Chapter 5 Crazy Aim

• Kim’s POV
• I return home, still shaken by the confrontation with my boss. However, any thoughts of that quickly fade away when I arrive at Lu's apartment and spot Dante waiting outside. As soon as he sees me, he stands up and in his eyes I can see that he came to convince me to come back to him.
• "Kim, it's good to see you."
• "You're blocking the entrance. You'll have to move," I reply tersely, my tone revealing the tension simmering beneath the surface.
• Understanding my curt response, Dante steps aside, allowing me to pass. As I do, he reaches out, gently grasping my arm.
• "What do you want, Dante?" I inquire wearily, my exhaustion evident.
• "I want to talk. I want us to work things out," he responds earnestly.
• "What exactly do you want to work out? Do you want to fix the fact that you betrayed me, that you slept with someone else in our bed? Or do you want to fix the fact that just seeing you makes me feel so uncomfortable that I want to hit you?" I ask, curious.
• "I understand that you're angry with me for what I did. But it's good that we talk. We've been together for a while, we live together, and we're engaged. It's something we have to remember to get through this test, darling."
• "Get through this test?" I repeat incredulously.
• "In a relationship, many problems arise that can destroy us if we give up, or bring us closer together if we remember that we love each other. I want the latter to happen, I want all of this to be a test that our love will overcome so that we can be happier."
• "Dante, when we talk about overcoming obstacles in a relationship, we're referring to illnesses, financial struggles, and similar challenges, not infidelity," I assert, my tone firm.
• "But I'm asking you to make an exception this time. I promise you, it won't happen again," Dante pleads.
• "No, thank you. I'm not interested in second chances, let alone exceptions," I reply, stepping further away from him.
• "Then consider lending me the money for my mother's hospitalization," Dante says, his voice trailing behind me as I turn to face him.
• "So, that's why you were with me. Ever since I saw you with that other woman, I've been wondering why you betrayed me. I wanted to understand why you chose to stay in this relationship if you had no intention of being faithful."
• "But your request just gave me the answer. You didn't love me; you saw me as a boost to your ego, someone to have on the side while you pursued other women. And I was also a convenient source for paying your mother's medical bills," I accuse, my words sharp with resentment.
• "That's not what I meant.”
• "Leave, Dante. I don't need any of what you've given me.”
• "Are you sure? I didn't want to bring this up, but do you really think you can do without me? Remember, without me, you can't obtain the sperm sample," Dante strikes back, knowing full well it's a low blow.
• "A sperm sample that you could have provided, but God saw what a bad man you are and denied you the possibility of having children," I counter, striking Dante's pride.
• "You..." he begins, walking toward me, but before he can reach me, he falls to his knees.
• As he does so, I notice my best friend Lu lightly blowing on her face, so that her hair doesn't cover her eyes, and taking off her second platform shoe, she walks towards us, threatening Dante with the shoe.
• "I knew you'd take out the trash today. But I never thought I'd find it at the building's entrance, let alone that it would speak. That's disgusting." Lu remarks, her tone dripping with disdain.
• "You hit me with your shoe on the leg, crazy!" Dante shouts angrily while Lu covers me with her body, ready to hit him.
• "Yes, I'm a lunatic, and as a lunatic, you should know I have no qualms about throwing stones. And as you just witnessed, I have pretty good aim. So, don't tempt me. You'll end up seriously injured," Lu warns him with the shoe in her hand.
• "You're both insane," Dante mutters, rising from the ground and swiftly fleeing the scene.
• But Lu is not satisfied; she hurls the shoe, striking him in the back. Dante stops, retrieves the shoe, and turns back, clearly infuriated. However, Lu grabs the shoe she had initially thrown and aims it at him again.
• "This one's heading for your head. Whether it's the one on your shoulders or the one below, it makes no difference," Lu asserts, her tone menacing enough to make Dante drop the shoe and leave.
• "You shouldn't have hit him again; he was already leaving," I murmured.
• "It was in case he changed his mind," Lu responds, walking barefoot to retrieve her shoe that Dante dropped.
• I roll my eyes at the crazy day I've had and wait for her to come up to the apartment with me. When we arrive at her apartment, I start recounting what happened, and that's how Lu Parker gains a new enemy on her list.
• "You should keep your weapons hidden. At this point, people might think you're part of an armed group," I tease.
• "It's just that I have to be tough. You're too calm, and that's why people take advantage of you," Lu retorts, visibly annoyed.
• "Don't stress yourself out. Instead, come with me to pick up my things from the apartment. I bought a lot of stuff there, and I'm not going to leave them for him to use with some other woman."
• "I'll go. Give me a list of what's yours, and I'll bring it. You're pregnant, and with such a complicated day, it's best for you to rest," Lu suggests.
• "Lu, you're a gynecologist; you know that the pregnancy isn't certain yet. And even if it were, frozen sperm is slower than normal, so we have to wait a little longer to confirm it," I remind her.
• "Even so, you've been through a lot, and I need you to relax a bit. So, go to the tub and take a rose bath. I'll be back soon," Lu insists.
• "I'm actually worried that you're going. You might end up killing Dante," I reply.
• "No way. Even though he deserves it, I won't do it. It would be dirtying my hands for something putrid. So, go and take a bath peacefully. I'll be back soon with your things."
• I nod and head to her room to grab a towel before heading to the bathroom. Her apartment has two rooms, but the second one has been transformed into a clothes and shoe closet. So, sleeping there is a bit complicated. That's why I've been sleeping with her.
• That's why I've been bunking with her. Hoping that she won't do anything else to Dante, I step into the shower and let the essences wash away the stress of such a terrible day.
• As the rose essence moistens my skin, I find myself lost in thoughts about my future, and the mere possibility of becoming a mother brings a smile to my face, despite the challenges of the day.
• The idea of holding a baby in my arms fills me with a warmth that tingles through my entire being. In my mind's eye, I envision soft pastel colors adorning a nursery, with whimsical drawings of baby animals adorning the walls.
• This precious little one, for whom I've longed so deeply and for whom I've taken such risks to conceive. I just hope that everything goes well and doesn't get my crazy friend into trouble.
• After relaxing in the bath, I entered Lu's room to get dressed, turning on the news in the background. It's then that I learned the reason behind my boss' outburst earlier and why he seemed even more agitated when I mentioned my gynecologist appointment.
• "Apparently, money doesn't solve everything in life," I murmur softly as I apply moisturizer to my skin.
• Just then, the sound of my phone interrupts my thoughts. It's a message from my boss, Alessandro Delacroix.
• "Miss Morgan,
• I apologize for acting abruptly and violently today. There is no justification for what I did, and that's why I won't make excuses. I prefer to apologize and promise you that I won't allow my personal or professional life to cause violence towards you.
• In advance, I apologize and hope that we can continue working together.
• Sincerely,
• Alessandro Delacroix
• CEO of Delacroix Company"
• I exhale deeply as I read his formal apology, setting the phone aside to let myself rest from the whirlwind of emotions that today has brought.
• I just hope tomorrow won't be the same.