Episode17
1761 Words
Rue’s hand lifted before she fully thought about it.
“Brad.”
Her voice was soft, careful—not loud enough to echo through the hallway, but enough to reach him.
Brad turned immediately.
For a split second, something flashed across his face.
Panic.
Raw, unguarded.
Then it was gone just as quickly, replaced with a practiced smile as he straightened his posture.
“Hey,” he said, too smoothly. Miss me already?
Rue smiled back, though hers came more naturally. “They want to cut the cake now.”
He nodded like nothing had happened. “Right. Let’s go.”
He crossed the space between them and pressed a quick kiss to her temple. It lingered just a second longer than usual, like he was anchoring himself.
Then he took her hand and led her back toward the living room.
And Rue didn’t look back again.
The next day at the grocery store, Rue tried to bury it.
She stacked shelves, scanned items, greeted customers. She did everything she was supposed to do.
But every quiet moment brought it back.
Tell your Dad I’m not coming back.
Don’t come looking for me.
Brad’s voice hadn’t sounded like hers did when she talked about her past.
It had sounded… final.
And something about that unsettled her more than she wanted to admit.
By lunchtime, she couldn’t hold it in anymore.
She stepped outside and dialed him.
He picked up on the second ring.
“Hey baby,” he said immediately. “I was just about to call you.”
Rue hesitated. “Are you busy this weekend?”
A pause.
“No,” he replied. “I’m free. Why?”
She exhaled softly. “Just wondering.”
“Are you planning something?” he teased lightly.
“Maybe,” she said, managing a small smile even though he couldn’t see it. “I’ll tell you later.”
“Alright,” he said warmly. “I’ll be waiting.”
And just like that, her chest loosened slightly.
Not enough to erase the doubt.
But enough to delay it.
The week that followed felt different.
Brad went on a business trip.
He told her it would only be a few days, but Rue didn’t realize how much she had started relying on his presence until he wasn’t there.
The apartment felt quieter.
Even her routines felt slightly off.
They still talked every day—short calls, goodnight messages, little updates—but it wasn’t the same.
And always, beneath everything, was that moment she overheard.
Still unspoken.
Still unresolved.
She told herself she would wait.
Wait until he came back.
Then she would ask.
Properly.
The day he returned, she didn’t wait.
She went to his office.
The receptionist smiled when she arrived. “You can go up, Miss Rue.”
She didn’t question it.
By now, she was familiar enough with the building that no one stopped her.
When she reached his floor, she paused briefly outside his door.
Voices inside.
Brad’s voice.
Raised.
Sharp.
Angry.
Rue froze.
Her hand hovered near the handle.
But she stepped back instead.
Not again.
Not eavesdropping again.
She turned and walked to the waiting area.
A few minutes later, the secretary appeared.
“You can go in now,” he said politely. “Mr O’Neil’s previous visitor just left.”
Rue nodded. “Thank you.”
She stood, took a breath, and walked toward his office again.
But just before she reached the door—
She saw someone.
A man stepping into the elevator.
Tall. Familiar in a way she couldn’t immediately place.
The doors closed before she could focus on his face properly.
A flicker of recognition passed through her mind.
Then she shook it off.
No. You’re imagining things.
She turned back to the door and knocked.
“Come in,” Brad’s voice called from inside.
Rue entered.
He was standing near the floor-to-ceiling windows, back turned to her, staring out at the city like it had answers he didn’t.
“Chad,” he said absently, not turning around. “Can I get the Wellington file?”
No response.
He turned.
And froze.
Shock.
Pure, visible shock.
“Baby?”
For a moment, he didn’t move.
Then his expression softened instantly as he stepped toward her. “Baby, I didn't know you were coming.”
That word broke whatever restraint she had left.
She crossed the room quickly and jumped into his arms.
Brad caught her on reflex, arms wrapping tightly around her as she clung to him.
He let out a low chuckle. “Someone definitely missed me.”
Rue pulled back slightly, narrowing her eyes. “Well, I’m beginning to regret it.”
That earned a laugh from him.
Before she could say anything else, he pulled her back in and kissed her.
It was deep, familiar, grounding.
When he finally pulled away, he rested his forehead against hers. “I missed you more.”
Rue stared at him for a moment, searching his face.
Then she remembered.
“You were yelling at someone,” she said quietly. “Who was that?”
Brad sighed lightly. “Nothing you need to worry about.”
And then, like he wanted to erase the topic entirely, he kissed her again.
They didn’t leave the office for a while after that.
Brad's hands and lips moving everywhere around her body.
The city outside disappeared behind glass.
And when things escalated between them, Rue was the one who pulled back first, breath uneven.
“Your secretary is literally outside,” she said, fixing her clothes quickly. "Come one baby, I'll be quick I promise." he said still peppering kisses all over her neck.
“And I am not dealing with knowing looks when I walk out.”
Brad laughed softly. “Spoilsport.”
“Professional boundaries,” she corrected.
He kissed her cheek anyway going till she finally escaped through the door.
The next day was a weekend.
And Rue had plans.
“I’m taking you out,” she told Brad over breakfast.
“Is that so?” he asked, amused.
“Yes,” she said firmly. “And we’re using public transport.”
Brad blinked. “Public transport?”
“It’s part of the adventure.”
He sighed dramatically. “I’m trusting you.”
The day turned into something unexpectedly joyful.
They watched a football match at the city stadium, shouting and laughing like they had no responsibilities at all.
Later, they attended a live performance of his favourite band, and Rue found herself watching him more than the stage.
At night, they walked through the streets hand in hand, eating street food, stopping randomly to take pictures of anything that caught their attention.
For a while, it felt like they were just two ordinary people.
Then Rue stopped walking.
She tugged him toward a hidden path beside a grass-covered wall.
“Come with me” she said.
Brad followed.
She pushed the greenery aside.
And revealed a garden.
A hidden space glowing softly with light.
At the center stood a fountain unlike anything Brad had seen before—an artistic structure shaped like a falling lamp, pouring streams of multicoloured light into a sculpted basin below.
Brad went silent.
Rue watched his face. “I stumbled on this place while I was walking aimlessly after a failed interview one day.”
He turned to her slowly.
Something deep and unreadable flickered in his eyes.
Regret.
Or something close to it.
But it was gone almost instantly.
He smiled instead.
They sat together on a bench near the fountain.
After a while, Rue finally spoke.
“Brad,” she said quietly. “Are you hiding something from me?”
His head turned sharply. “What?”
She held his gaze. “You told me about your past. I told you mine. Is there anything else I should know?”
Silence.
Brad’s expression tightened for a moment.
Then softened again.
“Baby,” he said carefully. “Our pasts are our pasts. If I’m keeping anything from you, it’s not important.”
She didn’t look convinced.
He reached for her hand.
“What matters is us. Our future.” His voice lowered slightly. “I love you. And I’ll never hurt you intentionally.”
Rue studied him.
And in his eyes, she saw sincerity.
Or at least what looked like it. She thought of a million things that could break them apart, the thought alone made her stomach churn. She loves this man, she is certain of it. If his past doesn't affect their future then there's nothing that could change that.
She exhaled slowly.
“Okay,” she said softly. “I love you too and I trust you.”
And she let it go.
That night, Brad went all out with her body. More than a week of s****l frustration poured into one night. At one point she couldn't reciprocate anymore, she just left him to his devices. He didn’t let her sleep until dawn.
A week later, they were supposed to have a movie night at his penthouse.
Rue called him.
Once.
Twice.
Five times.
Ten.
No answer.
Something uneasy settled in her chest.
A knock came at her door later.
A delivery.
She accepted the package without thinking much of it. Brad use to randomly send her gifts without warning so she assumed it was from him again. She use to complain at first but gave up when she noticed he was ignoring her complains and doing it anyway.
When she opened it—
A photograph.
Three men, It looked like a family photo.
Her hands went cold.
Her breath stopped.
And then everything inside her shifted.
She grabbed her phone, her bag, the photo.
And left.
The taxi ride urred past her.
She tried to think of explanations.
Anything that made sense.
But deep down—
She already knew.
At the penthouse, she knocked.
Waited.
Brad opened the door.
Shock again.
Before she could speak—
A voice came from behind him.
“Well,” the voice said casually. “It seems we have a guest.”
A man stepped into view.
And in that instant—
every excuse Rue had built on the way there shattered completely
.
every excuse Rue had built on the way there shattered completely.
came from behind him.
“Well,” the voice said casually. “It seems we have a guest.”
A man stepped into view.
And in that instant—
every excuse Rue had built on the way there shattered completely.
- Writer
