Deceptions of the Heart

An obsession is born

Roxanne approached Richard's table and sat opposite him. The male avoided eye contact and hesitantly continued taking sips from his drink.

"Look at me when we talk" commanded Roxanne.

Even if Richard didn't have the guts to look at her and knew what she wanted to talk to him about he raised his head.

"What did she want?" Asked Roxanne.

"Nothing for you to be worried about" replied Richard still avoiding eye contact.

"What.did.she want?" Repeated Roxanne in a more stern tone.

Richard gulped.

"She just wanted me to meet her".

"Why?"

Richard gulped once again.

"She said she found a way to convince Max to leave me alone".

"And what is that way?" Insisted Roxanne.

The male didn't reply.

Roxanne found his silence suspicious. She kept pushing him.

"I said what is that way?" She repeated.

Richard still didn't speak. He was lost in thought. The young woman was done with his crap.

"I said what is that-" she was cut off.

"Stop acting like a goddamn obsessed lovestruck!" Snapped Richard. "I told you why she wants to meet me!"

Richard's sudden outburst cut Roxanne off guard. As if this wasn't enough for her the elder man continued.

"Besides we broke up! Why are you acting all jealous now!?"

"Jealous!? Who said I'm jealous?" Roxanne snapped back.

"Everything screams about it Roxanne! You're attached to me! You love me! You're obsessed with me! Your actions, your words, your reactions, the way you look at Lizzy as if she's your worst enemy it all says that you are lovestruck!" Richard took this out of his chest.

Silence followed Richard's outburst. Roxanne was left speechless. The next thing the male said was something she could never believe would come out of his mouth and something that left her completely frozen.

"I manipulated you Roxanne. You and your emotions. I never loved you. You should have known by now. I am well known for my womanizing antics. I am known for manipulating women and make them fall for me. You shouldn't have trusted me..." And with that Richard stood up from the table and walked towards the exit.

"I'm sorry Roxanne..." He said finally and left.

The young woman was now left at the empty bar. She was supposed to be cleaning and helping with the closing yet she didn't. She was left sitting at that table gazing at the floor. What Richard had said made her rethink her life choices. Was she really obsessed with him? His words had gotten to her. They had hurt her like all those times in the past. She shook her thoughts off and stood up. She informed her colleagues that she wasn't feeling well and wouldn't help with the closing. One of her colleagues who knew what was happening (check chapter 5 in case you don't remember) spoke.

"Good luck".

Roxanne nodded in response and left.

As she walked memories from her past flashed in her mind. Richard's words repeated in her head. She couldn't have been so obsessed. She was disgusted just by the thought of it. But on the other hand why did he do this to her? Why did he manipulate her? He said she was different. He said that he loved her. So why now? Why did she have to go through this? Somewhere deep inside her she wished it was all a dream or a cruel prank.

Roxanne was so deeply lost in thought that she hasn't noticed a car coming straight towards her. She was snapped out of her thoughts once she heard the angry honk of the car.

"Watch out when you cross the road ma'am!" Yelled the driver.

"I'm sorry" apologized Roxanne and accelerated her pace.

Once she reached her home she collapsed on the couch and let out a sigh. She thought again everything that happened the last few days. How she met Richard, how she grew a soft spot for him, how she grew to love him, their first date, the passionate night they shared, how they parted ways and the words he snapped at her tonight. Those words echoached so much in her head that caused her a headache. She started sobbing softly.

"He couldn't have meant it. This must be a joke" she kept telling to herself.

She reached out for her phone. She opened her photo gallery and started scrolling on the pictures she had taken with Richard. They didn't know each other for a long time, yes, but they had already made so many memories to go to a waste. No, she couldn't be that obsessed with him. That's what she at least kept telling to herself.

Soon she started thinking about Lizzy. The way Richard looked at her and drooled over her, how she approached him, how they had a casual conversation and she couldn't help but wonder why did she actually want to se Richard.

"Could be... No!" She shook off her thoughts. "Richard wouldn't do that" she repeated to herself. Yet here she was. Opening another glass of hard liquor and drinking her heart out while somewhere else, in another place Lizzy Rider was having her fun with the man she fell in love with (or at least she thought so). She had to admit it. She was obsessed.