Chapter Twenty: Inward Love and Pain

Romans' POV

My office was one of the restricted regions in my house, it was neat and perfectly arranged by me. I ordered the best quality wood for the desk from China. I also purchased quality armchairs, seats, cabinets and every necessary thing for an office from Dubai. Based on its comfortability, I preferred working from home.

Since the day Eliora showed up in my life, I stopped thinking straight. I had already admitted I have no feelings for her but my mouth speaks something else while my heart... speaks differently.

I sat on the armchair going through a document, my eyes were on the document but my mind was somewhere else.

*Knock* *Knock* *Knock*

A soft knock comes from the door and I lift my gaze away from the document.

"Who's that?" I asked loudly.

"Honey" creek, the door pulled open and Jennifer walked into my office holding a bowl that seemed to be containing fruits.

"Jenny. You know I don't like people in my office" I reminded.

"Sorry Hun. I made you fruit salad" Jennifer said, passing the bowl with a fork to me which I received.

"Where were you?" I asked tapping the armchair for her to sit.

"I went to visit Eliora," Jennifer said.

"It's Eliora girl again" I chewed delicately.

"Yaya. She said you stressed her on her first day" Jennifer exaggerated and I smirked.

"I promised you not to make things hard for her, don't you trust me?" I asked and she smiled.

"I was only kidding" Jennifer nudges me on my shoulder.

"Babe, how did you know Eliora's favorite movies? She was so happy, '' Jennifer asked anxiously.

"I guessed. Besides Jane watch those kinds of movies" I rattled out.

"Okay" Jennifer said.

"How's Eliora?" I asked.

"Finally you asked," Jennifer smiled.

"She's good and she will be going to the airport with me to pick Jane up" Jennifer said happily.

"Airport? Did you tell her about Jane?" I tried hard to hide my curiosity.

"Of course I did." Jennifer said enthusiastically.

How will she feel right now? Not telling her the whole truth about me... Will she feel hurt or something? I'm so sorry.Eliora.

"Hubby"

"Hubby."

"Romans" Jennifer tapped me repeatedly and I nodded.

"It's okay" I said and took back the document on the table.

"Why did you stop eating?" Jennifer asks, concerned.

"I lost my appetite." I said bluntly.

"Why?" Jennifer asked sadly.

"I just remembered I have a lot of paperwork to go through, please you can leave" I said politely.

"Honey..." Jennifer calls pitifully curving her doey eyes which I intentionally ignored.

"Leave" I said vividly.

"Okay. Please go to bed early" Jennifer takes the bowl from the table and leaves the office, I sighed.

The next day, I entered the elevator with my secretary.

"What's on my schedule?" I asked Paige, My secretary.

"You've a meeting by 10am, you've to meet with an investor in Johannesburg by 3pm. That's all sir" Paige said courteously and I nod.

"Have you seen Ms. Eliora this morning?" I asked nervously.

"Yeah. I saw her heading to the cafeteria with Ms. Jennifer " Paige said.

"Oh! My fiancee is also here?" I was somewhat annoyed.

"Yes sir." Paige said.

"I'll quickly check on her at the cafeteria then" I said, arranging my tie.

"Sir, you need to prepare for your meeting." Paige reminded me politely.

"I'll be quick" I assured and the elevator opened immediately thus I stepped out leaving Paige to head back to my office.

The office cafeteria was one of the quiet and organized places in this company, the interior materials were also of quality. As I walked into the cafeteria, I saw Jennifer already seated with Eliora and they were drinking coffee and pie. I approached them.

"Honey." Jennifer said happily.

"Babe" we exchanged soft pegs on the cheek while Eliora watched in silence.

"Good morning sir." Eliora greeted politely.

"What are you doing here?" Jennifer asked anxiously.

"I was passing by so... I saw you" I lied, Jennifer believed but Eliora smirked.

She knows when I'm telling lies.

"Have a seat then." Jennifer said and we both sat down.

"How are you Eliora? Jenny won't keep shut about you" I rhetorically asked nervously.

"I'm fine sir. Jennifer is just addicted to me, I don't know why" Eliora said with a smile on her face. It softened my heart.

"Cool" I nodded.

"Today is Friday, so I'm discussing the surprise I have for Jane with Eliora," Jennifer said.

"Ohh" I raised a brow.

"Jenny loves surprises... You know" Eliora said nervously and I nodded.

"That's her." I said.

"So what's the surprise?" I asked.

"I'm not spilling" Jennifer said lovingly and I smiled.

"How about I kiss you, can you tell?" I asked sarcastically.

"Is this some kiss and tell?" Jennifer asked teasingly and Eliora smirked.

"Maybe" I curved my lips.

"Okay. Go ahead and kiss me" Jennifer said excitedly.

"Ehrm.. I'll leave you both to discuss then" Eliora nervously stands up and I paused.

"Why?" Jennifer asked.

"I.. I really have to clear up my desk so I can join in your surprise" Eliora smiled.

"Sure" Jennifer agreed and Eliora walked out of the cafeteria, I continued staring at her.

"Babe." Jennifer called me out.

"Yes." I turned to her.

"So, the kiss...?" Jennifer asked with a toothy smile.

"Eliora... Is she dating someone? I mean, kissing in her present must have made her feel uneasy" I asked rhetorically, trying to get an honest answer.

"Actually she thinks men are scum, she did engage in two relationships or so but after her graduation everything ended" Jennifer explained briefly.

"Oh. I feel bad for her. A pretty lady like her without a man" I said, fringing a frown.

"Oh really, then how about setting her up with some blind dates?" Jennifer asked anxiously.

"Blind dates?" I was startled.

I really was startled because I wasn't ready to see her with another man when I existed, it's not as if I care but at least... I'm not ready to see her move on... for real.

"Honey" Jennifer called sadly and I sigh.

"How about letting Eliora make a decision for herself?" I said.

"Left for her, she isn't ready to move on." Jennifer said sadly.

"Let her be, with time she will find her Mr. Right" I said with assurance.

"Okay then" Jennifer adjourned.

"I'll leave you now" I said.

"To where?" Jennifer asked.

"I have a meeting by 10" I informed her.

"Oh! You really have to go." Jennifer said persuasively.

"Okay. Take care and call me if you need anything" I said lovingly.

"Thanks babe" Jennifer smacks a kiss to me smiling, I laughed and walked out of the cafeteria.

The day went by smoothly as I traveled out and came in quite late, I entered into my living room looking exhausted.

"Honey!" Jennifer exclaimed.

"I thought you said he wasn't coming back?" Eliora murmured.

"What is she doing here?" I asked in confusion.

To me, I feel Jennifer is really causing trouble unintentionally but it isn't her fault because she doesn't know about our past.

"We're preparing the surprise for Jane tonight" Jennifer chirped.

"It's already late, Eliora needs to go back home" I reminded.

"Yes Jenny, I need to leave." Eliora said, avoiding my gaze.

"Leave where? It's already 11:30pm, I can't let you leave." Jennifer disagreed.

"She lives next door."

"I live next door."

We said almost in unison and Jennifer frowned.

"What?" I asked.

"Can you be nice to my visitor?" Jennifer asked sadly.

"Of course but your visitor doesn't want to stay." I said vividly.

"Jenny, I'll come back tomorrow morning." Eliora sadly suggested.

"You will stay here, final!" Jennifer took my suitcase and left in the elevator.

"Oh god" Eliora sighed.

"Are you alright?" I ask, concerned.

"It's nothing" Eliora walks toward the armchair.

"Make yourself comfortable" I said.

"Comfortable?" Eliora asked.

"Of course." I nodded.

"Okay" Eliora sits on the armchair.

"Is dinner ready?" I asked nervously.

"Yeah. Jenny prepared your favorite" Eliora said as if provoked.

"Then come, let's eat." I said.

"How about Jennifer?" Eliora asks, confused.

"Don't worry about her, she isn't coming back" I said.

"Why?" Eliora asked anxiously.

"I need to apologize of course" I said as we walked to the dining room.

"Oh" Eliora nodded.

We took our seats and I turned the wine into glasses.

"So, who's Jane?" Eliora asked as she started eating.

"My sister." I said truthfully.

"I never knew you had a family" Eliora sounded jealous, I smirked.

"We aren't destined to be in the first place... so you missed your chance of getting to know my family" I said annoyingly and she laughed in mockery.

"What?" I asked.

"Nothing" Eliora drinks from the glass.

"I don't know how to say this politely but you need to stay away from me and Jennifer.... You know what would happen if Jennifer finds out about us" I said vividly.

"So.. what do you intend to do?" Eliora asked in provocation. I could see she's trying to hide her anger.

"I don't know... Avoid Jennifer and mind your business, also avoid me and don't bring up the past whenever we are together, I have moved on" I paused.

"Eliora, you need to move on too... I'm not coming back to you" I added sadly and Eliora smiled.

"Jennifer is my friend." Eliora said confidently.

"Then be her friend and don't hang out around us! Your friendship should end in your house, hang out in arenas and not in my house or company." I said angrily.

"For goodness sake, your fiance fuckingly invited me here!" Eliora raised her voice annoyingly.

"Can't you reject it?" I asked mockingly.

"I'm out of here!" Eliora hits the fork on the plate and leaves the dining room angrily, I sighed.

What did I just do? What came into me?

My heart pounded heavily and I felt a little pain around my chest, so I pushed the plate aside and left for the bedroom.

Lying on my bed trying to catch my sleep even when my alarm kept on reminding me it's morning, I couldn't sleep last night because I felt disturbed on how I acted towards Eliora.

My bedroom door swung open and I gradually sat upright.

"Jenny, you could have knocked," I said.

"Where is Eliora?" Jennifer asked in anger.

"Is that your morning greeting?" I asked slyly.

"Where is Eliora?" Jennifer asked again.

"Why don't you go ahead and marry Eliora if you're this concerned about her?" I asked annoyingly and Jennifer exhaled.

"Honey. Please don't be hard on Eliora, she's going through a lot" Jennifer said sadly.

"A lot, you mean?" I asked, concerned.

"Eliora doesn't have any family on her side, they all abandoned her. She doesn't have a boyfriend... I'm her only friend in NY, can't you see she's already so pitiful?" Jennifer asked with a big frown on her face, I felt bad.

"I'm really sorry. I really have no idea about all these" I gently rub my forehead sadly.

"She left last night." I muttered.

"Last night? Goodness" Jennifer impatiently rushed to the door.

"Wait!" I stopped her.

"Where are you going?" I asked anxiously.

"Eliora didn't sleep last night, I need to go meet her and apologize" Jennifer said worriedly and rushed out of the bedroom, I fell back on the bed sighing annoyingly.

What have I done? How am I to apologize? Urgh! There's no way I'll be with her and not develop feelings... The best thing to do is to avoid her but... Jennifer won't just let us be. Fate.... I sighed.