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

smiles. "You know

I smiled ruefully.

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 he pulled his head up to

chase you now, huh?"

but then he didn't release me when I attempted

say. "I mean look at you, you look

now, physically but you're still

he loves me and that I hold a huge piece of his heart, it's already

Dakota's

the father to my baby

"The wedding is all for show.

baby Nick even

is too much and she's choking

I sigh heavily.

familiar

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

hands entwined. Damon

moved closer to my husband. "This is Mr.

awkward silence between the three of

to finally meet you."

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

lot of stuff

here

by your office and I heard you

We were having

good." Damon says while the three of

a scene. I don't know if he's only hiding the fact that he's

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.

•••••

parts changing, from my flabby arms, my belly growing, my thighs expanding bigger as I sit down, my calves are getting big too and my face is

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

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 things and he did so many things. Even though

when

asked in

his fork and wipes his cheek

do

sighs. "Yes you

"I can't."

you do that

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

it. Just quit

because I don't want to be away from

I sigh. "I

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

myself too. I don't want

My company is expanding there and I'm going to manage it. I need to

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

think

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 he wants.

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 and my resignation letter. Damon has been forcing me to go with him and he said he already bought a mansion there for us

I felt my world spinning slow so I

I'm reading too much.." I massaged

find Nick 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 be here. I thought he was still

I say

thing I was still able

you were

as I can." He starts walking to

you." He hands the

this?"

dress in a boutique at