Fated To Three, Betrayed By All… Until She Rose.

Leilani.

Shock and confusion slammed into my very being, causing a whirlwind of emotions to rush through my veins in torrents so high, it would’ve swept me away if it were a flood.

My body felt as though it was on fire. Like my skin had been peeled off and set over a skewer. But what did I do?

Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

I could only watch like a thief, peeking through the slight crack between the door and its hinge with my heart racing wildly in my chest. I could only stare at the strange man, wondering who he was and why he was here.

And I could only worry, because what else could I do besides that?

"Hey excuse me, who are you and why are you here?" A sharp voice suddenly hissed at me, snapping me out of my reverie.

My heart skipped a beat as soon as I heard the voice, and even though I knew that it was only Yvette— Yvette who doesn’t know that I am alive— I still panicked.

I turned away quickly.

"Hey, I am talking to you!" Her voice had grown louder. Sharper. It caught the attention of the few people gathered around another corner of the floor, and most especially the two men whom I had been spying on— men who I do not wish to see right now.

I vaguely heard the quiet creaking sound of Jarek’s chair as he spun to look at me, but before his eyes could meet mine or make out any of my features, I turned away, walked towards Yvette and hissed under my breath in a voice way more gruffer than my actual voice.

I said; "I am sorry ma’am, but I think I am lost!"

"You’re lost?" She scoffed in disbelief.

"Yes ma’am," I answered calmly— a little too calmly which was a stark contrast to the one thousand and one stages of panic that I am going through right now. "I do not know where I am."

Again, she scoffed at me, but most of the anger in her voice had dissipated as she asked; "You want me to believe that you’re lost and that you wandered up here? Without being seen by anyone, especially the security?"

The disbelief in her voice was evident and the coldness, the coldness that laced each word like a veil sent a chill down my spine. I gulped even before realizing that I had done that and then I whispered so lowly— mostly because I didn’t want to create a scene or something along that nature— I drawled;

"Yes ma’am,"

And at that, she snorted aloud, rolled her eyes at me and seethed; "take off that hoodie."

The way she said those words so carelessly, so offhandedly, almost unnerved me. For a second, I was so stunned, I almost forgot how to breathe or speak, and my heart, the traitorous bitch, pounded against my chest so much, I feared I would pass out.

A low cry slipped out of my mouth before I could hold it in and I found myself shaking my head stubbornly despite my frugal attempts at not creating a scene. I muttered; "No."

And maybe something about that word, ’No’ was what finally made her snap because she inched closer— so close that I could smell the perfume on her dress and hissed at me; "I cannot let you leave until I am sure it is safe." She snarled. "This is a privately owned company. This floor is barred to most visitors, especially ones that are as suspicious as you. So, young woman, you would need to take that off if you want to walk out of here without issues."

Now, I was visibly trembling. My fingers hooked at the bottom of the hoodie trembled as I started pointedly at her pointy shoes. Without a thought, I stepped back, away from her and felt my heart jump when she came closer.

"I just told you that—"

"I cannot!" I rushed out, interrupting her with my fake high pitched voice. "I am very nervous and I am on the verge of a nervous breakdown!"

At the sound of my words, she stepped back from me and muttered something along the lines of; "oh," under her breath before putting as much distance as she could between us.

"I understand you, but now get lost!"

For a couple of seconds after she said that, I didn’t move. It isn’t like I didn’t want to, but I just couldn’t. Feeling extremely insulted, I contemplated taking off this extremely large and hideous hoodie and giving her a piece of my mind, but deciding against that, I bowed meekly even though I was now shaking with both anger and anxiety, and then murmured;

"Thank you."

"You should thank your stars that I am in a good mood. I would’ve had this further investigated!" She clapped back, and with that, turned away and walked off, her hips swaying slightly as she went.

However, it wasn’t until she was gone that my brain flashed just enough to remember the folder she had held clutched in her arms like a frigging armor. It wasn’t until she had disappeared down the corridor that bits and pieces of forgotten memories rushed into my head like a broken dam.

And while most of these memories contained her smiling at me or worrying about me, slash fussing over me, a few of them contained words she’d said to me over the months offhandedly.

Words like;

’You do not know what I would do to be you."

Words like;

"How do you always get everything? How are you always so lucky to have the things I’ve ever wanted and more?"

And then, there was the look she had in her eyes the last time I’d seen her... which was also the night of the fire.

Now, back to reality, the folder in her arms contained details about the last project I was working on before everything... and seeing that she now held it, it meant two of different things; which were:

One: She was now the one in charge of my projects. Aka, she has been made to take over my position.

And two: that she had broken into my office and taken them.

I did not want to believe the second option— at least, not yet, so sticking to the first one, I turned one more time to Jarek’s office, only to feel my breath instantly hitch my chest.

Why?

Because he was staring straight at me with cocked eyebrows.

Usually, this would’ve been the part where I would’ve been happy to see him. It would’ve been the part where I would’ve given him a sign or something. But because I was too mad and too... well, I don’t know... uncomfortable, I turned away and left with my stupid heart still hammering against my chest like a wild bird in a cage.

I guess this is not the time to show my face around here.