12 Born to hurt each other

It was getting late but Nadine was still in her office checking some reports of her company about to fall to the bottom of the floor.

Her head was dizzy so she couldn't even think. "Should I ask Simon?" Nadine mutters thoughtfully, she's lost a lot of investors and her company was in danger of going bankrupt.

"Or should I admit defeat to Marcell?"

Her tears almost dripped her dreams, her life, and her hopes even her pride was in this company. The company she started from advertising star agents to cheap products until she managed to build her entertainment agency. The sweat she shed at that moment stung like drops of blood. But in less than two days the company was almost destroyed.

"It's still not too late to give up, Nadine."

Nadine lifted her head when she heard the voice she hated so much.

"What are you doing here?" Asked Nadine.

Marcell smiled meaningfully and walked over to Nadine's table. He saw the messy pile of files on Nadine's desk and then looked at Nadine's tired face.

"Of course to see you, I miss you so much."

Nadine laughed at Marcell's answer but after that, her laughter disappeared. "How about your date today? I heard the prime minister's daughter is very beautiful."

"Is there any other woman in this world who is prettier than you? In my eyes, no woman is as beautiful as you. "

"Oh really? I know that, but at least you will stop bothering me after this."

"What are you talking about, the proof I am in front of you now."

"Yes and I should've kicked you out a few minutes ago, considering this is my office and this is my company. You can't come as you wish."

Marcell smiled again, he leaned over and looked closer at Nadine. "Why bother to find me a wife when my soul mate is you?"

Nadine just smiled reluctantly, she returned to focus on her work and chose to ignore Marcell.

"You can be queen and don't have to do all this tiring work if you want to marry me."

"Become a mannequin?" Nadine answered with a mocking look.

"Become whatever you want."

Nadine then got up from her seat, walked over to Marcell, and straightened Marcell's tie.

"The only thing I don't want to do is be your wife."

Marcell looked at Nadine angrily, he pressed Nadine's body and made Nadine cornered on the side of the table.

"Nadine, don't make me keep doing things that hurt you."

"I'm used to getting hurt, I won't be afraid."

Marcell clenched his jaw, he touched Nadine's nape and brought her face closer. "Nadine, what's so hard to accept me? We've been together for a long time."

"We're destined to hurt each other, you know that?" Nadine replied, she held her breath because Marcell was very close to her, the fear she used to feel when Marcell almost raped her was back Nadine feels now, but Nadine tries to hide it.

"You're just in denial, I know you want me. Just because your mother married my father doesn't mean we can't be together, Nadine."

"Marcell, I rejected you because I couldn't love you. I don't care about the relationship between our parents. I just hate you already."

Marcell was furious, anger mixed with disappointment.

"I can't fall in love anymore," Marcell remembers how Nadine cried after school at that time when she broke up with Justin.

Could it be because of Justin? Marcell wondered in his heart, but it can't be because he already erased Justin from Nadine's memory when Nadine had an accident ten years ago.

"What is the reason?" Marcell asked quietly but Nadine didn't answer. "I ASK WHAT THE REASON, NADINE!"

Nadine was getting more and more frightened by Marcell's screams until without hesitation she grabs the flower vase that was on her table and hits it on Marcell's head.

The vase fell off and Marcell's head was bleeding, but Marcell still didn't let Nadine go.

"Does hitting me make you less hateful for me?"

"Even if I kill you, I won't lose the slightest bit of my hatred for you. I can never love someone who forces his will on me." Nadine replied with red eyes and a body that began to tremble.

"You made me force you," Marcell whispered in Nadine's ear.

Marcell pulls Nadine's body until she falls onto the sofa, then Marcell quickly moves closer and restrains Nadine's movements.

"Even though you hate me, I don't care anymore Nadine. I just want you to be mine."

Nadine laughed to cover her growing fear.

"Marcell, this method doesn't scare me anymore. You want to do it so do it, I still won't accept you."

Marcell was getting angrier, but Marcell moves away. Marcell prefers to kick the sofa next to him to channel his anger.

"How can I get you, Nadine? I'm so desperate."

Marcell cries, Nadine knows that she has hurt Marcell a lot but Nadine still won't use pity as an excuse to accept Marcell.

Nadine then got up, she stepped past Marcell and grabbed her bag which was on the table then stopped for a moment to look at Marcell. "Instead of finding a way to get to me better find a way to forget me," Nadine said before walking away leaving Marcell.

***

Nadine hurriedly opened the door of her car, shaking her body so that she couldn't help but open the door if Sammy hadn't opened it.

"Sorry, I'm late." Said Sammy regretfully, he was busy taking care of the penthouse that Nadine wanted until he just returned now. Sammy saw what happened between Nadine and Marcell in Nadine's room earlier, but Sammy decided not to go in because he saw Nadine so tough against Marcell.

"Sammy, take me home now," Nadine said, her eyes red and her body shivering even after she entered the car.

"Are you okay?" Sammy asked when he saw Nadine looking for something in her bag in a hurry.

"Of course, just run the car."

Sammy looked annoyed, he then took over Nadine's bag and took out the medicine from the bag.

"Should I beat him up?" Sammy asked after giving drugs to Nadine.

"No need, I already hit him," Nadine replied, who finally began to feel calm after taking the medicine.

Sammy then started Nadine's car engine and took her away

"Did you get it?" Asked Nadine.

"All done."

"Then I want to go back there."

"Okay."

It looks like Nadine was starting to close her eyes, Sammy was now convinced that the reason Nadine moved all because of Marcell.

Sammy was the only one who knows about the incident Nadine was almost raped by Marcell besides her parents.

"Sammy ..." Called Nadine with her eyes still closed.

"Yes ma'am?"

"I'm sorry, I kept keeping you busy even though you were getting engaged soon. You can take time off and prepare your engagement well."

"No need, we're just doing simple events. I can't leave you like this."

Nadine sighed heavily and then burst into tears. "I would feel alone if I didn't have you. Thank you for being my best friend all this time, Sammy."

Sammy held back his tears, his heart hurt when he saw Nadine sad. It would be better if Nadine scolded him or shout it out to him.

They met in college. Nadine helped him pay for the operation of his father who had cancer and they have been close ever since.

"Listen to this Nadine, you always had me. Whenever you call I will come to you."

Nadine smiled, she wiped her tears and said "I think I'll be jealous of your fiancé."

"Then you also have to find a partner so we can go on a double date."

Nadine started to laugh softly "Oh come on, just because it's already outside of work hours then you just taunt me. I will have a boyfriend, but later after this crisis is over. Yeah, I hope I can get through it." Nadine sounded sad at the end of her sentence.

"You can do it, ma'am."

" Oh come on Sammy, stop calling me like that when we're not working. "

"You said I shouldn't be impudent."

"Ok, do whatever you want. Do you know? My mom should have married your father and not Marcell's dad so I would be very lucky to have a brother like you."

"And I'll be miserable all my life."

"Oh come on Sammy, stop making fun of me."

Sammy laughed, he was glad to see Nadine forget her anxiety.

***