In the bustling X city under the bright sun seeping through the windows of the airport, Natalie Smith had just landed from her flight. She took a deep breath, feeling nostalgic on the familiar scent.
She was gone for an entire year, working overseas as a representative of her company, and she was finally back home.
When she thought about how it would be her third anniversary with her boyfriend Xander Moore in a week’s time, she couldn’t contain the excitement. She had worked around the clock just so she could come back earlier, hoping to give him a surprise.
She quickly hailed a cab and made her way towards her apartment. She dropped her bags and decided to go to the company to surprise her boyfriend. She freshened up quickly and made her way to Xander Moore’s company. When she walked in, the receptionist looked at her in shock.
“Director Smith? You’re back. Are you here for the General Manager’s engagement today?”
Natalie frowned, perplexed by what the receptionist was saying.
“General Manager’s engagement? What are you talking about?”
“The engagement between Mr. Moore and your sister that’s taking place today!”
“What did you say?” Natalie was shocked, happiness fading from her expression.
“Whose engagement did you just say it was?”
The receptionist looked at Natalie and soon realized she had said something she shouldn’t have.
She visibly gulped. “The General Manager and your sister’s…”
“Where is it held?”
“J-Jones Hotel.”
Natalie was thunderstruck. She turned on her heels and left the company.
“Take me to Jones Hotel, please.” She requested the cab driver
Natalie got out of the car at the main door of the hotel still unsure of how she was feeling at this very moment. She slowly made her way inside and before she even reached the information desk, she saw a photo of them right outside the door of a hall. Xander Moore was hugging Wendy Smith, who was dressed in an elegant peach gown. They were looking at each other with love.
Natalie had been trying to comfort herself on her way to the hotel by saying Xander Moore was her boyfriend, so it was impossible that he was getting engaged to her sister. However, reality was a harsh slap to her face.
Once she entered, Natalie saw Xander whispering something to Wendy, making the latter blush. What she saw made her face turn red with rage. Was this some kind of a joke? My boyfriend of three years was currently getting engaged to my sister, while I was working my bum off for his company overseas.
Wendy Smith was toasting the guests with Xander, when she spotted her younger sister from the corner of her eye. Color quickly drained from her face and she reflexively gripped Xander’s arm tighter.
Xander Moore soon saw Natalie too, but he was only stunned for a moment. He gave Wendy a comforting smile before they walked up to Natalie.
“Here to attend our engagement, Nat?” He spoke without any emotion or remorse in his tone. He sounded so gentle, but Natalie felt like she had been stabbed with a knife.
She said through gritted teeth, “Your Engagement? You cheated on me, Xander Moore! Do you not feel sorry at all??.. And you, Wendy! Are you really that thirsty for men and attention? You knew he’s my boyfriend, so how dare you—”
“Watch your tongue!” Someone gave her a hard slap across the face.
Natalie held her throbbing cheek, her eyes tearing up. “Mom!”
“Shut up! Don’t call me that! I don’t have a daughter like you! Your sister is getting engaged today, and instead of blessing her, you come here and cause trouble? You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?!” Jane Smith gnashed her teeth and glared at Natalie.
Natalie’s heart skipped a beat. “What are you talking about, mom? Xander’s my boyfriend!”
“What do you mean he’s your boyfriend? He’s your brother-in-law! Why do you have to fight with your sister over everything? You disappoint me!”
“Ha!” Natalie suddenly let out a bark of laughter.
She looked at her mother, who was twisting the facts, before she turned to look at Xander. “You tell her! Who’s your girlfriend, Xander?”
Xander Moore frowned, feeling flustered as he looked at Natalie, but the grip on his arm sobered him up. “Sorry, Natalie, but the person I love has always been your sister.”
Natalie could feel her heart being shredded to pieces as Xander answered her calmly.
Well, well, well, this is just dandy, huh?
“You know what Xander Moore, You are not worth my time.. I’m breaking up with you not the other way around. Remember that.” It took all Natalie had to not go up there and tear them apart. “I hope you spend the rest of your lives together forever.”
Natalie ran out of the hotel. She had been holding back her tears in there, but now she could not stop crying. Warm tears ran down her cheeks uncontrollably blurring her vision and thoughts.
Suddenly, a car skidded to a halt, shocking Natalie. She stumbled and fell down on the ground.
The driver gulped nervously and looked at the man in the backseat of the car. “S-Sir?”
The man frowned; the situation did not bother him at all. All he did was look at the man in the passenger seat and say. “Go and take a look, Zachary.”
“Yes, sir.” Zachary quickly got out and circled to the front of the car.
The woman who was about two meters away from the car had her eyes widened, looking scared. There were tear streaks on her face, so she had obviously been crying.
“Are you alright, miss? Should I send you to the hospital?”
Natalie was shocked. She looked at Zachary dumb founded for a while before quietly standing up and brushing past him.
Zachary thought that she was acting weird, so he asked, “Are you alright? Should I—”
“I-I’m fine, really.” Natalie interrupted him as she looked at the black Cayenne. For some reason, she felt as if someone was looking towards her, making her skin prickle.
She frowned, not liking the feeling. A moment later, she stopped staring in that direction and limped away.
Zachary still found her actions unsettling. He wanted to call out to her, but after he remembered how she was avoiding him like the plague, he decided to keep silent.
After he climbed back into the car, Zachary noticed that the man in the backseat was looking out the window, his eyes still on the woman. “We’re here, sir. Should I drive to the parking lot, or will you be getting off here?”
Zachary dared not make any moves until the man in the backseat gave his order.
After the petite lady had faded from his sight, Theodore Moore brought his attention back into the car and smiled, tapping his knee rhythmically. “Let’s go home!”
Zachary was perplexed. “But sir, today is—”He was interrupted by a sharp look.
“The show’s over, so there’s no need to go in there.” Theodore said, his words carrying a deeper meaning.
“You seem to be regressing, Zachary.” He added with a mischievous tone
***
Once dusk had fallen, Prosperous Club, the biggest entertainment centre in X city, was surrounded by lights and sounds of all kinds.
Quoting her friend, Rebecca Song, this was the best place to have fun during a cold, harsh night.
Natalie normally didn’t like to frequent places like these; but today, she was leaning on the bar counter and downing glass after glass of wine. The woman squinted at the strangers who were mingling around the room.
“Are you alone, miss?”
Someone placed their hand on her shoulder and used this chance to stroke it. Natalie shuddered under their touch and flung the hand away in disgust. “Piss off.”
The man shot a look at the person beside him, before he leered at Natalie. “Well, aren’t you a feisty one? You’re telling me to piss off? Women, when they say no, they mean yes. I bet you want me so badly now, don’t you?”
As he spoke, the man leaned in and tried to kiss her. Natalie pushed the man away and stood up in shock, wobbling on her feet. She shook her head to clear her thoughts, but her head still felt heavy and dizzy. Her body also felt unwell. “I said piss off! What part of it do you not understand?”
She stumbled around and almost fell down, but the man held her up. He took the chance to hold her by her waist and said, “See? What did I tell you? Your lips are saying no, but your body is saying yes.”