17. Elizabeth
“Yes, sir, and it’s my pleasure,” I said finally to one of Will’s clients I had met.
As I watched the man walk away, I let out an exhausted breath, glad the conversation was over.
Don’t get me wrong—I enjoyed the conversation that I had with him, but then, I was getting tired and worn out.
The conversation was lengthy, and I had little energy to remain standing, especially not with the shoes I had on.
Honestly, I still struggle to feel comfortable wearing heels. How I wish women didn’t have to go through the stress of putting themselves through so much discomfort.
Letting out a sigh, I went over to the seat so my legs could at least have a break.
As I looked around, I spotted Will first, and from what I saw, it seemed like he and his client were deeply engaged in conversation. One could easily tell from his facial expression that he was fully involved in the ongoing discussion.
Despite that, I noticed how he looked around from time to time as if searching for something or someone—possibly me. The moment his eyes met with mine, I saw the look of satisfaction on his face, and it was at that moment I realized he had been looking for me all along.
How thoughtful.
Still seated, I looked around and spotted the women from earlier, the ones Will had been speaking with, and immediately, I was reminded of their conversation about me.
Of course, hearing those women speak horribly about me was not pleasing in any way, but then again, I was impressed at how Will had stood up for me.
Although I had to pretend I didn’t hear a thing, to be honest, the words they had uttered hurt! Hearing one woman call another woman ugly wasn’t at all what I wanted to hear.
Lost in my thoughts, I had no idea Will had walked up to me.
“You good?” he asked.
“Oh yes, I am. You done with your meeting?”
“To an extent, yes, but I’m tired of this party. You ready to leave?”
“I was born ready.”
“Now that’s the energy!” Will said as he helped me up. Then, we walked out of the venue together.
No words could describe how liberating it felt to be out of that space. As we got to the car, I sat and remained silent throughout the ride. I could feel Will looking at me at intervals, which made me wonder if there was an issue or something he wanted to say.
Once we reached my place, Will said, “Thank you for tonight, Liz.”
“Sure, my pleasure,” I responded. Then, before stepping out of the car, I took off my shoes to walk barefoot toward the entrance.
“Wait a minute!” he said.
“Yes?” I looked back to see him rushing out of the car to meet me.
“Are you okay? Are we good?” he asked.
“Yes, why?”
Will paused for a minute with both of his hands on his hips as he looked around before looking at me. “Elizabeth?”
“Yes?”
“I know you overheard those ladies, and I know you’re trying to just push it aside, but I don’t want that.”
I let out a sigh as he expressed his concerns. I should have known he would figure it out. “Look, it’s fine, okay? Not like I care.”
“I know you don’t care, but I do. I’m sorry, Elizabeth.”
“For what exactly?” I asked as I looked at him, confused.
“I’m sorry for not setting enough boundaries with those women. That’s why they have the audacity to talk rudely.”
“And how do you intend to do that?”
“You leave that to me.”
“No, Will, I already told you it’s fine, so please don’t worry about it.”
“But still, Elizabeth . . .” Will paused, looking at me and grabbing my free left hand. “I’m sorry about this evening. I wish it could have been better.”
“I wish the same, too, but it’s fine, okay? Now go home. I want to go sleep,” I said as I directed Will back to his car.
“Thank you, Liz.”
“Thank you, too, for having my back at the party.”
“Of course,” Will said before leaving and driving off.
I let out a sigh as I walked over to my room, missing the time I had with Will.
As I reflected on his demeanor throughout the event, it became clear to me that his attitude toward me had indeed changed.
Ever since that dinner with Mr. Charles, it seemed as though he had decided to become a totally different person. He became nicer to me, caring and even gentle—unlike before, when he was always so grumpy and egotistical.
These days, he listened more, observed more, and was even more patient.
As soon as I entered my flat, I hurriedly took off everything that I had put on. I couldn’t shake the memory of the expression he had when he saw me leaving the building and getting into his car. His expression was all the compliment I needed; it was enough to tell me that he liked what he saw.
After removing my clothes and freshening up, I climbed into bed. The laughter from the party still lingered in my ears as I settled in, immediately feeling content as the comfort of the bed welcomed me.
With my body gradually relaxing, I felt the vibrant energy of the evening slowly fading into the quiet stillness of the night. I let out a contented sigh, the events of the night replaying in my mind like scenes from a movie.
It had been a lively affair filled with music, dancing, and the company of strangers who acted like friends. Besides the women who were rude to me, the party was actually better than the others I had attended with Will.
The people at the party were open to meeting new people and welcoming new faces. However, despite the revelry, my thoughts kept drifting back to one person in particular—Will.
As I lay in the dim glow of my bedside lamp, I couldn’t help but marvel at the way Will had changed since that day at his clients’ place. Gone was the arrogance and ego that had once defined him, replaced instead by a quiet strength and compassion that seemed to shine through even in the darkest of times.
It was a stark contrast to the Will I had known before—a man who prided himself on his independence and self-sufficiency, who rarely let anyone see the vulnerability that lay beneath the surface. Yet, here he was, going out of his way to ensure my safe return home, defending me in front of his caliber of people, showing his concern for my well-being, evident in his every word and gesture.
As I pondered this newfound side of Will, I couldn’t help but feel a surge of gratitude welling up inside me. I had never been one to rely on others for support, preferring instead to navigate life’s challenges on my own terms. However, playing back the moment Will stood up for me, I could not help but be proud of the man I agreed to marry, even though it was fake.
With Will, I felt seen and understood in a way I hadn’t before, as though he could read the depths of my soul with just a single glance.
And as I sat there, bathed in the soft glow of the lamplight, I couldn’t deny the warmth spreading through my chest at the thought of him. It was a feeling I couldn’t quite name—a mixture of affection, admiration, and something else entirely. Was it love, I wondered, or simply gratitude for his unexpected kindness?
I shook my head, trying to clear away the confusion that clouded my thoughts. Love is a complicated thing, fraught with uncertainty and risk. Yet, despite the doubts that lingered in the corners of my mind, there was something undeniably real about the connection I shared with Will.
With a sigh, I leaned back against my pillows, the events of the evening swirling around me like fragments of a half-remembered dream. I knew that I couldn’t ignore my feelings for Will any longer. I had to confront them head-on.
But then again, was I ready to go down that route with Will, especially when there was a high possibility of it being one-sided?
I let out a sigh as I thought through it again. Even though technically I was already in a relationship with him, the thought of it being real still scared me. It scared me because our worlds were absolutely different.
Just like one of those ladies had said, I was a nobody, and he was far more than a somebody.
Though it could work out, I wasn’t sure I was ready for the emotional and social drama that was going to be our norm if I went down that route.
Besides, all these feelings were probably temporary.
The last time I had ever even found myself in some sort of entanglement was a long time ago, so there was a possibility I was just reacting this way because it had been a while since I had been with somebody.
Once again, I wondered whether I should talk to Lydia about it, but I also wanted to avoid overthinking. Knowing Lydia well, there was a strong chance she would try to play matchmaker if I shared the events of the night with her.
For now, as the night stretched on around me, I allowed myself to bask in the warmth of his memory, grateful for the unexpected kindness that had brought us together. And as sleep finally claimed me, I whispered a silent prayer into the darkness, hoping that tomorrow would bring with it the courage to follow my heart wherever it might lead.