Chapter 4 Episode 4: GET OUT OF MY LIFE! OUT!

ARRDE

"Alex, I'm at the restaurant. Where are you?"

"Right behind you, sweetie," Alex replied tapping my shoulders behind.

A soft smile played on my lips as he chuckled along, "Shall we?" he said diverting my attention and leading the way.

"I missed you, teddy bear," I said and heaved a sigh still looking at him.

"I've always told you to take a break from the company and admire me all day while I treat you like my queen, but you won't listen." He said.

"Alex, you know that the company won't function well without me around," I said.

"That's all in your head, sweetie." He replied. This particular discussion has lingered for over a year now after I got discharged from the hospital beating appendicitis.

"Alex, you..."

"Let's have dinner first, sweetie." He said interrupting me knowing very well that we could go over that discussion for as long as we could.

"Sure, let's do that." I agreed. As he signaled a waitress that was looking at us all along.

"What is your order, ma'am?" The waitress asked.

"Pasta is okay for me."

"Same with hers." Alex chipped in.

I rolled my eyes at him, "You should eat something else, teddy bear. You're a guy."

"Don't worry about me. You know I have less appetite when it comes to food." He leaned closer, "Tell me about work today, you seem somewhat bothered. Any problem?"

"It's nothing, Alex. I'm just stressed, I guess." I said faking a smile, because I didn't want to bore him with my troubles not that he would complain about it. I know how much he cares about me and it's suffocating that it's often about me and not him.

"I'm always at your service." He added.

"Is there something you'd love to talk about tonight?" Alex asked staring into my eyes with those piercing eyes of his.

"Nothing. Why?"

"I'm just concerned, you're unusually quiet."

"I'm fine, just tired. Goodnight." I said and slammed the door at him without a second thought letting out a frustrated sigh.

"Arrde, are you sure you're okay?!" Alex called screaming the question at the top of his voice.

"I'm fine!" I yelled back.

I'm still not used to how concerned Alex has always been when it comes to me.

Over the weekend, I tried to sort some things out refusing to join Alex and his friends on a trip to Maldives even when I knew that I needed to rest I've always wanted to go on a trip to Maldives with Alex but things came in handy and I could not dismiss them.

I argued so much with Alex that he insisted that I join them, we didn't talk to each other over the phone as I refused to answer his calls to avoid more arguments.

He returned earlier than expected and took me out after much convincing.

"Tell me you didn't have fun, sweetie." He said when we got home.

"I still have a lot of work to do, so I should not be out with you Alex," I said refusing to admit that it was fun and had freed me from the exhaustion that I felt earlier. I smiled, and I'm quite sure he caught me because he looked away smiling too.

Life of a CEO. Ooof!

It's been a long week altogether, and a draining one indeed. I need to rest because tomorrow will be a new week and a much longer one than last week, so much to do. Sigh.

Shower, then a nice sleep.

At least that's what I thought would happen, but I ended up tossing in my bed till the next morning without having a moment of sleep. I thought it went away.

"Good morning, Alex."

"Here, drink this it's good for you." He said handing over a warm glass of milk to me, "Your insomnia has returned, sweetie." He said.

"I suppose." My eye bags were visible and even, Alex always had a way of tracing my problems to their roots.

"Whatever it is that you can't share with me I hope you get through it without drowning in it, and if you end up changing your mind just know that I'm here to listen to you. You know we've come a long way together and you'll always come first. Have a nice day today." He said walking towards the door.

"You look all dressed up, do you have plans today?" I called after him, "A blind date?"

"I'm meeting with my family this morning and I might return late, so eat dinner without me. Don't forget to eat dinner, okay?" he said.

I smiled at him and nodded. He blew a kiss and shut the door behind him before I had the chance to return the kiss.

My phone rang.

"I apologize for making you wait," I said to my guest the moment I walked into my office.

"Hi, there!" A familiar feminine voice greeted and it sent shivers down my spine as I turned to meet the owner of the voice hoping it was not who I thought it would be.

"Percy??!" The word flew from my mouth before I could even think of saying it.

"Shocked?" She asked sitting so confidently on my chair with those filthy legs crossed and an unwavering pride like she did nothing to me.

I clenched my teeth, gritting them in anger gradually tightening my fists to control the wrath that was welling within me. My chest burning and ready to burst, I could swear my face was no exception.

"Are you that pleased to see me after these years?" she asked, smiling freely and I know she enjoyed seeing how furious I was.

"Sara!!!!" I shrieked, my body trembling in anger and hurt.

"Yes, ma'am," Sara replied rushing in.

"How did she get into my office?" I directed the question to Sara who looked so helpless.

"She... I... No, she..."

"Sara!!!!" I yelled again, "Did I not tell you not to allow anybody in my office without my approval?"

"You did, but..."

"Call the security, Sara."

"No need for that. I came to see how you were doing, you look good. We'll see each other often, so control your anger, perhaps channel it to something reasonable, Arrde." Percy said, and my anger got the better of me.

"Don't you dare say my name with the trapped trash you call mouth!" I yelled, almost choking from anger.

"Sweetie, is everything okay?" Alex asked walking towards me. I didn't even see when he walked in.

"I see you got yourself a new boyfriend already, yummy!" she said and I charged towards her almost landing a deafening slap on her face if Alex had not intervened on time as the securities dragged her away.

I hate the smirk she had on her face, it stained my memory and I could not get over it, not after what she did to me. Taking away the life I owned, she turned away the man I loved and now she's back? How bold of her!

I cried on Alex shoulder frustrated and hurt as he hugged me, patting my back gently and slowly without saying anything. But why Percy?!

Last week it was Myron, now her? And what did she mean by we would be seeing each other often?

More tears flooded my eyes and glided uncontrollably down my cheeks. I did my best in running away from them, now they're back again? For what?!

You know that feeling when your frenemy appears in your life? I'll definitely kill this girl!