Chapter 2 Strawberries

"Hahh!"

She wakes up panting, gasping for air. She clutched her blanket close to her heart, sweat causing her hair to stick to her skin.

She turned to reach for her husband but found empty space. Of course.

Away on another business trip. He was never around anymore. Not that it made a difference when he was around.

She sighs and falls back onto the bed. Her eyes wander to the digital alarm clock on the bedside table.

It clearly said 3:06 am in neon red.

Same time every day since she'd run away from home. It was over twelve years now and she could still remember that day like it was yesterday. She could still see that boy bleeding on the rocks. She'd never cried so hard before.

Seeing how they'd hurt him she knew her father would do worse to her so she fought back. For once her powers didn't make her afraid. She lashed out with all the anger and hatred in her heart. Attacking them with visions of their worst nightmare. For a few minutes she embraced the monster that she was, tormenting them until one went mad and the other shot himself in the head and then she ran.

She didn't dare look at the boy again, didn't stop to think about her father or where she could possibly go in a world she knew nothing about. A world she didn't know existed until now.

She ran for hours until she collapsed on a road. A kind old man helped her and took her in, later making her marry his grandson so she could get a share of his will and solve his grandson's womanising habits before he died.

She was ashamed to say it did nothing. She was only his wife when his family was around. He only touched her when he'd run out of women and hit her constantly. Nothing like father did, so she was happy.

He was a better man than her father was, nothing like the late grandpa was, but he was better than father.

If she chose to be delusional, she'd go as far as saying the him he was with her around his family was the real him. She just hasn't unlocked him yet. After all, they'd only been married for three years.

Knowing she wouldn't be falling back asleep anytime soon, she decided to prepare what she'd wear to the gala that evening.

Every year for the past three years she'd attended this pretentious party for even more pretentious people and she hated it.

Every year she had to pretend she understood what was going on whilst pretending to be blind. It was a night that always left her emotionally drained and physically exhausted. Her husband was no help either. Abandoning her to mingle while she tried not to look awkward standing next to the buffet table.

The only good thing about the night was the strawberries. After papa, as she referred to the man who saved her, had taken her in. He did his best to fatten her up because she was looking starved. And she was. Her father detested a full figure, model thin or nothing.

One of the ways he achieved this was incorporating strawberries in almost everything she ate. After she confessed her love for strawberries, he made sure to stuff her with it until she literally had to beg him to stop.

She wished she hadn't.

After getting married she could no longer have strawberries because her husband was allergic. So only tonight while standing close to the buffet table, she could eat as many strawberries as she pleased. And since he wouldn't be back for another week, she might bring some home.

Happy with the thought, she set about her day.

* * *

An orchestra played popular songs on stage while people chatted up old friends, business associates and possible partners. That was after all what the party was all about.

Every designer who was anyone was being worn tonight. Men in pristine suits that screamed money and power, women in gowns that screamed royalty. Everyone outdoing themselves from last year's gala. Or was it a ball?

She could hardly tell the difference.

She popped a strawberry in her mouth and sighed as the sweet juice exploded in her mouth. Now this was wonderful, better than the bland foods they'd been served for dinner.

Something she noticed though was that the strawberries just like last year increased in amount. Coincidence or not, she couldn't tell. But she was grateful. Now she could pig out without worrying that others would be left without strawberries.

"Enjoying the strawberries?" A deep male voice rumbled and her spine snapped straight. She looked above his head, though she could see through the satin blindfolds she had on to go with her dress instead of sunglasses.

He's beautiful!!!!

And in a wheelchair.

"I'm sorry" she apologized and gave a sheepish smile as she passed the platter containing the strawberries. Pretending to fumble.

"Did you want some? I did not mean to hug them"

"No. It's perfectly fine" He pushed it back and relaxed into a nonchalant slouch in his chair

"Not every day you see someone give a damn about the fruits display "

"Oh!" She blushed" I love strawberries is all" she confesses

"I know "he says simply and she raises a brow

"You do?" she asks suspiciously

"Yeah" he nods then taps the platter with his index finger so she knows what he's gesturing to"pretty obvious the way you were wolfing them down. One would think that was the only reason you came"

"Oh!" her blush deepened" well..."

"Mr O'Riley!"

Someone calls and she gasps, immediately rushing to her feet. Nearly knocking over the platter of strawberries as she did.

She'd been talking with Austin O'Riley. The heir to the O'Riley chain of companies. The most sought after investor and partner in the business field and the host of tonight's gala. Or ball.

"My apologies sir, I didn't realise..." She began but he cuts her off smoothly

"Don't worry about it" She could see the annoyance in his eyes but not a trace of it in his voice.

Was he masking it from her?!

"It was nice to be treated like a normal person for once in a long time" he says then wheels away in his high-tech wheelchair that was pretty much a car at this point.

She stayed glued to the table for a while. She'd spoken casually with The Austin O'Riley.

Her husband would kill her.