Chapter 156 A Message
June
I froze, staring at the tall figure standing before me. He looked unfamiliar… yet familiar, dressed in a sharp tuxedo like he was about to step into a gala.
"Uh–" my lips moved, trying to form words, but nothing came out.
"Hi… uhm— I don’t know if you remember me, but I’m–" he started, his voice hesitant.
"Ted," I cut him off, shaking my head. "I’m sorry, Doctor Ted. I remember you. You’re Hermes’s… I mean, Mr. Grande’s friend. You treated me back then…" My voice trailed off, heat rushing to my cheeks.
Why was Hermes’s friend here? How did he even know where I lived? Hermes had never been to my house.
"Yes. I’m Ted. Teddy Aussie," he said, a hint of nervousness in his voice.
A beat of silence fell between us, thick and awkward, as we stared at each other.
"Can I… please come in?" he asked, forcing a polite smile.
"Of course," I snapped, stepping aside for him.
I watched him step inside, still smiling politely, his eyes sweeping over my home with an expression I couldn’t read. My mind was racing with questions, but I forced myself to focus on the one that mattered most.
"What brings you here, Doctor Ted?" I asked, my voice tight.
He turned sharply, hands clasped in front of him, and I could see the weight in his gaze. "I… I have a message from Hermes."
My heart plummeted.
A message from Hermes?
What did he want to tell me? And why send his friend?
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I swallowed hard, my stomach twisting. "A message…?" I echo, my voice barely steady.
Ted nods and then clears his throat and mutters, "Well… this is a bit awkward. Can I get a glass of water? I literally rushed here." He unclasped his hands like he’d been holding his breath.
I nod quickly. "Yeah—yeah, of course. Sit."
I gesture toward the couch and hurry to the kitchen, my pulse hammering in my ears. I grab a glass, fill it, and return, handing it to him with shaking fingers. Then I sit down. My heart is beating so hard it feels like I can hear it.
He takes a long sip, sighs, then sets the glass down.
"Thank you."
I wait. I swear the room feels smaller.
Then he says, "Did you get the email? The job offer from Germany?"
I tilt my head, confused.
Then it hits me slowly, heavily, and cold.
"No. No. Hermes did that?" The panic in my voice spills out before I can shove it down.
Ted’s eyes widen. He waves both hands quickly.
"No. No. No—June, you won the competition. Fair and square. But that wasn't the reward for winning . The job offer was just… added."
"Added?" I whisper.
He rubs the back of his neck. "Hermes… uh… pulled some strings."
My fist clenches without my permission.
Of course he did.
"Does he really want me gone from his life that bad?" My voice cracks as a tear slips out.
"Oh no. God—Miss June, no." Ted leans forward, urgency in his voice. "Don’t think of him like that. I don’t know what you two have—I mean, Hermes only told me about you a couple hours ago—but I do know one thing. Hermes has never been intentional with any girl in all the years I’ve known him. You’re special and—"
"So I’m supposed to be grateful?" I snap, jumping to my feet before I even think.
Ted stands too. "I didn’t mean it like that."
"If I’m that special, then why is he marrying his ex-girlfriend?" I fire back, planting my hands on my waist as I throw my head back, staring at the ceiling so the tears don’t fall faster.
I’m tired. I’m tired of feeling like Hermes is doing me favors.
I’m tired of discovering that every good thing I thought I earned… was him pulling strings behind the scenes.
What a jerk.
A complicated, confusing, selfish jerk.