Chapter 38: The Past

Williams POV

“Since you know her I think it's a good idea to meet with her. Who knows, she might remember you.”

“No sir, you don't have to go there with me.” She said,

“No way. I want you to meet her.”

“Sir, I'm not ready for this today. I didn't plan to meet her like this.”

I drove towards Amelia's apartment. When we got there, my secretary refused to get down from my car. Could there be something between them I know nothing about?

I pressed the doorbell as soon as I got to her apartment. We stood there for a while before getting a response.

Amelia opened the door after a while and let us in. I noticed how shocked and surprised she was when she saw my secretary.

“What are you doing in my house, Emily?” Amelia asked.

“Linda?” I was sure that wasn't her name. “You're mistaken, her name is Linda.”

“You had to change your name? Was that necessary?” Amelia asked.

“What's going on here?” I asked.

“Emily, you can't just walk in here after all these years.”

Now I was confused. I wanted to know what was going on.

“I'm so sorry boss. My real name is Emily, I had to change my identity when I was done with high school because of what I went through.”

“You know her also and why are you so harsh with your words.” I asked Amelia.

“This lady right there, took all I had then. She was my best friend. I trusted her but she decided to betray me, by having a romantic relationship with my boyfriend in high school. I never wanted to see her again.”

“I see what this is all about now.”

As the tension between Emily and Amelia was palpable, I stood there, stunned. I had no idea Amelia has a past connection with my secretary.

“I will leave you both for now. Emily, I will leave you here, you need to explain to her. I don't know you to be someone like this.” I said.

“Well, you have every right to feel bad for what I did to you back then. I was stupid. I didn't know what I had, I regret everyday for doing a thing like that to you, if only I knew I was hurting you then…”

“How could you do a thing like that to me? You were my best friend. I was hurt by two people I loved.” Amelia said, her expression skeptical.

While I stood at a corner in the house, I could see the betrayal and pain in Amelia's eyes. This wasn't a conversation that was going to end soon. It was going to be difficult to navigate. I just wanted to understand what happened between the both women.

Amelia's POV

I fixed my gaze on Emily, my former best friend. I felt so betrayed and the pain in me threatened to erupt. “You were my confidante, I also trusted you with everything, both my deepest secrets, why do you have to tell him everything?” I spat, while my voice trembled with rage.

“I couldn't help how I felt for Neo then, I never meant to hurt you. I'm sorry.” Emily said, with a mixture of defiance and guilt.

“You couldn't help it.” I laughed, a mirthless, cold sound. “You knew we were friends, why didn't you respect that by staying away from him.”

Williams moved closer to us. “You have to calm down Amelia.”

“Calm down?” I cut him off, “How do you expect me to calm down?” I said, my voice rising. “She betrayed me in the worst possible way.”

Emily and Williams exchanged a nervous glance, while the room fell silent.

Just then, Emily spoke up. “I know I hurt you, I'm sorry. This is all in the past. We can pass through that and move forward.”

A bitter smile twisted my lips as I shook my head. “Funny how you think your simple apology can fix everything. I can't forgive you.”

“Please —” Emily pleaded, taking a step closer to me.

“Don't come close to me, you're a betrayal.” I warned her. “You're actually justifying what you did. I will never forgive you, you broke our friendship a long time ago.”

I walked and left my room after that. Leaving Emily and Williams. “They can leave whenever they wish to.”

“You have to come out, Amelia, you can't just leave me out here.” I could hear Williams' voice echo through the door.

Williams POV

“I think we should leave.” Emily said.

“Don’t think I'm in support of what you did. That was really bad.” I said.

I didn't expect her to say anything. We left for the car. While I drove along the road, the car was silent, the only sound that was heard was the sound of the car engine.

While I continued driving, Emily asked me to stop the car.

“What for?” I asked.

“I will walk home from here sir.” She said,

“I will see you in the office tomorrow.”

“I thought you were going to sack me.” Emily said.

“Why?”

“I lied about my name. Everything about me is lies.How sure am I, you will want to work with someone like me.

“I can't do that,  It's all in the past.”

Emily cried her eyes out.

“I will take you home, you don't have to walk home. It's late to walk home alone.”

I stretched my hand, brought out the box of tissues and handed it to her. “Thank you.” She muttered.

“I'm sorry for everything. You're a nice person.” Erica said as she blew her nose.

“There's nothing wrong with showing emotions when you're facing something like this.” I said with a gentle expression.

While I drove for a while the only sound that was heard was Emily's occasional sniffles.

When I got to Emily's apartment. I stopped the car. She was about to leave but I stopped her. “Why did you have to change your name?” I was just eager to know.

Emily fixed her gaze on me, her eyes red-rimmed. “It was not easy to face my past. I felt the only way I could do that was changing my name.”

“The only way to escape our past sometimes is by facing the past.”

“You think so?” Emily asked, her eyes fixed on mine.

I saw a glimmer of hope in her eyes.

“You can face your past, I can help if you let me.”

I knew It would be difficult for Emily to believe all this was coming from me.