Dangerous Desires

28

The members tried to keep their attention on the meeting, but it was clear that my and Mark's display of affection was the focal point of their interest. Even as they actively participated in the discussion, their gazes occasionally flickered my way, drawn back by the unusual display.

The tension in the room was palpable, the atmosphere charged with a mix of confusion, intrigue, and a hint of anticipation. No one knew for sure where this was all going or what the eventual outcome would be, but one thing was certain - my little act had thrown a wrench into everyone's expectations.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the meeting came to an end. The members began to disperse, some still shooting curious glances your way. They were no doubt eager to exchange their thoughts and theories outside of the room.

Arsenio, now left with no choice but to confront the situation, slowly stood up, his expression stoic. He stood there for a moment, his gaze fixed on me, a slight twitch at the corner of his eye showing the inner turmoil he was experiencing.

The tension in the room skyrocketed as the other members slowly began to file out, leaving just me, Mark and Arsenio standing there. The door closed softly behind the last member, finally leaving the three of us alone.

The silence in the room was deafening, the air so thick I could cut it with a knife. Arsenio's eyes remained locked on me and Mark, his jaw clenched tightly as he struggled to control his emotions.

The first to break the silence was Mark, his tone casual yet laced with a hint of challenge. "So, that meeting was productive," he said, his arm still casually draped around my waist.

Arsenio's gaze flicked to Mark, a flash of irritation flashing across his face. "You're one to talk," he shot back, his voice low and tense. "You two seemed to be enjoying yourselves a bit too much."

"What do you mean by that? I'm just sitting on his lap and he's holding me,".

Arsenio's eyes narrowed slightly, his irritation growing with each passing second. "You know what I mean," he bit out, his voice strained. "It's not about just sitting on his lap. It's about the whole display. The affection, the subtle touches, the way you're leaning into him."

His gaze turned sharp as he continued, his frustration edging into his tone. "Don't play coy with me. You know exactly what you're doing, and you know damn well what it looks like."

"That me and Mark are in a relationship? Yeah, that's what it is," I replied.

Arsenio's jaw clenched so tightly I could hear his teeth grind together. "You think you're so clever, don't you?" He spat out. "But you're not fooling anyone. I know damn well you're not dating him. This is all just an act to get under my skin."

"After you texted me days ago about the break, I realised I needed to move on. Your little apology the other day meant nothing, you knew you were losing me and you got scared," I replied.

Arsenio's eyes flickered with a mixture of guilt and defensiveness. There was a flash of vulnerability in his expression that he quickly tried to mask. He knew I had hit a nerve with my words, but his pride was stopping him from fully admitting it. "So you decided to get with Mark? Really?" He said in a low, incredulous tone, trying to mask the pain in his voice. "That's your idea of moving on?"

"I need someone that doesn't throw my feelings under the bus. I already know you have been sleeping with people,".

Arsenio's cheeks flushed with a mix of shame and anger at my accusation. Despite it being true, he couldn't deny the sting of my words. He opened his mouth to protest, but shut it again, swallowing his words. 

My bluntness had hit a nerve and he was visibly struggling to come up with a response. The weight of his mistakes and the consequences of his actions were clear on his face, even if he wouldn't openly admit it. 

"At the end of the day, Tenebroso will still be your son, I would never make Mark his Dad because you are his Dad. Tene will always know that but it's clear that you need space away from me. To be honest, you were happy with the pregnancy it was obvious. However, when I did give birth. You started to realise that you weren't ready for fatherhood anytime soon," I said gently.

Arsenio's shoulders sagged slightly, the weight of my words hitting home. He couldn't deny the truth in my words. He had been excited at the beginning, but as reality set in, his fear and doubts had started to take over. The stress and responsibility of fatherhood had been weighing on him heavily. His gaze flickered to Tenebroso before returning to me, his expression conflicted.

"You're right, Mark and I aren't dating. I just did this plan for a bit of revenge however, I am living with Mark because I have no other place to go and he offered to help me. I loved you so much Arsenio, you took me in when I was 16 when I lost my parents and gave me a small job to live on. And I had a massive crush on you and years later we did fall in love and I accidentally fell pregnant. But that doesn't change the fact that we falling in love shouldn't have happened, I think we both were looking for someone to be cared for," I spoke gently.

The mixture of emotions on Arsenio's face was palpable. There was a hint of regret, a flicker of remorse, and a deep sense of longing. He knew the truth in my words. The timing of our relationship had never been ideal, but it had felt so right in the moment. He swallowed hard, his throat feeling tight. "I never meant for things to end up like this between us," he said softly, his voice carrying a note of remorse.