Loving Mr. Cary

Chapter 1 : Heartbroken… Again

*Della*

I stood on my room's balcony of our three-story villa, feeding my eyes with the evening beauty of Santa Monica, California.

I could hear the loud music from our living room on the first floor. A party was going on, and it was for my birthday. My wealthy father, James Avary, threw the party for me like he always does.

My father takes any chance to spoil me, which is quite understandable since I am his only child. Ever since my mother left us to marry a wealthier man, I have been the only source of his happiness.

I ought to be downstairs with my father and the guests, but I wanted some quiet time alone first. I'm twenty years old now, and I believe it's time to do and see things like an adult.

One of my goals for this year is to finish my first novel and publish it. And my other goal is to keep my relationship with Richard, my boyfriend, solid. I can't tolerate any more heartbreaks.

“Rat-tat-tat!" There was a knock on my room door, disrupting my quiet time.

“It's open!" I answered and looked back. The door opened and Emma, my best friend, walked in. She looked gorgeous in her red jumpsuit, which fit her hourglass-shaped body perfectly. Her hazel eyes which were my favorite part of her were complimented by the color of her outfit.

“Baby girl!" she called in excitement and spread out her arms.

“Emma!" I smiled as I embraced her.

“Happy birthday, darling. You look stunning," she uttered, and I chuckled.

“Thank you, Emma. You look beautiful too."

“Of course. I have to. It's my best friend's birthday party, I can't look terrible," she answered boastfully, and we both laughed.

“Why are you still up here? Everyone is waiting for the celebrant on the first floor. And Richard… oh my… he looks so hot tonight!" She squealed in excitement, and I giggled.

“I'll be down very soon. I just wanted to have some quiet time before seeing everyone."

“And that quiet time is over now. Come with me! It's time to party!"

She pulled my hand as she walked to the door. She looked at me and smiled widely. I smiled too and shook my head. I lifted my emerald green mermaid gown so it wouldn't get under my heels and make me trip.

Emma is the typical best friend that every lady needs. She is funny, lively, bold, smart, and the life of the party. There is no dull moment with her.

Since I met her when I gained admission into college, until now, I have never once regretted ever meeting her. She has always had my back since then.

Soon, we got to the spiral stairs that led to the first floor, and Emma let go of my hand. “I'm sorry, Della, you have to take this walk alone," she uttered and began to walk down the stairs.

“Why?" I asked in confusion.

“C'mon, Della, it's your birthday, not mine. See you soon." She winked at me and soon, she was on the first floor. I smiled and shook my head as I carefully walked down the stairs.

Falling down the stairs on my birthday in front of everyone is the last thing I want to happen in my lifetime.

I looked at the living room and my jaw dropped in awe. It was beautiful! There are fairy lights, and balloons everywhere. A huge cake sat in the corner, and the number of people that were present was a shock to me.

I knew that my father was planning a party but I never knew it would be this big.

“Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday, Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday to you," the guests sang, and I grinned widely.

“Thank you all so very much!" I responded and they all clapped for me.

Then I spotted Richard approaching me. The one thing that drove me crazy about Richard was his facial features. He has a smooth round face with a pompadour haircut and no facial hair which makes him look much younger and cute. He has a long, turned-up nose which I believe fitted his face perfectly. And his lips… the best of the best! He has full lower lips which made sucking on them heavenly.

He held a cake in his hand, and the number '20' was written on the cake. The smile on his face warmed my heart. It was a dream come true.

My other boyfriends always left me before my birthday, but it isn't the same with Richard. We have been together for eight months now, and he has never hurt me. He truly loves me.

“Make a wish," he uttered, and I nodded. I moved closer to him, clasped my hands, and closed my eyes.

'I wish to achieve my goals this year.' I opened my eyes and blew off the fire on the candles.

“Yay!" Everyone clapped for me again. Richard gave the cake to Emma and embraced me.

“Happy birthday, my sweetheart. I love you so much."

I embraced him and closed my eyes. “I love you so much more, Richard. Thank you for coming."

“Of course. It's my girlfriend's birthday. Where else would I be?" he asked and stroked my cheek with his finger.

“Della, you should go and greet the guests. You haven't even said hi to your father," Emma butted in.

“That's true. Where is he?" I furrowed my brows and looked around.

“He's in that corner with a friend," Emma answered, pointing to where my father was, and I nodded.

“I'll see you soon, Richard White," I teased and planted a kiss on his cheek before walking away.

“Happy birthday, Emma!" Sarah yelled and hugged me.

Sarah is a friend from college. We are studying the same course which is English. She is a part of our clique with Emma, Richard, Sarah, and me.

“Thank you, Sarah! I'm very glad you're here!"

“I'm not the only one here! Almost all of our coursemates are!" She pointed to her right, and my jaw dropped when I saw them.

I never knew so many people from my class would show up. Maybe it's high time I accepted the fact that I'm popular.

“Happy birthday, Emma!" they chorused.

I gave a slight bow and waved at them. “Thank you! I'm coming to say hi soon! I need to speak to my father."

They all nodded and I turned to look at Sarah. “Enjoy the party. I'll be back soon."

I walked away and finally got to where my father was. He was having a chat with his best friend, Mr. Cary Newman. I don't like to admit this, but Mr. Cary has the best face I have seen in my whole life. Starting from his ever-perfect side-parted haircut, down to his highly contoured oblong face. His nose was long, straight, and down-pointing. His facial hair was always clean-shaven. His upper lip was thin, but his lower lip was a little bigger than it.

Mr. Cary Newman is also a popular figure with lots of money. I still can't figure out who is wealthier between him and my father.

“My little rabbit!" Father called when he saw me. I smiled shyly and shook my head.

“I'm not little anymore. I'm twenty now," I answered and when he moved closer to me, I hugged him tightly.

“Thank you so much, Father. For all of this."

“I'll do anything for you, my beautiful daughter. Happy birthday once again. The present will come later," he said, and I chuckled.

“Even if you don't have one to give me, I won't mind. You've done more than enough," I smiled and looked over his shoulder at Mr. Cary, who was staring at us, beaming.

“Mr. Cary, thank you so much for coming," I said, moving closer. He smiled and greeted me by planting soft kisses on my cheeks and I did the same.

His cologne filled my nostrils and I deeply inhaled it. He smelled so good. Well, every rich man smells good, but he was always exceptional.

“Happy birthday. You look magnificent tonight," he uttered, and I shyly lowered my head. I have always found him to be so charming.

His soft smile always suits his handsome face, and this always warms my heart. The way he speaks with so much confidence and maturity. I have always admired him.

“Thank you, Mr. Cary," I answered, locking my eyes with his.

“Della, have you greeted everyone?" my father cut in, and I hastily broke our eye contact.

“Not yet, Father. But I'll do that now."

“Great!"

“See you soon, Mr. Cary." I waved at him and he answered with a soft smile.

***

It was 1 a.m., and the party was gradually coming to an end. Most of the adults, my father, and his friends had left and only the youths were present. They didn't hesitate to continue a late-night party.

There was booze and the DJ was on fire.

“Let's play a game!" a guy from my class yelled, and everyone raised their cups in agreement.

“Yes!" they cheered.

“Let's play truth or dare!" another girl yelled, and she got the same response.

I laughed and shook my head as I watched from where I sat, and just then I realized Richard wasn't in sight.

Did he leave already? That's impossible. He would have said something.

I tiredly stood up and lifted my dress as I began to look for him. “Richard!" I called but got no response. He wasn't in the living room.

I sighed tiredly and walked out of the house. “Where can this boy be? Richard!" I called again. Only a few guests were hanging around outside, and he wasn't with them either.

Don't tell me he left already. “Richard!" I called, and before I knew it, I was taking a walk around the house in search of him.

'He is supposed to be with me now. Where the hell did he go?' I asked myself as I kept looking for him. I was too tired to call his name.

'Maybe he's having a smoke in the backyard. But he could have taken me with him. I would appreciate a smoke right now.'

I took a turn into our backyard, hoping to find him there when I suddenly began to hear moans.

As I drew closer, the woman's moan grew louder. I hid behind a wall and peeped around to see them. As my eyes fell on them, the smile on my face faded slowly. I shook my head and squeezed my eyes shut. I opened them again and felt my heart being ripped out.

It was Richard, and the loud moans that filled my ear were that of my best friend, Emma. My knees failed me and I fell to the ground.

My eyes were wide open as tears heated my eyes and began to pour without control. My whole body began to tremble as I cried.

My boyfriend and my best friend? The pain of the betrayal I felt in my chest was overwhelming, making my head spin thinking of all the times we had spent together as a group, not knowing that they were doing this behind my back. I can't believe this is happening, and at my birthday party of all places.

I slowly stood up and looked at them again. They seemed to be enjoying themselves so much that they didn't know someone was watching them.

I turned away and began to run. I wanted to run away from what I had just seen like it never happened but it was impossible!

Tears clouded my eyes and I could hardly see where I was going but didn't stop running. All of a sudden, I bumped into someone and almost fell, but the person grabbed me.

“Della, are you all right?"

I wiped my teary eyes with the back of my hand to see who grabbed me, only to peer up at Mr. Cary. Instead of saying a word, I threw my hands around him and hugged him tightly.

I broke into more tears and wet his blazer with my tears. “It's okay, Della." That is all that he said to me until I was calm.

“My boyfriend is having s*x with my best friend as we speak. I'm so hurt, I feel like I'm going to die," I cried.

“No, Della. You aren't going to die. You'll be fine… After a couple of days, you'll be okay," Mr. Cary said, looking right into my eyes.

“No." I shook my head as I cried. “I love him so much! I'll keep seeing him at school. He will always be in my head. I can't handle this heartache."

I broke into more tears and he embraced me again. “If seeing him and thinking about him is going to be a problem, maybe I have a solution."

He broke the hug and looked at me. “If you ever feel lonely or sad, or you're thinking about him, give me a call or text me. I'll try my best to help you forget about him, okay?"

“You'll do that for me, Mr. Cary?" I murmured, and he bobbed.

“Of course, I will. That is the least I can do for my best friend's daughter. Though I will be busy sometimes, I promise to find time for you. We will nurse this heartbreak together, okay?"

I nodded and hugged him again. “Thank you, Mr. Cary."

His strong arms wrapped around me too, and he slowly patted my head. “You'll be fine," he muttered, and my eyes fell shut.

I felt great comfort in his hands, which I desperately needed after witnessing what I did.