Chapter 21

“Sasha, where have you been?” Cassie burst into my apartment. “I’ve been trying to reach you for hours. Are you okay?”

“Babe, hey,” I greeted, forcing a smile.“I’m... I’m okay. I was occupied.”

“You had me worried sick,” she said. Concern etched lines on her forehead, placing a bag of food on the coffee table. “You can’t just disappear like that, Sasha.”

“I’m sorry, Cassie. I didn’t mean to worry you,”

She sighed, taking a seat beside me on the couch. “Okay, spill it.”

I looked at her. She had this stubborn look in her eyes. The creasing on his forehead demanded the truth. Of course, she knew me too well. She knew everything, and I trusted her implicitly.

“I...” I sighed, feeling his heavy eyes on me.

“Something’s been bothering you. Spill it.”

I hesitated. Where to begin? Last night had been a whirlwind of emotions, and I wasn’t sure how to put it into words. “They...I met them.”

Her eyes widened. “No way,”

“Yes, way,” I confirmed with a wry smile.

“Crap,” she muttered under her breath.

“I know,” I sighed.

She surprised me by pooling my robes open and exposing my skin. “Vampiric beasts. Too many hickeys!” she exclaimed, her eyes scanning my neck and chest with amusement and fascination.

I couldn’t help but laugh at her exaggerated reaction. “I know, right?”

Her eyes squinted. “Are you sure this time?” that question needs a million answers.

“I don’t know if I’m sure,” I admitted reluctantly, “but I’m happy to see them again." I shrugged my shoulders. "I was not able to control myself.”

She shook her head, looking conflicted. “After everything you’ve put yourself through.” She sighed. I knew that. “Carl and Caleb are dear to me, but you are more special, that’s why I stick with you, Sasha. Back then, they knew that I was lying when I told them I didn’t know your whereabouts. I wasn’t good at lying but I thought I’d convinced them. I believed they had their own ways to find out. But this, I knew this would happen.”

I couldn’t tell her I was gambling with my emotions. I didn’t want to give her more worries than I already did. Caleb and Carl had another woman, but I couldn’t tell her. I saw no rings around their fingers, and if they were done with me, I could just let them go.

“I thought I could hide forever, Cassie, but I was wrong. When I saw them at the cafe, I froze.”

“What was their reaction?”

I swallowed hard, the pain still fresh in my mind. “I had never been so hurt being ignored. They looked right through me like I was nothing but a stranger. And it was like... like being stabbed in the heart.”

A flicker of anger flashed in her eyes. “That’s just cruel,”

“But it was also a wake-up call,” I confessed. “I did something more cruel to them, didn’t I? I left them without explanation. What I did was very selfish.”

“You were just trying to help them. You gave them another option, the freedom to find their happiness.” She offered gently.

Tears welled up in my eyes. “I was...but I never realized how much pain I was causing them in the process.”

I paused, taking a shaky breath as I tried to compose myself. “I was thankful that Aunt Beth helped me realize the reality...but why is the reality without them way more painful? And seeing them again after five years... it was unbearable.”Especially with another woman.

She reached out to hug me. Her comforting embrace made me more emotional. “You love them,” she stated simply.

“I do,” I nodded, then shaking my head. Stubborn tears!

Their absence in my life made me realize how much I loved them, and yesterday made me love them even more.

I accepted the fact that I loved them, despite feeling vulnerable. It was a tremendous relief. Finally, I was truly living again.

“Then what’s with the tears?” she asked, hitting my shoulders. She was crying too. “Come on, you just have to tell them. They’re finally back in your life. Don’t waste your tears.” She gasped, her eyes lit up. “We can finally catch up with each other. The four of us!”

“You’ve always hung out with them thought. I was cut in the world but you remained connected.” I told her, wiping my face with the back of my hands. I knew they often met during some gatherings. But I was glad that Cassie was always honest about it with me.

“They’re still my friends. I can’t ignore them.”

“You seem very close to Conrad though.”

She gasped, her smile faltered and her eyes blinked faster. “Conrad,”

“Yeah, there were times when I saw him so overly touchy, and I wondered if that was to make Jake jealous, or if Jake was ever jealous.”

She chuckled heartily, and I noticed the shift in her expression. She seemed to be blushing. “Jake’s not jealous. He makes sure of that. Conrad’s a good friend. He’s Caleb’s brother, right?”

“Yeah, he is,” I confirmed with a nod. “Just sometimes...well, I don’t know.” I sighed.

Her blush deepened, and she looked away. “Well, I don’t know about that or what you’re thinking...Alright,” her voice sang. “So when are we going to meet? The four of us, so I can—no, let’s plan a dinner. My place. I’ll tell Jake, and hey, I’m all for it,” she said, nudging me playfully. “You deserve to be happy, Sasha. And if Carl and Caleb can make you happy, then I’m all for it.” Her smile widened, and she wrapped me in another tight hug.

“Thanks, Babe. You always know how to make me feel better.”

“That’s what friends are for,” she said. “Now, let’s dig into this food before it gets cold.”

...

I felt so much better after Cassie left my apartment. It was always the best thing about having a best friend. Oh, I missed her already.

It was almost noon. The cafe was already operating at this hour. I entrusted it to Kath and Darell for the opening shift, and Lisa for the closing shift with Mike and Lilibeth.

I had to be there by noon.

After a quick shower, I dressed and prepared to go to work. The intercom suddenly cracked to life, making my heart skip a beat. Deep down, I was hoping it was them because last night, they said they would visit me in the morning.

With bated breath, I approached the door. The thought of seeing them caused a flutter of excitement in my stomach, despite my attempts to remain composed.

But my hopes were quickly dashed. Standing on the other side was a delivery person, holding a bag of food in his hands.

“Delivery for Sasha,” the person said, his voice muffled by the mask he wore.

I forced a polite smile. “Thank you,” I replied, taking the bag from him, but I didn’t order anything.

I closed the door behind me, feeling disappointed. It wasn’t them after all. With a heavy sigh, I retreated back inside.

I found a small envelope tucked away inside.

Don’t skip your meal.

EAT ME.

Caleb.

Even on that note, Caleb could be very authoritative. Shaking my head, I put the container inside the fridge. I could eat it later. I just had my brunch with Cassie.

As I arrived at the cafe, Darrel was behind the counter, his usual grin plastered on his face.

“Hey there, boss lady!” he exclaimed, flashing me a wide grin. “What’s the difference between a coffee bean and a lentil?”

I raised an eyebrow, amused by his antics. “I don’t know, Darrel. What’s the difference?”

“One makes a great cup of coffee, and the other is just a small legume!” he quipped, bursting into laughter at his own joke.

The girls giggled.

“Thanks for the laugh, Darrel,” I said, shaking my head in amusement. “How’s everything?”

“Oh, you know, same old, same old,” he replied with a dramatic sigh. “But hey, at least we’ve got plenty of coffee to keep us going!”

“As long as the coffee’s flowing, we’re good,” I said with a smile, glancing around the cafe, expectantly. Yeah, who am I expecting to see? “Keep up the good work, everyone.”

“Lady boss, someone’s waiting for you in your office,” Kath said. My brows furrowed.

“Name?”

“He said Page.”

My heart drummed. Caleb. “Thank you,” I said and made my way to my office with a fluttering stomach.

Opening the door, my excitement vanished in an instant. Instead of Caleb, it was a tall figure sitting on the chair across my desk.

His presence seemed commanding. His dark hair was neatly trimmed, with streaks of gray at the temples. His eyes were deep green in shade. He looked very attractive for his age. He must be in his late 50s.

He wore a well-tailored suit that accentuated his broad shoulders. He was a man of sophistication. There was an air of power and confidence about him. His features were chiseled and angular, with a hint of a scowl playing at the corners of his eyes.

The man rose to his feet. “Ms. Wright,” he said, his voice deep and authoritative. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”

I blinked, trying to process the situation. This was someone entirely unexpected. “Pleasure to meet you too,” I managed to say. “But... may I know you?”

The man’s lips curved into a smile...a stern smile. “I’m sure you knew,” he replied, his tone cryptic. “Unexpected meetings can be the most enlightening.”

“Enlighten me please,” I said, walking to my chair behind the desk. I refused to be intimidated.

“I’ve heard a lot about you, Ms. Wright. And I must say, you’ve made quite an impression on my son and his friend.” He said, his gaze penetrating. ”

Caleb’s father. Page. Mr. Page.

The realization hit me, leaving me momentarily speechless. “I hope it’s been a good impression,” I said tentatively, trying to regain my composure.

His smile was unnerving. “Impressions can be deceiving, Ms. Wright,”

It was clear that this was not going to be a casual conversation. Something in those eyes made me feel very intimidated at the moment.

“I’ve learned a great deal about you and your... relationship with my son, Caleb. I understand that you and Caleb have a... complicated history,” he went on, his expression unreadable. “But I must admit, I thought I found him moving on from all that, until recently.”

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t want to beat around the bush, Ms. Wright. You’re quite a fine young woman. I must say you have the beauty that can disarm my son. But I don’t want you to ruin what has been established already.”

“I don’t understand.” Of course, I do. Even Caleb’s father sees me as a distraction, just like Conrad.

It was clear that he saw me as a threat to Caleb’s future, and I couldn’t blame him for wanting to protect his son.

He regarded me for a long moment, his gaze piercing and inscrutable. “Let me be blunt, Ms. Wright,” he said firmly. “Caleb has a future ahead of him. I’ve worked hard to ensure that he stays on the right path, and I won’t allow anything or anyone to hinder that.”

The implication was sinking in slowly. “You want me to stay away from Caleb.” I sighed. “I understand your concern, Mr. Page,” I replied evenly, trying to keep my emotions in check. “But Caleb and I are adults. We can make our own decisions about our lives.”

“You’ve decided five years ago, haven’t you?”

I gasped. What else did this man know?

“Ms. Wright, Caleb never wanted to take over the business five years ago. But when you made your decision, my son assumed his responsibilities. He’s running the business alongside his brother, doing pretty well. And here we are again, with Caleb still entangled in this mess.”

Caleb didn’t want to take over the business? That’s news to me. He had told me about Amethyst before, but not his feelings toward it.

“You think it’s because of me? Caleb might have his own reasons for wanting to distance himself from the Amethyst, and I believe you should respect that.”

“As long as you’re around, Caleb will continue to be drawn back into this cycle of uncertainty and insecurities.”

I bristled at his words. “You make it sound like I’m some sort of curse upon his life,” I shot back.

“Caleb is torn between his commitment to you and his responsibilities to the Amethyst. He wants a family, a normal life far from the business. He thinks no woman will accept his family or accept him for being in the family to succeed in the business.”

Normal life? Being with two men, or sharing me with another man was not normal.

“The Amethyst is more than just a business.” He continued. “It’s his legacy, his birthright. He can’t just abandon it without consequences.”

“But what about his happiness? What about what he wants, not what you expect from him?”

“He’s been trying to balance both for years. And I don’t want you to break that balance.”

His words struck me.

Let me see his reaction.

“What if I’d say I can accept him and everything about Amethyst?”

His gaze softened slightly, but his expression remained guarded. “It’s not as simple as just accepting it. The Amethyst is a world of its own, with its own rules and expectations. It’s not a life that everyone can adapt to.”

“I know it won’t be easy,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. “But I don’t want to be the reason he has to choose between his family and me.”

“I don’t know if I can trust your words, Sasha.” He said, using my name for the first time. The sound of my name coming out of his mouth was unnerving. “You left him before because you were more concerned about the reality that society is dictating to you about what was good or bad, how much more if you see what Amethyst is like from within.”

“I will accept it. I don’t want Amethyst. I want Caleb.”

“Caleb is Amethyst. Conrad is Amethyst. We are Amythest.”

“Then...I will accept Amethyst.”

For a moment, neither of us spoke. He was just staring at me as if reading my thoughts.

Then, he let out a heavy sigh, his shoulders slumping slightly. “I suppose you have to convince him.” He said, walking to the door.

“I will.”

Before leaving, he looked at me one last time. “I hate to hate my son for his decision, Sasha. So don’t make me.”

So that was about it. He didn’t care who his son chose; what truly mattered to him was whether the woman chose Caleb and Amethyst as one.