Chapter 13
Nina
Against my sister’s warnings, I still went to Cole’s office the next day. I stormed past Maria at the reception desk, and past some of the other suited men in the lobby.
“Miss Philips!” Maria ran after me as the elevator doors pinged shut. I was suddenly filled with rage this morning, fueled by the alcohol from the previous night. Cole had given no explanation. Of what he was doing at my apartment. What he wanted to talk about or how he had even found my address! I didn’t want to acknowledge that little voice inside my head that told me I was enraged because he had dismissed me so quickly. Made me feel so small for being drunk. I wanted to see him, and it was shadowed by the anger I felt towards him.
I walked out of the elevator and straight to the double doors of his office now. I burst in without knocking, only realizing seconds later that he might be in there with someone else. In the middle of an important business meeting perhaps.
“Nina!” Cole looked up at from behind his desk. The woman sitting across from him, whipped around in her chair as well to stare at me.
“Oh. I’m sorry. I didn’t realize…” my voice trailed. The phone on his desk rang and Cole pressed the button.
“Sir, Miss Philips…she walked straight up. I tried to stop her…” Maria’s voice again.
“Thanks, Maria. She’s here now. It’s fine,” Cole said and cut the call.
It was only now that recognition filled me. I had seen this woman before. She was sitting on the lush leather chair that I was sitting on, just the previous day. Naked, with my legs spread apart for Cole.
This woman was in a tight black body con dress, with the reddest lips and her blue eyes looking winsome and brilliant. She was the woman whose wedding I had met Cole at. She was his ex.
“I’ll come back later,” I said, feeling flush. The color had risen to my cheeks. I was choking on my words.
“No, stay. Come in,” Cole said, standing up from his chair. The woman snapped her head to look at him, and then she looked back at me again. I couldn’t remember her name.
“You two have met previously. Rosalie, this is Nina. Nina Philips,” Cole introduced us, as he buttoned up his jacket. He looked commanding and handsome in his navy suit. His hair fashionably swept back as always, just one dark strand resting on his forehead. Rosalie looked confused, as I walked towards her. With whatever dignity I had left in me.
“We met at your wedding. I was singing in the band,” I said, and stuck out my hand to her. I remembered her looking beautiful and resplendent in her wedding dress. I still remembered how jealous I was of her, of how perfect her wedding was. What was she doing alone in Cole’s office? He had mentioned that she still wasn’t over him. Had I interrupted a very private conversation?
Rosalie’s eyes expanded as she drank me in. I could see that she was studying me. With the same surprised gaze that Maria had looked at me with. It was almost as though she couldn’t understand why Cole knew a woman like me. A girl in distressed jeans and a year old floral blouse, with barely any makeup on.
“And how do you two know each other?” she asked, ignoring my extended hand and turning to Cole again. He gazed at her, and then turned to me again. A smile formed on his face. My heart was thudding against my chest. I could barely breathe. I had no idea what he was going to say.
“She’s my wife,” he said bluntly and then walked around his desk towards me. I knew I was shaking in my shoes. I was confused and distressed and at a total loss for words. Rosalie stood up from her chair with a jerk. Her cheeks had gotten red and her blue eyes were suddenly filled with hate.
“Are you kidding me, Cole? Who is this woman?” she shrieked, just as Cole came over and placed a hand on my waist. I couldn’t look at him, and neither could I look at Rosalie.
“I just told you. She’s Nina and she’s my wife,” I heard him say. The touch of his hand on my waist was enough to destabilize me. I felt like I was going to crumble into a big heap on the floor any moment.
“Your wife! You got married?” Rosalie was still shrieking. Her face had gone red.
“Yes, Rosalie, not all of us need to put on a big show for our wedding. We got married in secret and now if you’ll excuse me; I would like to have a few private minutes with my wife before I have to head over to my next meeting,” I heard him say and then sensed him looking down at me. I turned my face up towards him, catching his eye. Even though he knew just how much in shock I was, he only smiled kindly. Anyone would have thought that this was all real.
“This is insane. You are insane, Cole!” Rosalie snapped and he turned to her again.
“Don’t you have a honeymoon to go to with my cousin? Your loving husband,” he said, keeping that smile intact on his face.
Rosalie was still shaking with anger, and her nostrils were flared. I could see she was in shock and in complete disbelief.
“We need to talk about this at some point, Cole,” she said.
“I have nothing more to say to you. Please leave, Rosalie,” he said, with his hand still on my waist, holding me close to his body.