Love Aint Always Pretty

Chapter 71: 71 The One That Got Away

The One That Got Away

- a lover from a past relationship that seems to be the ideal match who holds qualities akin to "the one", if it weren't for some force beyond your control, fate or otherwise that kept you apart.

About two years and a half had passed now, a lot has changed in my life after my internship at FMA and my graduation in NYU. My parents were so proud of me, of course, and Cameron was proud too, also Ingrid. A lot of things changed as years passed, I have gotten closer with Damon and we've been dating a lot than the usual after his internship in California. Both of us knew something was going on between us and I thank Kurt for this. We have been dating before we graduated and we're already in a commitment now, one year. He makes me extremely happy. He filled up the broken spaces inside of me that Nick left when he was gone and my parents both like Damon for me too.

I haven't seen or heard from Nick anymore as well. I don't know where he is or how he has been. I don't know how his life is going for him but I hope he still thinks of me. I didn't try to look for him cos he doesn't want to be found anyways. If he was missing me, he'll call but then he didn't so why would I try. It was the last time I saw Tracy too when she came here in New York that day and I miss her as well. I hope she's okay and has gotten fatter than the last time I saw her.

I was applying for a position here in Devaloines Publishing House, I heard Mrs. Devaloines died about eight months ago, I didn't attend the wake but I send my condolences. She died of kidney failure and now someone else is taking over her company. I heard it was her daughter and her husband, but the husband was the one who handles most of all the companies that the Devaloines holds since they said he was very good at it. I was seriously scared cos I know how strict Mrs. Devaloines was and I've heard from whispers in the streets that the new President is a thousand times stricter than Mrs. Devaloines that's why the Group of companies are excelling in the industry.

It was my first day inside the Devaloines Publishing House and believe it or not, I have my own desk and my own office which was ridiculously awesome! I got to wore this white pencil skirt paired with a white satin long sleeves tucked inside and a pair of white two-inched heels. I even have my own name on my desk, engraved on a white marble which faces the door.

"Savannah, The President and his wife are here." Mrs. Hall peeps through my door with a smile.

I rushed my way out of my office and scooted beside Mrs. Hall while we were on our way to the lobby. Everyone was so excited to see them again, I heard they just came from their honeymoon and I didn't get to know who they were since the HR was only calling the new Devaloines Group owner as Mr. President and nothing less. He said Mr. President doesn't want to be addressed other than that. See? How strict he is?

Mrs. Hall told me that the wife of Mr. President was very friendly and she's easy to approach with when the publishing house is facing minor or major problems. She was an English literature major too, just like me and now I'm so excited to know how exactly they look. We might get along cos of some great novels. I'll be a good employee for this company. They give massively huge amount of money.

I fixed my collar and my ponytail as soon as I see the elevator opening in half. I'm sure it was them. Now I'm tensed as I tucked my escaping tendrils behind my ear. Everyone was evidently giddy and happy, I was too since it was my first day today. You know, I get to see my bosses.

As soon as they stepped out of the elevator, I took three steps back as my heart skipped a beat and my jaws drops wide open as I shake my head in disagreement of what I saw. I quickly covered my lips with my hand. It's her. It's her Im so sure it's her. Shit. What was her name again? I know I remember her name. Kurt told me her name. I know it. I just couldn't think of what's what. It's on the tip of my tongue. Why can't I remember it? Damn it who's this girl again.

I gasped.

Dakota.

Her name is Dakota. She's a Devaloines? She's arm in arm with Nick as they smiled happily at their employees. The Nick Wilde, my ex, is standing before me. He's wearing an all black suit with a grey vest under it, white long sleeves, a pair of black tie too and that pointy and shiny black leather shoes. He looks so tall and so lean. He looks more handsome on that suit. Oh my god my heart swells as I look at even more. I lost him.

Holy shit he's my boss. Nick is my boss. Nick just got married. Nick is married. Nick and Dakota got back here from their honeymoon. Oh my god. Honeymoon. Oh god Nick got married. That fast.

Why?

Why is this happening to me?

Why did I see him again after two years?

My head moved to their arms locked around each other, how he holds her close to his body, how she rested her head on Nick's shoulders and how they look at each other like that. My eyes now travelled down to their fingers.

My heart broke when I saw wedding rings. Shiny wedding rings on each of their fingers. I feel like I couldn't breathe. My heart is being crushed into the tiniest pieces ever imagined that the air couldn't pass through my veins anymore.

He's married.

Nick is really married.

"I am very very excited to work with everybody again now that I'm back home with my husband." Dakota speaks.

My husband.

I feel like crying after hearing those words from her. Don't cry Savannah. You're stronger now. You're not gonna cry over Nick anymore, remember?

But oh my god that should be me on his side. That should be me wearing that ring. That should be me saying those lines. I'm still jealous. I'm still hurting. Why does it still hurt? I thought I don't love him anymore. I thought the old feelings I had for Nick was gone cos Damon was there to fill it up. But it's so badly hurting me too much that I want to resign right away from this publishing house. I couldn't handle it longer.

"I have heard a few new employees around here, I haven't gotten your names yet but I am very eager to meet everyone. And I would like to personally welcome you all to Devaloines Group." Nick said so smoothly as if he's used to this.

He's changed. He looks so much different three years ago. He looks so professional now, so successful. He's different, even the way he wears his clothes and how he holds her like that. But he doesn't know yet I work here. I wonder how he will react if he'll know I work for him? God, I shouldn't have applied here. I shouldn't have listened to Kurt when he forced me to apply.

"Let's all get back to work?" Nick eyed on everyone while I was hiding behind this tall man before me.

I secretly watch Nick while he was fixing his tie. Nick has gotten more gorgeous than the last time I saw him. I think his hair color has gotten lighter, the top part of his his was slicked back so perfectly, his beard is still there and his piercing winter blue eyes still is still contrastingly intense the longer I look at it.

"I want all of the new employees to be in my office in five minutes." Nick commands. My heart is now pounding.

Shit!

I watch the two of them walk away from the fleet of employees who were welcoming and smiling at them. They entered to this room together located at the end of the lobby with a huge silver door. Nick opened the door for her before he walked inside. I sigh.

I was about to escape the scene cos I don't want to go inside his office but then Mrs. Hall grabbed my arm.

"You heard Mr. President." She says.

I groan. "How many new employees?"

"Just two. You and that guy over there."

Kill me fucking now.

I see Dakota leaving the room where she just entered and another man entered the room with folders on his hand. Crap, that means I'm going to be in a room with Nick. Holy Jesus how am I gonna react to this when he sees me? If I only knew he was the newest boss, I wouldn't have applied for a position here. Damn it!

The other new employee started heading to the silver door where Nick entered. I feel my heart beating so imperfectly. It's fast and thumping as if it's making me hard to breathe. I scooted my way closer to him while I was walking right behind him, covering my entire self as I enter Nick's office hiding from this guy's back.

Shit shit shit. This is it.

I kept my head down low as I closed the door behind me until we finally stood before Nick's desk. His desk was white and glassed. I slightly pulled my head up and Nick was reading the folders laid out for

him. I'm so scared now.

"Sit." He demanded.

Both of sat down on the silver chairs before his desk. I kept my head lower but if I continue doing this, he'll think I'm still uncomfortable with him around after all the things he did to me. I slowly gained confidence and started pulling my head up. I didn't look at Nick but I was staring at our reflection on the cabinet right across me. Nick has pulled his head up now and he's looking... at me.

"Well, welcome to Devaloines Publishing House." Nick starts speaking.

"Thank you so much Mr. President." The other guy who was new said.

I kept my mouth shut.

"I hope you have a great time here. As you see, only two of you got accepted out of the thirty applicants cos I barely hire new employees. I am very picky when it comes to people that I want work with." Nick said out.

Nick clears his throat. "I'm usually the one who goes over all the applicants bio datas before accepting them but since I was on my honeymoon, I had to ask my assistant to do it for me." Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

My honeymoon.

I showed an impassive look. I didn't dare to look or take a glance or even respond to Nick. I couldn't. I can't find the words.

"Don't worry, my wife is the one who runs this publishing house. It's her thing. You don't see me around here everyday. She just needs to get home to take a rest for a while and she'll probably take over tomorrow. I'll be your boss today." He says so coldly.

My wife.

I tried to keep my composure and show him that I wasn't hurt. I'm sure this other new employee noticed how stiff and unresponsive I am to our boss. He keeps nodding and looking at Nick but I just couldn't do it, brother. Don't make me look at him cos our boss did so many things to me in the past. He left me out of the blue and after two years, I get to see him again as a married man?!

"That's about it then. You may leave now. And welcome again to Devaloines Group." Nick blurted.

I stood up first and then this other guy too. He was the one who headed out of the office first and as I was about to reach the door, I didn't want to go out. I wanted to hug Nick. God knows I missed him so terribly and I don't know if he misses me. It's been a year and I wanted to ask him if he even missed me a single bit but then I'm sure he didn't cos he's already fucking married now.

"Miss Canterbury." Nick called out my name so formally.

I froze right away and closed the door back. I took my deepest breath in before facing Nick. My head was still bend down. I was looking down at my feet.

"How are you... Savannah?" He asked.

My heart skipped when he called my name. He said it so perfectly after a year and a half of not seeing each other.

I exhale. "Fine."

"Good. You may leave now."

I left his office without any other word said to him. It was awkward. We were alone again and I wasn't ready to face him today after what I found out. I couldn't believe it. He's married. He's really married but I hoped it was suppose to be me but why did he pick that girl? Why?

I scoots my way to my office and shut the door close. I walked to my desk and stared at the empty space for longer than I should before starting on my work.

•••••

Around five ten in the afternoon, my shift was over and since I'm not having overtime today, I was free. I grabbed my bag and then my phone as I noticed a text message from Damon.

I'm right outside your workplace hon :) - Damon

I smiled.

I like Damon but not the way I liked Nick. My admiration for Nick is on a different level than Damon's. But to compare the both of them, Damon was much more... let's say, he doesn't leave me after we do it. Yeah, we've done it.

I headed out of my office and since my door was right across Nick's, he got out of his office too the same time as I did. I glanced at him and he just looks at me. I started walking away and I didn't want to share an elevator ride with him so I had to go ahead first of him. I strutted my stuff to the elevator while he was talking to someone over the phone. I waited for the elevator door to open and cursed at it since it was opening too slow. I glanced over my shoulder, damn. Nick is already walking ahead here. I glanced back at the elevator sign, 25th floor, going up to our floor. Finally the door opens, it was vacant and I quickly jumped inside.

"Wait for me." Nick yells.

Shit!

I waited for him and he gets inside right away. He placed his phone down while he takes a glance at me. I pressed the ground floor button and I'm sure it was where he was heading too. Oh I wanted to

ask him so badly on how he has been doing or why did he marry her? So many questions popping inside my head but I know it's already too late for those stuff.

There's no more me and Nick.

I pulled my phone out, pretending that I was texting someone so we won't talk. Ugh, when we're together even before, we barely have a conversation. I always start the conversation and not him.

"How's first day?" He asked.

Holy nuts he's talking.

I gazed at him from the corner of my eye then noticed that he has been staring at me on the mirror of the elevator door.

"Good." I say timidly.

"Congrats by the way." I said out quickly. "On your marriage."

He smiled at me on our reflection from the elevator door before us. "Thanks."

He was about to say something else but then the door opens and I quickly walked out of the elevator to leave. I see Damon's car outside the building and I rapidly headed to where it was. He was standing by his new white Cadillac with a drink on his hand and he handed the other drink too.

"Thanks Damon." I say.

Damon wraps his arm around me and kissed my temple. "I missed you today sweetheart." He says.

"Me too."

He opened the passenger door for me and I quickly climbed inside. I watch Nick from the building and he was looking at us. I didn't care anymore if he saw it or not but I'll be glad if he did. Damon gets inside the driver's seat and started driving away from the building.

"I have talked to the car repair service and your ride will be fixed soon." He says.

"Thank you."

"How was your first day hon?"

I smiled. "It was... Fantastic."

I don't know if the word fantastic could even describe my day today cos I almost locked up myself in my office so I won't see Nick around the same building. At least tomorrow he's not gonna be around the building anymore. Ugh, I had to fake it with his wife then. I really don't like that bitch. I seriously hate her so much even though she hasn't done anything to me but I just loathe her too much than I should. I don't know why. I know this is jealousy but I just hate the thought of being in the same building with her and she has got to be my boss.

"A lot of editing but it was fine. I mean, I love what I do. How about you?" I asked.

"Today was amazing. Not that busy but it was just great today." He kissed my knuckles. I smiled at him.

I wish I could love Damon the way I have loved Nick before. Damon deserves so much love from me cos his love for me is undeniably real and honest. I could feel how sincere he is to me and how he tells me that he already sees his future with me and no one else. We have together for a year now of course I love Damon, but not as much as I was crazy over Nick. I guess my love for Nick is irreplaceable.

I guess I couldn't love anyone anymore the way I loved Nick. My love for Nick is special and too rare.

__________

SFTC:

In My Veins - Andrew Belle