"Stella's point of view,"
"Good morning, Stella. I hope you're feeling better today than you were last night."
The following morning, as soon as I entered the hallway after getting dressed for work, Avery's concerned eyes were waiting to greet me.
"I am fine, by the way; thank you for your concern for me last night." I embraced Avery in response.
"Really?
I did not know what type of support it was to leave your friend to cry in silence in a room." Avery gave me a taunting look as she lifted her eyebrows.
"It's not like that at all; I had no desire to upset you." I know fully that my actions from yesterday hurt Avery's feelings, but I didn't mean to.
Since I don't trust anyone else anymore, I don't want to talk about my problems. I frequently witness people sharing their problems with those closest to them, only for those people to subsequently exploit those problems and flaws. Such an error would be unacceptable to me.
"I can relate since, if I were in your situation, I would probably act similarly." Avery's eyes were filled with sympathy for me.
"Are you feeling sorry for me because you think I'm weak?" I asked with my left brow arched.
"No, Miss Parker. It's risky for me to feel sorry for you.
I am looking forward to the day when a charming prince will unexpectedly come up in front of you and propose to marry you and take care of you in every way." Holding my hands, she exclaimed dramatically as she rested her head on my shoulder.
"Put your fucking mouth shut and stop making that nonsense. You know full well that I am not a dreamer, but a realist, and that in the real world, there is no Prince Charming but monsters like Ethan Woods."
I don't know how it occurred, but the moment I said his name, everything that had happened in the charity ballroom yesterday repeated itself in front of my eyes.
I do not know why I kept thinking about him last night. I've seen many ego stick men before, but I'm curious what it is about in the Ethan woods that, despite my best attempts, I can't help but think about him.
Maybe he keeps giving me trouble in my business, and that's why I'm curious about him. Maybe that's why; otherwise, Stella Parker wouldn't be thinking about anyone so much.
Yes, you are right.
My subconscious heard me and agreed.
"Would you like to see how you appear when posing alongside this charming monster?" It immediately drew my focus to the business magazine's cover when I heard Avery's voice.
Oh God, I yanked the magazine from Avery's grasp and growled fiercely, clenching my teeth, "These annoying paparazzi."
"There is no such thing as overreacting in this situation; you are berating the innocent paparazzi without cause while they were merely performing their job." She grabs the magazine out of my hand and yells at me.
"You won't get it because it spared you from having to admit defeat to that egotistical man in front of everyone." I sat back in the dining chair, took a big breath, and murmured.
"I wish such a handsome man could defeat like you me. I would accept defeat every day just to talk to this man once." Avery, clutching the magazine, was staring at Ethan's photo as though she was looking at him in front of her, not his photo.
Such a typical woman.
"Get your mind out of the gutter and get ready for work." I gave her a hostile look.
"Stella, why don't you feel anything after seeing such a handsome man?
I get the impression that when I look at you, all your emotions are dead." She stood up from the table and taunted me.
"You are well aware of how much the very mention of the word "love" irritates me; after all, they have scientifically proven that romantic attachment leaves its subjects vulnerable to emotional manipulation, and I simply cannot afford to be vulnerable at this point in my life." I responded to Avery's query by turning on my car's engine.
"Wouldn't you give someone a chance to get close to you after being duped into falling in love with someone?" Once more, when I heard her voice, I had the impression that she was sympathizing with me rather than questioning me.
But why?
Can't I live in this world without a man's support?
Does she believe I'm so frail?
Many questions had arisen in my head in response to one of her inquiries, but I did not want to ruin my mood by engaging her in conversation on a frivolous subject like love.
"No, I don't need a man anymore; I am happy being alone." I responded to her conversation by switching my car's gears.
"Stella, slow down the car; we aren't in a race; we're just driving on the streets of California." She looked at me fearfully and said,
"Don't worry, I won't let you die that quickly." I couldn't help but giggle after seeing her condition.
She often asks me to drive slowly when she rides along with me to the office.
"Thank God, the office building has arrived; otherwise, no one can prevent me from having a heart attack today because of the speed of your car. I won't sit next to you in that car anymore whenever you drive it."
I was having a great time just watching her as she breathed heavily and looked scared.
Before I could tease her further after witnessing how she was feeling, my phone's ringtone drew my attention.
"Why aren't you receiving the call?" Avery gave me a worried look when I didn't receive the call, despite it ringing for a while.
I gave her my phone after listening to her without picking it up.
"Julia Pinto?
Why is she calling you now?" Avery's face showed a visibly shocked expression as she peered at the phone's screen.
"I don't know, maybe some wounds never fully recover." I reacted while inhaling deeply.
"Allow me to handle this while you focus on the rest of your work." She reassured me and gave me the go-ahead to enter the office.
"Thank you, Avery."
I remarked softly as I walked inside my office.