Skyler

"Well, you are not good at hiding. You can drop your act. I know you."
I spat in anger at the covered man trapped between me and the wall.

"I am sorry. I think you have mistaken me for someone else."
Of course, he will deny it. I just caught him red-handed yet he tries to prove me wrong and talks in a high-pitched voice, coughing at every statement he says. He thinks he can fool me with that. I would notice him even if he covers his entire face. I recognized him as soon as I see those hazel eyes and I can't be wrong recognizing them.

I take off the muffler from his face after taking off his cap. He lowers his gaze away from me. I could see he was embarrassed as he didn't think he would be caught. I sarcastically laughed."Oh, I am sorry. Are you not THE SHANE SMITH?"

He stood there silently with his eyes facing the ground trying to not meet mine. He didn't have any explanation about him following me here. He was busted and no lie could save him. "Cat caught your tongue. Don't tell me. It's a mere coincidence that you decide to visit Switzerland at the same time as me and also choose the same hotel as me where I decide to stay or do you have a meeting with a client. Tell me."

He tries to think of something. "I...Uhm..." But couldn't think of anything. I lift his chin to meet his gaze and found myself getting lost in them. Those dark brown eyes. It resembled the warmth of the sun as his eyes were a hue of dark brown soil. I found him doing the same as his gaze studied me. I was admiring him. His big eyelashes, his well-framed face, and those lips. For a second I wanted to forget he was married and that we were no longer together and slam my lips on his. Okay, this isn't the time.

I question him. "Why are you following me? You are married now. It doesn't suit you."

He lies."I am here with Bryon. I didn't know you were going to be here too and about the hotel. My father is friends with the manager."
He knew whatever he will say would be a waste because I am not going to believe any of them.
"Stop it. I know you knew I was going to be here."

"Let me go. Bryon must be looking for me and I arrived here before you so I should be the one asking Are you following me?" He tries to go away but I pull him back in.

He resisted at first and damn he is strong but then he gave up as I trapped him in my arms. His height overpowering me as I looked up at him.

I took a deep breath. I wanted to talk to him. There are a few things that need to be settled now. Things left unsaid. It was necessary and whether he likes it or not. He will have to listen to what I have to say.

"Now you will listen to me. Deny all you want but you know. You broke my heart, Shane. It took me months to cope up with it. I don't think I have recovered fully from it. It hurts more than all the pain I went through when I had cancer. I can't believe I am saying this but you destroyed me a year ago yet it seems like you still have the same effect on me as you did. I try to convince myself every day that you left. I couldn't sleep or eat or concentrate on anything. I was lost. When I was working you were the only thing across my mind. How much ever I said that I hated you deep down I still love you."

I sighed as a tear slid down my cheek. It was heavy to finally speak about my feelings.
"You not only broke your promises again, but YOU BROKE ME...Tell me, Shane. Hold me in your arms again and tell me this isn't true. There is something more to this because I refuse to believe it. I refuse to believe what we had was fake."
It took me a lot to control my tears but I couldn't. His gaze softened as a frown settled on his lips. Tears streamed down my cheeks and he stood there silently.

All I wanted now was his arms around me and I did. I wrapped my hands around him and I felt his hands hold me back. I was back to where I belonged. In his arms. It was the best feeling. I couldnt explain but something was holding him back and I didn't know what. I didn't realize he was crying as his tears dampen my hair and I heard him sobbing.

He pulled back and his eyes were red due to crying but he tried keeping a straight face while apologizing."I am sorry. I should not have done this. You are right. I am married. I am so sorry for everything I have done. I hope you find someone who loves you like I found mine." He mumbles as his voice broke choking due to crying.

I held his hand stopping him."What if I want you. Don't lie to me, Shane. I know you still love me. You said it yourself. Words can lie, actions don't." He might say he has moved on and married Emily but his actions spoke otherwise. Every time...

The day I confronted him at Emily's house. I saw the tears in his eyes. I saw the hurt in his eyes when I said I hate him. Back then everything happened so suddenly that I couldn't process anything. I came to know he not only left me but married someone else.

I said all of it in the heat of the moment but as and when time passed. I thought about it and I could dream of those teary eyes every other night. What triggered me more was when I found him drunk and that evening at the beach but what confirmed my suspicions was when he held me to sleep that night.

"I am sorry that I made you think this by my actions but I mean it. I love Emily and I am married to her but you will always be important to me and I do care for you. Nothing else." He wouldn't admit it. I place a finger on his lips stopping him from talking. Anger started bubbling within me and my voice came out higher than usual.

"No, you don't. Stop this already. If you don't love me tell me what were you doing at the beach on the night of your birthday alone? Why I could still see your fists clench every time I talked about other guys? Why did you punch that creep that other night? Why did you stay after I asked you to stay? You could have left but you didn't instead you held me until I fell asleep and after a long time I had the best night's sleep If you don't love me what are you doing here in Switzerland keeping a watch on me?" His hands grab my shoulder as he looks into my eyes.

"BECAUSE I LOVE YOU. I ALWAYS HAVE." He confessed and then he takes a step back as he realized what he said. He was acting as if he said something he shouldn't have.

"I am sorry. I can't do this. I got carried away. I have to go."
I knew it. I just needed him to say it once. Call it my instinct or the signs. I still believed it was all a lie and there was something more to this. I got my answer now I just have to find out why he did this and what made him do this?

I was sure that Emily had a hand in him leaving me and also it had something with me that Shane had to do this. I know that Shane won't tell me the truth...

Shane

I convinced Bryon to tag along with me to Switzerland that night. I swear no one can deny my puppy eyes. It's one of my talents.
I took my jet there. Our car was waiting for us at the airport and drove us to the hotel. It was pretty early and considering we spent the night on my jet. We were sleepy. Bryon was getting grumpy as he didn't get his sleep. He dozed off in the car and I had to shake him up to wake him."We are here."

He drags himself to our room as I take the key from the receptionist.
"I will kill you. Just because you wanted us to reach before her. You made us fly here at night. You will pay for the sleep I didn't get last night." He starts nagging as he took off his shoes and hopped on the bed laying on it.

"Stop cribbing. We are at the hotel. You can sleep now. I must say Skyler's taste hasn't changed a bit."
I take a look around and I was stunned. The room itself was cozy and beautiful. It had wooden furniture with a king-size bed in front of me. At the corner was a fireplace and the fire was lit keeping the room warm. I go by the window and open the curtains and see the view outside. It was snowing and the view from here was fantastic. He jokes sitting with legs crossed as he looks at me for an answer."Better than you. The hotel is magnificent. Now, how did you manage to get information about the hotel?"

That was a piece of cake."It was so easy. I sent Tyler to flirt with the assistant for the information I wanted." And that's how I knew where she was staying. I had everything planned out.

I sat adjacent to him on the bed. He pats my back hard. His pat on

the back hits hard. "You are great. Now I am going to sleep and you are welcome to do whatever you want but I swear if you wake me up before evening. I will seriously kill you." He glares at me. I know disturbing him while he is sleeping can invite death. It's like cutting your own throat.

"She will be here by six in the evening if there is no delay. I guess I could use some sleep."

In the evening

I wake up around 6:30 in the evening and looked around. It was dark already as if it's already midnight. I can't believe I slept for so long. I check by the window and the view was to die for. In the dark, various lights lit up reflecting on the snow. It was magical.

I look down to see Skyler and her friends entering. I shake Bryon up trying to wake him."Bryon, she is here. Let's go."

"You go and see her and let me sleep." He mumbles in his sleep. I swear he sleeps too much than necessary."It has been 12 hours and you haven't completed your sleep. You are a panda in a human."

He groans in frustration slapping my hand to not disturb him."Call me whatever. I am not waking up. When we are back we will be back at our busy work schedules so I am making up for all the sleep I lost."

"Fine." She should not know I am here. I put on my jacket and wear glasses. I wrap a muffler around my neck covering my mouth and then I put on a cap on my head.
He jokes."I cannot recognize you at all Shane."

"Thanks for the compliment."

I know he was being sarcastic. I hope Skyler doesn't recognize me. I walk out of my room to the hotel reception and sat on the couch taking a newspaper in my hand pretending to read but my eyes and ears were on them.

I could hear their muffled voices but it wasn't clear enough to hear what they were talking about. All I wanted to know was who was she sharing a room with. Then her eyes travel to me and I start reading the newspaper. Phew!! That was close...

Everyone seemed to be walking towards their room and I sighed when I saw the guys going in one room, the other two in one, and Skyler walking towards the end of the hallway.

She opens her door and went in and I stood right outside. I was about to go when the door opens. I was startled. I was about to run but she pulled me inside.

He pushed me against the wall as she stood right in front of me. My heart raced. I wasn't supposed to get caught. One job you had to do and you failed. Well done, Shane.
I tried not to see her. She yells.

"Well, you are not good at hiding. You can drop your act. I know you."

Shit, how does she know? I try to refuse and try to convince her that what she thinks isn't true.

"I am sorry. I think you have mistaken me for someone else."
I can see she wasn't convinced. She pulls the muffler, glasses, and my cap and now there was no way I can hide anymore. She mocked me."Oh, I am sorry. Are you not THE SHANE SMITH?"

I stood there silently. I couldn't think of anything to say now. I was exposed and there wasn't any explanation I would give and she will be convinced of how I ended up in Switzerland at the same time as her visit and the same hotel as her."Cat caught your tongue. Don't tell me. It's a mere coincidence that you decide to visit Switzerland at the same time as me and also choose the same hotel as me where I decide to stay or do you have a meeting with a client. Tell me."

This is terrible. "I...Uhm..."

"Why are you following me? You are married now. It doesn't suit you."

Yes, I am married but not to the woman I love. It's the woman I despise. I love you. It's always been you. Still, I try to find an excuse and tell her but she wasn't convinced. I don't blame her. No one would have been convinced if they gave this excuse but trying doesn't hurt and I will have to answer.

"I am here with Bryon. I didn't know you were going to be here too and about the hotel. My father is friends with the manager."She raises her palm in the air. I could see anger in his eyes but there was something else. Hurt...

"Stop it. I know you knew I was going to be here."

"Let me go. Bryon must be looking for me and I arrived here before you so I should be the one asking Are you following me?" I try to divert her attention. There was no other choice. I can't accept that I did follow her.

"Shhh! Now you will listen to me. Deny all you want but I know. You broke my heart, Shane. It took me months to cope up with it and I don't think I have recovered fully from it. It hurts more than all the pain I went through when I had cancer. I can't believe I am saying this but you destroyed me a year ago yet it seems like you still have the same effect on me as you did. I try to convince myself every day that you left. I couldn't sleep or eat or concentrate on anything. I was lost. When I was working you were the only thing across my mind. How much ever I said that I hate you deep down I still love you."
I

saw the pool of tears forming in her eyes but she refused to break down. She sighs as a tear fell down her cheek. I have to get out of here or I will break down.

"You not only broke your promises again, but YOU also BROKE ME...Tell me, Shane. Hold me in your arms again and tell me this isn't true. There is something more to this because I refuse to believe it. I refuse to believe what we had was fake." And then she broke down into tears. She told me everything. Yes, she was right. I wanted to tell her it was an act but I can't.

I have to push her away before I break down too. Before I could say anything, she hugged me. I should have pushed her away but I didn't. I enjoyed myself in her embrace ignoring the situation. I stroke her hair and inhale her scent. It was heavenly and it felt like my arms were where they are supposed to be. With a heavy heart, I pulled back.

"I am sorry. I should not have done this. You are right. I am married. I am so sorry for everything I have done. I hope you find someone who loves you like I found mine."

And with that, I turn towards the door to leave wiping the tears from my eyes when she held me and closed the door. Her eyes were pleading as tears filled my eyes."What if I want you. Don't lie to me, Shane. I know you still love me. You said it yourself. Words can lie, actions don't."

"I am sorry that I made you think this by my actions but I mean it. I love Emily and I am married to her but you will always be important to me and I do care for you. Nothing else." It broke my heart to a thousand pieces. Skyler places a finger on my lips and screams letting out her feelings.

"No, you don't. Stop this already. If you don't love me tell me what were you doing at the beach on the night of your birthday alone? Why I could still see your fists clench every time I talked about other guys? Why did you punch that creep that other night? Why did you stay after I asked you to stay? You could have left but you didn't instead you held me until I fell asleep and after so long I slept so peacefully. If you don't love me what are you doing here in Switzerland keeping a watch on me?"

"BECAUSE I LOVE YOU. I ALWAYS HAVE." I couldn't hold it any longer and I said it but Fuck, what Have I done? This was what I was scared of. I didn't want her to know.

I knew I would not be able to stop and end up blurting out the truth.No this shouldn't have happened. "I am sorry. I can't do this. I got carried away. I have to go."

Shit.Shit.shit.shit...I have to go back home because I can't face her now. I have to leave before she finds me and it's too late.

I immediately call Bryon to be ready because we have to leave but his phone wasn't reachable. The second time I called him it rang but he didn't pick up. The one time he should pick up his phone he doesn't.

We didn't bring much stuff. I packed up Bryon's and my bag. With my connections, I could check out earlier. I was waiting in the lobby calling him but he doesn't pick up the call.

It's been over half an hour and he is nowhere to be seen.

Where the hell is he?

(Where is Bryon? Shane admitted his feelings for Skyler. What will Skyler do next? Will she find the truth or not. Find out in next.)

...Thank you for reading...