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Episode 10

~Playlist for this chapter is 'Wildflowers - Stay for a little while 🎶🎶do enjoy

Fernando's POV

All I ever wanted was just a brief conversation with Micaela and then I was gone. She had answers to my past which was the reason I'm here in the first place, but getting stuck with her in an elevator is the last thing I'll ever think could happen to me.

Who can change that now that it has already happened? I was so angry at her for bringing me here and getting stuck with her. I mean how can I spend more than an hour with her in the same room-sorry I mean the elevator? Who even knows if help is going to come to us?

I hate being close with the female gender except for my mom. Spending a couple of minutes with them irritates me except for business purposes. What if we spend the night here together, what's going to happen? Damnit! I cursed inwardly and placed my head on the metal, this was more infuriating than one could even imagine.

If only there was a signal on our phones she could have reached her ex-boss and sought help. I was so lost in my thoughts and drowning in my anger that I didn't even hear the low sobs emerging from her until now.

I glanced down and I saw her sitting on the floor with her head buried in between her thighs sobbing. The sobs grew louder and I raised a brow at what is going on with her, why the hell is she crying? She can't tell me she is crying just because I scolded her for bringing me here, right? I stared down at her confusedly not knowing if I should calm her down or just let her be.

Seconds grew to minutes and my gaze never left her. Suddenly, I felt somewhat guilty just watching her cry. Have I grown this cold not to care about someone else's feelings?

Perhaps I overreacted, I should apologize. Although I might not like women I don't disrespect them either. It wasn't her fault, after all, elevators can malfunction at times. I drew in a long breath and exhale. I took a step closer and squat in front of her. As much as I hate to have body contact with her, I gently placed my hand on her arm and she didn't budge.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have raised my voice at you nor should I have blamed you for the company's faulty elevator" I spoke softly.

Her sobs grew louder than it has been in the past couple of minutes. A grunt escaped my lungs. Is this lady kidding me? I'm apologizing to her and she's slicing more onions, wow, bravo! I applauded inwardly and bit my lower lip frustratingly. Can someone remind me why I came here again?

'To get answers to your past, dumb head' my inner voice answered and I shush it to be quiet. He is right though, if I don't cool things down right now, she might not feel the need to talk to me let alone answer my questions. I'm not used to doing this, I don't even know where to start.

I bow my head and went into deep thoughts. If only there was a connection on my phone I would have called Antonio to help me with this.

I have no idea how many minutes passed by but I decided to try another way to make her stop wailing. She is making the atmosphere hot and noisy. I huff out a deep breath and reach out for her hair but I refrain from touching her hair and kept my hand to myself. I tried again and I refrain for the second time. Damn! This was the hardest thing I've ever done in my life so far. It's just like I was trying to put my hand in a fire that is burning.

I held my forehead with my fingers and shut my eyes closed for a moment. I just have to pretend it's not going to burn me, that's the only way to get to touch her. I flutter my eyes open and my hand gently touched her hair. To my surprise it didn't burn me as I expected, I mean it didn't feel awkward when I touched her, rather all I felt was calmness. Isn't that weird?

"I'm sorry, stop crying now, would you?" I whispered patting her hair. Her hair was silky and smooth. This is my first time touching a lady's hair apart from my mom's. To be honest, this is how far I've ever gotten close to any woman. This makes me wonder if all ladies have silky hair like hers, or is it just hers? The closeness between us made me sniff her hair's fragrance and the smell was mild and lovely.

The smell of her perfume also hits my nose, it was a mixture of roses, notes of orange, patchouli, and vanilla. It was a lovely scent that ignited something in me to almost pull her closer so that I can sniff it more...but I refrain from doing that. That is not why I'm here.

I was so clouded with my thoughts that I didn't notice her raise her head and when I did notice I removed my hand from her head and she bows it low again and sobbed softly. I stared down at her wishing she would say something at least so I won't be guilty anymore.

"Why do I always have to fail in all I do? Why am I always being blamed for other's people fault? Why am I so unloved? Why am I so unfortunate? Any time I try to do what is right, it ends up badly. Do you think I'm a cursed child? Could I have been the reason my parents also died and left me all alone in this world?"

I gape at her dumbfounded. I wanted her to say something but not this, why would she ask me such things? Could it be what I said to her that made her think she is cursed? I suddenly felt bad deep inside of me and pangs of guilt watched all over me. I did not just only make this woman cry, but I also made her question her worth in this world which is so bad of me.

I didn't know what came over me, I sat down beside her and pulled her into an embrace, and wrapped my arms around her fragile body. And her sobs continue where she had left them. She sobs uncontrollably to my chest and all I did was listen patiently to it.

"I.. just hate to.. keep living" she muffled to my chest hiccupping and that cut me deep. That was too much for her to say.

"Shhh, don't say anything, cry if you want to but don't wish for death. Just cry it all out" I whispered rubbing her back. My chin rested on her head and her fragrance hits my nose again. It made me want to bury my face in her hair which is very stupid of me to think of.

A couple of minutes or hours later, there was silence and when I gazed down at her in my arms, I noticed she has fallen asleep. What?! I almost exclaimed aloud. A woman falling asleep in my arms? What the...I think so many strange things have happened tonight. I had the intuition that tonight was going to be a long night when we left the club, and here we are proving my intuition right. It's quite obvious we won't be having any conversation tonight with her mood right now.

I wonder what is going to happen next? Am I going to leave the city without answers? There's no way I'm going to let that happen, in the morning we will get to talk before I leave the city. I dig out my phone from my pocket and checked the time, it was 2:05 am.

I rolled my eyes and rested my back on the metal while Micaela was still lying in my arms. I gently lay her on my lap then I took off my jacket and covered it on her body. I relaxed my back on the metal and shut my eyes closed to catch some sleep.

While I tried to do that, all the things she said to me came echoing in my head causing me not to sleep and I flutter my eyes open. 'I just hate to keep living' her last words sounded like she's been hurt so much and she is tired of being hurt and wants to die. Would she think of ending her own life?

I think there's more to this lady than I use to know back in high school. What was behind those words? Another investigation I need to do here before I leave. I shut my eyes closed and this time around I felt sleep taking charge.

***

The next morning, I woke up to the sound of fainted voices.

"Who are they?".

"They seem to be lovers. Can't you see how they are glued together?".

That statement stirred me up completely and I became wide awake. My gaze first fell on Micaela who was laying her head on my torso and my arms wrapped around her arms, then my gaze travels down to the entrance of the elevator lift, where I saw more than 10 persons staring directly at us.

My eyes widen and I flinched from Micaela and she stirs up rubbing off sleep from her eyes. When she was wide awake, her gaze fell on her ex-colleagues and her eyes grew bigger in shock. A loud gasp escapes from her mouth. She shook off the shock and we both rushed and stood up.

"Micaela Alvarado!?" One of the females exclaimed and gasps escaped from all of their mouths.

Mere looking at all of their faces I knew what was coming next, gossip! I doubt if Micaela would be able to stand it if I leave her behind to face it alone. I squint at her and grabbed her hand to mine, I bent low and picked up my jacket and with that, I dragged her along with me out of that place to go take the staircase. I didn't bother saying a greeting to anyone to avoid unnecessary conversation.

When we got out of the company building, I let go of her hand immediately like it's been burning me the whole time. "I'll take a cab to the motel, you should get some rest," I said flatly.

"Thank you. Thank you for getting me out of there, I wouldn't have been able to deal with everyone in there. Can I drop you off at your lodge to show my appreciation?" she offered her voice calm and soft.

"Don't worry, no need for that" I replied not glancing her way.

"Please" she begged and I glance up at her. "Please, just this once".

I stared directly into her eyes and I saw how badly she wanted to do this, if I refuse her, she might get angry at herself and start blaming herself again.

"Okay" I replied and a small smile broke on her lips.

"Let's walk back to the next block, my car is parked there," she announced and I nodded and followed her.

*A new episode awaits you.*