Alex Riley Dirty Boss A Second Chance Romance

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DirtyBoss

ASecondChanceRomance

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DirtyBoss:ASecondChanceRomance

AlexRiley

































Copyright©2016


Allrightsreserved.

Nopartofthispublicationmaybereproduced,storedinaretrievalsystem,ortransmitted,inanyformorbyanymeanswithouttheprior
permissioninwritingofthepublisher.

Thisisaworkoffiction.Anyresemblancetoanyperson,livingordead,ispurelycoincidental.

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Emilyisastraightlacedcollegegirlwhoselifeexperienceshavetaughthertoalwaysplaysitsafeso
asnottogethurt.Sheisinexperiencedwithmen,shyingawayfromexperienceinfavourofher
collegestudies.

ThatisuntilshemeetssuperhotRyan,arecentgraduateanddirtyboss,whoturnsherworldupside
downinanexplosiveonenightstandthatwillchangeherlifeforever.

ThenextdayRyanisgonebutEmily’seyesareforeveropened,thatnightmakingherfeellikeanew
adultandmarksthestartofhertransformationintoasuccessfulcareerwomanandthebossofher
owncompany.

Allthewhilethough,sheonceagainlongstofeelhiswarmembraceandthewayhemadeherfeel
downthere.

Shehasallbutgivenupwhenatragedyfouryearslaterprovidesthetwoyoungadultswithan
opportunemeetingandasecondchanceatromance.IfonlyRyanwouldbelieveinsecondchances...

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TableofContents

Emily

One

Two

Three

Ryan

Four

Reunion

Five

six

seven

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Emily

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O

NE

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April,2016

Emily Wilson read the mail in her inbox over and over again. Her business really was going to

takehertoAthens,Georgia,shethoughtwithawhimsicalsmile.Morethanthat,itwasgoingtobe
taking her on a roller coaster ride down memory lane. Not that she had ever forgotten; not for a
singleday.TheInternationalFashionShowwasalwaysthemostanticipatedeventoftheyearforthe
fashion industry and this year ’s event was taking her to Athens to represent her fashion line, ‘Head
Turners’.

“WhyGeorgiaofallplaces?WhynotEgypt,SwitzerlandorHaiti?WhyAthens?”shemutteredout

loudeventhoughshewastheonlyoneinherroom.

Fatereallyhadawayofgoingaboutitsbusiness,Emilythoughtwithanunbelievableshakeofher

head.ForEmily,ithadallstartedinAthens,NortheastGeorgia.Thenameshehadmadeforherself
andthefameshehadgatheredwasbirthedinAthensonthatonenightwithhimfouryearsago.

She hadn’t been back since she had graduated. Atlanta, where she lived now, was only an hour

drive away but Emily avoided going back because it brought back powerful memories that were
simultaneouslyamazingandfilledwithlonging.

Sheshouldn’thavebothered.Now,shewasgoingtheredespiteeverythingshehaddonetoavoidit.

“It is too fucking soon to go back!” she screamed at the laptop, running her hands through her

spiky,shortblondehairinfrustration.

Therewashowever,norespitefromthefeelingofnostalgiashefeltassoonasshesawtheinbox

notificationfortheShow.Norwouldthevenuechange;nomatterhowmuchshewantedtoavoidit,it
wasstillgoingtobeAthens.

“Gran,whyisitsohardtoforgetsomepeople?Whyisitsohardtoletgo?”

ThefeelingofnostalgiathatarosefromknowingshewouldgobacktoAthens,broughttomind

another life-changing moment with her grandmother from ten years ago. Thinking back on that
conversation and the impact it had on her life, Emily let out a long sigh. Tonight was a night of
reflection,shethoughtinresignation.ItwasoneofthoseraremomentswhenEmilyallowedherself
tothink.Shedetestedthinking.Itwasn’therthing;shepreferredtoactandthenmaybethinklater,ifat
all.Shegrabbedherwineandlethermindwander...

WhenEmilywasjustsixteenshebegandrinkingtocopewiththeguiltofherparent’sdeath.She

hadbeensmugglingdrinksintothehouseeachnightaftertheaccidentandonenighthergrandmother
caughther.Insteadofscoldinghersixteen-year-oldgranddaughterfordrinking,Larahadgrabbeda
glassandsatonthefloorofEmily’sroomwithher.“Lordknowswebothneedthis,”shesaid.

Theydrankandtalkedlongintothenight.Aboutlove,life,herparentsandamidstblurs,hiccups,

tearsandburps,hergrandmothersaidsomethingthathadstayedwithhereverysince.

“Yousee,mydarling,youdon’tforgetsomepeoplebecausetheyhavehadahugeimpactonyour

life.Somepeoplemakeyoulaugh,othersmakeyoucry,somedobothanditisthosepeoplethathave
animpactsogreatthatyoudonotknowwhereyouendandtheybeginandwhenwelosethem,we

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losepartofourselves.Rememberyourparentsbutknowthatyoumustliveyourlifeinhonoroftheir
memory.”

Thoughthewordshadbeensaidoverafewdrinks,theywouldchangeherlifeforeveranditwas

thesewordsshereflectedonassherememberthatnightwithhimfouryearsago.Inonenight,hehad
shownherallthosethingsandmoreandtakenhertoplacesshehadneverthoughtpossible.

That night with her grandmother ushered in a new dawn for a more responsible, cautious and

wiser teenager. But the night with him, saw the birth for a more spontaneous and determined adult.
Thoseexperiencesfromherpastcombinedtoformtheperfectblendofgroundednessanddaringthat
allowed her to forge a path for herself in the fashion industry. She was a person of her own, a
recognizedentityandnotjustanotherfaceinthecrowd,somethingsheneverthoughtpossiblebefore
thatnight.

Emilyhadneverforgottenthatnightwithhergrandmotherdespitehowmuchshehadchanged.She

neverwould.Justlikeshehadneverforgottenthatnightwithhimthoseyearsago.

Andsheknewthatitwasbecauseoftheimpacthehadmadeinherlife.Witheverythingshehad

doneoverthepastfouryears,shestillrememberedthatnight.Thatnight,shehadthrownallcaution
tothewindanddoneexactlywhatshewantedtodo.Itwasthebeginningoftrueliberationforher;no
onewhoknewherbeforethat,wouldeverguessthatsheoncelivedlifeinanentirelydifferentway.
Thatnight,thetablesturnedandsodidherlifemuchtothedelightofhergrandmother.Notthatshe
hadanyregretsaboutwhatshedidthatnight;farfromit.Perhapsnow,theonlyregretshehadwas
thatthenightwastheonlyoneshehad.Yearsafter,allshehadwerebittersweetmemories.

Memoriesthatkeptherawakeoncoldnightswishingshehadjustonemorenight.

The same memories saw her sometimes staring into space in broad daylight, remembering and

relivingeachmomentinherhead.Shesometimeswishedthatshehaddonethingsdifferentlybutshe
alsoknewthatshewouldn’tchangetheeventsofthatnightforanything.

She didn’t know if it was by coincidence or if fate was having a good laugh at her right now.

Calculatingthedays,Emilyrealizedthattodaywasexactlyfouryearsagofromthatnight...

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T

WO

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FourYearsAgo…

“Comeon,Emily,don’tbeaspoilsport.Itisgoingtobesuchfun.”Shannonwhined.

Emilylookedupfromthenovelshehadinherhandsandremovedtheglassessetprecariouslyon

thebridgeofhernose.Sheregardedherroommateandbestfriendinsilenceforthebetterpartoftwo
minutes.

Shecouldn’tbelievehowwelltheyhititoffandhowlongtheirfriendshiphadlasted.Theywere

sototallydifferentfromeachotherthateveryonewhosawthemtogetherneverfailedtocommenton
their glaring differences. While Emily was blonde, thin and gawky; Shannon was a redhead, round
littlegypsythatturnedheadswhenshewalked.Emilyworeglassesandlookedgeeky,withhernose
constantly buried in one book or the other; Shannon, on the other hand, would not be caught dead
wearingthosehorriblethingscalledglassesnorwouldshetouchanybookwithaten-footpole,God
forbid,unlessitwastodoodleonit.

While Emily was extremely introverted and tidy, her roommate was an extrovert and

disorganized.Emily’stirelesseffortstokeeptheirroominsomesemblanceoforder;wouldquickly
beblownapartasShannonleftatrailofdestructionwherevershewent.

Inanutshell,shehadbeenbestoffriendswithShannonMcGuireforthelastthreeyears,whenthey

were thrown together as roommates in freshman year. They had hit it off at once despite knowing
right away that they were exact opposites of one another. However, Emily knew that she wouldn’t
exchangeShannonforanyoneelse,nomatterhowmuchtroubleshecouldbe.Herlittlegypsyfriend
was loyal, understanding, faithful and the most compassionate soul on earth despite her flashy
outwardappearance.

ItwaswhyEmilywaslisteningtoherrightnowinsteadofoutrightlyscreamingather.

“Shannon,youknowhowmuchIhatepartiesandnoise.”Shecomplainedtoherfriend.

“OfcourseIknow,”Shannonsaidwitharollofhereyes.“ButIhavebeentryingtotellyouthat

this is not the sort of parties with blaring speakers and loud music. And, we’ll be leaving early to
makeitupintimeforGreg’sflightearlyinthemorning.”Sheadded.

Now, it was Emily’s turn to roll her eyes. She knew that Greg’s early flight to Washington

tomorrowmorningwasn’tthereasonthatShannonwouldagreetoleaveapartyearly.

Greg was Shannon’s boyfriend and he was one of this year ’s graduates at the University of

Georgia.HehadgraduatedwithdistinctionandShannonwasasproudofhimasamother.Aspecial
dinnerpartywasorganizedinahotelforthosegraduatingwithdistinctionsandtheywereallowedto
bringwiththemtwomoreguests.

Greg’s parents were dead like hers and he had given the invitations to Shannon. Now, Shannon

wantedEmilytocomewithher.

Placingthebookonthebed,Emilyinclinedherheadtothelefttostudyherfriend.Shannonwas

dressedasusualinflamboyantcolorsthatthreatenedtoburntheretina.Emilycouldmakeoutshades

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ofyellow,brightpink,magentaandgold.Sheshookherhead,slightlydistracted.Herfriendwasjust
atadcrazy.No,morethanatad,shecorrectedwhenshecaughtherfirstreallookatShannon’shair.

“Whatonearthdidyoudotoyourhair?”sheexclaimedinastonishment.

ShannonshruggedandploppedonthebedbesideEmily.

“Ithoughtyouwouldnevernotice,”shemurmuredimpishly,pattingherhairandpreeninglikea

peacock.

Emilycontinuedtostareatthehairinquestion,unconsciouslyraisingahandtotouchittoseeifit

wasasrealasshesawit.

“Nothingsobadastogetyourmouthhangingopenlikethat,”sherepliedwithanaughtygrin.“I

onlycutitabitanddyeditinthecolorsoftherainbow;youknowhowmyGreglovestherainbow.”
Shesaidwithathroatylaugh.

Emilyshookherhead.Really,sheshouldn’tbeamazedatherfriend’sbehavioranymorebuteach

time,sheallowedherselftobesurprisedbythedifferentimpulsivedecisionthatShannonmakeonan
almostdailybasis.Justthismorning,Shannonhadbeenaredhead,nowherhairlookedlikeitwascut
sohaphazardlythatthereappearedtobenopatternandwasdyedallthecolorsoftherainbow.

“Butwhywouldyoudothat?Youlovedyourredhair.”Shesaid,lookingherfriendrightinthe

eye.

Itwastrue.Shannonalwaysclaimedthatherredhairwasherbestfeaturewithoutwhichshewould

justhavebeenanordinaryIrishgirlinaforeigncountry.Shannonjustshruggedagain.

“IwanttomakeGreg’slastnightinGeorgiamemorable.”Shesaidwithadaredevilgrin.Justas

soonasthewordswereout,hershouldersdroopedandworryenteredintohergreyeyes.“Whatifhe
goesandforgetsme?YouknowweareworldapartandhemightdecidetogoforanAmericanwhen
heisoutofhere.MaybeifImaketonightsospecialforhim,hewouldn’tforgetme?Iwanthimtobe
myforever.”shesaidworriedly.

Emilysighedinexasperation.Shannoncouldbesoinsecureofherselfattimeslikethisbutonly

whenshewasalonewithEmily.Emilyshiftedtowardshertodrawherintoahug.

“Youknowthathewouldn’tdare.Greylovesyoutoomuchtoforgetyouandyouknowit.Why

wouldyoueventhinkthat?”

Sheheldherfriendinherembrace,pattingthedyedhairdownherback.Shannonwaspetitebut

curvy and everyone knew that Greg just loved her to pieces as she did him. Since his graduation,
Shannonhadbeenfretting,worriedthatshestillhadoneyeartogowhileGregwouldleavethecity.
She had started to convince herself that the distance would tear them apart and she would be left
heartbroken.

Emily however had seen the couple when they were around each other. They only had eyes for

each other and couldn’t bare being away from each other, on the holidays or even during the day
whenclassesseparatedthem.ThoughEmilyherselfhadneverbeeninarelationshipofanykind,she
guessedthatShannonandGreg’slovewastherealthingandwishedforsomethingsimilarforherself
someday.

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“Believeme,Iknow…butwhatif?”Shannonasked,leaningbacktostareintoEmily’sbabyblue

eyes.

“Don’tthinkaboutwhatifsrightnowbutwhatis.”Shesaidfirmly.“Andrightnow,‘whatis’isthat

Greglovesyouandyoulovehim;thatshouldsuffice.”

“Thankyou.”Shannonsaidsoftly,squeezingherintoatighthug.

“Anytime,”Emilymanagedtomumbleoutthroughthetighthug.

“Then,youhavetogowithmetothedinnerparty.Isodonotwanttohearanythingelseaboutit.”

Shannonsaidbreezily,gettingupfromthebedandwalkinguptothefulllengthmirrorinthecorner
oftheroom.Sheprancedinfrontofittoadmirehernewhairstyle.

HereyescaughtEmily’sinthemirrorandshesawthatanotherargumentwasonitsway.

“Youarecomingwithmetosupportmeandmyboyfriend.Youcan’tnotcome;Gregwillbeso

heartbroken.”Sheemphasized,onehanddramaticallysplayedoverherchest.

EmilysighedheavilyandrolledhereyessothatShannonwouldseeherinthemirror.

“Youareanag;youknow?”sheaskedrhetoricallybutShannonansweredanyway.

“YesIknowbutyoustillloveme.”Sheanswered,turningandsmilingatEmily.“Soyoucoming

orwhat?”sheasked,armsfolded,daringtotodefyher.

“YouhavetopromisethatwewillleavewhenIsayweshould.”Emilybargained.

Shannonclappedherhandsgleefully,jumpingonthespotlikeachild.

“Ofcourse,Ipromise.”shereplied

“Now, we need to get you prepared. You can’t go looking like this.” Shannon was disdainfully

observing Emily’s clothes and then turned to her wardrobe. She looked into the wardrobe while
Emilywentbacktoherbook.

Shannonwasafashionistathatpridedherselfonlookingtheverybest.Shewasalwaysdressedin

dazzlingcolors,butEmilyhadnosuchdesiretolookthisway.IfShannonwantedtofixherforthe
party, she would only tolerate it to please her friend. After all, she was going there only to satisfy
Shannonandnothingmore.

She hoped that they would come back before midnight so she could finish up the novel she was

readingbeforebed.

*********

ComingtothispartywaswithoutadoubtthemostboringthingthatEmilyhadeverdoneinher

life.

Andshehaddonesomeprettyboringthingstoobutthispartywasthehighlightofthemall.Emily

sipped on her champagne and sighed for what must be the thousandth time that night. She could be
home right now, curled up on her soft bed with a bowl of ice cream. She should be reading the

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standaloneromancenovelshestartedjustthisafternoon.ExamswereoverbutcourtesyofShannon,
shecouldn’tdoasshepleased.Shewasherewatchingmeninsuitsandladiesinvaryinglengthsof
dresses. They canvassed the hall speaking to this dignitary and that professional, giving boring
speechesandclappingafterwards.

SheknewthatShannonwasevenmoreboredthanshewasbutshewasn’tfeelingverycharitable

towardsherfriendinthatmoment.Shehadaskedthattheyleavefifteenminutesagobutshewasstill
there,sippingonchampagne.Emilyknewthatshehadhadtoomuchtodrink;butitwasalltherewas
todo,shortoffallingasleepinherchair.

“Pleasedon’tbemad,EmilybutPowerBitseemedtohavetakenaninterestinGregandhecannot

verywellleavethemnow.”Shesaid,hergreyeyespleadingwithEmily.

It was a kind of dinner party where leading names and brands in the market met graduating

students like Greg with marked achievements and distinctions. For the new graduates, it was a field
day because it was like a dream come true. PowerBit, a powerful scientific research company in
computer engineering and software development had immediately shown interest in Greg after his
citation was handed out. He had barely sat down with them for five minutes before he was invited
over.

Otherinvitedguestseitherwalkedaround,admiringthevariousartworkondisplay,formedsmall

groupsofconversationorsatinboredsilencelikesheandShannon.

Emilywantedtogohomebutsinceshewasn’tthetypetohitcharide,shewouldhavetowaitfor

Greg to finish so he could drop her off. She was resigned to the fact that Shannon wouldn’t be
sleepingintheirroomtonight;shewasgoingtobewithGregallnightsincehewasleavingearlyin
themorningforWashington.

Emilygrabbedyetanotherbottleofchampagnefromapassingwaiterandsetitonthetable.

“Don’tyouthinkyouhavehadenoughtodrink?”Shannonasked,eyeingthebottlewarily.Shehad

barelyhadasipsinceGregwasinvitedbyarepresentativeofPowerBit.Itwasobviousthatshestill
frettedovertheissuetheydiscussedintheafternoon.

“Whatelseistheretodobuteatanddrink?”Emilyaskedmulishly.

“Iamsorry.Ishouldn’thavemadeyoucomewhenyoudidn’twantto.”Herfriendsaid,looking

downcastanddejected.

The words sobered Emily. She realized that she was behaving like a petulant child; she chided

herself. While Emily had her back to the PowerBit table, Shannon faced them squarely and she had
beencastinganxiousglancesoversinceGregjoinedthemaboutthirtyminutesago.Emilyshookher
headatherselfishness.

Her best friend, the only friend she had in the whole world was seated right in front of her,

worrying her pretty head away over her boyfriend’s departure and all she could do was complain
aboutthedullnessattheparty.Shewastheworstfriendever,shethoughttoherself.Whatwereafew
hours at a boring party for a friend? Shannon had done crazier things for her in the time they had
knowneachother.

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“No,Iamsorry.”Sheapologized,tryingtothinkofwhattodotomakeituptoherfriend.“How

about you go join Greg at their table and brazenly introduce yourself as his girlfriend?” she asked
impulsively.

Herwordssurprisedbothherfriendandherself.Shewasnotthetypetobesoimpulsiveordaring

butshewantedtoerasetheworriedlookonherfriend’sface.Orperhaps,itwasthewinedoingthe
talking.

“Wow!” she declared admiringly. “That is just the best suggestion ever. Why didn’t I think of it

before?” Shannon said already standing and grabbing her purse from the table. “Come with?” she
askedher.

Even though Emily knew she’d be even more bored on her own, she shook her head. She was a

student of Creative Arts and a freelance writer, any talks about science churned her stomach.
Conversationatthetablewiththecompanywoulddefinitelybemoreboringthansittinghereonher
own,thankyou.

“Iwillbefinebymyself,goon.”ShewavedherfriendoffinthedirectionofthetablewhereGreg

satwiththreeothermen,talkinganimatedly.

“Thanks,G.”Shannonsaid,blowingherakiss.

Whenshewasgone,Emilyfidgetedwiththeclasponherpurseforanotherfiveminutes,looking

aroundtheroomfornothinginparticular.SheturnedinherseattolookoveratthePowerBittable
some ten feet or so away and saw that Shannon was now seated beside Greg and seemed to be
enjoyingtheconversation.

Goodforher,shethought.

Thebottleofchampagnestillstoodunopenedinfrontofherandsheturnedhergazetoit,tryingto

decideifsheshouldjustopenitandhaveyetanotherdrink.

Shecontinuedtostareatitundecidedforanotherfiveminutes.

“Now, what is a beautiful thing such as yourself doing here all alone with an unopened bottle in

frontofyou?”Asilkymale,voiceinterruptedherthoughts.

Emilydidnotevenhearthecompliment;itflewpastherlikethewind.Thefirstthingsshenoticed

werehisfeet;thoughitwasnotsomuchashisfeetaswhatheworeonhisfeet.Hewaswearingapair
ofwhiteandbluesneakersandhisbarelegswentwayuptodisappearbeneathapairofkneelength
commando shorts. Emily allowed her gaze to travel all the way up inch by inch as she took in his
midnight blue polo shirt. He was tall, she thought absently. The words ‘I am King’ were boldly
imprintedonthefrontofashirtwhichflatteredhisabdominalsandchest.

Feeling curious by now, Emily raised her eyes to meet his gaze. They were the most startling

brilliant shade of gold and were surrounded by eyebrows that were almost meeting and lashes that
were so long they were almost feminine. His hair was a lovely sheen of black that curled over his
headlikeacrown.Hewaswearingagrinthatshoweddeepdimplesonhiscleanshavencheeks.

EveryonethatEmilyhadseenduringthecourseoftheeveninghadformalattire,mostlyinthered

and/orblackcolorsofthecollege.Theguystandinginfrontofherthoughlookedtotallyoutofplace

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inhiscasualclothes.Buthewassmilingatherasifhehadnoideathathelookedliketheducklingin
themidstofswans.

“MayIhavethisseat?”heasked,indicatingtheseatthatShannonjustleft.

Hesatwithoutwaitingforhernodofapproval.

“Youseemtowanttoopenthebottlebutcan’tpluckupthecourageto,”heobserved.

Shewasstillstaringathiminamazement.

“What are you wearing?” she blurted out without conscious thought. It was the second time that

nightthatshewouldbeblurtingoutexactlywhatshewasthinkingbutEmilybarelynoticed.

Hehoweverdidnottakeoffence,smilingbroadly.

“WhatiswrongwithwhatIhaveon?”heaskedwithadaringsmile.Heleanedforwardandopened

thewine,pouringforbothofthem.

Shereachedoutandgrabbedtheglassofwine,downingitintwoloudgulps.Beingfriendswith

Shannon,shewasusedtohavingguyscomeovertotheirroomlookingforherfriendbutthiswas
different.Noguyhadeversingledheroutforhisattentionbeforeandshedidn’tknowwhattosay.

Whynotjuststartbyansweringhisquestion?Alittlevoicepromptedinherhead.

Herunwantedcompanywasstaringatherinamusementasshesetdowntheemptyglassandshe

promptlyforgotthequestionhehadasked.

“Youmusthavebeenthirsty,”hesaid,imitatingherandthrowingthecontentsofhiscupdownhis

throatinonegulp.

She cast down her gaze and her eyes caught the words on his shirt again. She remembered the

questionheaskedher.

“Everyonehereisdressedformally,exceptyou,”shespokeoutoftheblueagain.Heonlystaredat

herasifshewasnuts.“Thatiswhatiswrongwithwhatyouarewearing,”sheexplainedlamely.

Amischievoussmilereachingallthewayintohiseyesappearedonhislipsandheleanedforward

acrossthetabletoreachher.

“Whyiseveryoneheredressedformal,doyouknow?”heaskedherinaconspiratorialwhisper.

She could smell his male cologne and they invaded her senses, drawing her forward. “I don’t

know,”shesaiddrunkenlyinanswertohisquestion.

“Really?” he whispered comically. “But you are also dressed formally,” he said with a naughty

grin.

Asifshedidn’tquiteknowwhatshewasgettingat,shelookeddownatherself.Shewasdressed

muchliketheotherladiesintheroominalong,black,silversequineddressthatShannonhadfished
out of their wardrobe in the afternoon. The dress was her twentieth birthday gift from her
grandmother but Emily had never worn it until tonight. The dress was tight and emphasized her
skinnybodywhichshealwayshidinsidejeanandshirts,hereverydaywear.

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WhatEmilydidn’tknowwasthatthedressemphasizedherbabybluesandbroughtoutthecolorful

highlightsinherblondehairwhichShannonhadsimplybraidedinaFrenchplaitdownherbackand
thentwistedintoadoughnutatthebaseofherneck.Herfeetwerecladinathree-and-a-half-inchpair
of silver shoes and her matching silver purse was on the table. Her ensemble was completed by a
simplesilverchainonherneckhavingalittle,Cinderellaslipperaspendant.

When Shannon finished dressing her up, she had stood back to admire her handiwork with a

triumphantsmile.

“InthethreeyearsIhaveknownyou,thisisthefirsttimeIcanactuallysaythatthereishopefor

youyet.”Shehadsaid.

Emilylookedsheepishlyathercompanion.Hewasrightagain;shewasdressedratherformally.

“Iguessso,”shesaid.Shesatbackinherchair,lookingattheoddguyinfrontofher.

“So,tellmethen,whyareyoudressedthisway?”heinsisted.

Emilywasconfused.

“My roommate over there insisted,” she explained, nodding her head in the general direction of

thePowerBittable.“AndthankheavensthatIdidtoo.Everyoneelseisexceptyou.Iguessitisthe
dresscodefortheevent,”shetoldhimmatter-of-factly.

Theguyleanedforwardmore.“Doyouhaveyourinvitationcardwithyou?Iwouldbetthatthere

isnodresscodeindicatedonit.”Hesaidwithabemusedsmile.

Herreservegonenow,shepickedherpursefromthetableandopenedittoretrieveherinvitation

card.Sheturneditthiswayandthat,tryingtoseeiftherewasanydresscodeindicatedandsawthat
indeed,therewasn’t.

“Iguessformalistheconventionalattireforeventssuchasthis.”Sheshrugged.

“ThenwhyIaminhere?”heaskedherwithobviousflourish.

Shewasthrownbyhisquestion.Indeed,ifthedresscodewasformal,hewouldn’tbeallowedentry

intothevenueatall.

“True,”shemuttered.Whywasthisguyalwaysright?

He was now staring at her as if she was a particularly interesting piece of specimen under a

microscope.Shereachedforthebottleandpouredherselfanotherglass.

“Isee.”Hesaidwithalookshecouldn’tdefineinhiseyes.

“Whatdoyousee?”sheaskedhimwarily.

Hewasstillstaringunblinkinglyather.

“Youhatethisparty,don’tyou?”heaskedherafteraprolongedsilenceofjustwatchingher.

Shehadnoideawhatthathadgottoanythingthathesawbutshenoddedherhead.

Hegrinned.

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“SodoI.”heinformedher.“Youcamewithoneofthenewgraduates,yes?”heaskedagain.

Again,shenoddedherhead.Itseemedthatshehadlostthepowerofspeechinthefaceofhisquick

grins,questionsandthewine.

“Then, I suppose not having one of the mega super-duper rich companies come for you will be

quiteboringthen.”Hesurmised.“Iguessyourfriendisbeingwooedbyoneofthecompaniesright
now.”

Hertonguefinallygainedfreedomfromitsspeechlessness.

“Yes,alongwithhisgirlfriendwhoismybestfriend.”

Assoonasthewordslefthermouth,herthroatfeltparchedandshereachedfortheglassshejust

filled.

Heraisedafulleyebrowatherbutdidnotcomment.

“Idonotblameyouforfeelingboredtodeath.Iamoneofthenewgraduatesoftheschooland

believeme,Iamboredtothehilt.Whoneedsallthis,ifhe’strulygottheskillsandtalent?”Heasked,
sweepinganall-encompassinggazethroughtheroom.

Awaiterpassedbytheirtablebearingatrayandhesuddenlyshotupfromhisseat,snatchedaplate

ofdessertfromawaiterandplaceditinfrontofher.

“Aww,pardonmymanners,”hesaidtoher,claspinghisforehead.“RyanJones,afreshgraduateof

this grand school and a photographer by hobby.” He introduced himself, extending his hand for a
handshake.

Foramoment,Emilyseemedtoforgethernameasshestaredathisoutstretchedhand.Thiscute

guy was introducing himself to her of all the beautiful ladies seated in the room. At first, she had
thoughtthatperhapshewantedtoaskherforsomethingbutnowhe’dbeenhereforovertenminutes.

“EmilyWilson,Junior,samecollege,”shesaidshortly,refusingtotakehishandthoughshehad

noreasonnotto.

Ryanshruggedasifhewasusedtothiskindofrebuff.

“Great,howcomeInevercameacrossyouinschool?”heaskedwonderingly.

“Theschoolisquitelarge.Differentcampusestoo.”Shehiccupped.

“True,”hesaidquietly.“Iwouldn’thaveforgottenyourfaceifIhadseenyouaround.”Hesaid.

Emilylookedupintohiseyestoseethathewastotallycheckingherout.Ryanwaslookingather

withsomethingakintoappreciationinhiseyesasifhelikedwhathesaw.Itwasthefirsttimeanyman
hadlookedatherthiswayandshewasatalossforwords.Shedidn’tknowhowtoreact.

Shedippedherfingersintothedessertplate.Shecameupwithsomecheeseandputitinhermouth.

Ryan’sgazefollowedheractionsandhelickedhislipsassheswallowed.

“You have the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen,” he whispered. “And sexy lips too,” he said

bluntly.

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It took her a moment to know that the cute ‘I am King’ Ryan was flirting with her. Her! Emily

Wilson. She fumbled about in her head for what to say. If it were Shannon here at the table in that
moment,sheaskedherself,whatwouldshedo?Mostdefinitelysmileandflirtrightback,theanswer
was undisputable. But she wasn’t her friend even though she would like to be just for the sake of
throwingawittycomebacktothishandsomeguy’sflattery.

“Comeon,aguycomplimentsyouandyouignorehim?”Ryansaidwithateasinggrin.

“Ineveraskedforyourcompliment,”shereplied.

Shewasstartingtogetusedtothegrinthatwasalloverhisface.

“Youareboredwiththeparty,soamI.Howaboutweheadoutrightnow?”heaskedoutoftheblue

again.

What was wrong with this guy? She thought. He throws out a couple of cheap lines and now

expectshertoleavewithhim.Shedidn’tunderstandhimatall.Itwaslikehewasplayingagamethat
onlyheunderstood.

“Ican’tdothat.Ibarelyknowyou.”Shemurmured.

Herelaxedinhischairtogiveherthatlookagainandshefeltlikesquirming.

“Yes,Igotit-youarethehesitanttype,neverimpulsive,alwayscautious.”Heexclaimedsuddenly

likehejusthadaeurekamoment.“Tellme,whathaveyoueverdonejustforthefunofit?”heasked
her.

Hisremarkandquestionwassosuddenandperceptivethathergazeinstantlyflewuptomeethis.

This guy was more astute than she gave him credit for. He had been studying her personality the
entiretimeandshehadbeenhelpinghimeachstepoftheway!

“As you must have rightly surmised, I am logical and think things through before acting upon

them,”shesaidtartly.Itbuggedherthatshehadgivenawayanyairofmysteryshemighthavehadin
thefirstfewminutesofmeetingthisguy.

“Then,youneedtochange.”Hedeclaredwithafirmnodofhishead.Hereachedacrossthetable

andheldherhandsinhis.“Emily,lifewillnotwaitonyouforever.Youhavetotakethosechances,
liveforthemoment,hopefornothing,anticipatethebestandgotobedeachnight,restassuredthat
youhavesqueezedouteverythingyoucanfromeachunforgivingminutethatyouareluckytosee.”

Perhaps it was the wine in her head but his words were sinking into her head with resounding

echoes.

HiswordsweresimilartothemantrathatShannonkepttellingherovertheyearsbuttowhichshe

neverheeded.Livefortoday,thereisnopromiseoftomorrow.ButEmilywasbeingextremelycareful
ofmakingmistakes.Shehadmadeonemistakewithherthoughtlessnessandshehadpaiddearlyfor
it;herparentshadlosttheirlivesoverthatonemistake.Now,thesamemessagewassaidtoherfrom
astrangerthatbarelyknewher.

Wasshethatmuchofadrag?Wasitsoobviousthatherlifewasprettymuchempty?

“Cautiousisgood,itsavespeoplefromdeath.”Shewhispered.Shehadnoideawhoshewastrying

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toconvince;Ryanorherself.

Ryanwaslookingathercuriouslynow.

“CorrectmeifIamwrongbutisthereanythingthatcansavepeoplefromdeath?”heaskedasifhe

totally understood how she felt. When she continued to look at him unseeingly, he added quietly,
“Peopledie,Emily.Wecan’thelpit.”

That was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Before she knew it, she told him all about her

parent’sdeath.ShetoldhimhowtheyhadgoneforamuchdeservedholidayintheBahamasandhow
she had called them incessantly, wanting them to come home a week before her sweet sixteenth
birthday instead of the scheduled three days originally planned. She had been so churlish that they
gaveinatlasttoherwhinesandbookedanearlierflighthome.Theyneverreachedhomebutdiedin
afatalplanecrash.

By the time, she was through, silent tears were rushing down her face. Through it all, Ryan

patientlylistenedanddidnotutterasingleword.Hesimplyheldherhandsinhis,gentlyrubbingher
knuckleswithhisfingerstourgeheron.Encouragedbyhissilentactionsandtheempathyshesawin
hiseyes,shetookadeepbreathanddabbedathertearswiththetipsofherfingers.Shefeltsodrained
andwishedshecouldjustgetupandleavetheplace.

“I think we need to get out of here,” he muttered as if he read her thoughts precisely. He was

alreadystandingupandtakingherwithhim.

Emilydidn’tknowhowbutShannonwasbesidetheminaninstant.

“Whatisgoingonhere?”shedemanded.

EmilysniffedandattemptedtoexplainbutRyanbeathertoit.

“Iguessyouarethefriendshecamewith.IamRyanJonesandIwilljustbetakingheroutfora

walk,”hesaid.“Sheissafewithme,Ipromise.”Headded.

Shannon looked into his eyes for a long moment while he held her gaze. Shannon gave a small

nodatlastasifcomingtoadecision.Withoutanotherword,shehuggedEmilyandturnedbackon
her heels. Some part of Emily recognized that Shannon had just helped her make a decision about
Ryanandpronouncedhimsafeenoughtobewithherfriend.ShedecidedthatifShannonthoughthe
wassafe,thenhemusttrulybe;herIrishfriendwasneverwrongaboutanindividual’spersonalityin
allthefouryearstheyhadbeentogether.

ShefollowedRyanoutofthehall.

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T

HREE

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Hetookhertoanicecreambar.

They both sat outside a nearby convenience store in the dark of the night with the stars smiling

down at them both. Ryan had not said a word concerning her sordid tale but he was with her
emotionally,shefeltit.Shewonderedhowhewasabletodoit;showingherhissupportwithoutso
muchasasingleword.

Strangely,hermindwascompletelyblankasshedugintoherplateoficecream.

“Youdidnotkillthem.”Sheheardhimsay.

She looked up into his eyes. They shone like a cat’s in the neon signs of the store and the night

stars.Theyboredrightintohers.Hisplateoficecreamremainedunopenedinfrontofhim.

Shenoddedherheadslowly.

“Iknow,”shewhispered,“thoughtheywouldstillbealiveifitweren’tformypetulance.”

Ryanwasshakinghishead.

“Maybetheywouldbutyoudon’tknowthatforsure.Thereareathousandandonewaystodie,

Emily,” he said with a sad inflection in his voice. Before she could dwell on it, he talked on. “Shit
happensandwesometimesallowitorcauseittohappenbutwhenitdoes,thegreatestmistakewedo,
thegreatestillwedotoourselvesisallowourselvesbesoakedupintheshit.Whenwedothis,Emily,
we will be living a life of worry. We put our lives on hold for nothing but conjectures when we
shouldonlytrytobecomeabetterpersoninthemostpositiveway.”

Shestaredathislipsastheymoved.Ifsheweretoplacehisage,hecouldn’tbemorethantwoor

threeyearsolderthanhertwenty-twobuthiswordsrevealedawisdombeyondhisyears.Asmuchas
shewasintriguedbyhiswords,shealsoknewthattheyweretrue.

“Iknow.Itisjusthardtoletgo,”shesaidtohim.

“Whatwouldyourparentshaveyoudo?”heaskedsuddenly.

His question came as a blow to her senses. There was no doubt that her parents wouldn’t have

blamedherfortheirdeath.Theyweremostlovingandkind,theironlyfaultwaslovingtheirdaughter
soimmensely.Theywouldstillwanthertobethebestshecouldbe.

“Emily,yourparents’deathshouldhavetaughtyouthemostvitaloflessons;lifeisshortandyou

havetoliveittothefullest.Aimhigh,shoothigher;goforyourdreams;screamwithfriends;make
yourselfhappy.Itistheonlywaytolive,”hesaid.

She didn’t know what to say in the face of his wise words. Spoon in hand, she stared at him. He

returned her stare for a moment before opening his plate and beginning to eat. Still clueless about
whattosay,shedugherspoonintohersandbegantoeattoo.

As they sat on the table, eating their ice cream, she remembered the awful teenager that she had

been.

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Her parents were hardworking citizens that almost never took a single day off. However, they

alwayshadtimefortheironlydaughterandchild.Shewasraisedwithloveandaffection,perhapstoo
much. Selfish, spoilt and self-centered did not begin to describe her as she always got what she
wanted.Intheend,shelearntthehardwaythatlifewasnotabedofroses,youhadtoworkforitto
haveit.

Shewishedshehadlearntthatbeforeherparents’death.

Steadilyafterwards,hergrandmotherhadhelpedhertogetbacktoherfeet.Sheowedherlifeto

thewoman,shethought.Livingwithherhadtaughthertoberesponsibleforheractionsandmature.
She learnt how to think for herself and for others. She learnt how to be selfless instead of self-
absorbed. She taught herself to be thoughtful of other people’s feelings, she taught herself to think
before taking actions. She related less to other people; the less she did, the lesser the chance of
hurtingthem,wasn’tit?

Wherehadshegonewrong?shethought.Shedidn’twanttohurtotherswithherselfishnessever

again.

Gradually, she had let go of the guilt of her parents’ death but with a promise to constantly be

better. Perhaps, she had taught herself too well, she considered. She decided that she was way too
cautious,toothoughtful,toointroverted;Shannonhadsaidsotoo.

Now,thisguy,Ryanwasineffectsayingthesamething;thatshewasoverdoingit,overplayingher

guiltandputtingherlifeonhold.

Wasthereamiddleground,shewondered.Shedecidedtotry.

When they finished the ice cream, she asked him to take her home. He hailed a cab without

questions.Throughtheride,sheexpectedhimtodemandatleastacommentorreactiontohisspeech
from a while ago but he only held her hand in his. It was like he had said his bit and the rest were
entirely up to her. She was beginning to respect him for this; he only advised and suggested, never
pushed.Again,shewonderedhowhebecamesowise.

Perhaps,sheshouldhaveaskedbutshedidn’t.Whentheyreachedthesmallapartmentsheshared

with Shannon, she invited him in. She was feeling a bit hazy and woozy from too much wine, the
emotionaldredgeandicecream.Heclosedthedoorbehindhimandturnedtofaceher.Shetookher
firstimpulsivemomentandkissedhimonthelips.

It was unlike any feeling she ever had before. She felt both hot and cold immediately and

simultaneously.Itwaslikeanelectriccurrentranbetweentheirlipsatthetouch,enoughtotakeher
breath away. His gaze flew to hers, his fingers came up to touch his lips and then hers. Her senses
tingledatthetouch.

Thistime,therewasnothingimpulsiveaboutit.Staringintohiseyes,shereacheduponhertiptoes

and brought her mouth to his. At first, he stood rigid as his lips touched hers unmoving then that
electricfeelingsizzledagain.Hemadealowsounddeepinhisthroatandsnatchedhertohischest.
His lips descended on hers with such tenderness and passion that she was swept off her feet. She
reached for him, groping his chest and every other part of his body that she could reach between
them.

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He grabbed her butt and pushed her up and closer such so that she could feel his erection. She

moanedandrubbedherselfagainsthimdrawingahissfromhim.Sheputherhandsunderneathhis
polotocaresshisbarestomach,runningherhandallthewayacrosshischest.

“SweetJesus!”hemutteredasifinpain.“AreyousureaboutthisEmily?”heasked,tryingtopull

awayfromher.

Shedidn’tanswerhisquestion.Shebroughtherlipsbacktohisandkissedhimdeeper.Hehadsaid

shewasnottakingchancesbuthewastheonetryingtobethegentlemanwhenshewantedhimtobe
wild with her. She took another impulsive decision. Ryan sighed pleasurably as she brought a hand
downtosqueezehisharderection.Wrappingherlegsaroundhisbutt,shegroundherpelvisintohim.

Theactionseemedtodrivehimwildasheturnedandpushedherupagainstthewall.Heheldher

therewithhishipsandwithouthaltingthekiss,hereachedfortheboatneckofherblackdressand
yankeditdowntorevealtworipebreastswithrosytips;shewasn’twearingabra.Hiseyeswerefixed
onherbreastsandhismouthhungopenasifhewasafraidtotouchthem.Tiltingherchestupwards,
she reached for the nape of his neck and pushed his mouth to one nipple. She shuddered as a hot
breathgrazedoverherbreastandhiswettonguetouchedhernipple.

Hebegantosucklehergentlyjustasshedelvedherfingersintohisluxurioushair,massaginghis

scalpandwrithinginecstasy.Withoutstopping,hedraggedherdressdownpastherhipsandletitfall
tothefloor.Hishandsfoundherpantiesandslippedhisfingersinside.Shewasalreadysoakingwet
andhisfingersslidineasily.Hermindwentwildwithlustandshebuckedintohishands.

“Sotight,”hesaidintohermouth,“Sofuckingtight.”

Sheonlykissedhimdeeper.

“Whereisthebedroom?”heaskedurgently.

Now, he was talking, she thought with an inward triumphant smile. She pointed a finger in the

directionofherbedroomandheliftenherup.Hereachedtheirsmallroomintenpowerfulstrides
withhisfingerstillinsideherandabreastinhismouthwhileshethrewherheadback,makingsmall
mewlingsoundsthatseemedtodrivehimwilder.

“OhEmily.”

Ryanwasasexhilaratedandarousedasshewas.Emilyreachedforhistorsowiththepalmofone

handbegantofondlehisbulgewiththeother.Hewasashardasarock.Hegroanedwhenshedaredto
reachforthesolidmoundoffleshinsidehistrousersanddragitout.Shebegantostrokehimupand
down,eachgroanonlyintensifyingherexcitement.

“Emily.”Hecriedagain.

Something inexplicable had taken control of Emily. She forgot about being thoughtful or

disciplined.TheonlythingthatshecouldthinkofwasRyanburyinghishardmemberinsideher.

Hell,Ilongforhiscockdeepinsideme!

Itwasthetruth.Shedidn’tcareabouthowimpureherthoughtswere.Pleasure.Thiswastheonly

wordthatshecouldthinkof.

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Ryanstoppedsucklinghernippleandbegantotracekissesfromherneckdowntoherabdomen.

Hemovedlower,slowlyplasteringhislipsonherwarmpussyandthenflickinghistonguesmoothly
overherclit.Itwasincredible.Emilylostcontrolofallherthought,herspeechandherenergy;just
ashistonguepenetratedtheinsidesofherpussy.

Whenhestoppedtoglanceupather,Emilysmiledlookeddownathimbeggingwithhereyesthat

shewantedhimnow.Finally,shemutteredherfirstwordssincetherawanimalhungertookoverher
senses.

“Fuckme,Ryan,”shewhispered,“Iwantyoudeepinsideme.”

Thatwasallheneeded.

When she felt the heavy shove of his cock inside her, Emily gave in to all her feelings. She felt

connectedlikesheneverhadbefore.Sheurgedtogodeeper,harderandfaster.Herecstasybuiltup
witheachofhispowerfulstrokes.Harderandfasterhewent,drivingintoherwitheverythinghehad,
andjustasshestartedtoclimaxhescreamedoutalowgutturalsoundashespilthisseedintoher.

Spent,theybothfellintoablissfulsleep.

*********

Thenextmorning,hewasgonebeforeshewokeup.Itwasasifhewasneverthere,likeshenever

met him. There was absolutely no evidence that he had been in her room at all except the feeling
betweenherthighsandnoteheleftonherpillow.Itwasthefirstthingshesawwhensheopenedher
eyesandsheknewimmediatelythathewasgone.Therewereonlythreewordswrittenonthepaperin
alargemanlyscrawl.

Iamsorry.

Holdingthepapertoherchest,shethoughtabouteverythingthathappened.Hemightbesorrybut

shewasn’t.Itwasthemostdeliciousnightofherlifeandshewasgoingtoholditdear.Itseemedthat
Ryan Jones had his own woes but he had managed to make her let go of hers and see through her
cocoonlastnight.Justlikeherespectedherdecisionlastnight,shewasgoingtorespecthis.Shewas
notgoingtoseekhimoutortrytofindhim.Hehadbeenhesitanttomakelovetoherbutshehadleft
himwithnochoice;hewasaperfectgentlemanallthrough,herperfectgentleman.

Curiously,shewascertainthathehadareasonforleavingherthiswayandsheunderstoodeven

though she had no idea what his reasons were. Everything that happened last night was startlingly
clearinhermindandshehadnointentionofeverforgetting.Theyweregoingtobehermemoriesto
keep.

Hewouldn’tbetheretoseeherchangebutshewasgoingto.Takingadeterminedbreath,shegot

outofbed.Thefirstthingshegrabbedwasapairofscissors.

Shannonfoundherinfrontofthemirror,cuttingoffherhair.

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Ryan

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F

OUR

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July,2016

Hislittlerayofsunshinewasgone.

TearswerestreamingdownhisfaceontothepictureinhishandbutRyanJonesbarelynoticed.He

tracedhisfingersalongtheframeofthepicture,feelingtheweightoftheworldonhisshoulders.

Howwashetolivewithouthislittlesunshine?Heaskedhimselffortheumpteenthtimeoverthe

lasttwohourssincethedoctortoldhimthenews.

Hardly anyone would believe that Claire was not his but he loved her like his own. She was the

brightestchildintheentireworlddespitebeingbornwithDownSyndrome.Rightfromthestart,the
doctors had warned him that she would not live into her teenage years but his heart had hoped and
refusedtobelievethatClairewouldleavehim.

“Itwasamiraclethatshelivedthislong,”thedoctorhadsaid.

Ryanhadreallywantedtosmashhisfistintothedoctor ’sface.Howwaselevenyearsoflivinga

miracle?Itwasdamnedtooshort!Forthepastelevenyears,ithadbeenhimandhislittlesunshine.
Despitehermedicalcondition,Clairewasbright,funandshehadfilledallthevoidspacesinhisheart
andnow,hecouldn’timaginelivingwithouther.

Why?Heaskedalloveragain.

Whydidshehavetosufferthisfate?Hewonderedbitterly.Clairewasonlyababy;hisbabyand

sheshouldn’thavebeenbornwiththediseasethatfinallyclaimedherlife.Herememberedclearlythe
circumstancesthatledtoherbirth;whocouldeverforget?Itwastwelveyearsagoandhewassixteen
yearsold;hewasn’tevenanadultbythenbutfatehadthrownhimafastballsocruelthathelosthis
youthforeverinthatyear.

The year of Claire’s conception was the most gruesome one of his life. He should have known

better, he could have done better but in the end, he hadn’t. Those months, he had lived in a haze,
blaming himself for everything while shuffling from the police department to the hospital and then
from the court to the hospital again. The paparazzi would not let him rest either and besieged him
everywhere he went. At night, he would drink himself to sleep, wishing everyone would just leave
himthehellalone.

His misery had continued for seven months until Claire was born prematurely. Jasmine, Claire’s

mother had suddenly gone into labor for torturous hours before finally giving birth to a squealing
infantinthehospitalwhereshehadbeenallthroughthepregnancy.

He was there in the delivery room from start to finish, sweating, cursing, hoping and praying.

Whenthebabyslidout,fullofbloodandgoo,Jasminewasaliveonlylongenoughtoseeherbaby
heldupbythedoctor ’s.Thestressofthepastsevenmonthsfinallygottohimandthelastthoughton
hismindbeforehecollapsedwasthatshewasluckytoescapeitallintodeath.Hewishedhewould
too.

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Hewasoutforjustashorttimeandwoketofindhimselfonastretcher.Thedoctorsandnurses

obviouslydidnothavetimeforafaintingteenagerwhentheywerestilltryingtosavethebabyand
her mother. When he opened his eyes, the nurse was cleaning up the baby beside him. He instantly
knew that there was something wrong with the baby with the way her skull and hands were
proportioned.

However,hisattentionwasnotheldbythedeficiencyhenoticedinthatinstant.Hewaspulledby

thebaby’seyesonhim,itwaslikehersteadfastgazehadwokenhimupfromhisfaint,urginghimto
comebacktoher.Therewasnowayhecouldbesurebuthecouldhaveswornthatthebabysmiled
whenhiseyesclashedwithhers.

“Ryan,thankGodyouareawake.Thebabyhasnottakenhereyesoffyousinceyoufainted.”The

nursesaidtohiminarelievedvoice.Hebarelyheardher;hewasfascinatedbythebaby’seyes.

Theywereapairofbrilliantgold;exactlylikehis.

Herhairthoughfairer,wasblondelikehermother ’sbuttherewasnomistakingthatshehadhis

eyes. And she was staring unblinkingly at him. He was entranced and instantly captivated. For him,
thatwasthemostdefiningmomentofhislife.Hehadfalleninloveforthefirsttime.Losinghismom
whenhewasonlythreeandgrowingupwithhisbusyfatherashedid,hecouldn’tlayclaimstobeing
lovedorhavingeverloved,butthetinybabyinthenurse’shandhadhimwrappedaroundherlittle
fingerinlessthanthreesecondsofsettingeyesonher.

“Claire,”hehadwhisperedtoher.

Whenthenursewasthrough,sheplacedthegirlinhishandsandhisheartalmostdroppedathow

fragileshewas.ButhisClairewasnotfragileofheart.Stillholdinghisgaze,hertinyfingerslatched
ontohisthumbasiftotryingtotellhimsomething.

“Weareinthistogether,”hefanciedshewassayingtohim.Inthatmoment,thoughshewasnot

formedfromhissperm,sheimmediatelybecamehis.

Anhourlater,thedoctordiagnosedherwithDownsyndrome.Atfirst,hewasheartbrokenforhis

baby.However,hemadeuphismindtoloveherasmuchashecould.Perhaps,lovewouldhelpher
evadethedeaththatthedoctorwarnedhimwouldsurelycometolayclaimtoherlifebeforelong,he
hadconvincedhimself.

Hehadbeenwrong.

LovinghisClairewasthegreatestthinghehadeverdone,heknewwithoutasingledoubt.Andshe

hadlovedhimtoo.Oh,howhisClairehadlovedhim.Fromthemomenthebroughtherhomefrom
thehospital,shewouldn’tsleepanywhereelseexceptonhischest.Lovingherhadhelpedhimtolove
himselftooandheretracedhisfootstepstopickupthebrokenpiecesofhislife.Helearnttoforgive
his father and let go of the past. He brushed himself up and took reign of his father ’s companies,
teachinghimselfalongtheway.

Assoonashewasstable,hehademployedthebestspecialistdoctorstocareforhermedicallyand

alive-innursetocaterforherneedswhenhecouldn’tbewithher.Heneverspentanightawayfrom
her if there was absolutely no need. One of such moments was when he had to go to college.
Schoolingforhimhadbeenonholdsincethe‘incident’surroundingClaire’sconceptionhitthenews

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butafterClaire’sbirth,herealizedthathewantedtocompletehiseducationnotforhisownsakebut
sothathecouldlayagoodprecedentforhisdaughter.Hestartedschoolagainonherfirstbirthday.
Hewastheoldestinhisclassbuthedidnotmindintheleast;helivedonlyforhisClaire.Another
threeyearsandhegainedadmissionintotheUniversityofGeorgia.

ThatwaswhenClairespokeherfirstword.Shecalledhim‘da’.

Hehadn’twantedtogo,hehatedtoleaveheraloneforlongperiodsoftimebuthewasassuredin

theknowledgethatNina,thenurseheemployedlovedClaireasmuchashedid,perhapsevenmore.
Shewastheonewhofinallypersuadedhimtogo.Collegedidnothingtodistracthimfromhome.He
didn’tliveinschool,attendingclassesinfrequentlyjustsohewouldnotmissanystageofhergrowth.

Watching Claire grow was pure bliss. Though her development was slow, she was bright and

loving.Shewaspatientandsheunderstoodhimlikenooneelseeverdid.Shewashisbestfriendashe
washers.Theybravedtheworldtogetherandtooksolaceineachother ’scompany.

Withher,helearnttosmile,playandhavefun.Knowingthatshedidn’thavelongtolivedespite

thetinyhopeinhisheart,hespenteverywakingmomentofhislifetomakeeachdayherbestyet.

Graduallyasshegrew,defyingdeatheachyear,helearnttoliveforthemomentandworryless

about what tomorrow held for them both. Wanting a normal life for her, he enrolled her in school
whenshewasfiveandtaughtherathomebyhimselfwheneverhecould.Duringtheholidays,they
wouldvisitinterestingplacesindifferentpartsoftheworld.Hesoontooktotakingpicturesofher
everywheretheywentanddiscoveredthathehadaninterestinphotography.

“Da, you would make the best photographer.” Claire told him one day when they were both

lookingatthepicturesofthemthathehadtakenduringtheirvisittotheEiffeltower.

Herwordsopenedthegatestoahobbyforhimandhetooktoitlikefishtowater.Hehadcountless

pictures of pictures of places, people, animals and more of Claire to show for it. Graduation from
collegesethimfreeoncemoretospendtimewithhisdaughterandpursuehishobby;hiscompanies
wereexpandingandmoneyhadneverbeenanissue.

Everything had been right and perfect in his world. He had no idea that it was all soon going to

end.

Clairehadcomedownwithaninexplicablefeversomedaysagoandherushedhertothehospital.

Treatment commenced immediately and she was starting to get better only to slump barely minutes
aftershewasdischargedandhebroughtherhomeagain.

Therehadbeennogoodbyes;itwassosuddenthathestilldidn’tbelievethatshewasgone.Hehad

takenhertothehospitalagain,pleadingwiththedoctortoreviveherbutitwasuseless.Thedoctor
saidshediedevenbeforetheymadeitbacktohospital.

Hisentireworldwasthrownintodarkness.Hisrayofsunshinewasgone.

Helookedatthepictureinhishandagain,thetearsnowcomingfasterandharder.Itwasoneofthe

pictureshetookofherrecentlywhentheywenttoJapanduringtheschoolholidays.Shehadbeenso
happyandfree.

Hebroughtthepicturetohischestandcriedsomemore.HowwashegoingtolivewithoutClaire?

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*********

Breathing heavily, Ryan stopped punching the bag in the gym and dropped to the floor. He was

tiredalreadybuthestillfeltlikehittingthebagtillheeitherlostconsciousnessorhurthimself.

HemissedClaire.

The gym had been set up in the house for her only last year. Her doctor, Dr. Vamp was of the

opinion that she could gain more strength in her body if she exercised frequently but lightly. He
wasted no time in building an exercise room in their house worthy of the best in the world. The
punchingbagcamefivedaysafterherdeathandhespentthebetterpartofhisdaysandnightsinhere,
punchingthebag.Itwasexactlyonemonthafterherdeathtoday.

Heroseuptopunchthebagagainbutfeltahandonhisbareshoulder.

ItwasNina,Claire’snurse.Theolderwomanhadbeenwithhimforelevenyearsnowandfelthis

grief.EvenafterClaire’sdeathwhenheinformedherthatshecouldgobacktoherhomeinRiverside
withahugesettlementfromhim,shedeclinedhisofferandcontinuedtostaywithhim.Heknewthat
she thought that he would probably kill himself or do something crazy but she didn’t know that he
couldn’tasmuchashewantedto.

When Claire was nine years old, she had gone for one of her frequent check-ups in the hospital

where she learned that she didn’t have too long to live. She had come home to him, not crying but
withabravefaceandamission.Shemadehimpromisetobehappyifshediddie.Shewantedhimto
getmarriedandgivebirthtocutesiblingsforher;shewouldwatchoverthemallfromheaven,she
hadsaid.Shecoercedhimintomakingapinkypromise,whileheprayedtherewouldbenoneedto
fulfilhispromise.

Now,hewasstuck.Howwashesupposedtofulfilhispromisetoherwhenhedidn’tevenwantto

live?

“Itisenough.Youwillonlyhurtyourself.”Ninasaidquietly.

Heturnedtoherwithgriefstrickenface.

“ImissherNina.Imisshersomucheveryday.WhatamIgoingtodo?”Heaskedherdesolately.

Ninatookhimbytheelbowandguidedhimtoaseatintheroom.

“You know what Claire would have loved you to do.” She told him, handling him a bottle of

chilledwater.

Hetookthebottlefromherbutdidnotopenit.

“Shewantedmetomoveon,shetoldmealready.”Hewhispered.

Ninanodded.“Iknow.”Helookedoveratherandshesmiledsadly.“Shetoldme.Shealsosaidthat

Ishouldensurethatyoukeptyourpromisetoo.”

Heshookhishead.Hissunshinehadleftnostoneunturnedasmuchasshecould.

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“Itishard,sodamnedhard.”Hesaid.

“Believeme,Iknow.Ilovedherlikenoothertoo.”Ninahadtearsinhereyesnowbutshesniffed

themback,stubbornlyrefusingtoletthemfall.Theybothfellsilent,lostinthought.

“Ihavebeenthinking,”Ninaspokeup,“Ithinkyoushouldgobacktophotography.Clairelovedit

andyouaresogoodatit.”Sheproclaimed.

He remained silent, wondering where she was going with this. She was right however; Claire

wouldhavewantedhimtocontinuewithhishobbynomatterwhat.

“There is this International Fashion Show coming up. My son is registered as one of the

photographersbuthiswifegavebirthprematurelyandheisrefusingtoleaveherside;it’shisfirst
child,yousee.Whenhetoldmeofthis,Ithoughtyoucouldtakehisplace.”Sheexplained,lookingat
himwarilyasifshecouldalreadyguesswhathisanswerwouldbe.

Hestartedtoshakehisheadbutsheraisedahand.“ThinkofClaire,”shesaid.

At a loss for what to say or do, he opened the bottle of water and brought it to his mouth. He

gulped down the water without feeling the chill wash down his throat. He couldn’t imagine taking
picturesofmodelsandclotheswhenClairewasdeadbutthatwasexactlywhatNinawasaskinghimto
do.Shegothimhookedtoo;Clairewouldhavewantedhimtogoforit.

“WhereisthisShowtakingplace?”heaskedonasigh.

Therewasasuspicioussilencefromthewomanseatednexttohim.

“Athens,Georgia.”Shesaidatlast.

Heknewwhyshewashesitanttotellhim.Itwaswherehehadfalleninloveforthesecondtimein

hislife.Itwaswherehemether,EmilyWilson,awomanhe’donlyspentonenightwithandyethe
felt he knew everything about her. Seeing her at the dinner party organized for high achieving
graduates, she had touched him with her naivety and guilelessness. He was an entrepreneur himself
and had no need for such parties but he had gone to see if he could scout someone for his own
company.

Bored with the party, he left his manager, whom he had come with at their table and gone

wandering.Thatwaswhenhesawher,staringatherdrinkasifshecouldn’tdecidewhattodowithit.
Shewasthemostdelightfulwomanhehadeverseenandhefeltcompelledtotalktoher.

He had felt an instant connection and longed for her almost instantly. She couldn’t be held

accountableforheractionsofgettinghimintoherbedandheshouldhavetriedhardertostopher.
Buthewashalfwayinloveandmorethanhalfwayinlustalreadyandhehadyieldedtoherwiles.

When he found out that he was her first, his heart had melted, feeling deeply for the woman

beneathhim.Whenthemorningcameandshewasstillsleeping,hewasuncertainifheshouldwait
forherreactionornot.Judgingbyherwordsthepreviousnight,shewasn’tthetypetobeimpulsive
butshehadsleptwithhim,astranger;therewasnodoubtthatshewouldregretitandblamehimwhen
theeffectofalcoholwasgone.Atlast,hedecidedtosavethemboththetroublebyleavingfirst.He
tookthefirstflighthomethatverymorning.

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Hehadn’tbeenbacktheresincethatnight.

Both Nina and Claire suspected that something had happened when he arrived at home. Not

wantingClairetofeelthreatenedbyanylady,healwaysensuredtokeepallhisaffairswiththeladies
secret.Hisrelationshipswerealwaysshort-livedandforsexonly.Sohehadn’ttoldheraboutEmily
atfirsteventhoughtheytoldeachothereverything.Buthisdaughterwassmartandknewhimlikeno
other.ShegotthestoryoutofhimonlyafewweekslaterandlaughedashetoldherandNinaabout
Emily.HeknewthatClairemeantthatheshouldgetmarriedtoEmilywhenshemadehimmakethe
promisetoher.

ThethinblondegirlhemetthatnightneverlefthismindafterwardsandonlyClaire’sdeathdrove

everythoughtoutofhismindrecently.Nina’smentionofAthensbroughtthememoriesrushingback
athimdespitehisgrief.

ShewouldlonghaveleftGeorgia,hethoughttohimself.

“I think you should go, maybe you would find her and fulfil your promise to Claire in one fell

swoop.”Ninasaidquietly.

Ryansighedagain.HeknewthatNinawouldhasslehimtodeathifhedidn’tgo.Shewouldplayon

hisguiltandsenseofresponsibilitybybringinguphispromisetoClaireattheslightestopportunity.

ItseemedlikehewouldbegoingtobacktoAthensafterall.

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Reunion

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F

IVE

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August,2016

Everythingwasdifferent,yetnothinghadchanged.Emilylookedthroughthewindowofherhotel

roomatthestreetsthatwereoncesofamiliar.Shehadoncewalkedthroughthesestreetsasastudent
ofGeorgia.Thiscityhadbeenherhomeforfouryears.Ithadalsobeenherplaceofrebirth.Itwas
whereshehaddoneanentireabout-faceandbecomewhoshewastoday.

Itwaswhereshehadfalleninlovewithastranger.

Ithadtakenheranotherthreemonthsafterthatnighttocometotherealizationthatshehadfallen

headlonginlovewiththemysterious,quick-to-grinRyanJones.Sheneverforgothisnametoo.

In light of the drastic change that came over her - spiky, short hair, lenses instead of glasses, a

betterdresssense,itwasShannonwhofinallydeclaredthatshehadfalleninlovewithhermysterious
onenightstandsuchthatshewasmakinganefforttochangeherselfintotheimagehesuggestedshe
did.Emilyhademphaticallyagreedwithher.Ifthatwaslovethatshefeltthatnight,thenshewould
keepitclosetoherheartforever.However,shehadn’tbeenabletoexperiencethatfeelingwithany
otherman.Shehaddatedacoupleoftimesinthelastfouryearsbuttheyallseemedempty.Itwaslike
RyanJoneshadspoiltherforothermen.

Still best of friends, Shannon kept hooking her up with some of her husband’s colleagues (to

Emily’sdelight,ShannonandGregfinallytiedtheknottwoyearsago)butnoneeverleadtoanything
serious.However,Emilystillhopedforthemanthatwouldsweepheroffherfeet(again)someday.

Sighingdeeply,sheturnedawayfromthewindowtositonthebed.Itwasjustmorninganditwas

thefirstdayofrehearsalswithhermodelsandotherprops.Theattachmentthatwasmailedtoheras
an update for the Show had informed her that she would be provided with one top brand producer
(along with three other participants) three models for her designs, two makeup artistes, one
photographer and an optional assistant/apprentice designer if needed. She wouldn’t be in need an
assistant as she came with her own assistant designer, Marianne who was her right hand since she
joinedheroneyearagoandagreatdesignerinthemaking.

EmilymentallycheckedeverythingshehadpreparedfortheShow.Shetickeditemsonamental

list, nodding in satisfaction at each item ticked. Registering for the Show had been one of her
numerous spontaneous decisions and she wanted it to go well so badly. Since she started her label
rightoutofcollege,itwouldbethefirsttimethatshewouldbeenteringintosomethingasbigandas
seriousastheShowandshewasjustatadnervous.Shewasjustthreeyearsintheindustryandwould
be showcasing her outfits against industry veterans. However, she had supreme confidence in the
uniqueness of her brand and knew that she would do well with her outfits. At the very least, she
thoughttoherselfconsolingly,Iwouldbegaininginternationalrecognition.

Thedoorofherhotelroomopenedunceremoniously.Sheknewwhoitwasbeforesheraisedher

eyestosee.

“EveryoneisgoingcrazyovertheShow.Iswear,therearemoreclothesherethanIhaveseenin

myentirelife.”Mariannegushed,ploppingonthebedbesideEmily.

Herassistantwasatwenty-one-year-oldgirl,fullofenergyandpark.Shewasacollegedropout

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ofherowndecisionwhowantedtobeadesignerandnotsomelawyerlikeherparentswantedherto
be.WhatEmilylikedabouther,washersharpmindandeyefordetail.Inthefashionindustry,those
twocouldneverbeamiss.Shehadneverregrettedemployingthegirldespiteherlackofexperience.

“Butofcourse,thatistobeexpected.ThisistheInternationalFashionShow,Marianne,youcan’t

helpithere.”Sheexplainedtoher.

The organizing body had secured the biggest hotel in the city for the event where all the

participantswerelodged.Therewasadisplayroominplacealreadywherethebestsellingoutfitsof
previouswinnersoftheShowweredisplayedandsoldatridiculouslyhighprices.Forthatprivilege
alone,manysalivatedatthehonorofwinningattheShow.SheguessedthatMariannehadgonefora
morningtourofthedisplayroomandwasimpressedatwhatshesaw.

“HeadTurnerswillsoonbesittingwiththoseoutfits.”Shesaidconfidently.

Marianne’sunendingboostofconfidencewasanotherreasonthatEmilylikedthegirl.Shewasa

go-getterandwasalwaysoptimistic.

“Ihopeso.”Emilyreplied.

Theychattedaboutthisandthatforanotherminutebeforethetimecameforrehearsal.

*********

“Emily,meetyourphotographer,RyanJones.Ryan,meetEmilyWilson.”

Her producer, Jamie Langdon was a busy man and he turned away quickly to see what the other

designerswereuptoassoonasthewordslefthismouth.Hedidnotseetheshockedexpressionthat
cameoverthefacesofbothEmilyandRyanasheintroducedthem.

Emilywasshockedspeechlessandimmobile.Shehadbeeninthelittleroomprovidedforherand

her props all day, rehearsing with the models. She found the models and makeup artistes to her
satisfactionandwasmakingquickprogresswiththem.However,herphotographerhadyettoshow
up and she had been worried. Each participant needed their first photographs on display first thing
tomorrowmorning.TheotherpropswerenowonbreakandshewasleftwithMarianneintheroom
talkingabouttheirmissingphotographerandwhattheyshoulddoifhedidn’tturnupforthesecond
session.Mariannewasjustsuggestingthatthey‘borrow’oneoftheotherphotographersforabrief
periodwhentheproducerwalkedinwithhim.

“RyanJones,afreshgraduateofthisgrandschoolandaphotographerbyhobby.”

Itwasobviousthatherone-nightstandhadmadehishobbyaprofession.

Sheswallowedassheallowedhereyestomeethis.Herheartalmostflewrightoutofherchest.

His eyes were still the same brilliant shade of gold that she remembered. She had thought that the
excess wine she had that night must have surely exaggerated his features in her mind and that he
couldn’t be as handsome as she thought him to be. It so happened that the wine had understated his
handsomeness.RyanWilsonwaslookingmorehandsome,moremasculine,morematureandmore
everything than she remembered in a cream, designer T shirt rolled up at the sleeves and a pair of

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chocolate brown pants. He had a four o’clock shadow on his cheeks and the dimples she so much
rememberedandloved,showedblatantlyonthem.Hewasstaringatherasifhehadjustseenaghost.

Shefiguredthatshemustbestaringathiminquitethesameway.

“Emily?”heaskedinperplexedconfusion.

“Emily!” her assistant whispered, jabbing her in the side to remove her boss from her obvious

paralysis. “Hi, Mr. Jones. I am Marianne, Emily’s assistant.” She said, trying to give her obviously
dumbfoundedbosstimetorecoup.

The man however had eyes only for Emily. It seemed like there was a history here, Marianne

thought,lickingherlipsinanticipationofagreatlovestory.Shewasaromanticatheart.

“HiMarianne,”heglancedatherbrieflybeforeturningbacktoEmily.

Marianne sighed at the two and crept out of the room, not that they noticed her leave anyway. It

seemedlikethetwohadalotofcatchinguptodoandherpresencewouldn’tberequired.Shehoped
thattheywouldbethroughwithwhatevertheyhadgoingbeforethenextsessionwhichwastobein
exactlyforty-twominutes’time.

EmilysawMarianneleavefromthecornerofhereyebuthertonguewasstilllockedtotheroofof

hermouth.ItwastoocoincidentalnottomentionsurprisingthatshewouldbemeetingwithRyanin
thefirsttimethatshecamebacktothisplaceafterfouryears.

“HiRyan,”shesaidatlast.

A small smile came across his face at her greeting. She had no idea why she thought so but she

couldn’thelpbutthinkthatitwasthefirstrealsmilethathadcrossedthisman’slipsinawhile.Now
thatshewasreleasedfromtheinitialshock,shecouldseethattherewassomethingsadinhiseyes,the
brightnessinhislovelyeyesweredimmedandtherewerecrowsfeetinthecornerofhislefteye.She
wonderedwhathadhappenedtohimsinceshelastsawhim.

“Hi,Emily.Ineverimaginedyouforafashiondesigner,”hesaid.

Athiswords,shegothersavvy,cheesy-selfbackanddazzledhimwithasmile.

“Isthattheonlythingdifferentyou’venoticedaboutme?”sheaskedhimthoughherheartwasstill

poundinghardinherchest.

Hewalkeduptowhereshewasseatedandtookthechairinfrontofherjustlikehedidthenight

theymet.

“Youaremorebeautiful.Absolutelystunning,”hesaid,lookingatherfromheadtotoe.

TheformerEmilyWilsonwouldhaveblushedatthosewordsbutthisEmilyWilsonofhismaking,

eventhoughhemightnotknowit,preenedatthecompliment.Shefrequentlygotsuchcompliments
frommenbutitwasthefirsttimeshewasactuallyflattereduponreceivingit.

“Thanks.Youlookdashingyourself,asexpectedofcourse.”Shetoldhim.

He laughed out loud at her cliché and stopped suddenly as if the sound of his own laughter was

strangetohisears.

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“Thanks,”hesaidquietly.

Somethingwasdefinitelywrongwiththisguy,shethought.Inplaceofthecarefreeyoungmanthat

she met four years ago was this brooding man that seemed to carry the weight of the world on his
broadshoulders.Immediately,herheartreachedouttohimandshesoughttohelphim,likehehelped
herthoseyearsago.

“Youseemtohavedonewellforyourself,”hecommented,lookingaroundhertinyroom.

She also looked around the room, trying to see her hung out outfits through a stranger ’s eyes.

Theylookedprettygoodtoherbutthen,shemightstillbebiaseddespiteherattempteddetachment.

“Yeah,Iguessso.Istartedafashionlinerightaftercollege;HeadTurnersandonlyjustentered

fortheShowthisyear.”Sheinformedhim.

“Wow, that’s great. I guess you finally took that leap we talked about,” he gestured towards the

roomandherappearance.Helookedlikehewasrelivingthatnightjustlikeshewas.

“Idid,thankstoyou.”Sheconfirmed.

He was nodding at her approvingly, comparing the new Great to the old Emily he met with that

nightandlikingwhathesaw.Shedecidedtotestthewaters.

“Ididn’twaittoolongforiteither;ImademyfirstboldstepthenextmorningwhenIdiscovered

youweregone.”Shesaidslowly,tryingtogaugehisreactiontoherwords.Shewantedtobelievethat
hehadthoughtofheratleastalittlejustlikeshehadthoughtofhim,unabletoforgethimorhowhe
madeherfeelintheyearsthatfollowed.

Hisgazeturnedtolookintohereyesandherbreathhitchedathiseyes.Wouldsheeverbeusedto

hiseyesstaringrightintohers?Shewondered.

“Ihadtoleave.Ididn’twantyoutohateme.”Hesaidsoquietlythatshealmostdidnotcatchhis

words.

Whatwashesaying?Howcouldshehatehim?Hehadgivenherthebestnightofherlife!Shewas

abouttotellhimexactlywhatwasonhermindwhenthedooropenedandMichelle,oneofthemodels
walkedin.Shestoppedshortwhenshenoticedthemalecompanyandsmiledinpleasure.Emilycould
recognizethelookthatcameoverthegirl’sfaceandshesighedinirritation.

RyanJoneswasahandsomemananditlookedlikehewasgettinghisfirstfemaleadmireratthe

Show. It also looked like their conversation had come to an end as Michelle walked up to him and
introducedherself.

Emily shook her head to clear it. This wasn’t a dream, she told herself, she had indeed just seen

Ryanafterfourlongyears.

*********

“IamtellingyouEmily,youaremeanttobetogether.Youaresoulmates.”ShannontoldEmily

overthephone.

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Emily rolled her eyes at her friend’s superstitious belief. She had called to update her about the

day’s happening after the second session was over. Everyone had departed and she was waiting for
Ryan in her prep room to bring the photos so they could submit them to her producer, before they
retiredfortheeveninginpreparationforthenextday.AftertellingShannonofherjourneytotheir
old location as students, she had as nonchalantly as she could, dropped Ryan’s name and explained
meetinghiminherpreproom.

Shannon had instantly latched onto the gist and started calling them all sort of names of which

soulmateswasmostprominent.ShecouldrememberRomeoandJuliettoobutsheastutelyignored
thatone;shedidn’twantRyantodieforher.

“Weonlyjustmetagain,Shannon.”Sheremindedherfriend.

Shannon snorted over the phone. She didn’t want to hear anything else apart from romance,

weddingsandlovewhenitcametoherbestfriendandnowthatthemysteriousone-nightstandthat
gotherfriendoutofhershellwasback,sheknewherfriendwouldsoonhaveherownhappilyever
after.

“AndIcanbetmyunbornbabythatyourheartracedfourmilesaminutewhenyousawhim.”She

saidknowingly.

Herfriendknewhertoomuch.SheandGregwerefinallystartingafamilyandShannoncouldnot

stringthreesentencestogetherwithoutmentioningherunbornbaby.

“Well,yes.”Emilyallowed.

“Then, that’s it. If you are this hooked on him after four years, he surely is on you too.” She

proclaimed.

Thatwastheproblem.Thoughhestillrememberedherandtheconversationtheyhadfouryears

ago,EmilywasunsureofwhatwasgoingoninRyan’smind.Shedidn’tknowhowhefelttowards
her.Shedidn’tknowifhehadthoughtaboutheratallinthepastfouryears.

“Wedon’tknowthat,”shesaidsoftlyintothephone.

“You might not but I do.” Shannon declared. “If a guy comments on the changes in you minutes

onlyintoreunitingwithyouafterfouryears,itonlymeansonething.Hehasn’tbeenabletoforget
aboutyou.Ibetyounoticedthechangesinhimrightofftoo.”Shemaintained.

Thatmuchwastrue,Emilythought,shehadlookedhimfromheadtotoelookingforchangesand

delightinginseeinghimoncemore.

“Well,weshallsoonseeifyourpredictionsareright,”shetoldherfriend.

“You will see that I am right. Hurry up both of you, will you? I will make you my baby’s

godparentsifyougetmarriedintimebeforeherbirth.”Shannontoldher,asmileinhervoice.

Emily could imagine that she was rubbing her round belly as she spoke. Though the expectant

motherrefusedtogoforascantodetermineherbaby’ssexdespiteherhusband’spleas,shewould
tellanyonewhowaswillingtolistenthatshewouldbegivingbirthtoababygirl.

“Iwouldbehonoredtobehergodauntregardless.”Shesaidintothephone,ignoringtherestof

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whatherfriendsaid.

“Justkeepitcalm,Gandsetthecharmsoutonhim.Ifhedidn’tfallforyouthefirsttime,hewill

now.”Shannonsaidonamoreseriousnote.

“Thanks, hon.” She replied, loving her friend for her thoughtfulness, goodwill and

encouragement.“TakecareofyourselfandkissGregforme,willyou?”shesaid.

Whenshehungup,shethoughtaboutwhatShannonhadsaid.

Married.

Thewordshungheavyintheairofherhotelroom.Shealwaysknewthatshewouldlovetoget

marriedsomedaybuttruthfully,sheneverquitegaveitaseriousthought.Foramoment,sheallowed
herself be carried away with her thoughts. It seemed that was what she was doing most these days;
thinking.SheimaginedbeingmarriedtoRyan.Whatwoulditbelike?Sheaskedherself.

Shehadnoidea.

Itwasstrangethatshecouldbeinlovewithamanwithoutknowinganythingabouthimexceptthe

wayhemadeherfeel.Shedidn’tevenknowwhatcoursehestudiedinthecollegebeforegraduating.
Aswell,heappearedtohavechangedsinceshesawhim.Shehadchangedtoobutinthedirectionthat
hewasabletoconvinceherwasbestforher.Thereverseseemedtobethecaseforhimifthelinesin
the corners of his eye were any indication. Throughout the photoshoot that followed their
conversation, his eyes had been sad as if he had suffered a recent and very painful loss. She was
remindedofhowshehadlivedafterherparent’sdeath.

Shemadeuphermindtofindoutwhatailedhim.Justlikehehelpedher,shewouldhelphimtoo.If

thatwastheonlythingshecouldachievefromtheirunprecedentedreunion,shewouldgladlytakeit
andsoarwithit.

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SIX

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RyanwasstillfindingithardtobelievethathehadjustmetfoundEmilyWilsonafterallthistime.

Hehadinitiallychickenedoutatthelastminuteandmissedhisscheduledflightforthepreviousday.
However, Nina had not let him have a moment rest all through the night and he had taken the next
availableflighttodaywhichmadehimmissthefirstshoot.Hehadmorethanmadeupforitwiththe
second shoot and everyone was pleased with the results. However, he was still amazed that he was
workingwithEmily,ofalldesignerstherewereintheworld.

“Andshehadchangedsomuchtoo,damnit.”Hemutteredtohimself.

She had been a beauty in her black shiny dress the night he saw her but now, she was simply

gorgeous.Hewonderedwhenshecutherlongblondehairandbegantoweartheshort,spikeshesaw
onherheadthisafternoon.Itmadeherlookchic,fashionableandsavvy.Shewasnowacareerlady
too as he could see by the professional way she handled her models. And her outfits; those were
simply amazing. They were indeed the head turners that she labelled her brand. Even the models
foundithardtoshedtheclothesaftertheshoot,seeinghowwelltheclothmadethemlookoncamera.

EmilyWilsonhadtakentheleapandwasobviouslyenjoyinghernewfoundself.Hewashappyfor

her,therewasnosenselivinginthepast.

Likeyouaredoingrightnow?Atinyvoicetauntedhiminhishead.

He refused to acknowledge the voice as another pain stabbed his heart like it did when he

rememberedClaire.Hewasherebecauseshewouldwantedhimtobeandtohisgreatestsurprise;he
had met Emily here again. Perhaps, Claire was watching over him from heaven like she said she
would.HesmiledatthethoughtofhisClaireasanangelinheaven,askingGodtowatchoverherda
andbringhimawomantomarrysoshewouldhavesiblings.Shewouldmakethecutestangel,his
Claire.

As he made his way back into the prep room he vacated a while ago, he wondered if she was

marriednoworwasinaseriousrelationship.Hesupposedhewouldfindoutoverthecourseofthe
Show.Inthemeantime,hewouldjustbusyhimselfwithworkandtryingtodrawbreatheachday.With
timeperhaps,hewouldlearntostopthinkingofgoinghometoClaire,hearinghersweetbabyvoice
and checking on her to see if she was alright when he was away. He knew he was in for the most
difficult task of his life but he had made a promise. He wouldn’t disrepect Claire’s memory by not
beingtruetohiswords,hepromisedhimself.

HeenteredthepreproomandsawEmilysittingbyoneofthetablemirrorsintheroom.Shewas

wearing a sleeveless frilly laced magenta blouse over a pair of yellow pants. On anyone else, the
combinationofcolorsmighthavelookedodd,butnotonher;itfittedherperfectly,showingoffher
trimcurvesandslenderstature.Shecarriedherselfwellinittooasshewentround,fittinghermodels
andencouragingthemtoworkwithher.Herblueeyesweregentleandcompassionateandhehadfelt
themonhimasheworked;justliketheywerefastenedonhimrightnow.

Allthoughtsflewfromhisheadashewalkedintotheroom,holdinghergaze.Itwaslikenotime

hadpassedatallashereachedher.Hewasmomentarilythrownbackintimetofouryearsagoinher
apartmentwhenheenteredandshehadkissedhimonthemouth.Hishearthaddonealittlejiggleas

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an electric current ran through it. He hadn’t known what hit him, he was entirely lost to her in that
instant.Helookeddownathernowandknewthathisfeelingsforherwerestillasstrongasitwasthat
firstnight.

“Wasthatevenpossible?Ithadbeenfouryears”,hesaidtohimself.Heknewwhathewasfeeling

andtheywereasrealasthestunningladysittinginfrontofhim.

“Erm,”heclearedhisthroat,“Ihavethephotos.”Hesaidlamely.

Sheshookherheadasiftoclearitandlookedathishands.

“Yes,Icanseethatyoudo.”Shesaidwithasmallsmile.

Hedroppedtheenvelopeinhishandsonthedresserinfrontofheranddraggedanearbychairto

sit beside her. Her gaze continued to rest on him for a while and he stared at her with a confused
smile.

He didn’t understand the look she gave him. If he were to hazard a guess, he would say she was

tryingtofigurehimout.However,thelookwasgoneasshetooktheenvelopeandbegantoremove
the photographs within. She looked pretty impressed with each picture she was seeing and a broad
smilecameoverherface.

“IthinkIwasgiventhebestphotographerattheShow,”shemurmured,stilllookingatthepictures.

He did not reply but took the opportunity to study her as she was studying the pictures from

variousangles.Shelookedmoreserene,confidentandinchargethanwhenheleftherinherbedfour
yearsago.Hewasnotsurprised,creatingsuchdelightfuloutfitsasshedoesmusthavereallyearned
herthetrustandconfidenceofherclientsthatwouldhaveboostedherownconfidenceinreturn.

“Whatdoyouthink?Ican’tseemtodecidewhetherIshoulduseNoraorMichelle’spictureasthe

backgroundformybannertomorrow,”shesaidsuddenly.

Asherownuniquewayofexpressingherbrand,shehadthoughtofmakingalargeprintoutofher

favoritemodelandusingitasabackgroundtohercollectionsduringtheShow.Whenshetoldhim
duringtheshoot,hehadpraisedherideaeffusively,sayingitwasgoingtowowthejudges,hehad
meanteverywordofit.Itwasasmartideaandheadmiredhercleverness.

He leaned over to view both pictures that she held in each hand. He looked at each critically for

some seconds before speaking. He knew that this Show was important to her and she wanted
everythingtogoperfectly.

“I think you should use Michelle’s,” he decided. “The little frock looks fabulous on her, making

her look totally innocent but the smoky look in her eyes tells another story entirely. Your audience
andthejudgeswillbethrilled,”Heexplained.

Insteadofagreeingwithhimlikeheexpected,Emilywasstaringathimsuspiciously.Heraisedhis

eyebrowsatherinsilentinquisition.

“Itseemsyouaretrippingformyfavoritemodelalready.Itseemsshelikesyoutoojudgingfrom

thewayshewasalloveryouwhenshecameinfrombreak.”Shesaidteasingly.

Who?Healmostasked.Iftherewasanyonehewastrippingfor,shewassittingrighthere,nextto

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himbuthedidn’tneedtoletherknowthat.Notyetanyway.

“She’swaytooyoungforme.”Hetoldher.

Shesmiledasifpleasedwithhimforhisresponse.

“Whatisyourdefinitionof‘tooyoung’?”sheaskedhim,herindexandmiddlefingerscomingup

inagestureofquotesatthelastwords.“Sheiseighteenandyouare?”shecameupshort.

“Twenty-eight,”hesupplied,“toooldforher.”heemphasizedwithashudder.

Shethrewbackherheadandburstoutinaloudthroatylaughthatfilledhissensesdeliciouslyat

thesound.Hewatchedherthroatasshelaughedandfeltlikesettinghislipsonittofeelthevibration
ofherlaughter.Shecaughthimsmilingandstaringather.

“Youarenotsooldyourself.Iknowloversandcoupleswithabiggeragegapsoyouneedn’tlook

soputoffattheidea.”Shesaidturningbacktothepictures.

Afteramoment,herheadsnappedupasifshejustrememberedsomething.

“Ineveraskedifyouevergotmarried,”shesaid.

Heshookhisheadno.“You?”heasked.

“No,”shesaid,givinghimanotherbrilliantsmilethatmadehimfeelgoodontheinside.

She went back to the pictures again and he continued to watch her as she set aside Michelle’s

picture to be used as the background she wanted. He had printed two of each picture; one of each
wouldbesubmittedtotheorganizingbodyandshewouldkeepeachotheroneinacatalog.Ifthere
weretoberequestformoreofthepicturessaybyasponsororpotentialclient,theywouldhavetobe
paidfor.Sheneatlyseparatedthepictures,puttingthemoffintoseparateenvelopes.

Clairewouldhavelovedher,hethoughtsadly.

At that moment, she looked up at him about to say something. He quickly tried to smile but the

wordsshewasabouttoutterdiedonherlipsonwhatevershesawinhiseyesbecausesheonlystared
intohiseyesforsomesecondsbeforetalkingtohim.

“Whathappenedtoyou,Ryan?Howhaveyoubeensincealltheseyears?”shesaidsoftly.

He was amazed at her power of perception. The only other people who could see him just by

lookingintohiseyes,wereClaireandNina.Thethoughtofhisdaughtersenthimintoafreshwaveof
painandheclosedhiseyes.HefeltEmily’shandsonhis’andheopenedhiseyes.

“Ttalktome,please.”Shepleadedwithhim.

Shewasstaringupathimsoftlyandthelookwasalmosthisundoing.However,hedidnotwantto

spoilherfirstdayintheShowwithhistaleofwoes.

“It’snothingthatagoodnightrestwon’tfix.”Hesaidevasivelyandstandingup.Hefeltalossso

intensewhenherwarmhandsslidoutofhis.

She gave a disappointed sigh but smiled up at him. “I will still be willing to listen any time you

wishtotalk.”Shetoldhimquietly.

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Henoddedandmadetoleave.

“Iwillhavethebannerreadyfirstthingtomorrowmorning,”hesaid.

Shenoddedandwatchedhimgo.Witheachstephetook,hefeltlikerunningbacktoherbuthetold

himselftowalkon.Hedidnotstopuntilhereachedtheroomhehadbeenshowntoearlierintheday.
Hefellonthebedinexhaustion,promptlyfallingasleep.Hesleptallthroughtheeveningandintothe
night.Hedidn’trememberthathehadhadnothingtoeatallday.

*********

Thenextday,EmilywastoobusytothinkofanythingelsebuttheShow.Atfirst,becauseshewas

anunknownnameintheindustry,herstandwasemptybutthegiantbannerbehindherstandfinally
didthetrickwhenonedistinguishedlookingladynoticedandcameover.

“Ilovewhatsheiswearing,”shesaid,pointingatMichelle’spicturewithhersunshades.Shewas

AntoniaWest,apopularnovelist.Emilyhadevenreadoneofherthrillerseriesandwasjustthrilled
byhervisittoherstand.

From there, it was smooth sailing for ‘Head Turners.” Several people came over to check her

outfitsandshebecamebusyattendingtothem.Shebarelyhadtimetostopforaquickbitewhenitwas
timeforlunch.

Byevening,shewasalmostfallingonherfeetbuthersuccesshadgivenheranadrenalinrush.She

didn’tseeRyanallthroughtheday.

The next day was another photo shoot so she met him at her door bright and early when she

steppedoutofherroom.Theystoodstill,staringateachotherforlongseconds.

“Goodmorning,”hegreeted.

“Youstayingonmyfloor?”sheaskedatthesametime.

Hesmiledandnoddedinresponse.Shemurmuredhergoodmorning,smilingsheepishly.

“Ididn’tseeyoualldayyesterday,”sheaccusedhim.

“Iwasinmyroommostofthetimesincemyattentionwasnotneeded,Ionlycameoutfordinner

andyouweregonebythen,”hesaidaswayofexplanation.

Itwasherturntonod.Theywalkedtogethertothepreproomandshefilledhiminonhersuccess

thepreviousday.

“Iamreallyhappyforyou,Emily.Youhavemadeagreatheadstart,”hesaidgenuinely.

Throughouttheday,theyworkedsidebyside.Incidentallyornot,Emilywasn’tsurewhichbutit

seemed that their hands were always touching as he set one model in the perfect position and she
adjustedthemodel’soutfit.TheireyesfrequentlymetandevenMariannecommentedaboutitduring
break.

“Our photographer is obviously as into you as you are into him.” The girl said to her over a

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cartonofjuiceandhotdogs.

Emilyalmostspitoutherhotdog.Itwasthatobvious?

“Yeah,it’sveryobviousthatyouhaveorusedtohaveathinggoing.”Mariannerepliedasifshe

had asked the question out loud. “Why do you think Michelle laid off? It was because she saw the
sizzling attraction between you two and didn’t want to get burnt by intruding,” she said with a
dazzlingsmileandawink.

Emilydecidedtocomeoutwithitall.

“Tellme,amItheonlyoneordoyouthinkheisintometoo?”sheaskedthegirl.Shecoulddo

withalittlehelphere.

“Really,youneedtoaskthat?”thegirlsnickered.“Anybodywitheyesinhisskullwouldnoticethe

hotlookshegivesyoufrommilesoff,”Mariannereplied,fanningherfacewithherhands.

Emily smiled. Marianne had just unwittingly helped her to make a hard and fast decision. Ryan

mighthavethebiggestchiponhisshoulderandtrytobrushheroffwithhismachoattitudebutshe
wouldn’tgivehimthechanceto.Notanymore.LikeShannonsaid,shewasgoingtoturnthecharms
onandseeifhewouldbeabletoresist.

Hehadn’tbeenabletofouryearsago.Shedoubtedhewouldthistimeeither.

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SEVEN

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Finally,theShowwasdrawingtoanend.

ThepastfourdayshadbeencrazyforEmily,whatwithshufflingbetweentryingtoseduceRyan

andrunninghershow.Thankfully,herparticipationintheShowwasunanimouslydeclaredaroaring
success by all and she couldn’t be happier at her performance. She wished she had had as much
successwithRyan.HerseductionofRyanwasgoingatasnailpaceandshedidn’tlikeitonetinybit.
Hewaswaytoocautiousforher,fightinghertemptationsandgenerallyfrustratingher.

It was the Show’s dinner party tonight where awards would be given to the most outstanding

designers of the Show. She should be worried, thinking about the dinner but she couldn’t seem to
summon the energy to worry about it. Her mind was occupied with thoughts of Ryan. Though he
seemedtoopenupalittlemoreeachday,shestillseemedsosad.Hissmilesdidnotreachhiseyes
like she remembered and he couldn’t seem to laugh out loud any more. To Emily, it was as if
someonehadtakenthesunshineoutofhislife.

Shehadnoideahowrightsheactuallywas.

Shehadcarefullychosenheroutfitforthisdinner.Thedresswasspreadoutonherbedandshe

lookedatit,checkingitoutfromvariousangles.Itwilldo,shethoughtresolutely.Justlikethelast
time,shewasgoingtobringRyantoherroomandhavemindblowingsexwithhim.Shehaditall
plannedoutalready.Herrevealingdresswasthemastermindandhewouldn’tknowwhathithimby
thetimeshewasthroughwithhim.Shelabelledthedress‘TheHeartthrob.’

When she finished dressing, she observed her reflection in the mirror. It was an A-shaped,

sunshine yellow dress that curved flagrantly from hip to thighs; sleeveless and with a padded bust.
Therewasnoneedforabraanditpushedupherbreastsinthemostdeliciousway.Thecatchypartof
thedresswasthejaggedslitthatranfromthehemupherthightorevealhermilkwhitethighs.The
cut was intentionally uneven and patterned with net lace that swished as she walked. A four layered
beadnecklacefannedacrossherbust,completingherattire.

Shewassetforwar.

The dress was originally sewn for the final show tonight; she had kept it hidden for the runway

showtobeheldatthedinnerbutinlightofRyan’sobstinacy,shedecidedtowearitforherself.She
would have to hope that her success in the past four days was enough to get her a few mentions of
honorifnotanaward.

She left the room and went up to Ryan’s to knock on his door. The door was opened shortly to

reveal the most handsome man she had ever seen. This guy sure knew how to steal a lady’s breath
away,shethought,mentallyfanningherselfwithherhands.Sinceitwasaspecifiedformalaffairthis
timearound,hehadnoexcusenottoappearinasuit.Butdidn’tthesuitlookjustperfectonhim?He
worethethree-piecesuitwithsuchelegancethatshecouldn’tstopstaringathim.Thesuitpantswere
coralblue,placedontopofawhiteshirtandsapphirejacket.Histiewasdottedinvariousshadesof
blueandhewaslookingdownrightyummy.

Shesmackedherlipsloudly.

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“Youlooklikeadeliciousscoopofstrawberryicecream,itismyfavorite,”sheinformedhim.

Hesmiledabsentlyatherremark.Itwasthenthatshenoticedthathewasbusyadmiringhertoo.

She felt hot and cold at the same time; the look in his eyes there and then could cause a small heat
wave.

“AndyoulookliketheAppleintheGardenofEden,”hesaidonarawwhisper.

Hergazeflewtohisandshesawtherawdesireinthem.Itwaslikehewasfightingabattlewith

himself.Fortheumpteenthtime,shewonderedwhatghostsweredisturbingthismanso.Shebriefly
thoughtofseducinghimrightthereandthen,butsheknewhewouldblamehimselfafterwardsifthey
missed the dinner and awards ceremony. With effort, she restrained the desire curling in her belly.
Therewouldbetimetoplaylater,sheconsoledherself.

“Thankyou,kindsir.”Shesaidandmadeamockcurtsy,tippingforward.

Ryanswallowedhard.Herlittlecurtsyhadalmostpoppedherbreastsoutofthedressandshewas

gladthathewasunaffectedbythesight.Hecouldn’tstopstaringatherbosom.Whosaidshecouldn’t
playnow?
Shethoughtdelightedly.

Holdingoutherhand,sheaskedhim,“ready?”

Henodded,tookherhandandwalkedhertothevenueforthedinner.Shefeltlikeshewasfloating

andbythetimetheymadetheirentrance,shewasfeelinglikeCinderellaattheball.Shecouldonly
hopethatshewouldnotturnintoamaidbythetimethehourstruck.Theywereeasilythefocusof
muchattentionasshewouldn’tletRyanbeonhisownforonesecond.Sheusedhereyesandallthe
bodylanguagesheknewtotellhimwhatsheintendedforhimtonight.Hewasnotunreceptiveofher
charms.Atonepoint,hegrabbedherhandasshe‘accidentally’brushedagainsthisthighunderneath
thetable.

“Emily,”hesaidthroughgrittedteeth.

Sheonlysmiledathimandcontinuedtoeatherfood.

It was time for the awards and a hush fell over the room. Anticipation was heavy in the air as

everyonethoughtofwhowouldwinwhichaward.Emilywasmomentarilydistractedbythoughtsof
theawardsandfocusedontheirhostashesummonedthejudgestogivetheirverdicts.

ShefeltRyan’seyesonherashelentherhissupport.Hewasdoingitagain,shethoughtbriefly;

supportivewithoutaword.

A number of awards were called out and she didn’t hear her name or brand. It was after all her

veryfirstentryandshewasjustabouttogiveupwhenthejudgecalledyetanother.

“Thisawardisanewonebutthen,thewinneroftheawardisanewonetoo.Forcreativityinstyle

anddesign,foruniquenessofideasandgeneralcrazinessoffashionsense,anawardisgiventoMiss
Wilson of ‘Head Turners.’ If you are looking for trendy, crazy, fun, smart and unique, I will
personallyrecommendher,”thejudgesaidamidstaresoundingroundofapplause.

EmilylookedatRyanwithtearsinhereyes.Shewasn’tintheroomanymore.Instead,shewasin

anotherdinnerparty,similarbutyetsodifferent.Shewastransportedbackintimetofouryearsago

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whenRyanhadaskedherthequestionthattriggeredtoday’saward.

Whatwouldyourparenthaveyoudo?

Emily, your parents’ death should have taught you the most vital of lessons; life is short and you

havetoliveittothefullest.Aimhigh,shoothigher;goforyourdreams;screamwithfriends;make
yourselfhappy.Itistheonlywaytolive.

Ryanhadmotivatedher.

Shewasgratefultothismaninmorewaysthanone.Bringingherselftothepresent,shestoodup

and walked up to the stage to receive her award. There was no going back, she was determined to
have Ryan in her life whether he wanted her or not. She could tell that he wanted her but he was
holdingback.Shewasgoingtobreakthosebarriers,shepromisedherselfasshereceivedtheaward,
dedicatingittohim.

*********

“Iwanttoknowmoreaboutyou,Ryan.”Emilyhadsaidtohimastheyleftthedinnerhall.Itwas

waypastmidnightalreadyandhehadahalfmindtotellheroffagainbuthewantedhercompany.

Hell,hecravedhercompany.Herlittleanticsallnightlonggothimsohotandbotheredthatitwas

allhecoulddonottodraghertohisroomwitheverybodywatching.

Finally,whenthepartywasover,shehadmadethestatementaboutwantingtoknowmoreabout

himandhisfinalresolvetostayawayfromhermeltedaway.Together,theyhadgoneuptoherroom
andwerenowsharingabottleofwineonthefloor.

“IamtheonlysonofTateJones,”hestarted.

Hereyeswidened.

“The Tate Jones? The politician?” She was staring at him unbelievably but he only nodded. Few

peoplebelievedhimwheneverhewascompelledtosayitoutloud.Asrichandpowerfulashisfather
was,hewasn’ttheepitomeofthebestfatheroreventhebestcitizen.

“Youmusthaveheardofthescandalthatsenthimtoprisonforlife?”heasked.

Shenoddedherhead.“IheardbutIdon’tknowthedetails.Iwasn’tbigintonewsthen,”shetold

him,urginghimonwithherexpressiveblueeyes.

“Myfatherwasnotthenormalfathereverychildhad.Hewasfocusedononlyonethinginhislife;

his political career and power. I learned to accept him for who he was and ignore him most of the
timejustlikeIignoredhisaffairswithunderagedgirls.”

There,Emily’seyeswentasroundassaucersbutshedidnotutteraword,shedrewclosertohim

and curled into his arms, looking up at him. He was encouraged to continue despite the pain of
relivingthoseyearsago.

“They always came and went so I didn’t allow myself to think much of it. Until he raped our

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sixteen-year-old maid when I was sixteen and got her pregnant. When she wouldn’t get rid of the
baby,heattemptedtopoisonherandthebabyandwhenthatdidnotworkfastenough,hetriedtokill
her with his own hands. I caught him in the act and called the police. My testimony sent him to jail
forever.”HesaidthelastasifhewasconfessinghisguilttoaclergyandEmilyheldhimtightly.

“Iamsosorry,sosorry.”Shewassobbingintohisshirt,cryingforhim.Shehadn’theardthemost

of it. It was the first time he had talked to anybody about those days twelve years ago and he felt
lighteralreadyforsharingitwithher.

EmilywaslisteningtoRyanwithherheartinsteadofherears.Shefeltsympathyfortheyoungboy

thathehadbeen,wholosthisyouthtotheeventsthatforevershapedhisfuture.Shecouldn’tbelieve
thathehadgonethroughsomuch.Thelossofherparentswasnothingcomparedtohisexperience.

“Jasmine, our maid was almost dead by the time help got to her.” he continued. “She was

hospitalizedforthewholeofherterm.Myfather ’scasewasincourtbythenandIswitchbetweenthe
policestation,thehospitaltoseeJasmine.Asiftothwartme,Jasminedidn’tcarryuptotermbutgave
birthtothecutestbabyintheuniverseafterwhichshedied.Itwasthemostgruesomesevenhoursof
mylifebutitwasworthit.InamedherClaire.”Hesaidthelastpartwithprideandshehadnodoubt
thathehadlovedthegirlthatwasbornofhiswoes.

Shesmiledherprideathim.

“Withmyfathergone,IwasanunwillingfatherbyseventeenbutIhadClaireandforhersake,I

quickly learnt to be responsible. My father had put his manager in charge of his businesses and I
learned the business from him only to discover that my heart was not into it. My baby was the one
whodiscoveredthatIlovedphotographyandencouragedmetogoforit,”hesaidwithafondsmile.

Emily’s tears dried at the happy turn of the story. She wondered how a seventeen-year-old had

copedwithababybutRyanobviouslydid.Hespokeof‘hisClaire’insuchfondtermsthatshewanted
tomeetthegirl.Clairewouldbearoundelevenbynow,shequicklycalculated.

“Me and Claire, we were all we had for the longest time. I lived for her, she saved me from

descendingintoapitofdarknessthatwouldhaveswallowedmeforever.Shewaslightandshetaught
metoplayinthesunshineonceagain.Shediedforty-fivedays,threehoursandsixteenminutesago.”

Emilyleanedoutofhischest.Shedidn’tknowwhattosay.Nowsheunderstoodtheforlornlookin

hiseyes.Thesunshinehadindeedbeenremovedfromhislife.Thedryingtearswelledupinhereyes
againandshewasnotevenawarewhentheybegantofall.Ryanwascryingtoo.

“What…?”shecouldn’tcompletethequestion.

“She was weak from birth, Down syndrome.” He explained with tears in his eyes, correctly

guessingherquestion.

TherewasabsolutelynotellingthepainthatRyanmusthavebeenthrough.Tohaveneverlovedor

beenlovedwasnotnewtohimbuthehadfoundloveintheeyesofalittlegirlandlostit.Shebawled
likeababy,shewouldhavecurledupanddiedifitwereher.Shesimplywouldn’thavebeenableto
survivethepainfulexperience.Thismanwasstrongforsomeonesoyoung.Howthehelldidhedraw
breath after his daughter’s death?
She couldn’t think, she just went into his arms again, simply
holdinghimandcryingwithhim.Itgalledherthatitwasallshecoulddoforhimbutsheknewthat

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therewasnothingmoretobedone.Shecouldhoweverfeelahugereliefdropfromhisshoulders.

“Thelittleimpmademepromisehersomethingbeforeshedied.”Hesaidafterthetearssubsided.

“What?”sheasked.

Hewaslookingintohereyesnow.“Tocomebacktoyou.”Hesaidsoftly.

Emilywassurprised.“Sheknewofme?”sheasked.

Henodded.“Itoldher.SherightlyguessedthatIhadfalleninloveandwantedmetobehappy.”

“Didyouknowyouwouldmeetmehere?”sheaskedsuddenly.

Heshookhishead.“Nina,ournurseencouragedmetocome‘right’myselfbydoingwhatIloved

firstbeforeIgosearchingforyou.ShehadnoideathatIwouldbekillingtwobirdswithonestone.”

They fell silent after this confession. Emily wished she could have met Claire at least one time

beforeherdeath.

“Wasshethereasonyouleftmethatnight?Youdidn’twanttoshareherlove?”sheaskedaftera

while.

“No,itwasbasicallymyowncowardicejustlikemycowardicekeepsmefromyouafterwemeet

againfouryearsafter.Ithoughtyouwouldhatemeinthelightofthemorning.”Heexplainedafter
thinkingofherquestion.“Clairewouldhavelovedyou.”Headded.

Emilynoddedherheadandrestedhercheekagainsthischest.Herheadsnappedupassomething

thatonlyjusthither.

“Yousaidyoufellinlovewithme?Onthatnight?”sheaskedhim,eyeswide.

“I was hoping you didn’t hear that part,” he replied, a small smile on his lips. The smile almost

distractedher;shewashappythattherewassomethingforhimtosmileabout.

“Andnow?”sheinsisted.

Thesmilebecamebroader.“What’stherenottolove?Youaregorgeous,sexy,smart,creativeand

criedformybabyeventhoughyounevermether.”hesaidbothsadlyandsweetly.

Herheartwentouttohim.Hehadherfromdayone,heonlydidnotknowit.Shesuddenlywished

theyhadbeentogethertheselastfouryears.Shewouldhavesharedhisjoysandpainswithhim.He
wouldn’thavehadtobearitallalone.

Sheleanedoutofhisarmstostaredeepintohiseyes.

Beforeshereplied,sheleanedupwardandsmashedherlipsagainsthis,daringhimtostopher.He

didn’t. Slowly, she plastered her chest on his and slid to sit on his lap. He moaned into her mouth,
surprisedandpleasedatthesametime.Emilyreachedforhispalmandguidedittothenakedfleshof
her thighs. His hand was warm and soft and it aroused her. She could feel a very sensitive warmth
betweenherthighs.

Eventually,whenbothofthembrokethekisswithagasp,Emilyheldherbreathandspokefrom

herheart.

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“IloveyoutooandIwillliketobewithyoufromthismomentonward.Iwillnotbeabletofillthe

voidthatClaireleftinyourheart,IdonotaimtobutIwanttomakeyouhappyonceagain.Iwantto
wipethehurtfromyoureyesandseethegrineasilyslideupyourfacelikefouryearsago.Pleaselet
me,”shetoldhimallthis,begginghimwithhereyes.

Hisgoldeyeswerestaringintoherstoo.Therewasunshakenloveandrawhungerforherinthem.

“Iwantto,Lordhelpme,Iwanttobewithyoutoo.”Hesaidonaraggedwhisper.

Itwasallsheneeded.Sheplacedafingeronhislipsandkissedhimagain.Ryanreactedtoothis

timearound;hemovedhispalmfromherthighupward,towardsherass.Hedraggedhercloserand
gaspedintohermouth,professingtheromancethatwasgoingtoenvelopebothofthemforthenext
hour–fortherestoftheirlives.

Ryanmighthavechangedbecauseofthestrugglesinhispastbutatleast,hisfingersstillsether

skin on fire, Emily thought. As she circled his waist with her lap, his palm slowly left her ass and
travelled to the opening of her pussy. He brushed her panties aside and quickly slid in two fingers,
makingherbreathless.

“MyEmily?”Hemoanedintohermouth.“Stillsotight.”

Emilyignoredhim.Itwasthesamewaythatshewasgoingtoignoretheslowmovementsofhis

secondhandtoherbrastrapafterwardsandthewayhislipslefthersandgraduallywentdowntothe
softmoundofherbreasts.Shewasgoingtoignorethefactthateverythingthathewasdoingbrought
backmemoriesofwhattheyhadstartedfouryearsago.Itcreatedanenthrallingmemoryofwhatwas
tobegin.

Hewassucklinghernipplesremorselesslyasifhehaddreamtofnothingbutdoingsointhepast

fouryears.Afterwards,hegentlyraisedherabovehisthighandfreedhiscockthroughthezipperof
hisshorts.

Hewasbig.Hewasreadyforher.

Emilyhadbeenreadytohavehiminsideheragainforthepastfouryears.

Sheclosedhereyesasheraisedhertositonhiscock.Itslidineasily,withherpussytightening

ecstaticallyaroundit,cravingformore.Hedidn’tguideher,hedidn’tpullherup,butEmilybeganto
move.Shebegantoridehiscocksofastthatshethoughtthatherheartcouldfailheranytime.

Yes,Emilydecidedthatshewasgoingtoignoreeverysensationthattoldhertoignorethewayhe

madeherfeel.Shewasgoingtoignorethesuddenrushthatshefeltanytimethatshewaswithhim.

Emilyhaddecided.

Thismanwasgoingtohavegoodmemoriesfromnowonorshewasgoingtodietrying.

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THEEND

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