AUDREYFinally, we arrive at Tabby's estate. This place is unforgettable, so unique and relaxing that every time you're here, you want to stay and never leave.But without Tabby, it won't be the same. She was the shining light of this place, and even though I didn't know her well, I'm sure anyone who did must feel the same way I do.The driver stops the taxi outside the high gates of the property. Nelly and I get out after paying the man. Each of us has our suitcase in hand as we take in the surroundings and then walk toward the fully open gate. From here, we can see the number of cars parked in the house's courtyard.We walk along the brick path that leads to the main entrance of the house. Upon reaching it, we enter, and again, the door is wide open. However, there is a crowd here, not packed but spread out everywhere, in every corner of Tabby's house.Did Tabby have so many relatives and friends? Well, Daniel's family is well-known in Manhattan, and I suppose in Brisbane too. Tabby
AUDREYSeeing him like this, affected, my heart sinks with sadness. What can I do to make him feel better? Maybe there's nothing I can do, but I still want to try to ease his pain.Nelly touches my shoulder, reminding me that she and Henry are standing beside me. Daniel's friend nods in my direction, giving me the initiative to approach his friend. With a small, kind smile, he watches me one last time and then looks at my friend, indicating the door we entered earlier.He offers her his arm for her to accompany him out of the room. Henry is so gentle and chivalrous that I don't worry about leaving Nelly alone with him. I know she'll be fine. But I'm not sure if he'll be, knowing my friend, she'll probably take her flirting to another level.I stay rooted in place when we're completely alone, Daniel and I in the small room. It doesn't take him a minute to realize that he's no longer alone. He lifts his head from his hands, where he had been holding it, and our eyes meet.His neutral ex
DANIELImages constantly flood my mind. After seeing those photos, my self-control and everything in me spiraled out of control.I could have tolerated the damn rumor, but those damned images, the ones where my girlfriend is secretly with her lover in her own apartment, that ended up killing me.I never thought Audrey was that kind of woman, one who cheats and lies to you, telling you she wants to be with you. I shouldn't have asked her to be my girlfriend; we shouldn't have tried it. I'm not made for a stable relationship.I hate to admit it, but my mother was right.I couldn't think when I saw those damn images; anger consumed me, and all I wanted was to beat that guy to a pulp. But what would I gain from that? Absolutely nothing. In the end, she doesn't belong to me but to that bastard.Never in my life have I cared about a woman enough to beat another guy up for her. That they're sneaking around to sleep together, that eats at me even more.I had considered letting her go. But dam
AUDREY"Wow! That guy Henry is amazing," I don't pay attention to anything Nelly says; it's like I only hear murmurs. "Hey, calling Audrey back to Earth!" She lifts her voice while waving her hand in front of my face to get my attention."I'm sorry," I shake my head, snapping out of my daze. "What were you saying?" I focus my gaze on her.Nelly sighs and rolls her eyes."Are you serious?" She exclaims in annoyance. "Did you not hear anything I said earlier?"I shrug and apologize again, embarrassed."I'm sorry," I say again. "I haven't been feeling well lately."I don't know whether to tell her what happened with Daniel. I don't know if I'm ready or if I'm just not ready to accept that it's over between us, and I should settle for a fake relationship.If I didn't do it at the beginning, I certainly won't do it now, especially since I just realized I want him."What's wrong? Why the long face?" Nelly senses my distress, and I hear concern in her voice. "And I'm not willing to hear an '
AUDREYWhen I feel ready, Nelly and I leave the room. She starts talking about going outside for a while and seeing what's in the backyard. I mention the huge, beautiful garden that Tabby adored and cared for more than anything else.As I mentioned before, I didn't know Tabby for long, but in the short time I had the opportunity, it was enough to get to know her very well. She was like an open book, easy to read, and open about her thoughts and personality to anyone who wanted to know more about her."I would have loved to have met her," says Nelly with a big smile."You would have loved her; I did in just one day of knowing her," my friend's smile and words infect me.To get to the garden, we have to cross the living room we passed through before reaching the room we just left. However, we don't make it any further because voices and laughter stop us in our tracks."Oh, Daniel, come on, let me do this," a syrupy, high-pitched voice invades my ears."What the hell was that?" Nelly rai
AUDREYI furrow my brow; confusion and pain are written all over my face. I'm sure that if someone saw me, they would notice it easily.He looks away from his companion, and our eyes meet. I sense something in them—remorse, perhaps? I don't know; I can't quite decipher it. All I feel is pain, nothing more. I don't perceive anything in myself and in Daniel.My chest tightens, and with a heavy heart, I ask myself, "What am I doing here, standing and watching this whole scene?" There's nothing good in seeing him smile with another. I need to run; I need to be anywhere but here; I need to be far away from Daniel.To hell with him and everyone else; I'm out of here.I avert my eyes from him, turn, and leave the room in quick steps with my friend following behind me. The only thing that worries me is that he hasn't noticed how affected I was by seeing him with another. I don't want him to see the pain that a simple scene, which for me meant the greatest humiliation of my life, can cause me.
AUDREYHaving agreed was a bad idea, even though Nelly would have done anything to get me to come to this place. When an idea gets into her head, there's no one who can oppose her."Audrey, for God's sake, stop complaining," Nel scolds me as we enter the noisy venue. "For once, think about yourself and not work. Taking a break was the best option; you needed it."I spent almost the entire journey complaining, regretting having left my job for the whole week. I didn't show up a single day after arriving in the city. During the first few days, I received calls from Maggi and even from Mr. William's secretary to inquire about me, not to ask how I was but to find out if I was resigning or what my reason for being absent was.I imagine Mr. William and his secretary were eagerly awaiting that response. I don't understand why that woman and her boss want me out of the company, and even though it's not their business to investigate whether the president's secretary will leave her post or not,
AUDREYI'm perplexed, my mind completely clouded by this invasion of my personal space. It takes me a few seconds to react because it caught me off guard. Before I can push him away, I realize what we're doing—or rather, what he's doing—since I never respond to his kiss.He or something makes him separate from me. My eyes widen when I confirm who it is, none other than Daniel. What is he doing here? The shouts around me are all I can perceive. Someone shakes my arm, snapping me out of my stupor, and I look to my side to see my friend still yelling at me, even with the music blaring in the background of the venue.I become aware of everything happening at this moment. Daniel attacking Jonathan, and then a few tall, burly men approaching to separate them. Daniel needs two of those giants to hold Jonathan in check. This has turned into a disaster. When did all this happen?"Let's get out of here!" Nelly shouts beside me, pulling my arm to lead me away from there."Wait," I say and try to