Page 14 of Tycoon

Andrew and I are just pretending but, he had proven himself to be truthful. He said he wasn’t dating anyone, and I believed him. What reason did he have to lie? Andrew's patience and understanding had helped me heal from the difficult circumstances I had with Darriun in the past. I had hoped he was everything Darriun was not: honest, gentle, and supportive. But now, Darriun’s words were planting seeds of doubt in my mind.

I decided to call Andrew. Hearing his voice would help calm my nerves and, perhaps, provide some clarity. The phone rang twice before he picked up.

“Hey, beautiful,” Andrew’s voice was warm and reassuring. “How’s your day going?”

“Hey,” I replied, trying to keep my tone light. “It’s been good. Just relaxing and reading. How about you?”

“Pretty good. I’ve been working on some tedious new contracts for a project. But enough about work, what’s up?”

I hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to bring up the subject. “Actually, I got a message from Darriun today.”

There was a pause on the other end of the line. “What did he want?”

“He said there are things about you that I don’t know and that I should be careful.”

Andrew sighed. “Amara, you know he’s just trying to mess with you, right? He’s probably jealous since you told him that you were bringing me to the wedding.”

“I know, but it’s just… unsettling. I hate that he still has this power to affect me.”

“Don’t let him. He’s out of your life for a reason. Don’t let him get into your head. I know we haven’t known each other long but I’m really into you, Amara, and I’m not hiding anything from you.”

His words were comforting because I was falling for Andrew too, but the nagging doubt lingered. “I feel the same, Andrew. I just needed to hear your voice.”

“Anytime, babe. We’re going to get you through this wedding and see where we go from there. Don’t let him upset you.”

We talked for a little while longer before hanging up, but even after our conversation, I couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling. I decided to take a walk to clear my mind. The fresh air and the familiar sights of the neighborhood usually helped when I needed to think.

As I strolled through the park near my townhouse, I replayed my relationship with Darriun in my head. Was Darriun a liar? Of course, he was because he didn’t even let me know that he was still in love with the woman he’s going to marry. Darriun had a way of making me doubt myself and question my decisions. Darriun breaking things off had been one of the most difficult things to accept, but it was also the best decision that worked out the best for me.

Now, with Andrew, I had a chance at real happiness. I couldn’t let Darriun ruin that for me. But what if there was some truth to what he said? I had to find a way to know for sure without letting it consume me.

I reached the end of the park and decided to head back home. On the way, I passed a small café where Andrew and I had breakfast a few days ago. The thought of our happy moments together gave me some comfort. I needed to focus on the present and not let the past dictate my future.

When I got back to my townhouse, I noticed a small package at my door. It was from Andrew. Inside was a note and a beautiful silver bracelet. The note read, “Just a little something to remind you how much you mean to me. Love, Andrew.”

Oh, my goodness! Did he imply that he loved me, or was that just a sentiment that was generic? I was already shocked by the word love because I was already on my way to falling in love with Andrew.

I smiled, feeling a warmth spread through me. Andrew’s thoughtfulness was just another reason I respected him. I slipped the bracelet onto my wrist, feeling a sense of reassurance.

Later that evening, I received another message from Darriun. This time, it was a photo of Andrew with a woman I didn’t recognize. The caption read, “See? He’s not who you think he is. These were just taken last night.”

My heart raced as I stared at the photo. The woman was leaning in close to Andrew, her hand resting on his arm. I could feel the panic rising, but I knew I had to stay calm. I needed to talk to Andrew about this.

I dialed his number again, my fingers trembling. He answered on the first ring.

“Did my beautiful lady like the bracelet?” His smooth baritone voice sent a tingling down my spine, but I really needed some truthful answers. Pictures don’t lie.

“The bracelet is beautiful Andrew. Thank you so much.”

“You’re welcome beautiful. That’s not the reason you called, is it? You sound upset.”

“You’re right. Darriun sent me a photo of you with some woman together last night. You were standing in front of the same restaurant where we first met. Who is she?”

There was a moment of silence before Andrew replied, “That’s a colleague from work. We had a late meeting and I guess someone took a photo. There’s nothing going on between us, I promise.”

I wanted to believe him, but the photo had shaken me. “Is that why you changed dinner plans with me at the last minute?”

“I couldn’t get out of the meeting, Amara. Trust me, I would rather spend time with you than go over boring contracts. I didn’t think it was important. Amara, you need to trust me. I’m not hiding anything from you.”

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