Do Us Part

47. "Dear, Henry."

 Chapter 47

Natalie

"I do not want to marry you, Henry." I blurted it out before I could stop myself.

"Wow." He scoffs and gets up.

"I'm sorry. That didn't come out right."

"Are you sure because it seems to me like you had that bottled up for a while?"

"Henry, I..."

"Do you love me, Natalie?"

"Yes. Of course yes."

"But not like you love him. Right?"

"What does Sam have to do with this?"

"Isn't it funny how you instantly know who I was talking about?" He scoffs. 

"Where is this coming from?"

"Every- thing?" He scoffs, humorlessly. "I've tried, Natalie. "I really, truly held myself back, and even though it killed me every day to see you with him, I let it be for you."

"Be with him?" I'm working with him."

He scratches his hand lightly. "You know, that is one thing I never got. "I don't understand why you had to come back to the life you left behind over a decade ago."

"It's work."

"Work.  Work. Work. Sounds like excuses to me. With Sam, you always find an excuse."

"You know I didn't want to come back, but I couldn't refuse an assignment."

"Natalie, you are Natalie freaking Bryce; you are capable, beautiful, and so smart. You could be anywhere you want to be. I told you to leave your job and come work at Meta, where you can show your potential."

"You mean, come work for you. I told you that I don't want to work for you, Henry. I want to work freely without question of favoritism from my boyfriend."

"How is that different from what you are doing with Sam?"

"I am not dating Sam."

"No. I mean, you only dated him for four whole years and were married for one, so no history there." He sarcastically asserts.

"Henry..." 

"I'm going to ask you something now, and as much as I would like to hear something else, I want the truth today."

"Ok..."

"Since you got back, has anything happened between Sam and you?"

"Anything?"

"You know what I mean."

"I...we."

"Dont lie to me, Natalie."

"No...I...We kissed..I..."

"Wow."

"It was just once, I swear." I said, in a pleading tone. "He was sad about his mom, and things got a little emotional, and we kissed for only seconds. It didn't even mean anything."

"That's all I needed to hear, Natalie."

"Henry, I..."

"We are done, Natalie."

"C'mon Henry. It was just a kiss, and it didn't even mean anything."

"Well, it means everything to me."

"You don't understand. He was sad about his mother dying and Maria leaving. It was just an in-the-moment kiss. He kissed me. I didn't..."

"You didn't kiss him back? Are you telling me you didn't kiss him back, even if it was for a split second."

"I..." 

"You know, I have always known that I am not your first choice and that you will never look at me the way you did, and I seriously was going to be fine with that because I thought, hey, love moves and changes people. So maybe my love will make you love me too."

"Henry, I..." 

"I am hurt, Natalie, but mostly angry at myself for not trusting my instincts like I typically do." He wipes away the tears that have now fallen on his cheek.

"I told myself that if you were after so long, it meant that you were done with him and perhaps wanted to get some closure from whatever it was he did to you, but I guess I'm the one who actually ended up getting closure on my first love."

Oh boy. I'm his first love?

"Henry, I am really so sorry..."

"We are done, Natalie."

----

I sighed heavily as I got in the elevator. I really hate how things unfolded last weekend. I can't believe Henry and I are broken up.

Oh God.

It's all my fault.

Why couldn't I just keep my mouth shut about what I did?

If I did, then maybe, we would still be together.

Oh Henry

"Good morning, ma'am." My assistant grins, and I nod at her and walked towards my office. She followed closely behind me.

"What's today's schedule?"

"Very light." She says and I gave a tight lipped smile and opened my door and entered. She held the door, closed it behind her and continues, "You have a meeting with the design team at 10 and another with the programming at 2, and another with research at 3. Then, your personal workspace which you asked me to schedule, starts at 4 till whenever time you would like."

I nod. "Ok, thanks."  I said and she begins to walk out of yhe room. "Did Henry call?" I asked hoping for a positive response.

"No, ma'am. Would you like me to call or leave him a message?"

"No." I yelled and she looked alarmed as her eyes widened for a second. Then, I cleared my throat. "I mean, that wont be necessary." I replied, calmly. 

"Ok, ma'am." She nods and left room almost immediately. 

Should I send him a text?

I remembered the look he gave me before leaving the decorated space - it was unlike anything I had ever seen from him. The sweet and loving expression had vanished. It left behind cold, hard, and resentful eyes, which broke my heart.

"Perhaps I should just give it time."