Chapter 107 The Culprit
ALICE
Theo had a meeting at noon, so I went to grab lunch by myself, just as I did before. Back then, I didn't really leave the office, but I hadn't thought to bring something along with me because we always had lunch out.
I crossed the busy road to reach the deli on the other side. It had been a while since I had a proper sub with all my favorite fillings. Roast beef, meatball marinara, and provolone. My mouth watered just thinking about it.
Before I even reached the deli, someone approached me, grabbing my arm, of all things. This time, he hadn't called my name beforehand.
"Benjamin?" I couldn't believe my eyes. I pulled my arm from his grip roughly and he easily let go of me. "What is with you? Leave me the hell alone! I don't have anything to say to you!"
"Did you think about what I—"
"No."
"Alice, this is important!"
I shook my head. I was getting a headache again. "Benjamin, for the love of God, just listen to me: I don't want you anywhere around me and there's nothing you could say to me that would interest me."
"What about the fact that someone set you up?"
"Emma did."
"Yes, but I told you that she was set up by someone, remember?" He looked serious now. We were standing right near the entrance of the deli, but I decided to move elsewhere because we were blocking the entrance.
"Unless you start explaining what you mean, I'll just assume that you're saying all this to grab my attention and make me stand here staring at your face longer than I have to."
His expression softened. "Alice, we were so in love. I know I messed up, but I don't understand why there has to be so much hatred between us. I mean, why can't we be like normal people who break up?"
"You have one minute, Benjamin."
He sighed, then ran his hand all along his forehead. Back and forth. Back and forth. I had to be really careful in case he got violent. Last time, things didn't end as well as I wanted them to, and he clearly didn't respect my wish. Theo wasn't around to save me this time.
"Emma lied to me—I want to start by saying just that. She started off by telling me that you always had an affair with your boss and that it wasn't fair for me to stay by your side when you clearly didn't respect our relationship. We started seeing each other and she was a shoulder for me to cry on. I was really vulnerable at the time."
"Yes. Vulnerable from a scenario she created. I never had an affair with Theo."
Benjamin took a deep breath. "I know that now, Alice, but back then, she deceived me. Then, she walked up to me with a proposition and she asked me to play along. Not only would it catch you in the act, but it would get you fired and we'd both benefit from it."
I frowned. "Whoa, what does that mean? What act? Are you talking about..." I trailed off, connecting the dots. The rage that washed over me was so intense that I could've wrapped my hands around his neck and killed him. "You knew that I would be sending those texts to Theo on New Year's? You knew?"
"To me, it wasn't anything new, Alice. Emma told me you did that all the time!"
"You idiot!" I yelled. "How could you be so stupid, Benjamin? You literally participated! I don't believe that she fooled you to that extent. Not for a second. You knew about the whole thing. You knew I never cheated on you. Admit it! You just wanted the perfect excuse to be with Emma! Why? What did she promise you?"
I didn't think it was possible, but I lost all respect for Benjamin. There I was, heartbroken and sad, and chasing after him to explain myself, but he had already known that the whole thing would happen.
"Did she tell you that she'd change the name of his contact to yours so that I would text him and not you?"
"No, I didn't know about any of that. She just told me she'd get the two of you upstairs."
I shook my head. My stomach churned and I lost my appetite. "Just finish what you were gonna say, Benjamin. Finish up! Who set Emma up?"
"At first, I didn't know his name." I tried suppressing a groan when he started with the lengthy explanations. This was going to take up my whole break. "She would meet up with him and he would give her instructions. It seemed everything revolved around you and your boss because he really wanted to get him fired or replaced or whatever. Then, I found out last week that he'd promised Emma a relationship and that she expected them to be together. I heard her over the phone. She said she was already tired of me."
His eyes filled with tears and he shut them tightly so I wouldn't see them. I felt nothing toward Benjamin. In fact, I didn't even have time to focus on him because I was too busy trying to figure out who he was talking about.
And I had a funny feeling that I had a good idea of who it might be.
"You said you didn't know his name at first. Now you do?"
"Felix. I don't remember his last name."
I sucked in a deep breath. Theo's cousin. "You're sure about this?"
He rubbed his eyes. "Of course, I'm sure."
I had to tell Theo. This was the first thought that crossed my mind. He had to know what his cousin was up to. That bastard. He wouldn't get away with this!
"Why're you telling me this, Benjamin?"
His hand dropped to his side. "I was hoping you'd forgive me."
"Never."
"I'm really sorry."
"That doesn't matter to me anymore. I don't care enough."
I started walking past him and thankfully, he didn't come after me. Theo had to know about this. I didn't care what kind of trouble it would cause. His cousin was a snake and he had to be unmasked. Everyone had to find out what he had done.
I couldn't believe it. Why me? Why hadn't he picked any other employee? How did he even know that it would work out? I couldn't understand it. How did he even approach Emma?
I had so many questions.
Maybe Theo would be able to shed some light on them.