I chuckled lightly, "We already talked, he went to Galla a few days before I flew black here. He asked for my forgiveness and a chance, but–"
"No, no, wait... you mean, you two talked and you didn't even mention your situation?"
I slowly shook my head.
My gaze lifted to him when he held my hand above the table.
"You should've told him that you are pregnant."
My lips quivered while staring at him. I didn't expect him to say that. I know he didn't like Hezekiah for me even way before. Why does it seem like the world just turned upside down?
"No, I can't..." I shook my head again.
His eyes lingered on me. He slowly caressed my hand and looked darkly at me.
"I want to show you something..."
We didn't finish our food because we quickly walked our way to his car.
I didn't ask where we were going, but based on the path we're taking, I think I know where it will be.
When his car stopped in front of Cervantes Corporation, my eyes immediately flew to him, "What are we doing here?" I said with knitted brows.
"You'll know when we get off the car, so shall we?"
My whole body shivered as I walked slowly through the door. There's something eerie and different as Ellwood held my hand.
"Good morning, Miss President!" One of the employees greeted me.
Wait— What did she just say?
My eyes flew to the man beside me. A smile played on his lips while tilting his head a bit.
"President, sounds terrific, huh," he whispered softly.
My eyes widened at his remark, it was too late to react when we stopped in front of the door of his office. When he turned the doorknob open, I almost stepped backwards when the staff of Cervantes Corp greeted me in chorus.
"Welcome back, Miss. President, Emory Meredith Grant!"
My jaw almost drop in astonishment. My eyes flew to Ellwood who's smiling broadly at me.
"No way..." I breathed in disbelief.
"Welcome back!" He just shrugged his shoulder and nodded his head towards the empty table. From where I'm standing, I saw my name carved into a desk name plate on the table.
I covered my mouth and turned to him. My tears formed at the corner of my eyes. This surprise overwhelmed me and his perfect smile and that teasing look made my heart blushed. I didn't complain when he pulled me into his arms. I can also hear those small laughs and a kiss that he planted at the top of my head.
"You deserve more than this. Trust me..." he whispered.
I didn't have an idea that Ellwood would give back the position of handling Cervantes Corp in my hands again. I was so shocked when almost all of the companies they took from us was turned over to our surname again. With all the documents and the proof and signed papers that he gave without any missing copies of Sunrise Steel.
I don't have much enough words to thank him for this. It's not an easy decision to give Sunrise Steel to the Cervantes again, especially the decision of going down from his position as the president of the company.
There's only one thing I couldn't understand before we parted earlier.
"Before you give up, think about why you held on so long. It's never easy to let go of what made you stronger."
I glanced at him while look at the tall buildings that we could sight on the company's rooftop. We chose to watch the sunset from here.
"Ellie.."
His head tilted to my direction.
"Thank you for being there whenever I needed a friend. For always putting me first before anything else... and for loving me unconditionally." My voice came out rusty and shuffled.
"And thank you for staying and keeping your promise to protect me— my heart."
I felt his arm on my shoulder as he pulled me to lean on his chest.
"Because I love you and I care for you, there isn't anything in this world I wouldn't do for you..." I felt his soft caress on my shoulder while looking afar.
Tears fell from my eyes as I spread my arms to hug him back tightly. I buried my face deeply into his hardened strong chest. As usual, I could still feel the warm and serene feeling whenever I'm in his arms.
"Alessandra gave birth last week..."
I pulled away. My heart thumped quickly as I lifted my head to him.
"H–How is she? The... baby?"
He crouched his head and tilted it to smile slightly. "They were both okay. She survived," he said.
"Are you sure you can do it? What if something happens to you and to your baby?"
I massaged my temple ans leaned on my swivel chair before answering.
"I'm fine, Zuay. And I'm just gonna cut the ribbon there." I said to calm her. I wanted to keep my pregnancy a secret from Zuay and Tawin but it didn't work.
Her eyes sharpened at me, "Then, are you ready to see him?"
I thought of an answer for a moment. A month had passed since we last talked to each other. Until now, I still couldn't forget of the words he uttered before we parted ways again.
"Please, give us a chance?" he slowly stood up and caressed my wrist gently.
"You know it's not that easy, Zekiah." My voice was low and timid.
"I'm willing to wait. I'll do everything to win you back. Just... one more chance."
I pulled my hand away from his grasp. What would he expect me to say? After all the hurtful words and broken promises that he did to hurt me? I think this is not the right time to give away my chances freely.
I'm still hurt, I know, but that doesn't mean that there's no space in my heart to forgive. I know one day this burden and agony will surely be healed, at the right time.
"Good night and thanks for the wine..." I finally said, turning my back on him to leave.
"I'm not going anywhere, I won't leave and I will never stop trying..." His words hit my nerve and broke me into millions of pieces.
I wanted to say, yes, let's be together again. Can we start again and build new memories? But I stopped myself. If in the past, I made impulsive decisions, now a lot of things were needed to be considered for everyone's sake.
I closed my eyes for a moment and pulled the last courage inside me to leave him.
"Earth to Meredith!"
I blinked repeatedly when Zuay snapped at me. I tilted my head and dropped it on the documents I need to sign.
"He kept on sending flowers and sweet messages seven days in a week! Can you imagine that?! You're office is about to look like a funeral because of th amount of flowers here!" she said with a frown, fanning her hand on her nose because of the flowers' smell.
A soft smile played on my lips. I ignored her because I loved the smell of the flowers he sent, even the scent of dry leaves and petals.
"And another dinner invitation for you, how many have he sent you?"
I shook my head and picked up the small envelope on the table. I peeked inside it, but I didn't read the letter inside. I put it on a box underneath my table. I think it's about to overflow with lunch and dinner invitations.