Tyler's POV
"Good morning, Mr. Edgebright!" My father's secretary greeted me the moment I got inside my father's floor, and I couldn't believe I would be coming back here on the island. I promised I would not go back for a long time, and one simple girl ruined all my plans.
I know I couldn't blame myself for being so curious about her because I couldn't deny Arabella is so beautiful, sweet, and very charming, and most of all, she has a body that any man would die for, and girls will be envious of her beauty.
"Good morning! Lailah, is dad already in his office?" I asked with a smile, and my father's secretary was grinning at me.
"Yes, he is, and I think he has been waiting for you." She said, and I thanked her before I got inside my father's office, and I saw him standing in his window watching the ocean. Since his office is located on the top floor, the view is terrific, and when I was a child, I always wanted to come to his office every chance I could get.
"Hello, dad! What a lovely morning!" I said, and he slowly turned around and walked towards me; and I was stunned when my father hugged me. I know my dad is not expressive about his feelings, and now I wonder what was wrong.
"Are you okay, dad?" I asked as I tapped his back.
"Of course, I am fine, Ty. Don't I have any right to hug my son?" He asked, and I laughed.
"Of course, you can hug me anytime," I answered, and he beamed at me after releasing me from his embrace.
"I am just glad that you came back, Tyler. I thought you would be true to your words, and now you need to go back to your office as the new General Manager. I am so proud of you, Tyler." My dad said.
"I know you graduated with honors in the University, and I could tell many felt disappointed, especially those people who thought you couldn't finish your degree because of your reputation." He said, and I shook my head.
"Dad, I told you already, nothing is true with those rumors, and you know that I am serious with Emily," I said.
"Yes, and she ran away from you with your cousin." He said, and I shook my head.
"Dad, that is only rumors. We don't have enough proof." I said, and he opened one of the drawers of his table, and then he handed me an envelope.
"I am sorry if I am doing all this, but I need to protect you, Ty. You are my son, and it hurts me to see you miserable." He said, and I was looking at the envelope.
"Dad, believe me, I am no longer miserable," I said, and my father shook his head.
"I know you were young back then, but I could tell you still love her, and I don't know if the rumors about you were true as well, but I hope Emily stayed, and she should listen to your part of the story." He said.
"Open that envelope, so you can move on with your life and find a girlfriend." He said, and I couldn't stop my hands from trembling as I opened the envelope. I couldn't believe it was all pictures of Emily and my cousin, Joshua, and I realized she had run away with him, and all the rumors had been confirmed.
They are always together in the pictures, and I could tell they looked so sweet together, and I could feel the piercing in my heart as I realized I was waiting for her for nothing. And it is now clear to me why she didn't answer all my text messages and calls.
"Thank you, dad. At least now I can move on with my life." I said, and I walked out of my father's office without taking a second glance as I tried to shut off Emily's memory from my mind.
But my heart wouldn't forget, and I could tell she shattered my heart once again, first when she walked away from me without a trace, and now by seeing her pictures with my cousin. I was such a fool for believing that one day she would come back to me.
"Hey, why do you look like that?" Earl asked the moment he got inside my office.
"What are you doing here? Don't you have a restaurant to run?" I asked, and he smiled at me.
"Of course, I am busy, but I went to your house in the hills last night, but you weren't there, so I guess you stayed at your penthouse or your parents' house?" He asked.
"And why didn't you call me?" I asked as I tried to control my voice because I didn't want my cousin, who happens to be my best friend, to know what was going on with me.
"Tyler, I have been trying to reach you, but your phone was off, and now tell me why you look so miserable. I heard from the hotel staff you came home to your penthouse with a beautiful girl, and does this girl happen to have a name?" He asked, and I couldn't stop myself from flushing, and I couldn't deny I felt so happy as I remembered Ara and our sweet moments last night, and it felt like I couldn't get enough of her lips.
"Hey! Are you going to stay like that the entire day? I came here to have lunch with you." Earl added, and when I looked at the clock, it was already 11:00 a.m., and I could tell it was the best time to eat since I wanted to bring Ara her lunch.
"Sure!" I said as I got up from my chair, and together, we walked from my office and proceeded into the elevator, and we agreed to eat seafood since we both miss eating seafood. It was evident to my cousin because he ran an Italian restaurant in Azure.
"So, can you tell me now why you looked so down and in pain when I arrived in your office?" He asked, and I knew he wouldn't stop until I told him everything.
"I realized I was such a fool for hating you when you told me there was going on between Emily and Joshua," I said as I released a loud sigh.
"Don't give me that look, Earl, I know, and I am sorry," I added.
"I am not giving you any look, Ty. I am just looking at you because I got so curious why all of a sudden you will talk about Emily, and you are telling me you already accepted the fact that she ran away with our cousin." He said, and I told him everything.
"Wow! I couldn't believe uncle Mauricio would do something like that." He said as he leaned his back on his chair's backrest, and I did the same as I caressed my chin with my fingers.
"I couldn't blame my father. Maybe he was so worried about me." I replied.
"Well, I am glad it happened; at least you can love your new girl now." He said, and I know I am blushing as I think of Ara.
"For how many times I told you that you have to let Emily go, and stop blaming yourself that she left the island without saying goodbye to you. You are so hard-headed, and you were still hoping she would come back to you." Earl said, and I raised my hand to signal him to stop talking, and he raised his two hands at me.
"Okay, I will stop talking now, but I want you to know that I am so happy that uncle Mauricio hired someone to trace your ex-girlfriend." He said, I am so glad our waitress came and served our food, and I ordered another set of food for taking out, and I could see Earl raised his eyebrow but remained silent.
"That is for Arabella," I said.
"I know, you don't need to tell me, and I think your condition will change now. You are free from
your guilt, so I guess it is now safe if she falls for you," Earl said, but I shook my head
"I don't think it is the right time, Earl; what happened to Emily and me made me afraid to get into a real relationship again. I won't tell Ara that the rule has changed. It is still the same for us, and she can't fall for me." I said.
"You are crazy, Ty." My best friend said.
We parted ways in the parking lot, and I felt so excited as I drove my car. When I see Ara so busy entertaining customers, I can't stop myself from smiling from ear to ear, and I know Earl has a point.
Still, for now, I should enjoy what I have with Ara with no commitment because falling in love is such a waste of time when you will only end up hurting each other in the end.
I couldn't stop myself from gazing at her beautiful face, and when she found me staring at her and smiling at me, my heart skipped a beat. And I walked closer to her and handed her the take-out food.
And I could tell she enjoyed my company. I felt so happy that she enjoyed her meal. I didn't tell Arabella that I was already working in our resort because I wanted her to work there with me.
The following day I was so excited to bring her lunch I didn't text or call Ara because I wanted to surprise her, but I ended up more surprised when I learned she had already gone back to the mainland.
"Mrs. Corteza, do you know when your daughter will be back?" I asked Ara's mom,
"She didn't tell me, Ty." She said as I handed her the food.
"That is for you, ma'am," I said, and she smiled at me.
"Thank you for this, and I already told you, son, you can call me Aunt Clarissa, Ty." Ara's mom said, and I smiled at her.
And I said goodbye to Ara's mom with a heavy heart, and the realization hit me, I was missing Arabella like crazy.