Break Up

It's been a while since I've had to battle photographers the way I did just so I could get out of the airport. Luckily it hadn't leaked that I left for Italy specifically to clear up some things with Caterina. I managed to get to my house scratch free but something unpleasant was waiting for me, Philippa. I walked right past her. She trailed me, the sound of her heels echoing all around the great entrance.

"Christian, please. Listen to me."

"I have nothing to say to you Philippa."

"Christian please, you're being unreasonable!"

I turned around to face her. She bumped into me due to the sudden movement I made, though I quickly put some distance.

"Unreasonable? Unreasonable?"

I walked towards the credenza and showed her three different newspapers with photos of Philippa with no one other than George. They were hugging, kissing on a restaurant with a very flashy and scandalous headline above them.

"It's on every bloody newspaper in the country!"

Philippa stared at the newspapers in horror then at me, her eyes seem pleading.

"Christian--"

"You did this on purpose. And had you done it in a discreet manner then perhaps things would be different. But you did it OUT ON THE OPEN--"

"Don't raise your voice to me."

"I raise my voice to whomever I bloody WANT!"

Philippa stared at me, flabbergasted.

"You are not the man I fell in love with."

"Well I am glad you realized that because that man that you used to love left the moment he saw this..." I raised the newspaper to her face. She looked around, uneasy it seemed.

"Let's talk somewhere else. This is far too public--"

"More public than the newspapers? Really?" I spat. She was truly getting on my nerves at this point. Though she got incensed after that commentary.

"You had a bloody affair with that woman and I stood by your side!"

I turned to face her.

"Did I parade it in your face? Did I do it anywhere a photographer could see us? Did I disrespect you in anyway? DID YOU EVEN KNOW HER?"

Philippa stared at me, her eyes wide. She didn't utter a single word.

"I thought so..."

"She ashamed me in front of your family! She humiliated me completely!" Philippa spat. "And by having an affair then you disrespected me!" She said finally.

"Then I suppose we are even. Instead all you lost was a boyfriend, I lost my girlfriend and a best friend. Simple as that."

"I never loved him! In all the times we encountered I never--"

"Wait a minute..." I stopped her, my eyes narrowing. "Encountered? T-This happened more than ONCE?"

Philippa stuttered "N-No."

I groaned but then contained myself, the innate frigidness taking over.

"Then by all means, you have no right to accuse me of anything, considering YOU were doing the same yourself."

"Oh it's very different, I didn't fall in love with George!"

"And I love Caterina?!"

"It's so BLOODY obvious!" she screamed.

I didn't speak.

"Everyone can see it, except yourself. The way you look at her-"

"Stop it. You will not use this as an excuse to justify your actions. The very same way that I cannot justify mine."

She sighed. "Then why can't you forgive me?"

Christian shook his head slowly. "He was my best friend Philippa. You could've done it with anyone else--"

"That wouldn't have hurt you" She admitted.

I looked at her. "Of course."

We were both quiet for what seemed like an eternity.

"I don't think we need to say anything else."