chapter 6

Linda's p.o.v

"You are beautiful." 

Those words sent shivers down my spine. His voice was deep and seductive. Yet, the next moment, he stabbed me and stole my happiness. 

Still, he acknowledged my presence. He found me beautiful. That was enough for my heart to regain its strength. Sounding desperate was not what I wanted but getting a small attention from the person I yearned for was worth it at some point.  

"Were you adopted from the mental hospital or what?" Hearing his hoarse voice, my eyes shot open. I realised I was leaning against the car's window and we were still on the way to the social event.

"Sorry?" I looked at him.

"I said, were you adopted from the mental hospital?" He repeated himself and this time I heard him right.

'Why would I be adopted from a mental hospital?'

I kept staring at him for a moment and took out my phone to check if everything was okay with me. To my surprise, there was nothing wrong. My hair was perfectly combed and I did not apply much makeup. That was my domain. 

"You were smiling to yourself like a fool." I instantly gazed at him. 

'Was he watching me?'

'Was he looking at me all this time? Should I be shocked or should I jump with happiness?'

"Will you just stop gawking at me like that now? I'm not your food. People should learn how to make others uncomfortable from you. Irritating!" 

"Sorry." I looked down and lowered my voice. But as soon as I turned myself to the other side my smile reappeared. I was happy. I did not want much from him. If not love then at least I could gain his friendship.

*************

As soon as we got down from the limousine. Paparazzi immediately caught our sight and gathered in front of us to click photos. Just then, I felt a hand slip through my waist. The mint cologne was already dominating me. 

I threw a glance at him. He always succeeds in making me get butterflies in my stomach. He was looking damn handsome in his black tux. His one hand in his pocket and the other one on my waist. A natural business tycoon.

If possible I could watch him all night long. 

Within a second, I felt his breath on my cheek. He was close. I became a nervous Nellie, so the best thing I could do was to shut my eyes firmly.

"Sweetheart, don't get the wrong idea. I am exposing this view to show my father that we are so much in love and I'm capable of becoming the future CEO of the Enterprise. Having an interest in you is never in my option list, and neither will I in the future." I felt a pang of pain in my chest. He never failed to astonish me. I was such an imbecile for assuming things.

"Mr. And Mrs. Anderson, a look at the camera please." One of the men in the crowd shouted. 

I took a deep breath, plastered a fake smile on my face, controlled my emotions and looked at the cameras. 

They kept on clicking our pictures till the next very important person caught their attention.

After getting rid of the Paparazzi, we headed towards the palace where the event was going to take place. 

I held my breath for a moment, the palace was magnifique. Even the interior and exterior decorations were marvelous. There was no doubt that the designer made a splendid work. 

"Daniel." 

Hearing the melodious voice, Daniel immediately let go of my hand. I furrowed my eyebrows in uncertainty

"Rose." He sounded enthusiastic when he said her name.

Rose! The one he loved. The love of his life. The girl because of whom he could never love me.

I unhurriedly turned back to find out a striking, dazzling and fierce Rose with a long white dress and heavy makeup. I was seriously nothing in front of her. That's why Daniel chose her over me. I was the utterly opposite of her. Competing with her would only embarrass me. 

"Oh Daniel, I missed you soo much." With those words she kissed the cheeks of Daniel and hugged him tightly. Daniel did the same thing but instead of kissing her on her cheeks he kissed her forehead.

I turned myself back. 'Why in front of me?'

"Do whatever you want, just don't disturb us and find someone to enjoy it with. Besides, you always wanted these things." Daniel uttered leniently. 

I peered at him. His hands were wrapped around Rose's waist and Rose was watching me with disgust. I have been carrying the torch for him for a long time. 

'Couldn't he just see how much his words affected me.'

Just then he disappeared in the crowd along with Rose, leaving me all alone. 'How could he?' I was an unknown here. 

Later on, I tried to divert my mind and went to the bar for a juice. After all, this was how my life was going to be. Unrequited, one sided love. My first love turned out to be incomplete and a total disaster. Expectations always hurt. 

One thing was clear that I could never match Rose. She was beyond perfect. A perfect trait and body. I knew the comparison between us was nearly impossible but I envied her. I was jealous of her, because of her beauty. Because of which she had Daniel.

I let out a sigh and played with my juice with the straw. 

The only thing I was happy about was that I was the wife and she was the mistress even if it was just for a matter of time.

I wanted to be selfish but that was not who I was.

"All alone gorgeous lady?" 

My mouth fell open and my eyes widened. 

That voice was similar to:

"Max." I gaped at him.

I slowly turned around, hoping the person to be the one I was thinking.

"Hello beautiful." He pulled my cheeks and in a flash, I was in his arms. We were clinging on to one another. I really longed to see him. The only childhood friend with whom I could share anything. My problems, my secrets, anything. I never considered him as a boy to be honest. He was my human-diary.

I was like a dog with two tails. 

"Are you planning to kill me, Little? I can't bre- breath." I released him.

"Shut up." I slapped him gently on his arm. 

 "I'm no longer a little girl. I'm a grown up woman." I stated. My happiness knew no bound. That one person who understood me without saying anything was right in front of me.  

"Anyway, how are you here? I think you were in Paris managing your father's business." I was bemused as well. I never looked ahead to this. 

"Last time I checked you went away without contacting me and even after that you did not bother to keep in touch. Were you that busy?" 

"Yeah, right. But I came because I have some meetings that I need to attend later." He answered.

"And for the second question, I'll answer you later."

"Okay. But how come you are here at this party?" 

"For your kind information, I am cordially invited to this event. The person throwing this ball is my boss' best friend and as he is unable to attend it, I'm here on his behalf." He stated.

"Okay idiot." I mocked him like I used to and we both burst out laughing. I still could not believe I was seeing him after four years. He looked much better than before. Mature and handsome. No longer that chubby and clingy boy.

"Anyway, how come you are here?" He questioned.

"I-" 

'Should I tell him?'

 If I told him then Daniel would become the anti-hero in his point of view. Max did not even know I was a married woman. I could not tell him that right now. What if he came to know about the relationship Daniel and I shared. What if he grasped that Daniel did not treat me as his wife but as a gold-digger. He would definitely beat him to a pulp. 

'No!' Daniel did not consider this wedding real. There was no need for me to make it a big deal as well.

"I-" 

"Let it be, you have taken almost five minutes to give me an answer. Let's dance instead?" He requested me as an ideal gentleman. 

"Umm." I scratched my neck. I peeped around and saw Daniel and Rose in each other's arms, laughing out loudly. A pang of jealousy hit me directly in my chest. My own husband abandoned me in this crowd and was having fun. Why would I sit in a corner and pine for him? 

"Yes." I voiced looking back at max. 

Max led me to the dance floor. He put his one hand on my waist and held my hand with the other and I did the same. I held his hand with my right hand and put the left one on his shoulder. Meanwhile, he continued to crack his jokes, making me laugh out blaringly. 

"You are so beautiful." He tucked my hair that was coming out behind my ear with his index finger. His action left me frozen. 

"You know the reason I went to Paris was because"

"May I cut in."