Chapter 3 The embarrassment

She freezes,her hand dropping down in shock,too numb to react.

While he stares at the girl who took away his everything.

The girl that destroyed that one person which meant the world for him.

No! No! This can't be happening! Anyone but him!!!

She screamed in her mind.But what use was it now,when her past looked back at her.

His eyes change from calm to disastrous in a second and it looked like he wanted to murder her the very instant.

But he kept his control, voice more of an authoritative figure than a hater.

"Get out"

He simply says but it scares the hell out of her.

She was so stupid to invade into someone's privacy... especially ......to his privacy.

Past surfaces in her mind and she lowers her eyes.

She doesn't even deserve to look at him.

She lost that right years ago and it still holds.

He hates her...more than anything.

And there was no one to blame except herself.

"I said get the hell out from under my table!"

She flinched this time, slowly coming out from her hideout.

He kept staring at her.

His angry eyes boring holes in her skull as she tried standing up .

Her right leg was numb,she couldn't feel it and as soon as she stood up her ankle twisted and she held his table for support.

His eyes travelled down to look at her heels.

His expression couldn't be deciphered.

Agitated, irritated, dislike or simply uninterested

She couldn't decide.

But one was evident in it... crystal clear..and that was hatred.

And why wouldn't it be....their past was more of a tragedy.

The past she is struggling to forget since last 10 years was standing in front of her.

"What the hell are you doing here!Who allowed you in?"

She looked up, trying to stand as straight as possible while bearing the fading pain in her thighs.

Her eyes met his and she couldn't help gawk at his beautiful features like every other women.

He looks more handsome than before. That subtle beard...that pointed nose.

Look down! Don't look dammit!

He stood at 3 feets distance from her,his hands crossed in front of his chest as he scrutinised her.

"Ethan?....here....No one...I am really sorry... don't get me wrong...I swear I had no bad intentions.

I just happen to come here by mistake...I was going back only when I heard people approaching.

It scared me so I just...."

He didn't say anything,but she could see that he was not convinced.

She gulped and he stepped forward.

"So you hid under my table, listened to my private conversations,intrude my privacy and then you have the audacity to say you are sorry? Nothing new though...what else could be expected from you..... Vivian?"

The way he said her name sent chills down her sline

Her head held down in embarrassment.

Her past was never going to leave it ...he was sure of this.

"When did you come out from the Jail anyways. I thought you will rot there in hell forever....ahh your family.....they must have taken pity on you....princess?"

Her heart beats rapidly in her chest. Don't cry! Don't cry ! We have already suffered so much

He is intending to hurt you... don't show Vivian.

"2.... years back....I...was released"

She manages to whisper and he scoffs.

Enjoying seeing her scared and vulnerable like this.

"You are lucky princess. I don't do revenge or you would have preferred jail over it."

She gulps. He was stopping himself. She could see it ,or till now she would have come after her....but he didn't.

"Anyways I can never be like you. Seeing your face definitely ruined my day."

He said and sighed , stepping away from her.

Moving around the table,he picked up the landline and decided to call the security.

She realised what he was doing and her eyes widen.

Running towards him she harshly pulled the phone from his hand.

Her audacity taking him by surprise.

"I am sorry..okay..I was just here for the interview. I didn't knew...I will see you here...I just messed up with the room number okay.

You don't have to make a mountain out of a molehill. This is a petty matter okay.

I am sorry.....I didn't knew this was your office...sorry okay..."

She thought it was the right time to run.

Placing back his phone on the table she decided to leave.

Praying he doesn't stop her.

But how wrong she was.

She hadn't taken one step further when he stood in her way and pushed her back, making a gasp to leaves her lips

Caging her between the table and his body.

His cologne short circuited her senses and she could feel her cheeks burning up.

Still the same....it felt like yesterday.

His husky voice spoke making her hands to shake and throat to dry out.

"Petty matter ? You have heard our inside information. If leaked it can cost billions."

Her eyes widen.

What the actual hell!!

"I...I won't share..I promise"

He smiled while stepping back from her.

Looking at her with disbelief.

"Promise? What a mockery on the word coming from your lips Vivian. Now shut up bit** before I decide to charge you with inside trading and make you land back in that pathetic jail you came from."

The word bit** pierces right through her heart...he was serious though. He can do it. She has no doubts regarding that.

"What? No seriously you can trust me......I won't tell anyone"

His jaw hardened.

Again entrapping her,he whispered while pressing a button behind her.

"You know there are two rules I have about trust."

She gulped avoiding his eye contact.

"First : Trust no one but family"

His breath hit her ear and she had goosebumps all over her.

His eyes fixed on her while she tried avoiding his stare.

"Second: Never trust the one that has betrayed your trust once."

This time she looked up at him.

His eyes boring holes into her

....wishing her nothing but misfortune and destruction.

Just like she had destroyed him....destroyed her...

"I...am sorry Ethan...what happened..all those years back.....I ....beg for your apology...I can't bring back anything....but...I...."

"Are you done?"

Her mouth opens and closes in shock as he pushes her back suddenly , pinning her on the table.Eyes orbs of fury.

"One. It's not Ethan for you.... it's Sir. And second what you did to her Vivian...I can never forgive it."

Her eyes plead but he continues.

"Even if you beg on your knees....even if you spent your entire life repenting....even if you die in front of my eyes Vivian Klein..."

"I won't be forgiving you. Not in this lifetime atleast."

Tears stream down her eyes, is this how much he hated her right now?

But he was right...why won't he? Even she hated herself for it.

If only that night had not happened, if only.

Pushing her back he steps back from her, looking at her from top to bottom in disgust.

The security enters and he nods at them.

Her eyes fixed on the ground and tears streaming down.

"Check her properly. Confirm from the person at the reception who sent her in and fire him.And after that...."

He stops to look at her one last time.

"Escort her out this building."

The security people nodded and asked her to follow them.

"Eth-....Sir please!"

He completely ignored her,not paying heed and she felt her heart beating rapidly.

"Ma'am come"

The guard says, her eyes begging him to look at her once.

But he sits on his seat and continues his work.

She had nothing to hide, agreeing to follow them she took one last look at his beautiful face.

He doesn't care about you Vivian...he doesn't care.

He is not your Ethan anymore......you lost him that night along with everything else.

She made her way outside with the security by her sides..

Hoping one day comes when he forgives her..... because untill then she will never be able to forgive herself.

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While she left the office ,he couldn't help look back up at her retreating back.

She looked exceptionally beautiful now after all these years.

He has met many beautiful girls before,but her beauty was just not comparable.

Unlike others who ran after beauties,he ran after beautiful hearts.

And once he did think she had a golden one...to only unveil it to see it covered in tar.

Dark and evil.

The mistake she did can never be forgiven.

And he slams his fists on the table, remembering the past he has tried so hard to forget.

Forgive me Sophie. Forgive me for it.

His eyes stopped on something that was not present earlier on his table.

Picking up the file he looked at her passport size photograph.

Name: Vivian Klein

Degree: Masters in economics and psychology

Position applied: marketing

He stopped reading .

Ofcourse she was going to use her face as a marketing tool.

After all marketing is all about appearance and attracting clients

And she knows well about her assets.

He was going to close her file. Not considering her worth of a second thought let alone a look.

But stopped when he saw the last lines.

Why you want to apply for this position?

"Majority promote what they see,but I promote what I feel.

No matter how beautiful our product appears,it would still lack this feel.

Outer beauty may attract once but it's only the inside beauty that attracts for a lifetime.

And I wish to make our product beautiful from both outside and inside "

His heart suddenly started beating faster in his chest.

He just couldn't believe she wrote these words.

The second last para...he said these words to her.

What a manipulate bit** she is.He thought.

For someone to write something of this sort,they must first feel what a ugly person feels.

But how could she know?

Staring back at her beautiful face in the picture.

It was another game of hers,he knows.

Crumbling the piece of paper,along with her photo. He throws it into the bin.

Just like he threw her out of his life all these years ago.

She deserves it.

Was all he said, Continuing with his work.

..................narrator pov.............................

Oh my dear Ethan if only you knew it was no one but yourself,that you were fooling.

Vivian deserves this you say? But when was life fair. Did I deserve the fate I got back ,all those years?

I forgave her long time ago ,I just hope my best friend you forgive her too

Because.

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"It's okay to judge a person by his/her mistakes,

But remember the same mud that grows cactus is equally capable to flower a lotus as well."

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