Love Aint Always Pretty

Pursuit

- the act of pursuing

Origin: Middle English

81

While I was busy grabbing all of my stuff to get myself some lunch, there was a sudden knock on my door.

"Hi." Nick greeted as he opens it wide.

I froze for about five seconds when our eyes met and then I recovered. I gaze at my watch and it was twelve five noon. I'm starving for some steak and he's making me starve if he stays longer inside my office. He walks inside while every employee behind him was looking right at us. He slowly closes the door behind him but I could still see heads peeping out.

"Hi." I cleared my throat.

He glanced at his gold wristwatch, "It's lunchtime. Wanna go grab something to eat together?" He asked.

I bite my lower lip. Together.

"Nick, your employees think something is going on between the two of us after what you did for me. It's better if we avoid each other." I say.

"Grab a pad and a pen, we'll make them think we're going for a lunch meeting."

I sigh. "Nick. Why are you doing this?"

I pulled up my hand to show him my wedding ring to show him that I'm married. "I'm married."

"You're married." I added.

He sighs.

"We can't be seen together and if your employees will tell your wife that they saw you entering my office and we went out for lunch together, I'll be fired." I continued.

"Did Dakota taunt you to stay away from me?" He asked.

Yes.

"She didn't. I just wanna make it clear to you that we can't do things that we used to do. For god's sake Nick, we're both married people." I answered.

I grabbed my purse.

"You're heading somewhere?" He asked.

"Lunch." I say firmly.

"Can't two good ol' friends have a peaceful lunch together?" He asked.

Jesus Christ Nick. Why are you making me lose my mind?!

"I'll meet you at Travioli. We can't be seen leaving together." I say.

He nods and smiles at me while he walks out of my office. I waited for a few minutes before I could leave and when I finally did stepped out of the building, I hailed a cab and went to Travioli. Damon didn't want me to drive my car because he doesn't want me to get into a car accident.

When I arrived at Travioli, I marched my way towards where Nick was sitting down. I sat right across him and noticed that he already ordered meals for us. Goodness, the steak looked delicious as hell. I don't know how he knows what I'm craving for today but at least he knows my favorite meals. It's been a very long time since we went out together like his, just the two of us.

"Eat up." He says.

I smiled.

We ate silently and the dishes he ordered were insanely good. The gravy was salivating on my tongue and the vegetable salad was to die for. I've noticed something about Nick, and he still doesn't talk or make eye contact when he eats. He's still the same old Nick I knew back in the day.

"You still don't talk." I blurted.

He slowly pulled his head up to me and wiped his cheek win the table napkin. "What does that mean?" He asked.

"You don't talk or make eye contact when you eat. I've noticed that since before." I say.

at him, "You still

smiles. "You know

I smiled ruefully.

of me but something holds me back now that I've started a life with Damon. I bent my

chase you now,

he didn't release me

Nick." I say. "I mean look at

physically but you're still the

would cry at night cos of the pain when I think about Catherine owning his heart and his love. But now that he loves me and

to Dakota's baby. Stop saying things like this."

father to

"The wedding is all

accept the baby Nick even when

too

I sigh heavily.

Someone with a familiar voice called out

when he caught me having lunch and holding hands with some other man. Damon stares at Nick and I remember at the wedding, they never personally met since Nick didn't go to the wedding reception

when Damon stared at our hands entwined. Damon eyes me and

moved closer to my husband. "This is Mr. Nick Wilde. My

between the three of us and I hope it's not

"It's nice to finally meet you." He

it. "Pleasure's mine. I'm Damon Patricks. Savannah's

a lot of stuff about you Mr. Patricks." Nick

were you doing here hon?" I asked

his head to me, "Dropped by your office and I heard

join us for lunch honey? We were having some meeting for... The convention...in

while the three

asked about it and definitely didn't make a scene. I don't know if he's

it, my husband and the man that I still love will have merging of business. Damon was cool. He's always the laid back type of person. He's just chill. I don't know what runs on his head sometimes but he's just so

•••••

always love staring myself in front of the mirror every morning and before I sleep, and seeing some of my body parts changing, from

morning I would sing to my baby every time I bathe myself, mostly it's some old classical songs and I listen to some Beethoven classical songs or some piano pieces on my way to work. I have been wearing flowy and silky tops and dresses as well to hide my stomach

the last time I saw Nick at work. A month since we had lunch together. I heard he's at France at the moment for some work related activities. I'm proud of Nick and how far he has come with his

I still cross his mind. Sometimes I wonder if he misses me when he doesn't see me. Sometimes I wonder if ever

I asked

wipes

I can't do that."

sighs. "Yes you

"I can't."

can't you do that

job and you know that. I can't just resign because you tell me so. I have a

I'll pay it. Just

don't want to quit my job because I don't want to be away from Nick, but because of the great salary, Im also learning

sigh. "I

You don't need to work anymore, I have the money to support

want to work for myself too. I don't want to be just a household

move to England weeks ago. My company is expanding there and I'm going to

wanna go. I don't wanna leave this place. I don't wanna be away from

time. I'll think

lunch with Damon, I stuck myself inside my office with a coffee on my hand. I haven't slept well last night because I was chasing for the deadline. I read a lot of articles that's needed to be edited and as I do it, I can't help but think about Damon's offer. Us moving to England. I really don't wanna

to look for some mistakes, in case I missed a

I felt my eyesight getting blurry. I felt my world spinning slow so I reached for my

hate when I'm reading too much.."

doorway with a red paper bag on his hand and a box colored white and blue. He walks inside my

I say

thing I was still able to

you were

Came here as soon as I can." He starts walking to me

the

this?" I

that dress in a boutique at France