Chapter 51 - #51

DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

This book contains occasional use of words that aren't appropriate for children. Read at your own risk.

...

Chapter 51: Deja Vu

...

"Is Alice okay?" Mr. Parker asked me while we're walking together around the garden here in the site where the building is being made. The meeting with the engineer and architect was done and they all agreed with having some changes with the interior and exterior.

I shook my head. "She's definitely not," I said. Alice doesn't deserve this. She's a woman who gives her all for the person she loves. But why does it always have to end up with tears? It's so unfair to her.

"I'll talk to Zach later." I'm delighted when he doesn't tolerate his cousin when it comes to these things. Is Mr. Parker has always been like this? Or he just changed?

"If it's okay to know, what happened between Mr. Whitmore and Cindy's sister?" I curiously asked. I couldn't get it out of my head when Cindy said something about it earlier. "Did he really break her heart?"

Mr. Parker hesitated to answer but still did. "They had a big fight and Zach got himself drunk in the club. The next morning, Kelly, Cindy's sister, went to Zach's condo and she saw him sleeping with a girl."

I knew it. It involves another woman.

"And that's how they broke up, right?" I asked and he slowly nodded. "Are they having an affair again?"

Mr. Parker curiously looked at me after I said that. "What? What makes you say that? Alice hasn't told you what she has with Zach?" he asked with his eyebrows furrowed.

"I'm thinking that they're still not together, Sir. Plus," I paused. I'm hesitating if I should tell him. "I s-saw Mr. Whitmore with other girl yesterday and I did not tell Alice because I don't have a proof. I don't want her to overthink about something."

But here I am now, I'm being regretful by the time I saw her crying.

"That was surely Kelly. That's probably why Cindy is mad again lately." He sighed. "Zach also didn't tell me about this. I thought Kelly and him had closure and now she's courting Alice. He's so good at hiding things. I didn't even notice he was seeing Kelly again," he explained.

Mr. Whitmore doesn't have the right to play with Alice's feelings. He knows she likes her. But why did he even give her motivation if he still loves someone else? That's a very stupid move to make.

"I'm sorry if this happened to Alice. Zach is someone who parties with girls all the time but he'll never cheat on someone," he told me. He'll never cheat, huh?

"Sir, you just told me that he slept with another woman. How is that not cheating?" I stopped walking and furrowed my eyebrows.

"Liv, he was drunk. He didn't know what he was doing," he tried to explain but I still don't accept it as an excuse. What if Alice is in Kelly's position at that time? Would it be so ridiculous if Mr. Whitmore makes a foolish excuse that he was drunk that's why he slept with another woman?

"That's actually not a good thing to say," I answered. I was about to walk away when he grabbed my arms, making me face him. "What?" I raised a brow.

"You're not mad at me, aren't you?" he asked.

"I'm not mad at you, Mr. Parker." I pulled my arms from his hand. "But it makes me mad whenever I see Alice getting hurt. And what you said was an unacceptable explanation. Being drunk is never an excuse. I'm sorry if I'm overreacting right now, I can't help it. I'm scared that Alice might suffer again even she doesn't deserve it. Your cousin is a total jerk. And I'm not going to tolerate what he's doing."

...

"Liv, is everything okay? What happened?" Summer knocked on my door. I did not eat with her at dinner tonight because I'm too stressed to do that.

I dropped by Alice's apartment next door but she did not allow me to come in. She said doesn't want to talk to anyone and she wants to be alone which scares me. Alice is not suicidal but I'm not comfortable thinking that she's facing this on her own. I need to be there for her.

"Liv, talk to me. Are you okay? Did something happen at work?" she asked again when I didn't respond. "I'll come in."

Summer entered my room while I was sitting and leaning on my headboard. She sat beside me, observing my reaction. She's a very sensitive girl. She senses it when something's wrong with me.

"It's not about me," I said, sighing.

"Then, whom is it?" she raised a brow.

"Alice. She got hurt emotionally," I answered.

"Again?" Even Summer didn't believe it.

"Exactly," I told her. "She won't allow me to talk to her. I'm worried."

"Alice is not suicidal. Maybe she just wants to be alone. You know, to clear her head and to have some rest," Summer explained.

"That's the thing. I don't know if she'll have a rest while thinking what her boss did to her." I shook my head, feeling disappointed in Mr. Whitmore.

...

I knocked on Alice's apartment but she didn't even open it. I texted her and she did not reply. It has been three days and she's still not going to work since what happened. I can't let this go any farther. I need to talk to Mr. Whitmore. He can't just run away from a problem he caused.

When I got into the hotel. I made some paper works for the first two hours. I also called a lot of people because Mr. Parker will be having two meetings after lunch. After I put the papers in their respective folders, I decided to see Mr. Whitmore.

I walked towards his office and I knocked. I glanced at Alice's cabin which was just in front of his office like mine. It looks very clean and neat, like no one's using it. After a few seconds, Mr. Whitmore opened the door.

"Liv, what are you doing here?" he asked, still holding the doorknob.

"Can I talk to you, Sir?" I asked. It seems like he already knows what we're going to talk about if he'll let me go in.

"Sure," he said so I walk inside and he closed the door. I sat down on the sofa which was facing him so I could talk to him properly.

"I know, it's not good to talk about something not related to work. But I'm worried about my friend, Sir. She's been avoiding everyone for three days and she's not like that before. What happened that day?" I had the urge to ask. I just want to know the reason so that I can help Alice to go through the problem she has.

Mr. Whitmore took a deep breath. The guilt might have stayed inside of him. I'm not surprised. "She heard what Cindy said. And I have no one to blame but myself. I hurt her."

"In what way?" I asked.

"In a way that isn't so easy to fix. And I'll take full responsibility of it," he told me.

Wow, fix it? He didn't even afford to visit Alice. Or did he?

"Can you be honest with me, Sir?" I asked and he nodded right away. "Why did you take Alice on a date last time? What does that mean?"

He was quiet for seconds, not knowing what to say or how to start. "I was thinking that I should return the favor. She has been my friend and I know that she likes me. I just wanted her to feel that she deserves to feel what she wants to feel from me. But I realize that I can't give it to her," he explained.

Why do I see myself on him? When Mr. Parker confessed to me, I was hesitant on my next move. I don't even know the right thing to do back then. I also hurt his feelings. But still, it's very different on this situation.

"Even just a little bit, didn't you feel anything for her?" I asked to make things clear.

"I don't, I'm sorry."

...

Hi, VCakes! I'm hoping that you're all having fun while reading my first ever story here in Webnovel. English is not my native language so please bear with me but I promise to improve my skills from time to time. I'm open to any suggestions and constructive criticisms. Feel free to message me on my following accounts:

Email: vampeecake@gmail.com

Discord: Mj#1916

Wattpad: VampeeCake

I'm more active on Discord so you can message me there anytime.. I'm also open for businesses and collaborations if there will be an opportunity. Looking forward to it soon! Thank you for your support!