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.

at him, "You

"You know

I smiled ruefully.

doing was adorable to me. I know this was the right time 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

too late to chase you now,

then he didn't release me when I

lives have changed Nick." I say. "I mean look at you, you look different

now, physically but you're still the one

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

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

to my

sighs. "The wedding is all for show. You know

to accept the baby Nick

too

I sigh heavily.

with a familiar voice

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

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

stand and moved closer to my husband. "This

awkward silence between the three of us and I hope it's not doom's day

"It's nice to finally meet you." He says while extending a

"Pleasure's mine.

lot of stuff about you Mr. Patricks." Nick

you doing here

by your office and I heard you went out for lunch. I knew I'd find you here." He

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

says while the three

he saw anymore. He didn't asked about it and definitely didn't make a scene. I don't know if he's only hiding the fact that he's sensing something between

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.

•••••

my body parts changing, from my flabby arms, my belly growing, my thighs expanding bigger as I sit down, my

my baby every time I bathe myself, mostly it's some old classical songs and I listen to some Beethoven classical songs or some piano pieces on my way to work. I have been wearing flowy and silky tops and

far he has come with his work. He achieved a lot of things and he did

I wonder if Nick 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

I asked in

wipes his cheek with the table

can't do

sighs. "Yes

"I can't."

Why can't you do that for

know that. I can't just resign because you tell

pay it. Just quit

quit my job because I don't want to be away from Nick, but because of

I sigh. "I don't want

resignation letter, we're moving to England. You don't need to

don't want to be just a household wife.

to England weeks ago. My company is expanding there and I'm going to

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

I'll think

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 wanna quit my job. I don't wanna be stuck inside the Josie for the res of my life and wait for my husband to come home whenever

edits for 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 with him and he said he already bought a mansion there

stretched my arms out and grunted when suddenly I felt my eyesight getting blurry. I felt my world spinning slow so I reached for my chair to hold

I'm reading too much.."

the doorway with 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

say in

you. Good thing I was still able to catch you around here." He

Thought you were in

I can." He starts walking to me and handed me

He hands the red paper bag

this?" I

dress in a boutique at France