Chapter Twenty-eight

Never trust your secrets with strangers. Telling private information to a stranger is like exposing oneself to the whole world. Like a baby in his birthday suit. But I can’t help the feeling of being safe whenever I’m with him. He has this sense of security and it feels like I can tell him anything.

What am I even doing here?

I stared up at the towering building outside the car window. It had been a few minutes since we’d arrived in front of Chad Montgomery’s building, and yet I couldn’t muster enough courage to even get out of the car. I held my trembling hands together in my lap, biting my lip. Watching the people coming in and out of the entrance, I let out a sigh of relief, seeing none of them were Chad.

Come on, Rachel. You can just go in and talk. There’s nothing more, right? I clicked my tongue in annoyance and crossed both my arms on my chest. It’s not like I’m desperate to know who that woman is, I’m just here to discuss business with him. He said so. I’m sure he does know that I’m not really that interested.

If he tries to make fun of me for being eager to know, then I’ll just remind him of the pressing matters that he intended to talk over.

“Ma’am, are we leaving?”

I shook my head at the driver. It’s now or never.

“No. I’m going in.” This will be quick. Just go in and come out alive. You still have to pick Harvey up from school later this afternoon, as promised!

I stared at Percy, who was waiting outside, and signaled him. Getting it, he opened the car door. The icy wind kissed my cheeks, making me shiver. The light blinded me for a second once I got out of the car, heels hitting the solid ground. Adjusting my blue coat and tightening my hold on the handbag, I inhaled deeply.

Here goes nothing.

Head held up high and spine straighter than a ruler, I sauntered my way into the entrance. Percy and his subordinates were tailing me. Into the lion’s den. Into the belly of the beast. Will I ever come out unscathed after this? Or, perhaps, even alive?

I visibly swallowed as I entered the building. Glass doors slid open, where the scent of freshly-printed paper and coffee dominated the air. Everything was either in silver or gray. What brought color to this structure was the employee’s clothes. I would have mistaken this building as some haven for scientists if the employees wore white lab gowns instead of colorful attire. If I were to describe Chad’s building, I could only think of one word.

Futuristic.

I felt eyes on me as I walked over to the reception desk, where the brunette woman was typing endlessly on the computer. When she looked up, I flashed her a small grin.

“Hello, good morning. I’m here to see Chad Montgomery.”

“May I know what business you have with him?”

“I’m here to discuss a few things with him,” I answered. The brunette merely nodded and went back to her computer, typing once again. “Do you have an appointment with Mr. Montgomery?” Come to think of it, I didn’t arrange one.

I shook my head. “Nope, I don’t. Although, he did say it’s important.” I hope this is enough for me to go and meet the beast. The woman behind the desk let out a small sigh.

“I’m sorry, Ma’am, but I can’t allow someone up to his office without an appointment.” Come to think of it, I forgot that part.

I didn’t have to turn around to see people staring at me oddly, as if I was asking something preposterous from the receptionist. I cleared my throat and flashed the woman another smile. There’s no other way. “Then, may I please ask you to call Mr. Montgomery? Tell him that Rachel Maxwell is here to see him.”

The woman raised an eyebrow at me in curiosity, probably not believing what I’d just told her to do—but nevertheless she took the nearest telephone and began to dial. I stood back and waited for her to speak into the receiver.

In a few seconds, she smiled. “Hello, there’s a woman here named Rachel Maxwell and she—”

Her words were put to a halt and, slowly, her eyes widened. “Oh, is that so? All right, I understand.” Returning the telephone to its exact order, she gazed up at me and smiled. Her cheeks were red as she gestured to where a lot of employees were entering the elevator, waiting for their turn. “I just received confirmation. You may go to Mr. Montgomery’s office, which is on the twentieth floor. The last door down the hall.”

I gave her a grateful nod and headed for the elevators, Percy and the rest following behind me. I mentally yelled out in satisfaction and waited for our turn in the elevator. It wasn’t a moment too soon when a set of security men came towards us, yelling for the employees to part.

“Clear a path, orders from the top!”

A lot of them were murmuring and scratching their heads, wondering what was going on. “What’s happening?” A woman near me whispered to her companion, who merely shrugged. Then, their whispers died down. I stood there, astounded, when the security men gestured for me to enter the elevator.

“Ma’am, Sir Montgomery is waiting for you,” one of the men in uniform stated, standing at the sides patiently.

Speechless, I walked into the awaiting elevator and watched as the employees stared at me in awe before the doors slid shut. What just happened? Percy and the others were silent, not giving their reputations away.

Seriously, what is this Chad up to?

I shook my head and rubbed my chin, a small smile on my lips. Is he trying to impress me? He should try harder. The music playing in the elevator was just soft. It slightly reminded me of how I wanted to stay in bed all day, to forget the whole world and just sleep. Unfortunately, I couldn’t do that.

We arrived on the twentieth floor without disturbance. Even the hallway was bare of any people. The sound of heels clicking echoed throughout the hall as I headed towards the door. Upon entering it, the blonde woman sitting behind her desk stood and greeted me warmly.

“Hello, Miss Maxwell. Mr. Montgomery is waiting for you inside. Would you like something to drink?” Oh, this is his assistant.

I waved away her suggestions and smiled. “No, thank you, but I appreciate it.” His assistant nodded and walked up to the door, opening it widely. I stood there, staring at the open door. It’s now or never, Rachel. You can do this! Don’t be afraid of an idiot.

Frowning at my own thoughts, I entered his office with my head held high, appearing unconcerned and unbeatable on the outside. But, on the inside, I was tactically making plans to counter whatever he threw in my way. I stopped in my tracks to see the black leather chair facing the floor-to-ceiling windows. Everything in his office was the same color scheme of his building. Silver and gray. Dull.

The door behind me shut with a click, making me realize that we were alone. Percy and the rest waited outside.

Now’s not the time to think about that!

“Chad Montgomery, whatever you have to say, it better be good.”

I heard him chuckle, and, before I knew it, the chair spun around, revealing the beast—Chad Montgomery. His hair was pushed back and the suit he wore today made him look stoic. My eyes lingered on the bandage on his cheek for a moment and looked away, knowing fully well how it had become like that.

“Don’t worry, Rachel, it is noteworthy.” He gestured to the seat in front of his desk, and I removed my coat and sauntered my way over to him. Once I was finally seated, I folded my coat neatly and set it at my side.

“I can tell how eager you are to hear what I have to say, if I’m not mistaken. I’m a bit surprised that you actually came.”

I crossed my arms together and sat back. “Of course, there’s nothing more important than business.” That’s when he shook his head, something I was expecting for him to do once I got my words out. Smiling inside, I waited for his reply.

“No, I wasn’t talking about business. We’ll get to that part later,” Chad stated. “What I was talking about was the deal we made. If I answer your question, you answer mine. I did text you yesterday.”

I smiled at his charming, smug face before letting out a small yawn. “Well, actually, it didn’t peak my interest that much. Maybe some other time?”

“Don’t lie to me, Maxwell.” Chad chuckled deeply. His voice sent terror up my spine; I had to lean away from his desk, fearful I might catch his disease. “I know you want to know. Why else would you be here? And, business? Please, haven’t we gone through this before?”

In the blink of an eye, he disappeared from in front of me and was now at my side, hands gripping my shoulders, holding me in place. I fought back a shriek, not liking where this was going but having to endure it. I must. I stared at his face, which was a few inches from mine. So close I could almost feel the bandage rub against my cheek.

“I know you never liked business. It’s boring for you,” he whispered against my ear. I clenched my knuckles tightly, fighting back the urge to punch him and cause another injury on his face. Which, by the way, he deserves.

“You’re mad for thinking I don’t like business.” I laughed aloud. “I was born into a family who lives and breathes business.” Actually, I don’t like business. I hate it. I smirked at Chad, who merely stared at me. “So, if you could give me personal space, I’d appreciate it.”

But, of course, Chad was not the type of person to listen during situations like this. “Really? It’s not boring for you?” I shook my head and watched him rub his chin thoughtfully.

I let out a small squeal in alarm when he abruptly leaned close, lips against my ears. I could feel his hair tickling my face and the scent of his perfume. Personal space once again violated.

“We both know you’re not into boring stuff. I know I don’t like my women boring,” he mumbled into my ear. I sat there, frozen, on my seat, not knowing how to counter his moves. I watched as he leaned back and stared right into my eyes. Burning. My cheeks felt as if they were burning under his intent gaze. What is this man doing?!

“Now, tell me, Rachel. Do you still want to know who that woman is? Or would you prefer to do something more productive?”

I grumbled under my breath and pushed him away. I succeeded and gave him a short nod.

“Fine, tell me who she is.” It’s much better than finding out what he meant by ‘do something productive’. A sigh escaped his lips and Chad walked back to his chair, flopping down on it.

“All right. But, since we made a deal, you have to answer my question afterwards. Okay?”

“Fine, fine,” I answered. “Who was the woman you were chasing that night?”

“My ex-fiancée.”

It was very silent for a moment—you could probably hear a crumb fall to the floor. I stared at him disbelievingly, eyes probably as wide as the moon. “Wait, hold up! Your what?!” He’s joking, right? I narrowed my eyes at him. “Are you making fun of me, Montgomery?”

“No, I’m not.”

I merely gazed at him for a few seconds, wondering how on earth we ended up having ex-partners-in-life-to-be.

“Is it true? How did you end up separated?” Seriously, don’t ask him Rachel. You’re just going to upset—

Chad shrugged and crossed his arms together. “It was a long story, something that’ll probably bore your brains out. And, besides, it was a very long time ago.“

“No, please tell me.”

I couldn’t blame Chad once he raised an eyebrow at me. Even I was surprised at what came out of my mouth. You can’t just keep your curiosity, huh? Humming to himself, Chad rubbed his chin with his eyes, staring at space, probably running through his memories.

“Well, I started dating her during high school. She wasn’t the silent type of woman who buries herself in books. She was the friendly type of woman, always smiling and greeting everyone she passed by. Never once tried to pick a fight. The perfect woman.”

I felt my insides curl at the way he described the girl. He obviously loved her.

“I knew from the moment I saw her, I wanted her to be my girlfriend. And, much to my surprise, she didn’t turn my invitation down.”

“After a few weeks of courting her, she finally agreed to be my girlfriend. It was the happiest day of my life. She was the woman who I could bring home and introduce to my parents. Even my mother liked her. Once we graduated, she decided to be an actress. Said it was her dream and passion. I supported her all the way, even if I was busy in college.”

“Sounds like she achieved her dream, huh?”

“No. She never did.”

I went rigid at his flat tone that suggested something went wrong. Chad’s solemn expression and silence just confirmed my thoughts. “What happened?” I asked, not being able to take the silence any longer. He heaved a sigh and waved his hand.

“It all disappeared. Her parents wouldn’t support her, thinking that their daughter was better off having a more professional job. Due to that, she strived harder to gain their trust back. She was very eager, to the point she almost forgot about me.

“She wouldn’t give up. Something I admired about her. The day I graduated, I proposed to her, knowing that I wanted her to be my wife and nobody else. I was on cloud nine when she said yes.”

Chad’s eyes wandered everywhere except my eyes. “I thought nothing would go wrong, until she suddenly arrived at my house one day, saying that the engagement was off because she wanted to gain her parent’s acceptance first before marrying a guy who would obviously be busy once he took over his family’s company.

“I was ready to kneel on the floor. Ready to throw away the life my parents were preparing me for so that I could help her gain what she had lost. But she didn’t believe me and just tossed the damn ring away. She didn’t even cry. Her eyes were just…cold. I’ve never been so insulted in my life.” Chad chuckled and ran a hand through his hair. “I guess my mom was right when she said Diane wouldn’t understand. That she never loved me, but only my money,” he muttered.

“Diane?”

He nodded. “That’s her name.” Relishing the silence that enveloped the room once again, Chad stretched in his seat and groaned. “I let her go, knowing that I couldn’t have her back. That woman is dead set on winning her parent’s approval. I grew busy and, somehow, time helped me heal. My mom thought it was for the best.”

“Then, why did you chase her that night?”

He let out a laugh. “I was a bit drunk that day. I’d just had a couple of drinks with a few friends when I saw her at the bar. I tried to ask her how she was. I didn’t expect that she’d break out in a run. I chased her, wondering what the hell was wrong.” The way I could see Chad right now, he was trying hard not to laugh at himself. “I suddenly realized that I’d made a mistake and left. That’s all.”

“Is that so?” I let out a huge sigh, my head still processing the new information I got from Chad. I mean, who would’ve thought that this man, as charming as he claims to be, got turned down by his fiancée? I guess I’m not the only one.

“Are you relieved?” I raised an eyebrow at Chad’s question.

“Excuse me?”

Another smirk came across his face. “Are you relieved that I’m not in love with her? You must have been really jealous when you saw me that night.”

I gaped at the cocky man in front of me, who rose from his seat and stood beside me. Lips near my ears, I could feel his hot breath.

“What’s the matter, Rach? To tell you ahead, I’m not like that asshole you once loved.”

I frowned at him. “I’m not relieved. I was just curious as to why you were chasing her like a mad man.” I mean, I wasn’t jealous or relieved—just pitiful. Sorry for what you and I experienced with our past lovers. Chad chuckled quietly while walking in front of me. His face slowly neared mine while his hands sat on the arm rest, not letting me escape. This only made me lean back, until my back hit the comfortable chair that was turning a hurdle for me. I eyed the space below and wondered if I could crawl beneath his legs to escape this man.

“Don’t lie to me, Rach.”

I laughed nervously, wishing that some unknown force would push him away. But, at the same time, something somewhere in the back of my mind wanted him close. Close enough to feel his heat and hear the beating of his heart. A heart that was beaten up badly, like mine.

“I’m not lying,” I answered softly. The beating of my heart became erratic once his head rested against mine. My hands reached up to his chest, ready to push him away or pull him close. Our eyes were only on each other as I tasted his breath against my lips. The whole world around us seemed to fade away.

Don’t fall for this trap! Go to the surface and escape his grasp. Don’t fall for his traps!

Bells of warning rang in my head, saying that this man would just be like Nathan. But my heart was telling me to trust Chad Montgomery; to welcome him, and start all over again.

“Then, tell me the truth, Rachel. Answer my question.”

The moment his lips pressed against mine, I unconsciously pulled him by the collar of his polo. Chad took this as some kind of sign and kissed me hard. My mind went blank. Like a white canvas ready to be painted, tainted, and ruined.