Dimitri was angry when he received my application for an indefinite leave of absence. He screamed at me, but in the end, he ended up apologizing. As much as he wanted me to stay in the company, I believed I needed enough time to rest.
“I can allow you to take an extra day off,” he negotiated with me, and I smiled at his return.
“I’m sorry, Boss, but my decision is final,” I informed him. When Lance proposed rekindling our love affair, I was hesitant to agree to give it another try. However, he explained that we both had a grudge on what happened in the past, and we couldn’t move one. He convinced me that the only way to break free from the bondage of our past was to check if we remained compatible. I knew it was risky, especially on my part, but I also wanted to break free. I wanted to be free from our dark past.
“Alexa, please,” Dimitri pleaded, but nothing could alter my decision.
“I’ll be back soon if the position is still available, of course.”
“It will always be open for you. Are you sure that you’re going to do this?” He inquired.
I just nodded my head in response.
Later in the afternoon, Dimitri announced my indefinite leave, and everyone was shocked to hear it. We have been together in the company for the past five years, and it was hard to part from them. However, I had to do it.
“Why it’s so sudden?” Layla asked.
“Personal matters, Layla.”
“Is there anything we can do to stop you?” Dimitri asked.
“I’m sorry, but there’s none,” I admitted the truth.
“Alright. Suppose that’s what makes you happy, Alexa. Just don’t forget that we are just here and will be waiting for your return,” he said before going back to his office.
As soon as Dimitri left, Layla cornered me into a private conversation. “What’s the matter? Did you have a fall out with our boss?”
“What are you talking about, Layla?” I was confused by her inquiry because it didn’t make sense at all.
“We assumed you’re in a relationship with our boss,” she confessed.
I knew it was only a rumour, but somehow, I was offended at the way my colleagues think of me. Dimitri could be technically single, but the man was still mourning for his ex-wife. He may become naughty sometimes, but it was not a secret that he hasn’t moved on from his former wife.
That day, before going home, I cleared my name with the rumours, and everyone came to apologize for their wrong assumptions. Of course, I forgave them. When I got out of the building, Lance was waiting for me. I knew I was impulsive, but I wanted to take a risk for the last time.
“I’m sorry if I kept you were waiting,” I apologized, and he just smiled.
“It’s not an issue, Alexa. Ready?”
“Yes,” I replied, and then he assisted me in getting inside his vehicle, and soon, he drove away.
A few minutes later, Lance entered shyly in our modest unit, and he couldn’t look at my mother in the eyes. He was probably embarrassed or scared. It was his idea, so I didn’t bother to defend him when my mother got angry.
While she lectured Lance in the living room, I was busy in the kitchen preparing for our dinner. On our way home, I suggested that we order takeout, but he insisted that I cook for our dinner.
Maybe, I was possessed with a bad spirit because I agreed to it, even if my skills in cooking were limited to fried fish and sautéed vegetables. While I was in the kitchen, I could hear some tidbits of their conversation, but I was terrified to eavesdrop on them.
When dinner was almost ready, Lance entered the kitchen, and he smiled at me as if nothing happened in the living room. “How was it?” I inquired because I wanted to know everything about his conversations with her.
“She warned me that regaining your trust would be difficult,” he said, and I remained silent on the subject.
“She was correct,” I agreed with my mother.
“Don’t worry, Alexa. It’ll be fine. Take your time because I’m willing to wait,” he promised.
It was awkward during dinner. My mother was torn between kicking the guy in his shins and smiling at him. I could relate to her trouble because, after five years, she came face to face with the man who caused my father’s death.
Well, I couldn’t just blame Lance for everything that has happened because, in the first place, it was me who broke their trust. It was me who trusted the wrong person. It was me who fell in love with a heartbreaker. It was me who allowed Lance to take me into his bed.
“Why do you have to leave now? You can wait in the morning,” my mother suggested after Lance announced that he should sail to his island right after dinner.
“It’s for our safety, Mama.”
“I don’t know how long you are going to stay with him on the island, dear, so I’ve decided to go back to the province for the time being. It’s boring to be alone at home,” she said.
“I’m sorry, Mama.”
“It’s alright, darling. You don’t have to worry about me, alright? And you! Don’t you dare hurt my daughter again, or I will spit in your grave!”
“Don’t worry, Mama,” Lance said, and I gaped at him for being a brute.
“She’s not your Mama!” I told him.
“Soon, she will be.”
I opted to keep quiet with his stubborn attitude and let him believe that we have a bright future together. “Will you be fine, Mama?”
“Don’t worry, darling. I wish you luck on your trip,” she said.
As per our agreement, we left after dinner, and I was kind of sad upon leaving my mother alone in favour of Lance. However, I couldn’t back out anymore. Everything was decided, and it would be the last time I’d be willing to take a risk.
I thought I would catch a glimpse of Liam in their yacht, but Lance’s brother was out of the picture. My eyes have been searching for him as we sailed in the waters, but Liam Salcedo was not in the yacht.
“Are you disappointed that he’s not here?” Lance appeared out of nowhere and asked me.
“Oh, you must be talking about, Liam. Sort of,” I admitted.
“He’s engaged and probably with his girl right now,” he stated.
“He never mentioned anything to me,” I complained.
“Why should he?”
“Oh, nothing. I just assumed that we were friends,” I mumbled.
The ocean was dark and scary at night, but being with Lance, made me feel safe. Yeah, that’s right. I felt safer with him, and I scolded myself for being silly. Discreetly, I distanced myself from him and stayed at the upper deck until we reached his island.
Lance didn’t bother me too, and he probably understood we were stuck with each other, and it was because of the stupid game when we’re drunk! Hmmm, not really drunk but tipsy! We agreed to test our compatibility one more time! I was bound to lose because my heart has belonged to him ever since, but I ended up taking a risk.
“Are you ready to act as my wife?” He inquired as soon as the yacht left from the island, and it was just the two of us.
“Pardon?”
“My wife,” he announced, and then he lifted me and carried me into his shoulder until we reached the villa.
“You’re talking nonsense,” I reminded him.
“Just give me enough time, Alexa, and soon I’ll be able to prove my love and devotion to you,” he announced.
“Just shut up, alright?” When Lance put me down, I thought it was over, but he suddenly informed me that we would be sharing a room. “Aren’t you abusing your power now?”
“So what if I am?”
“Crazy,” I hissed at him.
“I’m crazy about you,” he said, and I just rolled my eyes at him.
When it was time to take a rest, I didn’t put up a fight when we settled in his room. We agreed to give it a try, so I wanted to give my all to prove to him that there’s no future for us.
In bed, as we lay side by side, he repositioned my blanket and kissed the top of my head. “Have some sleep now,” he whispered before he placed his arms around me.
“Is this necessary?” I complained.
“Of course! We have to check if we are just horny for each other, or it was deeper than that,” he reasoned out.
“Then, goodnight,” I told him.
“No goodnight kiss?” He toyed with me.
Quickly, I turned around to kiss him goodnight. It was just a brief touching of my lips towards his cheek. There was nothing sexual about it. Deep inside, I wished he would try something funny or naughty so that I would tell him that it was only about sex and nothing special.
A few minutes later, I heard him snore beside me, and I had no choice but to go to sleep.
I had no idea how long I had slept, but the unfamiliar surroundings made me feel disoriented when I woke up. When I looked around the room, I realized I wasn’t in my condo unit any longer.
“Hello, there! Have you had a restful night’s sleep? ” Lance inquired as he carried a tray of food towards me. “Breakfast in bed!” He announced.
I shook my head, unable to believe he could be shady at times. I told him, “You’re a lot more crafty than I imagined,” and he just laughed.
“I understand, but you need to stop talking right now and eat your breakfast,” he said as he sat beside her bed with the food tray. He offered, “Let me feed you with this magnificent meal,” he announced.
It was just a congee, for heaven’s sake!
“I’m not an invalid, Lance,” I protested, but Lance was adamant and insisted on feeding me the porridge he had prepared.
When he brought the spoon near my mouth, I was forced to open my mouth because he assured me that it wouldn’t take long. After I took a spoonful of the porridge, he said, “Good girl.”
He gave me a book to read after he fed me my breakfast and then excused himself to take care of something important. I was curious about what he was up to as he walked away. Lance was not someone who let go of something once he bit it, even though I only knew him for a short period of time.
I occupied myself with the book he left me while he was gone, but he was on time with a food tray when lunchtime arrived. The delicious aroma of the food made my stomach growl as soon as he walked into the room.
“Please stop feeding me with a porridge!” I complained, and he burst into laughter.
“I bet that you want to cook something delicious, right?”
I rolled my eyes at him because most of the time, he was childish! He acted so carefreely and playful as if he had no empire to run!
“What’s the matter, what’s the matter?” When he noticed my eyes were filled with tears, he inquired.
I was also perplexed as to why I had become so emotional, and the strong woman in me wanted to withdraw for the time being. I continued to shake my head and refused to talk to him, but he was persistent!
“Baby, what’s the matter with you?”
“Gotcha!”