Burning Ice

Chapter 4

May's POV

"Who is it?" Estella asked me bluntly.

I blinked, putting on a look of innocence. Of course, I knew what she was asking about. Recently, I've been a bit more uppity than usual, and all my colleagues noticed. However, no matter how they pestered me, I never told them the reason.

But Estella, with her almost paranormal intuition, had accurately grasped that it must be because of a guy. However, I wasn't ready to admit it yet.

"Who's what?" I asked, looking at her blankly.

"Who's the guy that's making you so happy nowadays?" she asked directly, giving me a look that told me not to try lying to her.

I just smiled brightly in response and resumed making up my face.

Today was Edward's birthday, and I was going to give him a surprise. My mum, grateful to him for footing the bills for the kidney transplant, had even helped me prepare the surprise.

I was in high spirits. After today, our relationship was surely going to move up another level. It was a very exciting thought that made my skin tingle all over just thinking about it.

Soon, I was on my way to his mansion in the middle of the city. All through the drive there, I was smiling foolishly as I imagined the various things we would do when the birthday celebrations are through.

However, I was in for the shock of my life. The first thing that met my sight as I drove into the compound was a bizzare scene.

Edward and Kate, by the pool. She was sitting on his laps, her arms around his neck, their foreheads pressed together.

For a moment, my mind went blank. Then, a searing pang if jealousy shot through me. What was that b***h doing here? Hadn't she divorced him?

But what made me even madder was that Edward was in an intimate position with her. His hand was wrapped protectively around her waist, and the other was cupping her face.

My feet slammed on the brakes and the car slid to a stop just inches from the immaculate rose bush.

Anger and bewilderment made me feel as though the sky was spinning.

Perhaps notified by the sound of my car, the couple looked up. Recognition came into Edward's eyes, to be quickly followed by a coldness I hadn't seen in them since that night I walked into the room.

My heart clenched and the anger dissipated to some extent, to be replaced by trepidation. What was going on?

I got out of the car and walked towards them, my heart hammering in my chest.

I wanted to say good evening, but what dropped from my lips was a question.

"What's this, Ed?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

Kate's face shot up at my words.

"Ed?" she asked with a raised eyebrow, her tone scathing. "You have only been with him for two weeks and he's already Ed?"

Of course. Why wouldn't he? The moments we shared….my chest stiffened at the memories.

Ignoring Kate, I turned to Edward. "Isn't this your soon to be ex wife? Were you playing with me all these while?" I asked, hoping with all my being he would look hurt, guilty, ashamed. Anything but the cool indifference plastered on his face.

But he didn't even reply, letting May do the talking.

"Well," she drawled. "Not anymore. We're very much back together now, so you can f**k out of his life. Thanks very much for taking care of him,"

Tears stung my eyes. And it was at that exact moment Edward chose to speak.

"Look, May, I don't want to cause a mess, what with the media and all. How about I just pay you some money so you can forget all these?" he asked.

The tears finally slid down my cheeks. Was this what he had reduced our time together to? A f*****g transaction?

Without replying, I marched back to the car and drove out of his compound. My mind was a mess.

Some distance away from the house, I received a text from Edward. He had sent a nice sum to my account, and in exchange, I was to stay away from Kate and his life.

I knew then it was over. My life of bliss had only lasted two weeks.

****

It's been three months since I got my heart broken. It had been extremely hard to move on But with the help of my mother, who had surprisingly left her alcoholic life, I have barely moved on.

But still, at nights, I still replay the memories I've made with Edward in those short two weeks.

Now, as I stood outside the skyscraper with the big sign board that spelled out SPIRES LTD, I replayed those memories once again.

Three months ago, because Edward was a frequent guest at the hotel and I couldn't bear to see him everyday without touching him, I had quit my job there.

Using the money he sent me, I took a three months secretarial course, the best there is. Good enough to get me a position at one of Spires branches even.

It was the only place I could earn enough to build myself the life I wanted. Besides, Edwards possibly can't be working in this branch at the city's edge, can he?

However, fate had a way of playing a trick on me.

I was interviewed that same day, and passed so successfully that I was assigned to work as a secretary for the branch manager.

When I resumed work the next day, however, who else would turn out to be the branch manager than Edward?

"I told you to stay away from me!" Edward said in a low voice, looking down at me from the other side of my desk.

He had just come into office and seen that I was his new secretary. The annoyance on his face was enough to make me doubt myself.

But I refused to. It wasn't my fault I was here.

"Believe me, I don't want to be near you," I replied, my tone matching his.

"Then what are you doing here?" he asked.

"What are you doing here?" I returned the question. "I only came here because it was an out branch at the city's edge. You're supposed to be at the headquarters!"

He gave me a deep piercing stare, as though he was trying find out if I was lying.

However, none of us expected what happened next.

My vision swam, then darkened. I gasped for air as I struggled to stay conscious. But at the end, I submitted to the darkness and fainted.