by S. S. Sahoo
“Wear something red! You need to look hot and sexy and my dear RED is the definition of sexiness. Red means sexiness” she argued but I argued back “I want to wear this green one,”
“Zachary is correct! You are an idiot!” she exhaled and inhaled deeply.
“At least wear something black. You look good in black!” she said but I shook my head no and turned towards the mirror to look at myself.
Okay! The neckline is damn too plunging.
My hair was made into wavy curls and my makeup was minimum with eyeliner, mascara and light red lipstick.
“Why are you so obsessed with green today? You look like a tree!” she remarked as she sat on the bed.
Because it’s his favorite color...
“I just fell like wearing this today,” I said smiling at my reflection.
“Whatever your wish!” I heard her whisper which made me chuckle at her. As I looked at her through the mirror she huffed out air and gave up. She smiled back at me and whispered “All the best,”
As we walked towards the door I reminded her to thank Tess who had given me her car keys.
“Juliette!” I turned around when I heard Kiara calling me from my back.
“Make sure...” she yelled but stopped in the middle.
“Make sure?” I questioned furrowing my eyebrows at her.
“Make sure you don’t use a protection!” she yelled shamelessly. The passer-by looked at her and then at me giving us ‘that’ look.
“Kiara!” I snapped at her.
“What? Think about it! If you-” I put my hand on my ear feeling the blood rush on my cheek as I turned to leave but as soon as I freed my ear in order to open the car door she yelled “If you become pregnant then he will have to remain with you. You know! You got the power. Pull his leash-”
“My god Kiara!” I snapped at her showed her the middle finger which made her laugh in fits.
“Hysterical hyena!” I muttered but smiled at her childishness as I put the car in gear and sped up on the drive away.
“I am coming, Zachary. Wait for me. I’ll make it up to you” I smiled as I drove towards his direction.
56
“You can’t go in ma’am,” the guard stopped me from going in as I stood outside the hall where Zachary was supposed to attend his business party.
“And why not?” I asked raising my eyebrow folding my arms across my body.
“You don’t have the invitation card!” another said and I rolled my eyes.
“My husband has it. Now let me through!” I said and tried to bypass them but one of them stopped me by holding me by my arm.
“How dare you?” I glared at him and jerked my arm away from him.
“We can’t let you pas-” the guard was cut off by someone behind me who spoke, “and why not?”
I turned around and was met face to face none other than Kristian who stood there with his eyes narrowed on the guard who just tried to stop me by my arm. He was in his blue business suit and his hair was styled slick back as he took long strides to reach us. His tone commanding and demanding and his soul piercing eyes penetrated the guard’s face as he glared at him.
“And what do you think you are doing, stopping the owner of the building?” he demanded but I gasped internally when he said the owner of the building.
“Let me introduce you to Mrs. Sullivan,” Kristian said and I watched as fear and shock marred their face when they realized who I was.
“And don’t expect me not to tell him about the stunt you just pulled,” Kristian said as he pulled his tie trying to loosen it and then looked back at me with a smile.
“W-we ’re sorry si-r, ma’am please forgive us,” came their trembled voice but Kristian didn’t even let me speak as he intervened “Shall we?” he asked and I nodded reluctantly. The guard hurried and opened the door open for us.
“I didn’t have any idea that Zachary owns this building,” I whispered once we entered toa hallway.
“Zachary owns many things that you can’t even imagine,” Kristian spoke looking at me sideways. His tone silent, void of any emotions.
Don’t tell me he is miffed with me too...
“Kristian!” I called him and he stopped right before me with his back facing me.
“I know you must be really upset with me but I-” I pursed my lips looking to my right blankly.
“It was the situation. I never really wanted to hurt your brother nor do I intend to hurt him any further” I said truthfully.
“I am here to make things work between Zachary and me. And I am really sorry for what that has been going thr-” he cut me off for the first time as he spoke: “You don’t need to apologize to me. I hope things work between you two and I don’t really blame you for everything. I know that both of you has suffered and I am no one to interfere but-” he turned around all of a sudden his eyes emotionless and with chin held high he spoke: “Don’t hurt my brother ever. I know he loves you. I have seen his condition when you weren’t there. I don’t want to interfere but he is my only brother whom I respect the most in this world.”
Gulping down the lump in my throat I nodded agreeing to him “I will not hurt him. Ever” I said the last part more to myself.
“That’s good,” he mumbled and again all of a sudden I watched as his behavior changed to that of his normal one. He smiled and his eyes began to sparkle.
“I guess he owns your heart too,” I heard him mumble which made me smile a little.
“But don’t think that I’ll let him pass if he hurts your feelings too,” he said and gave me a boyish grin which immediately made me take a sigh of relief.
Thank God he is back...
“Come to think of it, what are you doing here?” he asked as he straightened his suit.
“I am here for him of course,” I said and looked behind him towards the door which was the main entrance to the hall.
“Oh yeah!” he said and nodded.
“Let’s go then,” he said and I nodded. He turned around and took a step further but stopped and again turned back to face me.
“You have come here alone?” he asked which made me raise an eyebrow.
“Eh?” I asked and he pulled his tie once again. He looked uncomfortable once again.
“I mean I thought your friend... um what’s her name again?” he asked rubbing his neck.
“Kiara?” I asked and he nodded all of a sudden seeming interested to know about her.
“Yeah! Kiara it is! Wher-” once again he stopped in the middle and coughed a little time before continuing “Has she not accompanied you?” he asked looking straight into my eyes.
“No, she has work to do,” I said and I watched as disappointment washed his face and that made me curious to know what’s the matter.
“Why do you ask? Do you want to see her? You can always come to our hou-” again he intervened saying: ” No- No, I mean yeah why not?” he laughed nervously and turned around swiftly before heading towards the door.
“Interesting” I smirked seeing his reaction.
Is something going on between these two?
But Kiara would have already told me about it.
Hmmm....
I shrugged it off for the moment and adjusted my attire before walking towards the door which was already held open by Kristian who seemed as if he was avoiding any further eye contact with me.
What’s wrong with him all of a sudden?
I looked at his weird body language but then I heard a familiar voice which immediately made me turn towards the direction of the voice and there I saw him talking to some people. A smile immediately formed on my face seeing him. He was wearing a dark grey slim fit tuxedo but what made him look more handsome was his new haircut. His hair was nicely and closely trimmed around the edges. The cut is even, and the haircut looked tidy. The hairstyle suited him and this enhanced his face even more.
He was talking to whom I guessed as his business clients.
“By the way, I forgot to tell yo
u something,” I heard Kristian’s voice from behind me and I turned to look at him.
“You look strikingly enticing today,” he grinned and I smiled mouthing a ‘thank you’ to him.
“But I think you will be in trouble,” he smirked to which I furrowed my eyebrows confused.
“But why?” I asked and he shrugged before turning around and leaving towards the other side of the hall.
“Ask this to Zachary by yourself,” he said before leaving.
“Huh?” I thought.
It was not really a big hall and only a few people were present inside the hall. But the interior inside was amazing with white walls and white tiles gave it a futuristic look. People were drinking wine, while some ladies were standing in groups chatting and gossiping.
“I was thinking about a proposal Mr. Suliivan,” I heard and turned back towards Zachary who has still not noticed my presence.
“Proposal?” he asked.
“Have you met my daughter Lidia?” the man asked and Zachary shifted in his position buttoning up his suit.
“I guess I’ve met her,” Zachary replied and the man looked happy all of a sudden.
“Now how about knowing he-” the man was cut off by another man “Oh don’t even think about that Felice!” the second man laughed sipping his wine.
“And why not?” the man asked and the second man smiled “Because Mr. Sullivan is a married man,” he laughed and the first man looked taken aback.
“Is it?” he asked directly to Zachary.
“Indeed,” Zachary smiled genuinely. A warm sensation engulfed my body when I realized he still regards himself married and as my husband. But again guilt washed over me when I remembered the last thing he told me.
But it was always Nicholas! Nicholas and Nicholas to you!
It’s not true, I admit his advances went unnoticed by me but when I fell in love with him, it was he who was always in my mind and even in my heart. It was only because of him I was able to move on from Nicholas’s memories. It was because I fell in love with him, I forgot Nicholas so easily. And the love that I felt for Zachary was even more than I ever felt for Nicholas. So large that I doubt I ever loved Nicholas heartily. But with Zachary, I was always myself. Even though I loathed and hated him in the beginning but still I felt comfortable and warm whenever he was near me.
He helped me when I was sick.
He saved me from the elevator.
He saved my life once multiple times, risking his from the enemies.
He captured both Vito and Nicholas.
He came after me even though I was the one who left him.
He cared for me.
And he even declared that he loves me.
What more do I need?
“He is right! I am totally an Idiot!” I smiled to myself “His idiot,”
“Oh forgive me I didn’t know that!” the man said and Zachary nodded his head.
“So, where is Mrs. Sullivan?” the man asked and that’s where I watched Zachary’s body tensed up.
Is he still mad at me?
No problem. He can’t stay mad at me forever.
Taking in a deep breath, I closed my eyes and prepared myself for what I had planned to do.
“Everything will be alright Juliette. You can do this!” self-motivating myself I opened my eyes with a determined look but then the color drained my face when I saw the lady standing next to Zachary.
Loana Ularu.
She was wearing a beige colored gown and she stood clinging to Zachary much to my annoyance as she wrapped her hand around his elbow showing off her perfectly manicured nails nail and a big diamond ring.
Anger rose up in my body as I watched the way she was looking and clinging to Zachary. Zachar, on the other hand, chose to ignore her presence but still...
“Oh, I am Loana Ularu. Nice to meet you all,” she said in a fake sweet tone as she introduced herself to the people before Zachary.
“I am his-” before she could complete I butted in. I had to...
“And I am Mrs. Juliette Sullivan,” I said as I held my chin high and with confidence and determinacy carried myself towards them. The man turned to look at my direction while Zachary looked surprised to see me whilst Loana seemed to dig her nails in Zachary’s arms to which he seemed oblivious to. Oh, Zachary...
“And I am his wife,” I smiled at each of the men before standing next to Zachary whose eyes were trained on me. Battling my eyelashes I smiled at him and gave a fake smile to Loana who looked as if she wanted to throttle me. In your dreams...
“Oh, hello Mrs. Sullivan,” the second man said and I nodded at him.
“Finally we get to see you. It’s nice to meet you,” the first man whose name I guessed as Felice said and I looked back at Zachary who was still staring down at me.
“Nice to meet you too,” I replied feeling lost in Zachary’s brown twinkling eyes.
“Hello,” my eyes averted to Loana “It’s nice to see you too. Long time isn’t it?” I asked raising an eyebrow.
“Indeed!” she said rolling her eyes looking uninterested. My eyes fell on her hand which was still on Zachary’s forearm.
“Zac-” she opened her mouth to speak but I cut her off “Honey, I am feeling thirsty all of a sudden. Can we go there and drink something?” I asked and Zachary’s eyes widen as if he just got a trauma.
Awww...
“Why don’t go and drink by yoursel-” this time she was cut off by none other but Zachary himself “Sure,” he said not even glancing her way. He removed her hand all the while training his eyes on me and excused himself from the people and an angry looking Loana before walking after me towards the other side of the hall.
“Juliette!” he spoke once we reached the table where the water glasses were arranged.
“Yes?” I asked as I raised a glass and gulped down the cool water which immediately gave relief to my tensed nerves and thirsty throat.
“What are you...” lowering the glass I wiped my mouth and looked back at him questionably why he stopped only to find him staring at my neck. I smiled and wiped the water that has managed to trickle down while I was drinking from my mouth “What are you...”
“Zachary!” I snapped my finger before his eyes which broke him out of his stance “Right!” he looked here and there before looking back at me.
“What are doing here?” he yelled and that brought people’s attention to us. I raised an eyebrow at him while he smiled at the people who were looking at us before continuing “What are doing in here Juliette?” he asked smiling at me to cheat the people who were watching us.
“Oh, I shouldn’t be here?” I asked keeping the glass on the table.
“I don’t mea- and what are you wearing?” he glared at me and forwarded his hand to hold my arm but I took a side step to avoid his contact.