Page 198 of My Ruthless Neighbor

As soon as we get a table at the front patio of the restaurant, I waste no time ordering food and water for us.

First, I gulp down half the bottle of water. After my thirst is quenched, I focus on the food.

Lifting the huge burger, I take a bite and close my eyes, shuddering as the salty taste burst on my tongue.

I am chewing and savoring the taste when a shadow falls over me.

I lift my head and find a white woman with a low bun dressed in a pantsuit smiling at me. “Is this seat taken?”

Chapter Forty

One week later…

Archer didn’t call the entire week. Not even a single text. I am back in that familiar yet unfamiliar state. The time where life was lonely before him. I’m back to where I was.

I have great friends, true. But it’s not the same. Archer wasmyperson. At least I thought he was. The person I was dreaming to build a life with. Then reality woke me from that dream.

I still go to KIM Advertising for the shoots because I am the face of their on-going campaign. But I never get to see Archer. He has isolated himself. Raleigh’s words.

He is continuously working and barely spares time for anyone. Not even for Raleigh and Hannah. And when he is not working at the office, he’s out. He is handling outdoor meetings himself even though there’s a team dedicated for it.

“It’s like he is purposely avoiding everyone,” Raleigh said with a frown yesterday. “Did something happen between you two?”

I kept my face neutral. “No. And besides, you really think he would let our relationship affect his work?”

He just shook his head.

“What?”

“You have no idea, do you?”

When I kept staring at him cluelessly, he said, “The moment you started working here, you changed him. Of course, it didn’t happen overnight. It happened gradually. Slowly. But we saw it all. His frustration with you, then his obsession when he couldn’t keep his eyes off you. He was friendly with us but also distant in a way. That had changed. He softened. Became more… human instead of the work machine he was. And it didn’t take us long to figure out who was the reason behind this change.” He bumped his shoulder into mine playfully.

It took too much strength to keep my tears at bay after listening to him.

I saw that too. I saw the change in Archer like them. And wanted to hold on. To hang in there until he embraced this new version of him. But he pushed me away.

I was falling apart and each day felt like a war but I kept showing up because this project is important to him.

My days were flying by because of work but my nights were empty and miserable.

Not even a second passes by where I don’t think of him. Has he eaten yet? Is he still having trouble sleeping? Is he overworking himself?

Many times, I caught myself lurking in the hallway.

Being the best liar that I am, I lied to myself that I was just walking in the hallway night after night because walking after dinner is good for your body. But my heart knew the truth. It knew that I was out there waiting so I could catch sight of him. To know that he’s okay.

People might think I am a masochist. That I don’t have a backbone because I still worry for him after what he’s done. I am not a masochist. Because I know what I saw in his eyes when he looked at me.

He is not the villain he portrayed himself to be. He has feelings for me. I am not blind. He is just afraid of accepting it. And sadly, only he could fight his demons and set himself free.

I tried doing it and he refused my help. And while I know Archer has feelings for me, I will not go to him. Because he has to take the leap of faith. He has to meet me halfway.

I don’t know if he will ever do it though. All I know is, I could never love any other man again. And to be honest, I don’t want to. It’s kind of peaceful being alone. Better than what I am feeling right now at least.

Because everything freaking hurts. It doesn’t help that I am a model of KIM Advertising because every inch of the place reminds me of him.

It hurts to breathe knowing he might be somewhere around here. Nevertheless, I show up every day with the same radiant smile. Acting like everything is okay.

---