Her bedroom is empty. A flood of relief sweeps over me, a smile curls my lips. At least she has the good sense to keep T away from there. I jog down the stairs to my next destination—her home office. Making my way into the corridor, I pass through doors and voices from the third door have me pausing to listen.
A man is inside. He says something to make her laugh, I dig my nails into my palm and scoff. I raise my hand to knock but decide against it. After one glance down the empty corridor, I push the door open.
El jumps, her seat clatters to the floor and she smoothens the front of her gown. “Bran... Brandon. Hi.”
Barely looking her way, I fix a pointed stare at her guest. T is more coordinated, too relaxed for a visitor. He stands and turns slowly to meet my gaze, no hint of fear in the smile he offers me. I give the mocha skinned man a onceover. I am a foot taller, bulkier too, maybe I will break his nose to teach him to stay away from people’s wives. He stretches his hand to me for a handshake, I trail it back to his clean shaven face and arch a brow. He has guts, I will give him that. I will also give him a punch to remember this day.
“You should leave,” I say in an overly calm voice. In actual sense, it’s a command I hope he disobeys. My bruised knuckles itch to make acquaintance with his face, wipe that smug smile. “Right about now.”
The guy’s hand finally drops, he adjusts his suit jacket and sends a small smile to El. “We will talk, yeah?”
She looks at me, her gaze returns to him and her head bobs. He goes over to give her stiff form a hug, I release my breath slowly. She’s not mine any longer, she can hug whoever she wants. I shouldn’t care. His hair rustles when he whips his face in my direction, I shove my hands into my pockets to stop from choking him. Someone needs to shave his hair off. What’s a man like him doing with that much hair? A smile is on his lips as he walks past me, I follow behind to lock the door and rest my forehead against it.
Silence reigns over us while I try to recollect my thoughts, the tension is so thick I can feel it. I push away from the door to stand in front of El’s desk, pointing to her chair which she has already picked, I say, “Sit.”
“He is just a friend, there’s nothing going on between us, I promise,” she mutters. I cock my head to the side, she drops down to her chair and whispers, “Sorry.” I occupy T's former seat, she gulps. Rolling her lips between her teeth, her hands disappear from the table. She’s nervous. The nervousness rolls off her in big, fat waves. I don’t try to ease her anxiety, instead, I raise a brow and she runs her fingers through her hair cascading down her shoulders. Looking down, she says, “You didn’t tell me you were coming.”
A corner of my lips twitches, she must know why I am here. My fingers dig into the armrest, I nod. “I didn’t know I was coming.” Another long pause ensues, her mouth opens but I beat her to it. “Bri woke up.” It’s not an accusation or a question. It’s a statement, a fact. Her movements cease, she sits up and finally casts me a tentative look. I try and fail to smile so I settle for a nod. “Why didn’t you tell me?” I deserve an award for managing to stay this composed when all I want to do is scream in her face. “Why, Elna?”
The chair becomes uncomfortable, I stand and pace the length of her office. “You know how much I’ve waited to hear and see her,” I say. I am talking to myself now but the silence carries my voice to every corner. “You of all people should know, El.” I close my eyes briefly, my finger stabs the wall. “You and Sophia. Please tell me why.” I lift my hands to my face, tears sting the back of my eyes. “I don’t get it.”
Sophia might have failed to inform me about my daughter but it hurts more that El didn’t. I trusted her, I still do. She was there, I expressed my fears to her, she talked me out of the bad thoughts and when Bri wakes, she doesn’t even tell me? I glance at her, she swipes her hand against her runny nose. I need to understand. There has to have been a reason she decided against telling me. There must be a reason.
“Elna,” I say, my voice is sterner. “Why?” Her silence grates on my nerves, I shove the files on her desk to the floor and scream, “Why?” I bridge the gap between us, the urge to hit something takes over me and I slam my fist on the table. She flinches. “I need an answer, talk to me. Why didn’t you tell me?”
Fear crosses her face, she jumps back but I am far too gone to care. I missed my chance to see and hear my baby because of her. Why is she running? She is the reason I am this way. “Elna, please talk to me.”
“You don’t have to raise your voice at me, okay?” I slap a hand over my mouth because if I don’t, I will hurt her with my words. “I get it.” No, she doesn’t. She is not the one who has to live with guilt.
“Keep going,” I whisper.
“I fucked up by not telling you, I know I did. I’m sorry.” I grab her shoulders and shake her violently. She whimpers but the sound fuels my anger. I don’t need an apology, I need a reason, I need to understand why. My fingers dig into her shoulders, I twist her hand behind her and her face crunches in pain. She gasps but I don’t stop, I only apply more force, more pressure. “Brandon, stop. You are hurting me.”
I scoff. “Am I?” The pain she’s feeling now is nothing compared to what I have felt. What I feel. “Why?”
A tear spills to her cheek, I shouldn’t care but I do. I ease my hold on her without letting go. “I was trying to protect you.” She exhales, her free hand reaches up to massage her shoulder. “Please, let me go.”
“From what?” I don’t need protection. I tug on her arm one last time and release her. She scrambles far away from me, a sadistic smile curves my lips when she hugs herself and sniffs. One would think she was innocent, I thought the same too and what did I get in return? Betrayal. Hurt and more hurt. “You? The only person I need protection from is you, Elna Amahle. You make so many promises you can’t keep.”
The distance between us diminishes, she shakes her head. Her finger pokes my chest. “Don’t say that.” Her smile is jittery, I shove my hand into my pocket and she sniffs again. “You know I try. I try my best.”
“Apparently, it’s not good enough. You should have told me.”
An apologetic look crawls into her eyes, she retracts her hand. “Bri wasn’t awake for very long.” Is that it? One minute would have been enough. “I didn’t want you to be disappointed when you found out.”
“That wasn’t your decision to make. You should have given me that choice.” My chest deflates, I smile sadly at her. Tears run down her face, she tries to touch me but I step back. “You broke my heart, El.”
“I’m sorry,” she whispers.
She doesn’t meet my gaze and that’s okay. There’s nothing but disgust, anger and hate laced in my eyes. I know I am not the best man on earth but this is too much even for her. Sobs wrack her shoulders, the part of me that should have pulled her in for a hug or tried to comfort her just stares, unaffected by her tears. This woman hurt me, over and over again without care. But I still have one more question for her.
“If I didn’t find out, would you have told me?”
She raises tear coated lashes at me. “Brandon... I’m sorry.”
I nod, my fingers rap on her desk. I have my answer. “I don’t forgive you.” Stalking to the door, I pause when my hand is on the knob. “Enzo will come get the girls tomorrow. I don’t want to see your face.”