Meeting again

Earlier….

It was a crisp Monday morning when Charrisa pulled her car into the parking lot of Xander Constructions. She took a moment to smooth her hair and adjust her clothes before stepping out of the car. With a deep breath, she approached the building and entered the reception area. She kept her back straight and her chin high, trying to exude confidence and poise. 

"Hello," she said to the receptionist.

"I'm here to see Alexander."

"I'm sorry ma but do you have an appointment with him?" The receptionist asked.

"Wow!! So I need an appointment to see him now? Is this my first time here?" Charrisa asked the receptionist in an annoyed tone.

"I'm sorry, but I can't let you go in there," the receptionist said, trying to sound firm and authoritative. But her voice betrayed her fear, and Charissa felt her anger rising even further. 

"Do you have any idea who I am?" Charrisa demanded, leaning forward and getting into the receptionist's personal space. The receptionist took a step back, shrinking away from Charrisa's gaze. 

"I-I don't know who you are, but I can't let you in without an appointment," she stammered. The receptionist's eyes widened in surprise as Charrisa's arm pushed past her, and she struggled to regain her balance. 

"Ma'am, I'm just doing my job," she said in a shaky voice. Charrisa's anger was growing, and she could feel her face flushing with heat. 

"I'm here to see your boss, and I'm not leaving until I do!" she said, raising her voice. The receptionist hesitated, unsure of what to do next. She glanced nervously towards the door to the office, and then back at Charrisa. 

Just then, the elevator opened and a tall, distinguished man stepped out. It was Alexander Lopez He looked at Charrisa and the receptionist, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion. 

"What's going on here?" he asked, his voice authoritative but not unkind. Charrisa whirled around, ready to confront him. But as soon as she saw him, her anger melted away. 

"I'm so sorry, Alex she said, her voice faltering.

"I didn't mean to cause a scene, I just needed to talk to you about something." 

With a sigh, Alex walked over to the door and opened it.

"Let's take a walk," he said, gesturing for Charrisa to follow him.

They walked out of the receptionist hall and into the hallway, where the receptionist was standing, looking slightly shaken. Alex gave her a reassuring smile and then led Charrisa out of the building. They walked in silence for a few minutes, the only sound the click of their shoes on the pavement. Finally, Alex spoke. 

"You said you had something to talk to me about?" he asked. 

"Yes….it's about marriage," Charrisa said coyly. "What marriage?" Alex asked nonchalantly.

 "Aren't we going to get married?" Charrisa asked.

"Alex it's been four years since you divorced Dunice and I've been with you all along so why are you acting nonchalant?"

Alex looked at Charrisa, face hard and unyielding. "We're not getting married," he said, his voice firm and unapologetic. "It's not going to happen, so don't get your hopes up." 

Charrisa felt the words like a punch to the gut. She couldn't believe that after all this time, Alex was still so cold and distant. She felt the anger and sadness welling up inside her, and she struggled to keep it under control. She felt like she was going to explode.

"You're an idiot," she said.

"I'm an idiot?" Alex said, his voice incredulous.

Yes, that's what you are …..a f**king idiot is what you are Alex!!! She screamed at the top of her lungs. She was embarrassing him and this behavior of hers angered Alex greatly.

"Is it because of that f**kig bitch you married at first?" Charrisa screamed angrily.

"You can't get her off your mind, right?" That's why you haven't moved on after four years? "That shows how less of a man-"

"Charissa!!! " Alex roared, cutting her off from whatever trash she was about to spill and Charissa flinched. 

"Can you just shut your fucking mouth up?"

Alex asked with gritted teeth he could feel his anger simmering beneath the surface His eyes were red and his veins began to pop out. He clenched his fist so tightly that his knuckles became White. He took a deep breath struggling to remain calm. Charrisa was Still trembling at the sight of him angry.

"Oh my God, what have I done?" she mumbled to herself.

Finally, he turned and got into his car, starting the engine and driving away. He didn't look back. he was fuming. He was so focused on his anger that he didn't notice the car in front of him slowing down. He slammed on the brakes, but it was too late. The car swerved into the oncoming lane, and he heard the screech of tires as another car swerved to avoid him. He felt the impact of the collision.

Back a the hospital…..

Dunice and Alex snapped out of their trance.

"What are you doing here Dunice asked Alex slowly?"

Alex blinked. "Sorry was that your daughter?" Alex's jaws worked up as he asked.

"Was he jealous?"

"No that can't be,"Dunice thought to herself.

"She's my daughter." She said as she took on his features.

"You cause me pain when I am with you and when I am far away from you? Duniced asked as tears welled up her eyes. "What do you want from me, Alex?"

I'm very sorry Dunice, it was an accident." Alex said with sad expression.

Jeffery was just staring at them as the drama unfolded, he tried connecting the dots and he sensed that that was Dunice father. The striking resemblance between Alix and Alex was evident.

"Oh no!" Jeffery thought internally. Her ex-husband can't be back. This development bothered Jeffery greatly as he was afraid that Dunice might fall for him again.

"I should have punched him harder" Jeffery muttered to himself.

"Doctor, when is my next appointment?" Dunice asked the doctor.

"Tomorrow morning ma'am..... you can come back tomorrow" said the doctor.

"Thank you.... tomorrow it is then," Dunice replied and she stormed out of the hospital and Alex quickly followed Dunice. 

"Why are you here, Alex?" Dunice asked, her voice shaking slightly.

"After everything that happened, I never expected to see you again. So why are you here now?"

Alex looked at her, his expression unreadable.

"I know I hurt you, and I'm sorry for that," he said slowly.

"But I'm not here to make excuses. I just wanted to apologize and to tell you that I hope you're happy now. You deserve to be happy." 

Dunice stood in shock as Alex spoke. She had been expecting him to make excuses or try to justify his actions, but instead, he had apologized. And not only that, he had acknowledged that his apology was not enough to make up for the pain he had caused her. She felt a mix of emotions - relief, anger, sadness, and something else she couldn't quite put a name to.

As he turned to leave, she found herself calling out to him.

"Wait," she said, and he turned to face her.

"Why are you doing this?" She asked as tears rolled down her cheeks.