I stood up slowly, it was like I was in a slow motion episode in one of your favorite drama flicks where the wife red-handed caught her husband with another woman.
I clutched my bag tightly against my thighs, consciously aware that my wrinkled labcoat was a mess.
I'm a complete mess.
I could feel my heart bleeding.
God! This is too much!
I couldn't stop staring at this gorgeous lady with him. They both look beautiful together and that hurts me the most.
"Hi babe", he walked towards me, slightly smiling but frowning. He must be wondering why I was here and that I must look pale to him because I felt so cold all over my body and numb inside my heart.
He leaned closer and kissed me chastely on my mouth.
The woman was right behind him. Her eyes were twinkling with amusement.
The witch is laughing at my expense!
Did I look like a clown to her?!
The bitch!
"Portia, I want you to meet my wife, Nicolaa", he said and hugged me to his side.
"Nic, this is Portia Arradi, she just came back from London."
"Nice to meet you, Nicolaa", she extended her hand. I stared at her nail-lacquered fingernails. My name rolling in her tongue with a slight ring to it. She too must have felt my hand was cold as we shook hands but she didn't comment on it. Her eyes slowly assessed me.
I just nodded my head at her. I became very self-conscious. These were his kind of woman. The kind of ladies he used to date before forcibly marrying a plain pauper.
I couldn't seem to find my tongue.
Oh, this is bad!
"So I guess I'll run along now, seeing that you have a visitor", emphasizing the word visitor.
Her heavy accent was almost sexy even to my ears and I loathed it to death.
"Domdom, we'll talk 'business' again next time. Will tomorrow night be great with you?", she inquired.
Visitor?!
And what's with the nickname Domdom?!
"Yes, I'll see you at 8. We'll have dinner together with—"
"Babe, you promised me we'll visit mom tomorrow", I clutched his arm. I sounded almost angry, spiteful in fact. I didn't know where the fuck that came from. It just bombed out of my mouth.
Eric looked incredulously at me. He didn't expect I would say that. He knew perfectly well that was never a plan.
Portia pursed her lips and her carefully waxed brows raised.
"I see your wife is cute", then she laughed heartily.
"Ah... Yeah, I forgot I promised to take her out on a date. With... Mom", Eric grinned now.
I didn't know what it was that they both found amusing but hell I could just picture them both in my mind right now staring lovingly and lustfully at each other, holding hands flirtatiously and kissing over dinner and I definitely couldn't accept that.
Delete!
Although I was glad he didn't reveal I lied.
"I got to go. See you around, Nicolaa. It's a pleasure meeting you", she gave me a saucy look, kissed my cheek and left strutting that high jackie o' pumps shoes of hers.
I wanted to wipe my cheek off but that would be too childish of me.
God, she smelled so good while I smelled tacky. No wonder Eric was all over her.
━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━
By the time his office door closed, I wanted to confront him but I sat down and pretended Iwas searching for something I-know-not in my bag. I wanted to clear my head.
I could sense him staring at me while I did that.
The silence lengthened. Then he sat beside me and took my bag off my lap, placing it behind him.
I gasped.
"Give it back!", I spat.
"What was that about, Nic?", he inquired quietly.
"My bag, I need it."
"Answer my question first."
I bit my lower lip. I couldn't tell him I was crazy jealous of her.
"I'm waiting, wife."
Not wanting to tell the truth so I lied.
"I wanted to see mom. That's why I came here to ask you to take me to her tomorrow."
He appraised my reaction. Trying to catch if I told the truth or not.
Then he smiled.
"You could have just called me. You know I always answer my phone when it comes to you."
"I... I wanted to ask you personally", I said shyly.
"I see", he traced my cheek with the back of his hand. "So you left work early just to tell me that?", His thick brows questioning.
"Yes", I nodded my head frantically.
He looked deeply into my eyes and the next thing I knew, he was kissing me torridly. His kisses were intoxicating so I kissed him back.
By the time he let go of my lips, I was breathless.
"God, I miss you", he whispered against my lips and traced them with his thumb. I wanted to suck on it but to my dismay, he stood up and walked over to his large desk.
My eyes followed him. I bit my lower lip, tasting him.
He typed something on his laptop, although standing, his one hand placed on top of his large swivel chair.
I studied him, and thought about how handsome he was.
"I bought a car for you. You know how to drive, right?", he asked matter of factly. He glanced my way and caught me oogling him.
My eyes widened.
What a ninny, Nicolaa?!
"Car? D-drive?", I asked, confused.
"Yes. A red bentley, I know you love the color red."
"Yes but... But why?", confused, I frowned.
Is he tired of picking me up?
"So you won't be late going home. I don't want you waiting for me all the time", his eyes still fixed on the computer monitor. "Nowadays, I can't seem to sort out my schedule correctly. You know how busy my work is around here. You do understand what I'm saying babe, don't you?', He gave me a quick glance.
I nodded slowly.
My heart cried.
Is he doing this on purpose?
So he could spend more 'business hours' with her?!
With that in mind, my temper raised.
"I can use my own car!", I answered almost angry.
He looked at me strangely. After a while, he frowned at me. He obviously didn't like what he heard.
"Nic, is something the matter?"
"Stop buying me things!", I stood up immediately, furious. "Enough already, okay?! I'm so fed up with your ways of forcing me to gain all your riches. I didn't marry you for your money—"
"Why did you marry me, then?", he cut me off.
I shut up.
No sound came from my mouth. No sound can be heard in his room.
Both aware that I acted foolishly, childlishly, ridiculously.
"Y-you blackmailed me", I answered above a whisper, after some time.
A tear fell from the corner of my eye.
Oh, damn it! Me and my big, filthy mouth!
I controlled my sob, I didn't want him to see me cry but my nerves were in a wreck.
His face sombered. He didn't say anything.
Now I felt like I was the mean bitch. There was no way out but to apologize but my pride wouldn't let me.
He cleared his throat and smiled sadly.
"I'm sorry, I thought I already made you change your mind and heart completely. After all, these past few months of us being together... I... I thought I made you happy but I think I was wrong."
I swallowed the lump on my throat. For if I was going to speak, he would know my true feelings for him. I couldn't be that vulnerable infront of him now.
No, no.
Oh, why am I always pushing him away?
He took a calming breath, because I didn't respond .
"Nicolaa, I have to excuse myself now. I have a meeting set again in about fifteen minutes. Will you wait for me until I'm finish?", he arched his brows. "Please baby", he added.
How could I ever say no to that?
I slowly nodded my head while he was walking over to me once again. His gorgeousness overwhelmed me. He was so beautiful and handsome and amazing and... I... I love him so much.
I sniffled when he got close. He caressed my face and raised my chin.
"Tsk! tsk! tsk"', Eric clicked his tongue as he wiped the tear-stain off my cheek. "I never want to see you cry, Nicolaa."
His eyes scanned my face lingeringly.
My eyes welled up with tears again.
He grinned. "Just now I said I don't want to see you cry and then this?"
"Well, I'm sorry", I wailed. "I-I can't control my emotions", my face crunched up. I about to cry again.
Where are these tears coming from? It's as if they wouldn't run dry?
"I noticed", he kissed my temple. His warm lips marked me as his.
"I want to make you smile all the time and it breaks my heart to see you like this, miserable. God knows how much I've longed for you, how much I needed you", he whispered against my skin.
I closed my eyes tightly, and stopped my tears. I wanted him to say those three little words my heart sang for him.
He cupped my face in his hands and I opened my glazed eyes, watching him studying me. I couldn't seem to move.
"I want you to know Nicolaa that I—"
His office door opened.
His assistant's face flared up, surprised to see us in such a close embrace.
I hid my blushing face against his chest, his hand slipped into my hair, tugged me closer to him.
"Excuse me, Mr. Morrison but they... they need you now in the conference room", she said in an embarassed tone.
"I'll be right up, Carol."
"Thank you, sir", then she left us hurriedly.
He took a deep breath.
"You know that all I want is to be with you right now but I got to go. We'll talk about this later, alright, baby?"
I nodded, not wanting to let him go.
He sounded so serious my heart started warming up. Hope has not died. His actions said it all even when he never uttered them yet.
I just want to be here, with him.
If I was by his side, I knew I was home and I was not going to be alone.
I wouldn't be empty anymore.