Chapter 14

A/N - this week was a double update so read chapter 13 first if you haven't yet :)

***

Heather woke up with an uneasy feeling in her stomach.

It was supposed to be 'revenge day'.

She had texted Alejandro (she now had his number because they had to coordinate for the magazine photoshoot) and had asked whether she could stop by at his office to talk. Alejandro had responded almost immediately, saying that he would reschedule all his other work meetings for the day so that he could see her.

The plan was seemingly simple: go to Alejandro's office, distract him and then try to find some leverage for her own company. After all, if Alejandro had taken those files from Illuminate, then two can play this game right?

From her high school experience, she knew that doing something like this was supposed to be easy for her and come to her naturally.

So why was she feeling so conflicted, so uncertain and so unsure?

Heather bit her lip as she searched through her wardrobe, deciding what to wear. Her eyes eventually settled on a pretty light blue dress. She took it out and was about to try it on when she suddenly realized that this was not supposed to be a date. As she let out a sigh, she tossed the dress on her bed in frustration.

She eventually decided on a simple look; a white tank top and light denim high rise jeans coupled with a pair of black boots. With that, she pulled her hair back in her classic low ponytail style and completed her look with some basic make-up.

She took a deep breath before heading out the door. I can do this.

***

"I'm Heather and I'm here to see Alejandro," Heather confidently said to the receptionist once she had arrived at J&B Co's office building. "And this time, I have an appointment," she added, rolling her eyes.

The receptionist handed Heather a visitor's pass and Heather made her way inside the elevator and to level 28, where Alejandro's office was situated.

As Heather walked through the hallways, she felt a growing tightness in her chest which seemed to only worsen with each step that she took, and with each minute that passed.

The last time she was here, she had witnessed Alejandro getting very close with another woman. Heather shuddered at the memory, and then reminded herself again of why she was here today.

She also remembered that the last time she was here, this place was supposedly massive and she had gotten lost.

But for some reason, today, she was able to find Alejandro's office with ease.

Heather blinked and felt her heart skip a beat as soon as she saw the sign on the door which read 'Alejandro Burromuerto - Co-Chief Operating Officer'. Well, that was quick. Faster than expected.

"Heather, you look incredible! I'm so happy to see you," Alejandro beamed when he saw her. Alejandro had been standing near the door this whole time, nervously pacing around as he waited for her.

Heather immediately felt a stab of guilt in her stomach once she saw Alejandro. But there was no going back now. She took a deep breath and then put on a smile. "Listen, Alejandro, we should probably talk."

"I'd love that," Alejandro nodded as he gazed into her deep grey eyes. "Come inside."

Heather nervously let out a tiny nod and the two of them walked inside and sat down on the couch in his office. There was enough room on the couch for them both, but somehow Alejandro had ended up sitting right next to her, which only made her more nervous.

"Can I get you anything, miss, tea or coffee?" A middle aged woman entered the room, interrupting their conversation.

"Uh, sure, tea would be great thanks," Heather replied.

"It's fine, I'll take care of it Andrea," Alejandro said and he turned to Heather with a dorky smile. "I'll be back soon."

Heather gulped and awkwardly stared down. Remember the plan...

"How are you today, dear?" Andrea asked Heather.

"I'm fine, Ma'am," Heather tried to put on a smile, but inside her stomach was doing all sorts of twists and turns.

At that moment, Andrea's phone started ringing. "I've got to take a quick call, but please make yourself comfortable," Andrea gave Heather a warm smile, and she nodded in response.

Once Andrea left, Heather got up and walked over to Alejandro's desk. She tried his computer - it was locked. She then started fiddling around the drawers and shelves. There was nothing juicy. Her gaze eventually rested upon some marketing documents that appeared to look confidential. Just as she was about to take a closer look, she heard footsteps through the hallway that were approaching Alejandro's office.

Heather quickly propped herself back on Alejandro's couch and then pretended to scroll through her phone.

"Sorry about that, dear." It was Andrea.

"No, that's all good, Ma'am," Heather smiled.

There was some awkward silence in the room.

"So, you must be very special," Andrea spoke again, trying to make conversation with Heather.

"What do you mean?" Heather frowned, as she leaned slightly forward from where she was seated.

"Well, I've been Alejandro's secretary since the day he took on the Co-Chief Operating Officer role, and he's never personally made coffee or tea for any other woman," Andrea winked.

Heather gulped. Really? Wow.

"Do...other women come here often?" Heather regretted it the instant she asked it. Of course they would.

Andrea laughed, an amused expression on her face. "Well, I've got to say, in recent months, no."

Heather sat there staring down at the floor and biting her lip, not knowing what to say next.

"You know, he was so happy this morning knowing that you were going to come today," Andrea continued. "It was such a nice change, especially with everything that's going on between him and his father right now," she added, shaking her head.

"Is everything okay between them?" Heather tried to hide the concern in her voice, but it all came out.

Andrea hesitated for a moment and then looked Heather in the eye. "I probably shouldn't say this...but, his father hasn't been too happy with him lately. I'm not sure about exact details but it's something about how he embarrassed himself and the Burromuerto family name for a business competitor..."

Heather bit her lip again. Great. Now I feel bad.

"Andrea? Do you have the meeting papers?" Another voice in the hallway interrupted their conversation.

"Looks like that's calling for me again," Andrea let out a chuckle. "I should go, but lovely meeting you today."

Heather gave Andrea a tiny smile and watched with a feeling of uneasiness as she walked outside the room.

Now this is my chance, right? She thought once Andrea had left. Heather made her way back to where the marketing files were placed in the bottom drawers of Alejandro's desk.

As she grabbed a few sheets of paper, her hands shook and she felt a wave of dizziness overtake her. At this point, she didn't know what she was doing anymore or why she was even here. I should probably just leave...

"Heather?" It was Alejandro's voice, his tone soft and gentle. He stood at the door and slowly walked inside.

Heather quickly got up from under the table and hid the papers behind her hands, as she flashed Alejandro a smile.

"I bought your favorite sushi rolls as well - I asked our chef to make these," Alejandro grinned.

Heather closed her eyes. She felt that her voice had been taken away from her and that the room was now spinning around her. He still remembers that sushi is my favorite food. He really cares about me. Me.

"Heather, is everything ok?" Alejandro gently asked when Heather didn't say anything. He took a step closer to where she was standing in front of the bookshelves, a concerned look on his face when he noticed how pale Heather suddenly looked.

Heather allowed herself to reopen her eyes and her grey ones immediately met Alejandro's green ones - they were swirling with emotion, care, kindness and love.

She swallowed again. Fuck. I can't do this anymore. I can't.

And even knowing his 'player' persona, in that moment she still felt like the love and kindness in his eyes still exemplified everything he was and everything she wasn't.

Indeed, when it was just the two of them standing in the room at that moment, Heather felt as if everything else had faded into the background and nothing else mattered. It was just him and her. And she believed him; that he didn't, and wouldn't hurt her.

Looking into his eyes, she wanted nothing more than to run into his arms and to feel his warmth once more.

But a loud voice inside her was screaming at her that if Alejandro found out the real reason why she had come to see him today, he would probably hate her. And the thought of him hating her made her sick to her stomach.

It was too late, was it?

My mom was right all those years ago. I am unlovable.

Heather took another step backward, and using the back of her hand quickly threw the documents on the bookshelves behind her.

She then took another deep breath.

"Alejandro, I'm sorry," she whispered. She felt her eyes starting to water up and her vision beginning to blur. And then without another word, she sprinted out of the room before Alejandro could see the droplets of tears streaming down her face.

As he watched Heather abruptly run out, Alejandro stood in the room, silent, and a tight lump forming in his throat. Although he wanted to chase after her, he somehow felt as though his feet had been glued to the floor.

His gaze slowly fell to the crumpled pieces of paper on his bookshelf that Heather had just thrown, and he instantly understood what she had meant.

But it wasn't too late, was it?

***

As soon as Heather got in her car, her phone started ringing - it was an unknown number. She frowned and hesitated for a moment but eventually answered the call.

"Hello," Heather managed to let out, her voice hoarse.

"Hello, is this Heather Kasuga?" It was the voice of a woman.

"Yes, speaking," Heather brought herself to answer, as she wiped the tears away from her face.

"I'm calling to let you know that your business, Illuminate, has been nominated as a finalist for the 22nd Annual Canadian Jewellery Business Awards, along with four other finalists. Congratulations! We'll shortly be sending you the official details of the awards night ceremony."

"Thank you," she croaked out.

As Heather hung up the phone, she leaned back on her car seat and closed her eyes. This was the first time Illuminate had been nominated, and it was something she had essentially been working towards from the very first day she launched her business.

Yet for the first time in her life, the prospect of winning wasn't enough to bring her satisfaction.

***

At the same time, Alejandro sat on the couch in his office with his head hung low. His mind replayed what had happened with Heather earlier and the broken expression he had seen on her face as she ran out of his office. Why didn't I chase after her just then? Estúpido!

His thoughts were interrupted by the sudden sound of his office door opening.

"Heather?" he immediately exclaimed, with hope filled in his voice as he quickly looked up, only to see that it was his father instead.

"Oh, hi Papá," Alejandro said the next moment, an evident tone of disappointment in his voice.

Javier raised a brow and let out a cough.

"I just got off the phone, we've been nominated for the Annual Jewellery Business Awards," he announced as he stepped inside Alejandro's office and noticed the empty expression on his face.

"Look, I know you and I haven't been on the best of terms recently. But I appreciate the stress you have been under and I want to thank you for your work," Javier continued as he walked over to where Alejandro was sitting and patted his shoulder. "You are doing a good job."

"Gracias, Papá," Alejandro absentmindedly replied.

His father acknowledged him with a nod and made his way outside his office, shutting the door after him and leaving Alejandro lost in his thoughts once more.

For the first time in his life, his father's praise and the prospect of winning wasn't enough to bring him satisfaction.

--

A/N - These past two chapters were definitely a rollercoaster to write...but with that, I'm going to say get keen for the next chapter - which personally, is the one I am the most excited to publish to date ;)

See you next week and thanks for reading <3