What Separates Me and You

Chapter 23

What Separates Me and You

Chapter 23 She’s the Odd One Out

Avery was so angry that she laughed. Staring at Mr. Colson, she said, “Why else do you think I’m wasting my time fighting with Sierra for a lousy promotional video, Mr. Colson? Do you think I have nothing better to do with my time?”

Beads of perspiration formed on Mr. Colson’s forehead as it slowly dawned on him. that this wasn’t as simple as battling for a role, this was two women fighting for at man!

Everyone else’s gaze on Sierra became increasingly complicated, and she was on the verge of exploding from frustration.

Banging her hand on the table, she stood up and pointed a finger at Avery, crying out, “Avery Green, is something wrong with you? Why the hell are you so hellbent on helping Josephine? What good will it do for you to go against me?”

“That’s up to me! Who do you think will take her side when even her husband isn’t. helping her? Do you think that everyone is as desperate as you to wantonly seduce another person’s husband and even flaunt it shamelessly in front of his wife? Josie isn’t as shameless as you are!”

“You–you!” Sierra was so infuriated that she rushed over to Avery, about to get

violent.

Fortunately for them, the rest of the people there hurriedly pulled them apart.

“Mr. Alvarez is here!” someone exclaimed.

The entire office fell silent and looked over to the entrance to see Lewis standing. there, looking smart in his suit. His hands were stuck into his pockets as he looked. aloofly at the commotion that was going on in there.

His gaze swept over the office, from Sierra to Avery, and finally, it stopped on Josephine’s face.

Josephine flustered and instantly lowered her head when her gaze met his.

Sierra, however, reacted as though her savior was finally here, limping over to him in a rush.

“Lewis! You’re finally here! Avery is picking on me as always!”

Avery was sickened by Sierra’s actions. “Stop acting so shamelessly. It’s disgusting.”

When Mr. Colson finally got over his shock at Lewis‘ presence in the office, he immediately gestured for him to enter. “Why have you come, Mr. Alvarez? Please.

come on in.”

Lewis raised a hand, denying his invitation. “Have you not settled on a decision?”

“No, Miss Green is unwilling to compromise, so…”

Lewis shot Mr. Colson a glare. “Your company produces decent games. I’ll put in an investment of two hundred million dollars. If the Greens are interested in it too, get Tyler to talk to me.”

His gaze was on Avery when he said the latter part of his sentence. It was obviously directed at her.

Mr. Colson was flabbergasted.

“What is the meaning of this, Lewis?”

Lewis looked at Avery and said indifferently, “I meant what I said. You’re not fit. enough to talk to me, Avery.”

“You!” Avery choked on her words. Suddenly, she burst out laughing. “Lewis Alvarez, your wife is right here. If you do not care for her, then get on with the divorce. Quit. being a sickening bastard, won’t you?”

Lewis‘ gaze darkened, and his tone became chilly. “Who are you to her?”

“It doesn’t matter who I am to her. No matter what, I treat her better than you do, scumbag! At least I won’t hurt her feelings in front of other people!”

Lewis laughed too. However, it was a laugh that carried no mirth. “Is this how the. Greens conduct themselves? Do they meddle in other people’s marriages? If you did not mean to hurt her feelings, you would not have brought her here in the first place. What do you think you are capable of changing by doing this?” ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

Avery found no words to retaliate. Her insistence to stand up for Josephine when. she clearly knew how Lewis treated her had led to a result that was plain to see- Josephine was now nothing more than a laughingstock.

Although Lewis contributed in part to the outcome, her insistence to do as she wished when she undoubtedly knew how things would turn out played an event larger role in it.

“Indeed, I overestimated how much she means to you. The fault is mine.”

Tyler arrived in the nick of time after Avery said that.

He heaved heavily, like he had run the whole way there. He walked straight up to Avery as soon as he entered the office.

“You’re messing around again, Avy! Come home with me now!” Tyler grabbed Avery’s. hand and tugged on it, but she refused to budge. She was disgruntled with nowhere.

to vent.

“Come here, Josephine,” Lewis called out to her.

Avery immediately snapped back to look at Josephine, scowling at her. “Don’t go.”

Josephine simply stood there helplessly. She slowly trudged over to him when she saw the cold glint in his eyes.

But Avery reached out and held her back. “Why are you still going to him when things have already turned out this way? Force him to make a decision today, Josephine. Either you get a divorce, or he breaks it off with that woman. There’s so many people. watching, can’t you stand up for yourself just this once?”

Josephine bit her lip, looking over at Lewis. He looked at her wordlessly with a dark expression on his face.

Tyler was angered. “Stop fooling around, Avy! That’s between them! What has this got to do with you?”

“Josephine is my friend! Her problems are my problems too! I’ll see to the bottom of this! They need to get a di-”

“Enough!” A loud, crisp smack rang throughout the office. Everyone was shocked.

Tyler had not held back at all. A vivid, crimson mark appeared on Avery’s face.

She looked at Tyler in disbelief. Flames of anger danced in Tyler’s eyes, along with ant undetectable trace of remorse and other complex emotions.

Josephine stared idly at Avery. A while later, she snapped out of it and shook Avery’s. hand off of hers. Avery kept quiet as she watched Josephine walk away.

Josephine approached Lewis at the door and raised her head to look. up at him. Then, her gaze traveled to Sierra beside him. Sierra had her arms wrapped tight around Lewis, as if she were afraid that he would escape the very next second.

A bitter smile tugged at Josephine’s lips. Lewis and Sierra were a match made in heaven. She was the odd one out. She went around them and left without a glance.

Tyler dragged Avery behind him, and they left too. When they passed by Lewis, Avery smiled coldly and said, “Don’t you ever regret this, Lewis Alvarez.”

It was still raining outside. A light, misty drizzle shrouded the city.

Sierra tagged along behind Lewis, not daring to make a sound. She could sense that

Lewis was fuming.

When they reached the parking lot, Lewis stopped in his tracks and said, “You drove here, didn’t you? You can go home yourself.”

“Aren’t

you sending me back?” Sierra reached out to hold his hand. “Come over to my place. I’ll make you dinner.”

“I have plans. Go back yourself.” With that, he pulled his hand back and got into hist

own car.

Josephine boarded a bus by the road after she came out of Playtime. Just like how she did not know where her life was going, she did not know where the bus was headed either. She just went along with it absent–mindedly.

Her hand climbed up her belly, gently caressing it as she looked out the window at the blurry scenery. Her gaze was unfocused.

The bus drove for a long while, but eventually, it reached its terminal. The bus driver turned around and looked at her for quite a while. There were so many vacant seats. on the bus, but this young lady chose to stand the entire journey.

“We’ve reached our final destination, miss.”

Josephine snapped out of her reverie and thanked the driver before getting off the bus.

They had stopped at an older part of the city, so all the buildings there weren’t too tall. They were at most eight or nine stories tall. Most of the people had their umbrellas out as they rushed along their way.

Raindrops fell on her hair as she walked around aimlessly. In the end, she wound up. outside a diner. It was around 4 pm, and the diner was pretty much empty. The owner of the diner, Mr. Casio, saw her standing outside pitifully, so he invited her in..

Josephine signed, trying to tell him that she wasn’t going in, but he though: that she was refusing because she didn’t have money, so he took pity on her and said, “Come in, I won’t charge you for food.”

Soon, a hearty plate of beef stroganoff was placed in front of her. She lifted her gaze to see Mr. Casio’s warm and kind smile. Her lips twitched slightly as she failed to hold back her tears. A stranger whom

she had never met before could offer her such. warmth, but the person closest to her stabbed her heart repeatedly.