Chapter 10: Chapter 10

They walked together and it was like deja vu. When he first met her, he walked her home too.

"Will you stay here until the next day? There's some more activities. " Jacob started the conversation. After the kiss they shared, they didn't talk much but he was glad he didn't push him away or leave.

He couldn't help but smile, when he remembered their kiss. God, she kissed him back. Torrid, aggressive and passionate.

It was too late to hide his smile. Tatiana saw it making her frown.

"You look like an idiot. Stop smiling." She huffed. "Ah, yes. My schedule has been cleared for these days." She wished she can bring Julian. Eversince they got here in the Philippines, they haven't been on a vacation yet. She's really on a tight sched.

"That's good. What are you gonna wear?”

She rolled her eyes. "Why, pervert? I'm gonna wear pants and longsleeves.” she said sarcastically.

Jacob shook his head. "Don't wear something too revealing.”

“It's my body, Shaw. I can wear what I want.” she said, snobbing him until they reached her hotel.

“Why, is it okay with you if I flaunt my body?” Jacob raised an eyebrow, smirking at the same time.

"I don't care even when you get naked.”

"So you want to see me naked?"

"What?!"

Seriously, this guy knows how to twist words.

Jacob Shaw laughed. "You said it's okay if I get naked.”

She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, sure. Of course you'd want the attention of women staring at your body.”

But it's you that I want. Jacob said in his mind.

They stopped infront of the hotel where she's staying and she took off the suit he made her wear since it was cold. She handed it to him. “Thanks for this.”

"It's nothing." He smiled at her. "Go, get some rest.”

"Goodnight, Shaw." She couldn't help but look at his lips. She immediately looked away when Jacob noticed it.

"Night, Tatiana."

He throw himself in bed, he couldn't help but smile. For the first time in so many years, he kissed her.

He'd sleep a happy man, with an empty bed. It's been like this for months, and--- he realized he can survive without sex. just Tatiana's presence can lift up his spirit.

The noise from the outside woke Tatiana up. Strike rented the whole island for the event. There's surfing competition, beach volleyball at parasailing. In the night there would be a DJ and a music festival.

She called her son first. She misses her angel. She couldn't go to a day without talking her son. Then, she took a bath and decided to wear a pink, two piece bikini. She put on her shawl.

She doesn't want to be so exposed, but she does want to get some tan. Rest on a lounger and enjoy some peaceful time on her own.

The surfing competition was starting, on the othet side there's beach volleyball. She spotted Andrew Zobel in one of the chairs with his wife. They were laughing and looks like they were really having a good time. She smiled, some marriage really work. And some doesn't, unfortunately, she's one of the latter.

And where is her future estranged husband, by the way?

And the kiss they shared?

Okay. She immediately shook her head. That was only a spur of the moment. It shouldn't have happened at all.

Tatiana looked to admire the beautiful beach infront of her. Who would've thought it would be this beuatiful after almost a decade? Back then, there's only few people who visits this place.

She laid flat against her back in a lounger in her sunglasses. The salty smell of the beach engulfed her. She closed her eyes and drifted into sleep only to be a awaken by some girl's giggles.

“Damn, he looks hot.” One of them commented.

“God, look at those arms and abs. I didn't know the CEO has tattoos? Even if he's a snob to some of us, I'd still bang him.”

She rolled her eyes and followed their gaze.

Holy mother of cows.

It was Jacob. He was only in a shorts exposing his torso. He was wet, holding his surfboard.

Good god, his body matured a lot over the years that have passed.

Tatiana's lips almost parted,  he was staring at her. The intensity of his eyes... damn it.

And wait, is that a tattoo?

Jacob walked towards her. The girls just few meters away from her were all giggling. He stopped infront of her.

"What are you doing?" She asked, not taking of her shades. She remained lying on the chair.

" I'm just making sure you're staring at the right view." He smirked. "You look good from here, Tati. Why are wearing that?”

“Because I'm at a beach, Jacob. Am I supposed to wear pajamas?” she retorted. “Stop acting like my father.”

"Wow, you called me by my name. And no, I'm not your father. You know exactly what role I play in your life. ” his eyebrows furrowed.  "Where the fuck is your sunblock?"

"I'm here to get tanned---"

“I don't care. Your cheeks are so red, Tati.”

Jacob turned to the ladies who were staring at them. "Hey, can I borrow sunblock?”

they scrambled to reach for their sunblock making her scoff.

"Thanks."

"Jacob, what are you doing!" She hissed when he squeezed the bottle and applied it on his hands.

"I'm going to apply you some lotion, since you forgot to. Seriously, what the fuck are you thinking?” he growled. "I don't want a scratch, a bruise or burn in that beautiful face."

He kneeled infront of her and was about to touch her leg but before he could do that,

"You're not touching me with those filthy hands!" She pushed him away, causing him to fall and hit his head on one of the loungers.

Jacob's face fell. Hitting his goddamn head on one of the chairs didn't hurt at all but her pushing him away stings.

"Jacob, shit. I'm sorry I didn't mean to.” she was so shocked as well. She didn't know she was gonna do that. She never meant to hurt him.

Jacob didn't hide that sad look on his face. He looked at her and smiled a bit.

"No, I'm sorry, Tati.” he gave back the lotion and left her just like that. T

Tatiana wanted to beat herself for being such a bitch. Shit. She never meant to hurt him. Damn it, What if he gets concussion?

When she looked at the side, those girls were glaring at her. She ignored them, though.

She felt bad for being so mean. He only meant to help her but she reacted like a total bitch. It was all her fault.

She was stuck between staying or following after him. Her mind and heart battled m. She was so scared to follow after him. she's scared that he might see her soft side again. She doesn't like feeling all these for Jacob, especially after last night when they kissed.

He's an asshole, he left her. She shouldn't pity the guy.

She was so lonely that day, she had nothing to do and no one else with . But then, Andrew and his wife came towards her direction. They invited her for lunch which she gladly accepted.

It was a table for four, she had a feeling that the extra seat was for Jacob.

"How many years are you guys been married?" She asked Rochelle, Andrew's wife.

Rochelle smiled at her. "Two years now. Honestly, I never expected that Drew will marry me. He's a bachelor and the life of the party, just like Jake.”

Oh, Jake has been married before the world proclaimed him bachelor and life of the party...

"But he did, because he loves you. You're having a kid." Tatiana grinned at her.

"Aren't you married yet, attorney?”

She didn't answer the subject. “I do have a boyfriend. Are you having a girl or boy?”

"It's a girl." Rochelle chuckled. Andrew's wife is so kind. They both are. “Drew and I argues all the time, she doesn't want me to name our baby Cruizita.”

"Cruizita... hmm, that's a lovely name. Well, that would be a hot name when she's reached twenty one." They both chuckled.

"Drew would be a very possessive father."

She wonders what would happen if one day Julian brings a girl at home and introduce it to her. She'd cry for sure, she's after all her first born and forever baby boy. I hope he doesn't become like his father whose a total playboy.

Andrew came back. "Jacob is running a little late, he's in a clinic.”

“What? What happened?” Rochelle asked, alarmed.

"He said he hit his head."

She felt a pang of guilt.

"Oh. By the way, Tatiana? Jake said you should order for him." Andrew said, "I didn't know you're too acquainted?"

"He once invited me for lunch in his office, he uh, mentioned the food he likes.” She smiled pleasantly.

Yes. She knew by heart the food he likes. She used to cook for him whenever he wants this or that. Tatiana really tried her best to be a good wife. To serve him after a long day of work.

At the end, she ordered grilled prawns and glazed pork for him. She remembers how she used to dislike eating prawns but she learned to love it herself when they were together. Now it's one of her favorite dishes.

She ordered the same food for her.

She was about to take some good bite when she saw Jacob... He's wearing a white button down shirt and shorts and topsiders, making him look younger.

Yum.

"My man, you took so long.” Andrew stood up.

He's always late. Tatiana wanted to retort. He was late too when they had their first date. She almost thougt he was gonna stood her up from the date he asked. She almost cried that day.

"Sorry, I'm late." He grinned, kissing Rochelle's cheek. "Wow, you look very lovely, Chelle."

She gave him a chuckle. "Why, thank you. Come, take a seat.”

As soon as he sat, he got a whip of her perfume. damn. It smelled like vanilla or strawberry. Hmm

He smiled at the food infront of him. She still remembers his favorite dish.

"Hello, attorney." He smiled sweetly as if nothing happened earlier. "You look beautiful, attorney."

She smiled sweetly at him. "You don't look so bad yourself." She only smiled like that because the couples are staring. For sure they dont know about the bad blood going on between the two of them.

"I see you still remember." Jacob said meaningfully pertaining about the food.

After their lunch, they stayed for desserts. The males were talking inanimately about business, something to do about expansions. They listened until Rochelle spoke.

"So your boyfriend, what does he do?"

Jacob stop conversing with Andrew to listen.

"Ahm." She swallowed, in the corner of her eyes she can see his sharp eyes."He's an engineer."

Engineer? So she has a thing for handymen? Jacob raised his eyebrows.

"Yeah? How long are you guys together?" Jacob mockingly asked.

She answered straight to the point. "Seven years but we've been together for eight years."

"That long, huh?" He smirked. He was so pissed. He wantsd to punch something.

They parted nine years ago. He's been with that guy for eight. Wow. He surely was too easy to replace. Fuck.

"So, no wedding bells yet?" Rochelle clasped her husband's hand.

Tatiana wanted to say he asked her for marriage but since her estranged but not legally estranged husband is here, she chose to lie

“Not yet.”

And he can't marry you, my darling, my sweet wife. He thought. You're still fucking married to me and it would be like that for the rest of our lives. I will take you back and everyone will know you are married to me and only me. Jacob's mind screamed.

After that Jacob fell silent. He was not in the mood at all. Like all the energy in his body has been drained. First, she pushed him away and then she tells everyone about her boyfriend.

Fuck. Eight years.

Here he was going crazy searching and thinking about her while she moved on and found another man.

It fucking hurts to think about it.

And for that long. They've been together. He must be a real keeper. Maybe the guy never causes her pain. Maybe he never leaves her side. maybe he makes love to her the right way more than he did.

Ugh fuck!

Thinking about them intimate made him so angry.

He threw his glass of brandy across the room, shattering the glass into little pieces.

His jealousy will kill him alive.