SARAYA’S POV;
It was mid day and I still couldn’t concentrate at work. Throughout the meeting, my mind kept drifting back to what I’d seen this morning; Arlan and Matilda.
I picked up the landline on my desk and entered some digits. “Peter,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
“Yes, Ms. Newman?”
“Cancel all my appointments for the rest of the day. I… I do not feel great at the moment.” My voice cracked.
“I’ll do that ma’am. Do you need me to get you anything?” Peter asked.
I shook my head like he was in front of me. “Not at the moment, I just want to be left alone without any disturbance.”
“I’ll see to that, ma’am.” Peter replied before I ended the phone call.
Grabbing my tablet, I hesitated for a moment before opening the browser. My fingers hovered over the keyboard, but my curiosity won. I typed in Matilda’s name and hit the search button.
Her profile popped up instantly. The first thing I noticed was how perfect her life looked. Perfect hair, perfect smile, and, of course, an endless stream of pictures that made my stomach churn.
I scrolled through her timeline, my heart sinking with every swipe. And then I saw them. Pictures of Arlan and her scattered all over her wall.
There they were at the beach last summer, his arm wrapped around her. Another picture of them laughing at some party, completely oblivious to the world.
The captions made it worse: “Friendship and love, all in one person,” “Couple goals,” “The perfect pair.”
“They look good together.” I admitted before realizing how seamlessly the words had come out of my mouth.
My chest tightened as I stared at the images. I slammed the tablet down on the desk, the clatter echoed throughout the room. Turning my chair away from the screen, I buried my face in my hands and let the tears come.
“This is too much,” I whispered to myself, my voice breaking. “I can’t do this.”
I felt like the walls were closing in. I wanted to scream, to run, to do anything to escape the storm inside my head.
But there was nowhere to run. And no matter how far I went, the pain would still follow me since I had fallen so hard for him.
My phone buzzed on the desk, and I didn’t need to look at it to know who it was. Arlan’s name flashed on the screen. He had been calling all day and I don’t think he intend stopping anytime soon.
My heart clenched at the sight, anger and hurt swirling inside me.
I hesitated for a moment, the buzzing phone taunting me as another message came in. Part of me wanted to ignore it, pretend I didn’t see it. But another part of me, the part still aching for answers picked up the phone reluctantly.
Arlan: My butterfly, please give me a chance to explain everything that happened.
I let out a bitter laugh, the sound jagged and rough. “Explain what?” I whispered to the screen. “Explain how you ended up in bed with Matilda?”
I set the phone down, but it didn’t stop buzzing. Another message from him.
Arlan: I’m sorry, Saraya. Please just let me explain.
I stared at the screen, my fingers itching to reply, but I couldn’t find the words. What could I say? How could I respond to someone who’d betrayed me so easily?
“I won’t let you lie to me ever again.” I vowed.
*
I was in the middle of typing an email when a faint commotion from the reception caught my attention. I paused, my fingers hovering over the keyboard and my ears straining to make something out of the noise.
One of them was Peter’s and the other voice, deeper and sharper, sent an involuntary shiver down my spine. “Don’t tell me…” I said mid way and sprung up on my feet.
I walked to the door, pulled it open, and froze. “There he was.”
Peter was standing protectively in front of Arlan, his body language polite but unyielding.
Arlan looked… frustrated, his jaw tight, his gaze darting past Peter and his eyes fell on mine. The moment we locked eyes, my heart began to beat hard against my chest. I wanted to look away, but I couldn’t.
“Peter,” I said, forcing my voice to stay calm, “let him in.”
Peter hesitated like he didn’t hear me the first time.
“I said, let him in,” I repeated, firmer this time.
With a reluctant nod, Peter stepped aside and Arlan wasted no time, brushing past him following me as I turned and walked back into my office. I closed the door behind us.
I leaned against my desk, crossing my arms, and faced him. “And what do you think you are doing, Arlan?” I snapped at him.
He ran a hand through his hair and made a face that says he didn’t know what to do or say. “I needed to see you.” He said when he finally found his voice.
I raised an eyebrow. “And barging into my office was the best way to do that?”
He sighed, his shoulders sagging. “Look, I know I messed up, okay? But I need you to hear me out. Please.”
I stared at him, letting the silence in the room stretch. I wanted him to feel how disappointed I was. Finally, I said, “Fine, Mr Reef, let’s talk and get this done with. As you can see, I have a lot on my plate.”
“It was a mistake,” he began, his voice trembling. “Matilda came last night to announce her collaboration with Cartier’s, a contract she had been pursuing for sometime now, we were celebrating her contract. We had a few drink” He paused and shook his head. “Maybe we had too many drinks and somehow, we ended up in my bed. But nothing happened, Saraya. I swear to you, nothing happened.”
I laughed bitterly, the sound of my laughter sounded harsh even to my own ears. “Nothing happened? Do you hear how ridiculous that sounds, Arlan? You expect me to believe that?”
“It’s the truth!” he insisted, his voice sounded so desperate. “I wouldn’t lie to you about this.”
I shook my head, crossing my arms tighter across my chest. “You told me you and Matilda were just friends. But have you seen her social media? The pictures, the captions.” I felt my mouth suddenly go dry. “Arlan, you two could easily pass for lovers. How am I supposed to trust you when everything I see points to the opposite?”
His face twisted in anguish, and he took a step closer but I turned, looking away, promoting him to halt his tracks. “Those pictures mean nothing! She’s just… dramatic. She had always been that way, trust me, its not what it seems like.”
I wanted to believe him, I really did, but his words felt hollow. “And what about your actions, Arlan?” I asked, my voice trembling. “You say one thing and do another. You tell me I mean everything to you, but you keep putting me in situations where I have to question that. Why do you keep confusing me like this?”
“I’m an idiot,” he admitted, his voice soft, almost breaking. “I don’t know how to handle this, handle us. But I’m trying, Saraya. I’m trying because you mean everything to me.”
His words hit me like a punch to the gut, but I couldn’t let them sway me. Not again. Not without proof. “If I mean so much to you,” I said quietly, “then prove it. Say it in front of my father.”
His eyes widened, his breath hitching. For a moment, he just stared at me, like I’d just thrown him into an impossible situation. “Alex?” he repeated, his voice barely audible.
“Yes,” I said, my tone hardening. “If you’re so sure about what you feel, then say it to my father’s face. Because if you can’t even do that, how am I supposed to believe any of this? If I mean everything to you, Arlan, then prove it where it matters.”
He opened his mouth, but no words came out. The silence between us was deafening. I could see the struggle in his eyes, the hesitation, and it only made my chest tighten further.
“That’s what I thought,” I said, my voice breaking despite my best efforts to sound strong. “You can’t do it. You can’t even back up your own words.”
“That’s not it,” he protested, his voice hoarse. “It’s just-your father, he wouldn’t-”
“Don’t,” I interrupted sharply. “Don’t make any excuse for him like you’re making for yourself. This is about you, Arlan. About whether you’re willing to fight for what you claim to feel. And right now, all I see is someone who’s too scared to even try.”
His shoulders slumped, and for a moment, I thought he might cry. “I’m not scared,” he said weakly. “I’m just… I’m trying to find the right timing.”
I shook my head, a tear slipping down my cheek before I could stop it. “There is no better time than now, Arlan. You’re just making excuses.”
I turned away from him, not trusting myself to look at him any longer. My voice came out barely above a whisper. “I think you should leave.”
He hesitated but that only made me angry. “Mr Reef, as a respectable member of board, I’m sure you don’t want me calling the security to walk you out.”
Finally, I heard the sound of the door opening and closing behind him. The room fell silent, save for the faint hum of the air conditioner.
I sank into my chair, burying my face in my hands. “How does it hurt so much?” I couldn’t help but ask.