Chapter 137 - Fear of the Unknown

Allie was reaching for a folder at the top of the shelf when someone knocked on the door. She did not turn to look who was there. Her secretary was the only one allowed inside her office, except for those who had special arrangement with her. She would always inform her through phone calls once her guests were already in the waiting lounge. 

It was already three weeks since the day the Lopez's were at her home, surprising her with Adrian's true identity. No one could ever tell the depth of her joy in such a good news for her ex-husband but the whole family's treatment of her as still a part of the family, made her awkward. Though in her heart was always him but the damage was already done. Too many people were involved, especially Hayri who did nothing but all what's best  for her.

Just as she was about to turn back to her table, a pair of two arms hugged her from behind. With his chin resting close to her neck, he whispered, "I miss you so much."

"Jie..." she took a deep breath as she tried to push him away, "this is not right anymore."

"What's wrong?" he asked, locking his hands on her abdomen.

"Do I have to keep on reminding you that there's nothing between us anymore?" A lump then began to form in her throat. If only  things were not as complicated as it were between the two of them, she would have no second thought in choosing him again. 

"No need but no one can stop me, either," he answered, keeping her still in his arms. How he wished he could bring back the time when they were still in the highlands of Molave, carefree and happy.

"I never cheated on you in those five years I had been with...," she paused, feeling uncomfortable in mentioning the name she knew would hurt him, "Hayri."

"It's something in the past. I don't want to hear about it anymore," he replied, a jolt of pain reminded him of his festering wound inside his heart. 

"But he's not a past anymore. What I want to point out is that I had been faithful to you though there were things beyond my control," Allie tried to stress it out, hinting out those unrestrained acts of Hayri in pulling her into his stolen kisses. She couldn't blame him either. All the while, Hayri was thinking she was not tied, according to her false and deceiving backround.

Ajie did not reply for a moment, though he gazed into his eyes as she spoke. The message she implied spoke so much about her honesty and the sense of remorse engulfed his whole being once again.

"I also want to be faithful to him, just as I was with you."

What could he do? He started this and he deserved to suffer the consequnece. He planted a kiss at the top of her head before she released her. "So much for that, let's have lunch together."

"That would be better..."

Ajie then pulled out his phone and called up someone who must likely be a restaurant staff and few minutes later, a delivery boy arrived with the food. He set it up on the coffee table while trying to come up with topics that wouldn't be uncomfortable for her. Sitting up across her in a while, he decided to bring up business-related agenda.  Only then would she be not agitated to talk to him. It was so sad for him to see that the woman who was once his wife, had already become alienated. 

"If I may suggest, Rough Seas should start manufacturing our own proucts. We are currently depending on suppliers. So, I think the company would become more stable that way."

Allie looked at him with an amused expression. Just when did this man start considering entrepreneurship? For all she knew, he only wanted to build and design marine vessels but running the business side of it was beyond his forte. Somehow, it was a relief to know that he was the lost son of the famous tycoon of the maritime industry because all his production would be maximized without giving much thought about it. Only that they could have both worked it out together and build a name of their own.  While she could build and design, business was also her forte.  

"This is only my side business, I still want to just build and design... " she protested, having seen through all the hidden agenda behind his proposal. 

"You would not necessarily do it with your own hands. We can always hire people to do it for us."

"Do you think so?"

"Of course, let's do it one at a time and we can plan for it together..." a cunning smile broke out in the corner of his lips. 

"I knew it already. I have seen it ahead," she laughed as she picked and rolled up a tissue paper, throwing it on his face afterwards. 

"Who said I'm denying it? Is it wrong to become my wife's suitor again?" 

Seeing her laugh just like the old times, warmed his heart. Damn it, she even became more beautiful as the years went by. Her postures and movement became refined and an aura of elegance radiated within her. She's no longer the typical factory worker, serving a drug cartel. 

He reached out for her hand at the top of the table and covered it with his. When she did not react or pulled her hand away, he stood up and cupped his face with his hands, drowning her laughter afterwards in a deep kiss. 

Little did they know that Mr. Dioko was  there watching them. Neither one of them heard him when he knocked and turned on the knob, their racing heartbeats were too loud for them to notice his presence. 

Only when Mr. Dioko was unable to prevent the slightest sound of a closing door, did they both turned up and saw his retreating figure. Nothing could appease Allie's guilt as she realized he had seen them. No father would be pleased to see his son's fiancee kissing her ex-husband. Allie turned pale in her guilt and her already soaring heartbeats were further driving her crazy. What would she do?

Few minutes after, her phone rang. It was Mr. Dioko. She stared at the phone's screen and debated within herself,  whether or not she would pick it up. She shivered in fear and Ajie got scared that it might affect the baby.  

"Fear of the unknown is scarier than the truth so you should face him. I'll shoulder the blame."

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