Chosen Heart (52 page)

A devious smirk develops on her
lips as my eyes meet hers.  She continues to play with the piece of
jewelry clasped on her wrist as she remains in a deadlock staring contest with
me.  I look away, but not far.  Shock has finally hit me as I gape at
the beautiful time piece.  Bile builds in my throat as I sit in distress,
staring at her watch.  THE watch; the watch that was sitting in his
kitchen that supposedly belonged to Delores.  The same watch, the same
kitchen where Alex’s ex removed her clothing and tried to seduce him. 

Suddenly, everything has come
into focus, the picture is clear and I see everything for what it is. 
Alex clears his throat, probably in an effort to get my attention, but I refuse
to look.  All I can do is stare at the shimmering diamonds.  Tiny
rainbows sparkle as Arianna continues to manipulate the band that is breaking
my heart.

The watch twirling bitch
continues to address the room, discussing Oliver’s past experience, how they
met, and his responsibilities at SHI starting Monday.  I cannot
move.  I can barely breathe as a knot builds in my chest.  I move my
hand up, resting my palm over my heart in hopes to alleviate the building
pressure.  The bitch’s voice is a dull sound in the back of my head. 

I replay every conversation with
Alex, searching and evaluating each one for the truth. 
Did he ever
love me?  How could he do this to me?

“Thank you everyone for the warm
welcome.”  Oliver’s voice is muffled as he addresses the room.  My
face frozen, my eyes still fixed on Arianna’s wrist as she continues to break
my heart into a million pieces with each twirl of the band.  “I’ve been thinking
about coming to Vegas for some time, but it wasn’t until recently that I got
the push I needed to take the leap of faith.” 

Out of the corner of my eye, I
can see Oliver’s head turn towards me.  I know it’s rude not to give him
my attention, but I’m frozen.  Literally, frozen.  “I really look
forward to working with each one of you.”  Oliver’s speech goes over well
with the staff.  As to be expected, Autumn is in heat, salivating over
what could be.  Doesn’t surprise me.  She thinks she can get anyone
she wants, and probably does. 

The twirling stops.  I force
myself to look Arianna in the eye, to let her know that in that moment her
point was made.  She wanted me to see the watch, not only at Alex’s house,
but today.  We are playing a game of chess and she’s just made her
move.  Checkmate!  My king is dead to me, my king who ruled my heart
and gave me such pleasure. 
All of it was a lie!
  My mind is
in a swirl of emotions.  I can remember every sweet and meaningful moment
with Alex.  Now, each word, each emotion is contaminated.  The evil
disease of deceit has now soiled Alex’s charming words and honorable
actions. 

The shock from earlier has now
turned into rage.  I ball my hands into fists as I stare at my knuckles,
avoiding eye contact with Arianna and Alex. 

“Well, thank you all for
coming.  Oliver’s first day technically isn’t until next week, but I
wanted to introduce him before he started.  ”  

Turning to look at Alex, she asks
if it’s okay if Janice shows him to his desk and make sure he has everything he
needs.  What else is Alex supposed to say?  He stares at the bitch
with unfathomable eyes, but remembers where he is and replies, “Whatever
you
want Mrs. Salerno.”  Puzzled by his reaction, Janice looks at me
concerned, but offers her assistance like the good employee she is.

“Please make sure he feels
welcome and include him on any e-mails, and have a great day everyone.” 
Arianna’s lively voice echoes throughout the room sending chills down my
spine.  I’m in utter disgust. 
I need to escape. 
As the
crowd stands, several associates crowd Oliver, including Autumn. 
Figures
she would already try and get her claws in him.
  Avoiding eye contact
with anyone, I hurry towards the door. 

My exit strategy is foiled as I’m
met with an impeccable black three-piece suit, just like the first day at
work.  Glancing up, my eyes meet his, saddened blue eyes to heated
green.  Alex looks distraught, putting together that he’s been
caught.  He whispers, “I need to talk to you.”

Keeping my voice low, I cannot
hide the disdain I feel at this moment.  Speaking through gritted teeth, I
can’t let anyone but him know the pain I’m feeling.  “I want nothing to do
with you and I have no intention of talking to you right now…or ever.” 
Steeling a look around the room, I plaster a fake smile on my face.

“Just give me…” Alex is
interrupted by Janice. 

“Mr. James, Maggie needs to speak
with you.”  Janice’s distressed face at Alex’s glare is duly noted. 
You can tell she didn’t want to interrupt, knowing he’s upset, but she had to
get his attention somehow.  I can see in her eyes that she was only trying
to help.  Maybe she saw the anxiety on my face, and felt like butting
in.  Alex pauses momentarily before following Janice to my left where
Maggie is huddled with a group of Sales Associates.

As soon as Alex is out of my
sight, I go with my first instinct to flee, but again I’m stopped in my tracks
as Oliver approaches me.  “Well, well, well Ms. Hart.  I told you we
would meet again.”  His uplifting smile and genuine charm gives me a
moment of distraction.  But, only a moment.  I need to get out of
this confined space and quickly, before I lose my composure and the tears
begin. 

“Congratulations, Mr.
Prescott.  Sorry, but I was just on my way out.”  Attempting to walk
around him, my flight is interrupted as he grabs my elbow.

“Not so quick.  Go out with
me.”  He’s so straight forward and sure of himself.  Any woman would
feel flattered that such a man was in hot pursuit; however, right now all I can
feel is the choking sensations deepen inside me. 

“Mr. Prescott…”

“Please call me Oliver, Elyssa.”

“Oliver, I can’t.  I really
must go.”

Still maintaining his strong grip
on my elbow, I glance at Alex who is now fuming, ignoring Maggie and the other
associates.  I can hear him try to get out of the conversation and I know
I need to hurry and get away before he’s free.  Oliver places his index
finger under my chin bringing my attention back to him.  “Give me a
chance.  Dinner?  Breakfast?  Lunch?  Coffee?  Throw
me a bone here?  I’m completely out of place.”

“Fine.  Lunch…tomorrow,” I
agree, if only to get out of this situation.  “Now, I have to go.”

“It’s a date!”  Oliver
smiles in contentment and releases my elbow allowing me to flee the conference
room. 

Quickly, I grab my purse from my
desk and take my keys out of the front pocket as I head towards the
elevators.  Pushing the call button, I stand in anticipation, tapping my
foot. 
Hurry please!
  I look up, staring at the floor numbers
above the elevator door. 

I search for any sign of Alex or
Arianna, and see neither of them following me. 
Ding!
  The
doors part and I rush in, pressing the button for the first floor several
times.  The sound of Alex’s voice echoes through the lobby, “Elyssa! 
Stop!”

I pause for slightly longer than
a moment, considering holding it for him.  But because he had no
consideration for me, I press the button to close the door instead.  Just
as it closes, I see Alex’s panicked face through the crack, as the elevator descends
to the first floor.  My heart is racing.  Right now, all I want to do
is avoid Alex at all costs.  Anger and rage has turned to pain and small
pools of tears are welling in my eyes as I reach the first floor.  Bolting
towards the parking garage, I’m practically jogging as I reach my car.

Pulling out of my space, I see
Alex out of my rearview mirror running towards the parking garage.  His
voice echoing as he gets closer.  Without any hesitation this time, I put
the car in drive and speed away towards the exit, not looking back.  Tears
are now streaming down my face as I sob violently. 
How could he do
this to me?  How could he lie? How could I trust him?
  The
thought of Alex and Arianna together, the picture my mind is painting is not
one of love or friendship.  The picture is repulsive….raw, animal fucking
all over his damn house, including his bed where he supposedly made love to
me. 

I’m startled by the sound of my
phone ringing from my pocket.  “Shut the fuck up!”  I yell, crying
hysterically.  No longer in control of my emotions, I reach into my pants
to retrieve my phone.  I turn it off and toss it into the backseat. 
Pulling into traffic, I head in the direction of home. 
My
home
where solace is no longer found, just memories of me and Alex; in my bed, on my
couch.  Even the thought of going over to my sisters, repulses me.  I
can’t escape him anywhere I go. 
Fuck my life!

Violently sobbing, I wipe away
the tears with the back of my hand as I grip the steering wheel with the other. 
What a fool I’ve been!  I thought, for a brief moment I found my chance at
happiness; finally the prospect of having a complete family was coming
true.  But, like the rest of my life, I was wrong, and with the twirl of a
wrist watch my world is crashing down.

How could he do this?  How
could he even touch her?  She is his boss! 
Shit, he’s your boss
too, Ely.  Don’t be a hypocrite!
 
He told you he had a past, a
past that you didn’t want to know about.
 
But how could he fuck
both of us at the same time?  After everything!
  Arguing with
myself is not going to get me anywhere.  Fact is my heart still wants him,
possibly always will.  But, what does that get me?  Nothing but a
broken heart.  My mind on the other hand, my mind is telling me to run away;
to seek shelter from the emotional storm that’s about to hit. 

Searching, reaching, begging for
any clue to show that I wasn’t a complete fool is consuming my every
thought.  What I find is heartbreaking.  Should I have picked up on
them before?  No…why would I?  I was falling in love, and nothing he
could have done would have deterred me…until now.  I should have realized
what he was when he fucked me in the club.  Instead, it did nothing but
turn me on.  If I would have thought about it then, I would have
run. 

Ignoring reason, even after
ignoring me for four days, I believed his excuses.  All because I wanted
to with him.  I was already in too deep.  Could I have gotten out
then?

With another tap on my shoulder,
I hear the pleading not to ignore all the brightness he’s brought to my
life.  How his presence protected me when I needed him.  If he wasn’t
there for me, I don’t know what would have happened.  He wasn’t something
I even knew I needed.

I’m emotionally torn, not knowing
which direction to run.  Alex’s warnings about his promiscuous past, his
declarations about not being good enough for me, all of it was true.  His
drunken ramblings about ruining our relationship before it ever truly started
mock me.  Everything he said was real. 

The horn from a nearby car wakes
me from my internal ramblings just as I cross over the median. 
Shit!
 
Focusing back on the road I continue heading north, trying to get home before I
break down and fully embrace my sadness.  Some asshole keeps honking at
me, and is not stopping. 
Crap, he’s following me.
 
Honk…honk,honk,honk!
 
Knowing full well what I’m about to find in my rearview mirror, I can’t bring
myself to look. 

Honk…honk,honk,honk!
 Finally getting the
courage, I look back and see the familiar sleek white BMW following close
behind. 

Alex continues to lay on his
horn, trying feverishly to get my attention.  Refusing, I wipe the last of
my tears and accelerate down the busy street.  Alex has no trouble keeping
up, and has added the annoyance of flashing his lights to distract me. 
Accelerating, I swerve in and out of traffic getting so close to one man’s
bumper that he sped up and pulled over to let me pass.  Not in my sound
mind, I continue my uninhibited drive hoping that he’ll give up and just leave
me be.  Checking my side mirror, I see the irritation carved in every
crease on his forehead. 
He is pissed!

At the last second, I turn down a
side street hoping to lose him, but Alex makes the turn, cutting off a car,
making them swerve and slam on their breaks.  The rev of his engine is
overwhelmingly loud as his BMW passes me.  Maybe he has given up? 
Shit!
 
No such luck.  Instead of continuing down the street as I’d hoped, he
turns his car to the right, cutting me off, forcing me to brake and swerve to the
side of the road. 

I guess
this
is where our
standoff is going to happen.  Anger coursing through me, I break open the
car door, slamming it behind me for the full effect.  Alex exits his car
in the same manner, barreling towards me.

“What the fuck kind of nerve do
you have?  I told you I didn’t want to talk.  You almost killed me!”

“I almost killed you?  You
were doing a damn good job of it yourself, swerving in and out of traffic like
a fucking lunatic!”

“Is that what you wanted?  To
critique my driving?!  Well thank you Mr. James, for your criticism. 
Now move your damn car so I can get the fuck away from you!”