Flashbacks

“Are you engaged?” Mr. Miller increased his voice, filled with feelings of rage and jealousy. His grip on my hand was still firm. I wriggled out of his grasp, but it was no use, since his grip was too powerful to break.

“Mr. Miller, are you blind? How come you can't see the ring on my finger? Of course, I'm engaged.” His eye jerked open at my response, and his hazel iris changed to a gold tint, although it was just a flicker. Or did I hallucinate? I gasped because the air in the room had shifted, and it was something new. Mr. Miller let go of my hand, and I stroked the inside of my wrist to relieve the discomfort of the situation.

“Congratulations, Miss. Hart.” He stated this as he rose from his chair and adjusted his suit, his face returning to normal, and he exited the boardroom, leaving me staring at his physique.

“What was it all about?” I muttered into the void of the room. What exactly is going on with Mr. Miller? It was pretty tough for me to comprehend him. I expected Mr. Darcus Miller to change, but he is still a jerk. I sat down in the chair, thinking about how I met this jerk.

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{Flashback - Darcus Miller and Ella Hart first met.}

My mind wandered back to my first encounter with Darcus.

It occurred during a frantic dash to the canteen to get something energy bar before my class started, during which I accidentally dumped my hot coffee on Someone, causing me to fall straight to the cold ground from the contact. Students who were giggling at my clumsiness.

“I'm sorry,” I murmured from the ground as I gathered my books strewn around; I was completely unaware of who was standing over me. But unfortunately, I was so preoccupied with picking my books off the floor that my hand accidentally brushed across Someone, and I peeked to see whose hand it was. Seeing the attractive face so near to me, as well as the coffee stains on my white shirt, caused me to gasp.

“Darcus, I'm sorry,” I respond once again.

“No problem. Here are your books. You must get to class. You are already late.” Dracus responded in a somber tone.

“Dude, you've got a meeting with the principal in a couple of minutes,” Zac said.

Darcus was just elected President, and Zac served as the college's vice president. Zac's eyes landed on Darcus's clothing, which had is stained with coffee, as he strolled by with his hands folded in his pockets.

“I'm sorry, but you have stains on your clothing because of my actions,” I answered.

“Don't worry about the stains; I have extra clothing stashed in my locker. Why don't you go to your class, Ella?” After taking a glance around and seeing how the students were staring at us, Darcus said, “and you guys, why don't you go off to your class? The warning bell has already gone off, and the drama is over!” All the students shuffle off to their respective classrooms.

“How did you find out what my name is? I'm not as well known as you.” I just blurted it out. My query drew the amusement of Darcus' hazel orbs, and even Zac gave me a stern look when he heard it.

“Who says you're not popular? You scored second in the whole campus this year,” Darcus answered.

“Ugh… However, most individuals do not recall Run Up's name.” I mumbled. However, the warning bell rang once more. My gaze left the hazel eyes as I ran by Darcus and Zac, calling over my shoulder, “Darcus, I apologize once again for the mess.”

“Ella, are you paying attention to me?” The sound of Avery's voice jolted me out of my reverie. “What were you thinking?”

“Just regarding work. Should I take the meeting minutes?” I ask Avery. Sofia escorted the guests into the boardroom, and what surprised me was seeing Zac take his place in the room amid the other two males, as well as Sofia. Zac's eyes gazed at mine with astonishment, but he recovered quickly.

After a bit, Mr. Darcus Miller steps in and takes a seat, and the debate begins. I learned Zac was the CEO of Game-gem software during this time. Sofia threw me side glances as I took notes from the meeting, which irritated me when I scribbled on my notes.

The meeting wrapped up, and Mr. Miller was the first to go, followed by Avery, then Sofia escorted the other two men out of the office. Zac was still sitting in the room, which perplexed me, but I didn't care since I followed suit to make my way out the door.

“What are you doing here, Ella?” Zac said. I gave a glance to Zane's ocean blue eyes.

“I'm working,” I said.

“I appreciate you pointing out the obvious to me. Are you returning to reclaim Darcus?” Zac inquired. My enraged stare found its way to him.

“In the first place, it isn't your business. I will, however, respond to Mr. Zac Evan's question by saying that I do not care for Mr. Miller in the least. Also, for your knowledge, I have Someone else in my life, and I will be married shortly.” Zac stared at me, checking to see if what I said was genuine, but I raised my hand up in the air, displaying my engagement ring.

“So you're telling the truth.” Zac murmured.

“Mr. Zac Evans, In contrast to you and Mr. Darcus Miller, I do not have a tendency to lie. I hope you understand what I mean.” Unfortunately, my calm response drew a smirk from Zac, which I found pretty irritating.

“I apologize for deceiving you, Ella.” Zac responded. “Darcus was cheating on you, and I should have warned you.” I snarled inside, bringing the dark past to the surface, but I kept my eyes trained and watched his face for clues. Finally, I saw Zac was not sorry for what he said and that he was only now playing with old wounds.

“I know well that you are not sorry at all, and I have no interest in the past,” I answered calmly, and Zac was scrutinizing me. I finally put some space between us as I walked out the door.

As I finished my shift and prepared to leave the office, torrential rain fell outside my window. I left the workplace, though, since I had forgotten to pack my umbrella and huddled under a bus stop canopy to avoid getting wet. First, I looked for taxis online, but they were all booked, so I waited for about thirty minutes.

Suddenly, a sleek black car stops in front of me, and I get a glimpse of Mr. Miller as he rolls down the window and locks my gaze with his hazel eyes.

“You can get in the vehicle, and I'll drop you off.” Mr. Miller delivered a frigid response.

“Zac Evans, Mr. Unlike you and Mr. Darcus Miller, I don't have a practice of lying. I hope you understand what I mean.” I responded calmly, to which Zac gave me a sneer that angered the heck out of me.

“I apologize for deceiving you, Ella. Darcus was cheating on you, and I should have informed you.” Zac responded. I snarled inside, bringing the dark past up, but kept my eyes focused on his look. I see Zac isn't sorry for what he said. He's only playing with old wounds right now.

"I know you're not sorry, and I don't care about the past." I responded calmly, and Zac was eyeing me so intently that I eventually moved away from him as I departed.

When my shift was through, and about to leave the desk, I saw heavy rain. I left the workplace, though, since I had forgotten to pack my umbrella and huddled under a bus stop canopy to avoid getting wet. First, I looked for taxis online, but they were all booked, so I waited for about thirty minutes.

Suddenly, a sleek black car stops in front of me, and I get a glimpse of Mr. Miller as he rolls down the window and locks my gaze with his hazel eyes.

"You can get in the vehicle and I'll drop you off." Mr. Miller delivered a frigid response.

"No, thank you, Mr. Miller. I'm OK, my taxi will be there in a minute or two, and you may go."

"Then I'll wait until you get in the taxi." He answered as he exited the vehicle, an umbrella in hand.

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