Dragging myself out of the car with some struggles, I got out the box and looked up at the enormous glass building towering before me.
EMERALD ENTERPRISES was written in bold red letters at the top.
A goofy smile tugged up my lips. With the warmth that surged through my chest, emotional tears burned my eyes.
Valencian Corp's new branch, which he opened with my name. It was his gift for me on my birthday, passed just last week.
Rolling my eyes, I let out a breath through my lips.
I was getting sentimental again.
Shaking my head, I closed the car door behind me with a thud and dawdled inside.
Once in, my eyes took in the interior. As fancy and elegant as I remembered from a week ago. Though there weren't many people working here that day. But today, the way everyone was at their best speed, it seemed like they were working here for years.
The last time I saw him was at the police station. After that night, Ace handed him over to the police for trying to force himself on me. And as much as that night managed to send a shiver down my spine for months after that, I pressed down on my grudge against him and thought rationally. Yes, what he did was wrong, but he was drunk at that moment. Not that it gave him any excuse to do that to me, but I decided to let things end and requested Ace to withdraw his complaint.Even I did wrong to him, though it was nothing compared to the deed he tried to do. But for the sake of our years of friendship, I decided to let him out after fifteen days of his jail, much to Ace's dismay. He wanted him to rot behind the bars forever.Even though he apologized for his actions endlessly, I had told him to stay away from me and not to try to reach out in any way.But here he was today, probably with his fiance. I just hoped Ace wouldn't see
I stared at the girl before me, and her nervous eyes behind those black rimmed glasses were also set on me. Tentatively, I tucked a strayed strand behind my ear and bit my lip. She mimicked. I blinked, so did she."You done with your staredown match with yourself, Em?" A huff came from behind me. "For God's sake! You're doing this for the last five minutes! You're creeping me out now!"I glanced at my best friend through the mirror. With folded arms on her chest, sitting at the edge of my bed, she scowled at me.My eyes went back to my reflection. "I don't know, Beth. Do you think he- he'll like my look?""After we spent two hours to doll you up? Yes, we think that he'll like your look. And won't reject you when you announce your undying love for him," said my other best friend, Casie, standing beside Beth.Reject. The same word that has been haunting my dreams for years now. I
I glanced at my wrist.Nine-thirty."Ma'am, please turn off your cell phone. The plane is about to take off," said the flight attendant in her angelic voice."Yeah, just a minute." I threw her an apologetic look.Nodding her head, she walked away."Mom, I need to hang up now. The crews have already warned me for the second time.""Alright, alright! I will let you go now. You're coming to me in some hours anyway. We will be waiting outside the airport when you'll land!" Excitement dripped from her voice. A sudden homesickness filled my mind. It's been two years since I met them."And keep that boy at an arm's length," Dad called out in the background.Shaking my head, I let out a chuckle. "Alright guys! I will see you at the airport.""Love you, honey!" They intuned together."Lo
A knock landed on the door. "You ready, honey? Your Dad is waiting downstairs.""Yeah, Mom. Just give a minute," I replied, staring at my reflection in the mirror."Alright, come soon."I ran my palm over the red material clung against my skin. It felt smooth. Everything was perfect. The nude make-up, the simple side-parted long hair, the off shoulder gown with a sweetheart neckline and a semi-high slit at the side, everything was in place."I'm ready," I whispered at my reflection, and those big turquoise eyes of her stared back.Grabbing my black clutch, I smoothed my hair once again and sauntered downstairs.Warner met me at the door. His mouth fell open, his light blue eyes looking up and down my body. "Holy shit! You're looking…" He shook his head. "I've no words."I stretched my lips into a smile. "Thanks. You don't look that ba
The name that used to give me flutters in my tummy, now only added fuel to something that was smoldering inside me for years.I didn't want to be called with that name anymore."I didn't think my Rosebud could stay mad at me for that long," he drawled out as I kept quiet, eyes searching for something on my face.My Rosebud?Whatever you see on my face, Achilles Valencian, but you won't find the fifteen years old sister of your best friend there. Because she died that night because of you. And the irony was, it wasn't even your fault."Don't call me that!" My voice came out much like a snap. When he raised a brow, I tried to cool down my nerves. I couldn't show him my anger. And though how much right it seemed, he wasn't at any fault.He didn't even know."I- I've a name. And I'd prefer to be called by that. I don't like when som
I cleared my throat, catching everyone's attention around the table. The noise of their cutleries and spoons stopped along.I knew what I was about to say would upset them. But it had to be done. So taking a deep breath, I said, "I'm leaving for NY this Friday."Silence. The shock on Tobias's face and sadness that formed over my parents' were clear."But we thought as your college is finished now, you'd stay with us again from now on." Dad's forehead creased. Mom agreed with him."No Dad. I'm not a kid anymore. I can't just crash here just because my college is over. It's time to build my career. So I've to go back," I clarified."But what's wrong with California? You could easily get any job here," Mom argued. "If you want your privacy, honey, then it's alright. But if you look for a job here, at least you can stay close to us." Her voice broke."Why don't you help Tobi
"W-what're you doing here?" I couldn't even ask without stuttering.Stormy grey eyes roamed over my features, briefly glancing at my lips. They watched me as if they had waited too long…I gave myself an inner shake. I was assuming things that weren't possible."Well?" Voice firm this time. How did he even enter the ladies washroom area? Oh yes, I forgot that he owned this whole damn thing."Came to see if you're okay," he said, deep Greek accent strong. Was he- mad?"How many times do I've to tell you that you don't need to be concerned about me? It's not your job to care for me.""Someone has to if that so-called friend of yours can't even take a stand for you like a loser he is!" he mocked, gaze hard.Friend?So he knew what happened outside?My eyes narrowed. "Excuse me? Don't you think you're crossing your limits he
The amber rays colored the horizon, manifesting a crown of crimson and pink above the setting sun. Lines of birds flew alongside across the sky in the direction of their shelter; melodic twitters of them felt like an announcement for the darkness to befall.I took in a deep breath, filling my lungs with the cool evening air."Beautiful, isn't it?" Dad said, sitting on the car hood beside me.I nodded, a smile curved onto my lips. "Yes, very. Thank you for bringing me here, Dad. It's been so long since I last visited. I really missed our sunrises and sunsets."We used to come to this meadow at least once a week. Well, at least me, Dad and Tobias. Mom and Tess were too lazy to join every time. It was like a tradition for us. The tradition my grandfather started with Dad. But after my shifting to NY, I couldn't join Dad and Tobias anymore."Me too, princess. Without you, our visits here