Chapter 9 - There Are Better Men Out There

The feeling of having your wound poke by others isn't enjoyable. 

Hiding the hurt in my eyes, I didn't look up to him and continued cleaning his body. 

Suddenly, I felt his fingers slide under my chin, tilting my head up.   

Helplessly, I looked at him. His cold gray eyes were not as cold as they used to be. 

Lost for words, my mouth opened and closed like a fish, unable to speak. 

"Did you hear me?" He asked after a moment of silence. 

Out of nowhere he asked me about this. And wasn't prepared to be asked such a question. 

Particularly, from him. 

Never did it cross my mind that he would ask me something like this. 

We were not close to begin with, how could he ask something personal? 

"Answer me," he said in a coaxing tone which disabled my reluctance. 

I nodded but bowed my head, trying to evade but he held my chin firmly, not letting me avoid his gaze. 

He held my gaze with his and my breath caught up in my throat. 

"I want your word not your nod," he said with a magnetic voice. 

I bit my lower lips. It was a taboo to me. 

"It's an order," he said when I was hesitating to answer him. 

"I had," I answered him with  trembling lips and avoided his eyes by lowering my gaze. 

"I had? So, you are no longer together?" He asked me. 

It was a painful memory that I had yet to overcome. 

My eyes burned with unshed tears. As I have promised myself not to cry for Roman, I stubbornly held back my tears from rolling down  

"Yes, sir," I answered and look away from him. 

This man had just poked on my wound. But I couldn't scold him. 

How could I do that? I already foolishly scolded him and I wouldn't do that again. 

Who knows, I would never see the sun rise again if I had angered him. 

"Betrayed?" 

My head jerked and looked at him in disbelief. 

How could he know? Of course, my teary eyes gave me away.

He smiled. He was more handsome when he smiled. 

"Don't cry for a scumbag like him. You're young, beautiful and smart. There are better men out there," he said and removed his finger from under my chin. 

I resumed cleaning his body after which I looked at his wound, cleaned it and applied ointment before I bandaged it with a fresh gauze. 

"Mr. President, you can walk around tomorrow. But, you have to move slowly so your wound won't open," I could see that he was happy with what I said. 

As if my ex - fiancé had sense that someone asked about my relationship. 

He came knocking on my door the next day. 

The president was in the living room, so I denied my ex from entering the house. 

"What are you doing here, Roman?" I asked as I had my arms crossed below my bosom. 

"Let me enter, we'll talk inside," Roman said. I lifted my arms, blocking him. 

"You have no right to enter my house," I said with a grimace. 

"Baby, we have to talk," Roman said, giving me a grin. 

"Don't call me that," I growled at him. 

I couldn't believe his audacity. 

"Tara, babe, I will come back to you after a year. I will divorce her and will marry you. Wait for me, baby," his words made me grit my teeth in anger. 

"Excuse me! What do you think of me? Am I that cheap to you? Accept a hand me down from my best friend?" I was livid that my voice raised a few decibels. 

"I will never accept you again. It's over between us when you slept with my best friend," I angrily pushed his chest. 

I was taken by surprise when he took me in his arms and kissed me hard. 

Undiluted disgust churned within my stomach and a surge of strength rushed in my body  enabling me to push him away. 

And in a split of second I swung my hand and slapped him, leaving a handprint on his disgusting face. 

When he was still my fiancé I thought he was the most handsome man I have ever seen. 

Now my eyes were opened and I could clearly see that he was disgusting. 

"You know what? I slept with Lucy because you didn't want me to be intimate with you. I couldn't even kiss you. 

I am a man, I have a need but you don't want to give it to me and Lucy was there to give what I need. Do you even love me?" 

The tears that I held back yesterday when the president asked me if I have a boyfriend rolled down my cheeks. 

"I took double degrees not because of my high IQ, it's because you are a health conscious person and always watch your diet. 

I don't want to forsake my love for biology but also want to take care of you. I learned how to cook though I hate being in the kitchen because I know you love home cooked food. I wanted to be a good wife to you.

I have saved myself for you as a wedding present but sadly you have thrown me away and picked up someone." 

"I'm sorry, babe. I love you," Roman said and attempted to take me in his arms. 

But I dodge him and take steps away from him. 

"You don't love me, Roman. My grandfather was right when he said that you were just using me.

Are you not satisfied with the position of a manager? You want me to talk to my uncle to give you the CFO position?"