8Out of all the people that could open the door it had to be Ben.Damn universe, you are really enjoying playing with me.Say something Miranda! Speak! Jesus Christ speak up because you are already making it too hard on yourself."Ben!" I called out with a shaky voice.Hugo moved his head to me and there was a slight change from the way he has been looking at me the entire night in the restaurant.Ben smiles at me while he kept glancing his eyes at Hugo who was still silent. Oh goodness my heart. I think my heart is going to jump out of my chest and I'm going to collapse."You're still up." I add."I couldn't sleep.” Ben answers. “I was waiting for you."Ben's eyes moved to Hugo. "Who is he?" He asked, while pointing."He's a friend." I answered."Your little brother?" Hugo questioned."Her son. Name's Ben." Ben offered a handshake.Every single time. He always does this when there are new guys he sees me with. He is kind of protective of me in some way and I kind of find it really a
8.5Chris continues to read the entire page, "Wow this guy. He owns a lot of money. I wonder how he spends his wealth. Maybe he could open a hospital and pay hospital workers a bigger salary."I smile and tried to diver the topic away from Hugo, "How about lunch? I'm starving."He brings his hand together and stand from his seat, "Fantastic!"We went out to have lunch at our usual spot which was just located near the hospital. It’s been our favorite since the foods are incredible and the place has a really nice ambiance. We continued having our conversation while we were eating on our foods and it’s always nice to just hang out with Chris."Miranda, haven't you thought about getting into a relationship?" He asks, out of the blue after we discussed about Hugo’s offer to me.I really don't know how to answer when people bring this topic because I don’t think I am ready to share a part of me and Ben with someone else. I need to have this reassurance that the man I will spend a life with
9H U G OA knock came by the door."Come in." I say while my eyes were glued on the papers that I was busy signing.The door opens, and here comes my secretary, Maria, who's been getting hates from my fiancée Audrey Chamberlain. Audrey doesn't really like her especially when she is around here in my office every single day. Audrey mentioned that she thinks Maria is flirting with me. She's afraid I might bend her over my desk and have sex with her while she's away from me but I wouldn't do that.Audrey typically worries too much about the women around me and I guess she’s a little bit too overprotective. She keeps whining about having Maria fired because of her gut feeling which has always been wrong. I couldn’t fire Maria who has always been amazing and diligent with her work. She’s reached her position because she earned it from working her for long. Maria’s really great at her job, excellent in multi-tasking and she's very quick and attentive."Yes Maria?" I asked."These are the p
9.5For some reason, a part of me is actually hoping on seeing her again. I never had the chance to talk to her while I was sober. I never had the chance to actually spend time with her after the frolicking and fucking. I tried to look for her as much as I could but I couldn’t the morning after that.No traces of her, just this damned necklace.If I'd ever see her again, I would ask so many things like why she wanted to ask her why she left me that morning, how she has been after what happened and if she was alright after that.Most importantly, I want to know how hurt she was because I obviously took her virginity. I feel this guilt inside me because I haven't fucked a virgin before and the way she left that day without saying anything to me made me feel as if she was embarrassed.She must have seen the bloodstain and felt too shy to talk to me after. I thought she was going to be someone who was using me to ruin my image but then no one actually knew what happened. All these years I
10M I R A N D AI try to fix my gray colored graded contact lenses inside the bathroom and dropped a few eyedropper to avoid my eyes from drying. I have always sported gray eyes ever since my drunken one night with Hugo Saintclare. Yeah, I’m a freaking coward.I know, I’m always trying to hide my real identity from blond hair to the changed darker hair color and light blue eyes to fake gray colored lenses. Pathetic. Fucking pathetic Miranda. You are an absolute fucking pathetic, I swear. I’m still hiding even though Hugo is already right in front of me yet I am still so scared.I have always lived in guilt, embarrassment and… more guilt the more I see him, the guiltier I become.I have to tell him, I have to. I must. I need to tell him because he is the father of Ben.I finally left the bathroom as soon as I finished preparing myself for clearance. Until I hear my name being called, "Miranda Rose!"I quickly turned my head around and found Chris running towards me as if he was in a h
10.5I paused. "A little bit."He paused too and looked at me. "Is England the place where they have that large clock clock that’s the same as my name?"I nod, "Yes baby. That’s right.""Are we going there?""Do you want to go?"He paused again and pressed his lips together while he was thinking about what to answer to me. "No."Ben begins to eat again as I sigh inwardly. "Why not?" I can’t help but ask."It's pretty expensive."He's right. Who am I kidding? Everything in England is expensive and having the both of us there, with no friends around like Vivian or Arthur or Christian who would actually help me. New York is expensive too but at least I have friends who would help me when I am in financial need."You see Ben, mommy has been offered a job there in England and a friend of mine will help us when we get there." I tell him.Ben pulled his head up and looked at me, "You mean we're leaving New York?"I nod. "You don't want to?""Mom, I don't want to leave.” He pouts. “I can't le
11H U G O "Come on Hugo.""I told you, nothing."Ned remains silent from the other line while I was busy with my laptop."Tell me exactly why you're helping this woman, Hugo?" Ned asks me while he's on the other line.I fixed my Bluetooth earphone in my ear, "Because she needs help." I answered seriously as I kept my eyes glued on my laptop.I need to finish my presentation for next week's meeting and I still have tons of other stuff to prepare at the studio while Ned here keeps on bugging the hell out of me.I hear Ned chuckling. "Is that all?""Yes." I answered firmly, still keeping my gaze at my laptop."Really?" Ned teases."Yes Ned.""You don't need to lie to me Hue." He persuades me.I stopped from typing and just stared at my laptop while I release a deep sigh, "I'm not lying."My eyes hurt. My head hurts. My ear hurts. I think I need to take some good rest and it’s getting more annoying because Ned keeps irritating me from the other line. I thought to myself."Come on." He w
11.5I glance at my phone as I hit send but in a split second, my eyes widened in surprise as soon as I heard the receiver’s name.Ah, shit. Why did I send that to Miranda? I was supposed to send the fucking text to Audrey. Jesus Christ, Hugo you have always been such a clumsy little fucker.My eyes travelled back to my phone screen as soon as I received a message from a response from Miranda the next minute.MIRANDA: Hey Hugo. It’s surprising that you messaged me. I’m actually doing fine. How are you?HUGO: I’m actually doing fine. Are you busy nurse Miranda?I don't know why I'm texting her.Christ Hugo, are you flirting?Damn it. Damn it Hugo.I shake my head sideways as I think about… Stop it while it's early. You know yourself better and you have got to stop this fucking non-sense. I wasn't actually thinking about Miranda when I was typing that message because it was absolutely meant for Audrey.MIRANDA: FYI I'm no longer working as a nurse. But I'm not busy. I'm just teaching Be