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“True. Someone was—is—trying to mess with his work, but I’ve fixed that. In fact, today I’m going to send the last set of data that I’ve collected.” Those files that are on my USB.
“So what are you going to do?” Rose asks. “Will you just ghost him?”
“That would be the perfect payback, to be honest.” But for me, it’s not enough. I want to tell him what I feel about him, how much I hate him for betraying me once again. I didn’t get the chance to do it back then and even now I haven’t told him everything I’ve been feeling inside me all these years.
“Maybe he was afraid,” Rose says. “I mean, a guy with that kind of money must be surrounded by people who want to take advantage of him. Maybe he didn’t want to tell you just yet. After all, you do have an interview with them. Maybe he wanted to surprise you.”
I snort. “You really think this is the kind of surprise he would plan for me?” It looks mostly like a cruel joke.
“Carol, you are hurt right now and you’re not thinking clearly. This time he has shown that he cares. Just like you have your issues, he has his. Maybe—“
“I don’t want to hear it right now,” I tell her, barely able to see through my looming tears. “I’ve got a job interview tomorrow—and don’t look at me like that, I’m not going to Reeds after all this—so I will focus on that and afterward I will talk to him. As soon as I feel ready.”
Two days later, having secured a new job, I walk inside the Reeds’ building. Today I’ve got my hair in a tight bun and have chosen a sleeveless black dress that hangs just below my knees. It’s clear that I’m not here to play games. Since I can’t just ask to see the CEO of a company, I stop a few feet away from the receptionist and call Brian.
“Carol?” he sounds stunned to hear me.
“Hello, Brian.” My tone is sharp but steady. “I’d like to see you. Now.”
“Tell me where and I’ll be there.”
That willingness and desperation in his voice, send a shiver down my spine. Why does he sound like he cares?
“No need. I’m here already. Just tell your receptionist that you are expecting me.” I hang up and slowly walk toward her. The phone rings the moment I stop in front of her.
“Hello, I’m Ms. Martin.”
She nods at me cheerfully but asks me to wait for a second to pick up the phone. Hearing my name from the CEO makes her eyes go wide. “He’s waiting for you,” she says and explains how to get to his office. Unsurprisingly, it’s on the top floor.
Brian’s secretary greets me the moment I get out of the elevator and knocks on his office door. Andrew opens it and immediately takes a step back so that I can come inside.
I nod at him as a thank you, not trusting my words at the moment. Before I came here today, I was certain that I’d handle this whole thing with grace. I’d ask why he lied to me and then leave. But now…
“I considered waiting until the interview, but I guess…” I look at Brian unable to hide my frustration. “I wanted to get this over with.”
“Please, have a seat.” He motions to the chair but then stands up again and moves toward me.
I wave my hand. “No need, I won’t stay long. I just—“ I bite my lower lip hard and steady myself when he takes one more step toward me.
Andrew clears his throat and mumbles something about privacy but neither of us pays any attention to him.
“I can explain—“
“Explain what, Brian? That you lied to me? Why all this facade? You concealed your surname and the fact that the company was yours. You even went as far as using a different apartment for me to see.” The accusation is mixed with pain, my voice wavering with each breath.
“That wasn’t for you, Carol. I was—“ He pauses, probably changing his mind about what he was going to say. “I was keeping a low profile because I’d been—”
“Go on, Brian.” This time, I’m the one taking a step toward him, so close I can reach out and touch him. “Tell me why you lied to me? Did you think I’d care for your money? You really thought that little of me?” One step closer and his face is inches from mine. “Tell me.”
“No. I was trying to keep a low profile with everyone until—“
“You made sure there were no gold diggers around? Please, don’t deny it. You had plenty of chances to tell me the truth—I kept asking you about the project, the private jet, the driver and the ease with which you took days off work. You just… kept on lying. Why?”
My voice breaks at the end. He reaches to wipe a single tear from my face, but I push his hand away.
“All these things were put in place before I decided to pursue you. But then I wanted you to give me a chance, to forgive me, without being affected by anything else, only with the image you had of me all those years ago. Of course I was going to tell you, but I could feel you were set on taunting me and I kept postponing it until—“
“And the interview?” I interrupt him. “You thought that would be a nice surprise for me? Is that why you kept asking about my job?”
