The CEO’s Second Choice

Sebastian

Everything I have tried does not work. It is like my Elena is here, but she is not. The stories I tell her of our times together don’t seem to jog her memory at all. The doctor thought it unwise to introduce our son to her so soon. He said it might be too jarring and we could lose her further than we already have. I also did not mention her parents or sister, since the former might be dead and the latter might be the one who caused it.

I am currently in our bedroom, sitting in our shared walk-in and staring at her clothes. They all still smell like her, even though they are clean and washed… they still had her scent on them. The ache in my heart hasn’t let up since she woke because when she looks at me all I see is emptiness there is no love in her gaze. Sighing, I kill the light and walk out into our bedroom and sit down on her side of the bed. Would I ever make love to her in this bed again? Would I ever feel her embrace, the curve of her hips against me, her hands caressing my back?

Would my Elena return to me?

My eyes fall on her bedside table, and a possibility comes to mind. Could it possibly work…? An idea forms in my head so does a smile, and I grab her precious belongings off from her bedside table and put it into a paper bag. I would get her back, one way or another.

Elena

It’s been two days and the strange man, whose name was Sebastian, has been sitting at my bedside and telling me about the life I had forgotten. My name is Elena Dumont and I am an heiress of some sort. Sebastian is my husband. I was in a terrible car crash about two weeks ago and I have been in a coma ever since. I don’t remember any of this. How is it possible? Not only that, but I can barely move my lower body and I am an invalid for all intents and purposes. All day I lay here with my thoughts, frustrated that I cannot remember anything and from all I have learned, my life was an amazing one filled with love and happiness.

I see the disappointment in his eyes every time he tells me something, and I do not remember it. He tries to hide it, but I can tell it shatters him every time he tells me a story and I do not share in his excitement. But I cannot help it; no matter how much I try, I just cannot remember and it frustrates me to no end.

The door to my room suddenly opens and Sebastian pops his head in, wearing that gorgeous smile I like, and somehow it feels familiar. “Hey, Elena,” he greets me and I return his greeting with my own smile. I could see how I fell in love with him; he was absolutely stunning and so kind to me, his patience alludes to how much he loved me. He walks in with that grin on his face and carries something in his left hand. “I brought this for you, I thought you might need some company while you recover.” He says and hands me the package. I take it from him and see that it is a paper bag. Frowning, I remove its contents, and my eyes grew.

“First edition of Jane Eyre!” I say with excitement, then I blanch. Why was I excited about this? I look up at him and see the smile forming on his face. “I knew it,” he says and sits down on the chair next to my bed. “I knew you would remember your favourite book, even if you forgot everything else. Literature used to be your sanctuary.”

The corners of my mouth pull down in a grimace. I was close to tears yet again, and I looked down to hide my shame with my hands. He was still trying to get me to remember, even if I was disappointing him every time he tried. Suddenly I feel Sebastian’s hand on my chin, tilting my face upwards and he shakes his head. “You are beautiful, Elena. Do not hide from me. I want to drink you in, every little expression on your face I wish to remember.”

When he says this, I am taken back to a memory… Sebastian on top of me, kissing me and worshipping my body. I look into his eyes and sense home as I place my hand on his chest and pull him closer with his tie. However, his scent hits me, and a wave of familiarity washes over my senses. “Tom Ford…” I murmur and see his eyes widen… Then I kiss him and I feel my whole body ignite with nostalgia. This kiss felt so… familiar! He tries to guide me, but I do not need his guidance, for I know… I know the feeling of his tongue, his soft lips, the way he moans when I nip his bottom lip. I know… I remember this…

I break off the kiss and look into his beautiful hazel eyes, which were now shining with unshed tears. “You remembered…” he whispers out and I nod. “You said that… the first time we made love,” I say as flashes of that night play over in my head. Standing against the canopy of my four-poster bed with him in front of me telling me to make him leave… I remember and I feel what I felt that night. The moment I gave in to him.

“I love you,” I say suddenly, then see his eyebrows raise in surprise. My hands went to my mouth. I wasn’t sure why I said that! But it seems to do something to him because then he pulls me in for another kiss. This time the kiss was filled with need. I felt how much he missed me with this kiss, how much he needed me to remember the love we shared. But… but I don’t. I push him away and he looks down at me again, then registers as I shake my head. “Please be patient with me. I remember that night, but only in flashes. I don’t… I don’t quite recall the love we shared, but by the memory alone it was all-consuming. I’m sorry.” I say, apologising yet again for being unable to remember.

Sebastian smiles and runs his fingers through my hair, “You remembered the most important milestone in our relationship; the night we finally gave in to our feelings for one another, That’s a win for me.” He says and kisses my forehead before sitting down again. He regards me with a look I can only interpret as love. “I’ve spoken to-”

“Elena!”

My head whips to the door and I see a man with curly red hair and wide blue eyes saunter in. I looked at Sebastian but he just had a smile on his face, then I looked at the redhead again and frowned. He was crying as he walked over to me and lay his head down on the space on my left. “Oh, Elena! I missed you so much!” He sobs, and I put my hand on his head.

“Silly, tart,” I said softly before I could even think what that meant, but his head shot up and he looked at me with wide eyes. “I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to call you that!” I say, feeling mortified, but the redhead only shakes his head. “You used to call me that all the time!” He says, wailing so much Sebastian had to walk around to comfort him as well. He looks at me,

“Elena, this is Isaac. He’s your best friend.” The man named Isaac looks up at me and nods happily, then he takes his hand in mine. “I’ve missed you so much, Elena! You may not remember me now, but I will never, EVER forget our friendship. You’re the straight love of my life,” he looks to Sebastian, “no offence, Sebbie.”

Sebastian laughs heartily at this comment and shakes his head again. He plants a kiss on my forehead. “I’ll leave you two to catch up. See you tonight, love.” He says before turning around and sauntering out. “Je t’aime, Sebastian,” I say in familiarity, yet again my mouth operates before my brain does, but Sebastian stops in his tracks. What did I just say? He turns around to look at me, then gives me that smile again. “Je t’aime aussi, petite marguerite,” he replies and walks out, closing the door behind him.

Isaac looks at me, fanning himself. “God, Sebastian speaking French is the hottest thing I have ever heard.” He says, causing me to giggle. “That was French?” I ask, a bit confused, and he raises his eyebrow at me. “Ya, it was. Didn’t you remember that?” He asks, but I shake my head. What exactly did I tell Sebastian? Isaac sees the look on my face, and his expression softened. “You said, ‘I love you,’ Elena,” he starts, “and he responded with, ‘I love you too, little-”Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.

“Daisy,” I interjected as another memory took hold, causing my heart to question everything I thought was good about the man who called himself my husband. Sebastian with a blonde on her knees while he ploughed into her from behind.