The mood in the car was tense, heavy with unspoken words. Raymond's face looked drained, and the silence between us felt suffocating. I needed to break it, so I turned on the radio, hoping the music would lighten the atmosphere. "You Are the Reason" by Calum Scott came on, but instead of easing the tension, it only made it worse. I quickly switched it off, the silence resuming, thicker than before.
The next day, I stayed indoors, avoiding Raymond and trying to figure out how to mend my relationship with Bela. I wasn't ready to lose her. I made dinner, knowing how much Bela loved food, hoping the smell would lure him out of his mood. When Bela walked in, I greeted her as if nothing had happened, but her cold reaction said it all. If it hadn't been for my father passing away, I could tell she would've ignored me completely.
"You're welcome, Bela. I hope your court session went well today? I was sure you would win the case, so I made dinner to congratulate you on behalf of the hospital," I said, trying to keep things light.
Bela eyed me suspiciously, from head to toe. "We both know this meal isn't to congratulate me, it's because you have something to say. Hurry up, Jasmine. I'm not eating your food. Who knows what you've put in it."
"I would never do anything to hurt you," I said, my voice trembling. "I made a mistake with Raymond. I followed my heart instead of my head, and I'm truly sorry. I'm done with him. He's all yours, okay? I promise I won't hurt you again."
Bela blinked, clearly taken aback. "What? Are you serious about this?"
"Yes," I said, my heart aching. "I can even release him from his role as my secretary, if it makes you more comfortable."
Her eyes softened, and the corner of her mouth lifted, but she said nothing as she sat at the table, contemplating my offer. I left her alone, stepping outside by the pool to gather my thoughts. Deep down, I knew I was doing the right thing, but it didn't make the loss of Raymond any easier. He was still important to me, and it hurt to let him go.
Later that evening, I decided to go to Raymond's apartment. I needed to apologize, to see if we could salvage our friendship. When I arrived, I heard him crying, his sobs muffled but raw. It was the first time I had ever heard a grown man cry. It broke something inside me.
I stood at the door, tears welling in my eyes, but I couldn't bring myself to knock. I wanted to comfort him, to tell him everything I was feeling, but I knew that would complicate things further. I heard him approach the door, and in a panic, I ran and hid behind his apartment, not wanting to face him just yet.
The next morning, we drove to work together, but I could feel the emotional distance between us. "Raymond, I can go alone today. You should relax or take a taxi," I said, trying to maintain some space between us.
He gave me a sad look, and I could see the hurt in his eyes. I wanted to be close to him, but I knew it wasn't right. I stayed strong and drove away in my car, leaving him behind.
Raymond continued to visit my office more than usual, bringing documents I had already reviewed, just to be near me. I knew he was trying to get my attention, but I couldn't let him in. "Please, Raymond, give the documents to my assistant," I instructed, not looking up from my work.
I saw him try to speak, but I cut him off, "I need you to take a taxi home today." I could tell he was hurt by my coldness, but I couldn't help it.
When I arrived home that evening, I saw Bela sitting in front of the villa. I waved, but she just nodded curtly, her eyes filled with disappointment. I understood that apologies might not be enough, but what she didn't see was how much I had given up for our friendship.
After a long day, I took a nap, but was awoken by noise downstairs. I saw Bela and Raymond watching a movie together, their bodies close, her hand resting on his shoulder as they laughed. The jealousy surged in me, but I stayed silent and walked past them to the kitchen. I didn't want to confront them, but it hurt.
Bela called me over. "I served you dinner. You should eat before it gets cold."
As I sat down to eat, she came over and sat beside me. "Jasmine, I need to talk to you about something."
I looked at her, confused. "What is it?"
She took a deep breath. "I want you to dismiss Raymond from being your secretary. You promised me, and now I'm asking. We're getting closer, and I don't want him to hold back his feelings because of you."
I froze. I had said I would release him if she asked, but hearing her say it like this made it feel like a betrayal. I had to keep my promise. "Okay, Bela," I whispered, defeated. "I'll let him go."
The next morning, I called Raymond into my office. I told him he was fired, but he didn't look surprised. He asked if he could stay in the apartment until he found another job, and though it broke my heart, I agreed. I couldn't leave him homeless, even if seeing him with Bela was going to be painful.
Days passed, and I watched them grow closer. Their laughter and shared moments were like daggers in my chest. Raymond, who had once been so distant, was now as happy as ever. It was as if he had forgotten about the pain he had felt just days ago. I couldn't stand it. So I buried myself in work, avoiding them both whenever I could.
One evening, Bela came into my office, her expression serious. "Jasmine, are you really okay?" she asked, her voice soft but insistent. "I know you're jealous when you see me with Raymond. He told me everything, the way you two loved each other and the sacrifices you made for me. I suggested we pretend to be in a relationship to make you rethink your decision."
I was stunned. "What do you mean, Bela?"
She looked at me with a knowing smile. "I know you love me, Jasmine. But don't sacrifice everything for me. Go out there and make things right with Raymond."