Stuck on you

Loose tie, unbuttoned shirt, coat on the floor, lip print on his neck, lipstick on his cheek, a lady's mouth pressed against his and a messy desk was what Julie saw as Steven passionately kissed another woman. He lifts his head and stares into her eyes. Julie feels as though he was looking into her wounded heart. As the saying goes, the eyes are the window to the soul. When their eyes locked, Julie could tell that he seemed confused, and Steven saw that Julie felt hurt.

Julie's heart rate increases, her lips shake, and her hand trembles. She pressed her right hand against her left arm to keep herself poised and calm. "I am sorry, sir. I will come back when you are not busy." She said in a quavering and unsteady voice, as though she was stuttering. Steven woke up from his shock and realized what was occurring. "Julie!" Steven mumbled. He got off Chloe and concentrated on her. Julie felt a wet substance on her face. She slowly touches her skin, then stares at her finger. There were tears falling out of her eyes, unknown to herself.

"I am sorry. I will go now." Julie replied. This time, she could barely get the words out. Her voice sounded miserable. "Who is she? Why would you enter your boss's office without knocking? How can an employee be so arrogant?" Chloe said as she brought her dress hand up and straightened her clothes. Julie did not reply. She felt frozen in her current position and could not move. Julie felt as though if she took a step, she would fall apart and lose her control.

"Not now, Chloe! Julie, I can explain. Please, this is not what you think. Well, this is what you believe it to be, but there is so much you don't know. Give me a chance to explain, please." Steven pleaded. He took three steps toward her, but Julie closed her eyes and shook her head. "Please, Julie," Steven begged.

As he attempted to make another move forward, Steven felt his shirt getting stretched back. He turned and saw that Chloe had the tip of his shirt folded tightly in her grip. "What is going on?" She asked. Reality had kicked in, and Chloe understood she got replaced in Steven's heart by someone else. He shifted his gaze away from Chloe and placed it on Julie.

Julie stared at his messy hair and rumpled clothes and felt unwilling to listen to him. But what wrecked her every drop of optimism was the name "Chloe."

"I apologize again to you and your guest. I don't think you need to explain anything to me, Boss. After all, seeing is believing for me. Don't worry about my little heart. I have accepted the fact that I am not your type." Julie said with a bitter smile. She found the strength to turn around and walked out with a wet face, red eyes, and messy makeup.

"Julie, wait up! I am sorry!" He screamed. Steven yanked his shirt from Chloe's grip. He tried to run after Julie, but Chloe's voice froze him. "Are you convinced you want to step out of here looking like that?" She said. Steven stared at his sloppy appearance in his office mirror and dressed up suitably.

"Hey, Julie!" Daniel called out as he watched her wandering like a disoriented person out of the building. She didn't stop walking, and he ran after her, perceiving that something was bothering her. 'It's still morning, so why is she leaving the company at this hour?' Daniel wondered as he caught up with Julie. He taps her on the shoulder lightly. "Hey!" Daniel said with a bright smile when she turned around. Julie stared at him. Daniel had this cheerful expression on his face, and that made her even sadder. But somehow, the way he smiled at her made her feel comfortable.

Julie rested her head on his chest and sobbed. She felt pathetic that she was crying on a stranger, yet Julie could not pull herself together. Daniel seemed confused and embarrassed. However, he did not push her away. The lobby appeared emptied, so Daniel allowed Julie to remain in her position.

Steven finally fastens the last button on his shirt and brushes his hair. His image in the mirror looked decent enough to go out, and Steven knew that he could run after Julie now. "She's the reason you don't want us anymore, right?" Chloe cried. She lost control of her man, and now Chloe regrets the years she did not appreciate his presence in her life.

"Us fell apart the moment you chose cash over my affection. After our six-year relationship ended, we only had a mutual partnership between us. My money for your company is all it was for us. And, yes! It took me a long time to understand that it was not genuine love we experienced for the remaining two years. After we broke up, and were still sleeping together, we were just friends with benefits and nothing more for those two years, Chloe. Julie made me realize that, and I am not giving her up. I am sorry." Steven replied.

Chloe could not believe what she just heard. It was over before she could tell him how she truly feels. Steven left her in the office and ran outside. He prayed that Julie would still be in the building as he searched for her. Chloe weeps bitterly as she sits alone, then her eyes catch a glance of her miserable appearance in the mirror. "I am not letting go of you easily. Not when I finally know what I want for my life." Chloe said and wiped her eyes. She stood up and went after him.

Steven reached the lobby and saw Julie. He was about to call her name when he noticed that she was in another man's arms. Steven got furious and wanted to approach them when he heard his name. "Steven!" Chloe screamed. She rushed towards him and hugged him from the back. "I love you. I love you, Steven Mason!" Chloe cried, grabbing his coat and clutching it tightly. Julie lifted her head from Daniel's chest and watched them. Steven gave her an emotional gaze, and she could not remove her sight from him. Their eyes got fixed on each other, neither one of them felt like looking away.