Chapter 13 My Mother’s Plan
The next morning, I woke up with a bad headache. It felt as if my skull had been split open the night before and stitched back poorly.
My body also felt like it had been used and returned without permission.
I got out of bed and the first thing I noticed was that I was naked.
“What?” I exclaimed, my heart beating rapidly.
I looked around the room, and nothing seemed out of place.
“What the hell happened last night?” I said as I pressed my finger against my temples, trying to remember.
Nothing came.
The only thing I remembered was my mother’s voice telling me that a cup of tea would help me relax.
“Shit!” I muttered and grabbed the first cloth I could find and pulled it on, anger surging within me.
“They are leaving my house today,” I said and stormed out of my room, banging the door shut behind me.
The living room was empty.
Then I turned and headed straight to my mother’s room, my eyes bloodshot.
I placed a hard knock on her door then pushed it open.
Inside, she sat on her bed with Cassandra.
“Huh,” I scoffed.
They both turned to look at me. The sight of them made me angrier.
“You are awake,” my mom said, letting out a soft and practiced smile.
“What did you give me?” I asked, my voice filled with anger.
My mother looked at me, her face way too calm for someone who had drugged her own son.
“What was in the tea you gave me?” I demanded, my voice a bit louder.
Cassandra moved uncomfortably behind her, trying not to meet my eyes.
“That tea was just to calm your nerves. You slept off after drinking it,” my mother replied, her voice so calm that it made me angrier.
“You had no right,” I snapped.
“I was only trying to help… Cassandra helped to make sure you eased the stress and slept comfortably,” she countered.
I laughed bitterly… I didn’t even know what to say at that moment.
My mother opened her mouth to talk again, but I raised my hands.
“I want you both out of my house… now!” I screamed.
“Alex…” Cassandra started.
I turned to her, my gaze sharp and filled with rage.
“You don’t get to say my name.”
“Pack your things and leave before I lose the little control I have left,” I continued, gesturing towards the door.
My mother stared at me like she didn’t recognize the man in front of her.
“You can’t send me out of your house… I’m your mother,” she said.
“Go!” I snapped.
None of them argued after that.
I stood still as they moved past me, my fist clenched by my side.
I couldn’t wait to escort them out of my house.
My mother tried to look pitiful, but I didn’t look back after they left. I locked the door after and stood there for almost a minute.
“Gosh,” I muttered, rubbing my forehead.
Then I headed back to my room, took my bath, and dressed for work as if nothing had happened.
When I got to the site, Joan was already there. She stood near the equipment table, her face beautiful as always.
I watched her for a few minutes before walking up to her, unsure of the version of her I would meet.
“I hope today is different,” I muttered, summoned courage, and walked up to her.
“Good morning, Alex,” she said as she looked up.
“Wow! She greeted me first. That’s a great start,” I thought and smiled.
“Good morning, Joan,” I replied, trying not to raise my hopes too high.
“I’m sorry I came late,” I added.
“It’s fine,” she replied.
We started working, and even though the tension between us had reduced, we only spoke when we needed to.
After work, I saw her beside her car, arranging her things. I quickly walked over before she drove off.
“Joan,” I called.
She turned to face me, her expression unreadable.
“I want to ask you something,” I said.
“Okay… go on,” she nodded.
“Have you… Forgiven me?” I asked, my voice low.
She didn’t answer immediately as she just stared at me.
“I don’t really have a choice,” she said finally.
If I don’t want it to affect our work.”
I smiled and heaved a sigh of relief.
“Thank you,” I said.
“I couldn’t imagine losing you as a friend too.”
She looked at me again, her brows lifted slightly.
“When did I agree to be your friend?” She asked calmly.
My smile vanished immediately.
“We are colleagues, Alex… nothing more,” she added.
“Right… we are colleagues,” I said, nodding.
She opened her car door and paused.
“Goodnight Alex,” she said.
“Goodnight,” I replied.
With that, she entered her car and drove off.
“Colleagues,” I muttered under my breath, my eyes following her car till it was out of sight.
JOAN’S COLE POV
“Yes, we are colleagues,” I muttered as I drove and stared at the road in front of me.
I was glad I didn’t let Alex see what he didn’t deserve to see.
When I got home, I met Lena dancing and making pancakes in the kitchen.
“Welcome,” she said with a bright smile.
I walked over to her and rested against the kitchen slab.
“Pancakes?” I asked with my eyes wide open.
Lena makes terrible pancakes.
“Yes. I watched a video of a new recipe. I’m trying it out,” she said confidently.
“Of course,” I said and faked a small smile.
“So…” she said, dropping the spoon in her hand and turning to face me.
“How did it go today?”
“Work was work,” I replied immediately.
“That’s not an answer,” she scoffed.
“I acted professionally,” I sighed.
“And?” she asked, her eyes narrowing.
“Nothing… we worked and talked when necessary,” I said.
“So, there was no awakened tension?” she muttered, searching my eyes.
“I didn’t feed it,” I replied and shot her a look that said she shouldn’t stress me.
“Hmm,” she hummed, clearly not convinced.
“Well, I’m proud of you… you didn’t let your emotions ruin your paycheck,” she scoffed.
“I’m grown now,” I snorted softly.
She hesitated for a moment and smiled in a way that I recognized far too well.
“Speaking of which… I think I like Marcus,” she said slowly, running her finger through her hair as she avoided my gaze.
“Marcus?” I repeated.
“Yes,” she nodded.
“He’s cute and he seemed fun,” she added.
“You’ve seen him just once!” I said, raising a brow.
“That’s more than enough time,” she smiled.
“So you want to add him to your long list of exes,” I laughed loudly.
“That’s rude,” she gasped dramatically.
“I’m just saying… you collect exes like souvenirs,” I continued laughing.
“At least mine comes with good stories,” she defended.
I shook my head and smiled.
“You are unbelievable.”
“And yet… you love me,” she replied smugly.
“I don’t,” I replied with a soft smile, walked out of the kitchen, and headed straight to my room.
On getting to my room, I sank onto the bed.
As if my mind had been waiting for me to relax, it replayed an old memory.
I closed my eyes and let it happen.