“Thanks for the visual.” He laughs, running his hand through his hair. “So, a little birdie reminded me it’s your birthday on Saturday.”
“Little birdie has a big mouth. Yes, it is.”
“Any plans?”
“Big-mouth birdie said he’s taking me out to dinner. You’re welcome to join us,” I offer, taking note to scold Eric for even mentioning it.
“I’m sorry, I have an important function to attend. However, I’ll join you after dinner, plus I’m free for breakfast on Sunday morning. Preferably in bed.”
“Oh, Batman, you sure know how to use those cheesy lines.”
“Hey, Batman resents that.” He kisses me goodbye, promising me he will call me tonight when I’m done with work.
As he leaves the room, I breathe a sigh of relief. What the hell am I doing? These are not the actions of a sane person, so far from it. I sit in my chair opening a magazine, casually flicking through the pages. Not an ounce of excitement stirs within me. Surely, my bridezilla gene is supposed to have kicked in by now. I sit here almost numb—almost. The Valentino gown is to die for.
I’m reading an article on the dos-and-don’ts of wedding planning when a loud sound startles me. The commotion comes from my doorway where Lex is standing tall, and an extremely panic-stricken Eric and Emma stand behind him trying to catch their breaths.
“I’m sorry…” Eric gasps for air.
“It’s okay, Eric.”
Lex catches sight of the magazines, forcing Eric and Emma to scurry away like two timid dogs.
“You have no right barging into my office like this,” I tell him, trying my best to speak in a flat monotone, but the anger is rearing to go, ready to bite his head off and give him an earful about workplace protocol.
“What do you expect? You won’t talk to me, but you talk to everyone else. In fact, you forgive everyone else but not me. Why?” he asks, exasperated.
What the hell is he talking about?
“Excuse me?”
“You easily play make-up with Adriana and Samantha, but with me, you shut me down every time I try to apologize.”
“Please leave,” I warn him. “This is my place of business. I don’t bring my personal life to work.”
He stands before me with flared eyes and unruly hair, his body language is enough for me to realize he’s deadly serious. His eyes dart to the magazines on my desk.
“Answer me!”
“I’ve nothing to say to you.”
His lethal stare is painful and piercing with a purpose to tear me apart. Lex may be angry, striking at me fueled by the pain he’s feeling, but nothing and I mean nothing, can erase the pain that seeps into every part of me like poison.
I crave his words, hurtful as they may be, they are his soul coming out in pieces for me to hear. But the deadliest sound of all—is silence.
Turning his back, he leaves my office without a goodbye.
I can’t cry, the tears long gone and dried up. Instead, I sit here dazed, unable to cope with the burst of anger I bestowed upon him. He deserved it. That was nothing compared to what I went through.
He hasn’t won.
I’m still standing here.
This time, I am the one wearing the ring.
And soon, I’ll become Mrs. Baker.
ALEX