Chapter 2

If there was a sound that my ears were absorbing right now that was only the beat of my own heart.....

EMRYS! 

The name that I never wanted to remember ever again in my life echoed in my mind, the sooner his face came flashing in front of my eyes....

As the fate turned up for my salvage at the correct moment, the lights went on and off again and the person who hitched my breath for a couple of damned seconds got disappeared out of my sight in a blink of an eye....

Where did he disappear himself into?

Was that him? 

Is he really here?

Could he be in the show after four freaking months of disappearing out of my life...?

No.. It was not him...

They were the only questions risen deep within me as I uplifted myself onto my feet before walking back on the ramp to my previous position... I composed myself, switiching the steps and moving my body in an alluring manner.. But my mind didn't seem to stop it in its boundary as it kept on going back and depositing in the same crucial image that got me astounded a few minutes ago... Although the words came out giving life to the song, the thoughts were scattered floating everwhere in the tense air... After a hard moment of battling with my own mind, at last my eyes adamantly wandered through the crowd only to see a man from the same dress that I saw like him a moment ago, was grinning at me from ear to ear... My crazy mind!

Neither the silhouette nor the trace of shadow of that devil of a human was anywhere to be seen around...

Oh thank god!

The relief surged through my veins like an injected chemical... Finally, the show came to an end, I quickly slid myself into the dressing room as I wanted to peel myself out of the dress as I was all sweaty.... My mind was in an utter whirl taking me on and off back to that chaotic image...

I instantly shook my mind off from the brain eating thoughts of mine. Cause if it were really him, I should not have let my guard down.. What I truly had towards that beast of a man was only hatred and disgust..

What he caused me four months back could never be thrown out of my mind nor forgotten at any cost. Still had those bitter memories haunting in my mind as it had drilled not just a mere scar, but an uncurable hole deep inside me that could shoot an unbearable sting of pain whenever I had a flashback of that heart squeezing moment..

Flashback

The moment I opened my eyes to the hazy sights before me, I closed them back striving hard to adjust my eyes to the light that pierced my eyes... Each lid seemed to be weighed with metal as they were stiff from disuse for a long amount of time. And when they lifted, I couldn't focus properly.. My body felt heavy as if a stiff rock had been weighed upon the whole length of my painful form... First, I was confused as to where I was as everything lain behind the back of my head was just the little bit traces of blurred memories, but when the realization came back in fluid motion, I literally realized where I was and the things around me gave me proof that I was miserably laying on a hospital bed. I took in the voices of mom and Mia as they held my hands with them pouring the tears happily down their cheeks...

"Mom..." I tried to word up with much difficulty. 

"Hush! It's okay baby.. You are fine. No worries.. Everything will be alright... You are safe now..." she cooed me brushing the strands of my hair away from my face, not letting me shed a single droplet of tears.. I stayed calm under her warmth as it was quite a moment that I wanted to strengthen myself...

At least I have my family around me... I thought as I drooped my eyes closed...

The last speck of memory I had only was the time I paid a visit to Max's grave. I was overwhelmed by the emotions so that I swooned there on his tombstone...

Everything happened after that was just hazy visions that I could never muster up. How I was admitted in the hospital was just a mystery lain behind me until somedays. But after a few days, may be a month, Mia revealed me the truth. According to her words, My body had been laying on the grave of Max when some woman had visited the cemetery in the dawn of the New Year. Cause, many people would not care to have a visit to the cemetery on the first day of the New Year... How lucky enough I was to have her to save my life.. Noticing my unmoving body, she had rushed to the hospital with my unconscious form...

I had been in the hospital bed for almost four days in my unconscious status that even surprised me when I gained my consciousness back..

Four freaking days?

I had lost my sense for four days!!

Since the day I returned back home from hospital, I just locked myself inside my room... I didn't wanna face any one around me.. Even Jen, Mel, Gwen and Cal.... I felt ashamed of myself for blindly believing and falling in love with the wrong man... No.. the beast!

So how can I face my mom even though I had already done?

Whenever I met her gaze, the regret washed over me... I felt like I was wretched and my life was worthless that some men could easily play fool around me...

Everytime the bitter memory of him hit my mind, I badly threw up until my eyes glazed with tears and feeling loath, averse about myself... It's not that I was pregnant. Cause, nothing like that didn't happen between us for the sake of god. But I almost gave myself to him that night and that made the ripples of contempt seeped through my inner self.. The times I had showers, I disgustingly washed and rubbed my whole body until his shameless touches discarded away from every inch of my whole being...  Then slipping myself downl, I cried my eyes out, hiding myself in the hollow of my knees... It gave me a reason to hate myself and think that I was a weak woman who almost surrendered herself giving in feelings to satisfy the intensifying needs that had built up within me the period I madly fell in love with him....

When the days slipped away, yes, after one month of my miserable life, out of nowhere this angel of a man came showing me the path to the Heaven.. Alfred Santiago the one I signed a contract with a few months back gave a reason to give a birth as well as re-love my life.. What he first got from me was a plain No and a refusal.. Cause I knew in my bosom, that I would happen to deal with the beast himself where he too had his portion in this meal... The Contract!

So I hesitated to join Fred in the project although I had already singed it..  When Alfred said he, his partner was out of the contract for another irresistible one that he had to deal with, finally I ended up giving a YES to him... Cause, I wanted to get over the fact of being cheated and wanted myself to get moved on with my life....

Since that moment half my life had been spending around in London and some other European countries as well....

Fred was an incredible guy whose guidance made me the woman that I am today.. He was so funny, understandable as well as caring.... I respect him as a friend. Out of the blue, Once he confessed his feelings to me that I instantly happened to reject. That's MEN!!

But he didn't bother me afterwards and we still had that friendship growing from strength to strength between us.... Cause he already knew what went wrong with my life... So he never wanted to pressure me up.

At least he was not cheating behind my back like Leone....

He confronted me as a true gentleman....

But I was mindful to have this friendship limitted to our professional deals... Cause, I didn't wanna have another Leone nor Emrys in my life...

Too much trust may cause a heartbreak.. That is my safe code that I have been keeping pasted in my present life....

Flashback Ends

"Hey Beaut! Are you done now?" Fred asked as he peeped into the room with his hands still clasped onto the knob of the door....

"Um... No.. Not yet. Give me a minute...." I replied hurriedly ambling in the room looking for my ear rings and other stuffs...

"Urgh.. Women and their dressings.. Come on! They are waiting for you missy.. You almost tempted the air, I see.. They can't wait to see you as they kinda seemed overwhelmed by your moves. But, one thing, you can't be away from me. Cause, I know they would literally be eye raping you.. Oh god, I won't be able to handle it..." he said leaving the clasp of the knob and smirking at me as he entered in...

"Oh possessive much... Fine! I am with you. But, you know, I can handle myself. DON'T you think so?"

"I do.... And I know of my clients as well.... Unluckily you don't. So let me be by your side...."

"Okay.. That sounds cool..."

"Great! Are you coming now or you want another five minutes?"

"Um no. I am almost done..."

"Thank god!"

"But...."

"What is it with 'But' now?"

"Ugh.. Fred wait.. Can you do this zipper please? It's half way done. But can't do it up. It just got struck.."

"Urgh.. Now you are tempting me...aren't you?" He audibly groaned as he strode towards me...

I chuckled at his statement before turning my back on him...

"Woah! Why are you killing me, Miss:Anderson? You look gorgeous in every dress...." he said scanning me from top to bottom after he was done with my zipper. His eyes sparked with brightness as they came stalling on mine.. "Beautiful!!" He said looking straight in the eyes... I gave a smile as a reply before twirking myself to door way....

"Wait... Wait!! Where do you think you are going? Where's the return of the favour?"

"Return? Huh! Bribing, isn't it?"

"Yeah, can be taken as one.. So, what are you gonna give me back as the return of the favour?"

"Aha! Anything related to materialistic things..." I cheekily, but literally replied him alluding what I meant...

"Oh materialistic thing?" He scratched the nape of his neck as he took in the inner meaning of my words.. "Um. Okay, we can scratch the word 'Materialistic' and what if we replace it with a kiss on your cheek, can we..?" He asked with a pleading look as excitement was visibly dancing in his eyes.

"You never asked for the permission before though, Did you? You literally jumped into kiss on my cheeks..."

"But today, I really want to... What if you scream or are afraid that your make-up would be spoilt by me. Apart from that, your words about Materialistic things scared me to be honest.." he winked at me after those words poured out of his mouth...

"Huh! You seriously think so?" I asked with my hands crossed just below my chest... "Okay fine, Request granted. But If only that'll be a short peck, I won't mind then..." I said compressing my lips into a thin line turning my face to his side..

Don't get me wrong...

I just wanna be this person that I never was..

Life is not only about getting over the past, but adjusting your life or adapting it according to the situations it brings to you.....

So that's who I am now....

Being the woman who protected herself from being touched by other men, is still a fact that I preserve like a gem..

But with people around me, I am so open and kinda doing whatever I had not ever done before...

He beamed and grinned like a small kid before leaning in for a short peck on my left cheek...

Is this man truly a billionaire...?

Can't believe though...

"Now let's go...." he held his hand for me waiting for mine to encircle with his... I willingly accepted it before striding ourselves out of the room...

The party was grand as usual.. I couldn't stop getting compliments from the Clients of Fred.... Especially the old men were in the heap of most flirting ones.. Some were manwhores which I could instantly get it clear by the way they had their eyes alluringly lingering all over my body even though they had their dates clinging on their necks tonight.... My red lacy dress played the main part of this as it exposed my toned thighs, and had a deep neck cut unto the edge of my navel which got me braless tonight as the contours of my mounds peeked out of the neckline teasing most of men around me..

Sassy me!!

Fred's hand had me got closer to his body as it had slithered around my petite form...

"You are showing off..." I murmured closer to his ears before sipping at the wine in my hand..

Yes! I do take drinks now...

Cause had no particular reason to stop myself from enjoying my life...

"Yes, Alluding the men around us that you are already taken. So they'd resist themselves from drooling behind you. And you won't get disturbed on the other hand.." I amusingly looked agape at him before lifting the corners of my mouth into a small smile..

"Thank You.." I whispered to him...

"Anything for you babe..."

"But, don't you call me that, right?"

"Got it.. Cause you are more of a provacative woman, not a baby..." he cheekily commented as he too took a sip of his drink....

"You are more of a jer--"

"So, Mr:Santiago..." a voice of a man turned us to that side, and there was a middle-aged man in his black armani suit having a smirk plastered across his face... 

"Oh Mr:Wandervell...." Fred shook his hand with the man....

"Glad that you could make it here.."

"Yeah.. How can I miss this great moment when you have it arranged all.. You are a great businessman.. No billionaire could make this happen. But you did it young man.. Great job!!"

"It's a pleasure Mr:Wandervell... Yeah. I know it's kinda a difficult task to gather all the busy men around the world in a party like this. But anyways I wanted it to happen. Cause this is the end of one big task and beginning of another.." Fred honestly responded whilst his fingers kept on lightly brushing my bicep... The man gave a confirming nod with his lips compressed into a thin line... Then his attention shifted onto me and Fred's hand tightened more around me assuring me he's by my side...

"So, you are with this gorgeous lady... Miss:Chloe Andrea, right...?"

Gorgeous?

The same old lines.... I internally groaned...

"Right..." composing myself, I simply replied with a casual smile...

"Oh, very delighted to see you..." he said holding my hand and planting a kiss on my knuckles...

"So am I..." then his gaze fixiated back on Fred...

"Well Mr:Santiago.." the man scratched just below his nose before looking straight at Fred... "As I remember you started this project with the top businessman in New York....Sydney's if it were not wrong...?" That question came out of the blue, and it succeeded to send a shocking ripple of shiver down my spine....  Realizing my inner stir, in no time, Fred held me tight against his mascular physique....

"Once I happened to deal with him and I think his son is the most brilliant businessman that I have ever come across with... Emrys... Such a smart guy..." he said stuffing his hands in either side of his pockets..

Why would I get jittered hearing his name...?

This should not be affecting me...

Neither way...

Fred passed a quick glance at me and I gave him an assuring smile which showed him that didn't affect me at all. He smiled before answering..

"Oh yeah. I assent with you Mr:Wandervell.... Actually his son, I mean Emrys Parker was the one I signed this contract with...."

"Oh that's amazing.. But I didn't see him around here, if my sight was not wrong. I just wander.... Cause almost everyone is here... Isn't it?"

"Ah... Of course, you are right Mr:Wandervell... He is ju--" before Fred could complete himself, his phone interrupted him... He fished his phone out of his pocket and then looked at me and his associate before mouthing an "Excuse me..." 

"Alright! Wait I am coming...." he said and glanced over at us hanging up..

"I am sorry Sian and Mr:Wandervell. I'll be in five minutes.. Just five minutes..."

"Okay.." then he went away....

"Would you mind a dance with me?" The man who was gleamingly sticking his eyes at me when I turned my face back on him, asked with his hand already extending towards me....

"Yeah sure..." I said planting my palm on his and he pulled us towards the corner of the dance floor where many couples were dancing, then he started to sway his body with mine... The men around us passed quick glances at me from time to time as if they too wanted to have a dance with me..

This was getting frustrated by now as he kept asking different questions which I nonchalantly replied.. I excused myself trying to peel my body away from him, but boy, that man had his own way as he kept me cleft to him all the while... When the time passed away, his dance felt unusual for me as he ground himself behind me following his hands started sliding down my waist to my toned thighs... He whispered dirty things closer to my ears and I just wanted to kick him where the sun doesn't shine. But unluckily he had me entrapped in his body gluing my back on his front and had his arms crossed with mine ...

"If you dare go farther Mr:Wonder wall or whatever you are, I swear I will not save a single tooth to have your meals for the rest of your life Mister.." I warned him with my brewing anger..

"Woah! You are such a brave chick.. You know, I like challenges and now a challengeable woman as well.... So, what would you say about my offer you beauty.. Will you join me tonight...? If it is so, we can start it from now onwards..." he disgustingly said as his hand skimmed over my thighs.

"Huh! Then you haven't seen nor have any idea what a challengeable woman is capable of doing... Then get this, you bastard of a man!" I instantly grabbed his hand and twisted it in one quick motion....

"Ouch... You b****..." He squealed in pain which thankfully others couldn't hear out as the ear piercing sound of music was rather reverberant....

"If she is a b****, what are you Mr:Wandervell, five?"

The masculine voice turned me round to notice Fred standing gritting out his teeth...

"I thought of you as a gentleman. But all what you are a piece of shit.. Just because a woman dances with you, doesn't mean she is a slut.. Get some senses man.. Grow mature.. Now get lost.." Fred gritted out meekly, but in rage as he grabbed the man's collars...

That man pushed Fred's hands away from his collar before leaving, shooting venom at him....

As he left Fred took my hands and planted them on his shoulders before placing his own on my waist.. We both started to sway our bodies as if nothing just happened, then letting a wisk of air out, he gave life to his voice, "I am sorry that I happened to leave you alone with that bastard. I never saw that would be coming..."

"Huh! But you had already told me about your associates, hadn't you? So, I considered that man also as one of those..." I richly uttered...

"Yeah, I remember..." he said shaking his head with a smile...  "But that was unexpectable. I was never aware that a dangerous, but wild kitten was living within this slim and fragile figure. Sure, he might have got his bones broken..."

"How can I buy it, as a tease or an admiration?" I smirkingly laughed at his comment..  "That jerk better might have got his bones crushed... I won't be repenting.... Manwhore..." I cussed under my breaths.

"Now, I know that you are brave enough to beat ten men up at one time...."

"Huh, now you believe in woman powers...?"

"Exactly I do..."

I chuckled at his statement and started to happily dance with him... He made jokes which cracked me up into slight giggles... The time kept passing by, and we fell into silence, after a moment when I looked up at him I could see his eyes had turned out to be super serious..

"Hey what's wrong?" I probed and he shook his head in a dismissal..

"No.. Nothing at all..." he brushed that off.

"Hum.." I didn't ask anything in return...

He pulled me tight closer to him and I could feel something wrong with him... I stared deep into his grey pools only to see them getting darker... "There's probably something wrong with you Man...." I tried to get him back to his senses... But not fazed by my gesture, His eyes shifted down my lips and I could sense what's going on in his mind..

"Fred...No..."

But he leaned in aiming my lips and I instantly averted my face....

"Fred, what you are doing is wrong..." hearing my words, he composed himself in a real quick...

"Oh....." He averted his face away... "ye-yeah. I am sorry... I was just out of my mind. Couldn't help myself since the moment I saw you in this dress.. you had my feelings stormed back Sian... I am sorry if I made you inconvenient...."

"It's okay. I get you.." I simply said.

"I hope, that would not strain our dancing moment, right?"

"No.. Hopefully..".

"Thanks..." he mousily replied...

We stayed that for a few minutes whilst the complete hall had become a dancing floor by now.... Fred's clients and associates were dancing like real mess. Grinding and almost stripping down women and making out with them on couches and bar too...

"You still love him right?"

All of a sudden, I was tweaked out of my stance to the voice of Fred.

"Huh?" My hands stopped frozen around on his neck as that question took my whole being aback...

"You still have your feelings for Emrys, stored inside you..., haven't you?"

"Why do you ask me so?" I kinda felt angry at that question of him..

"Because I do know..."

"No.. You don't know.. He is my past... I am moved on with my life and now I live it...."

"But, your words don't agree with your eyes. They have a different meaning."

"Oh stop this Fred.... Nonsense... We'll talk about something else, okay? I think, Serena would not like your ideas about having me questioned like this... Would she?"

"Oh scratch that! She is not my girlfriend. She is just behind me.. You got me? Now back to the point. YOU can't switch the topic.. Face it if you truly are brave.."

"Yes, I am. You already saw it right?"

"Okay I did.. But, you haven't completely moved on although you said you have.. I see it...."

"Huh what type of a question it is. How do you say so...?"

"Then why have you restrained yourself from dating some other guy again?"

That caught me off guard..

"There is no such rule that a girl should move on by dating another. There are different ways that a woman can get herself distracted away from her past and luckily I am too using one of those for my sake now.."

"Huh.. True! Nice words by the way. But those words can never be the reason for your single life..."

"Then how can I prove my words....?"

He looked at me stunned by my words... There was a stunned silence scattered between us before his words shot out of his mouth...

"KISS me....!"

"WHAT?" My eyes bugged out of my head...

"Just Kiss me Sian!" His voice was demanding as well as challengeable..

"Do you know what you ask for, Fred.." I spat at him..

"Yes I do..."

"You are insane... I can't do that. You know me very well Fred...."

"Ha yeah. I do know you... So, that's why I tell you, you haven't moved on and you will never be..."

"This is sh*t... Why do you bring that now? You can't assume by observing my physical features. You are so rude..."

"Then Kiss me if you truly have moved on Sian..."

"That is not justifiable..." I whisper yelled at him...

"Ha okay.. If not I would think that you are still in love with him...."

Dammit! Damn HIM!

"Still in love with your ex love Emr--"

Darn it...!!

Enough! Just enough!!

Before he could complete his words I surprisingly crashed his lips with mine... He stayed shocked on his ground and as he processed what just happened, in an instant he too started to kiss me equally wrapping his arms around my petite self....

Yes, me, my stubborn and egoistic self kissed this man Fred who I consider as my f****** friend!

I couldn't bear him trying to prove himself right that I am still in love with this f****** Parker man.. I hated when those words poured out of his mouth that I instantly jumped into kiss Fred no matter what I would be thinking afterwards...

I serially closed my eyes and tried to feel the kiss. But that didn't reach my heart nor the cells in my body.. It didn't make me alive.. It didn't cause a flutter of joy in the pit of my stomach like it did when I kissed-----

Oh dammit! What did I just do!

As if a ripple of current passed me through, I pulled myself out of his arms the sooner realization hit me hard... He was heavily breathing as he just finished running a marathon and had a disbelieving look registered on his carved face...

I f****** kissed my Manager Mr:Alfred Santiago!

Oh god!

How did I do that?

I closed my mouth with my palm in disbelief unable to process what just happened and tore myself off the floor finding a way to run out of here... "Sian.." he shouted behind me. But never did I stop...

As the repentence flooded in, my mind kept on repeating me that kiss was not for real.....

But, just to prove Fred that I am right!

That I have moved on!

But why the hell did I happen to prove that by a kiss? 

Those thoughts were consuming in my mind as I nudged myself through the people wanting to have a lonely time out of here. So I ran towards the washroom and when I was about to have my next step ahead, my body collided with a gigantic wall and I couldn't help, but curse... Looking for my way when I jerked my face up, my eyes bulged out in their sockets as I got to see no one, but the the man who caused all these indefinite occurances in my life, stood sticking his chest up in the air with his blood shot eyes.. Now that I had collapsed myself on him, I knew he was no more that imagination which played tricks in my mind, but EMRYS who had got no change in a trace of his physical appearance nor features... My eyes might have  dilated as bigger as saucers which got my whole self hallucinated on my grounds..

"YOU?" I muttered in disbelief....