PARANOID

Speaking of Damian, where on earth did he go?


It is past four, and I am freaking out here with distress, for hell's sake! Does he know that? Didn't he say he would return before 4? Curse this fucking anxiety!

Beeb! Beeb!

You should see the commotion and the velocity of my hands as I each reach for my buzzing phone from the table. Gosh! I might suffer an anxiety attack if I don't get a grip on myself.


Caller check.

frown!


Eyes roll!

Bitter sigh!

Really? I thought it was him calling to elucidate why the fuck he is taking eternity to return. Just where the fuck is he?

"Yes, Grace?"

"Woohoo! Someone is in a terrible mood. What happened? Had a conjugal fight with Damian last night?"

Here comes my freaking, irking coffee shop partner. The queen of gossip and dirty minds. Madam CID! She is just...aargh! "Why did you call? Is there a problem?" I perch my itching butt on the table to give my legs a break. I have been pacing back and forth in this office since that b*tch walked out.

The cold chicken and chips are still lying on the table untouched. Damian might have carried my appetite with him. Or was it that witch! Sigh!

"Not at all. I just wanted to tell you that your prince charming was here."

Confusion slaps me unaware. Silence! I hearken to the cold adrenaline surge until it thaws at the bottommost part of my spine. I think I swallowed my tongue too.

Damian went to my shop? Without telling me? Why? I mean, if it was coffee he wanted or the desserts, we could have gone together. Was that why left me freaking out here in such a hurry? Just to go to my shop?

"Was he with anyone?" My insecurities brat out, invoking a chuckle from Grace that aggravates me to the core. "Grace?" I scold. I wish she could know that I am not in the mood for any of her jokes right now. I am dying over here with curiosity.

"Sorry, Ellie! You sound like an insecure, jealous bitch right now. Your poor faithful and caring prince charming doesn't merit that, you know."

Ooh, yeah? And since when did she know there was that much to vouch for him? Bittersweet sigh!

I am lacerated between flashing a smile and acquitting a bitter sigh. A part of my heart wants to twerk with a thrill at that sentiment of him being faithful, but deep in my brain, what the receptionist whore said to me is still lingering.

What the fuck did she mean by ‘he will soon toss me aside and go back to her as always'?

‘Cool, Ellie! That bitch just want to mess with you. She is green-eyed. She want to ruin your relationship with Damian so she can have him. Compose yourself! Ignore her.'

There!

Ahem!

I swallow my paranoia and insecurity, and haul my tongue from my lungs. "Forget I asked that, Grace. What did he want?" I ask, changing the topic.

"If I tell you, I will betray my promise to him. Sorry, but you will have to wait for him."

Wait, put the damn cool that I have amassed aside!

I thought I had it with today until now. Why on earth would my fiance and my best friend meet behind my back and keep secrets from me, huh?

Strange! But my ego doesn't allow me to solicit. "Why the fuck did you call then? To wrap it around my face that you met with my fiance in secret and only the fucking devil knows what?" I blew up. I am losing it. I know.

"Correction, boss! Your fiance came to your shop to ask me for a favor. We didn't meet in secret, as you are implying. What is wrong with you, Ellie?" That must have hurt her. I am not apologetic, though.

What is wrong with me, huh? "The fact that you called me for nothing! You know what? Just keep your fucking secrets to yourself, and just make sure my shop runs smoothly if you don't want to taste my wrath."

"Yes, boss!"

"And, Grace, Grace!"

I smash the damn phone on the floor and stumble over its scattered slabs as I furiously stride to the couch and slam on it.

The nerve of that bitch to hang up on me! How dare she?! I am her freaking boss. I am the one at the edge of all the overwhelming sh*t happening today, and she has the balls to hang up on me.

Can this cursed day just end already? It seems like the devil has his eyes exclusively on me today. Well, he indisputably won, because I am about to blow up! I have had more than enough of today to cry out loud!

After moments of shifting on the couch and breathing outrage, the door opens slowly, and this annoyingly dazing guy walks in.

Finely trimmed hair. Unbuttoned blue denim shirt over an untucked white Tee. Blue-fitting lagged jeans. White canvas!

Okay? Okay!

I sampled his gorgeous outfit from head to toe, and he looks so cute. He is smoking hot in this casual outfit.

I spring to my feet, while his eyes are glued to the littered segments of my broken phone on the floor. "What the heck happened here?" He queries, locking the door and taking three strides inside, but stopping to sweep the floor with his eyes before boring into me. "Are you okay? Did anything..."

"Where the hell did you go? Why did you take that long?" the words just rain from my words non-stop. I am feeling hot all over from my face to my toes.

He furrows his eyebrows at my upheaval, and I challenge him by lifting my eyebrows. Don't you dare lie to me, Damian! "I first went to the airport. Then I proceeded to the police station. After that, I went home, did a few things, and then came back."