Friends with Benefits with Mr. CEO

Chapter 12

[ I apologize for the LONG wait for the twelfth chapter but I had a lot of things I had to take care of.]

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"Misty, wh-what are you d-doing here?" I stuttered in total shock.
"Well, I.. uhh. What is he doing here?" she asked, getting off the floor.
This is awkward. I knew the bitch was nosey but she has gone too far now.
"That is none of your business," I spat.
"I was about to leave anyway. Excuse me, Ms. Peters," Syl calmly interjected, walking through the door.
"Syl.." I begged but he ignored me and left anyway.
Oh my God.
"Misty, what do you want?" frustrated, I asked, "Why are you here?"
"Well, Mrs. Charles asked me to drop this off here cause you're sick. Well.. were sick," she replied sarcastically.
She handed me the small basket of goodies that fell from her hand when she fell on the floor from eavesdropping. I took it from her and put it on the table.
"Thank you. Bye now," I said, pointing to the door.
She looked at me as if I was forgetting something then said, "He's not your type, huh? I'm sure Mrs. Charles would love to hear about this."

For a quick second, I imagined myself jumping on top of Misty and beating the shit out of her. Fortunately for her, I retained my composure. However, it was hard for me to do so with her still standing there.
"Okay, if that's going to benefit you then go ahead," I said calmly.
Please be nice and keep your mouth shut.
Astonished, she looked at me. "I wasn't expecting that from you. And I wont. That would be too easy."
"What do you mean?"
"If you give me a hundred grand, your secret is safe with me," she smirked.
Blackmailing, nosey bitch!
"Take your offer and shove it up your ass and get out!" I yelled.
She laughed. "Okay, maybe that was a little too much. How about twenty-five grand and couple articles written by you in my name?"
Sigh, I cant believe this girl right now.
"Fine but I cant give you all of the money now," I sighed.
"So what's the point of fucking a CEO?" she replied sinisterly, "Alright but the longer you take, the more secrets will come out."

She smiled at me then left the apartment. I slammed the door then locked it, hoping she wouldn't come back and bust through my door again. I laid on the floor and curled into a ball then burst into tears. How could this happen? Not only did someone find out, but Syl left me.

Syl really left me.

This time for good. And it was all my fault. I was so blinded by the fact that I was the one who was really scared people would find out and I would lose my job. And also I was terrified of loving someone again. I forgave Chuck for what he did but I didn't let go of the hurt. And this kills me to know that someone is willing to be with me and love me like no man has ever done and I can't even say "I love you" to him even though I really want to.

But I am afraid.

The next morning I woke up with a splitting headache...
And a backache from sleeping on the floor. I didn't move from yesterday's 'comforting' position on the floor. I laid there crying for hours. Hoping.
Hoping that Misty was just joking.
Hoping Syl will come back and stay with me.
Hoping none of this ever happened in the first place and I would wake up from this awful dream.
But nothing changed.

I was still busted, being blackmailed and by myself.

I got up and headed to the bathroom. My eyes were so puffy and my nose was red. I looked like gang banged Rudolf.
Concealer couldn't fix this shit.
I showered, beat my face with makeup then got dressed for work. I checked my phone to see if Syl called but of course, he didn't.
He probably will never contact me again.

I got to work late seeing that I was in absolutely no rush to face Misty or write articles for her.
As soon as the elevator opened and everyone in my department saw me, they started staring at me like it was the first time I had ever stepped foot in here. I wanted to scream "Take a fucking picture!" but I took a deep breath and briskly walked to my cubicle. Suddenly, Misty walked over with that stupid smile on her face.
I just wanted to drag her face on the floor and wipe it off.
"Ready to do my work?" she grinned.
"Just tell me what the hell I should write about," I replied rolling my eyes.
"Listen skank, cut the attitude or else..." her devious voice chipped in then she smiled sweetly at me.
I always knew this bitch was crazy.
She handed me a paper with a list of things then said, "And I still want my money."

I ignored her and started working on the article for her. I couldn't believe she was doing this to me. I felt like telling Mrs. Charles about Syl and I myself seeing that Misty was doing this. I would've felt way better if Syl was helping me with this since this had everything to do with him. It felt weird not having him email, text or call me.
I missed him.
And looking at it now, I hurt him.
I hurt Syl.
I hurt the person who I was afraid would hurt me.
Yay Aria. Way to go.
I needed to find a way to fix all this before it gets way out of hand because if Misty continues to control me with her crazy ass I swear to God I'm going to hurt her.

I finished her article and handed it to her then left work. Mrs. Charles was calling me back when I headed to the elevator but I couldn't face her. I had too many tears in my eyes. I needed to talk to someone.
I wanted to talk to Syl.
But right now, I had no one.
I sat in my car in the parking lot crying. I could call Chelsea but her solution for this would be violence and I didn't want another problem on my hands. Plus, I didn't want to burden her with my problems while she was still with her husband.
Just then my phone rang. Syl!
Unfortunately, it was his mother.
"Aria, how are you dear?" she asked. She sounded really sad.
I sighed. "Not so good, Carol. There's a lot going on right now."
"I figured there was something going on. Syl wont speak to me."
"We haven't talked either."
"I'm worried about both of you. Can you meet me somewhere? I'm hoping you could talk to me since he wont."
"Sure. I'm about to leave work. Where should I meet you?"
"Soho house."
"Okay. I'll be there in twenty."

I arrived at Soho House thirty minutes later. She was already there waiting on me. Carol got up from her seat and hugged me. A sigh of relief escaped from my lips. It felt so good.
It wasn't Syl's but at least it was really close to it.
"Would you like something to drink?" she asked, calling the waiter over.
"Scotch on the rocks, please," I ordered then sat down.
"So what happened?" Carol asked, her eyes glossy and red.
Finally someone I can talk to.
She looked really worried though but I had to release this. I told her everything; from the moment Syl and I went to breakfast to the moment when Misty blackmailed me.
Carol sighed then put her head on the table. Her long, dark hair flopped over her face.
"Don't worry about that Misty bitch. I'll take care of her. All I want to know, Aria sweetheart, is why are you still scared?" she frowned.
"My past I guess. I don't want to be scared anymore though," I sobbed.
"Then don't be. You don't have to be scared," she replied, holding my hands.
"But what if he hurts me later on, Carol? I can't manage that," I sniffed.
She was quiet for a minute then I looked up at her. She wasn't looking at me. She was staring behind me.
"Well Aria sweetheart, you're gonna have to try and manage now," she whispered sadly, still not looking at me.
"Wh-what are you talking about? What are you looking at?" I sniffed, confused.
Carol pointed behind me, now looking away. She looked very ashamed. I turned around slowly.
There it was.
I was now staring at one of the things I feared the most.
"I'm so sorry, Aria. This is very disappointing to see," she sighed still holding onto my hands.
My heart stopped beating. I started sweating although the air conditioning was on. The room suddenly felt smaller.
"Aria, say something," Carol said louder, very worried.
I managed to get up and walked to the most embarrassing and heartbreaking thing I've ever seen in my life.
I grabbed the proof from the gentleman who was sitting a few seats behind me and held it up to my face. I didn't want to believe this but I did anyway.

A picture of Sylvester and Victoria half naked in an uncompromising position was plastered across the magazine. It read:

Victoria Laurent & Her Boy-Toy, Mr. CEO McMaster Together Again: Leaked Pictures of Couple on Page 15

I stared at the photo for a long while. Pieces of my already fractured heart shattered more as I looked at his soft lips attached her high cheekbones and how seductive she looked.

How could he do this to me? It's been just a fucking day!

The room started to spin. I could feel Carol by myside. I couldn't see her though. Everything was getting really dark as if someone dimmed the lights in here.
"Aria? Aria, speak to me! Someone help me please," I heard her say holding onto my weak body.

The magazine fell from the hands. All I could see was that God-forsaken picture until there was absolute darkness.