MARRIED ACCIDENTALLY

CHAPTER 49

Ann’s POV

The longer I stand outside the door I just slammed shut, the more the panic streaming down my veins. At the thought of Vince opening the door and dragging me in.

My hands are trembling beside me and my insides are in disarray.
Did he just tell me he likes me?

As much as I want to ignore what he said and assume they are meaningless words, I can't help but think about it.

Vicente has never said a word like that to me. He doesn't look like someone who would say such words without meaning.

Same way he doesn't look like a man who would love.

A man who would give love.
Who would sacrifice for love?

Mentally slapping myself for thinking too deeply, I step away from the door. He didn't say he loved me.

He only said he liked me and that doesn't mean a thing.

It shouldn't mean anything to me.
I like him as well. Just like I like Luca and Tess and Fernando.
There is nothing more.

The relationship between Vicente and I should be considered platonic.

No matter what I do or how long I desire to hear more endearing words from him, this thing between us will continue to remain a facade.

There can't be a romantic relationship between us. Even if we kiss a million times. Or sleep next to each other.

Since I have to go to the hall earlier than others, to meet with the chefs, I hasten my step along the empty hallway till I got to the elevator.

Mark promised to plead on my behalf.

The excitement I was feeling before we got here had vanished into thin air. Now I am beginning to regret why I had to come in the first place.

Or rather, why I had to come with Vince in the first place. Maybe if I had come alone, we wouldn't have had this argument and I wouldn't have been so irate and less enthusiastic about these practical exams.

As I step away from the hallway, towards the lift, my phone rings in my pocket. I grab it to see Tessa’s name flashing across my screen.

“Was at the house. Heard you went on a trip with the boss,” the sarcasm in her voice makes me roll my eyes, wishing she can see me.

“Sort of,” I mutter in a low tone, going into the elevator.

“You okay?” She asks with concern, probably thinking I am still zoning in and out of grief.
“Isn't Vicente there with you?”

“He is.”

There is silence from the other end.

“It's not a trip per se. I had to come for the culinary practical examinations,” I inform her. “Just thought it was a good way to forget about…”

“That's a good one, Ann.”

“Thanks.”

“So Vince decided to tag along?” She demands with curiosity and I nod as if she can see me.

I stand still for a while, debating whether to tell her about what happened between Vince and me. The elevator begins to descend downward.

“Wow, that's new!” She exclaims with surprise, making me raise a brow.

“What do you mean?”

“Fernando made me leave the office earlier because he mentioned he and Vicente had an appointment and lots of work to do at Vince’s afterwards. I decided to come keep you company and this is what I hear. Did that man just let go of an important appointment to accompany you on some trip or is Fernando lying?”
My jaws drop a little.

Vicente skipped an appointment just to be here?

“Tessa,” I call out, my heart pounding twice its normal rate. “Vince and I had a fight. Just now.”

“What happened?” She demands with curiosity.

I rub a hand over my face. “He told me he likes me, Tess.”

Tessa remains silent again. I stare at the screen to be sure she is still there.

“What?!”

“How can he like me? Why would he even say that to me when we both know what this is about?”

“He likes like you?”

“Yes.”

“So why did you fight?”

“Apparently, he doesn't like me. He's just saying that he does.”

“Why do you think he doesn't?”

“Because Vince doesn't love, Tess. He has told me that on numerous occasions. Everybody knows that about him. Even Fernando. You can ask him. Vicente doesn't know how to love.”

“I think we need to see as soon as you are back. We need to talk about this like-like situationship you are in,” she lets out s short laugh as I step out of the elevator, moving towards the hall.

“Don't be silly!”

“I'm not. What exactly were you expecting? Getting married for months without developing feelings for each other? Wake up, girl. It's expected,” she announce with a note of finality.

“You can't be serious, Tess. You know what this is. It was accidental and we will go our separate ways eventually.”

“Well, I don't see that happening…”

“Shut up!” Frustration chaffs at my skin.

She laughs again in a mocking manner. “See you when you are back.”

With that, she disconnects the call. This is when I realize the hall is empty. None of the chefs are there either.

Debating whether to head back to the room or not, I glance at my phone to see if we have twenty more minutes until the start of the exams.

With a sigh, I turn around and head back towards the elevator.

If Vicente has an appointment just like Tessa had mentioned, he must have a genuine reason for coming here with me.

I don't want to believe he is here because of Mark.
That is silly.

Maybe I should ask him. But what if he talks about liking me again? How do I respond to that?

How do I even react knowing full well how every part of my body was alive when he told me he liked me?

Ryan’s break up is barely up to six months. I can't go into another which will end in another tears.

I can't let Vince get to me no matter what he says. I shouldn't believe him. I need to stick to my decision to ignore whatever he claims to feel for me.

And if it persists, I will ask for an annulment so we can go our separate ways before it is too late.

I take the elevator back up and walk through the empty hallway again, my heart hammering so loudly in my chest with each step that moves me towards the door.

He must still be mad at me.
Still, I don't want to believe he meant what he said. He is way above my league and I don't think I can adjust to this life.

When I get to the door, I am thinking of knocking but on second thoughts, I decide to act nonchalant so it doesn't show I was a little affected by what he said.

With another sigh, I push the door open and enter.

My luggage is still in the middle of the room just like I left it. Everything is in their place except for two things.

Vince and his bag.

I walk closer to the bed where he had dropped the bag containing his laptop which I presumed he wanted to use for work while here.

But there is no bag on the bed. Instead, a small note stares back at me with a familiar handwriting I recognize as Vince’s.

Dread settles in the pit of my stomach as I pick the paper up to see the most unsettling four words he had scribbled.

“See you at home.”