The FIRE in You

Chapter 20: Out of your league

"Well, that was dramatic", Jason said when it was getting too awkward. "I know right? Drunk Maya is too intense for me", Simone said while looking at me. She was as nervous as I was. "It's getting late. We should go", Ajax said while looking at Jason who nodded and we all stood up.

Christopher came to hug us goodbye while Ajax settled the bill. I tried reading his face but he wasn't giving out any emotion and it was suffocating me.

"Are you ok Sis?", Simone asked when Ajax was walking with Jason ahead of us. They were talking about cars, something that managed to get Ajax in the chatty mood. "Not really, I can't believe Maya did this. She knew today was important to me, why would she bring Lawrence? Why did she say all that?", I asked and she replied with a head shake.

"OK guys, have a good night", Ajax said after walking us to the door and my heart almost jumped out of my chest. "You're leaving? I thought you were spending the night here", I asked and he swallowed hard like he was trying to carefully pick what he wanted to say. I heard the door front door being shut, which meant Simone and Jason went into the house to give us some privacy.

"Aubrey... I think it's best if we just end things", he finally said and a tear fell from my eyes. I tried to find something to say but I couldn't. "Look, I didn't mean to lead you on but I think this is for the best. Maya's right, you're way out of my league, and even though I love you, I have to be realistic", he said with a straight face and it tore my heart apart. It's the second time he's confessing his love for me and it's only because he wants to break up with me. More tears came down my eyes and I found myself sniffing.

"I'm so sorry Aubrey", he said again as if it was supposed to make me feel better then walked away. I watched as his car disappeared out of my compound along with my heart.

I took a couple of deep breaths wiped my tears away then walked into the house where I found Maya watching TV with her favourite wine bottle in hand. "Is he gone?", she asked but i remained silent. The pain that I was feeling was too much and all I could think about was why me? I started walking towards my room quietly trying my level best not to let the tears fall in front of Maya.

They have never seen me cry. Not even once. I always made sure that I did it behind closed doors.

If I stayed and confronted her, I would show my weak side. That was not an option. I'm their big sister, I'm supposed to be in control no matter what.

I entered my room and locked the door. After standing under the shower head, I broke down. I cried so hard that I felt like I couldn't breathe anymore. It got worse when I started recalling all the times I found out Lawrence cheated on me. What the hell is wrong with me?

I opened my eyes the moment I heard a knock on my door. The memories of what happened yesterday rushed back making me lose all hope of waking up so I settled with covering myself up with the sheets and going back to sleep. It was a Sunday anyway.

"Aubrey! Just tell me if you're ok", Simone said making a tear fall from my eye. "I'm fine. Just leave me alone", I said as loud as I could. "OK, don't die on me ok? I love you, I have to go to work", she said then I heard her walk away.

I texted the maid to bring me ice cream and popcorn. And an hour later I was watching all the sad movies I could find on Netflix while crying more than necessary until I couldn't cry anymore.

Sunday was done and it was time for Monday, for the first time in a while, I couldn't wait to go to work.

My phone kept ringing and every time I looked hoping it was Ajax, I ended up seeing Denice or Simone.

I was not about to talk to any of them.

"Good morning Aubrey. I have your coffee and schedule. You're having back-to-back meetings today so I hope you're ready to get the show on the road", Nico said as I walked into the office. It was earlier than usual because I didn't want to meet my young sisters as Jenkins and I were leaving.

"Good morning Nico. Thank you. Please call Justin. I need to merge my schedule with his as soon as possible", I said making him look at me like I grew two heads. Yes, I was more of an office person but I intended to change that for obvious reasons. "Is there a problem?", I asked with furrowed brows making him swallow hard and shake his head.

"Who killed your bunny?", Justin asked while walking into my office with a cup of coffee in hand. His typical routine since day one. "Well, I wouldn't put it that way. Try being dumped because Maya decided to bring Lawrence as her plus one to Ajax's dad's diner", I said casually even though it stung like a motherfucker. "What?", he asked after choking on his coffee and coughing a couple of times. "She had the guts to say he was out of my league in front of the whole table too", I added. "Fucking christ! Why would she do that?", he asked. l and I remained silent.

I didn't know what to say.

"That explains the calendar merging", he said as if he was finally waking up from a deep sleep. "We have Philip on the pipeline. I was supposed to leave tomorrow evening. Fair enough?", he asked and I nodded. "Awesome, I'll have Nico handle the travel arrangements", he said then looked at me with a weak smile.

"I'll be fine Justin", I assured him. "I know. I'm just disappointed that's all. He looked like a tough one but I guess looks can be deceiving", he said then stood up ready to leave the room. "What does that mean?", I asked curiously.

"Well, I'm a man and I can tell you for a fact that he was smitten. Something is not tight. Was he hurt in the past?", he asked and I nodded. "Did he ever confess his love for you as in saying the actual words?", "Yap... twice. The second being when he was dumping me", "Huh! Ok", he said like he just had a revelation. "Justin!", I warned. "Give him time, if it was meant to be then it will be", he said with a smile then left.