Chapter 11

In Samson's car, he was carefully watching the video that Gloria had shown him. His eyes scanned the scrolling comments, some filled with criticism, others with support. Just as he was about to speak, Gloria took the lead.

— I know what you're going to say, she started, her hands trembling slightly. You're going to judge me like everyone else. But before you do, know that the reason I rejected that marriage proposal is because I don't see him the way he sees me. Jacob and I have known each other since childhood. He's always been like a brother to me, nothing more. So, when he proposed to me in public, I wasn’t ready to lie to him, to pretend in front of everyone. I didn’t want to sell him a dream that, in the end, would have turned into a nightmare for both of us. It was already hard enough for me, but I couldn’t break his heart any further with false hope.

Samson, who had listened to her attentively, smiled slightly after her words. His eyes betrayed a certain admiration for Gloria's sincerity.

— Why do you think I was about to judge you? he asked calmly. I’m not here for that. Listen, I just met you, and I don’t know you well enough to judge you. What you did, you did because you believed it was the right thing to do. Maybe you could’ve done it differently, but at least you didn’t give false hope to a guy who saw you as the woman of his life. Honestly, who am I to condemn you?

Gloria sighed in relief, the echo of Samson’s words easing her worries.

— So, if I understand correctly, it’s because of this story that people were whispering in the café? They really have nothing better to do than meddle in things that don’t concern them, she added with a slight laugh.

Samson didn’t let Gloria respond and started the car. As they drove away from the café, the atmosphere in the car changed. Gloria, who had been feeling oppressed and anxious, finally felt a weight lift from her shoulders. She glanced at Samson, a faint smile on her lips, grateful for his support.

Jacob's residence...

Breakfast finished, everyone was getting ready to leave. Sophia, already ready, cast one last concerned glance at her brother before getting into the car with him. Jacob, focused on the road, seemed unfazed, but deep down, Sophia knew something was wrong. It wasn’t like Jacob to move on so quickly, especially when it came to Gloria, the woman he deeply loved. Yet, he was acting as if everything was fine, and that was exactly what worried Sophia.

She looked at him from time to time, searching for signs of weakness, hidden sadness. Finally, she broke the silence:

— You know, Jacob, you don’t have to rush to work. No one will blame you if you take a day off, you need time to process all of this.

Jacob, without taking his eyes off the road, smiled gently before responding:

— Thanks, Sophia. But staying at home won’t change anything. Moping around won’t make things better. I’ve made my decision: I’m moving forward, even if it’s painful. I have a lot of responsibilities at the office, and that’ll help me not think too much about all of this.

Sophia nodded, but her heart remained heavy. She knew her brother was masking his pain under a facade of strength.

Meanwhile, on Mousse's side...

On his way home, Mousse couldn’t shake the image of Jacob from his mind. Despite his efforts to appear strong, Mousse knew his friend. He knew that beneath Jacob’s brave face, he was probably still shaken by Gloria’s rejection. That woman had always held a special place in his life. "He'll crack eventually," Mousse thought. "Maybe I should drop by the office in the afternoon, just to make sure he's okay."

In front of Gloria's office...

Samson stopped the car in front of the modern building where Gloria worked. She gave him a grateful smile.

— Thanks again for this morning, Samson. I don’t know what I would’ve done without you.

— The pleasure’s mine, he replied with a wink. And don’t forget, I’ll pick you up for lunch. We’ll go to that famous restaurant where it all started.

Gloria nodded, her smile widening. It was a good sign, she felt confident with him. She got out of the car and walked into the building, but as soon as she set foot in the lobby, the atmosphere changed. Eyes immediately turned toward her, some curious, others judgmental. Gloria could almost hear the whispers circulating among the employees.

"It’s already all over social media," she thought as she quickly crossed the lobby. "Great." She quickened her pace, her cheeks slightly flushed from embarrassment.

In her office, Clara, her colleague, was already waiting for her. Barely had she placed her bag down when Clara started her interrogation.

— Gloria! You really rejected this charming man’s marriage proposal? she asked, sizing her up. I thought he was your boyfriend, since he dropped you off at work every day. But apparently, I was wrong.

Gloria sighed, trying to hold back her annoyance.

— Clara, I really don’t feel like discussing this. It’s more complicated than you think.

But Clara wasn’t the type to give up easily.

— Come on, we’re friends, right? You can tell me, it’s the guy who dropped you off this morning who’s the lucky one, huh? He looks... not bad at all, if you ask me.

Gloria stared at her, incredulous.

— Wait... don’t tell me you’ve been spying on me from the window?!

Clara burst out laughing, clearly amused by Gloria’s reaction.

— You know I have a perfect view of the entrance from my office, she replied with a mischievous smile. And I couldn’t help but notice, it was too tempting!

Gloria shook her head, a smile tugging at her lips despite herself. Clara had this knack for making tense situations a little lighter, even if her questions were sometimes a bit intrusive.

— You’re terrible, Clara, really terrible, she said with a sigh.

But deep down, Gloria knew this day was going to be long. Not only did she have to face the curious glances and intrusive questions from her colleagues, but she also had to prepare to deal with the impact of that video still circulating on social media.

Jacob had dropped his sister Sophia off at university and headed straight to his law office. As soon as he entered the building, he felt a wave of attention settle on him. He knew it was because of that infamous video circulating on social media, but he decided to ignore the stares and keep his head held high. After all, he had a reputation to uphold, that of a strong and resilient man.

He walked through the lobby confidently, exchanging a few quick greetings with his staff, then entered his office. The place, usually calm and reassuring, felt heavier today. No sooner had he sat behind his desk than Nicole, his assistant, entered, a file in hand.

— Good morning, Mr. Jacob, she said with a professional smile. Here’s your schedule for the day. You have a meeting with Mr. Marcos at 10 a.m., then a meeting with the partners at noon.

Jacob nodded in silence, going over the details that Nicole was reminding him of. However, he didn’t need to be a mind reader to know what she wanted to bring up next. He could see it in her eyes.

— And... Sir, Nicole added hesitantly, I also wanted to talk to you about...

Jacob cut her off before she could finish her sentence, gently raising his hand.

— Nicole, I really appreciate you, but I don’t want to start my day with this story. I know you’re worried, but that’s life. What had to happen, happened. So, don’t worry about it, okay?

Nicole lowered her eyes for a moment, then lifted her head with visible determination.

— I understand, Sir. But, for what it’s worth, I sincerely think that woman didn’t deserve you. You’re an exceptional man, and the one who will share your life and make you happy will come at the right time, sent by God Himself.

Jacob raised his eyebrows, surprised by the warmth in Nicole’s words. She continued, a gleam of amusement in her eyes:

— And if it weren’t because you’re my boss and I’m already engaged, believe me, I’d still be hoping to have you all to myself.

This unexpected declaration made Jacob smile. He let out a light laugh, easing the atmosphere a bit.

— Nicole, you always know how to lift my spirits, he said gratefully. But you’re right. Sometimes, what we want is just not what God has planned for us. Thank you for your words, really.

Nicole smiled, pleased to have made his day a little less gloomy. She nodded and returned to her professional tone.

— Alright, Sir. I’ll prepare the documents for the meeting with Mr. Marcos. Take care of yourself.

— Thank you, Nicole. You too, Jacob replied, watching her leave the office.

Alone again, Jacob let out a light sigh and returned to his files. But despite his efforts to stay focused, his conversation with Sophia kept coming back to him. He knew she was right: what was meant for him would come at the right time. But for now, he had to focus on his work, as it was the only thing that could help him stay on track.

In the silence of his office, Jacob thought about the rest of his day while mentally preparing for his meetings.

Mousse's residence...

Cécilia, Mousse's fiancée, was still in bed, but the situation was much more serious than it seemed. Worse still, she wasn’t alone. Cédric, her ex-boyfriend, with whom she had been spending time during Mousse’s absence, was lying next to her. They were lying together on the bed that she normally shared with Mousse when Cécilia was suddenly awakened by the sound of Mousse’s car pulling into the driveway.

Leaping out of bed in a panic, she whispered in a frantic voice:

— What are you doing here again at this hour, Cédric?! You know very well you shouldn’t be here... Oh my God!

Panicked, Cécilia rushed out of bed, her heart pounding. Cédric, still half-asleep, looked at her, confused.

— What? What’s going on? he asked, rubbing his eyes.

She glanced out the window. Her heart sank when she saw Mousse parking his car in the driveway. Overcome with fear, she turned to Cédric, panic evident in her eyes.

— Mousse is back! she whispered with palpable panic in her voice. He wasn’t supposed to come back this early. You have to leave, and fast! she breathed, trying to stay calm.

Caught off guard by Cécilia’s panic, Cédric sat up, but hesitated.

— How do you expect me to leave without him seeing me? He’s already here!