Clashing Hearts

19

Carter's POV

"What the hell son! Get up! I have to threaten the management of this damn condominium so I could get inside your unit."

The sound of my dad's thunderous voice woke me up.

I groaned and opened my eyes slowly but could not manage to move. I was tired, never been so drained in my whole life. At the moment, I wanted to get away from everything, to be on my own and lick my wounds.

Like a blow on my head, I realized something. I was not really happy.

Athena. I felt like I lost her... and suddenly, my life lost its meaning. 

We shouldn't have talked, we shouldn't have kissed. Now, my brain and body are a mess!

If I could turn back the clock, I would have been braver to show my feelings for her. She was right, I was a coward and a jerk. I acted childishly in front of her by using the hating game to get her attention.

"Get up now or I'm going to drag you out of that damn bed!" My dad, Iñigo Monteiro roared, getting angrier.

I raised my hand to silence him. "Dad... please keep your voice down, you're giving me a headache."

"Who wouldn't get a headache? You're trying to kill yourself drinking every night. You missed an important meeting yesterday. Mr. and Mrs. Nguyen's came all the way from Vietnam and you had Daniel talked to them? Not a good impression when that brother of yours hooked up with their daughter last night."

"He did?" I exhaled heavily then sat up on bed, leaning my back against the headboard as I raked my hair. 

Daniel was useless. I tried to help him to start getting involved in the family business but still he could not keep the zip of his pants closed. 

"Yeah! I need you to set up a meeting with the Nguyens now before they would start planning a wedding."

"Your son can't even negotiate a simple deal. I gave him an instruction just to act nice so they would sign the contract but he took it seriously."

"I don't know why that boy's mind is like a swirling pool. He's taking life so easy, always partying and hooking up with different girls." His lips twisted in irritation then frowned at me. "What about you? You're not acting yourself. I thought you're sick being absent in the office for two days, why do you have bottles of vodka in here? It's not the best pain killer son for love virus." His eyes darted at the two empty bottles of vodka on the bedside table. 

I shook my head and stood up. One thing that I could tolerate at the moment was an interrogation of who I was dating and getting in a relationship. I had too much man to man talk with dad when I was younger and I was not up to it at the moment. Showing vulnerability of my feelings was a big no-no right now. 

"How's Germany?" I asked to divert the topic.

"We had a great time. We stayed at Neuschwanstein Castle, a nineteenth century hilltop fairytale castle. Your mom enjoyed the most. She got to pretend to be Cinderella. We wore fairy tale costumes, rode a carriage and danced in their grand ballroom."

"I pity you dad, you had to bear everything."

Dad laughed richly. "No of course not. I love your mom so much and I'll do anything crazy just to make her happy. You will feel the same when you'll meet that special someone."

"That's impossible at the moment."

"Are you still seeing that pretty lawyer?"

"Nope, not anymore."

"So, who's responsible for these?" He pointed at the bottles of vodka. "She must be really something, huh?  I did the same thing when I thought I did not have any chance with your mom anymore. I swear, it's not a good remedy son, it could kill you."

"I don't want to talk about it, dad. I'll just get a shower and head off to the office."

"Come on, son. If she's worth fighting for, then go, fight for her. Don't lose your chance to be with her. Don't easily give up."

"Please dad, I don't want to talk about... her. I just..." I exhaled heavily and pressed my lips together. 

"Ah son-- the love virus hits you pretty hard. Take it easy for now, the universe will take its course and lead you back to her."

I wished he was right. But at the moment, it was game over for me. 

Athena's POV

"Carter... I... I'm not interested in the museum anymore. You can have it and... darn it! What I'm trying to say is, can we stop hating each other? I like you and I know that you feel the same way. That kiss... it's magical and keeps me awake every night... I can't marry Zion. I won't be happy with him. I want to be with you... you stimulate wonderful feelings in me. One moment, I got so mad at you, and the next, you made me laugh, so happy and in cloud nine... there's no dull moment with you."

I sighed heavily as I stared at my reflection on the mirror. I was practicing on what to say to Carter. The only way to talk to him was to go and see him in his office. 

I should tell him what I feel. It's the only way to relieve of this heaviness in my chest. It's up to him if he'll just laugh it off or hate me more. I just wanted to get rid of this ill feeling that have been bugging me recently. 

"Sorry, Miss Niarchos, but Mr. Monteiro went back to California yesterday. Should I tell him that you came to see him?" Carter's secretary said. 

Darn it, I regretted coming in his office, made me question my impulsiveness. I was too excited to see him that I lost my mind. 

"No, it's okay, I'll just call him."

"Do you have his personal number maam?"

"No... I..."

"Wait, it will just take two minutes, I'll call him if I can give you his number..."

"No...no... please don't. I'll just come back."

I was in a hurry to leave his office to save myself from humiliation. I did not know what I feel anymore, I missed him terribly. Every passing day, I became emotional, always spacing out, disoriented and could not focus on anything.

I went to a nearest coffee shop to organize my chaotic brain. I ordered caramel macchiato, just taking my time.

I took the papers that the waiter offered. I was turning the pages of the papers until I reached the celebrity news section. My eyes grew big when I saw a picture of Carter and a woman.

What a jerk! He's still dating Jenna Justice. 

I was enraged with anger and jealousy. 

My heart was torn into pieces when I read the caption below. They're engaged!

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