MY EX WANTS ME BACK

Chapter 7

Charles' Pov

When I saw Erika and David leave the party together, I decided to go home as well. If I stayed, May would definitely not leave me alone. It seems that the woman has become obsessed with me because I am the only man who is not captivated by her beauty. And maybe also because of her pride. I think I am the only man who refused to date her. I don't like her, so I don't want to date her.

When I got home, I immediately called my secretary and asked her to send me all the details about David Wilson and his company and also the people around him, especially women. In less than an hour, the details I requested from Linda arrived in my email.

I quickly read the details about David. I already knew some details about him, so I focused only on what I didn't know yet. I found out that Erika and David were classmates when they were both studying in college. They were not just classmates but also close friends.

Before continuing what I was doing, I first grabbed a bottle of brandy and brought it to the bed where I was reading Linda's email from my laptop.

I took a sip of brandy from the bottle and then clicked on the picture that Linda had sent. I felt a pang of jealousy when I saw the two of them close together in the pictures they took.

After looking at the pictures, I then pressed the two videos. The video was taken when David and Erika were still in college. This must be the time when she was already my girlfriend. If in the photos I thought they were close to each other, in the video it was obvious that they were indeed very close. It was also evident from David's actions that he had feelings for Erika.

Earlier, I felt jealous while looking at the pictures of Erika and David but now it was jealousy mixed with tightness in my chest. I clenched one of my fists and then drank the brandy until I finished half of it.

I feel jealous when I see the beautiful smile Erika gives to David. I want her to smile only at me just like before. I don't want to see her smiling at other men.

One of my hands rose and I brought it close to the screen of my laptop. I gently caressed Erika's face on the screen. She looks very innocent and cheerful in the video. Not like now. She is very different from the Erika I knew and loved. She is too serious now and it seems that her sweet smiles are reserved only for David.

I took another swig from the bottle and finished it. Then I just placed the empty bottle on the bed and threw myself onto the bed.

"Erika. Please, give me a chance to make up for the wrongs I've done to you. I still love you, Erika." I was like a madman talking to Erika while staring at the ceiling of my room. After a while, I slowly closed my eyes until I was completely lost to drunkenness.

The next day, I woke up because of the loud ringing of my cellphone that was inside the pocket of my slacks. Groggily, I got up and sat on the edge of the bed. When I saw that it was Linda calling, I didn't answer her call. Instead, I sent her a text message. I instructed her to cancel all my appointments for the day because I wouldn't be coming in. I gave the excuse that I wasn't feeling well so that the clients I was supposed to meet today wouldn't get angry or have a bad impression of me.

After I sent Linda a text message, I went into the bathroom and just brushed my teeth. I didn't bother to wash my face or fix myself before going down from my room and leaving the house. I need to talk with Erika. She needs to know the truth before it's too late.

Without fixing myself, I drove to the Wilson Company building to talk to Erika. I'm sure she's already at the company because it's nine o'clock in the morning. Because of my drunkenness last night, I woke up late today.

When I arrived at David's company building, I immediately went to the information desk.

"Yes, Sir? What can I do for you?" Although the staff at the front desk had a furrowed brow, she still spoke to me politely. Maybe she still recognizes me even with my messy current appearance.

"I'm Charles Evans. Can I speak with Miss Erika Writes?" I said to the woman.

"Wait a minute, Sir." The woman made a call and spoke on the phone for a few seconds before facing me again. "Ma'am Erika is still in a meeting, Sir. You can wait in her office. Just go up to the third floor and the third door on the left side is, Ma'am Erika's office."

"Thank you," I said to the staff, then immediately walked towards the elevator.

I easily found Erika's office. I didn't knock because I knew no one was inside. But when I opened the door, I saw a little girl sitting on the sofa playing with a Rubik's cube.

The child looked at me and suddenly smiled. "Hi. Are you looking for my mom?"

I approached and sat beside her before answering her question. "I'm looking for Erika Writes. Do you know her?"

The child's smile suddenly widened and she nodded three times when she heard the name I mentioned.

"Yes. I know her. She's my mom. But she's still in a meeting so I'll just stay here in her office," she answered enthusiastically to me. "My name is Rose. How about you?"

My chest tightened when I found out that the child was Erika and David's daughter. But I couldn't understand why, even though the child in front of me was Erika's daughter with another man, I felt at ease with her. I smiled at her and didn't show that I was hurt by what I learned.

"I'm Charles Evans. It's nice to meet you, Rose," I introduced myself to her with a genuine smile. I like this kid. Her smiles are contagious. "What are you doing?"

"I'm just playing Rubik's cube while waiting for my mom. Do you know how to play this? Can you help me solve the colors?"

She showed me the Rubik's cube she was playing with. I took it and tried to solve it. In just a few minutes, I managed to complete all the colors. Smiling, I handed the Rubik's cube back to her.

"Wow! You're really good, Uncle Charles," Rose exclaimed happily.

I was stunned and couldn't speak when I heard what she called me. It felt like a warm hand touched my heart because of what she called me.

"Uncle Charles," I absentmindedly repeated what Rose called me.

"Because you helped me solve the Rubik's cube, I will make you some coffee." Rose stood up and went to the pantry area. She took a sachet of 3 1 coffee mix from the drawer.

"Do you know how to make coffee?" I asked her after following her to the pantry area. I'm worried she might get scalded by the hot water. Erika would definitely be angrier with me.

"I'll just make you cold coffee. My mom doesn't allow me to make hot coffee because I might get scalded by the hot water," Rose explained with a smile.

"Ahh," I just said. At least I have nothing to worry about.

I suddenly stopped when I saw how Rose made coffee. First, she filled the cup halfway with water and poured the entire contents of the 3-in-1 coffee mix into the cup. Then she opened the mini fridge, took out some fresh milk, and filled the cup with coffee. Her way of making coffee was just like mine, and even what she put in the coffee was the same.

Only Erika knew about this unique habit of mine, and I felt happy seeing that she taught Rose this kind of habit. I was about to ask Rose if her mommy taught her how to make coffee this way but before I could ask, the door of the office suddenly opened, and Erika came in.

"What are you doing here, Mister Evans?" Erika asked me sternly. She immediately approached her child and quickly moved her away from me as if I were a dangerous person that her child should not talk to. It was as if she didn't want her child to get close to me.

"I just came here to talk to you about—"

"We will talk some other day, Mister Evans. For now, can you please leave my office?" she dismissed me before turning to her child. "How many times do I have to tell you, Rose? I said don't talk to a stranger, okay?"

"Yes, Mom," Rose answered her mother with her head bowed.

"What are you waiting for, Mister Evans? Leave my office right now." Erika's voice was firm as she drove me away again.

With slumped shoulders, I walked out of Erika's office. But I promised that this would not be the last time I set foot in her office. I don't know why I like to become closer to Rose as if she has a connection with me.