Chapter 21 chapter 21
Chapter 21 chapter 21
In Love with the CEO
Chapter 21
Author:
ALEX
It’s been a few days since Robert, the guy who helped me carry my groceries last time, has been asking me out. I don’t really understand what he wants from me, but I finally decide to accept his invitation for tonight. He’s invited me to my favorite restaurant—I don’t know how he knew or if it’s just a coincidence.
I’m the first person surprised to accept an invitation from someone I barely know, someone whose last name I don’t even have, but deep down, I feel like he means me no harm and that I can feel safe with him.
His familiar air also piques my curiosity. I’m going to his dinner to see what he wants. I’m not doing anything at home, and I’m bored out of my mind. This outing will help me clear my head.
After my shower, I pick out a sexy little black dress paired with strappy high heels. For my hair, I decide to pull it into a chignon. Tonight, I want to dress up for myself, put on makeup to please myself. I want to feel beautiful, even if just for one evening. It’s been too long since I’ve taken care of myself—tonight, I want to feel like a woman and feel beautiful.
When I finish getting ready, it’s already 8 p.m. I go tell my mother I’m heading out. She doesn’t miss a beat, letting out a long string of curses mixed with insults, which I ignore. When I head downstairs, my taxi is already waiting.
I bought myself a car, but my mother confiscated it. To avoid trouble, I stick to taxis—otherwise, that woman might show me who put the water in the coconut.
When I arrive at the restaurant, he’s already there, having reserved a table and waiting for me. As I approach, he stands, pulls out my chair for me to sit, and then takes his place across from me, not missing the chance to kiss both my cheeks.
Robert: “Good evening!”
Me: “Good evening!”
Robert: “Would you like something to drink? I took the liberty of ordering for us.”
Me, a bit embarrassed: “Water’s fine, no problem.”
They bring me my water, and we sit in silence for a few minutes before he decides to break the long pause.
Robert: “You must be wondering why I insisted so much on spending an evening with you. I hope it’s okay that I use ‘tu’ with you.”
Me, smiling: “No, it doesn’t bother me. I’ll admit it’s been on my mind, and I hesitated a lot about accepting this dinner.”
Robert: “You don’t have to worry. I noticed your wedding ring and know you’re married. I’m married too, and a father of two.”
He pauses before continuing: “I haven’t been completely honest about myself, and our meeting wasn’t a coincidence. I’ve been trying to get in touch with you for a while.”
Me, intrigued: “I don’t know what to say…”
Robert: “Don’t be afraid. I mean you no harm—quite the opposite.”
Me: “I’ve felt watched and followed for a while now, but I thought I was just being paranoid. What do you want from me, exactly?”
Robert, running a hand over his face: “Before I start, you have to promise you’ll listen to everything I have to say from beginning to end.”
Me, growing impatient: “You’re scaring me now. Just talk…”
Robert: “Promise me first.”
Me, exasperated: “Okay, I promise.”
Robert: “It’s been several months since I learned of your existence. Before my father died, he confessed to us that he had another child living in France—something no one ever knew. He kept it hidden until the end. I set out to find this sister I’d never known. It was very difficult because the address my father had was no longer current. A few weeks ago, I finally found her.”
Me, frightened: “And what does that have to do with me?”
Robert: “The sister I’ve been searching for all this time, the sister we always wanted but life only gave me now—it’s you, Alex. I’m your brother, Robert Johnson.”
Me, in shock: “What are you talking about? I’ve never had a brother. If I did, I’d know. The few memories I have of my father don’t include any brother or other family. You’ve got the wrong person.”
Robert: “No, it’s you, Alex, daughter of Johnson and Ajavon.”
Me, standing up: “I’m telling you, you’ve got the wrong person. I’m not who you’re looking for.”
Robert, grabbing my arm: “Please, sit down.”
After a few minutes of doubt, I finally sit back down, still in shock, troubled, and unable to accept what he’s telling me. But I sit anyway to hear what he has to say.
Robert, taking my hand in his: “Before my father passed away, he told my brother and me that we had a sister we didn’t know existed. She was born a few years after us, but he had to choose between losing us or keeping you, so he chose to stay with his wife and children. Only my mother and yours knew about it.”
Me, controlling my trembling voice: “So he decided to abandon me. I always wondered if I did something wrong, if I misbehaved, for my dad to leave me and my mom overnight without ever checking in again. He disowned me just like that. Why did he change his mind now?”
Robert: “I can’t pretend to understand what you went through all these years, but now I’ve found you, and I’d like us to become a family and fulfill my father’s last wish.”
Me: “He decides out of the blue to impose a family I don’t know on me—for what? What makes you think I want to know the family he chose over me when he abandoned me?”
Robert: “I know our father acted poorly, but he’s still our father, and we owe it to him to respect his last wishes.”
Me, in a harsh tone: “What does he want? For me to attend his funeral?”
Robert: “No, he wanted to be cremated, which we did. Our father was a diamond dealer. He decided that his company shares and all his assets should be divided into three parts for his three children.”
Me, with a nervous laugh: “What do I care about his money? I didn’t have his love. He thinks he can make up for years of absence with money? You think you can buy me? I don’t want anything from him. You can keep it all.”
A voice behind, calm but authoritative: “What are you doing here?”
ALEXANDER
I was at the office when the guy I hired to watch Alex calls to tell me she got all dressed up and took a taxi. I tell him to follow her, and the verdict: she’s at a restaurant with another man. When I hear this, my blood boils.
I drop everything and head to the restaurant. She dared bring him to her favorite restaurant—the one I thought was our place. I was wrong. What pushes me over the edge is seeing this guy holding my wife’s hands in front of everyone, staring into each other’s eyes like lovers. Even I, her husband, haven’t had that with her.
My wife with another man? Am I dreaming?
Me, interrupting for the second time: “What are you doing here? In this restaurant with a man?”
The man across from her: “Who’s this? Do you know him?”
Alex, stammering: “Uh… it’s… it’s my husband.”
Me: “As you can see, she’s my wife, and I’m not letting her continue this dinner with you. Are you getting up on your own, or do I have to drag you out?”
She knows I’m crazy enough to do it.
The man: “She’s not going anywhere under duress.”
Am I dreaming? Who does he think he is, interfering between me and my wife?
Alex: “Robert, let it go. I’ll contact you another day.”
She follows me to the car in silence. I drive toward the house. When we arrive, I pull her by the arm into our bedroom.
Me: “How dare you?”
Alex, with an indifference that drives me insane: “What are you talking about?”
Me: “How dare you dress like that and, on top of it, go to our restaurant with another man? Have you forgotten you’re a married woman?”
Alex: “Stop with the drama. What’s your problem? I do what I want, and I don’t owe you any explanations. Haven’t you understood that I don’t want this marriage anymore? Leave me alone. I’m going home.”
I don’t know where this anger comes from deep inside me, but I explode. I lunge at her, pinning her against the wall.
Me: “What do you want? What does he have that I don’t? Can he make love to you better than me?”
Alex, smiling: “If you only knew.”
Me, pressing myself even closer, as if we’re about to become one: “Do you feel me? You feel me, don’t you? I’m going to show you what a real man is tonight, you insolent little thing…”