Chapter 100 Conflicted
“I know I messed up but I think someone’s outside my window.”
“Geez!” I almost shouted.
“What’s wrong?” Jane asked, her eyebrows raised.
“I have to get to Joan’s place. I will be back,” I said, already standing up.
I reached for my keys and darted out of the house.
I could feel Jane’s eyes watching me from behind but I didn’t stop.
When I got to my car, I pulled out of the compound without wasting time, my hands clutching the steering wheel like my life depended on it.
Before long, I got to Joan’s apartment.
I reminded myself that I wasn’t there because anything had changed, I was there because I was worried.
Worried that someone might be trying to hurt her.
I hesitated then I knocked softly.
She opened on the second knock and ran into my arms.
“I’m so sorry. I really am,” she muttered, her voice shaky.
I didn’t speak nor did I push her away.
I didn’t touch her either.
After a while, she pulled back slowly and looked into my eyes.
It was evident that she had been crying because her eyes were a bit swollen.
At that moment, I felt bad.
Maybe I shouldn’t have left her.
Maybe I should have waited and talked things out with her.
But I was human, I had blood flowing through my veins.
“You said someone was at your window,” I said, ignoring the little voice in my head.
“Yes, I saw a shadow. But before I could take a look, the person vanished,” she retorted.
Just as she was about to say something else, Lena arrived in a taxi.
“Hey Dave,” Lena greeted.
“Hi Lena,” I replied.
Then I turned back to face Joan.
“Let me know when you see anything suspicious. I will take my leave now.”
With that, I turned and headed back to my car.
JOAN COLE’S POV
“Gosh! Lena and bad timing,” I thought to myself.
I wanted to apologize to Dave when Lena arrived and ruined my chances.
Now I wasn’t sure if he would ever allow me into his house or near him.
If he doesn’t, I wouldn’t be able to tell even his sister to talk to him on my behalf.
Because how on earth was I supposed to say that I moaned my ex’s name while her brother was inside me.
I felt so terrible.
Lena dragged me inside and closed the door behind me.
“What were you saying on the phone earlier? What happened? And why was Dave talking about something suspicious?” she asked.
I didn’t know which one to answer first but I couldn’t hold in the terrible thing I did earlier anymore.
“I messed up badly,” I mumbled.
“You said it on the phone. What exactly happened? Did you guys fight?” She stopped in the middle of the living room, her eyebrow raised.
I rested against the door, my hands twisting together.
“It’s worse,” I shook my head.
“He was inside me, being so gentle and attentive like he always is… and then, I moaned Alex’s name.”
Lena’s mouth fell open. She slowly set her handbag on the couch.
“You said Alex? While Dave was literally inside you?”
I nodded, feeling my face burn with shame.
“It just slipped out. I didn’t mean to. I was trying so hard to be present, to feel everything with Dave, but… my mind went there. You should have seen the look on his face, Lena. I feel so disgusted at myself right now.”
“Oh my God!” She walked over and led me to the couch.
“What did he say?” she said, sinking onto the couch beside me.
“He said I was using him. That I’m still in love with Alex,” my voice cracked.
“He was hurt, Lena. He was really hurt.”
Lena let out a long breath and rubbed my back.
“Damn. That’s rough.”
“I don’t know what to do,” I whispered.
“Dave has been nothing but good to me, and this is how I repay him. I feel awful.”
Lena was quiet for a moment, then she spoke carefully.
“Do you still love Alex?”
I looked down at my hands.
“I don’t know. Dave is safe and kind, but when I’m with him, part of me keeps comparing. And that’s not fair to him.”
“So what are you going to do?” Lena asked.
“I don’t know,” I said again, my voice small.
“I feel like I would soon end something good with my own hands,” I added, looking dejected.
Lena squeezed my shoulder and sighed.
“You need to figure out what you really want, Joan. You can’t keep Dave on a string while your heart is somewhere else. And you can’t keep punishing yourself for feelings you haven’t sorted out yet.”
I nodded, but the knot in my stomach didn’t loosen.
“I know,” I whispered.
“But right now… I feel stuck. I’m hurting a good man, and I still can’t stop thinking about the one who broke me.”
Lena didn’t push further. She just sat with me in silence, the weight of my confession hanging heavily between us.
And I still didn’t know what to do next.
ALEX HART’S POV
The next morning, I sat at the head of the long table while the directors argued around me. The screen on the wall showed red numbers everywhere. It was full of lost clients, unpaid invoices, and bank warnings.
Marcus’s chair was empty.
And I was watching my company die in slow motion.
One of the senior directors, Mr. Patel, cleared his throat.
“Mr. Hart, we have to be realistic. We’ve lost three major clients this week, the bank is threatening to call in the loans and Mr. Reeds has already lined up investors who are willing to inject cash but want controlling interest.”
I stared at the table, my hands folded tightly.
I had already told my mother over the phone that morning that I never wanted to see her again.
“Stay away from me until I can look at you without feeling sick,” I had said, my voice cold.
She had cried, trying to apologize but I hung up.
Now I had no one.
No partner, no friend, no mother.
Absolutely no one I could trust.
“The vote is tomorrow,” another director spoke up.
“If we accept the rescue package, we lose majority control, but the company survives. If we don’t, we will file for bankruptcy next month.”
That was when I looked up.
I built this company from nothing… with my own hands, and now you want me to hand it over?” I said quietly but firmly.
Mr. Patel sighed.
“We want it to survive, Mr. Hart. You can stay on as a consultant, but the investors need to be in control to clean up the mess.”
I stood up slowly, took a glance at everyone at the table, and walked out without a word.
Just as I was walking down the hallway, my phone beeped.
It was a message from Jude.
“I think Cassandra wants to flee out of the country.”
What?
That mustn’t happen.