Aarav put on cuff links while gazing at his reflection in the mirror. With majestic height, chiseled face, and well-built frame he looked handsome as ever in a full suit. But there was one special feature he loved the most. His eyes. His hazel brown eyes, which held much resembled his late mother's. The only feature he got from his beloved mother. In contrast to his cold facial features, his eyes stand out with soft expressions within their hazel depths.
He missed their mother’s warm embrace and smiling face very much and a little smile came to his lips as he was reminded of childhood memories. How he used to be with his mother. All of her caring and teaching. All of her love and affection. His mother always told him to be a wise man, a good person who always does the right thing. He had never forgotten that. He never going to disappoint her. Time passed and he had grown a lot and achieved a lot but there was no one around him to share his success, be happy about his progress, and give him a shoulder to cry on when he having hard times. He even had to distance the only one left to him in this world. The only person who genuinely loves and cares about him. His sister.
A longing smile spread across his face as he thought about her. He had not seen her for a prolonged time. The last time, was three years ago. Even that was unknown to her. He knows she also misses him. Even though he had pushed her away with his cold attitude, she never once gave up on him. Continuous messages that asked about his well-being, never forgotten gifts on his birthdays. He missed all of this. All of her affection and concern. Even though he has shown his nonchalance to her caring, deep down he longed for his baby sister. She was the only reminder of his mother. Her beautiful soft features and caring nature hold sheer resemblances to their mother. But he couldn’t keep her closer. He couldn’t let happen the same thing to his baby sister that happened to his mother. She will be better without him. He is going to protect her. Even if it means he has to push her away from him. He is going to do that, to protect her from the vile man who fathered them.
Even thinking about that man disgusted him. He was the sole reason he lost his mother, the sole reason for his cold, emotionless attitude and the sole reason to live separately from his loving little sister.
He fixed his dress with a scrawl on his face. Today he has a special event to attend. An important occasion where will be most of the influencing men in the country gather in one place. He much preferred to stay in his penthouse and spend his weekends peacefully. Peace is the one thing he values most. But the organizer of this event was his acquaintance. A good friend who had helped him when he struggled with his newly built business. So he had to attend that party as a respect to him.
With a deep sigh and sulking face, he descended down and headed toward his car. His chauffeur was waiting there for him and he bent his head with respect and Aarav nodded his head as acknowledgment. Settling inside the car, he instructed the driver to head toward the location. There was another reason he didn’t like to attend that party.
Rainey Grey.
His heartbreak.
She will be there also. He didn’t want to see that woman’s face again. He didn’t want to put salt on his unhealed wound. But she had given him a good life lesson to not forget. A lesson to not trust anyone. Not to love anyone. After her betrayal, he was never involved with any women. He kept everyone at arm's length. In this world, he believed and loved only one. It was his sister. She was the only thing that kept him sane.
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A brand-new Ferrari stopped in front of the deluxe hotel and Zachery came out of his car. Walking toward the other side, he opened the car door for Rainey. She was dressed in an elegant floor-length royal blue dress, which was modified with a graceful slit all the way to her mid-thigh. Rainey smiled at him feeling proud of Zachery’s gesture. She knows she was the only person who was lucky enough to receive this treatment from this stone-hearted man. Zachery was notorious for his arrogant and disrespectful ways. Smirking at Rainey, he linked his arm with Rainey and looked around hoping to find the figure he wanted to see.
“Let’s go,” she told him with a little smile and he looked at her. But Zachery paused a little bit as he was unwilling to go inside right now. He had his own agenda to execute.
“Are you waiting for someone?” she asked with a frown, looking at Zachery.
“No. I...” his words interrupted in between as a black Mercedes stopped near the entrance.
A chauffeur came out of the car and opened the back door for his master. Aarav came out of the car and straightened his suit a bit before marching toward the function. And suddenly his eyes collided with black mischievous eyes.
Zachery Knight.
That man? Oh God!
However, Aarav’s eyes got even wider as he saw the figure who was glued to Zachery’s side. Rainey was also staring at him with the same shocked expression. Oh god! How did his day go worse than this? Two people he despised the most in the same place. His biggest nightmares appeared together hand-in-hand. He should have declined the invitation. If he had any clue about his arrival, he would have never appeared here. Even if it meant he had to reject his friend’s invitation. Moreover, the mischievous smirk on Zachery’s face didn’t settle well with Aarav. But the deed was done. He had to tolerate those two shit.
Without sparing another single glance at them, Aarav Turned away from those two and walked toward the ballroom and Zachery looked at Rainey.
“Let’s go inside,” he said while putting his hand around Rainey’s waist and gluing her to his side intimately. Rainey was shocked a little by this and she blushed. She nodded her head and Zachery guided them inside.
The party was a grand one. Most of the influencing personalities were presented here. Businessmen, celebrities, and politicians engaged in small talks around tables. Media was strictly prohibited as there was high security around the hotel to protect the privacy of guests. Zachery led Rainey to one of the tables which was not occupied by anyone. Rainey smiled a little but looked around tensely like searching for someone. He knew who she was searching for. Aarav... He also wanted to find Aarav to play his little act. He wanted to make Aarav jealous for once. He wanted to show what Aarav had lost. Because deep down Zachery knows, Aarav still holds some sentiment toward Rainey.
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Zachery was busy talking with some business associates when he spotted where Aarav was. He also talking with some businessmen a bit away from Zachery. Suddenly the lights in the lavish hall were dimmed and music started to echo around the hall. A sudden idea came to Zachery’s mind as he looked around for Rainey, who was now engaged in a little chat with her colleagues. With a smirk, he walked toward Rainey and stood next to her.
Zachery extended his right arm to Rainey. “Dance with me” he invited her. Rainey looked at him and slowly nodded her head to him letting him take her to the dance floor. A few couples have already entered the dance floor. Zachery took Rainey to the middle of the floor, where anyone could easily notice them. Circling his arms around her small waist he made her body plush to him. Rainey gasped a bit and her eyes automatically ran to find Aarav. He was intensively watching them. She saw a hint of jealousy in his eyes. But a sudden tight tug in her waist urged her to look back at her friend as she looked at Zachery’s playful face. There was a triumphant look in his gorgeous features.
“You are doing this purposely. Didn’t you?” she asked with a knowing smile as they started to move with the music.
“He is going to taste his own medicine. Just relax and enjoy the show Ray” he whispered to her ears as they got intimately close to each other. Zachery’s eyes never left Aarav as he monitored Aarav’s every move.
On the other hand, Aarav was uncomfortable. Especially with this annoying sight in front of him. The intimacy Zachery and Rainey shared on the dance floor didn’t sit well with him. He may have broken up with Rainey a long time ago, but there were still some feelings for her, hidden inside his heart’s deepest corner. The way Zachery was holding her, the way he whispered to her ear woke those hidden feelings and he felt exposed. He saw roguish glances of Zachery. He knew what Zachery was doing. He didn’t want to remain here any longer. So he decided to excuse himself from the businessmen next to him and walked away to find a place away from the source of his sour mood.
Looking at the calm water of the pool, Aarav tried to zone out from this place. Great! A perfect way to ruin his precious weekend. He really valued his free time. Aarav was not a workaholic and business was not his passion. The painting was his world. He was born an artist. An artist who had been killed by his father even before fully formed. If the choice was his, he would have become a top artist in the country. But he couldn’t. He needed the power to protect himself and his sister. Protect them from the greedy and cruel man who could do anything for money. So that is why he chose to become a businessman, a successful businessman. He had to admit he was also good at it. After all, it was in his blood. Running a business also kept him alert and excited, but not content. So he always found time for himself and his passion. But today was a total waste for him. His mood soured further as early encounters came to the surface. Enough for today. He needed to get out of here. Anyway, he attended the party. Now it’s time to end this torture. But he heard deep and steady footsteps near him as luck was not on his side.
“Want a Company, Alexander?” Zachery’s deep sarcastic voice echoed and Aarav turned to look at him. They looked at each other with the same intensity. No one backed away and continued to stare at each other’s perfect rival.
“No. I’m good” Aarav decided to break the silence and said with the same sarcastic tone.
“Besides you are with a date today. It would be better if you go and find her” he added with a bitter tone.
“Is it still disturbing you? Me and Rainey?” Zachery asked while tilting his head and he put his hand on his pant pockets.
“Of course, not Mr. Knight. I’m just concerned about you. It would be not nice if your date ran away with someone else”. Aarav cynically said with a light chuckle and Zachery got annoyed by his tone.
Aarav didn’t give the reaction he wanted and he hated when things went against his plans. Zachery really expected jealousy from Aarav, who was fuming with rage. But here, he was all cool and unaffected. Did he really get over from Rainey? However, Zachery really saw how uneasy Aarav was early. Looking with calculative eyes Zachery tried to read the man in front of him but Aarav didn’t want to give him any chance to Zachery. He just wanted to get away from here.
“Just enjoy your date then. I’m going to excuse myself from here” Aarav said with an unaffected tone and started to walk past Zachery with long strides.
“Do you going to really throw her away like this?” Zachery’s voice echoed and Aarav turned around to look at Zachery as he stopped in the middle.
At that moment Zachery saw Rainey walk toward them. However, Aarav didn’t notice her because his back facing her. Rainy stopped in her tracks at a decent distance from two men but she could clearly hear them.
“Did you really get over from her?” Zachery asked again and Aarav’s face filled with annoyance.
“Am I accountable to answer that question?” Aarav asked with an angry tone, challenging Zachery.
“Yes! You are. Because she is my best friend.” Zachery said with a straight voice. Aarav was just tired of all this drama. He didn’t want to get involved with any of them in any way. So he decided to end this for good.
“Okay! Then listen because I’m not going to repeat this again. I got over that woman a long time ago and she can date or fuck with anyone she wanted. She was the biggest mistake I have ever made. And I’m not the one to repeat the same mistake again.” Aarav continued his talk with a frustrated voice.
“Ah... Another thing. Please tell your Best Friend to stay away from me. Because if she continued to follow me annoyingly I won’t think twice to get rid of her myself.” Aarav finished and turned in his heels to vanish from this annoying party only to get collide with green teary eyes.
Rainey looked at him with a painful expression as she clenched one hand near her chest. Aarav was shocked for a second but collected himself in the next second. Wearing an unaffected and cold expression on his face, he dashed out from there without looking back. He is mostly annoyed now because her teary eyes still manage to do something to his heart.
How could he still be affected by her?
Even after all this time!
Even after everything she has done!
Shaking his head Aarav found his car and sat there going as far as he could go. First He needs to sort out his own shit.
Still clutching her chest in one hand, Rainey started to sob silently only to get embraced in warm arms. Zachery started to caress her hair tenderly to ease his friend’s pain. But inside his mind, he was more than satisfied now. He got to know what he wanted. He wanted to know whether Rainey still affected Aarav. Even how much Aarav tried to hide his emotions; he was still affected by Rainy. Or maybe at least a typical first love sentiment. Whatever it was Zachery was sure he had annoyed the shit out of that asshole.
Moreover, Zachery knows, Rainey got one step away from Aarav with that early confession. Now he only has to fill that gap. She will come to him on her own feet and he is going to have what he wanted for a long time. He will turn his one & only defeat into a victory. Holding Rainey tightly he smirked to himself. If he wanted something he got it. Till now it was the rule he kept. Whether it was a woman or a business. Whether it was right or wrong. After all, everything is fair in love and war. Right? He didn’t know if this was love or not but he was sure this was a war. He wanted to renovate his ego. And he was so sure this was going to be fun.
But little did he know what destiny had in store for him. Because there was no other great player than fate. All of them were mere dupes in front of it.
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