The Infamous Billionaire

Chapter 22: Exorcising the demons

(Max's POV)

Walking down the hallway, I was filled with remorse again as I try to reassure myself that it's better for Andrea to know, if not everything, some of the important aspects of Cassandra and I's history. I can hear and smell her whipping us both some amazing breakfast choices but just thinking about food makes me feel nauseous.

"Good morning, Max." Andrea greets me formally and I internally sigh knowing that there's still a big wall that had only recently erected another tier that separates us, not figuratively, but seeing that we're emotionally unattached as of the moment kills me.

"Good morning, love." I respond, emitting somehow a lighter tone to our situation. She can withhold her affection for me but it's not my choice to do so. "What are you making? Do you need some help?"

"Spanish omelet, bacon, toasted bagels and apple juice and no thank you, for your help offer. That was nice of you to do so." She remarks and I just nod, not knowing what I should add to our conversation.

"Things haven't been nice between us around lately and I know that, baby, but please-"

"You promised we will discuss it someday. I'm just trying to get myself together, awaiting for that moment."

"You sound like a ticking time-bomb."

"Maybe that's because I am one, Max. Now, can we please leave this conversation and move to something else? I don't know, maybe like office-related or something?"

I sighed. There's no way I can actually carry on with this conversation anyway but I can't think of any topic to bring up so I just shut my mouth and sat there patiently waiting for our breakfast.

Things have been going downhill ever since that day. It's been three days now and we have been nothing to each other but curt and clipped with our words being exchanged and people in the office noticed that so they kind of backed up a bit and kept their distance. I know I can't keep going on like this any longer so I wanted to talk to her. Soon.

"Andrea, can we please talk now?" I said, hearing my voice tainted with despair. Andrea sighs and she sits in front of me in the dining room.

"Okay. Let me start by saying sorry for, uh, avoiding you. That was a petulant move for me and I'm sorry. I'm ready to talk now, Max." Andrea said and offered a tight-lipped smile which I returned as it elicited happiness deep within me. It's been days since I saw her smile and I'm just glad that she's smiling again.

"I completely understand and you don't have anything to apologize for." I said and she nodded.

"And no matter what happens, just know that I love and always will love you, okay?" I asked and reassured at the same time and she slightly blushed.

"Max, I love you too and whatever you should tell me, you better tell me now because my imagination is running away from me and it's going to places I don't really wanna go to." Andrea admits.

"It's nothing big like me planning universal domination through hypnotism or such but it is important for you to know this." I said and she giggled on the 'hypnotism' part.

"Okay. Carry on, then."

I heave a deep sigh. Showtime, Bravucci.

"Here goes. So there was this pretty girl I met in the playground before which is now under a pile of debris of the Liberty Tower just seven blocks down from here named Cassandra and she we grew up together. We were fond of each other so much to the point that we were protective of each other and we didn't like other kids being around one another. Possessive was a trait I had back from my uterus days, as mom described." Andrea laughed again with my connotations from my mother, trying to keep the conversation light as possible.