Taste Of A Medicine

Chapter 7

Taste Of A Medicine.

Elara Winterfell.

The chill that seeped into my bones did not reduce when I wobbled my way out of the office. The tension in the air had become thicker, and I struggled not to choke.

The threat… Did he know? Did he know all these while that the children did not belong to Connor? Was he trying to punish me thinking I betrayed his best friend?

I released a deep breath I didn't know I held. I just lost my job. The only thing that gave me hope in my current situation.

“Here is the letter.” A sharp voice said beside me with all manner of formality.

“Catherine…" I gave her a tight smile, nodding towards her and getting the letter.

Catherine was Rowan's personal assistant, and I knew she was trying her best to be professional.

“Thank you.” I said slowly to her, and her gaze softened.

She leaned into me and whispered into my ears. “I believe you, Lara. I know you didn't cheat on him. I know you did not pin a pregnancy on him. I believe you.”

My chest tightened even further as my eyes prickled with tears.

“I'm pregnant, Catherine.”

I didn't understand why I told her that. We were not very close friends. We had a cat and dog relationship. Was this the pregnancy hormones talking? I shook my head at myself and took long strides towards the elevator.

“Lara… Wait!” She called back again and rushed towards me. “Whatever is the truth, I believe you. Okay. I believe in anything you say.”

There was a strange expression on her face that made me unsettled. Why was she suddenly caring? Why did it even matter to her? Was she trying to get words out of my mouth? Was she spying on me for Rowan?

I smiled and nodded at her, turning towards the open elevator and I stepped in. In the boxed walls of the elevator, the tears threatened to spill. All my hard work and intense efforts for the last five years were all gone. My hands tightened around the brown envelope that contained the letter, the end of a life that sustained me.

The elevator touched the first floor and it opened almost immediately. I quickly wiped the tears from my eyes, no one had to see me at my lowest except myself.

I looked up, and my heart skipped a beat. Was my eyes playing tricks on me? Was that Connor? Yes, it was him! I would never miss his golden blonde hair even if he stood in a crowd full of blondes. He was in a perfectly pressed button-up shirt, looking tall and handsome like he always does.

I needed to talk to him. I needed some kind of explanation from him. I needed to tell him what Isabel had done. If he knew how wicked and vile she was, he wouldn't have ended up with her.

“And where do you think you're going?” A sly voice reached my ears and the fury that welled inside me threatened to get the best of me.

“Isabel.” I said with gritted teeth as I turned to face her.

“Hello, Lara. How are you doing?” She gave me a mocking smile. “Word has already been spread that you've lost your job. At least you should feel good that it was Rowan that did it personally. That should show you that you meant something in this organization.”

“I don't have time for this. I …"

“You what?” She cut me off almost immediately. “What do you want to do? Talk to Connor? Beg him to come back to you? What makes you think he would accept you back in his life. You did this to yourself. You betrayed his trust and slept with different people, then you got pregnant. You bruised his ego.”

“I did none of that!” I said almost immediately, my chest burned and the tears of fury had welled in my eyes again. “You witch!” I said in a pained voice. “You did all of that! You ruined me! You devil!”

“Are those tears I'm seeing in your eyes?” Her eyes sparkled with happiness. “Today must be my lucky day to see you cry!” She giggled softly. “Well, I just wanted you to know how it feels to take something or someone from you.”

“What have I ever done to you, Isabel?” I tried to ask calmly, my chaotic emotions were bubbling just below the surface.

“Well, for one…" She said thoughtfully. “You exist. And secondly, you've always been the center of attention. The men I ever liked always liked you. Anytime you reject them, they would ask me out in a pretend relationship just because they wanted to be close to you.” The light in her eyes dimmed.

“What does that have to do with me, Isabel?”

“It wasn't just one, Elara. All my boyfriends were only my boyfriends because they liked you! They knew we were always together. They only wanted to hang out with me if you were around. Don't you see?” She gave me an angry look, her dark hair falling to a side of her face.

“Then you could have just stopped being friends with me!” I almost shouted. “If I was the reason, then you would have just detached yourself from me.”

She scoffed and folded her hands together, not before pushing her hair away from her face. “I should have just done that without you getting a taste of your medicine?”

“A taste of my medicine?” My voice rose a little higher, gaining the attention of people around, but I didn't seem to care. “You set me up to lose my innocence! My virginity! You knew I wanted Connor to take it! You knew!”

“Hey!” She cut me off almost immediately. “The fact that you walked into the wrong room was not my doing, Lara.” Her voice was so calm and her body language had changed. She acted more docile. “You did that to yourself. I mean, he is your boyfriend.” Then, she paused and chuckled lightly. “Was your boyfriend. Were you not supposed to know the room he booked?”

“You spiked my drink!” I pointed out.

“It wasn't that much to be honest, Lara. Don't make it seem like a big deal. You've been drunk before, so…"

“You…!”

I didn't know what to say or how to say the words, but my anger knew no bounds. I felt like I was going to explode at any second. Either in tears or in anger. I hated this feeling. I felt so disgusted with myself. I felt used. And Isabel's actions compounded the emotions.

She stepped in a little closer towards me, and as disgusted as I was, I stepped backwards pushing her slightly away from me.

“Aaaaaaah!” Isabel fell to the ground, hitting her head on the ground in the process.

I stood there in shock. I didn't push her with any force. I just swatted her away from me. What was she doing?

“Baby!” I heard Connor's panicked voice. He had turned away from the man he was talking to and was rushing to Isabel's side, several security guards following behind.

“It hurts…" Isabel whimpered as tears of pretence streamed down her eyes. “It hurts…"

“Who did this to you? Who dared…?” Connor's deep voice was thunderous, and his eyes scanned the lobby for a few seconds until his eyes landed on me. “You are tired of living, aren't you?” His voice was deadly cold.

“She is angry that I told you the truth. She is angry I betrayed my friendship with her.” Isabel sniffed. “Do you think I'm a bad person? Do you think I'm a terrible person? I just didn't like that she was cheating on you. Does that make me an evil friend?” She was full-blown crying now.

“No, no baby.” Connor hushed her, rubbing her back. “You're not a bad person. You exposed how vile she really is. You exposed her hidden personality. You saved me from her. You don't need her as your friend, there are more people you would meet. Let me save you from her. She isn't worth your time.”

Isabel's eyes found mine, and I could swear I saw the mocking glint in them. My heart clenched in pain at how gentle he was with her. That used to be us.

“It hurts…" Isabel whimpered and held her head. “It hurts, babe…"

“I'll call the ambulance.” He said almost immediately and whipped out his phone from his pocket. Turning it the security guards around him, he bellowed at them. “Why is she still standing there? Haven't you seen how she hurt my wife? Arrest her immediately and throw her in jail. Bail will not be accepted…" Then, he paused. “Who will even bail her out? No wonder why you have always been alone. Even your family members know how evil you are, maybe that's why they cast you away from their lives.”

“No! No!” Isabel interjected almost immediately. “Don't arrest her baby.”

“Why not? She hurt you. She's the reason your head is hurting. She needs to be punished!”

“I still see her as my friend,” She hung her head low before glancing at Connor. “Please? For my sake? Let her go just this once. She is jealous and angry because she may still have feelings for you…"

“Feelings?” Connor spat out. “She? A devil? Feelings?”

I had seen enough. I had to leave with my dignity intact. I wasn't going to keep watching this display of affection. This scene was going to replay in my head this night, and I didn't want to compound it with watching them for a second longer. I turned away from them and headed towards the door.

“Elara Winterfell!” Connor's voice thundered. "I allow you thirty minutes to clear your things and leave my house. That is my only leniency on you."