One Last Try

Chapter2

“I do not know him, but he claims you know him; he seems like an old business partner,” Anna explained further to Patricia.

“Let him come in,” Patricia said. Anna left the office, and Patricia awaited the arrival of the guest.

As the door creaked open, a man in his 30s strode in, his dark hair slicked to the side, showing his sharp jawline and symmetrical face. His fitted shirt clung to his muscular physique, exposing his broad shoulders and toned arms.

He flashed a charming smile as he approached Patricia. “Hello, love,” he said, his deep voice dripping with confidence and his gleaming eyes locked onto hers.

Patricia's eyes widened, her pupils dilated in fear. Her heart raced, and her hands trembled as she hastily rose from her seat, her eyes gazing towards the door.

She swiftly slammed the door shut and moved towards Alex, her eyes fixed on the intruder and her heels clicking on the floor in fear. “W-what are you doing here, Alex?” she stuttered, her voice barely above a whisper.

She had recollected when she received a cryptic message from Alex a week ago, saying he needed to see her, but now he stood in her office, as if no time had passed.

His smile vanished for a moment, and he let out a deep sigh. His eyes scanned the office as he began to circle around her office.

"Ouch, I was expecting a hug, at least," he said, his gaze piercing through her; he never let his eyes off her.

As he moved, Patricia felt trapped and uneasy in her own space. “That wasn't the answer to my question,” she said as she glared at him.

“I've missed you,” he said as he walked towards her, his eyes filled with longing. He gently leaned in closer, his breath warm against her skin.

She could feel the heat between them intensifying. Their faces were inches apart, and she could feel his breath hot on her skin. He placed his hands on her waist, pulling her closer.

She was paralyzed at this moment; her breath increased, and her chest was heaving. His nose brushes against the side of hers as he runs his hands on her hand.

This sends shivers down her spine. Just as their lips were about to meet, she placed a hand on his chest and pushed him back. “I'm married,” she whispered.

“Married? When? You got married so fast. I thought you wanted to focus on work,” he spat, his eyes blazing with anger.

She stared at him and shot back. “Three years… You just disappeared for three years, and you expect me not to get married?”

He ran his hands through his hair in annoyance. “I thought we promised to be together” he said.

Tears dropped from her eyes, and she wiped them immediately. “I waited for you!!”

She stood firmly on the ground, her arms crossed over her chest. “Where have you been?” she demanded with a firm voice.

“No one knew where you went; no one knew if you were alive or dead. I thought I'd lost you forever.” She took a step forward, her eyes pleading for answers, and he just swung his back to her with no response.

“I can't believe you just moved on with your life without even knowing if I was alive or dead” he sadly said after being silent for a while.

“I didn't just move on; I had to keep living,” she firmly replied. “I had to find a way to keep going. I deserve an explanation. Where were you? What happened to you?”

He remained silent again as his back was still turned to her. “Fine, don't tell me,” she said, her voice cracking. “But have it in mind that I'm not going to just drop everything and return to you. I've built a life; a new and happy life. I deserve happiness, and I won't let you just waltz back in and ruin it.”

He spun around, his eyes blazing with possessiveness. “You're my girlfriend, and you'll always be mine. You can't just replace me like that.”

“I'm not your girlfriend anymore, she said, her voice firm. “I've moved on, and I'm not going back to the way things were. Goodbye.”

“Goodbye? He repeated, his voice incredulous. “You think it's that easy? You think you can just walk away from me like that?”

“I have to”, she said, her eyes welling up with tears. “I deserve better than a boyfriend who disappears without a trace and expects me to wait for him forever. I deserve someone who loves me, who prioritizes me, and who is present in my life. And that's not you.”

With that, she turned and walked away, leaving him standing alone, his eyes filled with regret as he watched her walk away.

She rushes to the restroom and locks the door behind her, finally allowing herself to release the tears she's been holding back.

She leans against the sink, her hands on the sink. Tears dripped from her eyes. She can't believe he's back and that he still has the power to affect her so deeply. She takes a few deep breaths to calm herself down and gather her thoughts.

She looks up in the mirror. Her eyes were red and puffy from crying. She wipes her tears and musters the courage to go and face him again.

But then she returned to the office, and he was nowhere to be found. She was relieved to know he was gone, but she was sad she couldn't get the answers she needed. She wondered where he had gone to, why he had returned after so long and what he wanted from her now.

As she packs up her bag, phone, and keys from the table, she can't help but wonder what the evening might hold. The unexpected visit from Alex, her ex-boyfriend, had left her reeling.

He appeared suddenly at her office, left quietly without anyone knowing when she stepped away to the restroom. This only added to the confusion. She pushed the thoughts of him aside and focused on the present.

“Will Michael have plans for them, or will they enjoy a quiet night together?” Either way, she's looking forward to seeing him again and sharing stories of her day, hoping for everything to return to normal.