Stolen Identity: Mute Heiress

Chapter 116: Apology

Genevieve was silent for a while as Stefan drove. She stole a glance at him at intervals, feeling bad that he was leaving the next day. Although she had only met him two days ago, she couldn’t help but think about how much she was going to miss him.

Stefan was a great guy, and seeing how he was still being cool despite the nonsense she had done the previous night made her feel even more ashamed of herself.

The previous night while thinking about her actions and the way Stefan had turned her down, she had picked up her personal journal which her therapist had made her write while she was undergoing therapy and she had read through most of the notes, reminding herself again that she was no longer that Genevieve.

”Why are you so silent? Missing me already?” Stefan asked with a teasing smile as he turned to spare her a glance.

Genevieve smiled, ”I guess,” she said, and then cleared her throat, ”Jamal...”

”I’m still Stefan today,” he said, turning to wink at her, and she laughed softly.

”Alright. Stefan it is. About last night,” she started, and Stefan raised a brow, wondering why she was bringing up last night and what she wanted to say about it.

He turned to stare at her briefly before returning his attention to the road, ”Yeah?”

She bit her bottom lip as she tried to organize what she wanted to say, ”I’m sorry for throwing myself at you that way,” she said, since it had occurred to her last night, while she thought about it in bed before going to sleep, that she had spent the time being embarrassed and had not apologized for her actions.

In as much as he had been very gentlemanly and graceful, she knew she owed him an apology for treating him and their friendship that way.

”I thought you said you wanted to sleep it off and pretend it didn’t happen by morning? Why are you bringing it up again?”

”Please hear me out,” she said, not wanting him to dismiss her apology, and he nodded.

”Want me to pull over somewhere so we talk?” He asked, turning to look at her since he sensed she had something important to say.

She shook her head. She didn’t want him to be looking at her when she spoke. She was more comfortable talking as he drove without his full attention on her, ”No. Just keep driving,” she said, and he gave her a nod.

”What I did was insulting both to you and our friendship. We might only have met two days ago, but this friendship is important to me. I’m sorry I treated you like I’ve treated a lot of guys. I’m sorry I ruined a perfectly good day with something like that. And I want you to know that I’m grateful you turned me down. And I’m grateful you didn’t hold it against me. I promise it will never happen again. I’ll respect you, myself, and our friendship going forward,” Genevieve said quietly.

Stefan turned to look at her, somewhat moved by her introspection. ”That’s thoughtful of you. Thanks,” he said, and she gave him a nod, and let out a breath.

”I was going to text you last night, but I figured I say it to you in person,” she said, and Stefan smiled.

Although he had been disappointed by the things he heard from Jamal about all she had done to Abigail, and he found it pretty hard to believe that Genevieve, who had been so mean and wicked to Abigail was the same person he had been talking to.

But hearing this now, and after hearing from Jamal how she had looked out for Abigail that morning, he had a feeling she had changed a lot. And he wondered what had truly caused her to change.

”See? You’re not such a bad girl, Viv,” he teased and she laughed.

”I’m trying not to be,” she confessed.

”You’re doing a good job of it. Keep it up,” Stefan said, reaching for her hand and giving it a little squeeze.

Genevieve’s heart skipped a beat at the gesture, and she blinked, surprised by the fluttering of butterflies in her belly at such a casual gesture. She had a feeling that he could ruffle her hair and she would still feel exactly the same way.

Stefan turned when she noticed she seemed to be staring at him, and he was taken aback when he noticed the flush on her cheeks.

”Why are you blushing?” he asked with a chuckle.

Genevieve raised both hands to her cheeks as she turned away from him. ”Where are we going?” She asked, changing the subject.

Although he had said he was taking her somewhere, she didn’t know where.

”Somewhere I saw on my way out with Pete earlier,” he said casually, letting her change the subject.

”Pete says you asked to be friends with him,” Genevieve said, turning to look at him again.

”Yeah. He’s a cool guy. I like him. Why?” Stefan asked, and Genevieve shook her head.

”I’m just wondering why you like him.”

”Because he’s cool. You remember that we came in to your office together that first day, right?” He asked, since he and Jamal had agreed to cover that base in case it ever came up in the future.

They had walked up to the receptionist desk together the first time they arrived at the company and had no idea the number of people that might have seen them together.

”You did?” Genevieve asked, trying to recall since she had not really noticed Pete’s presence.

”Yeah. I met him at the airport and asked for his help to help me locate my hotel and your company. When he heard I was coming here, he agreed since he was coming here too. Imagine our surprise when we realized we were coming to meet the same person. It was like we were meant to be,” He said with a grin.

”Meant to be?” Genevieve asked, narrowing her eyes, and Stefan laughed when he heard the suspicion in her tone.

”I’m not gay,” he assured her and chuckled when he heard her exhale.

”Thank goodness,” she muttered.

”Why? You don’t want a gay best friend?” He asked, turning to spare her a grin, and she laughed.

”No, thanks,” she said with a giggle.

”Can I ask you a question?” Stefan asked, and she smiled.

”Sure. What?” She asked, looking at him with interest.

”Why don’t you have a boyfriend?” He asked, and her smile faltered.

”Why are you suddenly asking that?”

”Because I want to know. I’m curious about a lot of things about you. That is the least of them. You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to,” he assured her.