Chapter 25
1428words
I walked toward him and tried to take his hand, but he held it out of my reach and shook his head,
“Not this time, Ember.” And my chin wobbled,
“I’m sorry.” I said in a strained voice, but I saw the change in his eyes before he even opened his mouth to speak,
“An apology can’t fix this one, Ember. Not when it’s clear that you’re conflicted.”
“I’m not conflicted, I’m just..”
“Just what?” He asked, but his voice had lost its edge.
“I don’t know.” I whispered,
“Then figure it out.” He said gently and lifted my head by my chin,
“I’m sorry.” I said again,
“I know.” He said, “Be happy, Em. Heaven knows you deserve it.” and without another word to me or even Paris, he turned around and left.
I would have gone after him, but there was no point in chasing after him. His mind seemed set on not being with me anymore.
And I couldn’t blame him. Not when I was still stuck on my ex.
"Paris, do you know, until recently I thought there was something wrong with me? I thought there was something wrong with my ability to love and be loved. And now" I trailed off, unsure of what to say, or how to continue.
There was so much I was feeling, but Paris was the last person I wanted to bare my soul to. But he turned to me, and looked at me, and something in his gaze told me he could see right through me. And that pissed me off to no end,
"And now, Rowan came along, made you feel special, but I just ruined the whole thing for you." he summed it up pretty nicely and I nodded,
"bingo," I said casually. He was spot on, showing that he knew me true and true and I wasn't willing to make a big deal out of it. I wasn't willing to let him win.
"You know, he really isn't all that, to be honest." Paris gently chided, but I shook my head.
" You say that because you don't know him, and you don't like him.
"Hmm, I see." he said and reached into his pocket for his phone, "I did a little research on him moments ago about your painter. Did you know he was professional?"
I rolled my eyes at him, "what about it?"
"He's also got the worst temperament when things don't go his way. Here, look."
He handed me his phone. It was a video of Rowan losing it with some employees behind the scenes at one of his art exhibits. Apparently, they had not put the right things in the right places. It wasn't exactly a pleasant sight, and perhaps it was the soft spot I had toward him, but as much as I did not like the video, I was unable to utter a bad word.
" We've all had our bad days, " I said and handed him his phone, "including you."
“Definitely." he said and collected his phone, "but I just thought you should see it."
“What are we doing, Paris?” I asked after some moments had passed by,
“I’m afraid I don’t understand what you mean, Em.”
“You don’t, do you?” I asked and turned to him, “we are supposed to be divorced. But still here we are, kissing each other like we don’t have an ocean of past hurt behind us.”
“Do you not believe in starting afresh and anew?”
I simply raised my brow at him. But the fact was, I was genuinely considering it.
“Even if i do, you’re forgetting a very important element.”
“And what is that?”
“Your actual mate, Kate.”
He ran a hand over his head, as though the sudden mention of her wore him out.
“There is that. But she’s not a problem.”
“Isn’t she? Paris, that woman is obsessed with you. So much so that if she even heard you were here with me right now she would lose her head.”
“I don’t even know what to do about that.” He said and he almost sounded frustrated.
His phone buzzed at that moment and when he brought it and saw the caller Id, he actually groaned,
“Yes, Kate, what is it?” He said into the phone.
Talk of the devil, I thought and I simply rolled my eyes. But the fact that he couldn’t he even not pick up the phone and engage her, was confirming what I was trying to say,
“Isn’t this another one of your ploys for attention?” He drawled, and whatever she said to him after that had him widening his eyes,
“I’ll be there soon.” He said and hung up, then got to his feet.
I didn’t ask him what the problem was, but I searched his eyes for an explanation
“Kate hurt herself while trying to move things around. Apparently, she fell and it caused a bit of fetal distress.”
“This again.” I said, unable to keep the bitterness out of my words,
He ran his hand over his head, and suddenly looked disheveled, “I’m sorry Em. But it sounds pretty serious.”
“Of course it does. It’s Kate, your mate. Of course it sounds serious. So go. Go be with her.”
“Em…”
“Don’t bother. Just leave.” I said and turned away.
I didn’t tune to look at him until I heard his footsteps walking away and had to fight the tears that threatened to come.
“You see Ember? This is why you don’t go back to what ruined you.” I said and pressed my lips together.
As I made my way home that night, I promised myself that I wouldn’t cry.
But I was going to do my damn best to cut all ties from Paris. I was going to do all in my power to make sure our divorce was made legal and that we were done with each other for final good.
After work the next day, I took the initiative the next day to contact a lawyer about my divorce from Paris. He had said he would get our divorce in order, but he was lulling it, and to be honest, the sooner we got out the whole thing started the better it was.
"Well, Ms. Macgregor, this is of short notice, but if the both of you can come in early tomorrow, I'm sure I can fit you both in. "
I nodded, and thanked him, "Thank you, Mr. Middleton. I'll let Paris know. We'll be here."
He smiled and shook my hand, "see you then."
I did my best to reach Paris that night, but his phone went to voicemail, so I left a message. And then the next day, before I left for the restaurant that Mr.Middleton had asked to meet at, I tried again, but I got his voicemail once again,
"Paris, the lawyer wants to meet by nine this morning, this is half past seven, please pick up the phone, or call me back." I said and paused, before adding, "Let's get this over and done with.
But by half past eight, I still hadn't gotten word from him and I was torn between being worried about him and being frustrated with him.
"any word from him?" Mr. Middleton asked when he arrived at the quiet restaurant and I shook my head,
He looked at his watch and back at me," It's nearly nine. I don't mean to rush you or be unkind, but he really needs to be her before ten. After that I'll be so caught up."
" I know Mr. Middleton. I just wish he'd pick up the phone. In any case, if he doesn't, I know you tried by fitting me at such notice."
He smiled gently, reminding me of my father, "still have some minutes to nine. Let's be a bit patient."
"yeah," I said and waited for Paris , but by nine-thirty, I still hadn't gotten word from him. By nine-forty-five, I thanked Mr. Middleton once again and prepared to leave.
"Paris, "I began when I reached his voicemail for the umpteenth time, "I can't believe you just did this," I said through gritted teeth and turned and shoved my phone into my purse.
I waited on a bench at a nearby park, even after knowing that it was ten. I suppose I was too tired to do anything else, and it was only after I had been sitting for a long time, that I accepted the fact that I wouldn't be divorcing Paris that day.
