บท 10: TEN
As Ivan and I drove back to my apartment, the tranquil evening seemed to linger in the car. The tension from the day had ebbed away, replaced by a newfound sense of calm. Ivan had shown me a side of himself I hadn't expected, and the connection we had formed felt significant.
As we pulled into the apartment car park, the headlights of Ivan's car illuminated a familiar figure standing near his own vehicle. Wade. His presence was like a splash of cold water, yanking me back to reality. He looked up, and our eyes met through the windshield. His expression was unreadable, but I could sense the storm brewing beneath his calm exterior.
"Looks like Wade's back," Ivan remarked, his tone casual but observant.
"Yeah," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "Thanks for tonight, Ivan. It was… really nice."
He smiled, the kind that reached his eyes and made my heart skip a beat. "Anytime, Wendy. I'm glad you enjoyed it."
We both stepped out of the car, and Wade's gaze followed our every movement. I could almost feel the weight of his stare as Ivan walked me to the elevator. Wade didn't say a word, his silence heavy with unspoken questions and accusations.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Wendy," Ivan said, his hand resting briefly on my arm. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight, Ivan," I replied, the formality now feeling almost natural between us.
As the elevator doors closed, I glanced at Wade one last time. His jaw was set, his eyes hard. The ride up to my floor was silent, the anticipation of what was to come gnawing at my nerves.
Once inside my apartment, I barely had time to collect my thoughts before there was a knock on my door. I knew who it was before I even opened it.
Wade stood there, his expression a mixture of anger and hurt. "Can we talk?" he asked, his voice strained.
I nodded, stepping aside to let him in. He walked past me, his movements tense. I closed the door and turned to face him, bracing myself for the confrontation I knew was coming.
"What were you doing with Ivan?" he asked, his tone accusing.
"We went sailing," I replied honestly. "He thought it would be a good way to clear my head after everything that's happened."
Wade scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest. "Sailing? With your boss?"
"Yes, Wade. It was just a way to relax. There's nothing more to it."
He shook his head, a bitter laugh escaping his lips. "You expect me to believe that? After everything that's been said?"
I felt my frustration rising. "Why is it so hard for you to trust me, Wade? I've done nothing wrong."
"Nothing wrong?" he echoed, his voice rising. "You're spending all this time with Milton, calling him by his first name. It doesn't look good, Wendy."
"I'm not responsible for how things look to you, Wade," I snapped. "I've been honest with you from the start. Ivan and I are just colleagues, trying to work through this project together."
"Colleagues don't go sailing together," he shot back, his eyes blazing with anger.
"Maybe not, but friends do," I countered. "And despite everything, I thought we were friends. Or was I wrong about that?"
Wade's expression faltered for a moment, a flicker of doubt crossing his face. "Friends? Is that all we are?"
"What else would we be?" I challenged, my frustration boiling over. "You've been treating me like I've done something terrible when all I've done is try to do my job and get through this project. I don't know what you've been told or what you think you know, but if you can't trust me, then maybe we're not friends at all."
The words hung in the air between us, the silence deafening. Wade looked at me, his anger giving way to something more vulnerable, but before he could respond, my phone buzzed with a message from Ivan, confirming our meeting with the director tomorrow.
Wade's eyes flicked to the phone, and his expression hardened again. "Just be careful, Wendy," he said quietly. "I don't want to see you get hurt."
With that, he turned and left, leaving me standing in my apartment, my emotions swirling in a tumultuous mix of anger, hurt, and confusion. As the door clicked shut behind Wade, I leaned against it, feeling drained. His words echoed in my mind, stirring up a whirlwind of emotions. What did he mean by "Is that all we are?" Did he expect something more from me, something I hadn't even realized myself?
I sighed, pushing off the door and heading to my bedroom. Sleep was elusive that night, my mind too busy replaying the evening's events and the confusing emotions tied to both Ivan and Wade.
I kept thinking about Wade's attitude, Ivan's unexpected kindness, and the confusion that seemed to be taking over my life. In need of some clarity, I decided to call Char, if anyone could help me sort through this mess, it was Char.
I plopped down on the couch and initiated the video call. After a few rings, Char's face appeared on the screen, framed by that very familiar face and a mischievous grin.
"Wendy! My lovely little drama queen! What's up?" Char greeted me with her usual exuberance.
"Hey, Char," I sighed, trying to muster a smile. "I need to talk."
"Oh boy, this sounds serious. Spill the tea, girl. What's got your panties in a twist?" she asked, her eyes gleaming with curiosity.
I took a deep breath and started from the beginning, recounting the events of the past few days—the table read, the argument with Wade, the sailing trip with Ivan, and finally, the talk with Wade tonight. Char listened intently, her expressions shifting from shock to amusement to intrigue.
When I finished, she burst into laughter. "Holy shit, Wendy, you've got yourself a full-blown soap opera going on there! So, let me get this straight: you've got one hot boss taking you on romantic sailing trips and another hot star who's all moody and jealous? Girl, you are living the dream!"
"Char, it's not like that!" I protested, though I couldn't help but laugh at her dramatics. "I don't know what's going on. Ivan was just being nice, and Wade... I don't know why he's acting this way."
"Oh, honey, it's crystal clear to me," Char said, waggling her eyebrows. "Both of those hunks are into you. Like, seriously into you."
"What? No way!" I shook my head, feeling my cheeks heat up. "You're crazy. I've been here in like just a few days"
"I'm crazy? Please! Let's break it down," Char said, ticking off points on her fingers. "Hot Boss Ivan—taking you sailing, confiding personal shit about his family. That's some serious bonding time right there. And Moody Wade—he's jealous as fuck. You don't get that worked up over someone unless you care about them. Trust me."
"But Char, Ivan is just being supportive. He's my boss. And Wade... I don't know. Maybe he's just protective?"
"Protective my ass!" Char scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Wade's not your big brother. He wants you, and he's pissed because he thinks you're getting it from Ivan. Which, by the way, sounds hot as hell. Sailing? Seriously, Wendy?"
"Okay, okay, maybe it was a little... romantic," I admitted reluctantly. "But it wasn't like that! We just talked and enjoyed the ocean."
"Sure, sure," Char said, winking. "And I bet you did very professional things like… holding hands, and those intense stare. Didn't you say at some point you thought he was going to kiss you?"
I couldn't help but laugh, her sarcasm was right on point. "It was nice, okay? I felt relaxed."
"Relaxed, huh? Well, maybe you need a little less relaxation and a bit more... action, if you catch my drift," Char said with a sly grin.
"Char!" I exclaimed, feeling my face grow even hotter. "You're impossible."
"I'm just saying, girl. You've got options. Two sexy men, both clearly into you. What's a girl to do?" Char leaned closer to the screen, her expression turning more serious. "But in all honesty, Wendy, you need to figure out what you want. You can't keep bouncing between these two. It's not fair to them or to you."
"I know," I sighed, rubbing my temples. "It's just... complicated. I never thought of Wade like that, and Ivan... he's my boss."
"Complicated is what makes life interesting," Char said, a glint of excitement in her eyes. "Just follow your heart, Wendy. And maybe have a little fun along the way. Life's too short to play it safe all the time."
"You're right," I agreed, feeling a bit lighter after our conversation. "Thanks, Char. You always know how to make things clearer."
"Anytime, babe. Now go out there and figure out your love triangle. And remember, if all else fails, just pick the one with the best abs," Char said with a wicked grin.
"You're terrible!" I laughed, shaking my head.
"Terrible, but honest," Char replied, blowing me a kiss. "Love you, Wendy. Keep me posted on all the juicy details."
"Love you too, Char," I said, feeling a warmth spread through me. "I'll talk to you soon."
As I ended the call, I couldn't help but feel a sense of clarity. Char was right—I needed to figure out what I wanted and face these feelings head-on.
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