Chapter 4: Bad Luck

A few moments later, Brad and I left the mansion and he was about to drop me to my place. While he was driving the car I kept thinking how he saved me tonight. I wanted to say thank you but words didn't seem to come out of my mouth.

“Will you stop staring at me,” he startled me again.

“I’m sorry, no actually thank you for saving me during the ceremony,” I said.

“It’s alright, but who was he?” He asked me straightforwardly.

“Um, someone,” lines of eeriness covered my forehead.

He noticed me and knew I was going through deep inside, “Oh ok, by the way you kept your words, I mean sorry out of the blue I had to make you my girlfriend for the night but I had a somewhat similar situation, you must have been worried about what would I ask you to do.”

“That’s both of us helping each other so it’s fine,” soon he dropped me out of my apartment and left.

With a gloomy face I entered my room, as soon as I opened the door a pillow hit my face, “Ouch!”

“How dare you leave? And why the hell weren’t you picking up your cell phone? Where the hell were you at?” Ash was furious.

“I was somewhere, how does it matter anyways,” I sat like a lifeless person on the bed.

Ash’s anger turned into concern as soon as she noticed that I was upset, “Hey, what’s wrong?”

I looked at her while my complexion turned pale, “It was Eric.”

“What do you mean?” Ash knew I was going through something.

“Elizabeth’s fiance,” Ash was shocked to hear that.

She couldn’t believe what I just said, “My God! Honey, I am so sorry, I know you must be going through a lot.”

She then hugged me tightly and I cried out loud. I usually don’t cry, I think it was her only in front of whom I cried. 

Next morning we were ready to join the internship. I was always interested in designing so we went to the fashion designing academy. Unfortunately I had to face Elizabeth there but this was my fate, I don't have any other option left.

I tried to forget what just happened last night, and soon we rushed to the academy as always we were running late. The moment we reached the academy Ash got a phone call that the meeting has already started and the CEO will reach soon. 

We rushed to the conference hall where the meeting was being held. I saw the Ceo’s chair and it was empty, luckily he was running late too. There I saw Elizabeth sitting and she waved to us. We went and sat near her, my eyes grabbed attention to her engagement ring. 

“Isn't it beautiful?” I hiccupped.

Ash gave me water, “Yeah, it is, even Ari loves it that’s why she couldn’t take her eyes off from the ring.”

I nodded and soon everyone stood up, it seemed like the boss arrived. Because of too many heads I wasn’t able to see his face. After the boss asked to sit, I heard his voice and it seemed familiar. I dropped my pencil so I picked it up. By then everyone had settled already.

After I picked up the pencil I saw the boss, as soon as I saw him I got my hiccups back. I couldn’t believe it was him, so I rubbed my eyes again to see if I saw someone wrong. But it was him only, it was Brad, the one who became my fake boyfriend yesterday. 

My hiccups didn't seem to go away, as soon as Brad saw me he had a slight smile on his face, I wondered what made him smile there on the other side my eyes were wide opened. He then asked me to drink some water and settle down. 

Soon, the meeting started, he welcomed all the freshers and started introducing himself and the other designated beings in the office. Only the manager was left, who would join us soon. A few minutes later, Brad asked Elizabeth to call the manager from his office.

“Why would he send Elizabeth?” Ash inquired.

“Who knows and how does it matter?” I asked.

“You are right, it doesn't matter at all,” She agreed with me.

Out of the blue Brad called me in front of everyone, “Areana, is it correct?”

I started hiccupping again, “Yes, yes sir.”

“Please bring your portfolio, I would like to see it,” I took out my portfolio while being nervous.

When I kept my portfolio on his desk he came a little closer to me and whispered in my ears, “No need to get nervous, our secret will remain between us only, Areana.”

It was comforting but the moment he called me Areana, I froze as if a cold breeze had touched my skin. All of a sudden my hiccups were gone, I nodded while he was checking my portfolio. 

Brad was impressed with my portfolio, “I must say, you got some really good designs there, you have given life to these designs, I could see a bright future ahead of yours. Keep it up.”

A smile appeared on my face, “Thank you very much sir, that’s very kind of you to say that. I appreciate it.” 

I took my portfolio and the moment I turned I saw a man standing in front of me, the moment I saw him I dropped the portfolio and my face turned pale all of a sudden. I just couldn't believe what was happening right now. Surely, it was my bad luck.

I wanted to run away but I was hopeless, I didn't know what should be done now. The man standing right in front of my eyes was none other than the person who I was about to marry two years back. I froze as soon as I saw him standing right in front of me. 

It was Eric. I felt as if I was busted.