chapter 7

I lay there alone in a bed that was far too big and lonely.

 I was already used to having bodies, touching hands, arms wrapped around me, and the sound of breathing. Now there was silence. And a dull ache in my chest.

They made me and broke me just as Simon had done. At this point I knew I was only the one week fling but God it hurt

Before dawn and before either of them could start their shifts, I packed my shit and checked out of the hotel.

Hell I knew it was a cowardly move but I didn't want to be the reason they fought or were estranged from each other, I stopped a cab going straight to the airport 

……………………

Two stops later I was finally in Alabama. Standing in front of the airport I realized, with all my wealth….. I was lonely 

I hailed a taxi home and rang the door bell.

“Father” I broke down in tears as he opened the door. He held me and soothed me as I leaned heavily on him

“its fine Oliver it'll be fine”

My father didn't ask any questions, hours turned to days, days turned to weeks.. weeks of pulling my self together and getting ready to open more branches of my business……

Weeks turned to months.. months of looking out the window during meeting breaks fantasizing,praying,hoping for the impossible.

I honestly knew I had fucked up the moment I slept with them. I knew it deep in my soul.

……………………………..

             6 months later

‘Hoping for the best and expecting the worse’. This sentence kept ringing in my mind as we prepared for the opening of another branch of my restaurant in Los Angeles.The city of…… memories came flooding into my head again

Shaking it off I went around toasting people and socializing I mean its my business that I am ready to open

“Ollie?” someone called out as I stepped out of the shadows immediately after my pep talk

“Sim…..Simon?” I whispered under my breath

“Ollie! It's nice to see you again” he greeted in a loud cheery voice seemingly trying to make everyone know he knew ‘the billionaire’

After taking some deep breaths, and composing myself I pushed my hands in front offering an handshake.

“Mr Cruz. It's nice meeting you again, thanks for attending”

“Baby, didn't you miss me?” he asked in a shushed voice

“Mr Cruz and I are not that familiar for you to call me baby, are we? I mean why would you call a rapist so endearingly?”

I fired back angrily and loudly

“Look Simon, the Oliver you see right now is proudly out of the closet and is still thriving, you don't get to throw those charges at me and think I'll accept you back! Fat chance”

“Ollie….”

“No! You don't get to call me that anymore remember you said it clearly ‘there is no us’ so from now on you don't get to use my name for anything again. Stay away from me from now on”

I told him, and walked away from him decisively 

“Mr Curtis!” another voice stopped me in my tracks

“Mr Sylver” I called out back putting on my best fake smile and walked to meet him.

“ congratulations Oliver on your success, it's hard to be this young and be successful to this extent. I am in awe”

“Antonio you flatter me. At my age we both know you had achieved better than I have. You are too humble” 

We whispered back and forth, after a few pleasantries, we parted.