Gambling Hearts with the CEO

CHAPTER 2: His Shadow

As I sat comfortably in the VIP lounge area while they cleared the crowd outside, my mind was wandering elsewhere. I was so determined that it was him. I will never forget that cold tone that he had from the last time we talked as if he didn’t care about anything else. It was indeed him.

It’s been 9 years since that last talk we had in that campus hallway about Tyra. Even if I know that she is already happy in the arms of Dominic, which I first find shocking that they ended up together after I left for abroad, the ignorance Brandon embodies that day was still stuck in my mind. As if the event just happened yesterday.

Maybe I am indeed overreacting now, considering that it has been almost a decade, and that man might not even remember anything that happened during our college days based on his damn personality. But the fact that he cheated on my friend with the use of me the night before he broke up with her, then later on, blaming her for ruining their relationship, lingers in my mind still because of guilt.

Tyra never tells me the reason why they broke up. As a matter of fact, none of us in our circle knows the real reason why that jerk suddenly ended things between them. It was as if it just remained in the cage that was never meant to be taken out. If I weren’t able to get an answer from that jerk that day, then no one else could, since none of my friends dared to actually confront him after me. It’s because, for them, it is useless already.

It is useless in a way because of Brandon’s ignorance and cold personality. We all knew back then that no matter how much we questioned him, he wouldn’t provide us with any answer. And we can’t really bring up the cause of heartbreak to our friend because of fear that she will break down still, so our efforts are just indeed useless already.

But one thing for sure, my hatred for that jerk… it remains even though many years have passed.

If I am being honest, I don’t know exactly why I was able to hate some man for how many years, when I didn’t even bother to give him much attention anymore in our remaining years in college before. I did think that I must have forgotten my hatred towards him after graduating because of my busy schedule, but whenever I see his name on the social media as he grows bigger as a bachelor, it pisses me off.

The fact that such a cheater like him and a playboy somehow gets adored by many women in the world, that he is even called the most attractive bachelor, frustrates me. If only they knew how much of a player he is, then they wouldn’t even bother liking him that much. I’m sure of that.

“Alexandra? Alexa!”

I jumped a little from my seat when I heard my name called many times. I looked around and noticed that I was still in the same room, waiting for my time to leave the premises, while daydreaming about that man when I shouldn’t be. It’s ridiculous how he always managed to mess with me, even by just bumping into him.

“W-What?” I asked, looking at Aisha in complete loss.

“I was talking to you about the reunion. Where the heck is your mind at?” she scolded, brows almost meeting one another.

A sigh escapes my lips as I shake my head to bring myself back to my senses. I could feel her curious eyes on me as she made her way to the empty seat next to me, leaving her luggage next to her.

“What are you daydreaming about? Is it jetlagged? Or are you just really out of your mind now after getting your first break after months of continuous work?” I could hear her mockery at the last question, which I only scoffed at and smiled.

“I’m not. I’m just thinking… I think I saw something this early that I shouldn’t have seen at all.” I said, letting out a frustrating sigh.

“What do you mean?”

I looked at her for a while before completely turning to face her. She looks at me with judgement but I couldn’t care less. It’s better to tell her. That way I wouldn’t be such a crazy woman who keeps thinking about that jerk when I should just push him away from my thoughts.

“Earlier, I bumped into someone, right?” she nodded innocently. “It was him.”

“What do you mean, it was him? Is this a guessing game? Do I need to guess who bumped into you now as well?” she sarcastically questioned, acting like not bothered about it at all.

A groan escaped my lips, containing myself with her sarcasm. It must be the jetlag that made her like this. I mean, she went straight to the airport with me after going through some work. It’s given to her to be this sarcastic right now, I think?

“f**k it. It was Brandon. The f*****g Brandon Styles back in college, Aisha! Tyra’s ex-boyfriend!” I pointed out one by one, but there was not a single shock in her face.

“O—kay?” she simply said.

I looked at her in disbelief. “Is that all? Don’t you even feel frustrated? Or mad? Come on, Ash!” burst out.

“Look, how do you want me to react? You want me to say Oh my God! Was it him? Or really? You bumped into Brandon? Is that how you want me to react?” she says, not bothered at all.

I took a deep breath and rolled my eyes on her before leaning back on the chair instead. I heard her let out a sigh and probably doing the same position as I did.

“Sorry for the sarcasm earlier, but woman, even if you think it is him, it’s impossible.” I looked at her with curiosity in my eyes. “That man owns his own private jet and, from what I heard, he is in abroad for some business for two weeks now or more. So maybe you were just hallucinating because of tiredness.”

“But I know his cold voice, Aisha. It is him.” I emphasised.

I may be exaggerating, but it was only Brandon’s voice that sent shivers down my spine. For some reason, he managed to have such an effect on me and I don’t even know why. Maybe it’s because I could tell by his appearance already that he was such an ignorant, cold man even back then. The fact that he rarely smiles even in his photos online, there is no way I am mistaken.

“Okay, let’s say that it is him. But, why are you so worked up anyway? Is this still because of what happened back in college?” she questioned.

I turned my head to the opposite side and crossed my arms to my chest. “It’s because I hate his guts.” I simply said with such hatred in my tone.

“Damn girl! It’s been almost a decade, and you still haven’t forgotten about it? I mean, Tyra doesn’t even look bothered about it anymore. Even Brandon doesn’t seem to remember anything about college now, based on the last time we met during a business party. But how come you still hate him?” It took her only a few seconds before she could feel such a pair of eyes on me, suspiciously eyeing me. “Perhaps… something happened between the two of you? That is why you are still bothered by him?”

I gulped down hard and tried not to make it obvious. What actually shocks me is that what happened that night in the dark hallway of the club with Brandon, surprisingly, remained a secret for how many years. Maybe the fact that Brandon didn’t even remember a single thing about it was probably the reason why, but it is also because I didn’t dare to say anything at all. I don’t want to cause any more trouble in our circle of friends, so the best way is to just shut my mouth off.

“Nothing happened, okay? I just really hated his guts after doing that to Tyra back then and acting all jerk afterwards.” My hand formed a fist. “That jerk, I can still remember his face when I confronted him. He really didn’t care.”

“Look! Look! You are even more pissed than Tyra when you weren’t even the one who got dumped by Brandon.” She pointed out, bringing me back to my senses.

Come to think of it, I really was. My friends and Tyra herself have already forgotten about what happened back in college with Brandon, but here I am, still stuck on it. I could blame the unresolved matter between us. But a kiss, or make out, shouldn’t have been that much of a big deal for me back then because I had done it countless times. What only bothers me so much is that after he did it, he suddenly broke up with my friend the next day. Now, who wouldn’t be bothered by it?

“Seriously though, Alexa. You really need to let it go now. It’s been many years now and we are in our late 20s already. We are all grown-ups with our own lives. It’s time to let go of your hatred that happened in college.” She advises.

I rolled my eyes as a sigh escaped my lips. “Fine! But he wouldn’t be at the reunion party, right?”

“Well, they said Brandon told them that he would be out on a business trip for about two to three weeks from the time Cat called you about the party. So most probably, he won’t be there. Besides, everyone knows how much he hates being around people anyway.” She simply explained.

“Then that’s much better. We can enjoy the party even more without his presence,” I uttered.

As a scoff escapes her lips, she looks at me in disbelief before shaking her head. At least I know I could have a peaceful night without seeing him again. It’s because I know what I promised myself. The next time I see him, I will bring back the pain he gave my friend. And I don’t think I really have time for that, so it’s better for him not to show up in front of me again.

When the path was clear outside and they managed to control the suddenly growing crowd, Aisha and I made our way out of the lounge area with airport security walking with us. I could hear some people calling my name, so all I could do was give them a small smile to acknowledge their presence even though they shouldn’t be aware of my arrival today. It really is hard to just get to my home without getting mobbed by people now.

Aisha went to her own car and was driven away by her driver, while I went to my own before my driver drove away from the airport completely. I thought the events in the airport were already chaotic enough, but the moment we entered the main road, the traffic met us. I have been away for so long and I almost forgot the traffic here already.

It took us an hour or more before we managed to arrive in the village where my family home stands. As I got a sight of our family home, I noticed some of the renovation that mother had mentioned to me way early this year. From the usual big space of greenland in the middle of the area in the front yard, a fountain with a statue of Hera is already placed there.

“Alexandra! You’re finally home!”

The moment I hopped out of the car, I immediately heard my mother’s soft voice. As I looked in her direction, I saw her walking towards me with such a big smile and arms open, ready to welcome me for a warm hug. I returned her big smile and immediately snuck into her open arms to feel her longing warmth. The warmth of my mother.

“It’s been so long, Mom.” I exclaimed, closing my eyes as I tightened the hug a little.

“It has indeed been so long, dear. If it weren’t for your reunion, you probably wouldn’t have been back home yet.” She pointed out, hinting at a tone of sulking that made me giggle softly.

I let go of the hug to face her with a big smile still plastered on my lips. “Oh come on, Mom. There is no need to sulk. You know that I was busy, right? I had a schedule almost every week. It’s not the reunion that really let me go back home. It’s the agency that allowed me to have some break for a while,” I explained.

“Then they should have given you one before already! They didn’t know how much I missed my youngest one.” She says again, creating a dramatic face.

As she pulled me in for another hug, I only let out a soft laughter as I let my Mom do whatever she wanted with me. It’s the best and only thing I can do right now. After all, I haven’t been home for more than a year and they weren’t able to visit me abroad either, since I was almost in a different city every two or three weeks.

“Look who finally decided to come back home,”

My attention went behind my Mother and there, a woman dressed in a white halter midi dress with her natural brown hair down came out of the main door while keeping her eyes on me with such adoration obvious in it.

“Carina,” I softly called to my older sister.

“Alexa, it’s been so long!” She said and immediately pulled me for a hug. “Oh God, you don’t know how much I have missed my dear little sister.”

“More like our dear giant sister,” a deep voice says in the background.

I looked up to see my older brother in his suit, probably out for work just to see me. “Leon!”

Similar to when I was a little kid, I ran towards him and attacked him for a hug. I have always been so close to my siblings and they also treat me like a fragile little girl, even now that I have grown up. So I really miss them a lot.

My older sister, Carina Serena Borres. She is currently a pianist who works internationally as well. She is mostly based in Austria, but compared to me, she has more time to come home because she makes sure to spare some time. We have the same tall height but I am taller than her by a few inches. We both have the same natural brown hair, a small face, a pointed nose, and pale skin as if we were bathing in milk when we were kids. The only thing that we are not similar in is that she has round eyes like our eldest brother, while I have almond eyes, and she has thinner lips, while I have plump lips.

On the other hand, my elder brother is named Leon Arnoldo Borres. He is currently the CEO of our family business after Dad stepped down and remains Chairman as of the moment. Like us, he has a tall height and a muscular frame. Compared to our pale skin, he rather has tan skin, black hair, a diamond face shape, round eyes, a tall nose, and full lips. With all that, he is considered attractive to many women.

Both my siblings already have their own special people in their lives. My brother is already married to my sweet sister-in-law, Liliana Borres, with two daughters named Natasha Taryn and Iyana Lisa, who are the sweetest and most charming kids I know. My sister is not different. She has been engaged to her fiance, Edwin Estralla, for almost a year now and I heard they will be married within this year as well. With that, I am the only single one left.

“How is our giant sister?” Leon said with such a soft smile plastered on his lips.

“Tired,” I chuckled softly. “But great now that I managed to come back home after so long.”

“Then I am glad to hear that. You don’t know how much Mom has been bothering me just to talk to you and convince you to come home for a while. She misses you a lot, you know?” He pointed out, making me only give an apologetic smile.

“Leon’s right. You should have gone back home earlier, Alexa.” Carina says, showing up next to me.

“I know, and I’m sorry. I was just really packed with schedules during the past few months that I couldn’t even go and take some time off. If the agency didn’t even decide to give me a three-month break now, then I wouldn’t be able to take some time off from work.” I explained.

For the past year, I have been almost packed with schedules with no time to rest. With the fashion weeks held during the first half of the year and the photoshoots, there is barely a time for me to actually enjoy my time. If I have some spare time, the only thing I do is hang out with my friends for a day, then go back to my work life the next day. I am beyond thankful for all that work, but it does get tiring from time to time.

We all went inside to meet my father who was in his study room, and just like everyone else, he was glad to see me as well after a long time. Everyone was actually present at home when I arrived because Mom insisted on everyone having lunch all together before they let me go to my condo to take some rest. Although Mom tried to convince me to stay home instead of staying at my condo, my siblings were quick to back me up and say that I could visit them every week anyway.

Just as planned, we had lunch together where we talked about many things while we were away. As I talked about my modelling career, Carina talked about her pianist career while my brother talked about the usual business with Dad. It’s fascinating because we really have our own things to do now. We have our own paths and our own careers ahead of us. Come to think of it, we really have come so far already.

As the sun went down, it was already our cue to leave one by one. Leon already left much earlier than us because of some business appointment he needed to attend while his wife and daughters went along with him because the two little kids had their own swimming lessons. Carina and I only managed to escape Mom after Dad insisted on us going home and taking some rest, but still reminded us of the family day during Sunday before letting us go completely.

It was chaotic indeed and a long day, I may say. As I walked into the lobby of the condo, I could feel tiredness all over my body. It was as if once I lay down on my bed, I would end up sleeping for the next 24 hours without being bothered by anyone. Since I am on a vacation, I might as well just make use of it, right?

“I’m sorry,” I whispered after bumping into the chest of such a large frame while I made my way inside the elevator.

I must be out of my mind already.

“It’s okay.” He only said.

He stepped out of the elevator and let me in. As I stood in the corner, my eyes widened as I heard that familiar voice again. It is that cold voice similar in the airport again. But before I could even get a look at if it really was that jerk, the door closed and the only thing I saw was his grey shirt and his gym bag.

That was all I could see but… I am determined again that it is home yet… I don’t have any proof. All I know is that his shadow… it must be following me like crazy. And even up to this day, he still knows how to bother me so much. Damn it!