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I shake my head back and forth, taking the paper towel from her arms. “It’s nothing to worry about. Just focus on the customers. I’ll clean this up.”

She hesitates but starts to move away as I asked. Just before she turns, asks me one more time. “Are you sure?”

I am not sure. My anger and hurt are bubbling inside my chest like a volcano ready to explode. How long do I have to put up with this? Is she just going to keep coming back, day in and day out, until we finally admit that none of this is real?

It does not seem like our fake engagement is getting rid of her at all. I will lose the strength for this battle long before she will. Is there any point?

None of this is a topic I can bring up to a helpful employee, anyway. So I just nod, lying in response to her question. “I am fine. I will get this cleaned up.”

She gets back to the register, and I go to my knees. The magazine is utterly destroyed. Though I know I can easily get my hands on a new copy, the action was profound and frightening in its desperation.

I hold in tears as I wipe up the rest of the coffee water, eventually getting a mop to clean up the sticky floor. There’s something so devastating about hearing the way the magazine lands in the trash can with a chilling thud. Like it’s a bad omen of what is still to come.

34

AIDEN

Iwant to make a point of visiting Josephine at work more often. Not only does it look good for our plan, but I feel like I genuinely want to see her. I get a bit excited when I receive a text from my bride.

Ada was here.

A frown replaces my smile, the enthusiasm from just a moment ago slipping away. The message is vague but troubling. I am only a few minutes away from the cafe, so I blast myself there, whipping into the parking lot at epic speed.

I know what Ada is capable of. The fact that she is now installed as a member at the company means that she thinks her tactics are working. Far from going away, she’s now gaining traction. I fear what other desperate measures she is going to apply.

I get out of the car and see through the glass that Josephine is cleaning up something. She is using a mop, with an expression of utter defeat.

“What now, Ada?” I say to myself.

I get inside, and her employees greet me with the same level of cheeriness as always. I give them a polite nod, then walk over to Josephine. She doesn't even realize I am there, so I touch the handle of the mop.

“Babe?” I say softly.

She looks up at me, the realization brightening her glum expression. I smile. I can’t help it when I’m around her.

“What happened, honey?”

She points over at a garbage bag. It sits loose on the floor, pulled out of the can so it can be taken to the dumpster soon.

“Ada had my copy of the magazine publication,” she says, sounding tired. “She said I could never be good enough for you…then poured coffee all over it.”

I feel my heart clench in my chest. The audacity of this woman! Not only has she hurt Josephine, but she refuses to give up and give into the fact that I am no longer single.

What right does she have to say who is good enough for me? The nerve of it makes my face heat with anger. The person not acceptable to me is her, not Josephine, and she still refuses to face it.

I rub the bridge of my nose, still holding onto the mop handle. Josephine tries to tug it gently out of my hand, intending to finish cleaning.

I do not surrender my grip. “Can we sit down for a minute?” I inquire.

“I want to get this done…”

“Two minutes Josephine, please.”

She sighs then lets go of the mop. I take it and place it in the bucket, pushing it near the stain that remains on the floor.

We walk over to our usual booth, and her head hangs low. I hate seeing her this way. She looks more than downtrodden; she seems hopeless.

“Josephine, I know it sounds pathetic at this point, but I want you to know that I am so, so sorry on behalf of my ex’s behavior. You don’t deserve any of that.”

Source: www.allfreenovel.com
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