Chapter 17: Chapter 17

Sean looks very busy receiving calls since six in the morning until now, it has been three hours since he received the call and locked himself in his office. I’ve finished my breakfast, while he hasn’t eaten anything since earlier. I walked with a tray containing Sean’s breakfast to his workspace, I was just about to knock on the door, I saw a slight blemish from the door of his workspace, I pushed the door slowly with my elbow.

Sean was standing facing his workspace window while making a phone call.

“No, Atika, we don’t need that... I know it’s very important... yes, we can do that if possible... no, give me some time to think of a way out in the meantime you just monitor the situation, I’ll see you later.”

I can only stare at where I am right now. What are they talking about? Is this a business matter or a personal matter? I don’t want to think about this too much, but somehow my positive thoughts seem to be disappearing right now.

“Hey, what’s that for me?”

Sean returned my consciousness at this time. I tried to give my best smile, as if I didn’t know anything. Sean approached me, and I seemed to lose my spirit.

“Yes, this is for you,” I said almost in a whisper, Sean took the tray I brought for him and smiled sincerely.

“Thank you.”

I nodded.

“Are you very busy today?” I asked curiously.

“What’s wrong? You want to go somewhere?”

I nodded, somehow I wanted to meet Caroline.

“I want to see Caroline,” I replied.

“We can go together, I happen to have a meeting at the office, Sam will take us.”

“No need, Caroline will pick me up,” I said quickly, I knew he would go to Atika and talk about something I don’t know. I immediately went to my room to get ready and contact Caroline. I just had a great day yesterday with Sean, and today I’m going to have a bad day out of curiosity. After phoning Caroline, I breathed a sigh of relief that she happened to want to go shopping with me.

“Where are you and Caroline going?” Sean confronted me right in front of our bedroom door.

“Shopping,” I curtly, Sean nodded then caressed my cheek with the back of his fingers, a smile that was quite calming for me appeared on his face then he kissed my forehead. For some reason my heart feels like it’s being stabbed with needles, I really want to ask about his meeting with Atika, but I’m afraid to fight using only assumptions as my alibi. I’d rather avoid this debate and find other activities to distract myself.

“Mrs. Abraham, Miss Caroline is waiting for you in the lobby,” Sam told, I quickly left without seeing Sean’s face, now tears had gathered in my eyes but I tried not to cry in front of him. As I’m in the elevator heading to the lobby, a single tear escapes, I quickly wipe it away before Caroline and her chatty mouth interrogate me.

“How is your rich handsome lord? Is he all right?” Caroline looked excited, while I was busy thinking about what would happen between Sean and Atika and the purpose of their meeting. As a business partner or as an ex-girlfriend.

“He’s fine,” I replied, not looking at Caroline’s face.

“Are you okay? You seem to be hiding something.”

Damn Caroline and her psychic abilities! I just chose not to answer.

“What is this? You guys fighting?”

I knew Caroline wouldn’t give up.

“No, we’re fine.”

“Huh! You can’t lie to me, Ariana, don’t try to hide anything from me because I won’t give up.”

I exhaled heavily, avoiding a Caroline Cortez in vain.

“Sean will meet Atika,” I finally said, and suddenly my body jerked forward, luckily I was wearing a seat belt. I turned my face to look at Caroline in protest.

“What for?” Caroline preceded me, I chuckled while rolling my eyes, I leaned back against the car seat and shrugged.

“I don’t know exactly why Sean met him, but Sean once told me that he and Atika are current business partners.”

Caroline hit the steering wheel and cursed.

“You stupid handsome man! Have you discussed this matter with him?”

I nodded, flashing memory of my debate with Sean about that damn woman.

“And??”

“Sean seems to still be comfortable with her and wants me to accept his decision.”

“Damn you, Sean!” Caroline swears, and I agree with hers. My Inner Goddess chuckled as she rolled her eyes, she was just as irritated as Caroline and I.

We arrived at one of the shopping centers in the city. Caroline actually doesn’t like shopping and collecting things as some women do, and neither do I, but since she’s getting her engagement to Andrew next week, she has to look great on her special occasion. While I was sitting waiting for Caroline who was trying on clothes in the dressing room at one of the top brand clothing stores, someone tapped me on the shoulder, I turned around.

“Hi,” greeted a man who was Ariel, I was surprised but immediately smiled.

“Hi,” I replied a little awkwardly, I didn’t know what to say to him, our meeting at that time was very short.

“With someone?” asked Ariel, I nodded.

“Yes, my cousin Caroline, you?” Ariel put his hands behind hisbody.

“Alone, I happened to be looking for clothes that fit someone,” he said with a mysterious smile.

“Your girlfriend?” I guess knowingly, Ariel laughed lightly.

“No, just someone I’ve admired all along, you might be able to help me.”

I smiled and accepted his request. We started sorting out women’s clothes, a few minutes later Caroline came up to us.

“You’re Ariel William, right??!”

Ariel and I looked at Caroline in surprise, but Ariel seemed pleased with Caroline’s ability to recognize her. They also chatted for a while, from what I heard, Caroline had met Ariel’s manager, when the man joined a boyband, but now the man has decided to go solo, and he has a side job at a music school as a vocal teaching staff.

The three of us left the shop after paying for our groceries.

“This is the address of the music school where I work, maybe you are interested in being a teacher there, we happen to need it, I know you can play guitar and piano.” Ariel handed over the business card of a music school, Mozart High School Musical. I smiled at this offer, I might be able to work and not have to live in an apartment feeling bored, but I have to talk to Sean first, I hope he doesn’t mind this.

“We’re having lunch, do you want to make it big?” asked Caroline, but the man refused because he had to go to Mozart for class at 11 o’clock, and it was already half past eleven.

Ariel also left us who after this still wanted to go to the shoe store, after shopping Caroline said she wanted to go to the spa, and I agree with that, my mind and body need relaxation.

Our trip continued to the spa after Caroline got the Higheels she would wear on her engagement day. We have a spa that we frequent when we need a body treatment.

“I’m glad you and Andrew are finally getting married, you deserve more happiness,” I said as we soaked in the warm, soothingly scented water. I looked at Caroline who smiled and radiated happiness in her face and eyes, I knew more or less about their relationship, not infrequently Caroline often told me about her relationship with her boyfriend. Andrew is a fun, humorous, understanding and romantic man, they have a lot in common. As for me, I don’t know if Sean and I seem compatible or vice versa, I don’t know anything about him.

“We’re excited to finally get to this point in our relationship,” Caroline said, looking up at the ceiling where we were soaking. I also want to have a relationship with Sean like Caroline and Andrew have, open to each other.

“Hey, you and Sean can definitely find your happiness, don’t give up, Ana, I think Sean just needs a little effort from you to make him completely turn away from his damn ex-lover.”

I took a deep breath, then looked at Caroline who was looking at me with her encouraging gaze. I smile because of that, he can always give me good motivation when I need it. We also got out of the bath-up because our bathing water was getting colder, besides that our stomachs were screaming for something to be filled.

“Shall we have lunch at our favorite Chinese restaurant? We haven’t been there in a long time, I just happen to want some noodles,” Caroline suggested to which I nodded excitedly. The restaurant is one of our favorite places to eat. Caroline and I have so much in common, it’s no wonder we’re so close like sisters.