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 still do it

know me

I smiled ruefully.

but something

chase you now,

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

changed Nick." I say. "I

now, physically but

his love. But now that he loves me and that I hold a huge piece of his heart, it's

to become a father to Dakota's baby. Stop

to

is all for show. You know

the baby Nick even when it's not

know. Sometimes Dakota is too much and

I sigh heavily.

Someone with a familiar voice called

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 cos

Damon stared at our hands entwined. Damon eyes me

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

an awkward silence between the three of us and I hope

finally meet you." He

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

a lot of stuff about you Mr. Patricks."

you doing here hon?" I asked

his head to me, "Dropped by your office and I heard

were having some meeting for... The convention...in a

good." Damon says while the three of us

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 me and Nick the second he saw our

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 about

•••••

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 growing, my thighs expanding bigger as I sit down, my calves are getting big too and

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 dresses as well to hide

proud of Nick and how far he has come with his work. He achieved a lot of things and he did so many things. Even though it was an easy

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

I asked

wipes his cheek with the table

can't do that."

"Yes you

"I can't."

you do that for

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

pay it. Just

not that I don't want to quit my job because I don't want to be away from

sigh. "I

don't need to work anymore, I

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

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

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

I'll think about it." I tell

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

made a decision for myself. I was busy finishing my final 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

eyesight getting blurry. I felt my world spinning slow so I reached for

too much.." I massaged my

standing by 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

was still able to catch you around

Thought you

landed. Came here as soon as I can." He starts

the

this?" I

a boutique at France