Chapter 3

• On Monday morning, I got up very early to go to work. I didn't want to run into my sister, so I had to leave the house quickly.
• As soon as I arrived at the office, I met Chloé.
• "Juliette, what happened to you? You look very exhausted, it seems like you've been crying a lot."
• "This weekend was horrible, friend."
• "You know you can count on me, let's hurry to the restroom and talk."
• I told her about Bastian's infidelity with my sister, but I omitted to tell her about that man. I didn't want Chloé to have a bad impression of me, even though I know she would never judge me.
• "I already knew Bastian couldn't be the perfect man, I never trusted him, friend, you know that."
• "That's true, I remember you didn't like him," I sighed.
• "This man doesn't deserve a girl as sweet and beautiful as you, and besides, your sister has always been a bad person, I know you love her and everything, but she doesn't fool me, she's manipulative."
• "He's not worth talking about, I just want an explanation."
• "You definitely have to talk to him, at least know his reasons so you can end this story and move on with your life, Juliette."
• "That's true, but I'm afraid to talk to him on the phone."
• "Take your time, dear, when you're ready, things will naturally fall into place. Speaking of something else, do you know the new rumor at the company?"
• "You never change, Chloé, you're always up to date with the office gossip."
• "Joking aside, did you know that President Gerard Durand is visiting us today? Rumor has it, he's extremely handsome, like a prince."
• "Well, what a surprise. He's very reserved, he usually doesn't show his face in public, I'd say he's quite strange, almost nobody in the company knows him."
• "That's true, it's Vice President Alphonse Leroy who's always in charge of the company."
• "And then there's his cousin Vincent Durand, he spends all his time posing for fashion magazines and gossip shows, they're like opposites."
• "We have to admit that Vincent Durand is very handsome, too bad he's a womanizer, Juliette, imagine meeting the Durand cousins in person, it would be any girl's dream."
• "Chloé, you never change, you can't judge someone by their appearance, their worth is defined by their personality."
• "Okay, you win, friend, we'd better get to work or we'll get reprimanded.”
• The morning passed by quickly, I had several projects to review, a lot of work. It was better this way, it kept my mind occupied.
• There's a new project with the famous French filmmaker, Renaud Dupont, it's a movie that promises to capture the heart of the audience.
• Just before lunchtime, I received a call from Bastian, I decided to answer, I needed to hear some apologies from him at least.
• "Hello, Bastian."
• "Juliette, do you have time for lunch with me? We need to talk."
• "Well, where should I meet you?"
• "Let's meet at the restaurant La Nuit."
• "I'll be there in 10 minutes."
• I felt very nervous, I didn't know how I was going to handle this, but I think I'm entitled to some apologies from him.
• Arriving at the restaurant, I looked for his table, he was already there. I went to his table and sat across from him.
• "Well, here I am."
• "Juliette, I'm perfectly aware that you must hate me, but it's necessary to clarify what happened," he was very serious.
• "Fine, start talking."
• "I couldn't control my emotions, I really loved you at that time, it's just that your sister is very beautiful. I got carried away by her, always cheerful and sociable, you never liked to accompany me to my social events."
• "Those words hurt me to the core.
• "So, it was my fault?" I said sarcastically.
• "I didn't mean that, I just felt that you and I weren't meant for each other."
• "So, if you weren't in love with me anymore, why did you propose to me?"
• He seemed a bit uncomfortable, but he raised his chin, without a hint of regret, and it hurt me to the deepest part of my being. But it was enough to drive him out of my heart forever.
• "That day, it was a mix-up. I thought I would tell you everything and end our relationship, but accidentally, at the restaurant, I pulled out my wallet and the ring I had hidden fell out. When you saw the ring, you picked it up and with a joyful face, you said yes to marrying me. I didn't want to tell you the truth at that moment because there were a lot of people around."
• Tears started to flow and roll gently down my cheeks. Why had I been so stupid?
• Yes, that day, Bastian was very nervous and just when I saw the ring fall, I assumed he was going to propose to me.
• "I really was an idiot.”
• "Juliette, I'm so sorry, I was wrong."
• "Tell me, you didn't think to pull me out of my mistake? How long were you going to let me get excited about a marriage that was never going to happen?"
• "I couldn't find a way to tell you the truth and things got out of hand."
• I realized I was still wearing the engagement ring, so I took it off and held it between my fingers.
• "So, who is this ring for?"
• "For Sophie, I want to marry her."
• I felt my body start to tremble with helplessness. The man I had loved the most in my life was going to marry my sister.
• I don't know if I could bear so much pain and humiliation, so I threw the ring at him, stood up, and left.
• "I wish you all the happiness in the world, but don't expect me to be there on that day."
• I ran out of the restaurant, stopped for a moment to hail a taxi, when suddenly I felt someone watching me. I looked around, and there was only a black Mercedes Benz luxury car with tinted windows.
• I didn't pay attention to it and decided to get into the taxi that would take me back to work, while trying to calm my emotions so that no one would notice I was crying.
• ***
• "I was heading straight to my company to review the details of the new projects when a familiar face caught my attention.
• "Luc, park the car."
• "Yes, sir, is there a problem?"
• I saw this beautiful lady getting into a taxi, but her face looked very sad, and her eyes reflected that she had been crying.
• "Follow that vehicle."
• "Mr. Durand, do you want me to follow that taxi?"
• "Yes, Luc."
• "Right away, sir."
• "I also want all the information on the lady who got into that taxi."
• "At your command, sir."
• After a few minutes, the taxi stopped in front of my own company.
• "Sir, it appears she's an employee of Durand Enterprises."
• "I would have never imagined."
• Since that night with that unknown girl, I couldn't stop thinking about her. I know that night, I was impulsive, I acted wrongly, but for some strange reason, I was very drawn to her.
• That morning, a work call woke me up at the hotel. I stepped out of the room for a moment to take the call without waking her up, but when I came back, she was gone, I hadn't even asked her name.
• I searched everywhere in the hotel, but she had vanished, and it left me with a bitter taste. I was fascinated by her, and especially by her body, she was exquisite in bed, and her skin was softer than any other woman's I had been with.
• I was sure of one thing, destiny had brought her back into my path, and I couldn't let her slip away.