Page 42 of Falling for the Orc Alien

“What am I going to do?”

With one look at my holo, I had an idea of where to start.

I stormed down to my office and found him. “Lyle!” I shouted, and he stopped mid-step, turning to face me.

“Vanessa?”

“Don’t!” I held up my holo, the pictures flashing where everyone could see. “He has a family? Kids? Really?” I shook my head in disgust. “You lied to me just to end my relationship. You gave me false information to manipulate me.”

The anger I felt earlier now bubbled up within me, threatening to burst out of my chest. How could he do this? To think, I had looked up so much to him for guidance and support. Now, all of that was gone.

I wanted answers right then and there. What made him think it was okay for him to do this? Why did he feel the need to meddle in something so personal?

Lyle seemed taken aback by my sudden outburst but stood his ground as I questioned him on his actions.

As I waited for Lyle to answer, I could feel the tension between us growing. His eyes darted around the room, avoiding my gaze. I could tell he was struggling to come up with an excuse, but I was in no mood for his lies.

“Answer me, Lyle,” I demanded, raising my voice. “What made you think it was okay to do this? To interfere in my personal life in such a way?”

He finally met my eyes, his expression almost softening, though it was too late for that. “Vanessa, you were letting him ruin everything you built. I just didn’t think he was right for you.”

I scoffed at his words, feeling my anger rise yet again. “And you thought it was your place to decide that for me? To manipulate me into ending things with him?”

“I just wanted to protect you,” Lyle said, his voice barely above a whisper. “I didn’t want you to lose everything because of him.”

I took a step closer to him, my anger hitting a boiling point. “You don’t get to decide what’s best for me, Lyle. And you definitely don’t get to lie to me to get what you want.”

I let out a sigh, feeling drained from the emotional rollercoaster of the past few hours. “I don’t know if I can forgive you for this, Lyle. And I quit.”

As I stormed out of my office, I could feel Lyle’s eyes boring into my back. I didn’t care. He had crossed a line, one that I couldn’t forgive him for.

I made my way back to my room, sitting on the edge of my bed and staring at the holo in my palm. Zorak’s face smiled back at me, and I couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret.

I had let my insecurities and doubts get the better of me. I had let Lyle’s lies cloud my judgment. And now, I had lost the man I loved.

But I wasn’t going to give up that easily.

I got up from the bed, determined to make things right with Zorak. I knew I had hurt him, but I hoped he could see that my actions were a result of my own fears, not a lack of love.

I took a deep breath and dialed Zoe’s number on my holo. It rang and rang, and just as I was about to give up, her face appeared on the screen.

I knew that I had to get Zorak back, and there was only one person that could help me. “I need your help,” I said before she could ask any questions.

“I’m on my way,” she answered immediately, clicking off the call.

Ten minutes later, Zoe was at my door. She didn’t say a word as I filled her in on what had happened and why I needed to go back to Zorak. She simply nodded, seeming to understand without needing any explanation.

We decided that the first step would be for me to pack up my things and go back to my mom’s house. I grabbed a few suitcases from the closet and started filling them with my belongings, all while Zoe talked me through everything, wishing me luck as I left.

She smiled encouragingly at me as she watched me pile my stuff into the car, giving me an extra hug before pushing me out the door. “Go get him!” she yelled, and I took off toward the ports.

I rushed to catch a space flight to Orkaris, hoping I wasn’t too late. The ship was scheduled to leave in an hour, and the line at the ticket counter seemed never-ending.

As I waited in line, my heart raced with anticipation and fear. What if Zorak had moved on? What if he didn’t want to see me? I tried to push those thoughts aside, focusing on the overwhelming desire to make things right with him.

Finally, it was my turn at the counter, and I quickly handed over my ticket and ID. The clerk scanned it and nodded, handing me my boarding pass. I practically ran to the ship, my heart pounding in my chest. I raced through security and arrived at the gate just as they were beginning to board.

I took my seat, my heart pounding as the ship took off into the vast expanse of space. I couldn’t believe what I had done, but I knew that I had to try to fix things. I couldn’t imagine my life without Zorak.

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