Chapter 42. A lunch
Lilly Bradley
I could barely concentrate during the early hours of the morning. I left the cap of my pen chewed, and my stomach was in a huge knot. The thought of seeing Oliver again since the day I ended our years-long relationship made me anxious and, of course, made me think about the wedding. A wedding that both families had eagerly awaited. I closed my eyes and promised myself not to dwell on the past. "You first, then you, and then you, Lilly."
"Are you busy?" Máxima asked when I opened my eyes and let out a gasp of surprise upon seeing her standing in the doorway. What is it with her appearing like that? "Are you okay?" she asked.
"Yes, yes, of course, I just closed my eyes for a moment and...," I tried to explain but stopped. "Were you looking for me for something?" She smiled and nodded, stepping into my small workspace and sitting in the only chair.
"I have a very important errand to run, but no one else can help. You're my last hope." I raised my eyebrows, surprised by her words.
"Sure, tell me how I can help," I asked, curious.
"Look, they're delivering some furniture to this house," she shifted in her seat to search her pocket and pulled out a piece of paper, then handed it to me. I took it and read an address. "I know it's a lot to ask, but I need someone I trust to receive them. You can take one of the company cars. Do you know how to drive a manual?" I nodded.
"Of course, of course. What time?" I asked.
"Three in the afternoon. But there's something you need to know."
"Tell me."
"You have to wait for a woman named Bethany. She's the new agent who will be handling the sale of that house."
"Okay, I can do that." She smiled.
"Once she arrives, you can take the car home and bring it back to the company in the morning." That sounded great. "Any questions?"
"No, no, understood." I smiled, and she did too before leaving the office. I glanced at the clock and saw there were only a few minutes left before lunch. My heart pounded, and then the WhatsApp tone rang. I checked, and it was Oliver.
"Do you want me to pick you up from work, or should we meet at a nearby restaurant?" I bit my lip, thought for a moment, and decided it was better to meet at a place. I typed a response, seeing he was online.
"I'll send you the location of a restaurant. See you in ten minutes." I hit send, but then I had to find a place and remembered I only knew the ones Jackson had taken me to, and the last thing I wanted was to run into him. So, I quickly searched for a nearby place online and found one five blocks away. I sent the address. Seeing it was time, I tidied up and got ready for lunch. Everyone was heading to the elevator, chatting, and they made space for me when they saw me.
"Miss Bradley! Are you going to lunch?" I smiled and nodded without saying more. There were six colleagues, all men.
"Are you meeting someone, or would you like to join us? We're going to a Korean place that serves the best ramen in the city." I widened my eyes and looked at him.
"Where is it?" He gave me detailed directions, and I sent the location to Oliver, agreeing to meet there. The place was just three blocks south of the building. I went with them, and they told me about the menu, what I could choose, and what would leave me breathing fire. The place was called "Sweet and Bitter Taste." We entered, and I chose a table away from the others, telling them I was expecting company. The waitress offered me the menu, but I told her I'd wait a bit since I was expecting someone. I glanced at the clock, feeling anxious as the ten minutes had passed. I considered ordering and eating, or I’d be hungry the rest of the afternoon.
Then he appeared. I raised my hand to catch his eye, and he smiled. That simple gesture annoyed me, and I knew why—I still hadn't forgiven him.
"Hi, Lilly!" I stood to greet him and extended my hand, but he quickly hugged me. I pulled away and forced a half-smile.
"Hi," I motioned for him to take a seat. He sat and discreetly looked around, then his eyes settled on me.
"You look as beautiful as ever..."
"How many others have you said that to?" I smiled involuntarily at his reaction to my question. I enjoyed annoying him.
"Is that what you'll say after all this time?" he said, sounding ironic.
"‘After all this time’? Please, Oliver, it's been four weeks. That's not much."
"It is for me," he replied, gritting his teeth, and suddenly his expression changed. "I didn't come to fight. I came for you."
"You don't need to, and I didn't ask you to. Why would I want to go back to London with you after what you did?" He didn't answer my question, so I looked at the menu in front of me. I was hungry, very hungry, and I thought my bad mood might be because of that. I looked up and saw something restrained in his eyes. "Speak, if you keep holding back, you'll explode at any moment." He then leaned toward me, trying to take my hands, but I instinctively pulled them away. He raised his eyebrows, surprised. "Sorry, do you want to eat something? I have less than an hour before I have to go back."
"I told you an hour wouldn't be enough to talk. So go ahead and eat, we'll talk at dinner." I abruptly closed the menu and shot him a look of annoyance.
"Don't ruin my lunch, you know I don't eat alone." I could see the triumphant look in his eyes.
"Then, slip away for the rest of the afternoon, we can be together in my room, I'll order room service. You can eat something...," he glanced around the place and made a face of disgust, "...something good, of course."
"I'm not going to a hotel room. Especially not with you. So tell me what you're doing in town." He looked impatient.
"I came for you. Haven't you been listening to me? Please, Lilly, my life isn't the same as before."
"I suppose your family has cut off the support they gave you because of me since you can't make your own way." I went straight for the jugular. "I also suppose your family expects you to get back with me so you can reclaim your share of the business. Right? Feel free to correct me as you usually do, no shame." I tried not to sound too ironic, but he clenched his teeth again, and I could see the tension in that perfect jawline. "Damn it, why did I fall in love with you and let you destroy me?"
"I don't care about the business, Lilly. I'm determined to start my own company. To give you what you always wanted." I felt something inside, not love, more like disappointment. I leaned back in my chair and crossed my arms.
"How much sugar do I take in my latte in the morning?" He raised his eyebrows, then furrowed his brow.
"What are you talking about?" he asked defensively, and I noticed his shoulders tense.
"How much sugar do I take in my latte in the morning?" He pressed his lips tightly together.
"Is this some kind of test?" he sounded sarcastic.
"You say you'll give me what I always wanted," I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the table, and held his gaze. "I only wanted you. I wanted your loyalty, your love, and just like you made me learn every detail about you because you said it would please you, I thought it was reciprocal..."
"I love you! Can't you see that? I crossed the damn ocean to come for you!" I noticed his restraint. "Understand, I love you, Lilly."
"I just wanted you to know that it was no longer necessary to get a tattoo to remind you that I take one sugar in my damn latte." I repeated the phrase from that morning in London weeks ago.
"I said that because I was angry that you were so selfish."
"Selfish? No matter how much I try to find the reason I fell in love with you, I get more disappointed realizing how blind I was. You only came for me to get your share of the business and the luxurious life your family has. That's all. Don't tell me you love me and crossed the ocean for me. I bet everything I have that your father forced you."
"Damn it, Lilly! Why do you have to make it so difficult?" he growled through gritted teeth, already agitated and no longer holding back. "Just come back and you'll see when we get married..."
"Excuse me? Get married? After what you did to me?" My hunger vanished, and the last thing I wanted was to go back to the office.
"You're no saint either." Anger slowly took over me. "You're also to blame for what happened. When I wanted sex, you avoided it because of work, or your period, or you weren't in the mood... I had needs, and you must understand now that no one will accept you used. Because that's what it is. Let's accept it." I tried to control the tears of rage that wanted to slide down my cheeks. Oliver realized he had messed up with his last words, cleared his throat, and looked like he was about to beg. "I know I hurt you..." he began, but I cut him off.
"You don't hurt the person you love, Oliver." I raised a hand to my cheek to wipe away the tears I couldn't hold back from the anger. "Now I know I did the right thing by ending our engagement."
"You're not going to leave me, Lilly," he pleaded.
"I think you haven't realized that I already did weeks ago." I stood up from my chair, and before I could move, he did the same, stepping in front of me to block my way.
"I came from the other side of the world, and I'm not going back to London without you."
"Impossible to make you understand, but that's not my problem, it's yours, so let me pass." He didn't move, so I tried to sidestep him, and he grabbed my wrist, squeezing it tightly and causing some pain. "Let go of me." I gave him a warning look.
"I said I'm not going back to London without you."
"And she told you to let go, or I'll make sure you do it the hard way." That voice, filled with anger, made my skin crawl. I turned my head and saw Jackson's imposing figure. His gaze was fixed on Oliver, and I noticed his clenched jaw and the vein in his neck standing out.
"This isn't going to end well."