That wasn’t even the worst part as my lady parts felt awfully sticky too.
Could I have actually climaxed in my sleep? I thought to myself with embarrassment.
It felt so real, though. How is my sex drive this high?
This is embarrassing!
I shook my head vigorously, trying to clear the feelings of disappointment and shame.
I went into the bathroom and took a shower. It had made me feel much more relaxed though an ache persisted in between my legs as if it had been through friction. I was beginning to doubt if the events from the night before had actually happened in my dream.
After a quick breakfast, I dashed off to the office. If not for the alarm I had set in advance, I would undoubtedly have turned up late for work.
Since Michael and I were not seeing each other anymore, my failure to be punctual might result in my dismissal. That was how I expected him to treat any other employee.
When I arrived before the elevators at the lobby of the office, I was rooted to the spot by the sight of Michael occupying the only elevator that was available.
The sight of him caused my heart to flutter helplessly especially after yesterday night. Afraid that he would deduce what I dreamt about if he looked deep into my eyes, I glanced quickly away to avoid catching his eye.
It was too late as Michael had already seen me. He merely frowned as he stared at me without a word. The tension in the air between us was thick as neither of us spoke.
I remained outside the elevator as I had no idea how I was going to interact with Michael.
“Anna, you’re showing up at work looking sloppy!” Michael cast a cold eye as he looked up and down, taking in every detail of my appearance.
I smoothed my hair nervously. In a haste, I had run all the way in from the entrance of the building to the lobby. When I had arrived at the elevator, I’m sure I looked an awful sight with my hair looking like a rat’s nest and panting like a winded dog.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Shaw. I will pay closer attention next time.”
His cold attitude had made me feel worse than I already did. Oh no, it looks like my dismissal is imminent.
I tried my best to appear polite yet unconcerned. I didn’t want Michael to see me being upset.
Michael glanced toward me indifferently one last time before closing the elevator doors to my face.
Somehow that had upset me even more. Even though we had broken up, that didn’t mean that he had to talk to me in such an attitude. I didn’t understand why he was so cold.
It was me who initiated the breakup. But I was also the one who seemed to not be able to accept it, not Michael.
When I had arrived at the office, Michael was nowhere to be seen. It was only recently that he showed up at the office every day to deal with some documents. Otherwise, it was rare to see him out and about.
On the other hand, Emma had shown up every day. Unfortunately for me, Michael did not seem to detest her as much as he used to. Perhaps they really were a good fit being together.
Though it caused my heart to ache whenever I saw Emma and Michael being intimate together, I did make a conscious effort to ignore it whenever I was at work. I was determined to not let my personal issues affect my professional performance.
When I was about to get off work that day, Mom called me. It had been a peaceful couple of weeks of not hearing her voice, so I was curious at her motive for calling this time.
I did ask her about why she called, however, she just told me to go home to her without providing an explanation.
She was family after all. And it had been a long enough time for my anger to abate. I had my share of responsibilities back home to bear.
When I arrived back home a couple of days later, Steven was training to walk with crutches in the living room. Though he looked like it took him a great deal of effort to walk, his progress was astounding.
“I’m back,” I called out.
Mom was supporting Steven on his waist with a pained expression on her face.
“I’d heard that you broke up with Michael. Is that true?” Mom glanced at me. This is unbelievable. The first thing she says to me after all this time is about Michael.
I did not expect her to ask this question. At the sound of his name, I could not repress a shudder.
“Mom, why do you ask?” I did not answer her immediately. Instead, I posed a question in return.
“It doesn’t matter how I found out. Just tell me if it’s true?” She persisted irritably at my attempt to wriggle out of answering her. Conversations between us were always like this. She always had an ulterior motive.
“Yes, it’s true. I have nothing to do with Michael anymore,” I replied while looking her dead in the eye.
It was a good decision to inform her about our breakup. That would effectively put an end to her schemes of asking him for money.
“What’s wrong with you? That woman, Emma, had offered you a million to break up with Michael but you didn’t. And now you did it for free! Are you doing this on purpose?” Mom lost it and flew into a fit of rage.
I frowned in disgust at her response. I wasn’t upset about her being furious with me. It was more the fact that all she cared about was the million that I had been offered.
She was still mad that I had missed out on that one million.
“Mom, it’s not the same. Me breaking up with Michael had nothing to do with that deal. We are just not meant to be.”
Michael and I had begun dating because of an agreement. I didn’t want to end things based on that agreement too. Our relationship involved the benefits of many parties. I wanted things to end well rather than a motive.
“It sounds the same to me. The fact is that you have broken up with him! Anna, tell me that you didn’t do it on purpose just so that our family wouldn’t receive that sum of money!”
Mom wouldn’t understand my rationale. All she could think of was the one million that had slipped past her greedy fingers.
Her motive of summoning me home became clear. It was to discuss the loss of the one million.
It was too late to be upset about that, anyway. My relationship with Michael was over. Even if I were to face the same situation again, I would still make the same choices. I would never strike a bargain with my relationship.
“Mom, that is history now. Can you just let it go?” I sighed with frustration at her anger. I had tried everything I could think of to talk her out of it in the past but to no avail. She remained stubbornly set in her ways.
