The Educator novel Chapter 38

Elliot’s eyes are on the floor, the room is quiet. I am quiet. When Elliot said he had something to tell me, I didn’t expect the atmosphere would be like this. I nudge Elliot my pushing my hand in his. He looks up and our eyes meet. “Eli, I think I have an idea of who it may be” he says, “but I’m not certain at this point. We have to get home as soon as possible.” He tells me. I sigh in disappointment.

“Alright. We fly out tomorrow night” I tell him. “I’ll just have to wait for our laundry to be delivered and then we can pack tomorrow”. I did not bother to ask anymore questions. From the way Elliot is looking right now, it be best that I don’t argue with him.

“So, are you going to tell me who you think might have done this?” I ask him.

“It’s someone who I have known for quite some time. It’s a woman” he tells me. My brows meet in the middle. If this is some sort of crazy ex revenge, I don’t want to be part of this clown show.

“Wait—” I run my fingers through my hair, “would this woman happen to be one of your exes?” my palms rest on either cheek.

He sighs, “Yes” then, he looks at me, “but she’s not completely an ex. Just a woman who used to have a relationship, not romantic, with me” he defends.

I roll my eyes, “Jesus Christ, this is all this is? A crazy ex?” I start laughing at the idea. We’ve been through an incredible amount of stress in a span on two days only to end up knowing that this is just another incident where Elliot being a playboy bites his ass. Elliot is still silent while I laugh to myself.

“Eli, you don’t understand” he tells me

I raise a brow and stop myself from laughing, “How can I not understand? I’ve heard this story before. An unclear settlement between two people who’ve parted their ways and who are now living their own lives will be on the chase. One on the losing end and another trying to escape the past. No better way to tell the story than through a novel that would be adapted into a movie franchise” I tell him and continue to laugh. I stand up and walk towards the bathroom.

“Eli, please, just listen to me” he tells me and comes after me to the bathroom.

I roll my eyes, “Elliot, please, just tell the woman that you’re married. Obviously, she knows that. What, with the number of reporters, articles and social media posts, how could she not know? Maybe you just need to remind her. You’re married, Elliot. You don’t have time for that” I tell him. I sit in front of the vanity and freshen up. Elliot is behind me and I see him clearly through the mirror.

He stands, “She’s uhh . . . it was a clear conversation. It was nothing more than after-office-hours-sessions.”

I raise both brows, “She was a former employee?”

He sighs and nods. “We had this set up for a couple of months. When news broke that you and I were set to marry, I had to end things with her because I didn’t want anything to come between this relationship.” He tells me.

I look up at him, “What? Did you know we were going to happen?” I ask him.

He shakes his head, “It was just something I thought of doing. I know being in an arranged marriage is already bad enough. I didn’t want you to feel worse by having another woman around” he whispers. The thing about Elliot, him being a gentle man is very much natural. Something that comes from his heart and not by just mere practice.