ROBERT After deliberating for an hour, I parked my car in front of the restaurant where Renee worked, ready to talk to her. My stomach flipped, and before I could change my mind or even consider whether this was a good idea, my hands instinctively went to the door handle and pushed it open. As I stepped out of the vehicle, a gust of wind hit me square in the face. The air was crisp and cold, biting at my exposed skin and forcing itself painfully into my lungs. The sky had suddenly turned dark gray, and the air was chilly, making me a little nervous as I approached the building. I glanced at my wristwatch and saw that it was already four in the afternoon—two hours before she finished her shift if I recall correctly—and I quickened my pace. I looked inside the restaurant through the glass windows, hoping to see Renee, but there was no sign of her. As I approached the front door, I took deep breaths and tried to convince myself that she was probably somewhere else in the building
RENEE "It’d be in your best interests if you left, Robert. She isn't interested in seeing you." I pressed my ear to the bedroom door, my chest tightening as Nicole and Robert's spat grew louder with each word. The argument had begun a few minutes ago when Robert arrived and, luckily for me, Nicole answered the door. He’d demanded to see me, wanting to talk, and she’d flatly refused. Then he'd tried to explain that he was here to apologize and make amends, but Nicole wasn’t budging. She was hurt and angry on my behalf, and rightfully so."I won't. I'm not leaving until Renee tells me she doesn't want to see me herself.” Robert spoke up, his voice firm, persistent, and determined. "I'm sorry to disappoint you, but she won't. Leave, Robert. I'm doing my best not to be impolite here." "Nicole, please stop making this so difficult." He begged, sounding so desperate that my heart ached for a split second. Nicole made a noise of disgust. "I shouldn't make this difficult. Says the ma
ROBERT "A refill?" The bartender asked as I held up my empty glass, and I curtly nodded. Taking a sip of the burning liquid, I grimaced at the bitter aftertaste, then returned my gaze to my phone on the bar’s countertop. I sat and stared at the picture of Renee displayed on the screen.In this photo, she was asleep on my hotel bed, her mouth slightly open and her strawberry blonde hair messy and scattered on the sheets. Her long lashes cast shadows across her delicate cheeks, giving her a soft and fragile appearance. Dammit, but she was so beautiful. The most gorgeous sight I'd ever seen and one I'd never get tired of looking at.Flipping through my photos, I found another picture of her. One I’d taken while she was standing on the balcony of our new mansion.With her arms outstretched, her dress fluttering against the wind, and the fabric dancing wildly before settling back into place. She looked so happy and at peace that, for a moment, my heart clenched.Her eyes were closed, bu
RENEE As I walked into my apartment, the soothing sound of SYML's “Girl” played from the small stereo in the corner. The song brought with it a sense of peace and calm that I rarely experienced these days. It helped me relax, even if only for a short time. And that was precisely what I needed right now—to relax. To let myself breathe without being weighed down by my worries. The previous few days had been... trying. Trying and more challenging than I could’ve imagined. “Damn!” I muttered, shoulders slumping as I closed the door behind me, sighing exhaustedly against it. My body sagged in front of me. My hands pushed my long hair away from my face before rubbing my tired eyes and pinching my nose. I knew my sleep-deprived appearance wasn't doing me any favors, and I wouldn't say I liked thinking about how I looked. Instead, I tried to distract myself by recalling everything that’d happened today. From scouring the streets of Orlando in my fruitless search for another job—since I
ROBERT “Robert, stop sending me flowers! Stop sending apology notes! They won’t change anything, so stop. Stop it!” Renee’s voice came through from the other end of the phone the moment I pressed the answer button and held the phone to my ear. I shivered slightly. Her call had arrived just as I was wallowing in self-pity, with a bottle of whiskey in hand and a plate of uneaten food staring blankly at me. I’d been ready to drown myself in a sea of sadness when this phone call interrupted my lonely reverie. Like always, her voice pulled me out from under the water where my problems had taken hold, forcing me into a state of self-consciousness I hadn’t felt in days. Renee was my lifeline. A ray of sunshine amid a stormy sky. She made me want to be more. To be better. She was my rock, the one thing that kept me grounded in the midst of this constant chaos.Ever since she’d come into my life, everything had changed.For the first time in years, I felt so in love. So happy. So, satisfi
RENEE “I’ll go check who’s at the door.” Nicole offered, smiling as she kissed me goodbye and exited the bedroom for the living room. “If it’s the delivery guy with flowers and notes, just send him back to wherever he came from.” I yelled after her, my eyes rolling. “As usual.” She snickered. “Of course. As usual.” I said. “I’ll do exactly that, my lady. Whatever you say.” She responded with a mock curtsy, and I rolled my eyes. Sighing, I sat on my bed, pushing the comforter across my legs and pulling my knees into my chest. I leaned back and watched as the sun rays from outside flickered across the walls and curtains, casting a warm orange hue into the small cozy room. My thoughts drifted away as I reminisced on the past few days' events. I faintly smiled and closed my eyes as I inhaled the fresh breeze that filtered through the open window. Even though my life was in shambles, and I was still unemployed, I was doing my best to stay positive. Suffice it to say that nothing e
ROBERT “Mr. Clarke. Someone’s waiting for you in the office.” As my secretary leaned over the table and whispered something into my ear, I looked up from the conference desk, trying my best not to scowl. “And why are you telling me this? I said I didn’t want any interruptions or intrusions, right? I’m in the middle of a crucial conversation here.” I motioned to the board members seated dutifully, waiting for me to continue our discussion. “Any visitor is welcome to wait. I’ll take care of them after I finish here.” But my secretary wasn’t paying attention. “The visitor appears adamant about seeing you right now.” She continued, her brow furrowed. “She is…” “She?” “Yes. The guest is a lady. A certain Miss Renee.” Renee? Holy shit! What was she doing here? My lips twitched, and my eyes widened in surprise. “Did you say, Miss Renee?” I asked, this time softly.“Yes sir, that’s right,” my secretary replied with a nod.“Oh… But it won’t be Miss Renee for long. Mrs. Clarke would be
RENEE As Robert’s lips plundered me, our tongues clashed, our bodies collided, and my heart exploded with emotion.He was kissing me. This man who was the absolute love of my life. My soulmate. My all. My everything.He was my nemesis. Someone I claimed to despise with a zeal that could incinerate anything in its path. He’d hurt me so much I’d vowed to never forgive him.I’d told myself a thousand times that we’d never be together again, but now he was kissing me. And fuck, if I didn’t like it.Hell, I wanted this. Damn it! I wanted him even more desperately now.As his hands caressed, my hair and the kiss deepened, my knees weakened, and my brain began to shut down. Everything softened within me, and I melted into him, craving his warmth. His touch. His love. This should’ve been a romantic moment—after all, we were kissing after weeks apart. It ought to have meant something. But it didn’t, not with our ongoing quarrel and the fact that I still held a strong grudge against him.“Fu