In Over Her Head

By Anne Plaza

All she wants is to get even...

Erika Apostol's quiet and unassuming life gets disrupted when she learns that Richard Javier, the very same person who broke her heart many years ago, is now back in the country. Her world is turned upside down as old feelings she thought were buried resurface to haunt her once more.

Determined to give Richard a dose of his own medicine, Erika finds herself involved in an outrageous plan devised by her friends. They enlist the help of Jerome Gonzales, an attractive and charismatic DJ (with a playboy reputation), to pose as her significant other.

As the plan goes in full swing, Erika discovers Richard's jealous side, and that there's something more to Jerome than meets the eye. Will this grand charade work out the way it should, or will she be left with nothing in the end?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Anne Plaza
• Release date: Oct 27, 2013
• ISBN: 9781311768827

Anne Plaza

Anne Plaza has a degree in Psychology, but has actively pursued a career in writing in her previous work as a reporter and online editor. She currently works in the field of marketing communications and spends most of her time writing fiction (while not on the lookout for the nearest cupcake and cronut store). Aside from writing, she loves to read contemporary romance, fantasy, and historical fiction. She also collects stamps and postcards, and loves everything about cats. Anne is based in Quezon City, Philippines. In Over Her Head is her first published work in English.

Book preview

In Over Her Head

Table of Contents

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Acknowledgments

About the Author

Author’s Notes

IN OVER HER HEAD

By

Anne Plaza

SMASHWORDS EDITION

* * * * *

In Over Her Head

Copyright 2013 by Mary Anne Plaza

Contact the author:

http://thoughtsbrewed.blogspot.com

http://twitter.com/anneplaza

[e-mail]

Cover art designed by YK Marquez

http://tangerinelullaby.com

All rights reserved. No part of this text may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any electronic and mechanical means, including those employed by information storage and retrieval systems, without the written permission of the publisher, except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages in a review. If you are reading this book and have not purchased it or won it in an author / publisher contest, this book has been pirated. Please delete and support the author by purchasing the e-book from one of its many distributors.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

*****

For Will, who believed,

For my parents, who let me be who I am,

And for Teacher Macy, who knew early on that I could do this.

*****

Prologue

September 2003

Well, isn't this odd.

I’m used to finding Quezon Memorial Circle full of people—whether families, friends, or the typical couple on a cheap date—strolling along the fountain area or sitting on one of the stone benches. It is, after all, a public park. It’s one of the cheap forms of leisure people can afford, and to find the park bereft of its usual crowd was downright strange.

I was seated on one of the marble stone steps at the memorial tower, already on the last two pages of Judith McNaught’s Once and Always. I checked my watch.

Richard was late again. Unbelievable.

A soft breeze ruffled my wavy, shoulder-length hair. I wore it loose this time as I knew he liked this style best. I pushed my glasses back up my nose as I read the remaining pages.

I’ve taken extra care of my look for today. I’ve decided to forego my usual grunge look of nondescript t-shirt, jeans, and sneakers in favor of a really cute floral dress (which I conveniently borrowed from my sister’s closet). I felt somewhat apprehensive in a dress; I wasn’t really that comfortable showing off my legs. I told myself it’s for a special occasion and I knew my little sacrifice would be worth the trouble.

I’ve been checking my watch for the past couple of minutes, worry and anxiety eating my insides. I tried to stifle it by distracting myself with reading and just soaking up the peace and quiet.

When I finally finished the book and stashed it inside my bag, I looked up to find the sky awash with the purple-pink haze of a picturesque sunset. The scenery, coupled by the serene environment, was like something out of a romance novel. I felt like the heroine, waiting for her loved one in a romantic tryst of sorts.

Richard wanted to meet here because he had to tell me something important. I egged him to tell me over the phone, but he said he wanted to talk to me in person. I went around a thousand and one thoughts on what that something important might be. I initially thought he might propose to me because: a) Quezon Memorial Circle is the place where it all started for us as a couple, and b) what else would it be if the guy was so damn secretive about something that involved the two of us? I glanced at the promise ring on my finger. It was Richard’s gift on our third year as a couple. The sterling silver has gotten quite a few scratches over the past year or so that I’ve worn it.

Then again, we’ve only graduated from college six months ago. Getting engaged or married at this point in our lives would be a rash decision.

To be honest, I wouldn’t mind us bringing our relationship to the next level. Richard and I have known each other since high school and have been dating since our freshman year in college. We’ve been dubbed as the love team of the century because of that memorable 70s classic anime about a super robot pilot who fell in love with an alien princess.

I’ve always seen myself marrying Richard in the long run. I know it may sound cheesy, but I’m just that kind of person who values long-term relationships. Besides, I recently signed a job offer from a well-established publishing company so I feel like everything was falling into place.

I got so engrossed looking at the sunset that I didn’t realize someone sat beside a few meters from me until I heard a voice speak.

Hello, Erika.

I nearly jumped when I turned to the person who spoke. Richard! Jeez, stop sneaking up on me like that.

He grinned and scooted closer beside me. You’re always the jumpy one.

I playfully punched his arm, my anxiety finally wearing off. Yeah, and you’re taking advantage.

You look really nice today, he said with a smile on his face.

Thanks. I beamed, pleased that he noticed my efforts.

I leaned my head on his shoulder and we both grew silent, watching purple and pink clouds above us. I cleared my throat before finally saying something. "So, what’s the occasion for this miting de avance?"

I felt the heavy sigh as air left his lungs. Suddenly, the picturesque sunset lost its vibrant hue and everything faded to black and white. I have always been sensitive to Richard’s nonverbal cues and that heavy sigh right there felt as if something was seriously wrong. But still, I tried to shake off the thought.

Come on, don’t keep me in suspense. Why the secrecy? I prodded his side with my index finger and saw a momentary flash of annoyance on his face. Uh-oh. This wasn’t good at all.

Erika, I’m not playing. This really is a serious thing that I want to discuss with you.

Well if you weren’t that late, we would have been discussing this ‘serious thing’ instead of just wasting time, I retorted.

Richard’s features softened when he realized what I’ve just said. I’m sorry. I…I just have a lot on my mind right now. It’s not going to be easy to tell you this.

Tell me what? I just hated it when he beats around the bush like this.

He turned around to face me and I noticed the dark smudges under his eyes. His hair looked like a bird’s nest (probably from the commute going here from his place in Fairview), and there were fingerprint marks on the corner of his dark glasses. He looked like he hasn’t slept for days.

Richard? Is something wrong?

He cleared his throat and took a deep breath. I got a job in Singapore.

I stared at him, dumbfounded. Oh my God! Richard, that’s great news! I enveloped him in a bear hug.

I knew he submitted a ton of CVs to IT companies here in Manila and had been weighing in the offers that came a few months ago. This was practically his biggest break. I mean, how often do fresh graduates break through overseas opportunities? But then again, Richard has always been an achiever and it’s no surprise that he pulled off something as huge as this. I still had to scrape my jaw off the pavement.

I didn’t know if it’s just me, but the hug he gave back didn’t feel as warm and heartfelt as the other ones we’ve shared before, but I just kept that thought to myself.

What’s the matter? You don’t seem too happy about it, I asked. He looked more like his dog died rather than being all ecstatic about scoring a big employment opportunity.

That’s when he avoided looking at me. Suddenly, his hands seemed all the more interesting to him. Chard? I called him by that nickname whenever I tried to get something out of him.

I am happy about it. I’m over the moon. The job entails a lot of work to be done and I probably wouldn’t have time to come back home for holidays or what. I took quite some time to evaluate the offer, and it was such a good thing to pass up.

There was something more to his words and I couldn’t help but feel an impending sense of dread.

He took a deep breath. Having said that, I think it would be unfair to make you wait for me. I don’t even know when I can come back. Or even if I could, I don’t know how long I can stay. He stole a quick look at my face to see my reaction.

W…what are you trying to say?

I’m sorry, Erika. I know it’s probably not the right thing to say right now, but I really am very sorry.

Are you breaking up with me? I asked, my voice going a decibel higher. Thank goodness there weren’t that many people around to eavesdrop.

Richard tried taking my hand, but I veered away. I put a couple of meters between us as the feeling of betrayal crept in and slowly clutched and tightened at my chest.

A long distance relationship would be unfair to you, Erika. I know we made a lot of plans together, but I don’t want to be the one holding you back. It wouldn’t be fair.

And you think this is? Something heavy seemed to be lodged in my throat as I tried to swallow. You made this decision by yourself? Wow, that’s rich.

He made an effort to close the gap between us, but I scooted farther away. Judging from the expression on his face, he has clearly made this decision without even giving a thought to what I’d feel.

And here I was…thinking about romantic things like proposals and whatnot. I felt like the stupidest girl in the planet.

Erika, please.

Before I lost my nerve, I stood up