UNEXPECTED REUNION

Chapter 3

UNEXPECTED REUNION..

EMILY..

Still thinking about getting something to drink, I spotted a pub down the street and went in. I needed to unwind, and since my whole world was crumbling before my eyes, drinking seemed like the best option.

"I was going to drink away all of my pain and sorrow, and then I would feel better." I was drowning in grief because the pain in my heart was too much to bear.

I entered the bar and ordered some tequila, taking a seat further away from everyone so I could be alone and avoid any approaches.

When the drinks arrived, I immediately took a shot in the hopes of forgetting how badly my life had turned out.

"Hello, dear," a familiar voice said as he sat next to me; "Who was it?" I wondered; my genuine desire was to have a drink and relax, as I was not in the mood for chitchat. I looked towards the direction of the voice to see who had sat next to me and got the biggest shock of my life.

"Emily, it has been a long time," he called out again. Facing him, I could not believe my eyes; I had assumed I would never see him again, and now here he was, talking to me in person.

"Oh my goodness, Ryan, this cannot be you. I murmured as I stared frozen, unable to believe who I had just seen. I did not believe I would see him ever again and more so not so soon.

My head hurt as the events of the previous year filled my consciousness, as if they had happened yesterday. Ryan had cheated on me, ruined my fairytale wedding and my career.

" Emily, I want you back," Ryan said as he approached me, his hands gently stroking my arms. “ I could help you with your sick mother if you let me.” His words jilted me back to reality and I realized I had wondered in my thoughts.

" Want me back? I asked as I glared at him, anger in my eyes.” How did he know about my mother?" I murmured, shoving his hands away.

"You can't possibly say such a thing after all you have done.You slept with a male server at our wedding, Ryan and ruined my life. I never want to see you." I yelled furiously as I motioned to leave. I wiped my eyes concluding Ryan did not deserve my tears and I was done crying about him.

" Emily, you need me, nobody wants you or your art piece, your mother could die, Emi, Grace my bed one more night and I will give you what you want." He said, staring at me seductively.

I took the art piece and my stuff and was just about to head out when a thought came to mind. “ I would not be waiting for long" Ryan smirked as he spoke,biting his lips as he stared at my breast. I was so angry I could not hold how I felt.

" I don't need you, leave me alone." I said as I spilled the drink all over his face, "Go away." Ryan reached up to hit me after I yelled, and terrified, I covered my face with my hand.

" What happened?" I questioned myself after realising that I had not heard a hit or anything else.

" Don't you dare touch her." The stranger who had come to my rescue said, holding Ryan's hands, "Your woman should speak with some respect." Ryan responded as he struggled to break free of the stranger's grip.

" Your woman?" I thought as I heard Ryan, I was nobody's woman and who was the stranger?" I wondered as I raised my head to see who had come to my rescue.

He smirked and let go of Ryan, " Be warned !!" He walked towards my direction, and as I glared at him, I realized he was the stranger from earlier. The douchebag that almost ran me over.

" Oh gosh, not him!!!" I muttered as soon as I realised who it was.

He walked over to me " Beautiful, you should join me for some drinks." He said as he pointed towards his seat with his friends, I stared at his company and declined politely, " Thanks but I am fine."

As I sat down to continue drinking, Ryan would not stop bothering me. It was infuriating, and I was hoping for some quiet time, but he would not let it. I was at a loss for how to get Ryan off my back when an idea struck me.

" I hope it works." Knowing that this was my only chance to escape Ryan—a merciless individual who only had his own interests in mind. I knew he was going to hurt me once the stranger left the bar and was only trying to talk to me because he was still around, so I decided to play my cards right.

"Hey babe, please wait." I called out for the stranger who had helped me, hoping he would respond and play along as I noticed him leaving the bar, he was headed out without his friends. I needed Ryan off me, and pretending to be the girlfriend of the guy he appeared to fear was one way to set him off.

Sincerely, I was hoping that when I called, he would turn around and answer, believing that somehow his compassionate side that had helped me earlier would come through in some way.

I needed to get Ryan to stop bothering me, and this looked like the only option. To be honest, given what I said to him, I did not expect him to respond, but I was optimistic, and he did. On this day, the universe was on my side, and I was grateful beyond words.

"Oh my," I whispered as I hurried to his car, and clutched him tight while whispering something to him. I truly hoped he would cooperate since it was vital to send Ryan away.

Ryan stopped and stared at us as I ran to meet the stranger. Somehow it seemed he wanted to be sure if I truly was with the stranger.

"Please play along." I muttered under my breath, craving an appropriate justification to get away from Ryan since I was sick of his being around.

" Hey love, I have been waiting for you." He answered softly and, to my surprise, embraced me closer. He seemed more coordinated than earlier. He was not chewing gum and acted so cool. As surprised as I was, I gazed at him attentively, trying not to betray my unease."

"He was handsome afterall." I thought, He looked so attractive and I wondered how I did not see that before. I needed Ryan to accept the narrative and could not question the stranger why he was so calm about everything.

Although I was taken aback by his response, I was appreciative of his cooperation and composed demeanour. I let go of his embrace and we walked towards his car, to sell the deception. Truthfully, I was terrified, but I had no idea what to do. He was a stranger, and I simply wanted Ryan to leave.

"But isn’t this too much?" I questioned myself, but what else could I do? Ryan would know something was off if I did not accompany the stranger and would keep returning. As we strolled, I turned to see Ryan's eyes riveted on us.

To convince Ryan that we were together, I headed to the car and being a gentleman, He opened the door for me to get in. I hesitated at first, but when I caught Ryan's glare, I got into the car and hoped in the universe that I did not bring catastrophe upon myself in an attempt to get Ryan off my back.

However, just having Ryan around was lethal; seeing him around brought a lot of sad memories that made me sad and I did not want that.

I suppose I had to choose between Ryan and the stranger and aside being an over spoilt brat, he seemed cool. I believe I enjoyed the concept of the possibility and supposed the stranger would be nothing like Ryan. Ryan was the worst, and I felt it was better to follow my suspicions about the devil than to follow the devil himself.

" It can not really be that awful. Besides, I told myself as I drove off with him, he could turn out to be a very wonderful guy. The ride home was quiet and I sighed in relief having gotten away from Ryan.

I turned to double-check, but it was clear Ryan was not following us after we drove out of the art gallery. It appeared we had lost him. Once more, I expressed my gratitude to the stranger and requested that he stop the vehicle so that I could return home. I gestured for him to pull over and thanked him for protecting me from Ryan.

" Thank you so much for all your help,that was a lot out there and I am grateful you could play along." He looked at me, smiling mischievously and continued to drive along.

" What was going on?" I asked myself as I watched the glasses go up and the locks click, my heart racing as if it were about to burst from my chest. " Did he lock the doors?" I asked myself as I tried to pull the door and noticed that they had been locked.

He kept driving, grinning, as if nothing had happened, and he had just locked the doors after we had passed the point at which I was meant to stop.

" This was a mistake, wasn't it?" I thought to myself, Ryan had cost me more than I ever anticipated. I had followed this stranger because I wanted to get away from him and now maybe this was a grave mistake.

" Please stop!!" I begged, tears welling up my eyes but he ignored me and continued to drive along. "Please just stop. I swear to you, I have no money, and if you kidnap me, you will not gain anything." I told him as tears streamed down my cheeks.

He turned to face me as he abruptly stopped the car. "Wow, you need to see yourself." He made fun of me, laughing hysterically. "I can not believe you fell for that!" As he continued to laugh, rage boiled within me. I sighed angrily and got down. " You fool, you play with everything." I sighed again, annoyed that he had frightened me just for the fun of it.

I got out of the car quickly, not wanting to repeat what had just happened, and he drove away immediately, still laughing.

A sudden realisation struck me: I had left my purse and art piece in his car. I sighed again, annoyed because of what his prank had cost me. " How was I supposed to get home with no money?" I muttered thinking about what to do.

" This is going to be a long walk home." I told myself as I took off my heels and began to walk home muttering inaudibly.

I arrived home incensed about what had occurred. Thanks to Ryan, I had lost my purse and an art piece and had to walk all the way home.

Ryan was just bad luck. I sighed and went up to my room, I laid on the bed as my mind wandered to what had happened. I had lost my mother and everything I had with me. I started to cry and eventually fell asleep. The following morning I was agitated by the door bell's constant ringing. "Who is it?" I asked myself, stirring on the bed.

"No, no no." I muttered as soon as I heard the voice of who was at the door, jolting up from the bed. " I hope he isn't the one." I muttered as I got out of bed and went to the window to confirm my suspicions.

"What do I do?" I questioned myself about what to do in the situation. "Should I hide and pretend not to be home?" I concluded that they would eventually leave.

"She is in; I saw her return home last night." I overheard my neighbour next door. "Oh, no, I wish you could just shut up." Pacing up and down my room, as streams of thoughts came to mind, I realised I could not hide any longer and went outside.

" What was the worst that could happen?" I asked myself as I opened the door.