Chapter 88

I didn't want to talk about the couple I unfortunately shared blood with. And I erased all thoughts of them from my mind. As far as I cared, they could cease to exist and I wouldn't be at all affected by it. I thought of Layla, and I wondered what I ought to do. Arden had said she was seated Infront of the building and I was burning to go out and see her,but it felt like I'd be pouring gasoline over the already blazing fire if I did that. That entire day had been hell. I was positive that if I tried approaching her then we'd just end up arguing all over again. 

What we needed was a fresh start, tomorrow.

I'd let her remain in the company of her thoughts and then tomorrow and go over to her and try to harsh things out. She was acting rather strange though, I wondered what exactly could be going on in her head. I knew it partly had to do with Miguel and his intended walking in on us, but she had been acting that way even before the incident. Like she was struggling to find ways to upset me. Like she harboured some sort of rage within her. 

Thinking about her behavior, I concluded that I had perhaps done something wrong and she didn't want to tell me about it. It was the only thing that seemed to make sense. But I didn't know exactly what I had done. I was never conscious when I wronged her, and most of the times the things I thought were casual actions did tend to affect those around me. 

But why wouldn't she just tell me?!

It must have been something serious if it drove her to end us. But I'm certain she was only speaking out of anger, she wants me. 

Her desire was imprinted in her eyes, tangled up with her fury. And if what she wants is for me to bother her until she opens up then that's exactly what I'm going to do. I have never done this before, but I'll be willing to devote all my time into forcing her to talk. And if I have to get creative then that's exactly what I'll do. 

I asked Arden not to approach her because I knew he wanted to. He had been on his way out when he saw her and had wanted to go and find out if she was okay, but he had decided against it. 

" Figured you'd be involved, " he told me. 

All she had to do was bloody tell me what the problem was. Maybe it had to do with money. If so then I was going to find out and I'd fix it, even if it would be against her wishes. She'd get over it soon enough. Arden finally left my room, saying I ought to clean up before I went to sleep. 

Since when did he care about neatness?

In the minutes that followed I struggled to stay still when all I really wanted to do was go to her and demand answers. But I managed to do so. I did however, send her a text. 

" It's fucking cold out there, stop wallowing and get back in here. "

It sounded caring to me and I went with it. And it was genuine. But I was certain that she was going to ignore it. And because I didn't want us to end up in yet another fight, I decided to busy myself with cleaning up the mess I had made even though I would have rather waited till the following day and had the cleaning lady do it. 

By the time I was done, everything looked slightly better. The trash bin was full and I wanted to sleep. And so I did. 

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The following day, the first thing I did before I headed to work was drop by Miguel's law firm. I had been there only a couple of times but I clearly recalled where his office was. I had asked my assistant to book an appointment and I hoped he'd done so. I did pay him to accomplish the impossible. I had an urgent meeting with the head of my staff in the next hour and I hoped I'd be done before then. I went straight to Miguel's office, only stopping once when I bumped into Lucas Lockwood. He was the reason Miguel was the second best lawyer in the state. The first place had naturally always been his. And he was Crystal's father.I hadn't seen him at the exhibition last night but he was one of the busiest individuals that there were. We chatted for a while, I had always respected him and his high level of professionalism. He was in a hurry however and after a quick chat we went on our separate ways. He assured me that Miguel was around and I was glad to hear that. To be honest, if it weren't for Layla I wouldn't have been doing that. I never cared what others thought about me, my reputation as a 'player' had always preceded me. It never bothered me as much, most of the things in the tabloids were false, not all of them, but a pretty solid number. And Miguel and I had known each other for a pretty long time, more than my lawyer, he was a close friend of mine. 

His receptionist smiled when she saw me, standing up to lead me into his office. I followed closely behind her, and once I got into the office, I found Miguel absorbed in his work. Stacks and stacks of paperwork on his desk. He was going through them, a Len in his hand. 

" This is quite the surprise, " he said without glancing up. Clearly knowing who it was. I smirked, glancing around the office with a hand tucked into my pocket.

" Did you redecorate? I love the new look. "

" Dahlia did, apparently one of her pregnancy cravings is interior design. I go home to a new layout almost every night. " he absentmindedly said, his eyes still glued to his work. I noted one of my paintings on the wall and I chuckled, but I made no mention of it. He stood and walked over to the bookshelf on the opposite side of the office, keenly going through the titles before he took out a large book and turned back on his heels to face me. Then he crossed his arms with the book still in hand. His dark hair always seemed to gleam. If there was one person who's taste was unmatched then it was Miguel. Of course I was also in the list, but that didn't mean I couldn't admire the efficiency with which he did things, the classy way he carried himself and how he always seemed effortlessly elegant. 

" Your assistance called mine at two in the morning, pleading that she add you to my schedule. That's not how I operate. "

" But it's how I do. "

He chuckled and turned to the side. 

" What's this about?"

He knew quite well what it was about. I didn't respond and he sighed, then he pointed at me with his book. 

" I'm not the type to gossip Germaine. I might not agree with what you two are doing but it's none of my concern."

" You're horribly mistaken. "

He walked over to his desk and sat down once more, but he didn't go back to studying the documents on his desk, I stead he leaned back against his seat and arched a brow.

" You were passionately kissing your best friend's wife. Christ! How long have they been married? A month?"

" I'm not quite sure, I didn't mark the date. "

" Wow, you will never change. "

" What's that supposed to mean?" 

I hated the tone he had used. It carried judgement. 

" I mean, you're always thinking about yourself, when in your life have you thought of a person that isn't you?" 

" You don't know me well enough to come to that conclusion Diaz, "

He let out an exasperated sigh and I watched as he undid his cufflinks and swiftly rolled up both his sleeves, then he opened up the book and started going through it. 

" Why are you here?" he finally asked. 

I walked over to the desk and sat down since he seemed to have forgotten his manners. 

" I'm here because Layla is worried, "

It was the truth. 

" She's messing around with you despite being married, of course she should be worried. "

" She's not married, " I casually said. Miguel stopped flipping through his lages and looked up at me with nothing but confusion written on his features. 

" What. the hell are you talking about?" 

He must have thought it was one of my jokes because he returned his focus to his work. I hadn't been planning on telling him, but I had gone there without a plan and the slightest clue of what I would tell him. So I was simply saying whatever came to mind. I didn't care whether he'd find out of about the secret. As long as Layla's honor remained untouched.