AGAIN

Chapter Four

NOW

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.

.

He offers a hand shake that hangs in the air for a minute. "Been a long time, Dale. You still look smart and beautiful."

His steel blue eyes shine brightly with his sweetened smile. He still looks like when I last saw him except for his hair. The last time I saw it, it was longer and messy. It has changed. His brown hair is now darker and is cropped short around sides while slicked back over the ears, blending into the top, which is left long enough to be swept back. Although he looks more mature now, nobody can deny how striking this bastard is. He looks neat, professional, and I hate to admit it, but my heartbeat is getting faster and faster, especially now that he's staring at me like we're the only people here.

I can hear my pulse, the pumping of blood through my veins, circulating, reaching my face, which is now as red as wine.

No, Dale. Remember he's an asshole. I hear myself and it brings me back to reality.

I look at his hand, fighting the urge of ignoring it but then I decide to reach and squeeze it as hard as I can.

"Thank you. It's so nice to see you again, Daniels." As I add emphasis to the word, my eyes start to blaze and his smile fades.

**********

“Hey. Are you okay?”

“Hello?”

Julie waves her hand across my face and I immediately turn to her concerned expression.

“I believe you were zoning out. Are you okay?”

“Oh.” That becomes my only response. Honestly, I do not know what’s up with me.

Right after my encounter with that bastard, my mind keeps on flashing back to old memories and the emotions I used to feel seem to be coming back. Several daggers are ripping my scars open. And for that, I realize that time never heals anything. It just wraps layers of bandages around your injury until someone comes and slashes them one time then your wound is ready to bleed again. 

“Do you even realize you were staring at your glass for almost half an hour now?” She hides her worry by giving me a smile.

“I was? I-- I’m sorry.” I manage to drink my wine feeling embarrassed and look around hoping nobody else noticed what happened.

The guests are dispersed around the room and some are busy talking outside the balcony. I scan the room for the bastard and feel a wave of relief that he isn’t around.

Julie and I are sitting alone at the table and she is busy with her phone. When she places it back in her purse, she shrugs and looks at me.

“I think it’s late. Let’s go.”

“But-- How about them?” I hesitate and look over Wilson who is currently talking to one of the investors while holding a glass of wine.

“I think it’s alright. We still have a lot of work tomorrow and I know you’re tired.”

“Right.” I nod. She is right. Tomorrow will be a very busy day and we still need some things to prepare for the resort’s anniversary.

We both stand up and turn to leave after saying goodbye to the Chairman then to some of the guests.

I decide to go back to our office to get some of my things before heading home. I enter the bathroom to wash away the crimson hue across my face, which I always get from drinking alcohol.  I easily turn re-- crimson even with a little wine. I pat dry my face afterwards with a towel but I still look red. Ugh! I mean I still look crimson.