133
Juliette's POV
I watch through my window the reflections of the sun at dusk without being aware of how much time has passed since Damien left.
It is impossible for me to describe how I feel after what happened. The very moment he left the room it was hard for me to realize what had happened and what he had done to me.
And that added to the shock that having intimacy with another man other than Gerárd had on me... I don't even understand why at that moment he came into my head and I had to remember it. Why I felt unjustified guilt, as if what I was doing was a betrayal towards someone no longer with me.
It was probably because my heart has not yet come to terms with what my mind already knows. But I will have to make it assimilate forcibly that this one no longer belongs to him.
Although I don't know if it was a good idea to start this process with Damien, it was supposed to be the right thing not to have agreed. Now I am ashamed of the fact that I have to see him again, not knowing what I might feel.
I feel like I made a mistake, but I know I wanted to. I don't know if it was because of the amount of time I hadn't received a bit of attention in that area, or because of how irresistible and persuasive that man can be.
Or maybe it was because of the similarity I found of.... No, stop it Juliette. I have to stop comparing or likening him to any man who crosses my path.
All I can say is that Damien has something that makes me feel attracted to him. I don't know, I guess he's the kind of guy that any woman likes and maybe I'm no exception. However, I am surprised by the fact that I am the type of woman that a man like him can be attracted to.
"Juliette!" I hear my name come out of my friend's mouth just as I get out of bed.
Fuck, Chloé already came.
I can't help but get nervous as I hear her footsteps approaching. As if I hadn't already seen it a thousand times before, I spread the bed to make it as warm as possible, and I look around making sure there's nothing to give away Damien' presence here.
"Julie," she says and turning, I notice her under the door frame.
"Chloé!," I exclaim in a higher tone than usual. "You're home."
"Yes," she replies. "What did you do all day?"
"What did I do?" I question and she nods. "Not much really."
I let out a nervous smile.
"Juliette, for heaven's sake calm down," I say to myself.
"Are you okay?" asks Chloé, raising an eyebrow.
"Of course!" I exclaim. "I'm fine, how did it go at work?"
"It was a little stressful, but nothing I can't handle," she replies, sketching a smile and walking into the room.
Chloé ends up taking a seat on the bed, and I do the same, settling in next to her.
"Okay, I have to let go at once because I can't hold it in anymore," she says suddenly. "Julie, I got you a position at the company!"
One, two, three seconds. No reaction whatsoever from me.
My friend's expression is one of expectation, and mine mostly one of confusion.
She just told me she got me the job, but Damien had already offered it to me.
"What?" is the only thing that comes out of my mouth.
"Look, I know you told me to intercede for you, but I couldn't leave you like that. So I waited most of the morning for Mr. Carter came back to the company so I could talk to him, and when I did, he agreed. He agreed to give you a chance, Juliette, isn't that great?
So Mr. Carter told him after his nephew had already let me know. Well, I guess it was smart of him.
"Juliette?" says Chloé, taking both my hands.
"Yes?"
"Doesn't it make you happy?" she inquires, and within seconds I realize what she means.
I'm supposed to act surprised and happy, but I'm not showing it.
"Of course I'm happy, Chloé," I say, trying to put on the most excited expression I can. "It's just that I'm in shock. I can't wrap my head around the fact that Mr. Carter has agreed to give me the job."
"Neither can I! I mean, I know of your abilities and that you deserved it, what really surprised me was how quickly he agreed, I guess he had considered it before, and realized he was making a mistake letting you go."
Yes, that was almost just as he told me.
"Surely that was the reason," I retorted. "But I still have you to thank for what you did, Chloé."
"I told you, you don't have to thank me for anything, I'd do anything for you in a heartbeat," she says, so I reach over to give her a hug.
"You know what's most exciting
about this?"
"Let me know," she says as we pull apart.
"That we will now officially be coworkers! We'll leave every day together for the company, we'll be able to eat lunch together, it's the best," I admit with genuine excitement.
Excitement that is now not reflected in her.
"Doll," she hesitates and from one moment to the next I notice how her expression turns serious.
"Huh?"
"Wait a minute," she says standing up. "Do you smell that odor?"
Suddenly she finds herself sniffing the room.
"What smell?" I ask quizzically.
"That fragrance smell," she grimaces. "Male fragrance, to be specific."
I try to try to catch the smell Chloé says, and when it seems to intensify due to a gust of air coming in through the window, I can finally smell it.
Shit, Damien. His perfume smelled like this.
It permeated the room and it's amazing that I'm even now taking it seriously.
Damn. Now what do I tell her?