Chapter 97 Denying Oneself Happiness

Through his case of nerves, Xavier managed to get himself out of his car. As he walked over to greet the two women, his steps came to a slow down and then stopped when he saw the two women out of the car. One was barely suppressing their annoyance while the other could hardly suppress their joy.

"Mrs. Howell?" Xavier called out in shock. He looked into the car and the only person remaining was his mom's driver.

"Oh! Yes, Xavier. How are you doing dear?" Kris responded with a happy smile.

"I'm good", he managed to answer. He looked to his mother with brows raised silently asking her what happened.

Victoria desperately wished she could make Kris vanish in that moment.

Half an hour ago,

Victoria and Nicole had met at another café to have their brunch. They were already in the middle of their meal as they shared some light conversation.

"It just tastes so weird! It feels like rubber on my tongue", Victoria grimaced as she spoke.

"I know right! I just can't with mushrooms!!" Nicole agreed with her face mirroring the older woman's expression.

"Then there's Kris! Ugh! You should have seen her at the golf club last weekend going on about some diet she's on!" Victoria rolled her eyes.

Nicole chuckled in amusement. "How and why are you two friends in the first place?"

Victoria was about to speak when they both heard a familiar voice speak from above them. "Friends? We are best friends!"

They both looked up and almost choked on their food. Speak of the devil and he appears in the form of Kristen Howell. She chuckled when she saw their horrified expressions. She knew it! She suspected Victoria to talk about her behind her back and she had just caught her red-handed. The two silently watched Kris signal for a waiter who got her a chair before she occupied a spot on their table.

"I'll have this salad", she tapped on the menu book before handing it to the waiter who disappeared.

Victoria mentally scoffed. 'I guess the diet is still going on!'

"Like you heard, I'm on a diet. Logan will be throwing a surprise party soon where he will propose to his girlfriend, I need to watch my figure", she explained.

"Oh", Nicole responded quietly.

Kris gasped almost dramatically. "Did Torrie not tell you? I would have thought she did since it seems she tells you everything about me. I'll remember to invite you. Anyway, how's your head? I haven't seen you since she hit you with a golf ball."

Nicole forced out a laugh as she awkwardly picked up a croissant and made sure to avoid contact. Victoria's fixated her glare on the souffle as she forced herself to continue eating. The table fell into awkward silence. Soon the waiter brought Kris's salad.

"Thank you", she said with a forced smile at the waiter who left after serving her.

She looked at the lettuce and her face was almost as green as the food on her plate. She had been on this diet for the past week from when her husband had told her she had gained a little weight. The other reason was her genuine excitement over Logan's soon to come engagement. She wanted to look her best.

But after eating greens all week, she came out to cheat by buying comfort food but she didn't think she'd run into Victoria of all people. As long as it was the latter, Kris would always pay attention to her image. She looked at the chocolate dripping out of Nicole's croissant and subconsciously licked her lips.

"Nicole and I don't mind sharing", Victoria stared at Kris in amusement.

Nicole looked at Kris who was flustered as she forked a bite. "No, this is so good", she struggled not to look like she was being forced to eat poop.

"Really? Suit yourself", Victoria smiled while giving Nicole a knowing look.

p A phone started to ring and Nicole excused herself from the table to answer the call. The table fell into silence as the two older women ate their food. One clearly enjoyed theirs while the other tried not to throw up. Nicole didn't take long and came back with worry etched on her features.

"What's wrong dear?" Victoria asked when she saw this.

"That was my mom. My dad was hospitalized after suffering a heart attack", she spoke as she gathered her bag and jacket.

"Oh! Dear! That's terrible!"

"I have to fly to Dallas immediately", she said. She stopped when she frowned at the unfinished meal on the table and Victoria was able to guess what was on her mind.

"Don't worry. I'll take care of this", Victoria stood to give her a hug.

"Thanks Torrie. I'm sorry I can't accompany you and your son to Givenchy."

"Don't stress it. We can do that another time. Go home. Pass my love to your parents. I'm sure your father will be okay", Victoria rubbed Nicole's back before releasing her to go her way.

She sighed as she watched the young woman's figure disappear out of the café. Her mind could not help but replay how terrible Nicole looked. She looked like she was close to crying. Victoria felt her heart ache for her new friend.

"Givenchy? Getting ready for the Corporate gala?" Kris asked in curiosity.

Half an hour later,

Victoria sighed when she saw the excited Kris. She was doing this on purpose, probably to compete with her on outfits for the Corporate gala. She had gone as far as sending away her driver so she could 'spend more time' with Victoria, hence, the reason they arrived in one car. Xavier, who still had not received his answer, was still staring at his mother with brows raised.

Victoria sighed and led them into the building. One of the leading stylists welcomed them with his team. He usually took care of their outfits for such special occasions. While Kris chatted to Victoria, Xavier was quick to pick an outfit so he would leave. He had no reason to stay anyway.

"I have to take my leave. You ladies have fun", he gave them a polite smile.

"Yeah. Be safe on your way back", Kris responded.

Xavier ignored his mother's distressed look and went on his way. A melancholy look settled on the man's face as he drove back to work. The day had been such a disappointment. Why did he bother in the first place?

When he got to the company, he went straight to Zach's office instead of his own. He went straight to the liquor cabinet where he poured himself a drink. He took a sip and sighed when he felt the burning sensation relax him.

"I thought I'd meet her today but I guess something came up so it was just mom and Kris", he started.

Although Zach was concetrated on work silently reading whatever was on the screen, he could still pick up on what his brother was saying. Xavier knew this.

"I don't even know why I bothered. She could be anyone but I strongly believed it was her. Now I'm disappointed on what could've been..... Or not. Fuck this!" He sighed.

Silence echoed in the room as Xavier walked over to the floor to ceiling window to gaze down at the busy streets of New York. The world was moving so fast, yet he felt like he was stuck. He had never felt like this before. He sipped on his drink and enjoyed the burning sensation down his throat.

"The security team can search for her using the security footage from the club", Zach spoke. He had somehow managed to put two and two together.

"We wear masks when we go in and there were no cameras in the booth", Xavier responded.

"Then have them check the café's security footage to confirm your suspicions."

Xavier sighed. "I don't feel like doing this anymore. I'm tired."

"You could be denying yourself of happiness", Zach commented. His phone chimed quickly softening his expression as he picked up the phone.

Xavier could easily guess that it was his sister-in-law that was behind Zach's facial expression. One woman could do this to an ice berg of a man known as his brother.

Is he really denying himself of happiness by giving up on his search before he even started?