Love Aint Always Pretty

Pursuit

- the act of pursuing

Origin: Middle English

81

While I was busy grabbing all of my stuff to get myself some lunch, there was a sudden knock on my door.

"Hi." Nick greeted as he opens it wide.

I froze for about five seconds when our eyes met and then I recovered. I gaze at my watch and it was twelve five noon. I'm starving for some steak and he's making me starve if he stays longer inside my office. He walks inside while every employee behind him was looking right at us. He slowly closes the door behind him but I could still see heads peeping out.

"Hi." I cleared my throat.

He glanced at his gold wristwatch, "It's lunchtime. Wanna go grab something to eat together?" He asked.

I bite my lower lip. Together.

"Nick, your employees think something is going on between the two of us after what you did for me. It's better if we avoid each other." I say.

"Grab a pad and a pen, we'll make them think we're going for a lunch meeting."

I sigh. "Nick. Why are you doing this?"

I pulled up my hand to show him my wedding ring to show him that I'm married. "I'm married."

"You're married." I added.

He sighs.

"We can't be seen together and if your employees will tell your wife that they saw you entering my office and we went out for lunch together, I'll be fired." I continued.

"Did Dakota taunt you to stay away from me?" He asked.

Yes.

"She didn't. I just wanna make it clear to you that we can't do things that we used to do. For god's sake Nick, we're both married people." I answered.

I grabbed my purse.

"You're heading somewhere?" He asked.

"Lunch." I say firmly.

"Can't two good ol' friends have a peaceful lunch together?" He asked.

Jesus Christ Nick. Why are you making me lose my mind?!

"I'll meet you at Travioli. We can't be seen leaving together." I say.

He nods and smiles at me while he walks out of my office. I waited for a few minutes before I could leave and when I finally did stepped out of the building, I hailed a cab and went to Travioli. Damon didn't want me to drive my car because he doesn't want me to get into a car accident.

When I arrived at Travioli, I marched my way towards where Nick was sitting down. I sat right across him and noticed that he already ordered meals for us. Goodness, the steak looked delicious as hell. I don't know how he knows what I'm craving for today but at least he knows my favorite meals. It's been a very long time since we went out together like his, just the two of us.

"Eat up." He says.

I smiled.

We ate silently and the dishes he ordered were insanely good. The gravy was salivating on my tongue and the vegetable salad was to die for. I've noticed something about Nick, and he still doesn't talk or make eye contact when he eats. He's still the same old Nick I knew back in the day.

"You still don't talk." I blurted.

He slowly pulled his head up to me and wiped his cheek win the table napkin. "What does that mean?" He asked.

"You don't talk or make eye contact when you eat. I've noticed that since before." I say.

glanced at him, "You still do it

"You know me

I smiled ruefully.

to tell him that he's probably the father to this child inside of me but something holds me back now that I've started a life with Damon. I bent my head down right away when

really too late to chase you now, huh?" He

my hand briefly but then he didn't release me when I attempted to pull back my

"I mean look at you, you

different now, physically but you're still

would cry at night cos of the pain when I think about Catherine owning his heart and his love. But now that he loves me and that I hold a huge piece of his heart, it's already too late for the both

You're about to become a father to Dakota's baby. Stop saying things

to my

all for show. You

accept the baby Nick even when

is too much and she's

I sigh heavily.

a familiar

table. My heart beats faster than a nanosecond when I saw my husband's reaction when he caught me having lunch and holding hands with some other man. Damon stares at Nick and I remember at the wedding, they never personally met since Nick didn't go to the wedding reception

hand away from Nick when Damon stared at our hands entwined. Damon eyes me and his brows creasing. "What's

moved closer to my husband. "This is Mr. Nick

the three of us and I hope it's not

stands, "It's nice to finally meet you." He says while

it. "Pleasure's mine. I'm Damon

stuff about you Mr.

were you doing here hon?" I asked

his head to me, "Dropped by your office and I heard you went out for lunch.

back. "Wanna join us for lunch honey? We were having some meeting for... The convention...in a week."

while the

didn't make a scene. I don't know

and Nick asked Damon about how his company runs and they were both planning on becoming business partners together. Think about it, my husband and the man that I still love will have merging of business. Damon was cool. He's always the laid back type of person. He's just chill. I don't know what runs on his head sometimes but he's just so laid back

•••••

tummy was already getting bigger. I always love staring myself in front of the mirror every morning and before I sleep, and seeing some of my body parts changing, from my flabby

some old classical songs and I listen to some Beethoven classical songs or some piano pieces on my way to work.

since we had lunch together. I heard he's at France at the moment for some work related activities. I'm proud of Nick and how far he has come with his work. He achieved a lot of

knows I'm already three months pregnant since I always were baggy tops. Sometimes I wonder if I still cross his mind. Sometimes I wonder if he misses me when he doesn't see me. Sometimes I wonder if ever he sleeps with Dakota does he still see me. Sometimes I wonder if he misses my kisses and misses making

I asked in

fork and wipes his cheek

I can't do

sighs. "Yes

"I can't."

you do

know that. I can't just resign because you

I'll pay it.

I don't want to quit my job because I don't want to be away from Nick, but because of the great salary, Im also learning

sigh. "I don't want to

we're moving to England. You don't need to work anymore, I have the money

too. I don't want

there and I'm going to manage it. I need to take you there

wanna go. I don't wanna leave this place. I don't

time. I'll think about it."

I stuck myself inside my office with a coffee on my hand. I haven't slept well last night because I was chasing for the deadline. I read a lot of articles that's needed to be edited and as I do it, I can't help but think about Damon's offer. Us moving to England. I really don't wanna go. I don't

this article since my shift was almost about to end. I kept rereading it over and over again to look for some mistakes, in case I missed a few. When I was done, I quickly stood up and grabbed my bag and my resignation letter. Damon has been forcing me to go

and grunted when suddenly I felt my eyesight getting blurry. I felt my

too much.." I

a red paper bag on his hand and a box colored white and blue. He walks inside my office causally and I just stared at him, not expecting him to be here. I thought he

I say in

still able to

you were in

Came here as soon as I can." He starts walking to me

He hands the red

is this?"

at France and I