CHAPTER 10

“Eli? Are you okay?” Aeun asked after she dropped the folders on my desk, “These are the documents from the board. Review these.” She sat on the couch and just stared at me when I didn’t respond, “Wait, are you alright? You looked like you had a bad morning. Was something wrong? Did something happen?”

“Nothing. I’m just thinking of something.” I timidly answered and started working on the documents Aeun had given me.

“Are you sure? You're quiet, is it because you are broken-hearted with your fake husband—” I didn't let her finish her sentence as I cut her off.

“So you mean, if someone is quiet, they are broken-hearted? Can’t they just be thinking of something else or thinking of work?” I snapped back at her, “And Aeun, what do you mean by broken-hearted? Why would my heart get broken for a person I don’t even love?”

“Chill, I’m just guessing. You being quiet is very unusual. You are never like this, Felicity Rose Lee.” She said while raising her brow. I rolled my eyes back to her, and she just shook her head, “Okay, fine. I won’t bother you anymore. I’ll go back to my work—”

“I saw Bryle with another woman.” I cut her off again. She stared at me, processing, when I dropped the information on why I’m not being myself now.

“Oh…” was the only word she said. Then, after a few seconds, she reacted, “So what if he was with another woman?”

“They were hugging.” I shortly replied.

“Maybe that's their way of greeting.”

“Bryle kissed her on the cheek.”

“Maybe just a friendly kiss.”

“He was smiling when he did that.”

“Maybe he was happy because he got good news—”

“What the hell, Aeun, I'm your best friend, right? Why is it like you're siding with him?” I irritably asked, then glared at her.

“I don't know why you're saying that, Eli.” She crossed her arms, which made me furrowed, “You knew that even if he kissed other girls or had sex with them, we shouldn't care about it. Why are you reacting like that? Are you his girlfriend? His wife? Your relationship with him is just fake, so what do you expect? That he would be loyal to you?” It felt like Aeun slapped me with my reality. I swung my chair away from her and massaged my temple.

She's right, she has a point. Why would I care who Bryle wants to flirt with? I shouldn't be bothered by him because that's what he does to me, too. Why am I being upset?

‘Tsk. Get a hold of yourself, Felicity Rose Lee. You shouldn't be affected!’

“I'm just reminding you, Eli, you might've forgotten the situation you are in.” I face her again before she continued, “The reason you are in that position was that you made a deal with Mr. Caje to be his fake wife in return for helping you with the Lee Corp. And now that you are at his house, as it was his request for you because her sister will be coming home, right?” Aeun reminded me while she had her hand on her hips and eyes focused on me.

“You shouldn't complain about all the things that were happening to both of you because you were not in a relationship after all, and you're not in love with each other. So, why would you react if Bryle flirts with the others? And it would also be the same for him; he shouldn't be affected or complain if you got close to another man. You both have your own will and should know your limitations. Deal is a deal—yes, but don't forget there should be no feelings involved, so don't break it. If you can't commit, then leave now. You have to fix yourself before you fall into a whirlpool of mess you've started.”

Lunch break came, all of Aeun's words still stuck in my head, and all had points. Bryle and I are just together because of the agreement we made; after two years, we'll part ways. Why did I forget that?

It was 3 P.M. when I knew from Aeun that Bryle was waiting for me outside the Lee Corp building. I had second thoughts about whether I should show up, but then I still went to him.

“Why are you ignoring me? You didn't come home last night either. Where did you sleep?” A series of questions he asked.

“I just got busy, so I slept at Aeun's,” I lied. “I'll probably sleep there again later. I still have to finish some work.”

“Hmm, alright. Just don't skip meals,” he smiled, then pulled me closer to him. Before I could react, he gave me a gentle kiss on my forehead, and my eyes closed involuntarily. This time, his kiss felt different. It felt like I was too fragile for him to keep and care for.

I snapped at my thoughts. The heck am I thinking? It’s not, believe me. I debated with my thoughts, so I distanced myself from Bryle.

He noticed the way I reacted, and he cleared his throat, “If you have any problems with me, can you please tell me right away? So I don't have to guess.”

“I don't have problems with you,” I answered shortly, to which he just nodded.

“You are not a very good liar, Felicity Rose Lee.” I just swallowed at his observation. “I won't insist if you don't want to say—”

“Why did you ask me out the other day?” I cut him mid-sentence, changing the topic.

He paused for a while and sighed deeply before answering me, “There's a place I wanted to go with you, but you became busy.”

‘Maybe it was you who was busy, you even had another woman with you.’ I thought to myself, I'd rather not say it out loud. It would just make me look jealous.

“I see, maybe next time.” I voiced out instead.

“Yeah, sure. Just come home when you're done with the important things you're working on.” He simply smiled again before he entered his car. I just stood still, watching him drive away into the darkness.

After office hours, I decided to go to Haze’s clubhouse and spend my time there. I drank various hard liquors, contemplating Bryle’s intention for me. Haze came with Aeun. I got startled at first because I didn’t expect Aeun to be here too. Probably Haze told Aeun that I was here.

“Eli, are you okay? Seems you are not.” Aeun asked when Haze excused himself to entertain his other friends, who also visited him at his clubhouse. “Are you still thinking about what you saw at Bryle’s office?

“No.” I lied. “It is frustrating when I can’t think of any new concept for the new painting collection I’m going to release this year.”

“Hmm… Why don’t you paint Bryle?” I instantly rolled my eyes when she said that. I don’t know whether she was joking or being serious about her suggestion.

I continued drinking until I felt drunk. I excused myself to go to the restroom to Aeun. Aeun wanted to come with, but I assured her that I still can walk by myself, so she didn’t insist anymore.

When I arrived on the first floor, I went directly to the restroom. I fixed myself in the mirror and studied my own reflection,

“I am pretty, aren’t I?” I asked the woman staring back at me. I smirked at the thought of why I am doubting my beauty. The person needs to doubt; it should be Bryle. He should be doubting the decision he made. Especially if he looks for another woman—wait, what? What am I talking about? Tsk. I shook my head, clearing my thoughts, then decided to go home. I said goodbye to Aeun and Haze, then headed straight outside the clubhouse.

While waiting for a taxi, I noticed Bryle’s car stopped in front of me. I raised my brow, wondering at his sudden appearance.

“Where will you be going home? Our’s or Aeun’s?” He asked when he opened his car’s window, “I’ll drop you off.”

“I can go by myself.”

“I know, but I wanted to make sure you are safe to where you are going.” Why is he so annoying? I wanted to be upset, yet my thoughts don’t seem to agree.

I weakly kicked his car, which made him raise his brow and get out. He guided me to the passenger seat. “Eli, you are drunk. You should go home to our place. Just continue tomorrow, whatever you need to finish.” And I couldn’t complain anymore. He brought me back to his house and guided me to my room. He left when he laid me down on my bed. I got puzzled by him again with this new gesture, but I just shrugged it off again. For sure, he was just concerned and did that because I was drunk.

I took a bath to get sober, and when I finished, I saw Bryle waiting for me, sitting on my bed, looking in my direction. I swallowed for no reason.

“I knew now the reason, Eli.” He started, stood up from sitting on the bed. “You were behaving like that because you witnessed the scene when you came by at the Cava Corp.” He continued. I kept quiet, looking at him. I knew he learned the reason from Aeun. She was the only one I told why I was bothered.

“Why didn’t you ask me first before you assume things? Don’t you trust me? I can be loyal to you even if we are not in a real relationship.” My heart raced when he said that. I just watched him come to me. He held my arms and pulled me closer to him. He gently kissed me on the lips and stared intently at me, “Haven’t I told you that I can make our marriage real? Have you forgotten?”

“Go back to your room, I’m tired.” I tried to sound unnerved, but it didn’t affect him.

He smirked, then caught my cheeks, “What the hell?!” I exclaimed when he pressed them.

“The woman you saw at my office is my older sister, Brianna. So don’t think that I have another woman, because I will never do that to Felicity Rose Lee.” He raspy whispered, then kissed me deeply.

I was off guard when I realized what he just said… ‘What? His older sister? What the heck? So, I just overthink for no reason? Because I misunderstood everything? My gosh, Felicity!’

"I-It's not-" I softly said in between our kisses. I felt he smiled, enjoying my embarrassment.

“And because you accused me, take my punishment,” he said seductively, “Taste my punishment that would make your thighs weak.”

And this time, I know what will happen next...