8 Chapter Eight

CHAPTER 8

I sat unblinking, trying to process what Richard had just told me.

Months ago? How? Where? And how come I don't recognize him or remember ever meeting someone like him?

"But how is that possible? I clearly don't remember you." I voiced my concern.

"Was it sometime in March last year, I was about to open the door of a coffee shop and I collided with you. I immediately caught you not wanting you to fall to the ground. You clung unto me." He said as his eyes flickered over my face for a few milliseconds before looking away.

"You picked a fight with me because I called you fragile. I must say, your actions amused me."

"What was the name of the coffee shop?"

"Java Jive House."

That was where I worked for Marcel.

Realization washed over me. Could it be?

But that man was wearing a polo shirt and sweatpants. His eyes were also covered with sunshades.

My hand flew over my mouth, muffling an involuntary gasp. "No way."

"You remember now?"

The scene remained evergreen in my memory. I found him arrogant and he didn't even apologize for calling me fragile and malnourished. It was also his fault we bumped into each other.

I was walking hastily towards the coffee shop because I was out running some errands and needed to report to angsty Marcel. Richard was also in a hurry but his eyes were glued on his phone. I was expecting him to walk in a straight path, but he suddenly moved into mine, I was taken aback that I didn't get the chance to dodge him.

My face hit the wall of his chest rigorously. I was instantly wrapped in his warm embrace before I could land on the ground. When I looked up at him I was starstruck. He seemed like a knight in shining armor.

However, all the buzz I felt all the way to the tip of my toes died a quick death when he opened his mouth and said those words to me.

I thought he was a gentleman but he turned out to be a pompous ass.

"I remember hating you for weeks."

He grinned. "I deserved that."

"You deserved more. You didn't even apologize."

"I'm sorry. Is that fine?"

"Maybe," I said as I shrugged and looked away from him.

"I'm really sorry."

I looked back at him. "It is fine. I don't hate you anymore."

"When I went back there to look for you, you were gone. The next thing I knew, you were strolling in my backyard with Abigail."

"You went back. Why?"

"Like I said, your actions amused me."

"Right."

What was so amusing about an irritated girl who had just been called malnourished?

"Edward," he said, drawing me out of my thoughts.

"Edward? What about him?"

"From the conversation we had about him last night it seemed to me like you liked him."

"How do you know that?" I asked, surprised that he knew.

"Your countenance. You couldn't exactly hide it." He chuckled.

I smiled shyly at him. "I'm not really sure."

There was no way I was going to admit to Richard that I liked Edward in any way. It is better if he does not, to avoid any form of awkwardness.

"Hmmm."

***

"Are you going to come see me work all the time? I'm beginning to think you aren't as busy as you say you are." I muttered to a gleeful Edward sitting at one of the tables in the coffee shop, sipping away his latte.

"I am busy as I had mentioned. I won't be here always that is why I'm here."

My brow shot up. "And?"

"I realized I have no other way to reach you unless I come to see you here. And I had an epiphany that I've been stupid all this while not remembering to collect your contact information. So here I am." He said as he spread out his arms.

"That's not a problem."

"Thank you." He paused. He stared at me for a moment, a vicious glint in his eyes. "I want you to accompany me to a company party. My company party as my date." He clarified.

I didn't think I'd ever find myself in this situation. Edward Brown asked me to be his date at his company's party. I had a perception of what would happen in that party. He would probably introduce me to all his business associates and I would be opened to the scrutinizing eyes of vicious wolves and foxes waiting to tear me apart.

My perception may be wrong but something similar may happen.

I watched his glistening eyes filled with anticipation and couldn't help feeling sorry for the disappointment I was about to douse him in.

If he had asked me just a minute before I negotiated with Richard, there was a possibility I would have said yes. It was too late now. I was about to be the wife of Richard Berlette and seeing me in the arms of another man before the news of the marriage would bring complications for Richard.

I exhaled slowly and sat across from him. "I won't be able to make it."

His face metamorphosed into a scowl. "Why?"

"Edward," I breathed.

He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned into the chair.

"What is it?"

I have to tell him now, it's useless keeping him in the dark when he was going to find out anyway.

"I'm getting married."

A look of puzzlement crossed his face. " I don't understand. You are engaged?"

Technically, I wasn't but I was going to be immediately. We broke the news to Abigail and Edward that I wasn't engaged when I just told him I was getting married would make no sense.

"Yes."

His dark brows pulled together as his eyes fell on my knuckles, his brow knitted. "There is no ring on your finger," he said beckoning on my ringless knuckles.

I instinctively covered it up with my other hand, which made his gaze dart back to my eyes.

"I'm not wearing it now b_because I'm working." my voice came out an octave higher than I intended it to be.

"I have never seen you wear it. I know I haven't known you for a long time but you didn't even wear it at Richard's birthday party."

" The truth is, I misplace things a lot and I didn't want to lose it. So I don't wear it all the time."

He eyed me guardedly like he didn't believe a word I said. " I can't believe this." he looked at me as if sensing the brewing feelings inside me through my facial expression he quickly added. " I didn't mean it that way. It's just that, it's really surprising."

I half smiled. "It is."

"Who is the man?"

"Uh?" I pretended not to hear, hoping he would drop the question.

"Who are you engaged to?"

"Umm, Richard," I whispered loud enough for him to hear.

His eyes narrowed at me. "Richard? Richard who?"

"Richard Berlette." the name scraped through my tongue like sandpaper.

My heart beat hard against my rib cage, not wanting to be around him anymore.

For what seemed like a minute, neither of us said anything. Edward gaped at me, his eyes blinked with incredulity. He appeared to be lost for words after what I had said.

There were few ways I expected Edward to react but never could I have imagined him throwing his head back in fists of laughter.

He laughed for a while. Like I had just told him the world's best joke.

I sat silently, watching him, not knowing what to do.

He used his thumb to wipe away the string of tears at the corner of his eyelid. "Pardon me but that was really funny."

He broke into a chuckle again and held his belly.

Noticing I didn't join in, in his amusement, he stopped laughing.

"I wasn't cracking a joke Edward, I'm getting married to Richard Berlette."

"Wait a minute, Richard Berlette. The Richard Berlette," he said, jabbing his index finger on the table with each word.

I nodded. " Yes, The Richard Berlette."

"Your best friend's father, Richard Berlette?"

My stomach contracted into a tight ball and guilt hit me square in the chest at the mention of my best friend. I tried to make myself feel better with the words of Richard numerous times but I can not help but think of how Abigail would react to this. Would she hate me? Would she accept me? The thought of becoming the stepmom of my best friend made me cringe.

I sighed and forced a smile as guilt articulated my next words. "Yes, Abigail's father. Richard Barlette."

The thin line of his brows jumped in surprise. "Wow! Color me surprised. Richard Berlette." he said absently. "I have known that man for years and I haven't seen him with a lady friend not to talk of being in a relationship with one and now he is getting married? Hmm. I'm astonished Abigail is cool with it."

"Why do you say so?"

"It's Abigail. And if there is one thing I know about Abigail, she doesn't like to share."

"That's not true. Abigail dwells in generosity. You just haven't had the chance to experience it and you are biased against her."

"You are experiencing it because she likes you now. You just wait," he said in a calm, unhurried voice. "I don't want to look like a gossip so I'll just drop it."

"I appreciate it," I said breathlessly acknowledging the fact that I didn't want to entertain his distasteful talk about Abigail.

"How did it happen though? I really cannot wrap my head around it."

"It just happened."

"But how."

My mind quickly went back to last night and the story Richard had drawn up for us to tell people. Our true story.

"We met last year, where I used to work. We collided against each other and the rest is history," I paused. "and do you know what the funny thing was, I didn't know who he was back then. I thought he was one cocky ass jerk who couldn't walk on a straight path" I added quickly.

"You knew Abigail then?"

"This is beginning to feel like an interrogation."

As if detecting the irritation laced in my voice, he flashed me an enigmatic smile. "Alright. You don't have to answer that."

"No, I didn't."

"What."

"I didn't know her then," I answered anyway hoping it would rid me of the guilt I felt, but it didn't.

"That's quite a story."

"It is."

I wanted to say to Edward that it wasn't real, that it was just an agreement I agreed to enter for reasons I do not have an answer to but deep in my mind I know I owed him nothing. Not even an explanation and I shouldn't care about the notion he had of me in his head.

He probably thinks I'm a gold digger, trying to climb her way up to the top by shagging her best friend's wealthy dad.

He exhaled slowly. "He must really love you." his voice softened like he was hurt. "To be honest," he contributed. " That night we met, I was smitten by you and the day I came to see you here, the very first time. I wanted us to be something more. I guess I'm too late." He scrunched his nose. "More like I didn't have a chance to begin with."

"We can remain friends," I suggested.

"We can." His tone walked the line between sadness and bitterness. "Alright. I guess I'll see you around." He said as he dragged the chair backwards creating space for him to stand. He pulled himself up and beamed at me. A downcast one.

I watched him leave for the door until he was no longer in sight.

Tears burned in my eyes because somehow I knew I wouldn't be seeing him around.

He left without asking for my contact again.