The Widower's New Bride

Eight

This is the worst decision he has ever made, but he constantly reminded himself he was doing this for Ivan but still it doesn't justify the constant nab his chest felt.

He felt he is betraying her.

Audrey.

He gently smoothed his thumb over the glossy glass frame holding her picture. It was a picture of her outdoors surrounded by green mowed lawns and glum cloudy weather.

Mostly windy, her dark hair literally flew over the place as she laughed at the joke of her best friend when Elliot clicked the shutter of his Nixon Camera happy to see this version of her.

He recalled the day, the day he picked up the courage to ask the new financial department head for a date. For the first time, he met a woman who unnerved him and made him weak for her. He loved everything about her at first sight. Her dark kohled green eyes, lurked a lot of enigma and magnetism in her gaze. Her terse face focused on her duties as she worked around all day tirelessly.

The office walls were transparent glass walls and her's was adjacent to his, she would catch him shamelessly staring at her. He made his intention or his feeling very known he wasn't shy to hint at the fact he was very attracted to her.

But she would never loosen up and he made no extra efforts because he lacked expertise on how to woo women.

Women woo him not vice versa.

He was getting addicted to the rosy scents that wafted their way to his nose, he felt the need to breathe it all in. To bury his head in her neck and smell all of her, her lush dark hair caressing his face.

May 17, 2015.

Elliot was sat at unease with a hazy mind and restless heart as his eyes found a way through the transparent wall to the office adjacent to his, lusting at the face of the woman who hardly spared a look at his direction.

For the umpteenth time today, he was distracted by that feminine angular face who fared properly in concentrating in her duties oblivious of the trouble she stirred inside of him.

This was the first time, he had it this bad for a woman. Normally, the woman would have to work her way to gain his attention than some weeks fling and it all dusted.

His title of being the most wanted bachelor in New York returned to him.

But something tells him, this isn't just lust or physical attraction. There was something about Audrey Andrian that intrigued him, he wanted to know more of her.

Easing himself out of his jacket, he threw it on the neck of his office chair and busied his fingers by wringing the hems of the sleeves backwards till it rolled up to his elbows. It briefly broke his unwavering obsession with staring at his new catch.

Raising his eyes back, he is met with an unsettling sight.

For some unknown reason, his stomach churned in bitterness over the little scene displayed to his eyes. He had a sliver of what torture could look like when its ingredient was majorly jealousy.

Her slender arms were wrapped tightly around his neck.

His rival stood tall, with a slender and lanky figure, light brown hair fizzled across his scalp. It wasn't styled in any fashion and looked like something that was fingered combed on a regular.

Elliot could only see his back and Audrey's delighted face a contrast from the monotonous look she wore during work hours. For the first time, she looked truly happy.

Maybe, he was someone she knew.

Well, their promiscuity with each other suggested more than that. But he wasn't going to register with that. It was too early to have a broken heart.

Never for once, did he ever think he would ever think he was capable of fathoming heartbreak thoughts?

He was better than this, but Audrey undid him.

He let himself accommodate the fact, Audrey and the despicable man hugging her might be more than know each other.

Considering the way, his hands laid close to the slope that graduates from her non-existent waist to her hips.

He finally drew from her much to Elliot's relief, but they kept close.

A few talks and loud laughter's escaped from her lips.

Jealousy ruined him, then and then, Elliot wished he could just detach the man and magically be the one making her laugh.

Wishful thinking.

Taking hold of his hand, she excused herself from her office and trudged to God knows where with him.

Elliot could not handle the uneasiness waving through him. Different thoughts ran through his head, he glanced at the clock within seconds of their disappearance.

It was lunch break.

He rose to his feet, and decided for the first time since he assumed his role as the chairman of operation, he would be forgoing his work and step out for a lunch break.

In order words, keep an eye on his stolen gem.

Scanning the hallways for the pair, his skilled eyes scrutinized any cheesy persons that suggested they were an item.

But she wasn't in such category. He walked out of the company's reception areas toward the entrance door, eyes followed him as he pushed through the revolver's door.

He knew they were probably wondering about his once in a blue appearance in other sections of the company, he is reputed for being in his office, or around the department, he oversees working with no rest.

But today was an exception, clearly.

Easing his legs down the stairs, he appreciated the fact it was good to stretch his legs, his joints were starting to be sore from seating in a position for so long.

Gentle breeze wheezed past his direction, whipping the section of hair that fell to his face.

Trying to blend into the background to avoid recognition was impossible, with the stares craned in any direction he went, some doing the actual following with their legs he knew he has the whole public attention.

Some might wonder what he is up to? Others had their phones raised in the air ready to film him.

Hating his mission was almost futile, he turned his back in defeat when he heard a curious thick voice calling back at him.

"You've got it hot on my friend."

Who dared to speak to him in such a manner?

He gave his head a little steer towards his caller's direction.

He saw him, a large smug smeared across his lips.

He was her...

He couldn't conclude with what he was to her, not even as a friend.

A tall lanky man stood close to him, a crooked grin grew by the seconds on his face.

He had the lightest shade of brown orbs, almost hazel and a similar shade on his frizzy hair.

"You like my friend? I can arrange a date with her, "He offered, his tone serious.

Elliot stared at him speechless at how brazen he speaks, maybe he doesn't know who he is speaking to.

And about his question? His accurate guessing was disturbing.

"And who are you?" He asks.

The other man stretched out his hand for a handshake, "Lexton, Audrey's best friend."

Elliot walked across the lone street in this average neighbourhood, he had a hard time finding the house his mother scribbled down the address in the now crumpled paper. He rid every running thought of his and buried the guilt burning in him.

This changes nothing for Audrey.

He was doing this for Ivan, he repeated in his thoughts.

Seeing the house address further down the lane, he took gentle strides to it. Trying to compose his hazy self.

She peered her eyes harder at the screen, her migraine threatening to begin. As full aches resonated behind her eye socket.

Despite putting on her lenses to reduce the eye strain she normally experiences her pupils remained inflamed from staring at the screen for hours.

She continued regardless, desperate to finish with the task her superior assigned her. She eased back on her dining chair to rest her stiff back a little. Her limbs were numb from sitting for so long.

Feasting her eyes on something else different from the computer screen, she lay her eyes on the scattered debris of papers dumped on her dining table.

It was a reminder her work is far from finish, she was only beginning. She groaned loudly from her growing frustration wanting a distraction.

Her wish wasn't far fetched when her doorbell rang.

Curious as to who that might be, she leapt to her feet and trudged towards her door, momentarily taking notice of how messy her living room was.

She gave a little shrug and assumed it might be one of her neighbours who wanted to pass some message across.

Twisting the knob open, she is met with the biggest surprise of her life.

"Mr Elliot, " his name slipped out from her lips in a mock whisper, expressing her shock.