ALWAYS A SECOND CHANCE

Chapter6

Valerie’s POV

I took a few breaths as I gripped the toilet sink tightly. Then I lifted my head, staring at the reflection of the mirror. My heart still lingered in panic from what I had seen earlier. Maybe the first time was a coincidence but not this one.

I knew it wasn’t going to be so easy. He wasn’t going to give up, just like he had said earlier. The city was large enough, but I felt it was too small to hide from Jules.

It had gotten worse because he seemed to have been on my trail.

I had only barely managed to avoid him earlier this evening and that was all because of Raton who had showed up.

The bathroom became suffocating but I hadn’t gotten the courage to step out of there. I wanted to stay away from the noise, I needed to think.

The thoughts of our past had constantly lingered. A one-time part of myself that I wanted to forget as quickly as possible.

I couldn’t believe he had a child with Diana, yet he complained he never wanted to be with her.

Sank deep inside my thoughts, I heard a gentle knock on the door. But before I could even indicate I was inside, the door had already creaked open.

Jules!

Would he just be stalking me? And how did he manage to find me in the bathroom? I thought he had lost sight of me, but I was wrong.

“It’s the lady's restroom,” I said, gesturing towards the label on top of the door.

“No one is going to say a word if you decide to listen to what I have to say.” He replied, a gentle smirk playing at the side of his lips.

“And I said it’s not right to discuss here with me.” I gasped. “What if someone hears our voices?”

As the best rising star artist, what I do every second means a lot to me. I couldn’t allow the public to get to know about this, or else I would be doomed.

“You should have remained with Diana, I am not in for your games again.”

“You think this is a joke?” He muttered, his voice gradually rising.

“No, but please…” I begged him. But maybe he had decided to come back because he heard I was popular now, I was better than his claimed ex-wife.

He shook his head in hesitation, leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, and the regular smile played on his lips again. He knew I had always liked that face and now he chose to use it against me.

That same smile had kept my heart racing after him all the years we enjoyed together and it’s crazy how I remained captive to it.

“Just listen to what I have to say…” he pleaded but I shook my head, trying to exit the restroom but he blocked the path.

I thought about sending Raton a text message but how would he feel when he found out that I had lied earlier that I didn’t know Jules? He was too sensitive to get him involved with my personal affairs.

I took a deep breath and tried another attempt to leave again but he stood still at the door post. “How long do you intend to keep running from me?” He asked, although his voice was calm and teasing.

“I didn’t know I would meet you here, Raton would come searching for me if he doesn’t see me,” I said, trying to chase him off but he didn’t flinch.

Jules chuckled as he took a step closer to me. “But I am here now, I am not leaving you again.”

“What do you want from me?” I asked, taking a few steps backward. He already knew I couldn’t resist his charming eyes, it was his weapon against me now.

But I had to deal with it.

I turned away from him, turning the sink tap on.

He closed the space between us, taking another step. I could feel his presence behind me, the warmth of his body dangerously close.

“You know exactly what I want,” he murmured.

I lifted my head and met his gaze through the mirror. His eyes were covered with something I had never seen before, something dangerous, something that scared the hell out of me.

He wasn’t the same person I knew years ago, I had to stand my ground.

“It’s not happening, and don’t even think about it,” I said quickly, narrowing my eyes away from him. “Whatever you think this is, just stop it.”

Jules let out a low chuckle. “Come on, Valerie. We both know you still feel it.

“Not again Jules, that was long ago,” I replied almost immediately. “Did you think I was going to fall for that?”

He tried to come closer again but then he stopped when a knock came on the door. “Just a minute,” I said to the person outside.

“Now you have to leave, it’s too risky,” I said, still refusing to face him. Although I knew it was going to be difficult to let go of me. He had already noticed the way my body reacted the moment he tried to kiss me earlier.

Despite that, I stopped him earlier.

“You don’t have to be difficult, Jules.” I finally turned around facing him now.

“This isn’t about me, it’s all about you.” He gasped. “Now, tell me, do you miss those nights? The ones where you couldn’t keep your hands off me?”

A quick breath escaped me before I could stop it.

Jules noticed.

“Come on, V. Don’t fight it.” He leaned in just enough for me to catch the familiar scent of his perfume, the one that had once been my favorite.

“Stop it,” I said firmly, pushing against his chest.

He barely moved. “Stop what? Reminding you of what we had?”

“It’s all in the past now, we don’t have to start talking about them now. That’s not going to help.” I snapped. “Everything about us died years ago when you cheated.”

“Cheated?” He exclaimed, his gaze locking on mine. “I never cheated!”

“I don’t care, call it whatever you like.” It was over, there was no going back. Not when I had Raton who had stood behind me all these years.

“Then why do you look like you’re about to fall apart?” He said, taking a deep breath.

“You really think you still have that effect on me?” I managed to force a laugh to distract him.

I somehow managed to escape his watch when he walked closer to the sink to wash his hands.

“V…” he called out, chasing after me. But I had already moved ahead of him, far beyond the distance he could chase after.

“I know I still have a place in your heart,” he voiced out.

I didn’t bother to look behind, I headed straight to the table where I was seated with Raton.

Jules was too tricky, I had never liked how he could easily read through my mind. Everything I had tried to hide from him was only a joke. He didn’t even need me to spill them out before he figured it out.

He was right, my heart still raced for him but it was impossible to go back. Especially now that he had a child. But did it matter?