“Sorry,” he repeatedly said as we were riding in the car towards Khalifa Hotel. “I promise I won’t mention anything about what might have happened between you and Brent before,” Samer said.
“Nothing happened, I told you! Why are you so stubborn?” I shouted at him because he didn’t understand that Brent didn’t touch me. I kept explaining, but he kept bringing up that day.
“Sorry,” said Samer.
“You keep saying sorry, but you’re not sincere,” I told him.
“It won’t happen again,” the man promised.
“I hope so,” I said to him. “But is it really difficult to believe that nothing happened between me and Brent?” I asked because I wanted to know why.
“Honestly, yes,” he answered.
“I guess I’m not the only one with trust issues between us,” I said.
“You’re right,” he replied.
“You have options, you know. You can choose to believe me or not, it’s up to you what weighs more in your heart,” I said to him, so he wouldn’t have a hard time making a decision. “You’re still under probation in my heart, so there’s still time for you to change your mind,” I said.
“If only I could live without you,” the man replied.
“You managed to do that for a few days,” I said. “It’s also unfair to me that I have to keep explaining myself without any evidence,” I added to my earlier statement.
“Park the car for a moment,” he requested.
“Why?” I asked.
“I just have something important to say,” he said seriously, making me nervous. What if he decided not to pursue me?
“Do you not want me anymore?” I asked him as I parked the car by the side of the road.
The man shook his head. “I just want to tell you that no matter what happens, there will be no leaving.” Samer promised.
“You can promise me that after you’ve completed your tasks within thirty days. Until then, we’re still not sure if we’re really meant for each other,” I said.
“Consider it done, Jamie,” Samer replied.
I smiled at what he said because it seemed like he already knows my true feelings. I think I’m at a disadvantage again!
“Let’s see,” I said and started the car again to reach our destination.
“Here?” The man’s voice raised when I parked the car in front of Khalifa Hotel.
“Yes, here,” I replied.
“Why?” He asked.
“Because Kate works here,” I said to him.
“Kate is the one you are meeting with? Why?” He inquired.
Perhaps he was afraid that I’d cause a scene right in the hotel that belongs to him. When I got out of the car, I walked into the hotel quickly because Kate had been waiting for me for some time.
As soon as I entered the lobby, I immediately saw the woman who had been waiting for me. Kate is undeniably beautiful from any angle. Just like our first meeting, she wore a red summer dress. When the woman walked towards me, I was amazed by the slit in her dress. I could almost see the color of her underwear, why would she do that? It’s like she’s trying to show off her smooth skin.
“I’m glad you kept our agreement,” Kate said and motioned for me to follow her to the waiting lounge.
The way the woman acted, it was like she owned the entire hotel, and when she ordered the staff to get us coffee, she did so imperiously. Well, she’s used to the life of a lady, so sometimes she’s inconsiderate of other people’s feelings.
“What are we going to talk about?” I asked her.
“I’m pregnant, and Samer is the father,” Kate said.
I couldn’t speak. I just stared at the woman in front of me, trying to absorb what she said. She’s pregnant too? My hands grew cold upon learning the news, and I squeezed them to stop them from trembling.
“Are you sure Samer is the father of your child?” I asked her because I couldn’t let her deceive him like how he deceived me. I almost bit my lip as I looked towards the entrance to see if he arrived. Where is he?
“I’m sure,” Kate insisted.
“You also have a boyfriend, Kate. Who knows who really got you pregnant?” I said to her, but deep in my heart, I really wanted to believe what she said. Would she lie when the truth will eventually come out? After all, a pregnancy can’t be hidden.
“And what do you want to imply? That I’m the type of woman who sleeps around?” she retorted, but instead of glaring at me as she usually does, she suddenly burst into tears. “Did I hurt you? I’m just telling the truth!”
“You’re a woman too, Jamie. You know how much I love Sam,” she said in a tearful voice.
“I know because I love him too,” I replied.
“Just leave him to me,” Kate pleaded.
I raised an eyebrow at her words. What does she think Samer is? A toy? That’s when I got angry and slammed the table. Her coffee cup flew and broke when it hit the floor. I know people are already looking at us, but I don’t care.
“Shut up!” I warned her as I was itching to slap her left and right.
“Have some pity on me. I just want us to be complete as a family,” Kate continued to plead with me to let Samer go.
“Did you think about that before you left him? You’re so selfish, Kate.” I said. “Just because the one you replaced him with failed, you want to go back to him immediately,” I said, shaking my head because it’s hard to believe that there are women like her. Wow, intense!
“I love him!” she insisted.
“I’m the one he loves now,” I confidently answered because I can feel from Samer’s actions that he loves me. “Do we really have to reach this point? I hope not because I don’t want your children to be affected,” I told him.
“You’re the one who doesn’t understand! I’ve talked to you several times to just let him go, but you won’t give in!” Kate shouted and immediately raised her hand to slap me.
“Enough!” Samer’s voice echoed throughout the lobby as he stopped his ex from hurting me.
“Sam…” I softly called his name, and he sat beside me.
“We’ve already talked, Kate,” the man said, and Kate just cried even more.
I felt sorry for her because I knew what she said was true, that she still loves Samer, and I knew she was also hurt in our situation. However, I couldn’t give him up just because she asked for it. Am I a fool?
“I still love you,” Kate kept repeating to Samer, but he didn’t respond.
I waited for him to speak so it would be clearer, but he seemed to be carefully choosing his words. I know it’s not a man’s nature to be straightforward with a woman, especially with the question Kate asked, but I pray he answers her. Honesty about feelings doesn’t diminish a man’s masculinity, after all!
“Thank you,” Samer finally replied, and Kate cried even more.
I felt sad because I could feel how much Kate was hurt by the man’s words. I wish Sam just said sorry instead; it would have been easier to accept than expressing gratitude. Kate wiped her tears and forced a smile before standing up. At that moment, I admired her courage. I’m a coward, and I’d rather hide than confront someone.
“Kate…” I tried to stop her, but Sam held me back from following her. “She’s pregnant,” I said to Samer, and his eyes widened. I was not surprised when he quickly stood up and followed the retreating woman.
While I was holding myself back from crying, Samer suddenly returned, and I didn’t know how to interpret the expression on his face. I was afraid to find out what they talked about.
Will I keep choosing to be a coward until the end? I was ready to ask him when he tightly embraced me. I became more frightened, thinking it might be our last hug.
“Thank you,” he said before kissing me on the lips.
I gasped at what he did, especially when there were people looking at us. My goodness! He’s a good kisser, and I closed my eyes and let out a soft moan when I felt his hand on my chest.
I was about to object, but before I could push him away, Samer was thrown to the ground. Some guests screamed as an Arab man fell on the cold floor. Even I gasped in surprise.
“Brent, stop it!” I shouted when I saw Brent straddling Samer and punching him. I saw Kate running back, and we both approached the two men. I pulled Brent away to stop him from beating Samer, while Kate also supported Samer to help him stand up. When I faced Brent, I slapped him hard for his disrespect towards Samer in his own respected hotel. “Leave!” I shouted at him.
“Jamie…” Brent called my name.
“Don’t ‘Jamie’ me right now! You have no right to come here and cause trouble!” I scolded Brent and left him to approach Samer, who was by Kate’s side. Brent tried to stop me, but I didn’t allow him.
“Wait, Jamie.”
Brent called me again, and I decided to go back and talk to him. “What more do you want from me? Please, Brent, let’s just let each other go. I’m happy with Samer, so I hope you’ll be happy too. Try to fix things with Michelle because your two children are suffering,” I suggested to him.
“I’m sorry about earlier. I just wanted to talk to you properly, but when I saw you two kissing, I got jealous,” the man confessed.
“You have no right to be jealous, and you know that,” I reminded him that we haven’t been in a relationship for a long time. “Leave before things get worse for us as acquaintances,” I told him.
“So, we’ll just be acquaintances?” The man asked.
“Yes, or maybe former classmates,” I replied.
“That’s too much,” he said.
“That’s how it is,” I answered, and when he tried to smile, I knew he’d be okay. “Send my regards to your daughter,” I said.
“Sure,” he replied, and was about to leave but suddenly turned to look at me. “Don’t worry about the chickens,” he said.
After Brent left, I still couldn’t get the chickens out of my mind. Why did I do that? Maybe I need to go back to Stonewick to see the real situation there. The old folks and even Kevin might be suffering.
Top of Form
As I looked in Samer’s direction, he wasn’t there anymore. Where did Kate take him? They went to the elevator exclusive for Khalifa VIPs. I immediately pressed the 12th floor button. I hurriedly walked towards Samer’s suite room. I tried to open the door, but it was locked.
I went straight to the room Samer occupied and knocked gently. When he told me to come in, I quickly opened the door.
“Samer!” I was surprised to see him lying on the bed, and his eye area was turning black. Brent was too much, did he really have to give Samer a black eye?
“It happened before,” Samer said.
Oh yeah, déjà vu?
“I’m sorry. I really didn’t know Brent would come here and beat you,” I said to him as I went to the first aid kit.
“Jamie… wait!” He called me, but I continued to the first aid kit and grabbed the antiseptic for his small cuts on his lips.
I also prepared a cold compress for his bruises. When I came back, I immediately cleaned his face and applied medicine to prevent it from swelling too much. “Why didn’t you fight back?” I asked him because I know he has some knowledge in self-defense.
“That’s how the hero is, right? Besides, I wanted to experience your care again,” the man said.
“Did you purposely let yourself get beaten up? You’re really paranoid!” I scolded him while cleaning his lip wounds.
“Thank you, my love,” Samer said. “It’s my turn,” he tried to take away the cotton balls with alcohol I used to clean the cuts on his face.
“There are so many bruises on you! You’re like a child. Next time, don’t let yourself be defeated, okay?” I suggested to him. “I’ll just get some ice for your bruises, hold on!” I said in irritation before standing up and heading to the kitchen.
When I came back, Samer was already undressed. When I saw his muscular chest, I involuntarily drooled. Why did he have to undress when he only had bruises on his face? Well, my Arab boyfriend is setting a trend again. If he weren’t handsome, I might have thrown the ice at him.
I placed the bowl with ice on the center table and looked at him. “And you really have to undress?” I asked Samer.
“I also have bruises on my chest,” he replied in a controlled voice that showed he was in pain.
“Where does it hurt? Here?” I asked him, holding his nipple firmly. He let out a yelp, and then we both laughed.