Chapter 10

Willa

I laid in bed, staring at the ceiling as memories of yesterday's humiliation flooded my head.

Damian's harsh words and dismissive tone towards me kept displaying in my head.

Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I recalled each word of Damian.

My chest ached a lot.

I tossed aside the covers and got out of bed, walking barefooted to the window. The city awakened outside, a stark contrast to my turmoil.

Just then, my phone buzzed on the nightstand.

I hesitated before picking up, hoping it wasn't Max again. But the screen displayed an unknown number.

I declined the call, letting out a sigh of relief.

But the heavens were against me.

My phone rang again and I thought of declining the call again but I kicked against the idea.

"Hello" I spoke after picking the call.

"Hey, Willa. This is Max" he said

I rolled my eyes even though he can't see me.

"Hi" I said silently

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"Nothing… I'm just tired." I replied him even though I was certain he knew I was lying.

"Hmmm… Are you free this afternoon?" he asked

"Yes, I am" I replied.

"Good. Do you mind having lunch with me?" he asked. "Do not say no, please" he quickly added

"Erm… okay" I said.

"Thanks. Forward me your address, I will come pick you up" he spoke.

"No, don't" I said hurriedly.

Damian must not know I'm going out with Max again so it is impossible for me to give him my house address.

"No need to pick me up. Send me the address of the restaurant we would be having lunch and I will come myself" I said to him.

"If that's what you want, I'm okay with it" he said.

"See you soon" I said to him and hung up instantly not giving him chance to say another word.

I went into the bathroom to freshen up and got prepared for my lunch with Max.

Damian

I got back home from work at night and I went to my room to freshen up.

The house was silent that even the drop of a pin could be heard.

After I was done freshening up, I went to the bar in the living room and took an alcohol drink.

I needed something to cool off my head.

I started gulping down the drink and was almost halfway when I stopped.

My mind drifted back to the call I had with Vivian earlier this morning before going to work.

FLASHBACK BEGINS

"Damian, darling" Vivian said

I stood frozen, phone pressed to my ear, as Vivian's sultry voice washed over me.

Her words dripped with familiarity, stirring up old memories.

"What do you want, Vivian?' I asked curtly, trying to shake off the unease.

"Waoh… you still recognize my voice. That's so sweet of you" she said and laughed a bit.

"I'm hanging up now" I said sternly since she wasn't saying anything useful.

"Common, Damian. Not so fast" she spoke. "Well, I'm back to the city" she added

"You're back…?" I asked her again to be sure I heard her clearly.

"You heard me, Damian. I'm back" she said.

"Bye. Talk to you later" she said and hung up not letting me to say a word.

FLASHBACK ENDS

I thought I've forgotten all about Vivian since our relationship ended three years ago.

I strolled to the living room and brought out my phone.

I started going through her pictures on my phone including the ones we took together.

I continued scrolling through each picture and I was reminded by how I loved her back then.

Vivian was my first love back at college but I broke up with her when she cheated on me with my best friend, Ben.

Despite the fact that she cheated on me, I couldn't stop loving her.

I've not been able to love any other lady the way I loved her.

I've always longed to see her once again but I couldn't stand the fact that she betrayed my trust for her by sleeping with my best friend.

I was clouded by my thought that I didn't realize someone came inside the house.

Willa

After having lunch with Max, we went for a drive to the extent that we lost track of time.

It was really fun being around Max.

He made me forget all my worries.

Max took it upon himself to drive me home since it was late. I declined his offer but he wasn't ready to give up.

After lot of pleading from him, I finally accepted.

When we got home, I noticed Damian's car was packed in the parking lot.

I wasn't expecting him to be home this early.

I bade Max goodbye and went inside.

On getting inside, I saw Damian sitting in the living room.

I got scared thinking he would shout at me as he used to do.

I moved closer to where he stood expecting the worse but he didn't move an inch from where he sat.

His eyes were fixed on his phone.

I wondered what he was looking at that made him so concentrated.

I tiptoed to his back and saw him looking at a picture of a lady.

The lady looked familiar but I couldn't place where I knew her from.

I wondered who the lady was to Damian that made him so focused on her picture.

I overlooked it and quickly tiptoed to my room before Damian sees me.

An hour later, I picked my phone and noticed Max had messaged me.

I replied his message and I was about putting my phone down when his message popped up on my phone again.

We continued chatting into the night till I fell asleep.

Few days later, I was in the living room watching the news when I heard a knock on the door.

I wondered who it was because I wasn't expecting any visitor.

I went to open the door and I was shocked at who was right in front of me.

I left my mouth wide open.