Chapter 43
ODETTE'S POINT OF VIEW
The next day...
I look into the mirror while fixing my hair. Dad released a statement regarding the issue, but still, some of the reporters are waiting outside the building to get my word regarding the issue.
I went out of my room and grabbed my bag, purse, and phone. I almost forgot my car key. I get it from the side table by my bed.
As I went out of my condo, I saw a lot of movers coming in and out of the penthouse in front of me. His movement should make me know how to avoid him for fewer issues since I can't convince others to believe.
I ignored the movers and went into the elevator. Before the elevator opened, I put my sunglasses on and ran to my car, the reporters following me. As I went into my car, I started the engine immediately and rushed out of the parking lot as my car went out. I play music to calm myself.
Playing Mr. Rover by EXO Kai
I was feeling the rhythm sway my head while still focusing my sight on the road when the next song played. When I heard it was "Love Shot" by EXO, I couldn't help but scream inside my car. Shit!
Imagining Kai and Sehun dancing in their love shot, sh*t, they are sexy. But Kyungsoo, the way he looks serious makes me drool. They are all sexy in my eyes, especially the ChanBaek. How I wish I could see them and stay with them. I will do anything for that.
I almost passed through the company. Oh, shook, of course, they will follow all through the company. As I get out of my car and give my car key to the parking valet, security starts surrounding me.
"Odette, is it true that Duke is your ex-boyfriend?" I was about to answer the question when I saw Duke waiting in the lobby were the question when I saw Duke waiting in the lobby. How he got in. I went to him, and those reporters stopped by the securities office.
"What are you doing here?" I said that when I came in front of him. He was wearing a hoodie, and the only thing the reporter could see was his back. Even at a distance or in a crowd, I knew him. I know him from every angle. I held his hand and walked through the elevator.
He is still not saying a single word; he just looks down.
"Duke, are you okay?" I held his shoulder. He still doesn't want to talk to me.
"If you're not talking to me, then why are you here in the company?"
"I want to see you." Hearing his voice, I knew he was crying, so I hugged him. He's still the best friend I'll grow old with, no matter what happens.
"You can cry on me; I will listen. I'm still your best friend."
"Your dad talked to me yesterday; he wants me to distance myself from you. I don't know, but I can't see how we can grow with each other. And then, in just a snap, I felt like I had nothing to do with you. Just because he was your fiance, I was suddenly left out. But I was the one who was by your side every time you felt sad or stressed growing up. Odette, I can't do that." He looked at me with puffy eyes. "I'll talk to Dad, okay? We can still be friends, like when we were kids. So stop crying. Can you afford to go viral if people see you with puffy eyes? What do you think your fans will say?" He just chuckled and wiped his tears.
"The heck, I only cry when it comes to you; I will look gay for crying like this." I wipe his tears and smile.
"Only a true man can show his weakness to a girl, and I'm proud to say it was Yoy." No matter what happens, Duke, you'll be the best of the best friends I had." I smiled at him, and he just turned around.
We arrived at my floor when the elevator opened. My staff held a tarpaulin.
"Congratulations, Ms. Odette." In my shock, I didn't notice what they said. They were all shocked to see Duke behind me. I heard Trisha say 'Ops!"
"Hi," Duke said. You can hear in his voice the awkwardness he felt.
"So, let's celebrate!" Trisha held my hand and distanced me from Duke.
"Why was he with you? The scandal was still spreading."
"He just came, and we just talked about the issue, nothing more, nothing less, okay?" I get some chicken, spaghetti, and rice cake before I sit on the couch.
"You got the deal with Yie Shopify; I even get that project to be their model," Duke said as he sat beside me.
"We will work together as professionals."
"Nah, we know you will make the design, but we will have a different schedule with them, but don't worry, I can do that." His smile told me how he tried to be okay in front of me. I can't stand seeing him broken by me.
"What will you do later?" I just opened up out of nowhere.
"Maybe I'll pack all my clothes before I move tomorrow to Lo'tte Palace. Is it okay with you guys?" I nodded and smiled.
"I'm just thinking about you; is it okay with you?" He sighed, and his smile faded.
"I'm not, but I'm trying my best to be. "I am Superman, remember?"
"Yeah, you are."
Time passed Duke was sitting in front of me on the couch while I was busy signing all the pending papers I had last Friday.
"You're still a workaholic. When will you stop working and start enjoying life?"
"Maybe when Oliver is mature, his priority will be going to the bar all night and going home by the next morning. I won't be shocked if one day I have a nephew on him."
"Congratulations, Ms. Odette." In my shock, I didn't notice what they said. They were all shocked to see Duke behind me. I heard Trisha say 'Ops!"
"Hi," Duke said. You can hear in his voice the awkwardness he felt.
"So, let's celebrate!" Trisha held my hand and distanced me from Duke.
"Why was he with you? The scandal was still spreading."
"He just came, and we just talked about the issue, nothing more, nothing less, okay?" I get some chicken, spaghetti, and rice cake before I sit on the couch.
"You got the deal with Yie Shopify; I even get that project to be their model," Duke said as he sat beside me.
"We will work together as professionals."
"Nah, we know you will make the design, but we will have a different schedule with them, but don't worry, I can do that." His smile told me how he tried to be okay in front of me. I can't stand seeing him broken by me.
"What will you do later?" I just opened up out of nowhere.
"Maybe I'll pack all my clothes before I move tomorrow to Lo'tte Palace. Is it okay with you guys?" I nodded and smiled.
"I'm just thinking about you; is it okay with you?" He sighed, and his smile faded.
"I'm not, but I'm trying my best to be. "I am Superman, remember?"
"Yeah, you are."
Time passed Duke was sitting in front of me on the couch while I was busy signing all the pending papers I had last Friday.
"You're still a workaholic. When will you stop working and start enjoying life?"
"Maybe when Oliver is mature, his priority will be going to the bar all night and going home by the next morning. I won't be shocked if one day I have a nephew on him."
A knock on the door broke the silence. It was Kiel who was holding Starbucks in his hand.
"It seems you had a visitor, love." He went on his way and kissed my forehead before he put down my coffee.
"Nice to see you again, Duke." He said Duke just nodded at him and went back to reading the magazine. The atmosphere gets more awkward.
"By the way, Odette, I will have a housewarming party maybe on Friday; can you guys come? Don't worry, Ezekiel, Lysander, and Daniel will be there together with Clay, Aria, and Morisette, so you guys have nothing to worry about. I'll assure you it's just a housewarming party, nothing more."
"Sure, I'll be there; I'll cook for the party."
"Thank you, Odette." He looked at Kiel.
"I'll try if I don't have an appointment that day, but I'll message Odette if I can make it."
A phone rang, and we all looked at our phones when Duke answered the call and went out. I sighed and looked at Kiel.
"Drink your coffee before it gets cold." He sat in the chair in front of my desk and took a sip of his cold coffee.
"Love, are you okay?"
"Of course I am. Let's have dinner tonight at my place, or you want to have dinner in the newly open restaurant nearby our condo."
"It's your choice; where do you think we can enjoy the night?" I said that and took a sip of my brewed coffee.
"I heard Clay went to Duke's condo yesterday; Aria said she even asked Duke if he was the one who posted that picture. But he denied it; who do you think will post it?"
"I don't know, love; I don't have any idea who can do that."
"Okay, love, don't stress yourself too much. By the way, congrats! I heard you got the beading."
"Yeah, I just found out when I came here."
"You're a great architect; you can do this, love." He smiled and leaned in to kiss my forehead.
Kiel was about to kiss me when I saw, in a flash, Duke standing at the door. I distance myself from Kiel and pretend nothing happens. Kiel sat in the chair, and Duke went in.
"I need to go, Odette; my manager just called, and the movers are almost finished. I need to pack my things." He smiled and waved at me.
"Sure, take care." He left us I saw Kiel looking at me.
"You distanced yourself when you saw him? Why would you care about him? Even if he sees us kissing, it's fine. He knew I was your boyfriend, not your fiance. So why do you do that?"
"Kiel I hope you understand that seeing my best friend for almost a decade hurt because of me is not easy for me. I hope you understand that." He chuckled and drank all his coffee.
"You care about what he will say, but you didn't care about what I felt when you distanced yourself. Odette, it's normal if I kiss you, even if I do it in front of everyone. But I think it wasn't what you wanted." I know I stepped on his ego, but it wasn't what I wanted. I just want my best friend to get healed. But I didn't want to hurt him. It wasn't like that. I love Kiel so much, but I also love my best friend; he has been by my side since we were kids. I can't bear to see him hurt. I sighed and looked down. I can feel him looking at me. He held my hand.
"Sorry, I just felt jealous seeing the way you acted earlier. You never distanced yourself from me when I was kissing you. If you felt concerned about him. I will understand; after all, he was your best friend before he became your ex." He kissed my forehead and smiled at me.
"Thank you, love; I just don't want to see him as a burden; I know he wasn't okay. And I'm the only one to whom he was talking when it came to this. I know it was hard for him to distance himself from me when I was the reason why he was burdened with problems right now."