Chapter 6 A suitor

Emerald's Point of View

Ruining a friendship is not in my 2025 bingo card. Perhaps it may be hard for someone else to confront a close friend but my ideologies in life are the one that gives me strength to voice out what's in my mind and express it towards the person.

I was standing against the mirror. Carlos let me borrow his sweater as my clothes have been drenched by the heavy rain. He took care of me whilst I'm in his condo, bringing me things that could warm my body.

"Good bye, Carlos," I affirmed without looking him in the eyes- dying enough to come home in order to avoid the awkwardness around us.

On my way out, Carlos halted me by holding my hand. "Wait," he paused. "I just want to let you know that I'm persistent enough on pursuing you, EJ. Don't worry, I know you're shocked but it doesn't change anything. I still like you, EJ."

My heart was pounding fast. I gripped on the sweater hard before pursuing his lips. The way Carlos speaks with gentle and earnest in his voice got me. I feel guilty turning him down. Women flocks on his feet just to date him but here I am, rejecting the person everyone has dreamed off. Regardless, my decision will remain the same.

"Carlos, you don't understand. You will only hurt your feelings if you keep on-"

He smiled warmly and held both my hands. "Oh, dear. You don't know how many years I've waited for this. I always had secret feelings for you and now you're aware of it, and I believe we could become a great couple, urges me more. I'll do everything to deserve you, Emerald."

I took my hands off him. It's not appropriate to let him hold a woman who's already married to someone else. Thinking of Jude incised a small cut in my heart. I feel like I'm betraying the man I love regardless of the turmoil in our marriage.

He wanted to drop me off at our house but I insisted on taking a bus. He has helped me so much that I don't want to burden him anymore. At first, Carlos didn't agree. We even had a small, not totally an argument before I completely convinced him. However, he never left unless the bus had already departed.

Anyhow, I share the same roof with Jude. I'm afraid he might see him.

The next day, I thought I won't be able to see him yet I came across Carlos at the same place where he dropped me off last night.

A black pick up truck appeared out of the blue. The window slowly moved down and Carlos' handsome face appeared. His smile was up to his ears, showing me his white teeth. At the same time, I smelled something that caught my attention. It's Carlos' perfume that infiltrates my nose.

"Heading to work?" He inquired with a huge smile.

I smirked. "Yes. Just waiting for the bus. Why are you here?"

"Uh-huh. Where's your car?"

I shrugged my shoulders as he came out of his car. His clean doctor outfit made my eyebrows arched. Now I get why a lot of people like him.

My car has been towed just this morning and it's currently at the casa, currently undergoing a system maintenance to check if there's any foul play and hacking happening. For now, I will suffer from commuting.

"Ah, they are fixing my car." I simply said then sighed. "Hopefully I'll get it before the end of the day," well that only happens if a miracle appears

"Hop inside then. I'll drop you off at Campbell Daily."

My forehead creased and my eyebrows furrowed. "You know where I work?"

He nodded. "Uh-huh."

"Don't tell me you managed to get updates about me yearly?" I jokingly affirmed when Carlos extended his hands and opened the car's door for me.

He chuckled. "Monthly to be precise," he corrected. "Isn't that what someone does when he or she likes another one?"

He got a point though. However, I felt awkward when he told me about it. My cheeks blushed when I saw the perfume in his car. So he's using Hugo Boss Elixir Parfum, huh? One of my co-anchor reported that Hugo Boss parfums are widely used when you're out with a loved one, a girlfriend, someone you love or like.

Suddenly, my cheeks blushed on that certain thought. We're quiet whilst inside the car.

As we reached Campbell Daily's office, Carlos went down. I was curious about what he's about to do when he opened the car's door for me. Unhurriedly, my cheeks turned red as tomatoes.

"Thank you," I affirmed in a small voice. "You don't have to do it, really."

He smiled and affirmed. "Don't worry, starting from now, you don't need to commute. I'll drive for you everyday and make sure you're safe whenever you come to the office and come home."

"Carlos... you don't need to do that. Commuting is nothing for me."

"I already told you, EJ. I like you a lot. Say whatever you want but I'll do whatever I want."

I know Carlos Hamilton very well. He's not the type of person who surrenders easily. He's the type of person who does everything to get what he wants in a legal manner. He's charming, has strong charisma but I can't fall for him.

Carlos left the CD immediately. Someone called him asking his whereabouts and left hurriedly. On my way inside, I saw my co-worker, Mina, an anchor just like me.

Her eyes widened when she saw me. "Isn't that the famous Dr. Carlos Hamilton?" Stunned, Mina's cheeks blushed.

My eyebrows arched. "How did you know him?"

"Ha! You're a news anchor but don't know what's happening? Gosh!"

I sighed and said, "Of course, yes, I know him. But what is it that's too special for that man?"

"He's a well-known doctor and a vlogger! He's famous in 'red' app and various social media. He's uploading a vlog answering netizens' questions every two weeks. He's so handsome, isn't he?" I could tell that she's thrilled whilst talking about him.

Indeed, Carlos became a huge hot shot in this country. Seeing his profile in the red app he's pertaining to made me 'woah'. He has millions of views and subscribers. However, half of her viewers are only there to simp on him but not someone who's in need of help.

My eyes rolled seeing a bunch of comments regarding Carlos' physical appearance. Searching his name on the internet resulted in too many good deeds he has done over the years. All throughout we separated in college, I never heard anything from him. Our friends thought he's already dead yet we didn't know he's working hard to become a doctor.

"Tell me more about Carlos Hamilton, Emerald!" Mina, my co-anchor affirmed with a giggling tone.

I sighed. That's the time I thought of Carlos' feelings for me. Knowing his full capacity, I should find a way to stop him from liking me.

Suddenly, a bright idea comes in my mind. "Are you free this weekend?"

Mina was just about to answer my question when another intern came inside my office, looking for me. "Miss Emerald, the chairman is looking for you. He's at his office, requesting a little bit of your time."

"Tell him I'm on my way." I said then fixed my skirt and stood straight.

"By the way, Mr. Sanders is also there."