Chapter 28: The Long Way Home.

Andres's POV

“Shit… slow down, just slow down,” I breathed hard, sitting on the edge of the bed, gripping my knees so tight. “Why today? Come on… breathe with me. One… two… three… four. In… hold it… out slowly. I’m trying. I’m really trying here.”

My arms kept shaking. I rocked forward a little, jaw locked. “Okay… okay, deeper breaths. One… two… three… four. You’re not falling apart. You’ve done this a hundred times. Just pass already, please. I need to get to work. Nobody can see me like this.”

I exhaled shakily, flexing my fingers. “There… yeah, it’s easing up. Good. You’re alright, Andres. You’re fine. Get up. Put your shirt on. Tie straight. Look like the guy who just closed the Creston deal with his team. Nobody knows about your secret. They will never know.”

“Morning, Jeff. Come in, close the door,” I said as Jefferson stepped inside.

“Morning, boss. You got a minute?” he asked.

“Always for you. Sit down. What’s going on?” I replied.

Jefferson leaned forward. “Meridian proposal is looking really strong, but… I thought you should hear this. Gary’s been seen leaving the building with Rosa twice this week. Tuesday afternoon and yesterday evening. They looked pretty cozy.”

I let out a slow breath. “Twice? You’re sure it was them?”

“Positive. I saw them myself yesterday. Gary was grinning like he had won the lottery, and Rosa was laughing at something he said. Looked real friendly, you know?” Jefferson said carefully.

“Friendly…” I repeated, rubbing my jaw. “Of course, he’s moving fast. Gary always shows up when things are going well. Smells the success and slides right in. But Rosa… she can handle herself, right? She handled Creston like a pro.”

Jefferson nodded. “Yeah, she did. But you want me to keep an eye on it? Maybe say something?”

“No, no. Leave it,” I said quickly. “Stay focused on Meridian. We can’t slip up there. How are the numbers looking?”

“Numbers are tight and clean. Everything’s on track,” he answered. “But boss… You seem a little off today. Everything okay with you?”

I forced a small laugh. “I’m good, Jeff. I'm just tired after the big win. It feels like every time we solve one problem, ten more pop up. Tell the team to keep pushing hard, alright? And thanks for letting me know. I appreciate you looking out.”

“Always got your back,” Jefferson said, standing up. “Don’t stay too late tonight, yeah? Go home and rest.”

“I won’t. Now get out of here before I give you more work,” I teased lightly.

He chuckled. “On it, boss. See you later.”

That evening, I got in the car and turned right instead of my usual left. “I asked myself, why was I going in a different direction? But who cares? Sometimes we just need to clear our heads. And I need that.”

The city lights rolled past as I kept talking softly. “She went out with him twice this week, laughing with him. Twice. Gary knows exactly what to say to make someone feel special. But is she really falling for that? Or is she just… playing along?”

I slowed down as I approached the corner of Vielle and Main. The restaurant glowed with those warm golden lights inside.

“Look at that place,” I muttered. “Fancy. Romantic. Exactly Gary’s style. Are you in there right now, Rosa? Sitting across from him, smiling, letting him make you laugh again?”

The traffic light turned red. I stopped and stared. “Why does this bother me so much? We had a deal. Secrets stay secrets. I don’t get to care who she has dinner with. But damn… it feels heavy. She jumped into that dirty lagoon for me and dragged me out when I wanted to stay under. Called me ungrateful. And now she’s out here with him?”

A car honked behind me. The light had turned green.

“Alright, alright, I’m going,” I said, pressing the gas gently. “See? I’m driving away. Not thinking about her tilting her head the way she does when she listens to someone. Not picturing her eyes lighting up at his jokes.”

I kept driving, breathing a little deeper. “Maybe she actually likes him. I can’t blame her. I’m not easy. I’m the guy who drives expensive cars into lagoons and sits in silence in corridors. She deserves someone who can make her laugh for real.”

My phone rang. I answered through the car.

“Andres Beaumont speaking.”

“Hey, kid, it’s Billy. You missed our check-in yesterday. How are you holding up?” Billy asked warmly.

“Hey, Billy. Sorry about that. It’s been crazy. We closed the Creston deal, though. Big win for everyone,” I replied.

“That’s great news! Proud of you. But talk to me, how are you feeling? The medication still kicking in okay?” he asked.

I sighed. “It’s taking longer lately. This morning, I sat on the bed shaking for almost twenty minutes, counting breaths like you taught me. One… two… three… four. Over and over. It finally passed, but it wiped me out. I still managed to get to the office, though. Nobody noticed.”

“You’re doing the hard part, Andres. That counts. Now what else is on your mind? I can hear it in your voice,” Billy said gently.

I laughed softly, tiredly. “There’s this woman at work. Rosa. She’s my assistant. She’s the one who pulled me out of the lagoon that day. She saved my life even when I fought her. She called me an asshole and everything. Then she went and closed Creston like it was nothing, but Gary… he’s been taking her out. He has taken her out twice this week already. I just drove past that fancy restaurant on Vielle and Main. I slowed down like an idiot, staring at the lights.”

Billy let out a low whistle. “Rosa, huh? Sounds like she got under your skin deep. You catching real feelings here?”

“I don’t know what to call it, Billy. We agreed to keep our distance and protect each other’s secrets. But seeing her with Gary… it twists something in me. She laughs with him, gives him that soft look,” I confessed.

“People wear masks, kid. Especially when they’ve got heavy things to hide. But the real question is, why does it bother you this much? You’ve kept the world for years,” Billy said.

“Because she’s different,” I admitted quietly. “That silence between us in the corridor the other night after Gary left… it felt louder than any conversation. And now I’m taking the long way home just so I can keep thinking about her. I hate it, and I can’t stop.”

Billy chuckled warmly. “That’s called being human, Andres. Maybe it’s time you talk to her. You deserve something good after everything you’ve carried alone.”

“Thanks, Billy. I needed to hear that tonight. I’ll think about it. Goodnight, Billy.”

“You too, kid. Call me anytime. I mean it,” he replied.

I ended the call and kept driving through the glowing streets.

“Damn it, Rosa,” I whispered. “What are you doing to me? And why can’t I stop thinking about you the whole way home?”