Chapter 23   Confessing To My Heart

Elena Davis,

I was startled terribly as I heard the bursting opening of the door. Perplexed, Nicole came inside running like someone chasing him; he had a shocked expression on his face and he was sweating a lot. Without waiting to take the air, he started speaking, but he wasn’t even able to breathe properly. I gave him a glass of water, as he wasn’t able to talk at all.

Nicole was talking about something in Italian with great difficulty while trying to take air at the same time. Whatever it was, it made Arius stun at his pace as he froze in his walk as soon as heard Nicole’s last word. His desperate green eyes remained widened with shock, but there was a slight shine of satisfaction lingering in the deep part as he found something extremely precious in him.

Both of them just remain silent without uttering a word, but disbelief sprawled over his face. It wasn’t difficult to understand that whatever it was; it was important to both of them, after a moment of silence and taking time to compose himself; Mr. Accardo turned to face me, watching me like he never seen me before with full of curiosity in his forest green eyes, making me wonder about him more than I already was. This was the first time I witnessed something so intense over his face, which made me want to run and hug him tightly, letting myself spill all over him again.

“Is everything ok? Mr. Accardo.” I questioned him, taking a step towards him. His behavior makes me worried about him. He walked towards me with small and calculated steps without breaking the bound of our eyes which had the power to pull my soul in his.

“Ya, everything is ok. You are standing in front of me.” He replied in his deep silvery voice, tracing my cheeks with the back of his forefinger, as he wasn’t in control of himself. It was surprising for me that his eyes were holding softness in them while peeping in mine, which he never did before.

“Hu?” I asked in uncertainty. He just nodded his head in the negative, as he was busy observing my face keenly. I think I should leave now; they both need to talk about that matter as I witnessed how deep the impact that thing left on him.

“You guys continue, I will be in my office.” I announced in a curt tone and turned around to leave with a small node on my head, but Mr. Accardo held my wrist swiftly. I turned around to face him.

“Let me see you a bit.” He requested in a subtle tone, still in a daze of something as his face was expressionless.

“What?” Is he alright? Doesn’t seem so.

“He meant to say, you can go.” Nicole covered him before he could mutter any word. I nodded and walked towards the door of the office.

They must have something really important to discuss. It would be better if I gave them privacy. I pushed the button of the elevator to open as I remembered I had promised Patty to meet her over lunch. I got in my car and started driving towards her favorite retro. She must wait for me there; I was totally fifteen minutes late.

I saw her car while parking mine and hurried out to meet her. I saw her waiting over the corner table for me while checking the time over her wrist watch. Her face lit up as soon as her gaze landed over me and she got up from her seat to hug me. I needed to meet her; I was feeling filled up to my throat.

“You had sex--” she roared with excitement flooding the place. I placed my hand over her in embarrassment as few people were suppressing their laugh at her outbreak.

“Shut up Patty.” I warned her in a firm voice, and she nodded in agreement. I took my hand back, allowing her to speak.

“How? Who?” She started asking questions back to back with her beaming tone and playful eyes. I don’t know how she found out, but now if I didn’t tell her everything, she would kill me. Come on, tell her. I was encouraging myself to face the reality that I slept with my boss.

Just thinking about that night, the memories of his long trails of kisses formed goose bumps over me. The way his hand roamed over my body as he wanted to tell every cell that I was his, he owned his soul. A shy smile formed over my already red painted face as I remembered his favorite spot and how he made me take his name repetitively until I wore out completely. I startled as I felt a jerk over my shoulder. I looked up to see naughty smile lingering on Patty.

“How do you know that?” I mused at her. She laughed loudly at hearing me.

“You are filled with red marks. Also, you smell like a man.” She explained with definite details while bursting into laughter again. I covered my neck area in a hurry with embarrassment, trying to hide as much as possible. Absolutely, how can I forget his art work of mine?

“Stop blushing and tell me who he was?” Patty cheered, nearly jumping in her chair in enthusiasm. She was smiling ear to ear and her excitement level reached new heights every passing second.

“A—Mr. Accardo.” I answered, and her jaw dropped in a pool of surprise.

“I KNEW IT, I KNEW IT.” She screamed loudly, standing up from her chair holding her both hands near her chest, flashing her smile at me. This girl went crazy over this. She needs to calm down.

“Sit down Patty.” I warned her low tone as she gathered everyone’s attention. When she understood, she mumbled sorry for everyone and sat down in her chair.

“Now what?” She asked, continuing with her question, leaning forwards to hear from me. I was about to answer, but the waiter came to keep the large pizza in front of both of us.

“I ordered first.” She gave a toothy smile and took one piece again, turning at me. I smirked at her changed behavior in front of pizza.

“Now what? Nothing. It was a one-night thing and we are going to be professional again.” I confessed, lowering my head to avoid eye contact with her. I knew he can’t be mine, but still I walked on that path. I just couldn’t control myself in that critical turn of moment and I forgot all the boundaries when I felt his soothing touch over my skin. I was so lost that he even asked me who I was. I would have answered Arius to him.

I looked up as I didn’t receive any response from her. The piece of pizza had fallen over the table and the un-chew bite was on display as her mouth was wide open. She composed herself, taking a moment to speak anything further.

“Was it only a one-night stand?” Patty asked in a worried tone, moving pizza away from her. I nodded instead of answering her, still avoiding looking into her eyes. Unexpected tears started moistening my eyes. I didn’t know that I was going to betray myself with that decision. I made the wrong decision but couldn’t recognize which one was having that fabulous night with him or tell him we will be professional from now on; whatever it was, but my heart knew I was regretting it a lot.

“Are you in love?” She asked in disbelief, staring at me with wide eyes. I jerked my head in her direction as soon as those words left her mouth.

“You are.” She started in a worried tone, drinking a glass of wine in front of her with one go. I didn’t answer, just kept quiet.

“Have you told him?” she asked, further adjusting herself in a chair in discomfort.

“I can’t tell him that.” I accepted the fact, making her realize that complexity. Her forehead creased as my words reached her.

“What do you mean?” she inquired, as she didn’t understand the meaning.

“He loves someone else.” I told her the reason for sipping the wine from the glass. Patty went silent after my confession. A drop escaped from the prison of an eye rolling down my cheeks. I removed it horribly.

“Do you already know that?” She inquired with narrowing her eyes at me, bending forwards. I nodded at her, as I couldn’t dare to meet her eyes. A cool sensation of tear drop passed over my cheek.

“Why do you agree, if you knew that?” She nearly yelled at me while suppressing her tone in anger filled eyes.

“I feel alive wherever he touches me and can’t control anything in front of him as the entire world doesn’t exist anymore.” I accepted the fact from her, wiping my tears with both hands.

“I know he loves her, but still I couldn’t convince my heart to stop treating him as someone special and important to me. I know I am in deep shit. That’s why I remain strictly professional from now onwards.” I declared, convincing myself the same. The clutch over my heart makes my world darker and darker, preparing myself to remain stuck in my path; I can’t be the person with the cheat on her. I am ready to be anyone he wants me to, but not this, leaving my pride.

“Are you sure about this?” Patty questioned with a worried face. I nodded at her. She was going to speak something, but my phone rang, taking our attention to it.

Lexi’s name flashed over the screen. Why is she calling me? She never even talked without a mockery filled tone once. I picked up the call.

“Elena? Come here immediately.” She was breathing hard and the urgency in her voice was so clear. I stood as I heard breaking glass loudly and she screamed loudly.

“What is happening? Where are you? Are you safe?” I question back.

“Mr. Accardo is so mad at something. He is destroying the entire office while screaming your name. Please come here, only you can control him.” She pleaded on the phone.