Chapter Twelve
Andrew sat trying to ignore Matt making popping sounds out of her mouth while moving the chair around with her feet, but a man can only handle so much distraction before he’s ready to kill the person that is responsible for it. Slamming the binder shut and throwing the pen to the side he pushed his chair away from the desk.
“What is your problem?”
Matt paused, innocently looking at him with a smile that seemed to infuriate Andrew more. “Me?” She pointed to herself. “I don’t have a problem.” She tapped her fingers on the chair looking everywhere but at him.
Andrew thought by bringing her to work with him would not be such a bad idea, but now he just wanted for her to go away and let him get a few things done. Eyeing her fingers as it tapped away like a music of some sort he got up and walked slowly to Matt.
Matt immediately sat up straight she stopped what she was doing all together and focus on Andrew that is now staring evenly at her, she smiled sheepishly and blinked out her guilt, but he wasn’t buying it. She nervously turned her head away and her fingers began tapping again.
“Stop that.” He pressed her hand to the chair.
Matt tried to pull her hand away only to have him squeezing it in a warning, giving up she looked at him. “Is there anything I can do besides sitting around watching you work?”
Andrew prisoned her with his arms bending down to her he could smell a scent that he could not make out, but it made his nose tingled and briefly became lost in it. Matt slumped further in the chair while watching him curiously until he opened his eyes again.
“What are…what are you doing?” Matt backed away when his head came down lower to her. “You are not playing fair.” She said when his lips were but a finger away.
“Life is never fair.” He lowered his head. He wanted to laugh when her head was pulled back so far any more it would have fallen off. “Unfortunately, I am not in the mood. I have a lot to do.” He pulled her up by the arm. “Now go somewhere for a little while, until I get some stuff out of the way just don’t go far.” He pushed her gently toward the door.
“You mean I can do what I want.” She beamed unexpectedly.
“No, that is not what I mean. It is not a free pass for you to cause trouble while others are trying to work. Go ask my secretary, see if she has something for you to do.” He turned back to his desk. “And Matt I didn't plan on kissing you earlier.”
“I wasn’t expecting one.” She lied.
He looked at her, the way she stood with her eyes toying with an idea, she smoothed an invisible wrinkle on her skirt before touching her hair and turned her head to the door. His heart tried its best to downplay the fact that she’s climbing up to the spot where he fought off such feelings, but right now he’s not sure how long it’ll last.
“Can I go now?” She asked interrupting his thought.
“Go right ahead.” He turned back to his work.
Matt looked at Andrew for a couple of minutes before shutting the door behind her, he stopped what he was doing and stared at the door. He remembered the kiss last night, oh how he remembered it. He could not forget it if he wanted to, his mind was reliving the moment like it was depending on it to survive. But he had to play it off like it mattered to him not at all. He could see the disappointment in her eyes during breakfast that he reverted back to his old self. Those big eyes of hers were silently asking him why?
How the kiss happened, he still tried to sort the details out but none came to him, it just naturally did. The touch of her lips the first time was great, second time was intoxicating and if the third time was to happen, he’s fully sure he’ll be addicted to those lips of hers. He turned his chair once and got it to face the window, crossing his legs he paused, touching his lips he knew in his heart he can’t ask for anything from the marriage. And if he dared to, he was going to prepared himself for the consequences of wanting something that wasn’t ready to give itself over.
Therefore the question to, himself is when everything is all wrapped up and the curtains are closed what will be of him if it gets to the point of no return? Better yet, is he willing to lose in order to gain something that he wasn’t sure will be his in the end? A gamble of the heart is just as bad as a gamble of life the uncertainty is always lurking around the corner ready to fall off the edge of a cliff if one does not have the power to hold onto it.
An audible sigh came out, with his eyes so sullen lowering it he took one quick look at his wedding ring. Such a complication and Matt made it even more complex. His eyes hardened around the corners, one of them is going to have to fail and whichever that is he wished he knew. He doesn’t want it to be him, but as the days wore on Andrew isn’t naïve enough to be completely certain. Matt and her trouble that Gem had clued him in, is starting to find a place inside of him and refused to go away. It is not just her smiles that she’s unaware of, but it has become her eyes, and crossed over to her kisses.
Andrew closed his eyes, when the time comes to let everything go, is he able to? Will Matt take the very piece of him that would leave him struggling to breathe in order to live?
An hour later Andrew stretched his legs and laid the pen down, rubbing his neck he stood up. “What a day.” He heard himself said to the open space of his office.
He walked over to the window when something caught his eyes. Getting closer he leaned in, almost knocking his head against the window. His eyes bored into Matt, chasing after papers that are flying away from her. He turned slightly and saw a man that is not far from Matt doing the same thing. Andrew didn’t take another minute to watch it played out he rushed out the door as quickly as his feet could carry the speed.
Matt stamped her foot on one paper while bending down and grabbed the other with her free hand, all the while laughing and fighting with the wind that’s refusing to let up. The man smiled and seemed to enjoy himself when he walked up to Matt and held a few papers in his hands.
“Victory smells so sweet when you have to work hard for it.”
“I am sorry for causing the problem I didn’t see you behind me.” She apologetically handed him the papers and smiled once again.
“Not a problem, it was fun. I haven’t had a chance to run in my work clothes before, quite challenging but fun.” He shoved the papers inside a folder and tucked it under his arm securely. “There now it’s not going anywhere.”
“Matt!”
Matt looked over the man’s shoulder and saw Andrew glaring at her as if she was a little girl that had gotten her hand stuck in a cookie jar when he explicitly told her not to do so. She smiled trying to hide her guilt but it didn’t go well with Andrew. He stood there unmoved by her pretty little smile.
She walked over to him trying to explain what happened, but Andrew’s eyes were fixated on the man’s back, even from behind he reminded him of someone from his past, someone that he wished to not run into again. The man slowly turned around and Andrew stood straight, how small the world must be.
He stared at Mac, eyes hard and stone like. It’s like looking at his past from five years ago. Mac had changed but not quite. The significant changes Andrew can easily lay a finger on is that he’s a slight tanner and carried himself maturely, with a confidence that he lacked ages ago. His face remained a bit long but everywhere else seemed to broaden. But the eyes are what Andrew remembered them to be, very caring in front of you but like a sharp knife behind your back.
Mac’s eyes lingered on Andrew, he too was seeing his past, but unlike Andrew, Mac doesn’t care if Andrew made an appearance back in his life. They have unfinished business one that Mac is going to see it close before he decided to leave town again.
Matt looked at Andrew then slowly let her eyes made its way to the man that shared a history with her husband. She did that several times but so far they have yet to acknowledge that she’s even there.
“Andrew.” Her voice like a whisper came out. “Andrew.” She repeated when she got no respond.
A few minutes ticked on and Matt licked her lips nervously.
“Go wait for me in the car.” Andrew handed her the keys but he still didn’t offer a glance her way.
“I…”
“Go!” Andrew yelled.
“Andrew you are not going to introduce me to..?” Mac let his question hung in the air.
“My wife,” Andrew answered. “There’s no need for an introduction you guys are not going to be more than strangers.” He turned to Matt this time. “You are still here, didn’t I told you to wait for me inside the car!?”
Matt blinked and tried her best to accept his mood, but for the life of her she can’t seem to. Why is it that he can transform into someone that she disliked in a matter of seconds? What did she do wrong anyway for him to be yelling at her?
Andrew turned to Matt, he sighed as she stood there with keys in her hand and refused to move an inch from the spot and he figured if it continued she would be standing there all day. He grabbed her head and kissed her forehead. “Go to the car and wait, I won’t be long. Will you give me a few minutes?”
She looked at Andrew and he smiled knowing he could see the surprised look on her face. He turned her around and pushed her gently to get her moving. She did, but it was one slow step at a time, touching her forehead where the kissed just happened she closed her eyes. Her hand lowered she placed it on her heart. She felt it beating and smiled the same way she is doing now, all because of one tiny kissed. And it wasn’t even remotely passionate he did it so she’ll get out of his way, but her heart still could not contain its excitement. She walked a little faster to the car, has she lost the fight to him already?
“She’s a pretty and interesting girl.”
Andrew stood still, he observed Mac a couple of seconds before moving in closer. “She’s my wife and wouldn’t be any less.”
Mac smiled genuinely and Andrew cursed.
“Lana will be disappointed.”
“She is not my concern.”
“You did love her once.”
“Once, that’s all.”
Mac intently stare at Andrew, knowing something only to himself he once again smiled secretively.
“Lana…” He never got to finish it Andrew turned and started to walk off.
“Lana is Lana she has nothing to do with me.”
“You know she’s back in town.” Mac raised his voice when he saw Andrew creating the distance.
Andrew kept on walking. “It’s none of my business.”
Mac pulled his cellphone out and let his fingers do its magic, once the voice on the other line picked up he smiled to a world that he, Andrew and Lana used to belong to. “Guess who I saw?”
Andrew walked with his hands in his pockets, standing in the midst of a crowd passing him by in a hurry he watched Matt fussing with her hair, she tucked one side behind her ear then rake her hands through it as if she had done all she could. She turned pouting when she didn’t realized Andrew had watched her from afar, catching sight of him Matt crossed her arms.
Andrew opened the door and held it out. “Let’s eat.” Matt wasn’t sure if she should be excited to be in his company at the moment. She didn’t move.
“Um…If you have other plans it’s OK, I’ll just go to lunch by myself.” Matt touched her purse and about to step out the car when he put his other arm out and blocked her in.
“Was this the first time you ran into Mac?”
“Mac, is that his name?
“Stay away from him.”
“Why should I?”
“Because I’m your husband and I said so.”
Matt was sure today was going to be better than most, she was so wrong. Because he is her husband and he can order her around like that? Unexpectedly Matt shoved him away. Andrew without the warning almost fell to the ground.
“Why did you do that for?”
“I did it because I’m your wife and I can.”
“Matt….” One finger pointing right at her face. She stared at him right in the eyes, silently daring him to make the next move.
“I don’t know what is going on between you and that guy, so don’t involve me in your past or in your world more than I have to. I am not interested in your fight. I have enough to deal with without you adding on to it. What is it that he wants with you anyway?”
“It’s none of your business.”
Matt paused, not her business? Oh, the insufferable man. He wants and demanded her to do this and do that yet when she questioned him it’s none of her business. She started to walk off.
He grabbed her arm and pulled her back to him. “Where are you going?”
“It’s none of your business.” She shot back.
Andrew tightened his grip on her arm. “You are upset at me because I told you to stay away from Mac?”
“Does the kiss mean anything to you at all?” Matt surprised him with the question because he dropped her arm and actually stepped back.
She looked at Andrew trying to see if there’s at least something in him to give her hope at all, but he stood there staring at her emotionless, as if the question she asked him was about the weather.
“Matt you are taking a dangerous route nothing is going to happen between us because there’s nothing to stand on in the first place. Do you mean to tell me that once your fake pregnancy is discovered everything will be a happy ending?”
“No,” She answered weakly. She turned her head and watched an elderly couple passed by. “I would not dream of a happy ending with you.” Why her heart felt like someone gave it a good beating she didn’t want to know.
Andrew angrily stood there in the middle of a busy sidewalk, now crossing his arms acting like he is in the comfort of his own home, arguing with his wife. He wanted to laugh at how quickly things turn around for them. Staring at her through clearer eyes, he watched the way her head moved about with the crowd. Her facial expression only changed when she came across a couple that display affection and in her mind he knew she is asking herself, why can’t they be like them?
“You desperately want out, I tell you what. I will make a deal with you, five months regardless if your secret is out or not I will give you your freedom.”
Matt’s eyes lit up and her head came back to Andrew, a way out for her so soon?
But that was short lived. She blinked out the excitement she had in her, once again allowing her eyes to reach a couple that is standing at the corner of a store, with the guy touching the girl’s hair and leaning in to kiss her cheek. Andrew followed her and his eyes rested on the couple as well.
If he would have said five months was all it took for her to have her life back a few days ago she would have been so ecstatic jumping up and down clapping like a fool. But last night proved that five months was too long for her to endure a loveless marriage. The kissed alone had given her a glimpsed of what it was like to be wrapped up in a moment of…
She looked at Andrew then turned to the couple that seemed oblivious to their surroundings acting like the world was theirs. The love was written out in the man’s eyes while the girl’s smile represented a complete, honest happiness that made Matt jealous.
She made the comparison once again, turning to Andrew and he failed miserably. It was like night and day, good and bad, definitely like heaven and hell. Could she bravely stand her ground and hang in for the next five months with her heart slowly losing its grip? She wanted to believe that she was able to handle whatever life had served her so far, yet she is weak when it comes to dealing with Andrew, she now figured out. He can damage her by one kiss destroy her confidence like no man has ever.
Matt slowly turned to the couple once more, watching as the couple held hands and walked away, laughing and sharing a secret joke.
“No.”
Andrew waited.
“Can you guarantee that my heart will be intact once I leave?” She paused. “No you can’t.” She answered her own question.
Andrew walked over to her, grabbing her arms he turned her around. “I am being quite generous with you at the moment. The offer is on the table, take it or leave it.”
Matt didn’t know how she could do it, but she blocked everything around her out, focusing on no one but the man standing in front of her, holding her arms in his hands like he is doing to her heart. A heart that day by day is starting to become a stranger to her, she searched his eyes and it provided her with enough answer to a question she has repeatedly asked herself but hoping the answer somehow would be different each time.
“We both will be caught up in a situation that will burn us alive. You think one of us isn’t going to be shatter from this revenge?” She laughed bitterly.
Matt felt the strength of his hands became more unbearable. She gritted her teeth but the pain was already making its way to every part of her body.
“It’s amazing how, you think my life is in your hands, but don’t be a fool to think that yours is not in mine. I may not be as strong as you, I’ll admit that much now but I will not walk away being the one all bruised up. My hell is basically yours.” She smiled surely but sadly.
“I see.” Andrew’s eyes were not on her but it went over her head.
“Five months?” She shook her head. “Hell on earth is not how I want to live my young life.” Her face showed no sign of any emotion.
“Ah, Matt it’s a shame that you and I can’t agree on not a thing. But let me make this very clear so you don’t misunderstand again. I only said five months because that’s how long I will make you, sweetheart to lose everything, especially your heart, which I deemed to be fragile than you would like me to believe.”
Andrew stopped and stared out to the clear blue sky.
“Last night I was going to ease up on you just a bit, a kiss that wasn’t expected but I will say rather surprisingly sweet.” He continued without looking at Matt. “But a kiss just like many I have had before will mean nothing the next day and with you, it meant even less by the hour."
Matt gasped.
“You think I would lose sleep over a kiss just like that?”
He laughed in her face, she died a little inside.
“You are the cruelest man I have met. But that’s OK.” She forced the words out. “I will make your life so miserable that when I leave you’ll never ever forget one time you married a girl that’ll changed you.” The pain in her eyes contradicted her bravely spoken words.
Andrew noticed a few onlookers were staring at them. He reached the collar of her shirt and started to straighten it when she knew perfectly well it doesn’t need to be and she also knew with him pretending to be husbandly the threat is coming soon. She waited patiently, but instead he tilted her chin and made her looked him in the eyes.
She saw a few people stopped, her eyes went to them then came back to Andrew while his was at the same place she left them. This was one of those moments where she didn’t know what she should do or could do. It was his move to make. She heard sounds from strangers that, is making her more aware of where they are at. But Andrew seemed like he could careless his attention was completely on her.
Matt opened her mouth to say something but no word left it. Andrew pressed his finger to her lips. He shook his head letting her know whatever she wanted to say was going to have to be left unsaid.
“Now, do you want to know how this will all end, dearest?” He bent his head lower and removed his finger.
Matt knew his intention right away, but she would not allow him to do the one thing that would break her. Andrew’s lips were so close to hers that if he would just slightly move his head, it would have been on hers. But Andrew did one thing that he should have not done if he wanted to carry his threat out, and that was to look in her eyes.
He paused like someone had struck him right in the gut. Her eyes were….damn it they were begging him. He hadn’t imagined it to do that, not by a long shot. But there it was misted, painful, and if it would have stopped there he could overlooked them but it was begging him. Even for a man that is out to get a girl that thinks she could take him down, he had to step back.
She has never begged anyone for anything in her life, the first person sadly, enough was her husband.
“Five months Matt, not one day longer or one day shorter.”
She wanted to respond to that but Matt couldn’t find her voice. She stood there like a stone that was meant to be in one place. Her eyes were burning her from tears that she refused to let it fall.
“I will say five months is long enough for you to fall in love with me? What do you say?” He mockingly asked.
Matt blinked and a tear got caught on her eyelashes.
“That’s it, my mind is made up. I’ll make it my mission to do just that. See how a game can be deadly?”
Matt blinked once more and her tears touched her cheeks and burned her soul.
Andrew stepped closer to her, reaching out he wiped away her tears with his thumb. Rubbing his fingers together with her warm tears in between his face turned angry, followed by a silent. He looked up only to find a new tear trailing down her cheek. He stilled himself looking at the single drop of tear sliding down her cheek it seemed to sparkle under the sunny day and condemned him at the same time. If it has a voice of its own, he can bet his entire fortune it was that much angrier than the person it belonged to.
He can withstand a whole lot of things with her but seeing her tears was like a bone stuck in his throat, cutting off his breathing. Maybe it’s such a plain and simple fact, she is giving up hope, losing all hope or maybe for the first time he hates seeing her cry. He studied her furthermore and he began to contradict himself, in a way identical to Matt. He can dislike her, wanted to hurt her but a breath later he felt something that made him wanted to right his wrongs and allowed himself to tell her, things will be alright.
Confusion of such magnitude never set well with him especially when he doesn’t quite know where to begin and how to end.
He tried to wipe her cheeks again, but Matt swiped his hand away. But like Andrew done so many times he will not take, no for an answer if that’s not what he wanted. He reached for her head and pulled her to him, hugging her tightly she struggled in his arms.
“Relax Matt.”
She felt her tears now freely flowing down her face. She hated how in their most heated arguments it always resorted to her with tears and him just as strong as he has ever been.
“No more crying.”
She shook her head.
“I told you.”
“I hate you.”
“I Know.”
