Chapter six

[Christmas]

    I knew it! The thing happened to us remained only that night. Nothing more and nothing less. He left a payment for cleaning his clothes before he left at my apartment. It's been one week but I'm still hoping that he will step inside here in the shop. For what? To make clean of his clothes again or to talk about what happened to us?

Smash!

“Christmas!”

   I came back to my senses when Aunte Lorie smashed the counter that I supposedly to clean. I could see her fury eyes nearly because her face is just in front of me. I can even see her large pores. Gross!

“What, Auntie?” I asked innocently.

“You are not working!”

“I am, Auntie," I replied and continue wiping the table with the cloth I am holding. “See? I'm working. Hehehe.”

“Stop playing around!” She yelled and go back at her mini office.

“Stop playing around,” I mimicked and finish cleaning the dust here in the counter.

     There are only few customers coming today here in the Laundry Shop. Most of them are already familiar to me because they are always having their laundry here. 

“Uhm. Miss can you guide me here? I don't know how to use this,” a long blonde hair woman called me having trouble using the washing machine.

“Coming, Ma'am!” I replied and start walking towards her but I suddenly stopped when I felt something weird.

“Is there a problem?” the woman asked as she noticed me.

“Just a second. I'll be back!” I hurriedly run at the comfort room and as I get inside, I run to to the sink then vomit? I wipe my mouth using my hand while looking at myself in the mirror. “What the hell?” I gulped as I remembered what happened last, last, last night. “No way. There's is no way in hell that I am–”

Knock! Knock!

“Christmas?! Are you in there?” asked of Aunt Lorie outside.

“Y-yes, Auntie?”

“There is someone looking for you outside. You better get out now and face him!” she replied and I heard her footsteps away.

     My forehead knotted on what she had said. Someone is looking for me? But who would that be? In too much curiosity, I fix myself and quickly goes out. While I am heading back where I left the woman, I saw a man standing outside. He was wearing a casual attire and I couldn't see his face but only his well postured back.

“Ma'am, do you still need help there?” I asked first the woman at my side.

“Your auntie already helped me,” she answered with a sweet smile on her face, “I think you should go to him now.” she added pertaining at the man outside.

[DUKE]

     I left in the house early and headed to my office at exact 6:00 a.m. in the morning. I already parked my car and I am walking now towards the entrance of Earl Grey building.

“Good morning, Sir,” greeted of my long time security guard as he opened the glass door for me.

“Same to you, Almo,” I greeted back before I pass him.

    I am now entering at the elevator and few of my employees are already here. Everyone are greeting me and I just greeted them back all with my smile. Later on after here, I'm going to head at the factory to check my workers there with my chocolates. Probably, this will be my second visit there this week. I don't usually go to the factory because I am assigning it at my secretary to check what is going on there then report it to me.

“Good morning, Mr. Grey,” greeted of my secretary as I stepped out in the elevator. 

“Good morning, Cheena,” I greeted back while walking towards the last room here in the fifth floor, “You seems you are waiting for me to arrive, huh?”

“Uhm, actually, Sir Grey I am,” she answered that made me stop.

“Why? Is there a problem? You sounds an odd.”

“She is waiting inside your office, Sir Grey. I'm sorry if I let her. I know you–”

“What?!” I cut her off and immediately goes inside my office.

“Hi, Duke.” The woman that I used to dream of is rightly standing near at my desk, wearing a bitterly smile in her face.

“What the hell are you doing here? You really still had the face to see me, huh?!” I didn't control myself to shout at her. I can feel all the nerves she putted on me the day I caught her cheating on me!

“Duke, calm down. I didn't come–”

“Stay where you are,” I said as she tried to step towards me.

She heaved a sigh. “Is it really over for us? Aren't you really going to forgive me? It's supposedly our wedding next month, Duke.”

“Yea, it's our wedding next month and you ruined it.” 

She rolled her eyes. I don't really know her anymore. She isn't like this. “Anyway, I know you wouldn't forgive me for what I had done. I didn't come here to beg.”

My forehead knotted. “Then what?” 

“I just came here to say goodbye. I'm going to fly back in Italy,” she explained and walk towards me, “Aren't you going to say goodbye, Duke?” 

I laugh sarcastically. “What for, Lysias, huh?” I asked her in my most sarcastic tone. “Go if you will go and don't bother me anymore. I don't want to see you again.” I was about to pass her when she suddenly grabbed my arm.

“Well, I want to see you again,” she said and kiss me torridly.

I pushed her away in annoyance. “What the hell!”

“Hahaha. I'm going to miss you. Bye, Duke.” She passed me and left me now here in my office.

“Damn it!” I wipe quickly my lips using my hand and my forehead knotted as I saw something at the top of my desk. I walk through it and I realized it was the engagement ring I gave to her. A bitter smile formed on my face before I keep it inside my pocket. There is someone who deserve this. Not a woman like her.

     I spent my four hours in my company and two hours in the factory. So far so good, there is no problem and all things are working accordingly. The Earl Grey should produce 350 million chocolate bars this year to maintain the annual income we use to have in the past years. The Earl Grey is very competitive to other chocolates that is why year by year we are improving it's ingredients to give a better and new taste that people would love.

     As of now, I am not yet going home. There is something I want to do that I should have done. I am now heading at the Laundry Shop where I met Christmas. After on what happened to us, I just left at her apartment. She must be thinking something about me that I ain't a man because I run off to her after that night. That's why I'm going to face her to work things out. 

[Christmas]

     I am now standing behind the man who is looking for me. My heart keeps on thrashing on nervous that I want to step back inside the shop. Why I have this bad feeling?

“Uhm,” I only uttered but it was enough for him to hear my voice.

     I waited him to face me but I guess it is just a suicidal as I realized who is he. I automatically step backward that makes me feel more nervous. This can't be.

“C-carlos.” My throat dried as I tried to say his name.

A smile formed on his face. “At last, I found you my Christmas.” He said and tried to come near me.

“Stay where you are!” I yelled at him.

“Come with me, Christmas. I'd been looking for you. Please, come with me.” He suddenly grabbed my wrist, trying to pull me to him.

“Get off me, Carlos!”

“I will give you a better life. You don't have to work here. Come home with me,” he said, still trying to take me with him.

“Christmas!”

    We both stopped when a familiar voice call me at my right side. My eyes widened as I saw it was Duke who is running towards us. What the hell is he doing here? I took the chance to take my wrist and push Carlos away from me.

“What is going on here?” Duke asked, looking at Carlos in front us.

“Who is he, Christmas? Is he the one you replace to me?” Carlos asked, staring at him deadly.

I laughed unbelievably. “What are you talking about? Replace you? Are you sick? There is nothing between us!”

“Why are you bothering my girlfriend?”

     My eyes got widened for the second time on what Duke just said. Girlfriend??? He look at me and I gave him a 'What are you talking about?' look. He just answer me a wink before facing back to the annoying man in front us.

“Are you deaf, Bro? Why are you bothering my girlfriend?” Duke questioned him again.

     I gulped as Carlos looked at me full of anger. Without hesitation, I twined my arm on Duke's arm to make him believe that we are really a couple. I can see how his fist closed in anger. Why is he acting like this? What is he really wants from me?!

“Tss,” Carlos only replied before he walk away from us.

I heaved a sigh. “Thank God he is finally gone.”

“Uhm.”

“What?” I face Duke as I heard what he uttered. 

“Your can let go of my arm now,” he answered smiling at me.

“Oh, I-I'm sorry,” I apologized as I untwined my arm, “I'm going back to work now.” I said without looking at him and about to turned around when...

“Wait, Christmas.” He grabbed my hand that made me look back at him. “Can we talk?”

My forehead knotted. “Talk about what?” I asked, trying myself not to melt on his stares.

“I tell you at the coffee shop. It's my treat don't worry,” he said and I gave him 'Why would I come?' look. “Come with me, please?”

“Okay?” I answered not sure if it's really okay to come with him, “I'm just going to tell at my aunt.”

“Okay, great!”

“You may now release my hand,” I said when he still holding me.

“Hehehe. I'm sorry,” he said and released my hand, “I-I'm just going to wait at my car.” he pointed his car that isn't far away from us and gave him only a nod before I walk back inside the shop.