Chương 13: CHAPTER 13: TANGLED EMOTIONS
ELIZA
As we drove, Lincoln's grip on me tightened, his breathing slow and labored. I stroked his hair, trying to comfort him, my mind racing with questions. Who could have drugged him? And why?
When we arrived at the house, I helped him out of the car, his driver assisting me.
Maggie ran to us seeing the way we struggled to carry him in.
"Oh my gosh what happened? Is he okay?
Eliza??" She rambled.
"He was drugged Maggie" My voice sober.
"Christ!" She half yelled. And walked along with us, she couldn't help as the driver did most of the carrying. I only held his hand.
We got him to the bedroom, and I laid him down on the bed, removing his shoes and tie.
Maggie walked out of the room at once, giving us enough privacy and shutting the door behind.
"Eliza," he whispered, his voice weak.
"I'm here, Lincoln," I replied, holding his hand.
He looked up at me, his eyes glassy. "Stay with me," he pleaded.
I nodded, feeling a surge of emotion. "I'll stay," I promised.
As I sat beside him, he drifted off to sleep, his hand still clutching mine. I watched him, my heart aching with concern.
Who could have done this to him? And what did they want?
As I sat there, I realized that I still cared a lot about him, no matter what he did. He was vulnerable, and I was the only one who knew.
My eyes flustered open from the light entering the room – it was morning already. Beside me Lincoln was still sleeping soundly. I looked out again. I can't be here when he wakes up. I slowly detangled myself from him and tiptoed out of the room.
I was already seated at the table when he came down for breakfast. I was just about to ask him how he was feeling but Maggie beat me to it.
" How do you feel Mr Lincoln" Maggie asked, filling his mug with coffee
" I'm good, I just can't remember what happened last night. I met my father and went to the club and I can't remember anything else"
" It was really scary.. Eliza brought you home last night." She passed a glance between me and Lincoln.
I even looked towards him but he was focused on his breakfast.
" I'll look into what happened" and that was it.
We went to work and today was just different.
Work. Work. Work
It was so fucking telling on me!!!
And my pregnant self.
Everyone was so busy today, including Ric who always anticipated lunch break. He was so engrossed in his work, he didn't come to my corner asking to join him for lunch. After sometime Minnie finally got off her desk and half yelled "Christ it's past lunch time already"
That was when everyone remembered to check their time. I rounded up what I was doing and stood up almost immediately.
I made my way after Minnie to the cafe downstairs. I was seated alone on the table today, taking bites from my ham when my phone suddenly pinged. I had a message.
From my brother?
We hadn't talked since the surgery he had. We actually did talk once, I had called to know if he was better to which he replied affirmatively that he was grateful too, and that was the last time we spoke. I knew he was going to take care of himself. Besides, we weren't really in touch, neither were we cool to always contact each other.
'I'm moving to Miami' was what the text read.
I knew better than to ask him what he was going to Miami to do, so I ignored the message and went on with my meal.
I dropped my phone on the table and almost immediately, another ping sound came from my phone again.
This time it wasn't a message from Nick. It was an unknown contact.
'Hi Lizzie, long time. Took a while getting your new contact since you changed the old one. I've missed you' I read in silence.
My heart skipped twice, as I re-read the message. Only one person called me Lizzie.
"Are you okay?" I heard someone say before me. I lifted my head to see who it was.
"Uh yes I am"
It was Ric, as much as I expected.
He dropped his meal in the table and sat across me.
"I asked because you look quite disturbed" he added.
"Oh no, I'm fine really"
As usual, Ric was a talker and we ended up talking about more things apart from work. Thankfully, keeping my mind away from the text.
We were done for the day, and I found myself packing up to leave. My head throbbed a lot, I picked up my bag and was about heading outside to wait for Lincoln before I heard his voice call out my name.
I turned and stared at him.
"Are you alright Liza?"
Now I was tired of everyone asking me if I was okay; I'm not obviously, but will they stop asking?
"Yes" I replied him sharply.
When he didn't say any other thing, I turned again and started walking out of the office to the elevator. He didn't follow me immediately and somehow I was relieved to know that.
Now we were in the car, quite as always. I took out my phone and went for the text message from the unknown contact. Why in the world was he texting me now?
Of all times now?
When I needed him the most, he didn't remember I existed.
What kind of torture is this?
I finally made up my mind and replied the message.
'Sorry who is this?'
Not like I didn't exactly know who it was, I just wanted to be sure; or I wanted to pretend like I never thought about him for once.
Almost immediately, he replied, "It's me, Eric"
My heart skipped again.
I was trying so much to compose myself but as I tried I felt the urge to puke.
I put my phone back in my purse and held myself in.
We made it to the house, before I made a move to open the car door, I felt Lincoln hand against mine.
"Uhm... Liza.. I... I just wanted to thank you" He stammered a bit.
Did he just stammer?
"Thank me?"
"Yes for last night, thanks for being there for me. I don't know what happened, but I know I owe you one." He added, staring right into my eyes.
I had almost forgotten about last night because I was so preoccupied with work.
"It's nothing. You don't owe me anything Linc, it's the least I could do as your secretary" I regretted saying that almost immediately.
As his secretary? Really Eliza??
He nodded and turned to his side. I opened the door and walked straight into the house.
On getting into the house, I met Maggie coming down the stairs.
"Hi Maggie" I managed to mumble.
"Eliza welcome"
I walked past her and went upstairs.
"Welcome sir Lincoln" I heard her say but I didn't hear his reply, he probably didn't.
I went straight to my room, locked the door, and sat on the bed, trying to process everything that had happened. Eric, was texting me after all these years. And Lincoln, my boss, was being so sweet and vulnerable.
I couldn't shake off the feeling that my life was getting more complicated by the minute. I was pregnant, and I still hadn't figured out what to do about it. And now, Eric was back in the picture, stirring up old feelings and memories.
I lay back on the bed, feeling overwhelmed. I didn't know what to do or who to turn to. I just knew I needed someone to talk to.
As I lay there, I heard a knock on the door. It was Maggie. "Eliza, I brought you some tea," she said, her voice soft.
I got up and opened the door, taking the tea from her. "Thanks, Maggie. I appreciate it."
She looked at me with concern. "You okay, dear? You look like you've got a lot on your mind."
I nodded, feeling a lump form in my throat. "I'm just...it's just a lot, Maggie. I don't know what to do."
She put her arm around me. "You can tell me, Eliza"
At least if I can't tell her my entire problem, I could tell her a part of it; I thought.
"I got a text from someone I least expected" I told her.
"Who? Your ex?" She was smart.
"Yes but no"
"What do you mean?"
"We didn't exactly break up, though it's been a year. He moved to another country entirely, while he was there we got into a heated fight. It didn't end well, it was never settled and we never broke up" I explained.
She just paused and sighed.
"I know right, it's complicated" I added, grumbling.
My whole life was complicated.
She pulled me in to a hug and we remained that way for some seconds.
"What did the text say? Have you replied him?" She asked, breaking away from the hug.
I took my phone from my purse and showed her the text. She nodded and told me to reply him.
The problem was, what do I say to him?
I sat back on the bed, staring at my phone, trying to think of what to say to Eric. Maggie sat beside me, patiently watching me.
"You can't ignore him forever, Eliza," she said, her voice gentle. "You need to confront your feelings and figure out what you want."
I nodded, knowing she was right. I took a deep breath and started typing.
'Hey Eric, yeah it's been a long time. Really fancy seeing your text now. What's going with you?'
I showed Maggie the text, and she nodded in approval. "Good, that's a good start."
I sent the text and waited anxiously for his response. A few minutes later, my phone buzzed.
"I know it's been a long time, Lizzie. I've been thinking about you a lot lately. I'm back in the country, and I was hoping we could meet up and talk about everything that happened."
My heart skipped a beat as I read the text. He was back in the country? And he wanted to meet up? I didn't know what to do.
"What do I do, Maggie?" I asked, feeling overwhelmed.
Maggie put her arm around me. "You need to think about what you want, Eliza. Do you want to see him? Do you want to talk to him?"
I nodded, taking a deep breath. I really didn't know what I wanted.
This has to be the wrong time ever.
Why now?
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