Tainted Love: Anything For You Series 2 (3 page)

“Stop this, Carl. Don't be a fool. Stop hurting Michael!”
she pleaded to him, but he did not listen.

“Do you see what this boyfriend of yours has done? He has been cheating on you with that woman!”
he lashed out at her as he pointed at Juliana, making her frown grown deeper.

“He hasn't been cheating on me. She is just his close friend. Our close friend to be exact.”
Joana cleared but Michael wanted to protest.

Joana's new boyfriend was Michael? She was just a close friend, their close friend? Juliana had these questions running through her head. She wanted to thrash, to throw things, to hurt someone but she couldn't. She felt imprisoned to what was happening in front of her. She could not say anything or do anything to stop it or even to confirm anything. The way Joana touched Michael without him pushing her hands away was enough to signify that they were indeed closer than they used to be. She swallowed hard and she tried to stop the tears from falling from her cheeks.

The thought of him cheating on her with a friend just made her feel so insignificant. She recalled how many years had passed since they started going steady. They were good friends back then and had reached a mutual understanding. After they started dating, their feelings for each other had grown and Joana had seen that development, yet here she was now, uncaring about all that. It was as if she had been discarded, no longer of importance. She knew she deserved better than that.

When sounds of sirens started echoing in the background, it was as if Carl's trance had been broken. He stood up quickly despite his injuries and ran, leaving Michael and Joana in the middle of the parking lot. She reached out to him to help him stand, and then she steadied him before helping him walk to where she was. Juliana sat on the passenger seat and waited. She pondered on what she was going to do next. She wanted to fight with Joana, but upon seeing the cut on Michael's lower lip and his bloodied face, she knew it would have to wait. Joana smirked as she knew Juliana was there and that she did not just see everything but heard everything as well.

Knowing how timid she was, Joana expected Juliana to do nothing. She would be too concerned about Michael and his injuries that her doubts would have to wait. She was always thinking about other people before herself, which was a pretty admirable trait. Joana just grew tired of it. She did not like that her friend was too nice. She felt disgusted by it. It seemed unreal, a facade. She hated it. She used to be like her but had been taken advantage off way too many times. Selfish – that was what she had become, and she did not regret it.

After all, the only way to get what you want is to take it, work hard for it no matter what. Now, she was focused on taking Michael away from her and was ready to work hard for him no matter what. But Joana did not want to tell her just yet. She wished to continue deceiving her. She wanted her to continue thinking that they were the best of friends and that what happened had been a misunderstanding, but she had other plans. She just hadn't thought of them fully yet.

“Jules, a little help, please.”
She called out.

Juliana sighed as she opened the door on the right side of the back passenger seat. As she took a closer look at Michael's face, she knew he would need stitches. Although Michael wanted to speak, he found himself hurting and decided it would be best to be silent for now. He looked like a mess after all.

“It looks like we have to take him to the nearest hospital. I'll drive,”
Joana declared, and she agreed.

CHAPTER 3

As much as she wanted to be alone with him, she did not know how to drive. She needed a designated driver and right now, that driver was Joana. As soon as Michael was comfortable in the back seat, Joana started the engine and drove to the nearest hospital. But as soon as they reached the hospital to get him admitted, her phone started to ring, so she excused herself to take the call while the medical staff at the hospital assisted her boyfriend. She had to just continue looking on as Joana acted like his girlfriend. She turned her back at them to stop herself from hurting any further.

“Juliana Austin speaking.”
She sounded professional this way. There was no room for anything else.

“Jules, This is Lisa. Did you submit your suggestions yet?”
asked Lisa on the other line.

“No, I haven't yet but I intend to do so later on. How did you find out about that? Weren't you absent from the meeting earlier?”
She wondered.

“I was just feeling a little under the weather earlier but I am feeling much better now. Allergic Rhinitis, that's all. Where are you at? Isn't lunch time over already?”
Lisa questioned.

“I...um...I'm in the hospital right now.”
She covered her mouth with her hand as she drew her phone closer to her lips and whispered.

“What?! Why?! Did something bad happen to you or something?”
Lisa's panicked voice echoed in her ears.

“Actually, no but something bad happened to Michael. I think he might be needing stitches,”
she confessed.

“Oh no! I'm sorry to hear that. You can just tell me more about it later when you get back,”
Lisa said.

Before Juliana could say anything else, she heard a man's voice on the other line talking to Lisa. Although she could not figure out much of what he was saying, she knew that voice well. She swallowed hard as she hoped for the best. She did not want this to be about her. She thought of a reason for him to look for her at work, but the only reason she was able to think of was that lunchtime was already over and she was nowhere to be found in the office. She pondered harder but still came up short. Her thinking of reasons was suddenly interrupted by Lisa's voice on the other line.

“I think you need to get back here soon. Mr. Mitchell is asking for something regarding some articles you've written and I have no clue what to tell him.”
Juliana cursed. Could this day be any worse?

“Can't it wait? I really need to make sure Michael's okay before I leave.”
She inquired.

“Judging by the look on his face, I don't think he can wait. You better hurry. I'll try my best to stall him,”
Lisa said before ending their conversation.

This was not good. When she turned around, Michael had already been admitted and was being tended to. Joana sat in one of the chairs waiting. She cursed as she realized she would have to talk to her and ask her to take care of Michael for the rest of the day, as she was currently needed at work.

“How is he? Is he going to be okay?”
she asked.

“The nurse said he would be getting stitches and needs to stay here overnight. As soon as I hear more, I will call the office and tell them what happened. Are you staying?”
Joana looked at her and asked.

“Actually, I can't. One of my office mates called. It seems I am needed at work right now,”
she said in disappointment.

“I'll be here. I'll let the nurses update you if I won't be here. I'm sure he'll be fine,”
Joana said curtly.

Juliana did not feel comforted at all. The fact that Joana was going to stay with him in the hospital unnerved her. She knew she would have to visit him later on. She also did not like the way Joana talked to her. It was as if she was intruding when in reality, she knew she wasn't. She had every right to be there whether Joana liked it or not. Juliana was Michael's legal girlfriend after all and Joana wasn't. At least that was what she still kept on telling herself. She decided that she should talk to those in charge to get things sorted. She gave them her contact details, hoping that they would update her regarding Michael. She went back to where Joana was seated but found her in one corner talking on the phone with some people at work. Although she felt like it was rude to leave without saying goodbye, in this case, she had no choice. She had to leave soon.

Although Lisa would be stalling Gabriel, she knew she wouldn’t be able to stall him forever. She hailed a cab as soon as she got out of the hospital to get back to work. Luckily, the traffic wasn't that much, but she knew she was still late nonetheless. She ran to Lisa's station as soon as she got out of the elevator. Lisa told her about what Gabriel wanted, and she immediately went to his office to get things sorted. She knocked before proceeding inside.

Gabriel was looking outside the window. There was a cloudy sky filled with so many forms and shapes. He longed to be a child again whenever he looked at the clear sky. It was as if he was a bird and the clear sky was a sign that it was safe to fly. He used to be carefree and yet now, he felt like he wasn't anymore. He sighed as he realized he needed to grow up. This was why his father chose him to lead the company. Although he wanted to refuse the offer initially, he knew he had to. He might not look like it but he loved his father dearly. He might have given him a lot of heartaches because of the troubles he had caused him and his family in the past, but he was starting to turn into a new life now. His random musings were suddenly interrupted by a knocking sound on his wooden door.

“Come in,”
he said without turning his chair around to see who entered his office.

“Sir, Did you want to see me?”
Juliana said weakly.

She was not comfortable standing there in front of him. She wished she was either somewhere else or that this meeting would end fast. Gabriel exhaled before turning his chair to face her. He looked at the frazzled woman in front of him. She did not look calm and collected at all. She fidgeted as she stood there, and she could not even meet his gaze. He wanted to stand up and move closer to her. He wanted to lift her chin to meet his gaze to ask her what was wrong, but he knew it would be wrong. He knew his place even if sometimes he found himself questioning why it mattered. He cleared his throat and looked away to focus on the matter at hand.

“Yes, I asked Lisa where you were, but she said you ate lunch alone. I need you to check the articles that you wrote which I sent back to you with some suggestions. I see their potential, I just feel like they are lacking a bit,”
he confessed.

“I see. When do you need them?”
she asked. She did not mind his suggestions. She was always open to them ever since she started working there.

“Actually, I need them today. If not today then early tomorrow morning. I would like to add them to a food booklet that I've been working on with a certain group of writers. I want it to have some recipes, articles and how to's,”
he explained.

“I see. I'll try to get them done within the day. If not, I will get them done tomorrow morning,”
she promised.

She bit her bottom lip as she remembered that she needed to be with Michael tonight. She wondered how that would be possible now that she had a deadline to follow. The thought of Joana being with him all night bothered her deeply, but she had to do what she had to do. Her career mattered as much as her boyfriend. That was what she promised herself at least. She would have to finish revising the articles the whole night and then just go to the hospital tomorrow morning. She figured she would have to excuse herself from work tomorrow if she wouldn't be able to sleep tonight until tomorrow morning.

“Good to hear that. I hope you can manage,”
he said with concern.

“I think I can. Would that be all, Sir?”
she asked.

“Yes, that's all. Thank you Ms. Austin.”

As soon as she was out of that room, she knew she would have to hustle. Although they were required to submit their suggestions this afternoon, she was no longer interested in participating in that. As for the competition, which was supposed to be a week away, she would have to work harder if she ever decided to join it. As she checked the articles that were sent to her by Gabriel, she placed earphones on her ears and started listening to one of her favorite playlists while writing. Soon, ideas kept on coming to the fore, leaving her productive. In fact, she was so absorbed in what she was doing that she failed to realize that it was already 7 P.M. She was startled when someone tapped her shoulder lightly. When she turned around, she found Lisa looking at her.

“Hey there busy bee! Are you staying? It's already 7,”
Lisa informed her.