“Warner?” I stared at him in shock and surprise.
He called and messaged last night, but through all this going on, I couldn’t check his message. And now, seeing him standing before me rose the guilt inside me again.
“Hey!” Tucking a strand behind my ear, I greeted him with an awkward stance.
His brown orbs roamed my features, a frown set between his brows. “You all right? You seem… not well.”
Even after what I did, he was still concerned about me. That’s why I didn’t want to lose a friend like him. Before we started dating, he was my best friend in New York.
I had a sudden urge to hug him tight and share all my problems with him. But I knew I couldn’t.
Gulping, I nodded. “I’m fine, don’t worry. Come in!” I held the door wide open for him, flashing a small smile.
Once we were settled in the living room, I got him some coffee and another cup of tea for me. I needed it for my growing headache.
“Thanks.” Taking the mug from me, he looked around. “Where is everyone?”
I took a seat on the opposite side of the couch. “Dad’s in the office. And Mom had another of her kitty parties.”
Thank God they weren’t home. They already sensed something was going on between me and…him. And seeing Warner here would be extremely awkward.
He nodded, his gaze not moving from me. “You sure you’re okay? Your eyes are dull today.”
No, I’m not. I wanted to say. Instead, I bobbed my head again. “Yeah. Just a little headache.”
He didn’t seem convinced. But not wanting to intrude, as always, he let it go and took a sip of his coffee. The corner of his lips turned upwards. “I’ve missed your coffee in the last two months.”
“And I’ve missed you,” I said truthfully.
He held my gaze for a moment and then let out a sigh, putting the mug down on the table. “I wanted to apologize to you, Em. The way I talked to you last time… I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have spit out such words for you. I didn’t know what I was thinking. I was just—hurt and confused.”
I shook my head. “You don’t need to say anything, Warner. It’s me who should be apologizing. I’m sorry. I’m sorry for breaking your trust. You didn’t say anything wrong. It was me who was at fault.” A tear escaped my eye. I couldn’t keep my tears in since last night. As if there was a tap left open inside my eyes.
“Hey, hey!” He slid closer, wiping the tear from my cheek. “Please don’t cry, Em. Truth to be told, yes, I was extremely hurt. But it wasn’t your fault. I should’ve known something like this was going to happen. I always knew I was never in your heart. But still, being selfish, even after you telling me sometimes that we were better friends, I didn’t let you go. I got too blinded by my love that I didn’t see you weren’t happy in that relationship. You didn’t love me.”
The last line came out as a whisper through his lips. Seeing the melancholy in his eyes made me feel more terrible. Another tear rolled down my cheek, but I wiped it fast.
“Warner, I-I tried my best. But I just couldn’t do it. Nor could I… stop myself from falling for him. I swear, I tried with everything I had in me. But…” I looked down at my hands, biting my lip.
He squeezed my hand. “It’s all right, Em. The way you can’t force yourself to love me, you can’t force yourself not to fall for the guy who was already in your heart.”
I looked up at him, not denying the fact. “I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I didn’t want to hurt you.”
He shook his head. “Don’t be. And I know. My Em can’t hurt someone on purpose, even if she wants to.”
I didn’t show the discomfort on my face when he said ‘my Em.’ Maybe he said it just as a friend.
“I’m sorry too. Feeling betrayed and in the fear of losing you, I’d ignored your calls and messages,” he said. “I just needed some time, you know? By the way, I called you last night. Even messaged you. You didn’t answer.”
I shifted in my place. “I was a little busy.”
Nodding, he grabbed his cup again. “So, how’s everything going?”
“We’re still friends, right?” I ignored his question. Though a huge burden lifted off my chest that he forgave me, I still wanted the assurance that he wasn’t breaking our friendship.
“Of course, Em! No matter what happens, you’ll always be my best friend,” he answered, brown eyes were sincere.
This time, a genuine smile stretched across my lips as I pulled him into a bear hug. “Thank you, Warner! I’m really lucky to have you in my life!”
Pulling away, he grinned. Though the gloom still lurked behind his eyes. “Nothing can break our friendship, Em. Not even some old feelings.”
My smile threatened to fall. Even though things weren’t that tense between us anymore, it was still awkward.
He cleared his throat. “Anyway, you didn’t answer my question. How’s everything going on with your life? How’s the office?”
“Wow, you’ve made quite a collection here for yourself,” he awed, assessing the designs I’d drawn in the office when I’d no work to do. At least I’d invested my time in something productive. “Damn, Em! You should open your own clothing line. You’ll rock the market!”
I shrugged. “That’s the plan. But not now. I still have so much to learn.”
After giving him a brief description about the office, he’d decided to stay back till evening since he was free. Even if I wanted to curl up under my blanket and cry, I agreed with his plan. At least we could catch up a little till then.
I brought him upstairs to show him my designs. The designs I wanted to show to a certain person after the date and fixing everything with Warner. I wanted to ask for his thoughts on them. But it seemed like that certain person wasn’t going to have the luck anymore.
My eyes went to my phone again. The flashing screen told me some unknown number was again calling non-stop. Good thing I put it on silent.
I blocked his one number, so he got several new ones.
“Em? Are you listening?”
I blinked. “Yeah. Sorry, I was just thinking about something. What were you saying?”
“I said why don’t you show them to Caleb or your senior designers? I’m sure they’d love to add them to their next catalogue.” One of his brows raised.
I shook my head. “They’re for my collection, Warner. When I start my business, I want my best pieces to be available exclusively on display then.”
I threw another glance towards the phone again. My hands itched to grab it and receive the calls. But I knew better.
Something soared in my chest as Tess’s words flashed across my mind.
We saw him writhing in pain in his bed when he didn’t get his dose. We heard his screams from his nightmares.
My hands curled. Jaw ticked.
Why? Why…
Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath, calming the storm inside me that has been swirling since Tess left.
You don’t know what you mean to him, Em. That man is nothing without his Rosebud.
Sitting straight, I rubbed my face in frustration. The more I wanted to not to think of him, the more my mind was flooded with him.
“You all right? And please don’t sell me your lies again. I can see how restless you are. What happened?”
“Nothing, Warner. I—”
A series of furious non-stop honks of car stopped me. It came from outside of our home.
I frowned. What’s going on?
Then his voice froze me in my place.
“Emerald!”
Some more honking.
“Rosebud, please! At least come to your window!”
What the hell? He-he was outside again?
Warner threw me a perplexed look. Scrambling out of the bed, I ran to the window and peeked outside. There he was. Standing beside his giant black expensive car, in a three-piece suit with the tie loose around his neck and hair ruffled, he looked up at me with those intense gray eyes.
He let out a visible sigh of content as he watched me silently for a moment. While I just glared.
Tess was right. He looked miserable. The always perfect Mr. Valencian was a mess today. But he was Achilles Valencian, after all. He even wore the messy look in a perfect way. This look of his didn’t disappoint to have my heart skip like every other day.
“Rosebud,” his low voice reached as a whisper to my ears. I tried my best to ignore my pounding heart and his desperate eyes. Treacherous heart!
“What are you doing here? And what’s this? Don’t create a scene here, Ace! Go away!” My lips pressed tight as I glanced around in the neighborhood.
“Baby, please. Just talk to me once. I know I’ve hurt you and I’m extremely sorry for that. Punish me if you want, I’d do anything. But just don’t shut me out. Please, baby.”
Baby?
My heart tugged at the pain in his voice and eyes, the edge in his stance. But then I made myself remember everything. Even though my eyes burned, I kept a stoic face.
“The only thing I would want you to do is leave me alone. I don’t want to talk about it anymore. So please, just leave.”
“Don’t say that. We can talk. Baby, please…” He halted as he looked at something behind me. His pleading eyes suddenly turned hard as steel, his shoulders tensed, and fists clenched.
“So, this is the reason for your restlessness,” Warner said.
Looking over my shoulder, I found him standing right behind me. His unreadable gaze set on the man down on the road whose murderous glare was drilling holes into him.
“What’s he doing here?” he hissed in his deep Greek accent. With his stormy grays dark with fury, his nostrils flared. Achilles Valencian was back again.
I wanted to send Warner back inside, but instead, I held my chin high. “That’s none of your business.”
When his fierce eyes snapped to Warner again, I felt him stepping back behind me.
Taking a deep breath, he set his flaming, preying gaze on me. “Rosebud, if you want him to stay in one piece, tell him to leave right now. Don’t test my patience. You can punish me all you want, but I won’t tolerate this.”
I gaped at him. The nerve of this man!
“Is that a threat, Mr. Valencian? If it is, then I’m not scared of you.” Warner stepped forward again.
The muscle of Ace’s strong jaw ticked.
“He won’t go anywhere! He’s my friend, so he can stay here as long as he wants. The one who needs to go is you! So leave, Ace! I won’t say it twice! Otherwise, trust me, you won’t like the outcome.” I pointed my index finger at him.
What would I do if he didn’t leave? I didn’t know. I just hoped he wouldn’t barge into my house like a bull and do something rash.
With his fists clenched, eyes icy cold, he looked at Warner again. “Don’t get in my way, Mr. Wilson. Trust me, I’m not a person to mess with.”
This time, Warner stayed quiet.
Taking another deep breath, he turned to me. “I’ll give you another night, Rosebud. I want you in the office tomorrow. And believe me, if you don’t show up—” he cast a glance towards our front door, “—even your set lines wouldn’t be able to stop me from reaching you.”
With that, he sent another warning look to Warner before getting into his car and driving away.
