Chapter 20- There's Always A Choice

"You have a choice," Rhea spoke as she closed the laptop I was working on so she could get my full attention.

"I know but I'm not choosing anything right now," I said as I opened the laptop.

"Yeah but you made your choice when you forgave him," she said as she again closed the laptop.

"Well yeah I did but it's just about liking and you're talking about love. C'mon Rhea me and love can't happen. I'm sure he'll stay with me for a while and then when he'll get bored he will behave just like Rich-" I started and stopped at the name of my ex.

Rhea's eyes widened in shock when I didn't finish my sentence. I never told anyone about Richard, only four people knew about him. One is no more and the other three would never speak of him.

I have tried forgetting everything that happened and I don't want to remember him at all. Richard was one of those boys who took me for granted. I gave him my everything but what he wanted was to satisfy himself.

He broke my confidence. He took my dignity. He crushed my pride.

What more do I have left now to give Chase? Chase is a great guy but he won't understand why I have trust issues. If I tell him, for sure he'll leave me.

The blind date that keechee set me up on had his name on it. Was it him or someone else? I never found out because Chase showed up instead of Richard.

"Who's this Ric dude?" She asked, her eyebrows furrowed.

"No one important," I replied, not making eye contact with her and she impatiently moved my chair so I could face her.

"I know you well enough to know that he isn't important but you sound hurt," she stated.

"I don't want to talk about him," I said as I stood up and walked around.

"But if he needs a beating, tell me, I'm always free to beat the living shit out of someone," she replied standing behind me.

I smiled at her statement. "I love you Rhea," I stated and hugged her.

"Correct the sentence and say I love you chase," she said in a dreamy tone and I broke the hug and started laughing.

"You are crazy, I have to make the presentation so I'll go. See ya," I said, looking at her and opened the door to bump into a muscular body.

"God," I muttered as I felt a pair of hands on my shoulder, helping me balance.

I looked up and saw Chase standing right in front of the door. He looked back and gave Rhea a meaningful nod and she cleared her threat and left the room from another door.

"Chase?" I looked at him and he smiled.

"Yep, the one and only," he stated.

"You can let go now," I said and he let go of me.

"What are you doing here? Why are you outside my door? Did you need something?" I asked and he looked away, scratching his collar.

"Chase, how long were you standing here for?" I asked, trying to find his eyes which wandered around but never met mine.

"Umm... would I be exaggerating if I said 5 minutes?" He asked innocently and I chuckled.

"Yes," I replied and he sighed.

"It's been 23 minutes now," he said, looking at his watch on his left hand.

"Why were you out here then? You could've just came inside," I smiled.

"Well yeah but I couldn't and don't ask why," he replied.

"Okay then, can we work on the decorations?" I asked and he looked at me dumbfounded.

"What decorations?" He asked and his eyebrows narrowed in confusion.

"Mr. Chivalry's 55th birthday party," I reminded him and he realized.

"Oh yeah sure let's go," he said as he led me out my room.

As we walked out to the lobby, I heard a familiar voice asking for me to the receptionist. I turned and found Zachery standing and looking around, finding someone. When his eyes met mine, he stopped and smiled.

"Cherry," I whispered. He looked at me with a huge smile on his face and I ran to him and hugged him tightly.

"Cherry!" I said excitedly as everyone turned around and faced us.

"Tutu," he said as he pulled me closer into a tighter hug.

"I'm seeing you after so long cherry," I said as I broke the hug but he didn't put me down. "Down, please," I said pointing to the floor and he slowly let go of me.

"Same tutu. You have grown up so much now," he exclaimed and I looked at him with a smile.

"I'm not a tutu anymore, I'm 5'7 now," I said, flipping my hair back.

"You look so cute tutu, you know how much I have missed you in all these years," he said as he pulled me into another hug.

"All these years? It has only been 7 years," I said as we pulled out of hug.

"Darling 7 years is a long time to stay away from you," he winked and I chuckled.

"I heard you have become a successful businessman," I said and he nodded.

"Mr. Helintower at your rescue," he said, bowing down and kissing my palm when he took mine in his.

"I'm so happy for you and I also heard your business is doing great," I excitedly said and he smiled.

"All thanks to you or else I would've been stuck somewhere between surgery or physician," he stated.

"Anytime for you," I looked at him.

He has changed so much. When I last saw him, he was struggling with what career to choose. While I chose medical, he went to business. His dad has a huge business which he now took over.

When I knew him, he was a scared teenager who hated college. Now he looks so grown.

"What happened to my old Cherry? The one with lots of pimples?" I asked as a joke.

"Oh don't even remind me. I had to get so many medication for that crap," he groaned.

"You look so hot now," I complimented him and he chuckled.

"You look hot yourself. I don't know what happened to my tutu who was so colorful," he stated and my face fell a little.

"Richard happened," I whispered.

"Did you see him? Did he do something?" He asked, angrily.

"No I haven't," I said and he smiled.

"Thank god or else you would've found his dead body tomorrow," he joked and I laughed.

I quickly realized that Chase was waiting. I looked back and found him staring at Zachery. His eyes held anger and intense.

"Chase?" I called him and he came to us.

"Alright so Chase, this is Cherry also known as Zachery. Cherry this is Chase," I introduced them and I hoped for a handshake but both of them looked at each other with anger.

I stood in the middle looking at both of them as their eyes reflected a different type of anger. More of competition.

"You," both of them said, looking at each other with the same expressions.

"Because of you I lost my Buros deal," Zachery stated, angrily.

"Because of you I lost my Carter deal," Chase stated, angrily.

I didn't know who was more angrier than the other.

"Well you both lost the deals because of me," I replied and their eyes shot towards me and their expressions softened.

"What?" Zachery asked.

"I helped Cherry with the Carter deal and I helped Chase with the Buros deal. So it's my fault," I explained.

"Oh," I heard Chase mutter under his breath.

"Yeah," I looked at them and they went back to playing their staring contest.

"Come with me tutu?" Zachery asked and I slowly looked at Chase.

I promised Chase that I would help with the decorations for Mr. Chivalry's birthday party. I also promised Cherry that whenever I meet him again, I will go out with him.

I have two choices. I have to choose. Finally I decided and felt bad for the other.

"Rain check? I need to finish something today," I replied and he simply nodded.

"No problem tutu I'll see you at your house tonight then," he said.

"Okay," I simply said.

He kissed my forehead. "I love you, take care," he whispered and chase' eyes widened.

"Love you too, bye," I replied and he turned to leave.

He looked back at Chase and mouthed, "stay away from her."

I smiled to myself for knowing that both of the were very protective about me. I just chuckled to myself when I looked at Chase who gave Cherry a mean look.

"Let's go," I said as I went upstairs and Chase followed behind.

"Who was he?" Chase asked, from behind.

"Cherry. Zachery helintower," I replied.

"No but who is he to you?" He asked, stopping me to walk any further.

"Are you jealous?" I looked at him and chuckled.

"Uh- no. Why? Should I be?" He asked, innocently as he scratched his back collar.

"No I mean depends," I replied, teasing him.

"What do you mean?" He asked.

"It's a choice," I replied.

"Choice?" He asked.

Suddenly Rhea came along with Jeremy and Amanda. "So guys let's start," Rhea stated, excitedly and dragged me.

"Wait, what choice?" Chase asked from behind.

"There's always a choice," I replied as me and Rhea started talking.

~~~

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