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.

"You

smiles. "You know me

I smiled ruefully.

of me but something holds me back now that I've started a life with Damon. I bent my head down right

to chase you now, huh?" He

release

"I mean look

look different now, physically but you're still the one who

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

father to Dakota's baby. Stop

the father to my baby

is all

accept the baby

is too much and

I sigh heavily.

with a familiar voice

our 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

away from Nick when Damon stared at our hands entwined. Damon eyes me and his

moved closer to my

between the three of us and I hope it's not

meet

mine. I'm Damon Patricks.

of stuff about you

doing here hon?"

by your office and I heard you went out for

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

while the three

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

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

•••••

passed, and my 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 arms, my belly

sing to 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

saw Nick at work. A month 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.

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

I asked

fork and wipes his cheek with the

I can't do

sighs. "Yes you

"I can't."

can't you do

this job and you know that. I can't just resign because you tell me so. I have a

I'll pay it.

be away from Nick, but because of the great salary, Im also learning a lot of things that I

sigh. "I don't want

moving to England. You don't need to work anymore, I

work for myself too. I don't want to be just a household

talked about our move to England weeks ago. My company is expanding there and I'm going to manage it. I need to take you there

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

time. I'll think about it." I tell

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

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

when suddenly I felt my eyesight getting blurry. I felt

hate when I'm reading too much.." I

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 was

I say

I was still able to catch you around

you

as soon as I can." He starts walking to

you." He hands the red paper bag to

this?"

in a boutique at France and I thought