CHAPTER 104
LILY’S POV
The next day I went to work earlier than usual. I couldn’t sleep properly last night because of what Nana Mae had told me yesterday. It kept ringing in my head over and over again. I spent the entire night restlessly rolling around on the bed and going to the kids’ room to check up on them.
Was I feeling this miserable and angry because I was still in love with Robert? He was my high school crush, the only man I had truly opened my heart to, the man who took my virginity, the father of my children. Were all that truly the reasons I was finding it hard to forget him? Because of this unbreakable connection we share.
No…no…no… I was restless as I pushed my chair back away from my table where I was working on my laptop. I couldn’t focus on work. Since yesterday, I couldn’t bring myself to focus on anything. I can’t stop thinking of Robert and that stupid look on his face. He said he wanted to tell me something but I didn’t give him the chance. What did he want to tell me?
Fuck….! I gritted my teeth and ran my hand through my hair, unable to concentrate. I have to stop thinking this way. I have to stop feeling this way. I shouldn’t care about whatever it is he wanted to tell him because it’ll be no different from all he said to me nine years ago.
Nana Mae was wrong. There was no way I could still have feelings for that man. I don’t care about the connection we share. I’ll prove Nana Mae wrong by showing her his intentions for me are evil. And when she finally believes me, we’ll work together to get my revenge on him.
Though she meant it when she said she’d help me get my revenge on him if it turned out he wanted to hurt me again and take my kids from me as I could see the fire in her eyes. I didn’t know how she’d be able to do that. If I’m to get my revenge on Robert and make his life a living hell, I’ll need the help of someone richer and more powerful who can measure up to him. Someone like…. Noah.
Speak of the devil, he just walked into my office, his head lowered as he focused intently on his phone. The troubled expression on his face was hard to miss as if he’d just seen something deeply unsettling or offensive.
“Lily…” he grimaced in confusion as he looked at me. “Will Crawford, the chairman of the Association of Ad Agencies and the organizer of the meeting just sent me a text, saying neither of us was present at the meeting. He said you left even before it even started…”
I huffed out a frustrated breath, burying my face shamefully in my palms. I forgot to report back to him yesterday after the meeting. I knew this would hurt him deeply because he looked forward to this meeting. The company was ranked third in the ad agency rankings. It was important either of us were present for the recognition but Robert ruined that chance. I hate him. I couldn’t hate him more. Because of him, I’ll have to come up with an excuse to tell Noah. Noah will lose the trust he has in me and no longer trust me to handle important matters in the company.
“I don’t understand Lily,” he continued, seeking an explanation for what I did. “I told you I won’t be around for the meeting. As my partner, it’s your duty to stand in for me in important meetings like this. I told you about it. You said you’ll be there. How come this happened?…”
“I’m sorry, Noah,” I rose quickly, apologizing. “It wasn’t meant to be like that…I can explain…”
“There is nothing to explain,” he cut me off, annoyance and disappointment clearly written on his face. “If you knew you’ll run off like that you would have told me earlier so I’ll make other plans instead of lying to me in my face…”
“I didn’t lie to you…” I left my desk and approached him in a desperate plea. But he looked away, avoiding my gaze and still hurting. “I want what’s best for this company as much you do. I want what’s best for you too. I didn’t mean to run off like that. Something happened…”
“What happened?” He looked back at me.
I looked at him helplessly but quickly tore my gaze away. I couldn’t bring myself to tell him Robert was back and that he was the reason all this was happening. At least not yet.
“See, you can’t even say,” he scoffed in a mix of disbelief and disappointment. He started making his way to the door.
“It’s not like that, Noah,” I chased after him, trying to stop him.
“Then how is it exactly?!” He turned abruptly to face me, startling me with his raised voice and gruesome expression. Aware he was losing his temper, he pinched his nose bridge and let out a deep breath to calm himself. “Lily, you’re always keeping things from me and letting me down. I think we made a mistake getting this close to each other because it’s going to create problems for us at work. From now on, it’s best we keep our relationship professional.”
Blood drained from my face. He said I kept letting him down. Was he saying all that because I turned down his marriage proposal? Nonetheless, I liked the close relationship we had. I didn’t want anything to come between it and ruin it.
If our relationship was solely going to be professional that meant he wouldn’t be coming over to my place to see the kids and have dinner with us, no casual sex and worse, it would be harder to ask for his help in destroying Robert. This was bad. Really bad.
“I’m sorry, Noah,” I said genuinely. “I promise I’ll make it up to you. I’ll work twice as hard to prove myself. Anything you want.”
He didn’t say anything. He just sighed dejectedly and shook his head. Turning the door, he grabbed the handle and jerked it open only to nearly collide with the company security guard who was standing by the doorway. I didn’t get what he was doing standing there. Was he eavesdropping on our conversation?