LET ME TELL YOU WHO I AM

       They didn't get to talk about anything else at Dr Adriana's office, Dr Adriana had looked at the clock and Faith's time was almost up, so she gave the necessary pieces of advice she had, they thanked her and left. When they left, she looked up at Ethan Floyd. She knew it was none of her business, but she was curious to know if he was the one she knew. She saw his pictures and his empire and wondered what he was doing in her office with those thrift clothes, only one thing came to her mind. He was disguising. But why? 

        Ethan drove Faith to her office. She thanked him for going to the psychiatrist with her. She noticed that Ethan was uneasy and in a hurry to go. 

      "Are you alright?" she asked. 

      "Yes. I have somewhere to go to," he replied. 

    Faith decided that his personal life wasn't her concern, so she didn't ask further. He hugged her. 

      "I know we said no touching, but a hug is harmless and we are in public." 

      She hugged him back, rubbing his back.  He smelled so nice that she wanted to remain in his arms forever. He slowly pulled away, went out of the car, circled and opened the door for her. She stepped out, smiling at him. She was sad that he had to leave, she was missing him already. But she had to caution herself. 

      "I will see you in the evening for that dinner date, right." 

 She shook her hand in front of him.  "It's not a date, remember?" 

      "Oh, my bad. Our dinner. Don't overwork yourself, so you won't be exhausted." 

       "I will be available. Bye then." 

        "Bye," Ethan said and stood there looking awkward and unsure, then he bent and hugged her again. 

       She hugged him back, happy that he hugged her again. He gently pulled away and kissed her forehead. 

       "See you in the evening then," he said and motioned her to go in. 

    She turned to go, her heart fluttered and raced at the same time and those butterflies kept fluttering in her stomach and she smiled to herself and looked back. He was still standing there, he waved at her as she turned, she waved back and walked faster. She needed to wake up from this dream sooner. 

    Ethan entered his car and drove away. Faith went into the elevator to her office. When she got to her floor, her assistant was waiting in front of her elevator with a coffee mug. Faith was surprised, she had never given that instruction. 

      Her assistant stepped closer and handed her the coffee and whispered.  "There is a man here to see you. He doesn't have an appointment." She gestured behind her with a slight tilt of her head. 

       Faith looked behind her assistant and what she saw was a large bouquet at first, then Noah poked his face from behind the flowers. 

      "I am sorry, I told him you can't see anyone without an appointment but he insisted that you would hear him out." 

       Faith looked at her assistant and smiled. She sipped the coffee.  "Don't worry, I will hear him out." She started walking towards her office.  "Let him in," she said aloud for Noah to hear. She went into her office and shut the door. 

      Noah came in almost immediately as she was removing her coat. He carried the large bouquet and had to tilt his head so that he would see her face. He dropped the flowers on the table and looked around smiling at her. She hung her coat on the hanger and watched him, waiting to hear what he wanted to say. 

      "I don't see the other bouquet I sent the other day around. Maybe you kept it at home?" 

       "Is that what you came to inquire? About your flowers?" 

       "No, Faith...listen..." 

      "Well, if you must know, I discarded them. You know how much I hate seeing trash around me." 

      "Faith, that's a bouquet, not trash." 

      Faith sat down and started opening her laptop.  "Anything I don't need is trash to me and I don't keep them." 

       "Faith?" 

      "If you are done inquiring about your flowers, you can leave." She looked up at him. "If you want me to replace them for you, you can email me your account details but if you don't want it in cash, I will have my assistant pick it up for you, I believe she saw it better than I did." 

       "Faith, I won't watch you insult me." 

       "What the hell are you doing in my office!" Faith yelled. 

      The door flung open and her assistant rushed in, looking confused.  "Faith, is everything alright?" 

    Faith flashed her a smile.  "Yes, dear." 

   Her assistant stared suspiciously at Noah and slowly left the office. When she closed the door, Faith stood up. 

       "Your sight infuriates me. It makes me lose my cool." 

      "Faith, I'm sorry, please, just hear me out." 

      "What?" 

      "Just one dinner." 

     "I rather run into the road and get hit by a car than listen to you again!" 

      Noah looked shocked.  "It's me, Noah." 

       "It's me, Faith!" 

       "Is it because of him?" 

       "Who? Wait! Are you stalking me?" 

        "No, I just saw that he dropped you off. I have been here since morning because I know you don't joke with your work and you come to the office earlier even if you don't have clients early. I wanted to be the first to talk to you and when I waited for a few hours and you didn't show up, I thought that your devilish assistant had told you I was here. I decided to leave but saw you guys downstairs. Faith, you have changed so much."

      "I am glad you noticed. Change is always constant." 

     "Faith, can't you see he is a bad influence? He is influencing you negatively. Even Nora didn't influence you like this." 

     Faith chuckled and looked at him.  "Get out of my office." 

       "What?" 

        "What? Do you feel I can't ask you to leave my office? This is my space and you are intruding." 

        "Who is that guy? Is he more good looking than I am?" 

        "I guess you saw him, you should judge that yourself." 

        "Is he as rich as me?" 

        "I don't owe you any explanation. What the heck are you doing in my office?! Where is your Belle?!" 

      Noah's face fell.  "She broke up. She is not even the one for me, you are. We have known each other the longest and we are quite used to each other now. I even engaged you once, remember? We can do it again." 

      "What an amazing story. That's cap." 

        "I know you won't believe me, but I'm not capping. I'm ready to have you back in my life and put that ring on your finger again." 

      Faith folded her arms across her chest, staring at him. She looked convinced. Noah grabbed the opportunity. 

       "Think of it Faith, I have done it before and I am willing to do it again. I know you, Faith, I have seen your good side, your bad, your ugly, you have seen mine too. We are perfect with each other." 

       "Oh, Noah," Faith said slowly, looking down and placing her hand on her forehead. 

      "I know deep down inside, you still love me, you are just angry about how Belle treated you and I am here to right that wrong. Just give me another chance." 

       "You must really think I am dim-witted to believe you!" Faith raised her face and looked at him.  "Now, let me tell you exactly who I am." She recalled the words Ethan said to her last night and used them.  "I am nobody's fool, I am beautiful, smart, neat and descent, I am too good to be treated like that by any man. I won't let anyone see me any lesser than who I am. 

     I am too beautiful and possess great qualities any man could fall for. I can't go back to someone that doesn't deserve me, just because I am scared that no one would ever love me as much or because I keep dwelling on the past. It's time to face the future and that is what I am doing. You told your mistress that I was pitiable and that's why you stayed with me, you told her that I was messed up and my life and family were messed up... "

          "Faith..."

     Faith snapped a finger on his face.  "You will listen while I talk, I have listened to you enough. You told her that I was bad luck." She chuckled.  "I once believed those things and I kind of still believe them till now, but what I won't do anymore is get involved with you anymore. You are toxic and you mistreated me and all this while I have thought it was my fault. What you had for me was pity and you knew how vulnerable I was, so you took advantage, that's why you feel you could shuffle in and out of my life anytime you want to. I don't have sense, but I am borrowing some. So please, leave me and my bad luck alone."

       "Faith, I own you. I understand you more than anybody else." 

        Faith shook her head.  "No, you don't. Leave before I call the police and sue you for intrusion." 

       "It doesn't end here, Faith. If I can't have you, no one else will." 

       "Is that a threat?" 

      "I don't know, maybe a warning." Noah started taking steps back. 

     "I think you are forgetting your belonging," she said and pointed at the bouquet on her table.

       "Do whatever you like with it," Noah said and left the office, banging the door behind him. 

      Faith slumped down on her seat and let out a heavy breath. Her assistant rushed in. 

      "Fa ith, are you okay?" 

     Faith looked at her and nodded.   "Please, take this and discard it too." She pointed at the flowers.