CHAPTER 113

Kyle King

I stumbled into my apartment, hating how pathetic I looked. It’s been almost six months since I left Nashville for the United Kingdom to complete a project and win the heart of my ex-wife. The project was completed but not ‘Project Win Tessa Back' . I had failed woefully throughout the previous months, but I wasn’t ready to return home until the second project was done.

My team was working tirelessly to ensure the King’s company’s activities moved smoothly, and I attended all virtual meetings when necessary. I also kept up with tasks for each day to be aware of every move made in the company. I could afford to stay in the United Kingdom until I accomplished my goal.

The main reason why I took on Richard’s project.

I pushed my hand through my already dishevelled hair and sawed until I fell on the couch. I had taken a lot of Martini shots one hour ago with Xavier and some friends we made while working in the hotel. Xavier was still at the seedy bar joint, catching fun with ladies and doing what he was good at. Womanising.

I envied him. His free lifestyle with no commitments. He could afford to be irresponsible and uncontrollable, but me? I had a lot at stake, and there was my mom, who ensured I didn’t do anything to destroy the precious family’s name or her golden reputation.

I suppressed thoughts about her because she was linked to my second nemesis, Avaline. Anything about Avaline made my stomach crumble, and there was always a painful reminder of what she did to Tessa and me.

I sighed, pulling off my clothes and closing my eyes. I couldn’t sleep. I picked up my phone, and before I could stop myself, I sent a text message to Tessa, hoping that this time around she would reply.

‘You should be sleeping, Kyle King, and not disturbing a woman at this hour,’ she replied, adding an angry emoji.

I sat up immediately. This was the first response from her since her birthday month. She had refused to talk to me, pick up my calls, or reply to my messages. At some point, I wanted her to block my numbers so that I would have something against her. But she didn’t. Maybe she wanted to punish me with her silence and make me overthink.

I typed a reply instantly: You should also be sleeping. I was just testing if my number was still unblocked.

She sent a laughing emoji.

I decided to push a bit. I miss you, Tessa. Give me a chance to start again. Let me make you fall in love with me again.

‘You have missed that chance, Kyle. There is no me and you again. Goodnight.’

My heart sank immediately. Maybe I shouldn’t have pushed it, but you couldn’t blame a man for trying. I thought about sending a reply, but something held me back. There were different ways of winning a woman’s heart. I just had to find the best one that wouldn’t push Tessa away.

I smiled slowly. I already knew what I needed to do this time.

Sunlight greeted me as I opened my eyes. My head felt like there were two carpenters competing on who made the loudest bang. I stretched and blinked. Someone had covered me with a blanket during the night. It must have been Xavier. 

‘Good morning, bro. You reek of alcohol. How many did you take again last night?’ Xavier asked, handing over a cup of coffee and pastries.

I collected them, tearing the pastry into two and shoving one half into my mouth. I was hungry.

‘I didn’t count, but last night won’t be repeating itself. I feel wasted and the headaches!’ I groaned, dropping the pastries and rubbing my forehead. I didn’t know hangovers were this bad. I always controlled myself when I had alcohol because I hated what it did to people. 

Xavier stood up and said, ‘Let me get you some aspirin and a glass of water. You really look bad, bro.’

I nodded, not having the strength to argue with him. I picked up the last pastry on the plate and managed to swallow it without screaming like a baby. The bangs were too much. 

‘Here you go. I haven’t seen you badly drunk until last night. It felt like you were trying to drink away your problems, which, you know, isn’t possible.’

‘I know. I just wanted to be reckless for one night and not think about my problems.’ I replied, throwing the pills into my mouth and taking a long sip of water.

He stared at me and said, ‘Have you heard from Tessa?’

I smiled and said, ‘Yeah, she finally replied to my messages last night, but she is still not ready to mingle. I was thinking I could check up on her at Hoplas Design.’

‘That’s a bad idea, Kyle. Have you forgotten the threats her father made after the display at her birthday party? You almost got us arrested for your foolish act!’

‘Foolish act? You were the one who orchestrated everything. I was just a mere pawn in your hands. Anyway, I am going there, Xavi. I need to see her, or else I might just give up right now.’

He shrugged. ‘You have overstayed here, Kyle. How long are you going to keep doing this? It’s obvious she doesn’t love you anymore and doesn’t want to see you around her or the kids. You know she has been going on dates, right?’

I shook my head, not wanting to believe him. ‘What do you mean she has been going on dates?’

He laughed, looking surprised. ‘Don’t tell me you expected her not to continue living? You remarried; she didn’t. You are single now, and you expect her to be single too and not go out with other men?’

‘Right. You are taking her side again. Where’s she meeting the guy?’

‘What do you mean?’ he asked, avoiding my gaze.

I replied coldly, ‘I am aware she’s going out tonight and that, you know where. Spill it, Xavi.’

He shrugged, writing the information on a piece of paper. ‘Don’t cause any drama there, Kyle. She deserves to be happy.’

I smiled sardonically. I couldn’t promise anything.