A long leg clad in black trousers and a gleaming black shoe stopped the elevator from closing fully. A muscular toned man stepped in, clad in a white dress shirt that was tucked neatly in his trousers and matched with a black coat. His eyes met mine and I fought the urge to swallow nothing. His handsomeness was beyond this earth, no… he was beautiful. Beautiful was the perfect word to describe this enigma right in my presence.
He moved to the other end of the elevator, his green eyes scrutinizing me. His hair seemed disheveled as if he had run his hand through it multiple times which made me wonder how it would feel if I ran my hands through them.
I shook my head and looked away but I found myself stealing glances at him, multiple glances that became too obvious. We could both feel it, the tension. This strange man suddenly seemed to have piqued my interest and I guess I had also peaked his. He was so handsome and beautiful at the same time. His height was life threatening, he was 6’3 feet tall while I was 5’5. His bright green eyes looked me up and down and there seemed to be a hint of approval in his eyes. I strangely felt giddy about that. He seemed to have noticed because he began taking slow steps toward me. I moved back, thrilled with both excitement and nervousness. I always had the fantasy of a sudden romance, meeting a bomb of a man and instantly getting attracted, and here I was getting a dream come through even though we might never see again and my mind yelled at me on how wrong it was. The strange handsome man got incredibly close to me that I could subtly sniff out the mint on his breath.
“What’s your name sweetheart?” he asked, his deep voice sending butterflies dancing in my belly.
“Adrianna,” I answered, my voice a whisper.
“Adrianna,” he said testing my name on his tongue. It sounded so heavenly coming out of his mouth as he looked at me staring into my eyes and my legs felt like jelly as I tried to keep myself standing even though all I wanted was to fall into his arms.
The chemistry between us was freaking me out and also exciting at the same time.
“And what is your name?” I asked with a soft smile.
“Well, that’s classified,” he said raking his hands through his hair. His hand stretches out and traps me against the wall. I flinch a bit then struggled to stay on my two feet.
Just great. Nice legs, but they can’t even do their jobs well.
“You are so beautiful, I would love to m-” the loud ding of the elevator interrupts his statement. I gasp, jumping away from him. A crowd of people waiting to enter gape at us, probably the next visiting batch. The strange handsome man quickly exits the elevator, leaving me behind, and mixes with the crowd before I can stop him. Before I could say, Jack, he was already gone like he was never here.
What was he trying to tell me? That I didn’t know.
“Perfect timing,” I muttered sarcastically to the lift, clutching my handbag as I exited the hospital.
Getting into my car, thoughts of the handsome man lingered in my mind. I shook my head for the umpteenth time, knocking my index finger against my temple.
"Be reasonable, Adrianna," I muttered with a sigh.
I zoom off to work, to continue another boring day of my life.
___
“Mum you won’t believe what happened when I left your ward this morning,” I said overly excited as I spoke with my mum on phone, just after taking a cool evening shower and getting into bed. I could say that was one of the best things in my day. Getting off work and relaxing in bed after a pleasant dinner.
“Tell me anything, Anna. As long as it’s from you, I definitely would believe,” mum said chuckling.
“Trust me you wouldn’t believe it,” I giggled, looking up at the ceiling.
“Shoot Anna, the tension is too much,” my mum groaned loudly into the phone.
“Okay, when I entered the elevator-
“You fainted and the nurses has to rush you to the hospital then you met the most handsome doctor in history and tada! He was the one to treat you and you felt this intense connection between you two and he got on his knees and asked you to marry him and you said yes!” My mum ranted out, shocking me greatly.
“What? No mum, ewww. That's gross and a complete dream,” I guffawed then sighed, "but you can call what actually happened a complete dream too," I said with a forlorn look.
“Oh, that didn't happen?" Her tone was one of disappointment, "sorry my bad, so tell me then what happened?”
“Well, I met this man…"
"A man!" Mum exclaimed, excited and I forced myself to roll my eyes.
"Yes, a man, in the elevator. He was extremely handsome," I said dreamily while mum listened with glee, "and there was this connection between us. He has the most exquisite green eyes I've ever seen and he has the perfect build. He's the perfect man," I sighed.
"Then?" Mum quizzed.
"He asked for my name and was also about to tell me something but the elevator door opening interrupted him and soon he was gone with the crowd,” I said sadly.
“What?" Mum asked with displeasure, "fantastic love story gone in a puff. What did he have to say?”
“He said ‘you are so beautiful I would love to m-’ and the lift opened,” I grumbled.
“Mum?” I questioned as she hadn’t said anything for some time, her background was quiet as she didn’t make a sound.
“Mum!”
“Yes Anna, I’m sorry but I have good news but it might be bad news for you”
“What is it, mum?”
“I think what he wanted to say was he wants to marry you”.
“I think what he wanted to say was that he wants to marry you...” It felt like a loud ringing echoed in my head as my mother's words kept repeating themselves over and over. No, it can’t be true, it wasn’t possible. No man would want to marry a lady they met in an elevator for the first time. It just wasn’t possible.“Mum, that can’t be possible,” I said in disbelief, not wanting to think about it.“Nothing is impossible dear,” my mum said in a stern voice. Then laughed loudly, "that was a joke, Anna. Did you really fall for it? That's such a random conclusion!"She laughed even more. I frowned. Did I actually take her seriously?"I thought you were serious. I felt so scared," I muttered, not finding it funny.Her laughter receded, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring up that sour topic.""It's okay, mum but… but mum, I don’t want to get married yet, especially to someone that I met in an elevator. I do not know anything about him in fact, I can’t accept it” I said panicking.“Is that
“You are getting married…"Those words echoed in my head like a broken record, ringing in my ears as I stared at my father in shock. It felt like I was in a dream, a dream I wished to be woken up from. I was beyond shocked at my father’s words and even worse, he said it with so much ease like it wasn’t a big deal.“What do you mean I’m getting married?” I queried, fighting off annoyance.“Well, a very wealthy billionaire came for your hand in marriage and I couldn’t refuse,” he answered, focused on the files he was working on.“I mean, the offer was a hearty one," he looked up long enough to shoot me an irritating grin, "so technically, you are betrothed to him. Your opinions are not needed as you would be going on a dinner date with him tomorrow. Get to know him before the wedding preparation begins,” he said with a wide smile.“But dad I do not want to get married to anyone yet!” I cried out, tears pricking at the corner of my eyes.“I said your opinions are not needed, you are gett
The last thing on my mind was to marry someone I don't love. To marry someone I was not meant to be committed to. Lucas Shaul. That name sucks! It irritates me at its peak. Not to mention he is someone like my father. All my life, I had always dreamt to marry someone I love. Someone who won't act like a stranger to me but now, today, I would be meeting him. I knew my father was offered something in exchange for me to marry Lucas. I don't even know him. I have never seen him before. I don't even know what he looks like. Only the rumors heard about him. He is cold and ruthless and I am sure he'd be mean to me. Staring at my reflection in the mirror, my eyes were swollen. For the rest of the night, I cried my eyes out and screamed but that man I called my father wouldn't even hear me. And he is even using my mother as a threat to me. She would kill my mom if I don't accept marrying that so-called Lucas. Not for once had he ever cared for my mother and me. He only cared about his money
ELEVATOR CHAPTER SIX: MEET THE SHAULSI wonder how evil somebody had to be that there was such a desperate need to keep their identity a secret from the public, how many people's toes have they stepped on, how many people are planning to kill them for them to need such secret service and MI6 treatment, one only sees situations like this in the movies, or at least so I thought.I went from not wanting to be in the presence of these people arriving my father's house to bid for my head like a slave auction in 1864 in the name of marriage— to being eager to see what this person looks like, I don't know if I want to justify my hatred for them by looking at their face or getting the satisfaction of staring him dead in the eyes and saying no to marrying him or I just wanted to spit at his face, I hadn't made up my mind when I almost slipped and fell. This has to be the most uncomfortable pair of shoes to be ever made, I was just a taking on the stair away from snapping my ankle to the back
An elderly lady in a blue lavender gown and white gloves walks towards me and pulls me away from the maids cleaning the messed up table, she pats Lucas Shaul on the back of his suit and whispers something into his ears on her way to me.I try not to look at her, obviously still embarrassed, only the smirk that formed on my face from my happiness about pissing of my dad kept my face from being all flushed and red.The lady shoots a friendly smile my way and I had to get rid of the sinister smirk and replace it with a chivalrous one in order to compliment her smile."Are you okay my dear?" She asks, that is when it all made as as in my head that a stranger would be so caring about what happens to me in this gathering where I am to be sold at Auction price to the highest bidder and my own father is the auction master, her chivalry all starts to make sense as it becomes clear that she must be Lucas Shaul's mother, Mrs. Shaul of the Shaul Business Empire. "I'll be fine," I try to say with
"Why do you always have to spit on my face every damn time Adrianne?" my father asks after we stare at each other blankly for about five minutes but seemed like an eternity.I have so much I want to say to the old man but I need to garner enough strength to say it without bursting into tears, I am barely holding them under my eyelids at this point.At times like this I need my mother the most. She always had a way to deal with him in these kind of situations, sometimes I wonder if he purposely put her away in the hospital and then conveniently planned the marriage at a time when she was not around."I give you everything you need, I give you even what you don't need, I work my butt off to make sure that you do not lack anything under the sun, yet you and your vegetable of a mother always find new ways under the sun to ridicule and shame me, and what's worse in front of very important company," the veins on his forehead and neck threatening to pop out of his skin and spew blood on me a
I get beside my monster of a dad, I wished I could be anywhere ht. Ear him at the moment. I would leave but I can't go out there while looking like this. I glare at him with hatred burning in my pupils then I focus on the mirror, I turn on the faucet and cup the rushing water in my palms and splash it on my face as if I am trying to wake myself up from a terrible nightmare, this was even worse a terrible nightmare it is but I can't even wake up from it by splashing water on my face.The water is cold, it makes me shiver and the goosebumps on my forearms become very visible, I begin to shiver as I speak."Listen carefully Dad," trying to tilt the power dynamics back in my corner. If I have learned anything from watching Hollywood exorcism movies it is that you can't really win against the devil, you either always have to make a deal with him or you lose."fix your face Adrianne," he cuts me off absentmindedly, mispronouncing my name for the umpteenth time but I am very used to it and
The old devil leaves and I get back to trying to get the wine and bloodstain off my dress, but all to no avail, this is exactly why I don't ever wear cashmere. On the brink of panicking, could this night get any worse I ask myself, then I realize I came up with my little clutch bag, and inside it is my cellphone.I reach for the little clutch bag like a horny overseas marine officer reaches for his wife's bra after three years of overseas service in Alaska or some other distant land.Before then it took me about thirty seconds or more to figure out where I kept the bag, after all a lot had happened since I came into this bathroom, I've cried twice and thrown more tantrums than a toddler, ruined my make up and applied it again, I've made a deal with the deal amongst other things.My eyes finally settle on the little clutch bag lying innocently on the floor, untouched, as if the Wolf did not almost burn in this bathroom. I bend down with great difficulty, my whole body feels stiff, th
CH 111Months had passed by since Lucas regained his memory and Andrianne gave birth to a beautiful baby girl named Ariel. It was a new chapter in their lives, one filled with happiness, joy, and a lot of sleepless nights.Andrianne had never felt so happy and fulfilled in her life. She had always wanted to be a mother, and now that she was, she felt like her life had finally fallen into place. She spent most of her days taking care of Ariel, feeding her, changing her diapers, and watching her sleep.Lucas, on the other hand, was busy with work. He had taken over his father's company and was now the CEO. It was a lot of work, but he was happy to be doing something he loved. He spent most of his days in the office, but whenever he got the chance, he would come home to spend time with Andrianne and Ariel.Their home was filled with laughter, love, and the occasional crying from Ariel. They had hired a nanny to help take care of Ariel, but Andrianne was always there to make sure everythi
CH 110Andrianne's heart was racing as she approached Lucas's room with his medication. It had been two weeks since she decided to stay with him until he regained his memory, and every day had been a struggle. Seeing him every day, yet him not remembering anything about their past together, had been heartbreaking for Andrianne.As she entered his room, she saw Lucas sitting on the bed, looking out of the window. He turned his head as she entered and gave her a small smile."Good morning, Andrianne," he said softly."Good morning, Lucas," she replied, trying to keep her voice steady.Andrianne walked over to his bedside and placed the medication on the table next to his bed."How are you feeling this morning?" she asked, hoping to make small talk."I'm feeling okay, thanks for asking," he replied.There was a moment of silence between them before Lucas spoke up again."Andrianne, can I ask you something?" he said hesitantly."Of course," she replied, turning to face him."Have we ever
CH 109Andrianne felt a pang of anxiety in her chest as she drove up the long, winding driveway to Lucas's mansion. It had been several days since she had left, and the fear of the unknown had been gnawing at her ever since. She needed to see Lucas, to know that he was okay, and to check on Emily as well. However, as she pulled up to the house, she noticed that Emily's car was nowhere to be found.Her heart began to race as she parked her car and made her way up to the front door. She hesitated for a moment before finally knocking. She waited anxiously, but no one answered. She tried the doorknob, and to her surprise, the door was unlocked. She pushed it open slowly, calling out Lucas's name as she stepped inside.The house was quiet, and Andrianne felt a chill run down her spine. She made her way through the foyer and into the living room, but there was no one there. She searched the rest of the first floor, but it was empty. She then climbed the stairs, calling out Lucas's name once
CH 108Andrianne was about to leave her father's study, feeling overwhelmed by emotions when something caught her attention. At the far end of the room, on top of a pile of books, was a piece of paper that seemed to have fallen off a desk. She walked towards it, her eyes fixated on the paper. As she got closer, she realized it was a note. Her heart skipped a beat, wondering what it could be. She picked up the note and looked at it closely, her hands trembling slightly. It was a handwritten note from her father.The note was written on a piece of plain white paper, in her father's elegant cursive handwriting. It was dated about two months ago, and it started with "My dear Andrianne". As she read on, Andrianne's eyes widened in shock and disbelief. Her father had written about how he regretted all the pain he had caused her over the years, and how he was sorry for forcing her into a marriage she didn't want. He wrote about how he was happy to see that Lucas had been able to make her hap
CH 107Andrianne sat next to her father's hospital bed, holding his hand tightly as she watched the machines beep rhythmically. Her heart was heavy as she knew that her father's time was running out. She had spent the past few days praying for a miracle, but it seemed that fate had other plans.Suddenly, the machines beeped faster, and Andrianne's father let out a gasp. Andrianne's heart raced as she saw the doctor and nurses rushing into the room. They tried everything they could to save him, but it was too late. Andrianne's father had passed away.Andrianne felt like her world had come crashing down. She had lost her mother to cancer, and now her father was gone too. Tears streamed down her face as she clung onto her father's hand, unwilling to let go. She felt like a part of her had died with him.The doctor came over and placed a comforting hand on Andrianne's shoulder. "I'm so sorry for your loss," he said softly. "We did everything we could, but his heart just gave out."Andrian
CH 106Andrianne was pacing back and forth in the spacious living room of the mansion. The silence was deafening, and the loneliness was suffocating. She had been staying in the mansion for a week now, taking care of Lucas, but she couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that Emily gave her.She missed her own home and the comfort of her own bed. She missed the routine she had built with Jackie over the past few weeks. Andrianne sighed, she knew she couldn't continue like this. She needed to leave the mansion.As she was packing her bags, Lucas walked in, but he still couldn't recognize her. Andrianne tried her best to hide her disappointment, but it was hard. "Where are you going?" Lucas asked, looking confused."I'm going back to Jackie's house for a while," Andrianne replied, trying to sound upbeat. "I just need some time for myself."Lucas looked at her, his eyes searching for something, but he couldn't find it. "Okay, I understand. Take care of yourself," he said with a smile.A
CH 105Andrianne was waiting at the hospital entrance for Lucas to be discharged. She was dressed in a simple white dress that hugged her pregnancy curves, with her hair tied in a neat bun. She couldn't help but feel nervous and excited at the same time. It had been a long two weeks since she had last seen Lucas, and she missed him dearly.Finally, she saw a nurse wheeling Lucas out in a wheelchair. He looked fragile and weak, but Andrianne's heart skipped a beat at the sight of him. She rushed over to him and gave him a gentle hug."Lucas, are you feeling better?" she asked him.Lucas looked up at her with a blank expression. He didn't seem to recognize her at all. Andrianne felt her heart sink, but she tried not to show it."Yes, I'm feeling better," he replied in a monotone voice.Andrianne felt a lump form in her throat. She knew that Lucas had lost his memory, but she didn't expect him to forget her completely."Come on, let's get you home," she said, trying to hide her disappoin
CH 104Andrianne's heart was pounding as she walked towards the entrance of the hospital. She couldn't believe that she was about to see Lucas after so long, but the thought of him not recognizing her was also terrifying. She had been on bed rest for two weeks, and her pregnancy had been giving her a hard time, but she couldn't wait any longer to see Lucas.As she approached the reception, she asked the nurse for Lucas' room number, and she was directed towards the elevator. Her legs felt weak as she stepped inside, and she kept praying that everything would be okay. The elevator ride felt like eternity, but finally, she arrived at Lucas' room.Andrianne gently opened the door and saw Lucas lying on the bed with his eyes closed. She walked closer and noticed how pale he looked, and her heart broke for him. She reached out and gently touched his hand, and his eyes fluttered open."Lucas?" Andrianne said, holding her breath.Lucas looked at her blankly and then turned his head away. And
CH 103.Emily walked into the hospital room, her eyes scanning the area until they landed on Lucas. He was sitting up in bed, staring into space, his expression blank. Emily felt a twinge of pity for him. He looked so lost, so vulnerable. But she quickly pushed those feelings aside. This was her chance to hatch her plan."Lucas," she said softly, approaching his bed.Lucas looked up at her, his eyes dull and lifeless. "Emily," he said, his voice barely above a whisper."How are you feeling?" she asked, pulling up a chair and sitting down beside him.Lucas shrugged. "I don't really know," he said, his eyes still fixed on some invisible point in the distance.Emily leaned in closer. "Do you remember what happened?" she asked, trying to sound concerned.Lucas shook his head slowly. "No," he said, his voice barely audible. "I don't remember anything."Emily's heart raced with excitement. This was it. This was her chance to start fresh with Lucas, without Andrianne in the picture. "That's