Regrets

Mireille had just finished taking a bath after working out in the gym house. She sat at the edge of her bed after dressing up in a casual pajamas.

She picked up a book on her bedside desk and pulled it closer to herself. For the past two days, she had been trying everything and anything to not think of Dante but nothing was working out for her.

No matter how many hours she spent reading, working or working out at the gym in the evenings, she still thought of him.

Her eyes read through the first few lines of the book repeatedly for a few seconds before she let out a small grumble and returned the book to the bedside table.

She palmed her face, shutting her eyes tightly as memories of her with Dante rushed into her head like it had been for the past two days.

She rubbed her face for a few seconds before raising her head with an exasperated sigh. Frustrated, Mireille got up from her bed and grabbed her phone.

She walked out of her room and headed for Dante’s room. Mireille pushed open the door and walked into the room, the scent of Dante hitting her nostrils.

She took in a deep breath and got into his bed, burying her face into his pillow. Mireille hated that he was the reason her heart was hurting so much and still yet, just the scent of him around her made her feel almost at peace.

Mireille cuddled the pillow tightly, wishing it was Dante instead. She turned on her phone and scrolled through the pictures in her gallery, searching for a particular picture.

She stopped scrolling as she set her eyes on the selfie Dante and taken of him and her. Mireille stared at the picture and a small, sad smile appeared on her lips.

“Not even a single call from him for thr past two days. Does Dante really really not love me at all?” Tears filled her eyes as she checked the notification bar and saw no messages from Dante, still.

“I miss him so much.”

*

“Dante?” James pushed open the door to Dante’s room and walked in, shutting the door behind him.

Dante was shirtless, with nothing but grey joggers on him.

“This mansion of yours has been so boring and it is totally unlike you.” James pointed out but Dante gave no response.

Jame’s gaze fell on the teddy bear that was on the king size bed in the room and he pressed his lips into a thin line.

“Since I annoyed you earlier today by throwing that cute teddy bear out of the window, why don’t I make you for it by getting you one or two ladies to relieve you of your stress?” James asked with a smile.

“I don’t need them.” Dante replied and the smile on Jame’s face vanished.

“Why have you been this way, Dante? You haven’t called over even one lady since two days ago. I mean I understand that there are times you don’t want to have sex but knowing you well, you love having ladies around whenever you are on trips like this one. You always have them around at least.”

“I don’t want them around this time.” Dante turned to face James fully.

“We are here for work and that is all I am going to do here. If you want to have some fun with women, go ahead.” Dante added and James narrowed his eyes at Dante, suspiciously.

“A cute teddy bear you suddenly cherish, refusing to have sex with sluts, keeping to yourself these days….” James stopped in front of Dante, the height difference between them getting obvious as he moved closer.

“And?” Dante asked, staring back at James.

“You have a special woman in your life.” James reached a conclusion and Dante looked away from him.

“You have no idea what you are talking about.” Dante replied and was about to walk away but James grabbed his arm, holding him back.

“Heavens. What is the issue, James?” Dante groaned.

“You have a woman you are in love with, Dante.”

“More than any other person, you know me best and know I will never fall in love with anyone.” Dante said.

“I know you best and that is why I can tell that you now have a special woman. That special woman…” James looks turned even more suspicious.

“I hope she is not Mireille.”

For the next few seconds, Dante’s gaze was locked with that of James in an intense stare.

“I am not in love with Mireille or anyone. There’s no special woman.” Dante eventually denied and jerked Jame’s hands off his arm.

“I just don’t want those little whores hovering around me this time around. You are thinking too far.” Dante added but James seemed unconvinced.

He glanced at the teddy bear once more and seeing that the colour was blue, his suspicions increased. Mireille could have been the one who gifted Dante the teddy bear.

“I do hope I am thinking too far, Dante. I do hope that you are not in love with her and you are not thinking of starting a relationship with her.”

“Jeez. All of these speculations because I am not in the mood to fuck some whores?”

James looked away from Dante, hoping that Dante was really telling him the truth. The last thing he would allow in his lifetime was for Mireille to get involved with Dante romantically.

Dante Romano could be his best friend but he could never let Dante get in a relationship with Mireille. It would be way too much danger for Mireille and he (James) would never let Mireille fall into danger even if he had to lose his life while making sure of that.

Dante put on the black compression shirt Mireille had gifted him and ran his hands through his hair.

“I will be at the gym house.” he gave a short notice to James and walked out of the room.

James watched the door shut behind him and as soon as Dante’s footsteps faded away, he hurried over to the teddy bear on the bed.

He looked at it carefully trying to see if there was anything that pointed out to who it had come from but there was nothing like that.

He dropped the teddy bear with a sigh of resignation.

“I hope I don’t regret having asked Mireille to stay with Dante.”