LOVE AND CHAOS

chapter 5- the other man

The next few days went by quietly, at least on the surface, but Alice had started noticing that her life was becoming a little bit different.

She was spending more time with Anthony because of the development project, and although most of their conversations were about work, there were moments when she felt there was something else behind the way he treated her.

He never said anything directly, and he never crossed any line, but Alice could see the extra attention.

Sometimes he would ask if she had eaten,

sometimes he would send a message asking if she had finished a particular part of the project, and sometimes he would simply stop by her office and ask how she was doing

She didn't think too much about it at first because Anthony was her boss and she respected him, so she tried to see everything as normal.

But then there was Gerald.

Gerald had also become a regular part of her day.

He called her more often now, sometimes for a reason and sometimes without one.

There were days when he would call and ask about her work, and there were other days when he would simply say that he wanted to hear her voice.

Alice had started looking forward to those calls even though she would never admit it to anyone.

She was sitting in her office one Thursday afternoon when her phone rang

She looked at the screen and smiled

Gerald

She picked it up "Hello, Doctor"

"Why do you always call me Doctor?" He asked and she answered, "Because that is what you are"

"You know my name",Gerald said.

"I do" "Then use it",he added. Alice smiled

"Gerald"

"Better" "What do you want?" She asked. "I was wondering if you were free this evening",he replied.

Alice looked at the documents on her desk.

"Why?" "I want to see you"

She paused

"You want to see me?" "Yes" "Why?" "Do I need a reason?" "I think so"

"Fine, I miss talking to you", Gerald finally admitted.

Alice smiled again and tried not to make it obvious even though nobody was around

"You are becoming very bold," she said stylishly.

"Maybe"

"I thought doctors were supposed to be serious"

"I am serious" "About what?" "You"

Alice did not know what to say to that

She looked down at the papers on her desk and moved one of them around.

"Gerald" "Yes?" He answered

"You like teasing me" "I do”

"And you enjoy making me uncomfortable, " she added. "Only a little," he replied.

She laughed softly "Where are you now?" She asked him. "At the hospital," he answered.

"And you are calling me from there?" "Yes"

"Shouldn't you be working?" She asked. "I am working"

"Then why are you calling?" "I told you, I wanted to hear your voice," he said.

Alice shook her head

"You are something else" "I will take that as a compliment". Before she could reply, there was a knock on her door.

She looked up

Anthony was standing there.

Alice quickly sat properly "I have to go" she said quietly.

"Who is that?" He asked. "My boss"

There was a short silence

"Alright" "I will talk to you later"

"Okay" The call ended

Anthony walked into the office.

"Am I disturbing you?" He asked "No, sir" He looked at her phone "Everything okay?" "Yes" "Good"

He placed a file on her desk.

"We need to make a few changes to the proposal"

Alice picked up the file.

"Again?" Anthony smiled "Unfortunately" he said.

She opened it and started reading and Anthony stood beside her desk for a while.

"You look happy," he said. Alice looked up and asked. "Do I?" "Yes"

"Maybe because I just received good news" "About the project?"Alice hesitated. "Something like that"

Anthony nodded "I see"

He did not ask anything else, but Alice noticed the change in his expression and she wasn't sure why.

"Is there something wrong?" she asked.

"No" He looked at the file "Let's go through this together" "Okay"

They worked for almost an hour before Anthony finally closed the file.

"We are done for today." Alice leaned back and said, "Thank God".

Anthony smiled

"You really don't like this project", he said ."I like the project"

"Then why are you always complaining?" "Because you keep giving me more work," she answered.

Anthony laughed

"Fair enough". Alice packed her things and Anthony picked up his keys.

"I'll drop you home" he said and she looked at him.

"You don't have to".

"I know". "I can get a cab,” she said. "I know that too". "Then why?" she asked.

Anthony looked at her for a moment and said, "Because I want to".

Alice did not know how to respond.

She finally nodded and said, "Alright".

They walked out together

Neither of them noticed the man standing near the entrance watching them, he had been there for several minutes.

He waited until Alice and Anthony entered the car before taking out his phone

"She left with him". There was a pause on the other end. "Who?" "The woman" "And the man?" "Her boss"

Another pause. "Keep watching" The call ended.

The man put his phone away and walked toward the road. He did not look back.

The next morning, Gerald was in his office when David walked in.

"You have been staring at that phone for almost ten minutes" Gerald looked up. "I wasn't," he said.

David pointed at the phone and said, "It is right there". "I know" "So?"

Gerald picked it up "Nothing"

David sat down

"Is this about Alice?"

Gerald looked at him. "Why would you ask that?"he asked. "Because every time I mention her, you start acting strange" David answered.

"I don't act strange" "You do"

Gerald smiled

"You're imagining things," he said as David leaned back. "Alright then” Gerald went back to his work.

A few seconds later, David spoke again.

"You should just ask her out"

Gerald looked at him

"Who?" David stared at him and said. "You know who"

Gerald sighed. "I don't want to rush anything," he said. "You have been saying that for days," David cut in.

"I mean it." "Then what are you waiting for?"

Gerald did not answer.

He knew what he was waiting for; He wanted Alice to trust him first. He wanted to know if she felt the same way, and he did not want to become another man trying to control her life.

His phone rang

He looked at the screen,it was Alice. He answered immediately

"Hi" "Hi"

"How are you?" "I'm fine"

"How is work?" "Busy"

"Again?" "Yes"

Gerald smiled.

"Do you ever rest?" He asked. "Sometimes," she replied.

"When?" "At night"

"That's good"

Alice laughed

"I have something to tell you," she said. "What?"

"I might be busy this weekend" "Why?" "There is more work on the project," she answered.

Gerald became quiet for a second

"With Anthony?" Alice noticed the change in his voice. "Yes" "Okay"

"Why did you say it like that?" "Like what?"Gerald asked. "Like you don't like the idea," she answered.

Gerald leaned back in his chair

"I didn't say anything" "You didn't have to".

Gerald smiled and said, "He's your boss".

"Exactly" "Then it's fine"

Alice was quiet

She could tell that something was bothering him.

"Gerald" she called out.

"Yes?" "Are you jealous?"

He almost laughed. "No"

"You answered too quickly" "I am not jealous"

"Okay" "Really" "Fine"

There was silence

Then Alice said something that made him pause.

"I think Anthony is beginning to like me"

Gerald sat up. "What?"

"I said I think my boss likes me,” she said.

Gerald did not respond immediately.

Alice continued. "He hasn't said anything but I notice the way he looks at me sometimes and the way he always wants to help me." Gerald's voice became quieter "Do you like him?"

Alice was surprised by the question; she wasn't expecting that.

"I don't know" "You don't know?" Gerald asked.

"No" She sighed

"I've never thought about him like that,” she added.

Gerald looked down at his desk. "And me?"

Alice became silent. Neither of them spoke, then

Gerald finally said, "You don't have to answer that,I don't want to put you under pressure"

"I know," she said. "I just wanted to ask"

Alice smiled slightly

"You are making this difficult" "I know" She laughed softly. "I have to go" "Okay" "Bye" "Bye". The call ended.

Gerald remained seated.

David was still in the room and had heard enough to understand what was happening.

"So there is another man,” he said. Gerald looked at him "Don't start" David smiled and said "I didn't say anything". "You were about to"

"Anthony Marshall?"

Gerald didn't answer and David nodded slowly. "That explains the look on your face,” he said.

Gerald picked up a file and said, "Go and do your work". David stood up "Good luck" and left.

When David left, Gerald looked at his phone again. He did not like the feeling in his chest

It wasn't anger, It was something else. The thought of Alice getting closer to another man bothered him more than he wanted to admit, And what bothered him even more was that the man was Anthony.

There was something about Anthony that Gerald could not explain.

He had only met him a few times, but each time they were together, Gerald felt like there was something hidden behind his calm expression.

Maybe he was simply being protective of Alice, maybe he was jealous Or maybe there was something more.

That evening, Alice was still at the Ministry when Anthony walked into her office.

"You are still here?" He asked. She looked up and replied, "Yes". "You should go home," he added. Alice then replied, "I want to finish this".

Anthony walked closer

"You have been working on it all day" "I know"

"You need rest" Alice smiled and said, "That sounds familiar".

Anthony looked at her

"Who else told you that?" Alice realized what she had said and said, "My doctor".

"Gerald?" She nodded.

Anthony's face remained calm, but Alice noticed something change in his eyes.

"You talk to him often?" "Sometimes"

"I see" Alice closed the file.

"Why?" she asked.

Anthony looked at her.

"Why what?" "Why are you asking so many questions about him?" She added.

He was silent then he smiled and said, "I'm just curious".

Alice studied him. "You don't look curious". Anthony laughed softly "Maybe I'm not"

The room became quiet.

Alice looked at him and Anthony looked back. For a moment, neither of them spoke, then Anthony stepped back. "Come on," he said.

"Where?" "I'll take you home" "You really like doing that"

"Maybe I do"

Alice smiled

She picked up her handbag. "Alright" and they walked out of the building.

As they reached the car park, Alice noticed Gerald standing near the entrance and she stopped.

Her heart skipped for a moment.

"What is he doing here?" Anthony followed her eye and saw Gerald. For a few seconds, neither man moved. Gerald had come to see Alice and had not planned to meet Anthony.

Anthony looked at him calmly. Gerald walked toward them

"Hi, Alice" "Gerald?"

She smiled "What are you doing here?" she asked.

"I was nearby" It was not exactly true. He had finished work earlier than expected and had decided to stop by.

Anthony looked at him. "Good evening" he greeted.

Gerald looked at Anthony "Good evening" and the two men shook hands.

Their handshake was brief, polite, but neither man smiled. Alice looked from one to the other

"Have you two met before?" "Yes," Anthony said

"At the hospital," Gerald added as Alice nodded.

"I forgot" Anthony looked at Gerald and asked, "How is the hospital?" "Busy" "okay, Good".

Another silence followed

Alice could feel the tension. She looked at Gerald

"Did you come to see me?" she asked. Gerald looked at her "Yes" Anthony's expression changed slightly and Alice noticed it

"I was just about to take Alice home," Anthony said. Gerald nodded

"That's fine" He looked at Alice

"Do you want me to wait?"

Alice opened her mouth but didn't know what to say. Anthony spoke first "She has had a long day" Gerald looked at him.

"I know" The two men stared at each other. Neither raised his voice, neither said anything rude, but Alice could feel something between them and it was strange

She looked at Gerald and said

"I can go with Anthony." Gerald nodded. "Okay"

He looked at her for a moment and said "Call me when you get home". "Okay"

Anthony opened the car door for Alice

She entered before getting in himself, Anthony looked at Gerald. "Goodnight, Doctor"

"Goodnight"

Anthony entered the car and drove away

Gerald stood there watching the car disappear

He felt something he had not felt before

He was not just worried about Alice anymore

He was worried about losing her to someone else

Inside the car, Alice was quiet and Anthony noticed.

"You are thinking about him,"he said. She looked at him "Who?" She asked.

"Gerald" Alice looked out the window "Maybe"

Anthony nodded "I understand"

"Do you?" "Yes"

Alice looked at him and asked "Why did it feel strange when you two were talking?"

Anthony remained focused on the road. "It wasn't anything," he said. "It didn't look like nothing" He smiled slightly and said "Maybe you are imagining things" Alice frowned

"I don't think I am," she said. Anthony did not answer.

A few minutes later, Alice's phone rang and she looked at it. It was Gerald. She answered

"Hello?" "Did you get home?" he asked. "I'm still on my way," she said."Okay" There was a pause.

"Goodnight, Alice" "Goodnight" She ended the call.

Anthony said nothing, but Alice noticed his hands tighten slightly around the steering wheel and she looked at him then at her phone.

Something was happening between these two men.

She did not know what it was yet.

But she was starting to understand one thing;

Gerald and Anthony did not see each other as ordinary men in her life. They saw each other as competition

And Alice was right in the middle of it.