Chapter - [ 3 ]

[ Claire ]

Walking in the middle of nowhere, my body drenched in the rainfall and shivering with cold, I had no place to go. My tears also dried up after crying for hours. What sin have I committed to bear such harsh punishment? I sat down under a shed, wrapping my arms around my torso. I bit my lips to supress the teeth clattering. It was freezing cold. My family didn’t have the decency to let me collect my belongings.

I was tired of living this life for last twenty-foursix years but I couldn’t gather my courage to end my life.

I thought about calling my grandparents but dropped the idea since they live in countryside, enjoying their last days. They’d be hurt if they learn about what my family did to me. I couldn’t be a burden for them. Besides, I didn’t have any money or my phone.

Suddenly, I heard roaring of a car in a deserted lane and it stopped here not even a creature could be seen. My heartbeats accelerated in fear since I was all alone. The flash of the headlight blinded my eyes. I quickly rose from the bench and decided to run even though my strength was fading slowly. I shivered when cold raindrops again kissed my already soaked skin.

I felt someone following me. My fear grew more. What if he was a killer or a rapist? I started walking with fast pace.

“If you have left your house to die under this cold weather intentionally then I won’t disturb you, Miss.”

I heard a smooth masculine voice, it was my stalker who mocked me but I didn’t turn around.

I kept walking but the freezing temperature and my exhausted body rebelled. I couldn’t fight any longer. Suddenly, I felt an umbrella over my head and I stopped, still not looking at the stranger who stood next to me.

“I don’t know what’s your story, Miss but can I drop you somewhere?” The same voice asked me, this time there was only concern.

“I..I..don’t..want..your..help.” I somehow whispered in my hoarse voice. For a moment, there was only silence.

“Alright, I’d leave you on your own if you are out to kill yourself but this isn’t a smart way, Miss. This area isn’t very safe, especially for a woman to walk alone in the midnight.” He said.He said, his tone changed, slightly wavered, I guess.

I didn’t reply. How could I tell a complete stranger that I was thrown out of my house and I don’t even have a friend to call in this need. My only best friend is spending the winters at her parents’ home in Canada.

“I can’t go back home.” I finally told him.

“May I know why? You look a decent woman.” He asked with frown.

I sucked a deep breath and trembled when a gush of wind shook me. I heard him sigh and in the next moment, I felt a warm overcoat being wrapped around my shoulders.

“I am sorry, Miss. I can’t leave you here alone. Don’t misjudge me. I have no intentions to take advantage of a homeless woman but knowing you won’t survive till the morning.” I heard him saying.

I turned around to face this well-wisher whose intentions were clear to me yet. My jaws nearly dropped when I took in the sight of the young man who didn’t look like a rapist ofor serial killer from any angle. In fact, he was clad in three piece grey suit. Straight, dirty blonde hair, a pair of soul piercing green eyes and perfectly carved face entered my vision. His broad shoulders were drenched in the rain as he offered his umbrella to me. I could see his pupils flickered.

“I think you are not a commoner. No women walks  in rain ruining her limited edition dress.” He spoke, his coral, thin lips moved twitched.

I felt my guts twisting. He must have seen me in the tabloids or in the gossip section of social media.

“I am Claire Jones.” I told him my name. It was stupid of me to trust a complete stranger but this whole world is practically a stranger to me.

“Claire Jones, I wasn't wrong. Everyone  knows you.” He narrowed his beautiful eyes and I weakly nodded my head. His enchanting and somehow familiar eyes were making me weak, strangely. 

“Why are you wandering alone at this hour, Miss Jones? I am not in a place to ask you this question but you’re looking like a sad story.” He said with amusement.

“It’s a very long story. My family thinks I am the bad omen in their lives and all the misfortunes that happen to them, I am responsible. I don't know what I did to them except my twin died because God spared my life bit took him. My recent past is blurr. Tonight, I refused to marry a scoundrel and as a punishment, my family threw me out of the house, with nothing. I only have the clothes I am wearing right now.” I explained him everything in briefest words, it left a bitter taste on my tongue.

He said nothing but took out a few hundred bucks from his wallet and forwarded it to me.

“Here, take this money and check into a hotel for the night, Miss Jones. You can decide what you want to do next tomorrow. I can drop you off at a nearby hotel if you want.” The gentle stranger offered his generosity but in my entire existence I haven’t received charity from anyone.

“No, thanks. I don’t think I’ll be able to pay you back anytime soon. My cards and cash, everything is at my home.” I said in embarrassment.

“You don’t have to, Miss Jones.” He blinked his eyes in reassurance. Something in those green eyes drove me to believe him that he was actually a good person.

“There’s a hotel nearby, can you drop me there, Mister-” I paused as I didn’t know his name yet.

“Tristan Pierce.” He spoke and my eyes widened in surprise. There was a hint of disappointment in his tone but why?

“By any chance, are you the Tristan Pierce, CEO of “Dream Paradise” house building company?” I asked him and a smirk played on his handsome face.

“Yes, you’re right, I am the Tristan Pierce, CEO of “Dream Paradise” house building company. My company has designed and built your father’s Miami villa.” He said with a constant smile, creepy for a stranger .

How could I tell him that I work as an intern in his company in my last semester of collage. I am an architecture student.

“I am sorry, Mr. Pierce. I behaved rudely with you earlier.” I apologized. He was the richest man in the city and I am standing in the middle of a deserted road with him.

“It’s alright, your reaction was genuine and I am glad you didn’t throw yourself at me, usually women behave oddly crazy around me. Please, don’t feel offensive but it’s true.” He said with a faint smile.

“I can understand, Mr. Pierce. You must be getting late. I don’t want to trouble more. So, I can walk from here.” I said in hesitation. I couldn’t force this young rich man to play chauffer for me, a homeless rebel.

“Ah, it’s fine. It’d be a bad person if I leave you here alone, Miss Jones. What if someone recognizes you. Your name will be scandalized in tomorrow’s headlines.” He said and fresh tears brimmed in my eyes. I’ll be a breaking news tomorrow but for opposite reasons. My life and career will end. He’d also find out that a hot tempered, traitor girl like me works in his company.

“Hey, I am sorry if I crossed my lines. I didn’t mean to make joke of your predicament but it’s possibility.” He said with a frown.

“It’s fine, Mr. Pierce. I am already a laughing stock by now. After all, I dared to reject Ryan Bale’s marriage proposal in front of the whole world, at my house, during my father’s party where he was the guest of honour.” I chuckled bitterly as I recalled those awful moments.

His face turned blank, an icy coldness displayed on his handsome face which terrified me for a moment.

“So, your father wanted you to marry Ryan Bale, the owner of “FlyHigh” Airlines?” He asked me in a crisp, cold tone.

Unable to speak, I nodded my head positively and he sucked a deep breath while closing his eyes for a second before they again looked down at me.

“I think our conversation won’t end here, Miss Jones. Sit in the car. I have a lot to hear from you and tell you something you’d want to hear. Meeting you is already a miracle." He said in a non-arguable tone and gestured me to follow him to his waiting car.

I had a deep feeling that this coincidental meeting with the richest man of the city would change my life on a three-sixty angle forever.