chapter 18: Hiding is not an Option

Tess took some minutes off from work to check out the flat in the area where the hotel is. It's a bit pricey because of the area but it's worth it. Thanks to the tip Stan gave her weeks back, she and Katie will be able to pay for it. After Tess had spoken to the landlord, she called Katie and gave her the good news. "Hello Katie, just spoke to the landlord, and booked an appointment with him, we can both come and see the place tomorrow afternoon, and then we can pay for it. I am so excited, this place is just beautiful" she said excitedly. As she dropped the call, trying to put back her phone in her bag, not paying attention to where she was going, she bumped into someone. "I'm so sorry ' as she turned to look at who it was, she was shocked to see Fred. Fred was quick to say, "Hello Tess, how are you doing?"

"I am fine thank you and how are you doing too?"

"I am okay", Fred replied. "What are you doing in this area? Tess asked. " I came to see someone across the street. What are you doing in this area?'

" just checking a place out here" she replied. Yes, after she left Fred and Stan she is moving up in life. Strange how you think you can't do without someone and you end up doing just fine. And Fred looked at her "I hope there is no bad feeling between us? Remember you said you have forgiven me".

"no bad feeling here," Tess said

"Can I buy you a drink?"

"so sorry, I have to take a rain check because I just took permission for a few minutes, and it's way past those minutes; my director will be on the lookout for me" Tess replied as she walked away. she felt his eyes looking at her from behind, Tess knew that Fred was not someone she should trust, and also she felt Stan has proven to be a bigger threat to her wellbeing than Fred. No, she doesn't trust anyone now, just her good friend Katie. Trust needs to be proven and earned and Katie has done just that.

#

When Tess got to the hotel, she felt that eyes were following her, it's a strange feeling, but she couldn't shake it off. When she saw Katie, she was so excited to give her the news about the accommodation. "I can't wait for you to see this place, it's going to look amazing after we put some furniture into it, girl, we are really going up" Katie laughed as she hugged Tess at the news about the flat.

"You won't believe who I saw today?"

"Who?" Katie asked.

"I saw Fred!" Tess said rolling her eyes. Katie looked shocked "Where on earth did that snake crawled out from?" Katie asked feeling disgust

"Don't call him that, it's just sad things turned sour between us. Remember, I still don't know if he told Stan anything ". Katie looked at Tess as if she had lost her mind. "Please don't tell me you think that trash is human. Nobody, I mean nobody dumped a girl on the phone, it's just not done. And he left you without any source of support. Common Tess, don't tell me you have forgiven him?"

"I have forgiven him, Katie, I can't hold such pain inside, it's not possible".

"So you have forgiven him? Okay, but tell me you have not forgotten the whole betrayal". Tess had a faraway look in her eyes as she shook her head "No I have not forgotten, it's just, I have healed and let all those negative energies go away. Stan has helped me to heal from Fred, so I am not angry with Fred any more, I am over him, so it doesn't hurt". In fact Katie, I am grateful to him for allowing me to experience what I did with Stan, even if it didn't last for long.

"but that doesn't mean you will allow him anywhere near you, Tess, believe me, don't allow Fred anywhere near you, because he is not a good person" Katie warns her friend. Tess knew her friend was right, and there was no convincing her otherwise so she changed the topic and began talking about both of them seeing the place tomorrow.

#

Fred was shocked to see Tess, he knew he had done her so much wrong and he feels really bad, but there was nothing he could do about it: what is done is done. Tess may have forgiven him but he is not expecting her to receive him back into her life; not after the way he treated her. He has this fear that if Tess knew the full story, she may not forgive him. If Tess find out what he did to destroy her relationship with Stan with those pictures, he is very sure she won't forgive him. Things have not being okay with his relationship either. After leaving Tess, he had a breakup with the distraction that made him dump Tess and now he feels the seed of break up he sown in Tess and Stan life has backfired on him. He wished he had not done it. He feels that in a matter of time, the truth would come out and he would have to face the consequences of his actions. But now, he is waiting for things to follow its due course. He loves his job at Stan company and he is climbing the ladder of success but this betrayal is eating him up. There is this fear that everything will crumble on him very soon. He just won't fight it anymore, he will continue to do his job until that day comes.