12. Caring

Harrison didn't have the guts to confront Mandy regarding Sam – whether it was a he or a she – and that gave more room for his doubts to fester. 

Soon enough, it had been about 3 months since their divorce. And he was no closer to getting the answers he so desired than he had been months ago.

He was taking a socialite to dinner, in an attempt to let out some steam, and get his mind back in the game. He was supposed to be enjoying himself but his eyes caught a sight he hadn't expected. Mandy was at the restaurant with a man, having dinner as well, and no doubt enjoying herself more than he was, if her giggles were any indication.

Harrison felt ire like never before, and some semblance of blinding jealousy.

It was all he could do to sit still and pretend to listen to his date, even as his eyes remained trained on Mandy's table.

It should be no business of his whom she dated or allowed in her bed.

And yet, the very thought of her being intimate with anyone but him drove a knife into his insides.

Their eyes met at some point and she dismissed him like he was no one to her.

Harrison wasn't arrogant enough to believe she was still pinning after him, but any form of recognition other than that mocking smile would have appeased the beast within him.

He didn't know what to think, but he held onto every ounce of patience he possessed in order to remain calm and collected.

He already knew she was working at David corp. And if everything went per his plans, he was going to be her CEO in less than a month.

There would be no more running away from him, no more of her elusive dismissive ways.

** ** ** ** ** ** **

What kind of luck is that? Mandy thought to herself, disappointed with how the night turned out.

She had had to fake enjoyment, smiles and giggles, on her date, in order to take her mind off her ex-husband which sat two tables down.

There's no escaping this devil of a man.

He left the restaurant before she and Jonathan did. And that allowed her to breathe properly again.

Jonathan was a coworker of hers. They got along rather well, and after asking her out for the third time, she accepted to enjoy his company.

She never would have guessed he'd take her to such a fancy restaurant. But it seemed like he was sparing no expense for her sake.

She hoped he wouldn't think ill of her if she didn't kiss him goodnight that evening.

She felt much too raw after seeing Harrison on a date, with a woman who looked positively gorgeous without even trying no less. She felt like the silly wife pining after her cheating husband again. She felt like the naïve and gullible woman she had been not that long ago.

She hated the effect he had on her. She hated how he could make every nerve ending on her body come to without even touching her. She hated and loved him in equal measures. And as the realization that she loved the man still hit, she hated herself for her weakness.

"Mandy, are you okay?" Her oblivious date asked in a concern-filled tone.

She hated herself for getting a stranger entangled in her messed up situation.

There's no situation, she told herself sternly. You and Harrison are no more. It's over, Mandy. Get over it. Get over the damned man.

"I just have a headache," she told him softly, which wasn't a total lie.

Her inner turmoil did make her suffer from a headache. But Jonathan didn't need to know the reasons behind said headache.

"Oh, let me accompany you home?" He suggested.

She was about to accept when she remembered she lived presently at the penthouse, and that would surely attract questions she wasn't quite ready to answer.

She shook her head negatively, a soft smile adorning her face, "While I appreciate the thought, Jonathan, I'd rather not trouble you."

"It's no trouble," he was quick to tell her, smile, dimples and all.

"I must insist," she kept on smiling as she rose to her feet.

He too stood up, a perplexed frown on his face.

"Are you sure?"

"Positive," she nodded at him.

"Okay," he released a sigh, and then added, "Was it something I said or did?"

"What?" Her eyes bulged. "No. No. Please don't get the wrong idea. You neither did nor said nothing to rub me off the wrong way. I'm just…"

"Will I see you another time?" He asked, eyes going hard all of a sudden, almost as if he braced himself for the rejection to come.

She didn't have it in her heart to crush his hopes so, and thus said, "Yeah, sure. I had a great time."

His eyes softened at once, and a smile broke through his dejected face. And then, he was leaning forward, and she was frozen in place, unable to move, unable to breathe, unable to utter a word…

His lips were about to crash into hers, but she averted her face in the last second, making his kiss land on her cheek instead.

"Too soon?" He asked sheepishly.

"I'm afraid so," she said timidly, a blush creeping up under her skin.

They were at a restaurant… how could he act so brazenly?

She guessed she ironically compared all men behavior with Harrison's. Harrison wasn't one to make a scene or want to attract stares, even though he did inadvertently at times.

Stop that, she told herself in a chiding tone. Harrison is a cold man who never cared for you… why should you care about him still?

A few hours later, as she laid in bed, and sleep evaded her, she received a text, so daring, so audacious, so annoying, she growled in frustration.

Lest you want to lose the penthouse, I'd advise you against allowing the man into your bed. 

How could he be so casual about this matter? It was none of his concern whom she allowed into her bed.

Why should he care?

Then, she remembered that intriguing clause in their divorce agreement, and rolled her eyes.

She typed a scathing reply: Why does it feel like you care?

She was tempted to send it… and then, thought better of it. She was going to make him have a taste of his own medicine – indifference.

Thus, she erased the text, and then placed her phone on her nightstand next to her.

Fuck you, Harrison Michaelson, she thought, annoyed beyond belief, but satisfied still at her self-restraint.