Silent Eyes

46, The Breaking Point

She thought it was all over, but it wasn't. As Monica stepped out of work, she swung her bag over her shoulder, ready to head home. However, her pace slowed when she spotted Andreas standing outside. He stood motionless, hands in his pockets, puffing on a cigarette. Frowning, Monica attempted to pass him, but he stopped her with a question.

"You're not going to ask why I'm here?" he said.

Monica kept her gaze forward as she navigated through the parking lot, but Andreas trailed closely behind. Reaching her car, she tried to slip inside, but Andreas leaned against the door, preventing it from opening. Monica sighed, rolling her eyes. "What now, Andreas?" she asked.

With a smirk, he moved closer, blowing smoke in her face. Monica coughed, waving it away as she stepped back. "What the hell was that for?" she snapped.

Andreas' smile vanished, replaced by a furious expression. He flicked away his cigarette and hissed, "You've been ignoring my calls and texts!" The tension thickened as Monica swallowed, adjusting her bag strap. She couldn't deny it; she had been avoiding Andreas since that regrettable incident. Their relationship had shifted from not talking to not even seeing each other, until this unexpected confrontation.

"Andreas," Monica spoke, avoiding his intense gaze. "I'm just trying to get home. If you want to see Selene or something, just text Roy." With that, she opened the car door, but it abruptly slammed shut! Monica jumped, startled. Andreas was now in her face, his blue eyes ablaze, breathing heavily. "What do I look like reaching out to some other man to speak to my damn daughter!" he growled. Monica's lips sealed tight, and she swallowed, offering a soft apology. "I-I'm sorry," she said quietly.

Andreas fell silent, his eyes lingering on her lips before meeting her shaky gaze. Eventually, he stepped back and sighed. "Θεέ μου, αυτή η γυναίκα με στραγγίζει..." he muttered quietly. Then, he softened. "Monica, how are you?"

Monica tensed, caught off guard. "Huh?"

His question seemed unexpected and somewhat out of place. Nervously scratching the back of her head, she responded, "Good, I guess?" Andreas smiled, but it seemed forced as he chuckled. "Good, I was worried about you the last time we met..." The air grew tense as they both remembered their last encounter. Biting her lip, Monica tried to steer the conversation away. "That's nice to hear, Andreas. Are you doing well too?"

Andreas finally got straight to the point. "Damn it, Monica. Are you avoiding me because of Roy?" he demanded, glaring at her. Monica felt a wave of emotions flood over her, wanting to cry as she closed her eyes and groaned. "I can't deal with this right now!" she exclaimed, her hands flailing in frustration. She attempted to push past him, slipping into the driver's seat, but to her surprise, Andreas followed, sliding into the passenger's seat beside her! Monica gasped, shouting at him, "Get out!"

But he just snorted, swiftly reaching over to snatch her car keys. "No," he said firmly.

"Why not?" she gasped, her voice rising. Andreas cut her off sharply, his voice booming, "BECAUSE I'M SICK OF THESE DAMN GAMES!" His words echoed in the car, leaving Monica's ears ringing. With a shaky breath, she buried her face in her hands and began to sob. "I don't want to," she cried. "I don't want to talk to you, I don't even want to breathe the same air as you! Why can't you just leave me alone, Andreas? Are you trying to ruin my life?" she pleaded, turning to him with teary, red eyes and a runny nose.

In frustration, Monica had hoped Andreas would back off, but instead, he sneered at her. "Stop being so dramatic, Monica. You're acting like a παιδί," he remarked, dismissing her emotions. This was the last straw for Monica. Gritting her teeth, she lost control, violently slapping Andreas! He tried to shield himself and retreat, but Monica went further, digging her claws into his face while shouting, "Fuck you! Fuck you, and just leave me alone!" His screams echoed in the confined space as she continued to unleash her frustration, slapping and kicking him.

After enduring a flurry of hits, Andreas finally caught hold of her wrists. He held her back, pressing her down and heaving, attempting to restore some semblance of order to the chaotic situation. The car became a battlefield of emotions, the tension thick and hot.

As Andreas loomed over her, his expression twisted into fury, he demanded, "What's wrong with you?" But Monica refused to cower. She wouldn't shrink into herself and succumb to fear any longer. Fed up with Andreas' shitty behavior, she spat in his face, her voice trembling with anger. "Go ahead!" she challenged, her voice cracking under the weight of her emotions. "Just slap me, I don't give a damn anymore! Call the police or whatever and have them arrest me like you did back in Greece! Just..." Her voice faltered as she swallowed hard, her body trembling with the weight of her emotions. "Just leave me alone, please," she pleaded, her voice barely above a whisper, her spirit on the verge of breaking.

Andreas' lips met Monica's once again, but this time, she fought back, shaking herself free. Wiping her lips, she coughed forcefully, her eyes reflecting defiance. Andreas watched with pure rage. "You know what?" he threatened, shaking a finger at her. "You're not going to like what I will do." Monica dropped her hand from her lips, turning to face him, her anger open. "What? Just spill it already. You don't give a damn about me anyway!"

To her surprise, he cracked into a wide grin, laughing ominously. The sudden shift in his demeanor left Monica on edge, unsure of what was to come.

"You keep ignoring me, I'm taking Selene," Andreas declared, causing Monica's blood to run cold. Her voice dropped, trembling with disbelief, "You wouldn't do that..."

But Andreas continued laughing, pushing close and pressing her against the seat. He jabbed a finger in her face, taunting, "You don't think I will? The only reason I haven't done it yet is because... I do care about you, Monica. But if you want to stay with Roy, then fine!" He snapped, the tone turning menacing. "But I'm taking my damn daughter back to Greece, and you can stay here with that piece of shit. I'll cut you out of her life, and you'll never have the advantage to see Selene again!" The threat hung in the air, leaving Monica in a state of shock and fear.

Monica's eyes welled up, a lump forming in the back of her throat as she stuttered, "Y-You wouldn't do that..." Andreas chuckled, his touch gentle on her cheek. "I don't think you want me to test that out, Monica. I'm harsh, but trust me, I can be a devil." Their intense gaze held a certain tension, and suddenly, there was a shift in the air. Monica leaned forward, kissing him, and softly whispered, "Don't say that, Andreas. You can't be no devil. I didn't fall for no devil; I fell for Andreas Samaras."

And suddenly, they were meeting up behind Roy's back on occasion.

Monica would either spend her breaks with Andreas or he'd arrange a hotel for them to fuck. She went as far as sneaking out of bed in the middle of the night just to drive over to his house for a special rendezvous. Andreas was constantly messaging her, and she didn't bother hiding it from Roy, casually glancing at her phone and even teasingly tapping her nail on the lewd texts. She was completely infatuated with him, and it was unhealthy!