Eric Maxwell

Today is the first day I am officially working as office man. When arrived at the office, the staffs greet me and some dare show their flirting self. Argh, sorry ladies my body belongs to another man. I felt giddiness when thinks it internally.

Brother introduced me around the workers. I already met some of them during my father era. The temporary secretary gave a guideline about Michael's schedule for this month with some tips. The neat schedule and pinpoint enough to make me grasps about the current situation and how to handle it.

For this one month period, I will work side by side with Jess, the temporary secretary. She is the sweetest woman and will take two weeks leave on next month for getting marriage. Her lesson quite easy to catch up and build my own theory.

A week turn to month and I barely meet with Frank. He looks a little tired every time we met and like somebody in deep shit. No matter how I asked him, he never wants to tell me anything. I stopped asking when he avoided the topic.

Another thing was when I neat Michael's table, I found the business magazine with the cover man was the one I met at Hungary. No wonder his face was familiar back then. Russel Hendricks, a young owner of big tycoon company. I quickly arranged the magazine and put the one with the man's face at the bottom. He was like a nightmare in my dream since we met.

When the office time over, I felt like a huge load off my shoulder. Although, I took a secretary position, Michael still insisted me to get active in meeting too. A week full of stress and big responsibility finally ended. I planned to wake up late tomorrow since it is Saturday and finished the ongoing arts.

I feel some knotting in the stomach when unlocked the door. The dread feeling become thick when the switch not working. The darkness in the house get me into high alert. When I almost open bedroom's door, a pair of hand cover my eyes. I scream caused the figure behind me slightly tremble.

"Don't be scared, baby. It's me." My nerve slowly calms down as the familiar voice whispering into my left ear.

"Why are you scaring me?" He pushes me around another way as his hand still covered my eyes.

"Happy Birthday, baby." He removed the hand as I spotted our dinner table filled with a bouquet of red roses, a bottle of red wine, a whole small cake and candles to bright the room.

My eyes watering and my body automatically turned around and hugging this romantic man, "Thank you, Love. I think you have forgotten about it." He drew a circle on my back with a chuckle.

"Nope. Never. I won't forget my beloved important day." He led me to the table and we sit down at one. Although the setup is simple but it had sent me to top heaven.

"Thank you very much, Love. I really appreciate it." I said in a hoarse voice.

"Then, why not you blow the candle on the cake." He give the most charming smile ever. I nods as he sing the birthday song. After making a wish I blow the candle and slice the cake.

He is playing some romantic song in his smartphone. "How long you have planned this?" I asked him.

"About two weeks ago. I glad everything turned smoothly." We interlaces a free hand together. He bring my hand close to his lips and kissed it, sending a shiver across my skin. I rather have him kissing me on the lips. The moment is so sweet.

We are savoring the sweet moment while talks all the things happened in our life and also some cheesy line. Then, he lead me to the bed, lifting me onto the bed filled with rose petals. The rose scent filled the room as he ignited the desire in me.

He places his lips on me as I granted the permission to enter into it. The gentle kiss turn fierce as our tongue fight for domination. I already knew my role as a bottom but it didn't mean I have no option to be the top too, right? We only parted when our lungs almost burst from lacked of an oxygen. His finger traces my face as I pant for air.

"Are we ready for the next step?" Frank face filled with lust. His eyes were burning with desire.

"Yes, I had ready for quite of time." I bring our face closer. My heart fluttered with anticipant. The time for losing my virginity.

"Look like someone really eager to lose his virginity." Frank teased me. His lips trace down my neck, adventuring every sensitive part around my body.

The tingling sensations travel across my body cause the shuddering. In a second, all the clothes had left our body as we are in deep intimate. He wedges himself in between my legs, lifting one of my knees on his shoulder. My body involuntarily shuddered as he smeared a cold gel around the back entrance. With the hitching breath and glassy eyes, I saw he grinned as his finger poke my hole.

Damn! The moment broken when his smartphone blasting with 'Wake me up' song. The music repeatedly sounds when he tried to ignore.

"Sorry..." He sighed as separating himself from me. With lazy stepped, he rummages around his pants pocket.

With gloomy face, I covered my private part with the blanket. I frown when seeing his face gradually lose some color. The trace of annoyance replace by guilty and regret. What really happened? Frank gathered and dress up in flash after ending the called.

"What happen?" I ask.

"My grandma passed away." He speak after clear the throat.

"My condolence." I muttered slowly. I knew him really close to his grandma. The one that raised him with freedom before he began living with his parents.

"I am the ungrateful grandson. She begged me to accompany her before I came here. I don't know that would be her last request. This is all your fault." The semi hardened I had lost its vitality once the word reached me.

Why is he blaming me? I never requested him to celebrate my birthday. I swallow the bitterness that surge in me. I use an excuse his mentally unstable at the moment to persuade my own heart from breaking apart. The word he just muttered like a sharp knife slashed a moment of happiness I felt a while ago.

Calming myself, I offered a help. "Let me drive you over there. I don't want you to do any stupid thing on the road." I quickly jump from the bed, dressing up.

"Another stupid thing mean nothing. And, I don't need you to drive me over there. My parents radar about the faggot is on high alert. One look they already can fish you out." He dialled someone over the phone to take him home.

If their radar really awesome why they haven't detected their son sexuality interest. I turned around as my back facing him. I lost any word. Lost any excuse to amend my mood right now. Unwillingness tears streaked down my face. A minute later a door slamming cause me to turn around.

The damn man, the heartless man just leaving me without apologizing word. I balled my fist as self loathe burned me in and out. I went to closer window, spying outside the window panel. I saw a red car outside waiting someone.

Later, a woman out from the car and lunging herself on Frank. Frank, I meant a man who hurt my heart a while ago. A same man I considered as my boyfriend, currently in the embrace of another woman. Maybe this is one of his sisters. I watched them until they disappeared from my sight.

The next day I tried calling him but unreachable. In bored and annoyance emotion, I drive to my brother house. After checking myself to look normal, I ring the door. Mother opened the door with surprised. Usually I would notice them first before coming here.

"Where is little hero?" I asked her.

"In his room." Mother gestured my old room. I immediately went there, greeting dad and Alesia, my sister in law on the way.

I walked close to the army pattern crib, spotting the newborn peaceful face in his sleep. I caressed my hand around his chipmunk cheek, feeling the soft skin. The little hero open his bluish eyes, the same color as my own. I gently took him and sit on the nearest sofa.

"Oh, he already awoke." Alesia hand me the milk bottle. I run the soft nipple around the little lips causing him to open his mouth. Once inside, he greedily sucked the milk. I smile seeing his cute reaction.

"How are you?' Alesia sit beside me, playing with Jack's little toe.

"Perfect." I replied without face her.

"Nope... you're not." She pause as I stared her. What a scary intuition? "What happen?"

"Nothing, just a little bored." I lean onto the sofa, minding the little hero on my laps.

"Dealing with a lot people make me can guess people emotion. You're not the normal you. The boring won't cause your eyes swollen." She tackled the question carefully.

"Some asshole broke hurt my feeling." I finally gave up.

"Your boyfriend?" Alesia is open minded woman I proud calling as if she is my own sister. She didn't show any prejudice the fact I like a man.

"Maybe yes, maybe not. I, myself didn't know the correct status of our relation."

"Tell me about him. Maybe I could bring your spirit back." The dimples appear when Alesia smile. Jackson also has the same dimples too.

"I met him in some charity program. Our relation escalated from friend to lover but the man is a coward to coming out from the cozy closet. It's as if I was his little mistress he put in the dark. His family is conservative and that main reason he refused to face the reality." I paused.

"Some influence young master?" Alesia inquiry.

"Wow, woman's intuition really scary." Alesia grinned.

"So, why he got the asshole title?"

"Last night supposed to be my happiest day but unfortunately in the middle of celebrating, he got an emergency said his grandma passed away. I understood the news had shaken his emotion. However, he has no right to blame." I gave a frustrated sigh.

"Blame you for what?"

"Blame me for took his time away from his grandma last moment. I never request the celebration." I left the part about the woman who drove him back.

"That's really an asshole. Why not you leave the coward asshole and find another hottie man." Alesia teased me.

"As if I have a face like Tom Cruise or Ian Somerhalder to catch man eyes easily." I rolled my eyes.

"Love never based on that moment criteria, Eric. Maybe the one right now is not the fated man for you. Isn't too late to find the right one. Everyone, no matter how uglier they are, they still have the right to find the right person as their lifetime partner. Once or twice break served as a small trial in love. " I swear this woman actually more suitable being a counselling than a secretary or housewife.

"I will consider it." After that we changed the topic until a clearing throat sound breaking our little conversation. Michael stands at the door frame wearing a cargo pants and tight shirt. His smile widened when the boy on my laps open his eyes again.

"I missed you, my baby brother." Michael mimicked little boy voice caused Alesia rolled her eyes.

"Hi, brother you look so old to pretend as a boy." I tease him.

"And, you look like a baby forever." I am sticking a tongue at him. Alesia takes Jack from me as mother voice drift into the room, calling us for lunch.

I quickly left the happy couple alone. Why can't I have the same happiness like them? Shrugging the sudden thought, I help mom in the kitchen. Luckily, she didn't sense the difference in me. Mom is talkative like ever and dad just shakes his head when losing a word to reply.

I glad the surgery changed our life so much. I didn't spot the sadness in their eyes anymore, instead it had been replaced by happiness. Dad and mom also used their free time to travel together. In short, we are the family who loves traveling.

The lunch filled with laughter and jokes flying around the table. We are only missing one person, Amelia, my big sister. Amelia will come back next week with her fiancée. They planned to register their marriage because Amelia just found out she carried a new life in her womb. After registering, we would do a small family gathering as Amelia didn't want to hold any marry ceremony.

The girl is simple and hate crowd as well a big function. Mom and dad will skim over the guest who coming on that day as they still hold the grudge toward relatives who shunned me. Another niece or nephew caused me feeling like getting old.

I excuse myself after the dinner but promised to stay over tonight. Seeing the happiness in the house put me in jealousy. I drive around the city but found nothing could attract my attention. So, I decided to go to the nearest lake and did some sketching. Only that thing can separate me from the reality.

Frank hasn't called in three weeks. No text too, and his handphone still off. It's as if he had vanished from the city. The rumor about their company having a financial issue also truth. The weeks of silent enough to numb the throbbing pain in my heart. I acted as if everything is normal, although I sense some sort of foreboding feeling.

That afternoon, Frank suddenly appeared out of nowhere inside my apartment. He didn't show any guilt over three weeks silence treatment. He seems busy talking on the phone as I stepped into the room. I take the fresh clothes and go to the bathroom. My body is tired and I hope to find a peace at home. Instead, I meet with the main cause of my lately restless night.

I should have taken Amelia offer to stay at Michael's house. Speaking of Amelia, she has successfully registered her marriage. She said it is my turn to get married too although my parents will only get a groom instead the bride. I smile slightly remembered her teasing. After bathing and clear my mind, I stepped out from the bathroom. Frank ended, he called and patted the empty seat beside him. I reluctantly take his hint and sit beside him. The man had changed his cologne I see.

"How are you?" He took my hand in his.

"Fine, but tomorrow I need to take a day off because I had an appointment with the doctor." I replied him.

"Oh yeah, tomorrow I need to fly to Canada. You see I am kind of busy because the company not running well." A hint frustration is clear as a day.

"Oh I see. Then, I wished you success to secure the tender." I nonchalantly said.

"After this, I promise to take a week off and we can go travel together." My ears perk a bit, hearing the abnormal plan. Is this man okay? We never eat outside alone since being a cover but now he suggest us to take a vacation together.

"Hmm, okay." I masked the excited in me. That night we have a little chat before going to sleep. The next day, Frank already left the house before I wake up. I take a bath and dressing in casual attire.

I cook a simple breakfast and drink an orange juice. I reached to the hospital ten minutes before the appointment time. The nurse informed the doctor and I get inside the room afterward. For now, I had stopped the counselling session as well the rehabilitation since everything going smoothly.

The doctor only did a little test and give a new batch of medicines. After that, I drive back to the home immediately as I felt a little tired. I took the new medicine and the drowsiness hit me. Since I had nothing to do, I choose to sleep. The sound of ringtone had disturbed my peaceful slight.

"Frank, answer your damn phone." I said without open my eyes. For a minute, the ringtone stopped but ringing again. With annoyance, I open my eyes and clear my mind. I remembered Frank had left the house this early morning. He must forget the damn phone as I spotted it at the table.

I rolled over Frank's side bed, taking the damn handphone and spotted the calling is HONEY. The name Frank had set on the caller. The image of beautiful smiling woman also appeared on the screen. This is not the same phone he used to call me. With suspicious I stare at the caller ID with great hatred. After a while the woman stopped calling.

Damn, he used a password. I tried many words that he could use as a password but failed. After many tries, I decide to stop but the special date appeared in my mind. His grandma's birthday and bingo the phone unlock.

The moment I saw in his memory, I swear it's better is I rein the curiosity in me. Every answer I wanted was inside the phone. My eyes blurry with tears and heart burning with despises. This man is a big liar and cheating behind me.

I knew the woman inside the intimate picture. She is the daughter of my company rival. The arrogant woman who think she can buy anything with the money. The woman Frank feels no shame to go to public. What made me feel worse is they had already married according to the video inside the phone and a selfie stark naked picture on the bed also served as a solid proof.

Great! You're so great Frank! You betrayed my trust and playing with my heart. You should be an actor than businessman. Thinking back a businessman is also equally as the actor. In enraged, I damaged everything caught my sight.

I only stopped when sense my heart slightly abnormal. Slumping down to the floor with tears flowing down my cheeks. I felt so stupid, so naïve. Putting my heart and trust for an asshole. For the whole evening and night I can't stop from stayed in depression and tears.

The next morning I wake up with a massive headache and swollen eyes. A face that didn't suit to show at the office. In laziness, I called my brother and request a week off. I gave the excuses that new medicine causes me drowsiness. He approved the leave in condition I need to stay with the family.

I called Alesia and she comes not long after I ended the called. I told her everything and my heart feel a little lighten after sharing with her. I glad the woman my brother had chosen is really trustworthy. I show him the breaking picture and she gave a disbelief stare and nods and hmm afterward.

"Heartbroken really a pain in the ass, Eric. But believe me you will meet a better person in the future. Just made a clean break with him and restart your life again." Alesia throws the phone onto the empty seat.

"How? I felt stupid, Al." I lower my head in shame.

"Everyone is stupid in love, Eric. For your information, I had thrice heartbroken before I met your brother. The heartbroken nearly causes me lost trust in man and love. But when the fated person appeared you will feel these heartbreakingly actually the best thing." Alesia smiles gently.

"No sane man will reject you." Alesia possessed a natural beauty with a perfect figure. Her intelligent also the great assets.

"But the reality defeated your statement, Eric." She laugh as is the matter is hilarious. Maybe she was right about the heartbroken is the one spices in love life.

"Al please don't reveal this thing to my family. I don't want to create any enmity with him although we might be a stranger in the future. I will solve this problem once he had returned. For now I just need my own space to sort my mind. Can you persuade my brother from bothering me?" No matter how stubborn my brother was, he will go jelly when faced Alesia.

"Everything is sealed and I will handle your brother. Just a reminder the man is unworthy to be your lifetime partner." I nod in weak. Although, the thing is clear now but the pain still here, in my heart, bleeding without mercy. Alesia excuses herself after I calmed.

A/N

Hope you will enjoy this chapter and thanks for previous comments and votes. Happy weekend.