Lured into Love (Blossom in Winter #2) - Melanie Martins Page 0,22
2020
Alexander Van Dieren
With the current social distancing protocols in place, most of our meetings have been done through Zoom calls. Today’s no different; Roy and I are sitting in the dining-room-turned-boardroom, getting ready for our next call. As I flick through the report we’ll be discussing, Roy shatters the silence with one single question. “Did you talk to her?”
And I can’t believe he’s asking me that. I wish I could tell him that my life with my fiancée is none of his business, but I need him on my side more than ever, so I swallow my pride and say, “Yes, I did.” I keep it short, not even bothering to look at him as my gaze remains on the report Paulo sent me an hour ago.
“And?”
Fuck! He’s going too far. I squint my eyes, looking at him with annoyance. “Well, it’s between she and I, don’t you think?”
“No, I don’t,” he answers without any bother, sounding like an arrogant asshole, his stare defying mine as he patiently waits for all the details.
Shaking my head in disapproval, I ponder if I should tell him to fuck off or not, but I remind myself I need his support against Tess, and despite the anger creeping up my neck, I reply as friendly as possible, “She just lied to me about the pill to get pregnant, that’s all.” And I cut eye contact just as fast, my gaze drifting down to the report.
“That’s all?” he repeats in outrage. Since Roy sees my being indifferent about the matter, his indignation keeps rising, and he asks louder, “That’s all?”
“I already asked Dr. Nel to prescribe her the pill. Problem solved. Can we move on?” My attention falls back to the sheets I have in my hand, but something tells me Roy has more to say.
“And is she really gonna take it?”
I hold my breath for an instant. Roy is really testing my patience today. I hate sharing details of my intimate life with him, let alone those involving his daughter so I just mumble, “I believe so.”
“You believe so?”
Tired of his inquisition, I put down the report, take off my glasses, and, holding his stare, I tell him once and for all, “Look, Petra and I are together. You know that and—”
“And you’ll be gone to Singapore very soon.” His reminder is like a hammer crashing into me. “I just want to make sure you won’t be leaving a single mother behind.”
What a fucking asshole he can be. If I didn’t have so much self-control, I would punch him right now until he was lying on the floor in tears. “What a disgusting remark,” I snap, shaking my head. “Don’t you see how Tess is destroying our friendship?” Since Roy doesn’t say a word, I add, “Before Tess knew about Petra and me, everything was fine. Don’t you miss it?”
“Alex, we’ve spoken about this a thousand times,” he says, the lines around his eyes pulling tight as his jaw subtly shakes. “There’s no other way around it, and you know it. My remark might have been crude, but my concern is nonetheless pertinent.”
My pulse intensifies at the idea of breaking up with her. It’s impossible for me to do so. That I am sure of. But time is passing, and very soon, Tess will be flying back here to visit Petra. And since she is now awake, I’ll have to… leave.
Or at least that is what I promised her I’d do.
The easiest option seems to be to take Petra with me to Singapore before Tess travels here, but I know the pilot and crew will recognize her instantly and call Roy. Even if she flies separately, sooner or later, Roy will find out and won’t waste any time telling Tess. There is nothing he wouldn’t do to protect his little reputation. The truth is, our friendship is now solely based on the premise that I’ll leave for Singapore and break up with his daughter. If I don’t, Roy and I will most likely become… enemies.
Wow. Enemies? A shiver runs down my spine thinking about it. Having Roy Van Gatt as an enemy is the last thing anyone would want, including me.
Especially me.
“Maybe she should go back to Park Avenue from tomorrow on,” Roy suggests. “It’s a safer option.”
“You know it’s better for her to stay here than in an apartment. Even Dr. Nel told you so,” I remind him. “Maria will make sure she takes the pill every morning,” I add to appease him.