When LOVE is not Enough

Chapter 44 - Axel

"I gotta be honest with you. I never thought I would be having lunch with Axel Knox in a peaceful environment, I think I like this therapist of yours", Travis said when I invited him for lunch. He was right, it took me a while to get over the past and what happened between us. "Well we could always go back to being enemies", I suggested with a smirk making him choke on his drink. "Don't play with me man", he said making me laugh. "How's Emily and the kids?", I asked remembering the barbecue Emily invited me to. "They're great, the kids are still talking about you, I guess you gave Titan a run for his money", he said with a chuckle. Yes, Titan and I talk but we're clearly not going to bond anytime soon.

"Are you seeing anyone?", he asked finishing his last bite. "No man, I don't think I'll ever do that again. I just want to focus on Alice and my business that's it", I said trying my hardest not to think of a certain curvy woman that is simply irreplaceable. "If you say so, man. I'm not one to pry at other people's business but we both know she was the one. Trust me, I had to learn the hard way. I almost lost Emily and it made me go crazy, if Titan didn't step in, I would have been in an asylum by now", he said making me smile. He was fortunate to have a brother to look after him but for me, it has always been different.

"Good for you man, at least you had a brother who had your back", I said making him look at me with sadness. "I'm sorry man", he said just in time for us to hear someone call him. "Wade? What the hell man", Travis said looking excited. The guy was huge giving me bodyguard vibes. "Oh, crap! Axel, this is my cousin, Wade. I haven't seen him in ages. Wade this is Axel Knox, my best friend", Travis said startling the Wade guy. 

"Pleasure", he said shaking my hand. He had a firm grip, I think he's into boxing. "What are you doing here? Don't you have a company to run?", Travis asked still high on adrenaline. "Well, Monroe asked me to come and run his Microfinance for a while, he's launching the Empire and he wants to focus on that for now", he said with a smile. "Well the more the merrier, I'm happy to see you bro", Travis said then hugged him. "Me too T. I have a meeting in ten so let me get to it. Keep in touch...", he said then walked away.

"I didn't know you had a cousin", I asked surprised after Wade left. "Well I do, he practically grew up with us. His parents dies when he was a teen so Dad took him in. He's an awesome guy man", Travis said with pride making me smile. The only time I saw him this hyped was when he aced all tests in college. "Ok man, I have to go", i said then stood up and returned to the office. 

I found Blake waiting for me, he didn't look happy. "You don't look happy for an engaged man", I teased but he remained silent. I walked into the office and he followed. Nara brought me the contracts that needed my attention and then left. "Are you gonna say what's wrong with you or you're just going to look pissed for the rest of the day?", I asked making him huff.

"What's your plan with Angel?", he asked surprising me. "What do you mean?", "I mean, are you ever going to talk to her? Try to fix things?", he asked making me feel like I was being interrogated. "Why does it matter? I thought you said you were fine with me doing things on my own", I asked feeling like he was trying to push me into doing what he and Lily have been forcing me to do. I'm not ready to open up to anyone. I'm at the peak of my career and I'm on good terms with everyone so everything else can wait if you ask me. "He pushed his phone at me and there was an article about Monroe stepping down as CEO with a bunch of photos and then there she was. She looked beautiful. She was standing with Iris and Lily. I had no idea someone could become more beautiful. Her smile was so contagious, I found myself smiling too. 

"Why do you like lying to yourself? Why would you torture yourself like this?", Blake asked. "Because I'm scared ok!", I shouted surprising him. I've never raised my voice at him. He looked puzzled but less annoyed. "What? What are you saying X?", he asked looking concerned. I have tried to avoid this conversation with Rachel, Alice even Max yet here I am. "I'm scared. That's the reason why I broke up with her, I was scared that if therapy didn't work then she'll think I'm a disappointment again. You don't know how I feel Blake, none of you do, you try to convince me to get back to her but I'm the one that has to deal with the aftermath", I said with so much emotion that I felt my eyes were beginning to water and I was not about to lose my shit in front of my best friend. 

"I'm sorry X, I didn't know you were feeling this way, man. I wouldn't have brought it up but I think you should talk to her. I think what you're doing is not right. It's not up to you whether or not she's ok to deal with your mistakes. If I were you, I would want her to be next to me as I go through this whole thing. I would want her to help me through it and not push her away", he said making me furrow my brows. It was the same thing Alice and Rachel said.

I was surprised that she invited me for lunch at her place and even more surprised when she defended my relationship with Angel and even declared that she was not going to stop spending time with her just because I decided to ruin us. "Look, just stay out of it... please. I know Lily might be telling you stuff that makes me look bad and maybe I am at fault but this is the path I chose and if she's meant to be mine then we will meet again and who knows, we might end up together but as far as now is concerned, I'm good", I said then started reviewing the contracts Nara brought me.

"Fine, just make sure you're not late for the suit fitting, I need my best man looking on point at my wedding", he said then walked out making me smile. I opened my laptop and googled the Olympia website. I opened the gallery and started looking at Angel's photos only to land on one. She was standing with Wade and Monroe. That was not my problem, the problem was they were holding hands.