let it weigh me down.”
I stared at him in confusion, unable to understand why he was telling me something as private as that and how it would benefit me.
Before I could say anything, he brought his phone to my face, showing me the divorce text. I couldn’t help but lean in and squint to look at it.
It was a quite lengthy text with his wife telling him they couldn’t be together again. He kept asking his wife whose contact was saved as ‘My forever’ the reason she was asking for a divorce but she kept ignoring him.
Sighing as if left without a choice, I sat back down.
“I…I’m sorry,” I mumbled, looking at him in sympathy and regretting how I treated him earlier.
He put his phone back into his suit pocket and flashed a smile that hinted everything would be alright.
I couldn’t quite understand why he seemed unaffected. His wife of five years asked for divorce out of the blue without a reason. I’d be shattered if it were me.
I didn’t want to jump to conclusions. They were a couple. They might have couple’s issues I didn’t know about. But he seemed like a really great guy and I found it hard to believe anyone could have issues with him.
I also saved Robert’s contact as My forever just as he saved his wife’s. I wondered if my forever would be cut short too.
“So let’s focus on you now,” he said as he took a sip of his whiskey, wincing a little from the strong taste and focusing his attention on me. “What’s the reason for your rough day?”
I stared down at my drink, fiddling with the cup. I was unsure if I should tell him.
“You can tell me,” he said with a persuasive smile. “I told you mine and it’s not like I’ll go snitching around. After today, we’ll probably not see each other again.”
I half shrugged. He had a point. I had nothing to lose and talking to him about it might help relieve me of the weight.
“I was fired from work,” I turned to face him and revealed as briefly as I could. I didn’t want to go into details. I couldn’t bear the thought of him knowing that my husband fired me after being deceived by his ex-girlfriend. Just recalling it made my heart ache even more.
“I’m sorry,” he said, returning the sympathetic gaze I gave him.
We chatted for a bit and I quite enjoyed it. It wasn’t as bad as I had thought. Several minutes later, he got up to leave. I learnt he was on a business trip here in New York and was to return to Los Angeles where he stayed before daybreak.
“Here,” he handed me his business card as he got up to leave. “Let’s just say that luck has shined on you today. I’m starting an advertising agency in no time. Judging from everything you said and where you worked, you seem to have a lot of experience. I would very much like to have you as one of my employees,” he held my shoulder and beamed a reassuring smile. “Give me a call whenever you’re ready.”
“I will,” I nodded in relief, trying to hold back the excitement building up inside me.
He grabbed his coat and duffle bag and I watched him as he walked out the door. I stared down at the business card. I couldn’t keep my gaze off it. This is great news!