CHAPTER 2: APPROACH

"Is this real? Are you gonna do this to me, Merideth? My love?" Oliver asked, his voice trembling with emotion.

There, he noticed the annoyance on Merideth's face. She looked at him with no emotion as if he were a stranger.

"'What went wrong?'' Oliver asked more as his voice cracked.

She pretends she doesn't know him. It hurt him so badly, ''Excuse me,'' a man came to the scene wearing a black tuxedo, he caught every woman's eye as he walk down the carpet.

He was the CEO's son and surprisingly, the fiancee of Oliver's girlfriend. Oliver was threatened by the man's strong presence and aura. He can take everything away from him. And the man did it already.

''What's the matter?'' the man asked her and looked at Oliver from head to toe, ''Nothing, darling,'' Merideth tried to act cool. Oliver was about to speak when suddenly his workmates pulled him away when a guard complained they didn't have invitations.

''They weren't invited here, I'm sorry if they got in,'' the guard apologize to the CEO son but Oliver can't take his eyes away from Merideth who he wanted to talk about this mess.

Oliver wanted to pull her, to take her home but he have no right because she is already wearing a ring on her finger. It was an expensive diamond ring that he couldn't afford.

''They seem to be workers in our company so just let them stay,'' the CEO's son said, smiling and looking at their ID lace, ''Yes we all work in your father's company,'' Adam responded to him.

Oliver walked around the hotel for a while, trying to clear his head. But all he could think about was Merideth and the CEO. How long had they been together? Was she planning on leaving Oliver for him?

He came up with a plan. Oliver bumped into a waiter walking around with drinks on a tray, luckily he didn't fall so Oliver took a glass from him. He drank a glass of Whiskey and his eyes closed after drinking the strong alcohol. He continued walking and looked around to find someone.

Unexpectedly, he saw Merideth with the CEO's son tossing a glass of champagne with other rich people in the other room. The man's hands were holding her waist, he noticed that they were both very affectionate. She held a glass of champagne and cheered with her fiance. He decided to sneak in and confront her. He knew it was risky, but he had to know the truth.

As he approached the room, he heard loud voices coming from inside.

"I can't wait to start a new life with my future husband," he heard Merideth say.

"I feel the same way," replied the CEO. "You're all I've ever wanted."

Oliver felt sick. He had suspected it all along, but hearing it confirmed made it so much worse.

"Let me in!" he yelled. "I need to talk to her!"

The guard looked at him with disbelief. "Sir, I'm afraid I can't let you in without proper attire. Please calm down and leave the premises."

Oliver glared at the guard but eventually gave up and stormed off. He needed to think of a plan to confront Merideth.

The CEO inside the room notices the scene and his eyes immediately fall on Oliver. While Merideth could see the anger and betrayal in Oliver's eyes and felt a pang of guilt.

The CEO turned to Merideth, his expression serious. "What is he doing here again?" he asked.

Merideth sighed and looked down, avoiding eye contact. "I'm sorry," she said. "I didn't know he was going to do that. He's been like this since he found out about us."

The CEO felt a twinge of regret. He had known that his relationship with Merideth would have consequences, but he hadn't expected this kind of reaction.

"Don't worry. I'll handle this," the son of the CEO asserted with confidence.

Oliver suddenly burst into the room, surprising them both. "How could you do this to me?" he yelled.

Merideth looked guilty, while the CEO looked annoyed. "Who are you?" he asked, clearly not impressed with Oliver's appearance.

Oliver ignored him and continued to confront Merideth. "I thought you loved me," he said, his voice cracking. "How could you cheat on me like this?"

"Let's not waste our time on troublemakers," Merideth said, the concern faded from her face, it was replaced by anger. She doesn't care about his feelings. She will embarrass him face to face, breaking his heart delicately.

Oliver shook his head in disbelief. "I trusted you," he said. "Yet you betrayed me."

The CEO spoke up again. "I think it's time for you to leave," he said, standing up.

Oliver turned to him. "You stay out of this," he spat. "This is between me and her."

The CEO narrowed his eyes, clearly not used to being talked to like this. "I suggest you leave before I call security," he said, pointing to the door.

In his rage, he didn't mean to push those guards who are just protecting them. Everyone's eyes are on him and what he's doing is embarrassing.

The guards also grabbed Oliver's hands, "Sir, he wants to come inside, but his name wasn't on the list," the guard reported.

Oliver knew he was outnumbered, but he still stayed in the room, and won't leave because he couldn't shake the feeling of betrayal. Merideth was the only person he had ever loved, and now she had shattered his trust. He didn't know if he could ever forgive her.

"Tsk. So do you want a show? Okay. Release him," the CEO said firmly.

The security guards obeyed and stepped back, allowing Oliver to rise to his feet, glaring at the CEO and Merideth.