CHAPTER 38
**CHLOE DUARTE**
“If I had known that all this would become a problem, I should never have accepted to become your assistant, I should never have approached you."
“We can move on without thinking about it, I know we can and it will be the best for both of us.", he says and I turn around to find him sitting there staring at me while I nod my head in agreement.
“You're right, this has to end somehow and it better end now, Mr. Colucci.", I return the formal treatment, picking up my purse that I left on the armchair.
“I see that you are feeling better, and I know you don't want my company here, thank you for the days off.", I say walking with a serious expression on my face to the bedroom door.
I hope he will call me and tell me that I don't need him, I want him to ask me to stay as he asked the night before, I want to feel a thread of hope even if he is right about all of this.
“Miss Duarte?", I hear his voice calling me, but this time I don't turn to face his face.
“Thank you again for today and the night before, thank you for saving my life in some way."
“You don't need to thank me for that, I would do the same for anyone who needed it...", I open the door and walk as fast as I can out of that room, leaving him behind.
As I walk back down the same corridor that I came with the doctor, I feel completely strange after that conversation, I know that he is right and he is right especially about us, so why do I feel this way?
When I get to the sidewalk I realize that I have no way to get home since I came driving James' car, I grab my cell phone from my purse and hurry to call an Uber through the app since this hospital is located too far away and I don't know anything around here to return by bus.
Inside the car I try not to reflect on the latest events, my head is aching from thinking about the same thing, but it seems to be marked and stuck to me somehow.
I should be relieved and grateful that I have the rest of the afternoon off and tomorrow, but I don't feel that way. I feel numb from all the sensations and emotions at this moment.
As the driver drives back to my house, I see the thick raindrops falling and wetting the glass of the car window. I look up inside the car seeing the gray and cloudy sky, the weather has changed drastically as well as my mood.
Almost fifteen minutes later the car is parked next to my building, I pay for the ride and say goodbye to the kind driver who tried to cheer me up when he realized that my mood was relapsing.
I am about to enter the building, but I stop with my hand on the handle of the first”floor double doors thinking that it might be a good idea to enjoy the rest of my afternoon without staying in bed for hours if I can do absolutely nothing.
I think about inviting my friends to join me on this journey, but I remember that Sam and Matt are still working at the company and that only I have been laid off from work because of none other than James Colucci.
The provocative asshole who has the power to dominate my thoughts.
Alone and still feeling strange I walk to one of the bars that exist a few blocks and streets away from the building where I live, for the early hour the place is still empty with only a few people playing pool and drinking and chatting at the tables around the room.
I sit down on one of the available stools in front of the counter where a guy is drying some glass cups, my eyes are drawn to the turned”on television hanging on the wall.
I stare at the poor TV trying to see if there is any news or gossip about what happened to James in that restaurant.
He doesn't want anyone to know details about his private life and health and I saw that the problem could be delicate when I noticed the expression on the doctor's face and James' as well.
“Lost in thought?", I was startled, lowering my head to find the bartender staring at me with an arched blond eyebrow.
“I am more than just lost...", I murmur, sighing and opening a small sad smile.
“Oh, and can I help make your afternoon better?"
I look at him closely, he is a handsome young man, about my age, and he is smiling openly at me, but I realize that it is not a smile that all men open when they are hitting on a girl.
“Yes, I want the strongest drink you have!", I grumble, snorting my head off about the problems in my life.
Getting drunk at this hour will not solve or make my life better, but it will calm all these thoughts that are almost exploding in my head.
“End of a relationship?", he asks, drinking a bottle of amber”colored liquid before filling a shot and handing it to me.
“Why do you think that?", I sip from the small glass drinking all the liquid and grimacing as the bitter drink seems to burn inside me making him smile.
“Well, you ordered the strongest drink in the house. So, you came here alone and at this hour, you have a sad expression on your handsome face, as if some guy you love has just broken your heart."
I remain silent, staring at the empty glass in my hands, and sigh deeply before thinking of an answer to this stranger who seems too friendly.
“I'm not sad!", I say with conviction, lifting my head to meet the green eyes that are fixed on mine.
“So someone didn't break your heart? I have worked here for five years and I have seen this happen many times, lonely girls stuffing their faces to try to forget the idiot who hurt them, so you haven't convinced me yet."
“Okay, maybe I look a little hurt, but I'll be fine!", I smile trying to look convincing this time before drinking my drink.
“God, it's horrible in here!", I wipe my face with my hands, still feeling the bitter taste in my mouth.
“Would you rather I get water or a cold Coke?", he offers, but I nod.
“No, I really need this here to forget some things.", I mutter to myself.
I look at the TV again expecting the fake news to come on, but to my happiness and relief, it doesn't happen now.
“Well, I don't know you, but looking at you I see that you work in an important area.", he points to my social clothes and I nod my head.
“Yes, I work for a well-known multinational company.", I say as little information as possible, not wanting to mention James' name in the conversation.
“Are you coming from work or do you still intend to work drunk?", he jokes, drawing a loud laugh from me.
“My pain-in-the-ass boss fired me earlier."
“Oh, I understand bosses like a pain in the ass, I'm an expert on that subject.", I smile again when he discreetly points to a potbellied man with an irritated expression on his face.
“I control myself as much as possible not to say everything I think to that old drunk."
“I see we have the same kind of boss, but at least mine is not a drunk.", I joke, drinking more of the drink he hands me.
“We are talking, but you still haven't told me your name."
“Mysterious girl doesn't remind you of anything?", I ask wryly, snorting, but he denies it with his head, looking confused at my mention.
“What do you mean?"
“Haven't you seen the gossip sites today?", I ask confused, but he nods again and I like to know that at least one person hasn't read that or seen those prom pictures.
“I don't see that, there is only fake news told by people who have nothing to do in life..."
“I agree with you."
“But why did you ask me that?"
“Forget it, my name is Chloe.", feeling a little more energized by the drinks I've had, I raise my hand for the blonde bartender to shake.
“Nice to meet you Chloe, I'm Alex, your new best friend and conversation partner." he blinks one of his green eyes, making me smile again.
“Oh, I'm sorry, but the best friend position is already taken, but you can have the random conversation partner position, Alex.", he smiles, squeezing my hand in his before going back to drying the glassware.
“I'm glad to hear that, Chloe. Would you like to vent to your new partner here?", I smile, feeling freer from the doses of booze I've ingested.
“Do I look like someone in love who has had her heart broken?", I ask with a neutral expression on my face this time and he nods in agreement.
“Even without telling me, it shows on your face and it is easy to see that someone has broken your heart, someone quite stupid at that."