3

On Monday morning, I got up very early to go to work. I didn't want to run into my sister, so I had to leave the house quickly.

As soon as I arrived at the office, I met Chloé.

"Juliette, what happened to you? You look very exhausted, it seems like you've been crying a lot."

"This weekend was horrible, friend."

"You know you can count on me, let's hurry to the restroom and talk."

I told her about Bastian's infidelity with my sister, but I omitted to tell her about that man. I didn't want Chloé to have a bad impression of me, even though I know she would never judge me.

"I already knew Bastian couldn't be the perfect man, I never trusted him, friend, you know that."

"That's true, I remember you didn't like him," I sighed.

"This man doesn't deserve a girl as sweet and beautiful as you, and besides, your sister has always been a bad person, I know you love her and everything, but she doesn't fool me, she's manipulative."

"He's not worth talking about, I just want an explanation."

"You definitely have to talk to him, at least know his reasons so you can end this story and move on with your life, Juliette."

"That's true, but I'm afraid to talk to him on the phone."

"Take your time, dear, when you're ready, things will naturally fall into place. Speaking of something else, do you know the new rumor at the company?"

"You never change, Chloé, you're always up to date with the office gossip."

"Joking aside, did you know that President Gerard Durand is visiting us today? Rumor has it, he's extremely handsome, like a prince."

"Well, what a surprise. He's very reserved, he usually doesn't show his face in public, I'd say he's quite strange, almost nobody in the company knows him."

"That's true, it's Vice President Alphonse Leroy who's always in charge of the company."

"And then there's his cousin Vincent Durand, he spends all his time posing for fashion magazines and gossip shows, they're like opposites."

"We have to admit that Vincent Durand is very handsome, too bad he's a womanizer, Juliette, imagine meeting the Durand cousins in person, it would be any girl's dream."

"Chloé, you never change, you can't judge someone by their appearance, their worth is defined by their personality."

"Okay, you win, friend, we'd better get to work or we'll get reprimanded.”

The morning passed by quickly, I had several projects to review, a lot of work. It was better this way, it kept my mind occupied.

There's a new project with the famous French filmmaker, Renaud Dupont, it's a movie that promises to capture the heart of the audience.

Just before lunchtime, I received a call from Bastian, I decided to answer, I needed to hear some apologies from him at least.

"Hello, Bastian."

"Juliette, do you have time for lunch with me? We need to talk."

"Well, where should I meet you?"

"Let's meet at the restaurant La Nuit."

"I'll be there in 10 minutes."

I felt very nervous, I didn't know how I was going to handle this, but I think I'm entitled to some apologies from him.

Arriving at the restaurant, I looked for his table, he was already there. I went to his table and sat across from him.

"Well, here I am."

"Juliette, I'm perfectly aware that you must hate me, but it's necessary to clarify what happened," he was very serious.

"Fine, start talking."

"I couldn't control my emotions, I really loved you at that time, it's just that your sister is very beautiful. I got carried away by her, always cheerful and sociable, you never liked to accompany me to my social events."

"Those words hurt me to the core.

"So, it was my fault?" I said sarcastically.

"I didn't mean that, I just felt that you and I weren't meant for each other."

"So, if you weren't in love with me anymore, why did you propose to me?"

He seemed a bit uncomfortable, but he raised his chin, without a hint of regret, and it hurt me to the deepest part of my being. But it was enough to drive him out of my heart forever.

"That day, it was a mix-up. I thought I would tell you everything and end our relationship, but accidentally, at the restaurant, I pulled out my wallet and the ring I had hidden fell out. When you saw the ring, you picked it up and with a joyful face, you said yes to marrying me. I didn't want to tell you the truth at that moment because there were a lot of people around."

Tears started to flow and roll gently down my cheeks. Why had I been so stupid?

Yes, that day, Bastian was very nervous and just when I saw the ring fall, I assumed he was going to propose to me.

"I really was an idiot.”

"Juliette, I'm so sorry, I was wrong."

"Tell me, you didn't think to pull me out of my mistake? How long were you going to let me get excited about a marriage that was never going to happen?"

"I couldn't find a way to tell you the truth and things got out of hand."

I realized I was still wearing the engagement ring, so I took it off and held it between my fingers.

"So, who is this ring for?"

"For Sophie, I want to marry her."

I felt my body start to tremble with helplessness. The man I had loved the most in my life was going to marry my sister.

I don't know if I could bear so much pain and humiliation, so I threw the ring at him, stood up, and left.

"I wish you all the happiness in the world, but don't expect me to be there on that day."

I ran out of the restaurant, stopped for a moment to hail a taxi, when suddenly I felt someone watching me. I looked around, and there was only a black Mercedes Benz luxury car with tinted windows.

I didn't pay attention to it and decided to get into the taxi that would take me back to work, while trying to calm my emotions so that no one would notice I was crying.

***

"I was heading straight to my company to review the details of the new projects when a familiar face caught my attention.

"Luc, park the car."

"Yes, sir, is there a problem?"

I saw this beautiful lady getting into a taxi, but her face looked very sad, and her eyes reflected that she had been crying.

"Follow that vehicle."

"Mr. Durand, do you want me to follow that taxi?"

"Yes, Luc."

"Right away, sir."

"I also want all the information on the lady who got into that taxi."

"At your command, sir."

After a few minutes, the taxi stopped in front of my own company.

"Sir, it appears she's an employee of Durand Enterprises."

"I would have never imagined."

Since that night with that unknown girl, I couldn't stop thinking about her. I know that night, I was impulsive, I acted wrongly, but for some strange reason, I was very drawn to her.

That morning, a work call woke me up at the hotel. I stepped out of the room for a moment to take the call without waking her up, but when I came back, she was gone, I hadn't even asked her name.

I searched everywhere in the hotel, but she had vanished, and it left me with a bitter taste. I was fascinated by her, and especially by her body, she was exquisite in bed, and her skin was softer than any other woman's I had been with.

I was sure of one thing, destiny had brought her back into my path, and I couldn't let her slip away.