JULIAWe went back and found everyone playing volleyball by the swimming pool. I watched one of the girls tossed the ball to the guys on the opposite side, but none of them had hit back. A rich laugh came out from Adam at the sight of his friends that seemed to be on the losing team. I just loved seeing him like this... so carefree and so normal.
“Would you like to join them?”
He looked at me, still smiling. “How about you?”
“I’m fine. You should join them.”
He brought my hand to his lips. “I know how this is new to you, but I want you to join us.”
“You are right. This is new to me, and you already said that I’m not ready. I’m giving myself a little time.”
He nodded, agreeing. “Of course, you’ll feel that way. But I’ve never brought anyone here. Just you.”
“That’s good enough then.”
“When I told you that I’m falling for you, I mean it. I want you to be part of this,” he said softly.
What he said struck me again. “Honestly, I just can’t tell you that I feel the same. I feel we are rushing things.”
I was cut off by Adam’s lips brushing my mouth. “I understand. That is one of the reasons why I like you. I don’t expect you to feel the same. I know what you felt for my brother, and I’m giving you time to adjust. But please give me a chance to share all of this with you.”
“That’s why I’m here, Adam,” I reminded him. “And thank you for understanding.”
“Then join me in the pool?”
I grinned. “Of course.”
“Great. For now, let’s just enjoy the water.”
Adam pulled his shirt off, revealing his smooth, ripped bare chest and six-pack, then he slid his sport shorts down—leaving only a pair of dark blue swimming trunks. His eyes glued to mine as if tempting me to jump onto him. I could just watch him do this all day.
I crossed my arms. “You have to do that, huh?”
He chuckled at my remark, then he plunged into the water first and swam to the other side. I dove into the pool and followed him. He chuckled as he caught me with his arms and kissed my temple lightly. But the perfect moment was suddenly interrupted when one of the girls spoke to Adam.
“Adam! It’s been a long time,” the red-haired woman who was having a cocktail earlier burst out.
“Vivian,” he responded.
“Finally, a woman who doesn’t look like Bianca,” she uttered. “This is interesting.”
“Bianca?”“Vivian, please.” Edward grabbed her arm, but she shoved him away.
“Why not, Edward? I’m just telling the truth,” she complained, and her expression furious.
“No, stop it!” Edward grasped her arm once more. “I’m sorry. I’ll talk to her.”
“What? No! Let me go!” She struggled as Edward dragged her out of the water. “Bianca should see this madness. She’s even wearing her swimsuit!” she yelled, just enough for me to hear though they were already marching into the house.
I searched for Adam’s eyes. He seemed troubled and uneasy. I didn’t like that look.
Was it true? I looked down at the swimsuit I was wearing. It was odd enough that he kept this in that room, and this was hers? Who the hell was Bianca?
The other woman with short hair spoke to Adam, “You didn’t tell her.”
“Tell me what?”
“Bianca was Adam’s wife,” she said. “I’m sorry.” She swam towards the handlebars then hauled out of the water, and Dominic followed after her. Ronald seemed to have sensed that we needed space to talk and left as well.
“She’s not my wife. She’s my ex-wifeI sniffed, holding back tears from falling. It’s as if someone shot my chest, and the bullet lingered inside, instantly eating my every strength.
“Why didn’t you tell me you had a wife?”
“I’m sorry. I was going to tell you—maybe tonight, but she spoiled everything,” he reasoned.
I snorted. This was so humiliating. “Everyone knows, except me. How could I be so blind?”
“Believe me, I was going to tell you.” He tried to hold my arm, but I backed away.
“Don’t touch me!” I bawled. “You even made me wear her fucking swimsuit!” I was so angry I almost wanted to scratch his face, but I decided to just get myself out of the fucking swimsuit.
I swam back to the handlebars and got off the water. I grabbed a towel from the bench, then covered myself. I heard footsteps following me.
“Julia, let’s talk,” he called out, trying to catch up with me.
“There’s nothing to talk about.” I untied the swimsuit strings, trying to secure the towel at the same time.
“Julia. Please listen to me!” Adam snatched my hand once more, but I shoved him away.
“I said, stop!” I screamed. I threw the swimsuit in his face. My gesture startled him, and his expression turned erratic. He seemed angry, but his eyes looked apologetic. I wanted to care, but it was too late. I sprinted back to the house.
I shouldn’t have come with him. I already felt something was wrong. I should’ve followed my intuition. I walked straight to the bathroom and turned the shower on, and let the water flow over my body. I buried my face in my palms and began to cry.
I was so stupid. Why didn’t I know about it? I’d been working for him long enough, and I never heard about it. The image of a stunning blonde rushed through my mind. Someone not like me—probably someone like Demi, but much more beautiful. He married her; she was better.
Shortly after, I slid into a shirt and jeans. I needed to get out of this God-forsaken place. Though I might need to wait until the morning. I stood up and locked the door so Adam would leave me alone.
Unexpectedly, my phone rang in the middle of my drama. I frowned at my screen as I saw Henry’s name. I rolled my eyes.
“What is it this time?”
“Julia,” he whispered. “I just want to talk. Please don’t hang up,” he pleaded.
“I don’t want to talk right now. I’m still pissed at you. I’m hanging up.”
“Hold on!” he pressed. “Please, just listen to what I’m going to say. You don’t have to answer. One minute, that’s all I ask.”
I heaved out a sigh. “Spill it.”
“I’m sure Adam already told you about us, about Demi, and it’s true. It’s all true. I cared for her because I felt responsible.”
“I don’t think I want to hear this.”
“I’m sorry, okay?” he cut me off. “Demi left for good. She’s not coming back, and she wanted to apologize for everything.”
The news made my heart lift, but it didn’t mean he wasn’t wrong. “But that doesn’t change the fact that you left with her that night.”
“She’s mentally ill, Julia. What am I supposed to do?”
“You kissed her back! How about you explain that to me?”
He spoke after a few seconds of silence, “I’m sorry, Julia.”
“Adam told me everything, yes. I know that you cared for her. This was when I realized that we can’t do this anymore, Henry. It’s all messed up.” Even this… even this situation I was in.
“I know. You can’t continue this because I understand who you really like. It’s Adam, isn’t it?”
“Time’s over. Bye, Henry.” I hung up.
He wasn’t all wrong. After all, I came all the way here with his fucked-up brother who had a wife he didn’t tell me about. Now I wanted to get out of this place, and I didn’t know how. It was all better when Adam was only my boss, and Henry was just a crush.
***“Open the door, Julia. Please.” I didn’t know how long he had been knocking on the door the next morning, but I managed to leave it unanswered. I was still so mad; I didn’t want to see his face. All I wanted was to go home.
“I’m so sorry,” he said. “Let’s talk, and please hear me out.”
I swallowed hard as I felt my stomach growling in extreme hunger, but my pride was eating me. It was the only thing I had. I wanted to chastise him for not being honest with me. I wanted him to rot in front of the door for making me wear his wife’s swimsuit. It was so sick.
“Just get mad at me and face me, but not like this,” he spoke again. “I’m tired of looking at the door. Please come out. You’re driving me crazy—Shut up, Edward! I told you not to bring Vivian here.”
“I know, but give her some time. I’m sorry, man,” Edward said calmly, then I heard him walked away.
Adam knocked again. “Julia, please talk to me.”
I grabbed the pillows and covered them with my ears. Did he think saying he’s sorry was as simple as that? How could I possibly trust him if he couldn’t tell me something as important as this? I couldn’t stay here anymore. I needed to go now.
He banged on the door this time. “Is this what you want? Fine. I won’t bother you again. Just come out here and eat your breakfast.”
I stepped out of the bed and finally opened the door. A pinch of relief flashed on Adam’s handsome face.
“You won’t bother me, you say? I want to go home.”
He scowled. “What?”
“I said I want to go home. I can’t stay here any longer.”
Adam brushed his fingers on his scalp harshly. I almost lost it when I saw his tender eyes. They were bloodshot. I stood firm and kept my face expressionless. I should not appear affected. He was wrong.
“Damn it. Can’t we just do this later? You made me feel fucking stupid waiting for you to come out, and I knew I was wrong. But aren’t you being too much?”
“Am I being too much? I’m the one who’s supposed to say that!” I screamed in his face. “It was disgusting enough that you made me wear her fucking swimsuit!”
“I said I’m sorry, and instead of letting me explain, you locked the door in my face,” he shot back. “Believe me, Julia. I didn’t really—”
“Give me your keys,” I snapped.
“What?”“I said, give me your keys, and I’ll go home myself.”
“I can’t let you go back alone.”
“But it is better than listening to all your fucking excuses. There’s no need to explain, Adam. I just can’t keep up with this.”
His eyes softened but were still wary. He slid his hand into his pocket. I snatched the key from his hand.
“Just because I’m giving you that doesn’t mean I’m letting this go.”
I shook my head in disbelief. “Whatever you say.”
I arrived early in the morning, and Adam still wasn’t in his office. I decided to do my usual morning routine. I replied to every relevant email, encoded updates, arranged his schedule, photocopied files he needed for the meeting today, and cleaned up his desk. Lastly, I went to the pantry to brew his coffee. I checked my wristwatch, and it was almost eight o’clock. I was just in time.
Shortly, I went to Adam’s office, and as expected, he was already inside. He was looking at the updates I placed on his desktop. I walked inside and put the cup of coffee on his desk. Damn, he was still so beautiful. Seeing him like this made me realize that I couldn’t get angry at him too much. I missed him.
He gazed up at me. “Julia,” he breathed out as if it was a relief seeing me. “You’re here.”
“Where else would I be?”
“No, I mean…” he cleared his throat. “Thank you for the coffee.”
“Do you need anything else?” I queried.
“Nothing. You already arranged everything.” Adam stood up and turned around his desk. “But I might need to say something.”
“Shoot.”
“I’m glad to see you here this morning, Julia.”
“This is my job, Adam. It’s better if we don’t mix things up.”
He nodded. “You’re right.”
“But even though we say that, my job is being affected.”
“You are right about that, too, but come on. It wasn’t like in the past anymore. Julia, I want to work this out.”
“Sure. Then you can tell me everything I need to know before I decide. Maybe you have a secret child somewhere you didn’t tell me about too. It’s time to tell me those things now.”
“What?” he hissed. “I don’t have any secret child. It’s just that,I crossed my arms. “Everything?”
“Yes. Everything you wish to know.”
“That’s…” I bit my lip. “That’d be good.”
He took my hand and drew me close to him, so I would wrap my arms around him. “I wanted to tell you about it, but I was afraid that you might not want me if you knew.”
“I’m not like that. You should know that by now. Will you tell me now?”
He leaned his face down to mine and placed a small kiss on my lips. “I’ll tell you, but I’m afraid I need to go somewhere today. I’ll be back in the afternoon.
“Oh, right. You have a meeting today. In the afternoon, then.”
“Am I forgiven?”
“Not without a proper explanation.” I shook my head. “Look, Adam. We are incompatible in so many ways. If I’m going to list all of it, a sheet of paper won’t be enough. It’s too complicated. We’re complicated. We are too bad for each other, but it doesn’t mean I don’t miss you... this.He pressed a thumb to my lip and chuckled. “You talk too much.”
“Who would’ve thought we were going to be like this?” I said. “You were just ordering me around, but I don’t think you can do that to me anymore,” I teased.
“I was a jerk, wasn’t I?”
“Worse.”
“How ‘worse’“Every single day, I thought of giving you my resignation. My boss is the full definition of evil.”
Adam kissed my forehead softly. “Am I?”
“I now have an opportunity to leave, but I can’t seem to do it. I must be out of my mind.”
“Probably.” He grinned. “I’ll take you to dinner tonight.”
“But Claire. I promised to meet her for dinner.”
“How about we take your sister with us?”
I frowned, confused. “What? No. I can’t let her hear about this. She doesn’t know about us. It would be weird.”
His brows furrowed. “Of course, but I just want to be with you tonight.”
“Then how can we talk if she’s there? Apparently, Claire thought that Henry was still my boyfriend. I’ll speak to her. I’m sure she’ll understand.”
“Or we could move this to tomorrow,” he suggested.
“Nope. You promised to tell me. I’m not letting you get away this time.”