Secret Affair

Break UP

RYAN

I couldn't believe my ears after witnessing the exchange between the couples next door. Different thoughts ran through my mind and I wonder why it bothers me. I don't care what they do with their lives, I don't even know them. Although the man looked a little bit familiar, I just can't remember where I had seen him or met him before, but that is beside the point. Why do I have to share the floor with them? Why were the doors facing each other? Couldn't the door to the next penthouse be further away? Living here isn't any different from living on a regular floor in any hotel. Perhaps I should move into a suite downstairs and leave these people with their problems. I have got my fair share of problems. I don't wish to listen to any more couple squabbles. I blamed Cindy for not showing up when she said she would. All of this was her fault. If she had picked up my calls or even shown up, we would have been cuddled up together to notice what was going on next door. After that night, I didn't catch a glimpse of the couple or hear anything and, frankly speaking, I loved the peace. My presentation went super well, and I had another assignment to cover. It must be submitted in a week. Cindy still hadn't called me back or sent a text about why I couldn't reach her and when I started considering filing a missing persons report, she suddenly showed up and began some unreal tale about why she suddenly went awol on me. I wanted to believe her, but there were so many inconsistencies in her story. For instance, I had gone to the set where she told me the shoot was going to take place and met the director. He was genuinely surprised. I would ask about her when she had told everyone on the set that she was with me, and we were in the honeymoon phase of our relationship. As such, no one should disturb her romantic life. Because I didn't want her to lose her dignity, I had to lie to them that I only came to test them. Then I went to find the only one person who she claimed was her friend. Barbara wasn't convinced I didn't know where she was and told me she would have me arrested for missing person because Cindy told everyone that we were together.

It wasn't long ago that we started dating, and she seemed to recognize me as the disposed heir of the Alvarez. I liked her because she is smart and quick-witted. I am not stupid. I know she has been with many people before me, but she seemed level-headed and understanding. The reason she was acting this way could mean one of two things; either she had already found someone else or she was tired of the relationship she had with me. Either way, I am cool with whatever decision she takes. She eventually showed up three days later. She gave no explanation about her disappearance and acted like nothing happened, until I pressed her for information. When I told her how worried I was when I couldn't reach her and was about to go the police station to file a missing person's report, she just laughed in my face and told me I was being paranoid and that I ought to know she was busy. I expected she would be overly excited to join me at the penthouse, but she wasn't, instead she acted uninterested and a little bored. I made plans to take her shopping the next day but the glow she always showed when she hears about shopping wasn't there and when I asked what was wrong or if I had done something. She shrugged and said she felt guilty about working so much. Right before we went shopping I decided to talk with her.

"Can we have a little chat?" I stated as I watched her applying her make-up. She had been fixing herself up for the past two hours, and it didn't look like she was anywhere done.

"Uh, about what?" she asked without looking at me,

"Everything," I said, folding my hands across my chest as I walked to stand behind her and our eyes met in the mirror. We slept separately last night. I was up for some skinship, but she wasn't up for it, she was having a chat with someone and laughing loudly until I went to sleep. "Is something going on that I should know about?" I asked, holding her slender shoulder and watching her lower her gaze as she picked up her comb and began brushing her auburn hair nervously, I knew it, she was going to break up with me but was not sure how to do it especially since I just moved into the apartment she had dreamed about.

"Nothing is wrong, why would you even think that?" she said after a while and I can tell she was finding it difficult to say what she wanted clearly.

"I will understand if you want to break up with me, as you can see, this is all I would ever get from my stingy grandfather," I said, opening my arms to gesture at the apartment.

"What if he changes his mind?" she asked. The glow was beginning to shine in her eyes now. I can't believe I missed it before, she was only with me because she thought my grandfather would have a change of heart and take me back. I wondered what she would do if I told her the old man had been calling me back, but I refused to go back.

"Oh, I won't go back," I said and watched in disbelief as her face fell, but she was smart, she knew I was watching and nervously covered her embarrassment with a laugh.

"That's such a shame, you are all he has," she said, and I nodded in agreement.

"Which is why I am never going back, not after what he did to me." I finished and sat on the bed, it is now or never, we are officially over after today. I am such a fool to believe she loved me.

"Are we still going shopping?" she asked now, facing me, no longer combing her hair. Cindy is indeed a beautiful woman and I am going to miss her. I wish she would be with me for much longer. I know now that what I felt for her was not love, but at least I had feelings for her until she ditched me and went to god knows where.

"Oh yeah, just that I might not be able to get you that Hermès," I said, knowing she wanted those shoes since forever, and I was waiting to get them for her with all the money I had left. She nodded in understanding, she seemed to have expected this too.

"Can I stay for a few days more before leaving?" she asked, her eyes were clear, no feeling of regret.

"Sure, but please don't invite anyone over, I don't want to be made uncomfortable while I am here," I said and got up. That went surprisingly well. I had never broken up with a girl that didn't involve tears. This was the first and, strangely enough, I felt like I had just lifted a heavy burden off my chest.