Chapter 31: Ynez’s Picture
Thursday morning, everything went back to normal. Our three days’ vacation in the beach resort has ended but the changes that happened between me and Logan seem like will never end. After we spend nights on the beach, I just felt how the closeness between us slowly grew stronger. Not that I am assuming all the nicest things he did, that I am putting another meaning on them. Rather, I would say that Logan is now showing how possessive he is as a man. And he became used to sleep hugging me which I actually love. And oh, I almost forgot. I almost forgot how I am becoming so vulnerable and docile when I am caged in his arms for almost three days. Gosh! I don’t even know where my guts are coming to still face him every morning. For goodness’ sake! He didn’t just kiss me or hug me. It was beyond those two… more on that.
I know that it wasn’t new. Of course, we have had sex before. But he just f*cking touch me in my private part and even though he is my husband, I still felt shame every time those sinful sins we did together came and keeps on replaying on my mind. Though I must say that everything that is going on between us every night is just pure foreplay. Last night, on the island, we almost get there. We were almost lost in the wilderness but thankfully, I got to stop him when reality dragged me back to my senses. The heck! We can’t just do it again with our child sleeping just beside us.
I maybe lost my sanity, his touches might lose my mind but when it comes to Aisle’s sake, I can control.
At dinner, we shared our meals which I prepared. While eating, we got on to the topic of Aisle’s upcoming fifth birthday. I have already suggested to Logan that the birthday could be as simple as possible. There are not lots of visitors, fewer will do. I told him that we can invite at least two or five of Aisle’s classmates and then the rest were the whole family. But just like what he always did, when it comes to his daughter, he says he wanted it to be always special. And since it will be Aisle’s biggest birthday party, I agreed on the end.
“Mommy, I want to wear a gown. A very beautiful gown like those princesses in the movies I watched.” She demands while I am sitting behind her and combing her long hair before going to bed. “And I want you and Daddy to wear gowns and knight’s armor too. Like those royal families.” I just rolled my eyes thinking that the money that will be going to be used in her party will be too much.
“Anything for my Aisle,” I said instead as I braided her hair and jumped off her bed afterward. I drew near the lamp table to grab her milk and then give it to her. When she had already drunk it, Aisle then laid on her bed and before I stepped outside, I made sure that she is already asleep.
In my room, I thought that I will enter and go dive on my bed without anyone laying on it. But I gaped, surprised upon seeing Logan who’s already laying on it peacefully. His arms were folded and supported his nape. When he noticed my presence on the door, he immediately jumped off the bed and walked over to me.
“Why are you here?” I asked when he is already standing in front of me.
He smiled boyishly before pulling me closer to him and then carried me into bridal style afterward which made me shriek and wiggle on his arms. He then strode back to bed and then carefully laid me on it like I am a China doll.
“Logan… you should go to your room…”
“Is that what you want?” he asked, twitching his brow on me. He leaned forward and then buried his face on my neck like what he usually does. And when he sniffed and started to licked my skin, I clutched hard on the mattress. “Is that a moan, baby?” he teased when I accidentally let out one.
“Logan… please… Uhm…” I struggled to have good breathing because of what he is doing. And when his hands started to do their moves daringly, everything was just history.
Panting drastically while gripping tight on Logan’s left arm which serves as my pillow, I still forced myself to speak. “Good night, Logan…” Some words came out from him as well but I am still tired so I easily fell asleep as soon as I closed my eyes making me unable to hear them.
The next morning, Logan and I go to work together after dropping Aisle at her school. Just like before-since they found out my relationship with Logan-when we are walking in the hallway, they will greet us good morning with such a title I still wasn’t used to hearing.Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.
“Good morning, Mrs. Ivanov.”
“Good morning, Ma’am Alice.”
Ma’am Alice will do but lots of them often called me Mrs. Alice Ivanov which I am uncomfortable to hear. When Logan and I reached the office, we then focused on our work that is waiting for our comeback for three days. Eleven in the morning when Logan stepped outside his office and told me that he will just go to the site near his Dad told him to visit frequently. I just nodded before he left the office. Past noon, I am still working on my table when the door swang open. I first assumed that it was Logan who just got back from the site but when I lifted my eyes, the excitement faded away upon seeing the last person I am expecting to visit in the company.
Claire-Logan’s ex-is standing on the opened door in her bright neon pink outfit, black stilettos, and very glamorous makeup that just adds spice to her beauty. I gulped when she twitched a brown on me before walking in my direction afterward. She then sat on the visitor’s chair in front of my table and then elegantly crossed her legs together as she leaned backward. Claire lifted her eyes on me as I am still standing, still processing the step I should just to avoid arguing with her if she is here just for that.
“So…” she trailed, traveling down her eyes on me. “You’re that girl? I thought you were just his secretary. How come a cheap, dowdy woman like you happened to be Logan’s wife?” Her bold words coated with insults pang my heart instantly. “Tell me, Miss Secretary, do you seduce Logan that’s why he broke up with me? Do you, huh?” She stared at me in mockery.
Clenching my fists into tight balls under my table, I spoke, tried to defend myself from the insults she is throwing at me. “Miss Claire, I didn’t do anything of what you’ve said. If you were just here to insult me, you can leave now.”
“Wow!” She laughed humorlessly before lifting her ass on the chair. She then slammed her hands on the table making me step backward. And when I locked my gazes on her, the earlier almost angelic and stunning face of her is now tinged with red color. “Do you know who you are talking to? Let me just remind you bitch, just because you were Logan’s wife, it doesn’t mean you can act superior to me. You were nothing but just his secretary who seduce him so you can make him fall on your dirty tricks. You are slut, disgusting woman!”
“With all due respect, Ma’am. Just leave the office or I’ll call security to drag you out of this company.” But instead of doing what I’ve said, Claire clapped her hands while chiming in mockery.
“Do you think he is serious on you, huh? Do you really think that a Logan Ivanov will take you seriously? Come to think of this, Miss Secretary. He managed to broke my heart, he managed to broke Claire Smith’s heart. A woman every man craved for, dreamed of. Logan manages to discard me away after being used. Then how much more he can do to a woman like you? He can easily break you too, darling…trust me.”
“I am his wife.” I know it was too desperate to tell just to save myself. Yeah, I may be his wife but Claire is right, Logan can do anything he did to her on me after he got tired and lost his appetite.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah… wife.” Claire chuckled. “If you and Logan were truly husband and wife, then you must know already what his greatest secret is.” I wasn’t able to answer which made Claire’s lips smile devilishly. “Well, I guess, your silence means no.”
“Claire… just leave…”
She shook her head and then leaned forward towards me. “Just a friendly advice, Mrs. Ivanov,” she started, emphasizing the last two words. “If I were you, I will check his phone out so you will know who is he hiding… what is he hiding. Thanks, me later, after you found out.” And then with a quick wink from her, she walked away leaving me clueless and curious at the same time about what she said.
Check his phone? Why would I do that? That’s his privacy and if I did what Claire has said, it means I am invading Logan’s privacy. And even though he is my husband, it is still wrong to do that. But if I didn’t, I wouldn’t know what Claire is talking about.
Logan’s greatest secret? What was it?
***
“What’s the matter?” Logan suddenly raised a question while we were eating our late lunch in his office. “Don’t you like the foods?” he added.
I shook my head as an answer and then bring back my attention to my plate. I bit my lips inside before taking a spoonful of corn salad he ordered together with rice and steak. He heaved a deep sigh and then stood up afterward making me lift my eyes back on him again.
“Finish your foods, Alice. Seems like something is bugging you since I came back. Care to tell me?” He twitched a brow.
“You’re just imaging things, Logan.” He just shrugged before stepping inside his office’s bathroom. While I was left almost cursing myself loud.
Logan was right. There is really bugging me and I can’t get over with that shit. What Claire has said to me makes me so clouded yet so curious. Part of me wanted to know it, but part of me also told me that I should not do that. That I should let Logan tell that matter to me voluntarily. But I was so eager and it was becoming hard for me to control my own curiosity. I know, sometimes, curiosity is not good. It can put you in danger and just like the saying, curiosity kills a cat. So, what if I let myself succumb to curiosity, I might regret it in the end.
“Good night.” Logan kissed the top of my head before laying beside me and wrapping his arm around me. He sneaks into my room again, telling me that I need his cuddle when in fact, it seems like he is the one who needed it.
After several minutes after saying his good night, I heard little snores coming from him so I carefully get up from the bed and then reached for his phone settled on the lamp table. I then walked over to the bathroom and then locked the door and sat on the closed bowl. I stared at his phone inside my hand. It was still turned off and I was still hesitant to open it even though I already made up my decision while we are in the office.
“Come on, Alice… just a peek,” I muttered and then opened his phone. If Claire didn’t tell me about this, I wouldn’t dare to invade Logan’s privacy… I wouldn’t.
Upon opening his phone, I don’t see anything suspicious on it. Even the messages were clear. I only see Lyndon’s name and mine. As well as some numbers about businesses. But when I dive into his pictures, I was first got shocked upon seeing my pictures. I smiled as I bite my lips but then again, my smile faded when I dared to open a folder without a name. The phone almost fell out of my hand when I saw Logan kissing a woman’s cheek even on her lips. Some photos were taken on a beach, in a hotel room, and even on a mountain. They are undeniable sweet in each photo making me clutch my chest. And when my eyes landed on a photo in which a woman is showing her fingers with a diamond ring on them, I heard how my heart shattered like glass.
“They look perfect… very perfect…” I silently with my hand covering my mouth.
And even though there is no one telling me who’s the girl, I already knew who is she. I can’t be wrong… I know her. Logan’s fiancee… Ynez. And damn! I do really regret invading his privacy yet I am also thankful. Because at least now, reality slapped me… damn hard this time. He can’t love me, he can’t love me the way he loves Ynez.