46 — Rumors all around.

A week can go by really fast when you wish time would just stop.
When I blinked, the day of the presentation arrived.
And when I blinked again, the presentation was a success.
The clients really liked the sample shown and approved to proceed. We closed the deal — which means no more reasons for my father to stay abroad.
The message he sent me as soon as everything worked out made it even clearer, **[Sweetheart, I'll be home soon].**
And I just didn't know how to react…. I knew this moment would come, but now that it's happening, a bitter taste has risen to my mouth.
I stared at the message for a few moments. But with an impulse, I walk to Julian's room and knock on his door, holding my breath and only letting it out when he opens the door.
He leaves it open for me, with the phone pressed against his ear….
“Yes, Mike… Got it.”
I feel my stomach twist, watching as Julian walks back to his desk, giving me a glimpse of his broad back, whose muscles seem more retracted than usual.
“Right.” Julian agrees, resting his hand on the table, and bending over it.
Closing the door carefully, I approach with light steps.
He's still talking on the phone, agreeing to something I can't hear. But when I approach his back and lightly touch his shirt, I feel his body stiffen completely — and this reaction takes me by surprise, making me immediately pull back.
I move away, sitting down on the sofa, waiting for the call to end, which thankfully doesn't take long.
Julian ends the call with my father and turns to me, leaning against the table. His expression is conflicted, and I know that, just as I predicted, he knows our end is near.
“Has your father warned you that he will be returning to America soon?” He finally asks me, looking at me with his green eyes so deep I could drown.
“Yes, he texted me.” I sigh, looking away, and staring at my hands.
“That's good… he's been away from home for quite some time now.” Julian rubs his hand over his lips, through his unshaven beard, “Did you tell him about Eric's cheating?”
“I couldn't keep hiding it for long.” I clasp my hands over my lap, feeling the knot in my throat tighten.
“Yes, you're right.” He starts scratching the beard on his chin, his eyes on the floor, “And… do you plan to tell about what we're doing?”
What *we're doing* — not what *we've become.*
I raise my eyes, finally facing him.
My heart is aching, truly; as if my chest is being ripped in half. And I know this anguish is rising to my eyes because I feel them burning, glistening with feelings that Julian wouldn't understand even if he tried really hard.
Because I have loved him from the very beginning… and I'll have to leave that behind once again.
Maybe he's afraid of my answer, afraid that I'll ruin his friendship with my father. I know this because he's looking at me apprehensively.
That's why I just shake my head negatively, watching the relief take over his face. “No… I told you from the beginning, no one needs to know.”
“Okay.” He sighs, disengaging from the table, running a hand through his blond hair, and turning his back to me again. It's a relief because, this way, he can't see how I'm fighting this damn sadness.
With a deep sigh, I get up from the couch, swallowing heavily, “Well… I have some things to do, so I see you later?”
“Yeah, see you later.” He says, still with his back to me, fiddling with the open documents on his desk… without paying me a single glance.
I bite my lip, closing my eyes…. “Okay.”
As I leave the room and stand outside, I sigh even more deeply and put a smile on my face; there are too many people around watching me, waiting for a simple slip to make me the target of gossip. After all, there are rumors all around.
I hurry my steps to the restrooms, painfully aware of the sound my heels make on the floor, mixing with the desperate beats of my heart. I push the door quickly, sitting on the toilet seat, sinking my face into my hands.
Oh, damn.
Clutching my hair between trembling fingers… I already feel the tears at the edge of my eyes.
Sealing my lips tightly so that no sobs escape through them, I try to convince myself that things are just taking their natural course, as should be. Everything ends eventually… And it could be worse, right? We could lose our friendship for good….
The bathroom door opens loudly, along with laughter. I just close my eyes, trying hard to keep quiet….
*“It's finally over. I can't stand to face that bitch anymore. But seriously… who knew she likes this kind of thing?”* I hear a familiar voice say with debauchery…. It's Naomi, isn't it?
*“There's nothing angelic about Angelee.”* Deborah adds with a sarcastic laugh, *“Behind that appearance, there's a real whore.”*
Excuse me??? A whore?
I'm ready to get up when I hear a third voice — and at this moment, I feel my heart beating so strongly that it goes up into my throat.
*“If I tell you something… promise not to tell anyone else?”* It's Grace's voice… *“She invited me to go with her… She sent me the address and the time; can you believe it? And she didn't tell me anything about it being this kind of club! She's my superior, the boss's daughter… I couldn't just say no, could I? I got really scared, so I left.”*
I. Can't. Believe. It.
Is she seriously saying I invited her? While she's the one who text me?
*“Well, I was friends with Angelee for a long time, you know…”*
My heart beats even faster because now… it's Laura who's joining the conversation.
*“And yes, anyone who looks at her can't imagine the big bitch inside her. I constantly felt wronged when I tried to warn other people, and they didn't believe me…”*
I bring my hand up to my trembling lips, feeling a sudden sickness.
*“No, I understand you perfectly… she approached me pretending to be innocent and almost got me into this kind of thing. Honestly, I should have known something was wrong when she invited me to Laura's ex-boyfriend's restaurant. She was so insistent… I didn't have the heart to refuse.”* Grace says with a soft tone, with false innocence.
*“Wait, that's why you stopped talking to each other?”* Deborah asked loudly as if there was a sudden light in her mind, *“Did she steal your boyfriend…?”*
*“I'm embarrassed to say that…. I'm not one to talk behind people's backs, you know.”* Laura sighs and hesitates for a few moments, but seems to give in when she adds, *“Yeah… our friendship ended because Angelee slept with my boyfriend.”*
*“I can't believe it!”* Naomi exclaims in surprise.
*“The owner of the restaurant?”* Grace seems to cover her mouth because her voice comes out muffled, *“No wonder they were so close… he even knew her order, can you believe it? They were flirting so openly. He's your ex-boyfriend, and she showed no consideration for you by throwing herself at him like that.”*
I really feel like throwing up.
*“Does Eric know?”* Deborah asks in a bitter tone, *“That while he's sending bouquets to his girlfriend, she's a slut who's cheating on him?”*
*“Angelee broke up with Eric, but he doesn't believe me… he keeps trying to get her back, even though I told him how she stabbed us in the back. I feel sad because I’ve been friends with him for a long time… we met in college, and I really care about him. He's like a brother, you know?”* Laura says with a fake sorrow… I can imagine there are fake tears glistening in her eyes.
A brother? Hah… What a fake bitch.
*“Don't you think she's having an affair with Mr. Adams as well?”* Naomi says in a lower tone, her voice debauched. *“It wouldn't surprise me… she has no scruples at all.”*
*“Do you think Mr. Adams would stay with someone like that? She's clearly not his type…. Have you seen the women at his feet? Blondes, models… Beautiful women.”* Deborah laughs scornfully, *“A man like him wouldn't waste his time with someone boring like Angelee…. At most, he'd fuck her once and that's all.”*
Her words have the force of a punch straight to my stomach.
I'm so sad about my situation with Julian and, at the same time, so angry at these snakes…. How dare Grace twist reality so much? How dare Laura lie and act like a victim? Deborah and Naomi, why do they seem so sure of themselves when criticizing me?
Honestly, it infuriates me….
It angers me to the point of blind rage, my vision blurred by the tears that dried from the flames of hatred burning in me.
I'm getting up, about to leave, and I don't know, let out all my anger, but…. I hear another door unlock. I even looked at my own, surprised by the upward noise. It creaks open and shushes the giggling girls.
*“If you have time to spend in the bathroom talking about other people's lives, I think you have enough spare time to get on with your other projects. Should I tell the manager to rearrange your schedules?”* I hear Sarah's voice, in her usual controlled and methodical tone.
*“B- Boss…”* This time, it's Grace's voice that sounds abashed. *“We were just-”*
*“I don't care. Go back to your desks now… otherwise, I'll really talk to the manager about it.”*
I didn't hear any words beyond Sarah's lecture, just the hurried footsteps out of the bathroom and the closing of the door. Then a deep sigh and the sound of water…. So, Sarah comes out, too — leaving me completely alone and surprised.
Sarah… did she really stand up for me?
***
At the end of the day, I see that the staff are cheerful and smiling. Ever since I overheard the conversation in the restroom, I've kept quiet, mulling those words over and over in my mind.
Am I really going to let things get this way?
“Hey, Angel…” Ethan calls out, hurrying to me.
I notice the eyes of the girls who were talking about me are locked on the way Ethan approaches with a beaming smile.
“Yeah?” I move my eyes to him and give a smile back.
“Are you going to the party to celebrate the project approval?” He stops in front of me, bringing his hand to the back of his head, “The bosses promised we can drink as much as we wanted since we're off tomorrow. On their check!”
“Oh really?” The words die in my mouth as I notice Julian is walking out of his office. And, like drawn by magnetism, his green eyes meet mine.
I hold eye contact for just a second, then pass my gaze around the group of nasty girls. Finally, I turn it to Ethan — widening my smile even more.
“Of course I will.” I say, moistening my lips, noticing that he smiles at my response, “I wouldn't miss it for the world.”