Arabel’s POV
The music comes to a stop, and tension fills the air.
When I turn around, I discover that Richard has left. Ashley gestures for me to move away from the man, whose name I now know to be Fernando.
“Excuse me,” I mutter calmly before leaving him on the dance floor. I had been pretending to enjoy his company so that when I finally cut ties with him, he would know something was definitely wrong somewhere.
“Ashley…”
“Richard just left. Did you do something to annoy him?”
With my brows furrowed, I shake my head. “No.”
She smiles. “I told you he likes you, didn't I?”
“Ashley!”
“What?! Isn't it obvious already? Almost everyone in the room is whispering in agreement. He didn't even look at Amy's face for more than a second. His gaze was fixated on you all along. I saw the jealousy in his eyes when Fernando was dancing with you…”
“So all along, you were watching us instead of dancing with your man?” I fold my arms around my bosom, finding it hard to believe.
She chuckles softly. “Not only me. Everyone else was watching. The chemistry between you two is…”
“Shut up!” I hit her shoulder, and she feigns a wince.
“Bella, truly…” She trails off as realization dawns on her face. “He said, Arabel, is that your name?”
“No!” My reply comes out rather sharply. “Maybe he made a mistake. Instead of calling me Bella, he called me that.”
The suspicion on her face makes my heart pound heavily. It makes me wonder if she knew his ex-wife's name.
“I am Bella!” I pronounce it again with an awkward smile. “And why are we still here? Your man looks like he can't wait to devour you before tomorrow.”
She finally laughs, her attention moving away from my face. When she turns back to peer down at me again, I know she isn't done.
“Richard,” she only says, making me raise a questioning brow. “He is my boss and your partner. In fact, he is the best man. It won't look good if he is not seen here.”
“He is the best man? Ashley, you didn't even tell me he was coming…”
“But I told you he was Caleb's friend and business partner, didn't I?” She retorts immediately.
“Yes, you did, but I thought he was just going to make an appearance tomorrow at the wedding and not today at the party. To worsen the case, he is the best man, and I am the maid of honor…”
"It'll make everything perfect. Fernando might be the match for you, but working things out with Richard will be more suitable, don't you think?” She asks, throwing me a wink.
I don't reply to her.
If only she knew. She wouldn't be doing this. Wanting to match-make us without knowing we have history together.
“So?”
“So what?” I know what she is about to do.
“Please, Bella. I want us to get rid of this tense air. It's my night, remember? Let's make it worthwhile. If possible, try your best to get him back here. He doesn't have to dance or be with anyone anymore if he doesn't want to. You can be his partner until after the wedding. If you like Fernando better, it's fine. Just do this for me until the wedding is over. Please! " She rambles on and begs, causing me to let out a deep sigh, wondering exactly what to do.
I had intended to ignore him, but now she's persuading me to invite a fully grown man like him back to the party.
"You don't even need to be back. Just go out and meet him. That alone will help. You two can talk things out. You can even ask him about what I said, and I'm sure he'll tell you how he really feels. I saw it the moment you two became partners. He has never looked at any woman that way before…”
“You can't be so sure.” I cut her short, anger making its way through my veins at her assumption.
“Yes, but for the past four years since I started working for him, I haven't seen him with any woman. He might have been married, but I assure you, he doesn't show any interest in any woman, especially not someone he is supposed to be in business with. Except you. Thank goodness, I am not the only one who noticed it tonight. It was so glaring!”
I am done listening to her.
“Fine, I will go.” I stamp my feet on the floor as I make my way to the entrance before realizing I don't even know where he is. I turn back to see her watching me with a grin.
I throw her a cold glare before asking. “Where is he?”
She shrugs, acting as if she has no idea, but I think she knows.
Frustrated, I go out and take the elevator down to the ground floor to search for him. He can't be in one of the rooms where the men are staying. If he is, then I have no reason to go after him.
I will make an effort to find him, and if I don't see him around or outside, I'm going back in to tell Ashley and suggest I retire for the night, so the tension won't resurface and the party can continue without Richard and me.
When I reach the empty foyer, I glance around to see that tall man I have known for years.
He is nowhere in sight, so I move out of the sliding door, out to the beach beside the hotel. The evening air slaps me in the face, causing my hair pleats to fly around.
I do not need to look too far before seeing him, his back to me as he plays with the sand on the floor with his feet.
I shake my head.
He threw a tantrum, only to come out for this?
I can't deny the beauty of the night, and I love the gush of fresh air, unlike having to smile every second up there because of Fernando.
Here, I don't have to pretend to be who I am not.
I approach him with folded arms, but a ringing sound stops me. He doesn't even know someone is right behind him, so I stop, contemplating going back in to at least give him some privacy.
“Mom?” He picks up the phone and glues it to his ears.
Suddenly, guilt settles into the pit of my stomach. Since she left the morning after Daisy's birthday party, I haven't contacted her.
She hasn't called either, but her reason must be understandable. I feel bad for that.
“Yes, she is here!” He shouts, throwing his hand in the air in anger.
What exactly is he mad about? Is it because I ignored him? Or is it because I was dancing with Fernando?
"She ignored me like I didn't exist, or she didn't know me from anywhere. I hate this. This hurts like hell!”
I blink as I register the words in my head.
"She was nestled in the embrace of another arm, ignoring me. I felt like punching his face, so I had to come down for some air to calm my nerves!”
I can imagine what my mother's response would be. Mother would never encourage his actions, except in my case.
She is well-known for her consistent scolding. She scolded him more than she did me.
“No, mom!”
This is it. I was just contemplating the reprimand.
“Why should I? I won't. This has to stop!”
He relaxes as she says something from the other end, which I can't hear. “No, I won't tell them. Obviously, she doesn't want anyone to know, and I will respect her wishes. I just don't want her to ignore me that way. I know I have wronged her, but isn't it high time she forgave me and gave me another chance to make things right?!”
Forgiveness again?
“I love her. I fucking love her. I can't stand seeing her with another arm. I won't allow it!”
“Then tell her!” The loud voice of mother rushes out with the wave of air.
Richard suddenly goes silent, and I can't hear anything anymore. My heart is pounding so hard that fear grips me.
Ashley was right.
A part of me knew she was right, but I didn't want to believe it. I didn't want to believe that a man who caused me to feel rejected would want me back.
I didn't want to believe a man who didn't feel what I felt in our marriage would love me after our divorce. I didn't want to believe that Richard was capable of loving me after our separation.
Tears spring from my eyes.
I saw it all. The signals.
He wouldn't have suffered to gain my forgiveness if he didn't want me back. He wanted me back, and that was why he was making every effort to get my forgiveness.
If he didn't care, he wouldn't bother asking me for forgiveness. He would keep on pretending not to know me, and he would never talk to or tell me about Arabel, his ex-wife, whom he wronged.
If he didn't care, he would never ask if Daisy was his.
The signs were all there.
The kiss too. The first kiss was at the dance shop, and the second was at his home in Bristol. For the kiss at the dance shop, I was mad because I thought he still considered me to be someone else, yet he kissed me.
Now I know I am wrong.
He knew all along. He recognized me as soon as he saw me back at the hall where the company's anniversary was taking place.
The type of fear gripping me right now isn't the same as the fear I used to have. This fear is new and strange. Along with it comes my anger.
It is there, making my skin icy with goosebumps. My eyes water as I stare at his rigid back until he squats down in frustration, looking onto the waters for some sort of relief.
I am thinking of making my way back before he notices my presence. I don't need to go back to the party or tell Ashley anything.
I can just go back to our rooms and cry my eyes out there before sleeping.
Slowly, I turn around, careful not to make any sound as I tighten my mouth to stop a sob from coming out.
“Arabella?”
He suddenly calls out to me, and I freeze.