THE HANDSOME DOLL

CHAPTER XXIII

I get myself back to work at the central office the same evening. Running away from my responsibilities is not what Gregory taught me and I can't let him down. The situation between me and Boss Cheston should not interfere with the things that needs to be done.

Bruce and Mint went their way again and help me on the kitchen. Bruce's telling me a story about what's his wife doing to him when he comes home late. It was funny. We were laughing when Boss Cheston rushes up to the kitchen. He must have heard that I went to work today. He tries to hide it, but the surprise look on his face seeing me with them makes me want to laugh even more. He looks tired, his eyes sulk and his black blue hair uncombed.

He clears his throat first. "You're here.."

Bruce and Mint wink at me as if saying they'll be outside.

"I am here.." I answer without lifting my face. "Though its not what you think..."

He heard him sigh.

"Blythe Chavillon..." he whispered.

Just then, his brunette girlfriend walks inside. She looks at me and then to him, smiling.

"Cheston, honey.." she said, wrapping her long, slender arms to him.

I feel like slicing her to pieces. But between the two of us, I have no right to get jealous. He doesn't give me that privilege.

"Blythe Chavillon.. I want you to meet.. Paula Green.." the boss began.

I smile, I'm good at this, smiling. "Good day Miss Paula Green.."

She smiled back. "The girl at the restaurant?" and she ran her eyes from my short cut hair to my shoes while caressing boss Cheston's chest.

"She's.. this can't be honey!" she gasp. "There's a girl on your..."

I meet his eyes, please don't let her tell the big boys.

"Yes... she's the one I am telling you, the one who doesn't have a slightest idea that Im going crazy because she's not answering my calls..."

Paula stops running her hands on his chest, slowly absorbing what she just heard and pull out her body from his.

"She's stubborn, she's tough, she's more desirable dress in suits more than in dresses..." he paused. "She's stupid Paula... and she stole my heart.." he looks at Paula who's staring at him in disbelief. "Im sorry, but I couldn't love you back.."

I froze, I don't know what to say, should I interrupt him and say that its not like that, but.. this is what I wanted, right? I want him to choose me... though I never expected it will feel this way.

We were silent for a moment.

"So that's it... did I just got dump Cheston, honey... your parents will not agree to this, you know,  we could have the wor--"

"I don't want the world... I just want her!"

I saw her clench her jaw and quickly heads out, leaving the two of us still holding each other's gaze. I wipe my hands in my apron and untie it from my back.

"Is that a confession?" I said and I know its foolish for someone like me, its embarrassing and I'm being such a girly girl but... I ran to him and wrap my arms around him.

He meets me midway and lift me from the ground. Never had I been embrace this tight, I feel my heart will break into two. I look at him and cup my hands into his perfectly sculptured face. His sad gray eyes eventually brightens.

"My little doll, that four days... I'm about to order my men to kidnap you, your cage is almost finish..."

We laugh.

"That's too cruel boss!"

"What's cruel in that? I'm going to crawl to that cage too."

He kiss me and I respond with such longing. The kiss lingers when we part, my head reeling. We stay in the kitchen like that, with me lifted from the ground and forehead resting to him.

This is bad. I was the one who told him I don't want things to get serious but instead I took the shovel and dig my own grave.

I, Blythe Chavillon, had always learn to live my life believing that I don't need anyone. I never need anyone during those dark times. I  have shut myself from the world, never committing myself to someone, never allowing myself to feel so much happiness for fear that I might get hurt beyond repair. But I am lonely, and cold. I am alone since that winter night that I watch Gregory die before my eyes, not having a single person to cry on as blades of that seemingly never ending pain keeps tearing me up to pieces.

I want to tell this man that I keep myself from being hurt for a very long time until his love made my soul crawl from its hiding place. I don't want him to promise me that he'll never hurt me for being hurt is inevitable when you love. Pain, after all, is the only thing that will tell you that you really love at all. I don't want him to promise me he'll give me everything I want, because I don't want everything. Its not him, its me. I just want to stay by his side.

"I guess I have to brace myself boss.."

He looks at me, puzzled. I smile and plant a kiss on his forehead.

-----

That same night, he helps me get my things from my new apartment.

"This is ridiculous, I just move from here yesterday and now I'm moving again!"