Chapter Twenty-One

Running From The Truth

Helena's POV 

  

  It's been two days since I asked Keith to leave my house and since that time I hadn't heard a word from him.

  I should be relieved about this but for some reason I couldn't explain, it irked me and I just wanted to send myself to the naughty corner for even starting anything with him in the first place.

  “What were you thinking, Lena?” I asked myself quietly and Maria replied.

  “Did you say something, Lena?”

  “No, no. I was just talking to myself.”

  “Mmmhmm.” She replied sarcastically and pushed her anti blue-ray glasses downwards and dramatically gave a pose that silently depicted. 'Let me have a good look at you.’

  I gave her a self conscious laugh and asked. “Girl, what is it?”

  “You were talking to yourself. That's what's up. You've been talking to yourself for days now and we both know when you do that, then you have something eating you inside. I know it's not work because you guys wrapped up the deal successfully and you are on a short break.”

  I clamped my lips together so that I wouldn't say anything because I didn't want to make a big deal out of nothing but Maria trained her piercing gaze on me and I had to shout. “Well, what is it?”

  “I am waiting for you to say it.”

  “Say what?”

  “What's eating you up inside?”

  “Nothing's eating me up inside. I just have this situation with Keith.”

  “Sebastian's Keith? Maria asked and after I nodded she asked. “what's going on?”

  “So he came over as planned and we had sex but then he started saying words I didn't understand. Words that were not in my dictionary.”

  “Words that were not in your dictionary? What the hell are you talking about, Helena?” She asked me with a bewildered expression on her face.

  “Well, he told me that he had a feeling that I was not willing to share more than my body with him and when I told him that he was correct, he said he wanted body and heart. He wanted a committed relationship.

  “Oh!”

  “Yeah.

  “And what did you do? What was your reaction?” She pushed her laptop to the side so that she could focus on me.

  “I panicked, picked up his clothes, threw them on his face and told him to get out.”

  “That must have been weird. So what's eating you up about all of this? I mean, he's gone like you wanted so what's the issue?”

  I sat back on my chair and folded my arms with a sigh. “Maria, you know I crossed his father already in the last senior executives meeting I was privileged to attend and the only reason I got away with that was that I was right and it made them a lot of money. What if all of this with Keith brings another layer of problem to my career? His family is one of the ruling families in the legal sphere.”

  Maria not only heard the worry in my voice but she also saw it in my countenance so she took my hand and squeezed it softly.

  “Helena, you're very good at what you do, and even though you have wild choices where your relationships are concerned, I've always known you to be a woman with a good head on her shoulders. You don't mix business with pleasure and you sure as hell weren't doing that when you hooked up with Keith so if he decides to take it out on you professionally then he's the smallest man in the world but I don't think Keith is like that, even though I don't really know him.”

  As we talked, my phone buzzed and I picked it up and answered the call without checking the caller ID, thinking that it was one of my hook-ups or someone from work.

  “Helly?” I heard his smooth baritone.

  “Keith?” I asked even though I knew he was the one, then I wondered why my heart skipped.

  Maria sat up as I mentioned his name then shifted closer to me to offer silent support in case I needed it.

  “Yeah, uh, it's Keith. I just called to check on you. How have you been?”

  “I'm good.”

  “Okay, that's great. Helly, can we talk? Maybe have lunch or dinner to talk some time?”

  “We can't talk now?” I asked with skepticism wondering what he had to say.

  “Yeah, we can but I prefer a sit down.”

  “Mmm, okay. I will get back to you concerning your request.”

  He chuckled and replied. “You sound so formal, you should probably add best regards to your statement.”

  I laughed at his statement then we talked awkwardly for a few minutes and hung up.

  “Well, that was awkward.” I stated after I hung up the call.

  “At least we know that he is not mad at you. That was not the voice of an angry man.”

  “I guess so but what do you think he wants to talk about?”

  “I don't know, but it obviously has to do with you two. The question is, do you really want to add him to your list of boy toys? Hasn't it gotten old for you, Lena?”

  “What does that mean, Maria?”

  “For so many years you've been hopping from one man to another. Whenever it starts getting serious, you break it off and find a new one and then you  things up and started banging multiple men at a time. When does it get old, Lena? When will you work on your demons?”

  “I don't know what you are talking about?” I replied and started packing my gadgets.

  I knew exactly what she was talking about but I didn't want to have the conversation or even acknowledge that there were demons. This is just me trying to prevent history from repeating itself.

  “You know exactly what I am talking about, Helena Montoya. You engage in casual flings because you somehow think that some man out there will do to you what your father did to your mother so men are not to be trusted. Men are not to be taken seriously where your emotions are concerned.”

  “Maria, this is different. I am just being careful.”

  “No you are not, and you know it. I have known you for many years, enough to know that you are running away from feelings, emotions, and love because you have attached demons to them.”

  I scoffed but deep down I knew that what she said was true so I decided to be stubborn.

  “Look who's talking to me. Are you not doing the same thing to Sebastian?”

  “No! Because Sebastian is not asking for my heart like Keith is asking for yours. What Sebastian and I have is strictly business with sexual pleasures attached. If a serious man comes along and I like him then I will give him a chance if not for the contract marriage to Seb.”

  I looked at her and thought. 'Oh, Maria, you are so wrong about you and Sebastian.’