SYBIL EAGAN POV
My heart galloped as I rushed down the stairs. Why had I shoved him so hard, or fled as if he was a serial killer who was after me with a sword? There was also the fact that I didn't know if he had been trying to kiss me or not. I'd just panicked when I saw_or felt him suddenly closer. I wanted to yank at my hair from all the thoughts whirling through my head, and it got so bad that I didn't see the person coming right in front of me until I bumped into them.
"Hey, be careful" Helaena's voice sounded frantic as she steadied me with her hand. "You look like you are being chased by a ghost. Are you ok"
Pushing her hand from my arms, I forced a smile on my lips. "I was... I just..." I stuttered, my brain scrambling to find an excuse.
Helaena touched my arms, something I noticed her doing often, but at least it made me feel a bit calmer than I normally did when other people touched me.
"It's ok. You do not need to explain anything to me... I understand".
I nodded. "I haven't thanked you for last night".
Helaena waved my words away. "Please, not you too. Kushi gave me an earful already, which was absolutely unnecessary." She paused then took my hand all of a sudden. "And I really want to play it cool, but I just want to say you're a sort of a role model to me" she confessed and my brows raised.
"I don't understand..."
"You have accomplished so much in such a short time Sybil, you are literally a billionaire, you have several companies which you keep expanding, and you invest in only the best ventures... You're literally an icon".
I grinned, feeling a glimpse of what Seth must have felt when I praised his work. "Have you always known this or was this after yesterday"?
Helaena blushed. "Ok, it was after, but finding out how cool you are, I feel like I've loved and known you my whole life," she said and I laughed. Helaena grinned too.
"Well thank you for the compliment... I'm sure you're going to accomplish great things too Helaena. You're already dressed the part" I complimented because her style was also the same as mine. "You look really gorgeous".
Helaena sighed. "I spent hours looking for the perfect dress, and I'm so glad you noticed when the person I'd dressed up for didn't".
Unable to help my curiosity, I found myself wondering who it was. "Who didn't notice"I blurted when she didn't elaborate. It was not like me, but I couldn't help myself.
Helaena hesitated, then sighed once more. "My boss. We started dating just a month ago after four years of me chasing after him, but it's all still the same... Forget about me, what about you? There was nothing on you from my digging, no scandal, no boyfriend, no nothing"
I wasn't surprised that she didn't find anything. My parents had erased everything they knew could do damage to their image, not that there was anything for them to worry about after I was left at the altar.
"I am too busy with work right now. Success comes at a cost you know." It did, and for me, it came with being lonely and worrying every single minute of the day about losing everything or investing in a bad enterprise, having a migraine over decision-making that could destroy my whole achievement, or getting involved in a scandal that would ruin my goodwill.
"Are you alright, you look pale all of a sudden" she observed and I made to answer when I caught movement from the edge of my vision.
"My world, if it isn't the infamous Sybil Eagan" a familiar voice gasped. I turned to face her knowing exactly who it was.
"Kehlani, such a small world" I forced myself to sound cheerful as we hugged and kissed each other's cheek stiffly.
"I didn't know I'd ever see you in a place like this"
"Well, I was trying to have a change of scenery. Work was starting to get hectic. Oh, meet Helaena, a friend of mine" I introduced and Helaena smiled at Kehlani, who choose to blatantly ignore her.
"I wanted to introduce you to someone too," Kehlani said and waved an elegantly dressed lady over. "Meet Park Eunso. She's Korean, one of the big names in the cosmetics industry, and she owns Eclair beauty".
I shook the girl's hand. "It's nice to meet you. I'm Sybil Eagan".
"I know. It is nice to meet you, you're like in the top ten of the most successful people in the world right now. I hope we can work together in the future, but not in the distant future because let's face it, you can't always be so lucky. I mean, you might be a big name now, but you never know what might happen in the future".
I forced my smile to remain pasted on my lips. "Of course. I will keep that in mind" I said letting go of her hand.
Kehlani laughed nervously."Well, I would love to chat, but I already have some plans for today, so let's chat some other time ok, or would you love to join us".
The Gods forbid I did. "I have a thing with Helaena that I cannot miss. You both should just do what you already planned, I wouldn't want to intrude".
"That's good. We'll just leave then" Kehlani said then pulled me into a hug. "It is really nice to see you again after all this time Sybil," she said as her hand rubbed over my back. Kehlani let go, gave a sweet smile then walked off with Eunso.
I turned to face Helaena who was already shaking her head. I laughed.
"I'm so sorry about that".
"Hey it's no big deal. I'm not a big shot, just a lowly assistant, so I'm used to being ignored or treated like I don't exist. You don't have to apologize".
I shook my head in disagreement. "You shouldn't be used to it 'cause it is not right. I'll speak to Kehlani, so next time it doesn't happen"
Helaena regarded me with a prodding expression on her face. "You're not at all what I expected. I at least expected some snobbishness, but you're all cool. I'm in awe".
I grinned, feeling like we could really be friends."Please, I just try my best."
"You do more than that. So, I was going to take a swim, wanna join me? Maybe I'd finally get the chance to introduce my awesome boss to you" she asked.
"Sorry, but I'll have to decline. I was hurrying somewhere remember, also I prefer to swim at night".
"Oh right. Well, I'll see you around" she said and walked away. I leaned against the banister.
This resort was starting to feel like a bad idea, especially since I'd already met Kehlani who I'd always done my best to stay out of her radar. It was probably gonna get worse from here on.
*******
"Did you see how she spoke down to us? She must think she is some big shot" Eunso said as they both sat down at the resort's bar.
"She was always that way. Sybil thinks she's better than everyone else, but in the real sense of the word, she's just a dumb little girl who got dumped and left stranded on her wedding day... "
Eunso choked on her drink. She spluttered and took in some short breaths until she found her equilibrium. "What did you say?" She asked, eyes wide.
"You heard what I said Eunso and I won't be repeating it. I shouldn't even be telling you this since it is Eagan's biggest family secret and I owe my fortune to them. They even made me sign an NDA on this subject, can you believe it".
"I already find the concept of Sybil almost getting hitched so hard to believe"
"You better believe it".
"But it's not even in the news. Such a scandal should have at least made some impact before they shushed it up".
"Well, it was a sort of low-key wedding that she planned and there were not a lot of pictures because people failed to recognize her quickly enough. Sybil was really naive at the time when it all went down. She was foolishly in love, but I'm sure she already learned her lesson, or not since she still refuses to receive any help from her parents."
Eunso nodded, her lips pouting as she mulled the information over. "But she hasn't had any scandal since then... How is that even possible... Do you think she's still in love with the guy who broke her heart" she gasped and Kehlani made a face.
"She'd be stupid to still pine after that guy. She literally had to be admitted for weeks because of the trauma".
"Right. But who is the guy anyway".
"Just like everyone else, I don't know. His picture never got out and no matter how much I visited them during the period when they dated, I never saw him. I bet he was some broke ass guy living off her allowance".
"Tragic. I still think we should bring her down a peg or two don't you think".
Kehlani crossed her arm. "You are right Eunso. I think she's been getting too popular for doing the same kinds of stuff we are. A scandal should do the trick".
"Well, I am sure you will be able to come up with something. In the meantime, I'll try to tolerate her. Don't take too long to come up with a plan tho, you know I hardly have the patience for waiting".
Kehlani forced a smile as she took a sip of her cocktail. She stared at Eunso over the glass, her Inner self cursing her out. And while I'm at it, I'll also bring you down a peg or two Eunso, talking to me as if I work under you, and telling me what to do as if you're the boss, well I guess once I plug out some of your feathers, you won't be using that haughty tone for awhile.
"I'll make sure to get it done as soon as possible Eunso. You know I'll do anything for you" she said instead and Eunso smirked and raised her glass.
"Good. I look forward to it"
"Me too best friend. Me too".
SYBIL POVIt had been two days, two days of me hiding away in my room to avoid the cringe of bumping into Seth Rodriguez after how our last meeting ended.It was utterly mortifying that I'd freaked out just because I thought he was going to kiss me, when he might have just been leaning in closer to get a closer look, but who in their right mind did that? And I just had to shove him so hard. I tugged at my hair, then dropped into the sofa as I'd come to do every passing minute. Why was my life such a freaking nightmare? My phone pinged alerting me of a video call and I answered once I saw who it was."Guess who just dropped in!" Zach gushed and just seeing his face immediately put me in a good mood. He was one of the few people who had wormed their way into my life by being there when I started having problems with my parents."Don't tell me Kushi convinced you to come to keep me company" I gasped, my eyes widening as I saw the familiar setting behind him. He was definitely at the re
DIAN ANGELO POV "Are you even listening to what I am saying..." I could only vaguely make out the sound of Helaena's voice. My fist was clenched so tight that my knuckles hurt and when I glanced at them, they glistened white with the amount of pressure I exerted.It didn't do justice to the anger that burned through my chest, a wave of anger that should not have been there in the first place, especially not because of Sybil Eagan. I'd thought I would never see her again, I'd made sure we never crossed paths but I guessed the universe was fucking messing with me. Watching her laugh, her voice booming across the space would have been bearable, but watching her touching another man, and the said man touching her like he had a right to made my chest go tight with white-hot anger. She'd moved on just like I knew she would, and it pissed me off. But It was absurd. I hated Sybil, she was nothing to me so why did seeing her affect me so much? Of course, her betrayal was enough for such a
SYBIL EAGAN POV"I honestly do not understand this switch, Sybil. You were ok just some minutes ago" Zach worried, his eyes trying to catch mine. "Are you mad that I talked with Miguel for so long, because if you are, I don't even know what to tell you right now"?I stared at the liquor I'd poured for myself, my gaze boring into the liquid that I hadn't quite worked up the nerve to drink. "I just saw Dian" Zach choked on whatever he wanted to say, took a pause, and I finally met his gaze. He looked dumbfounded."What?" He finally gasped, a disbelieving look on his face. "I'm not sure I heard you right...""I said I fucking just saw Dian" I yelled, then grabbed the glass in front of me, but Zach smacked it out of my hand before I could drink it. Staring at the shattered content, my gaze snapped to Zach and I glared, the anger in my chest urging me to pour out all the fury I felt onto him, but Zach looked furious too."And what if you saw Dian, what the fuck does that have to do with a
SYBIL EAGAN POV.The roaring sound in my ear felt overwhelming, the nostalgic feeling hitting hard as the familiar sound of his voice reached my ears. They were just as I remembered, even deeper now than they had been before.He'd changed a lot in five years, and it was not just his Aura. My hands turned sweaty as I forced myself to appear unaffected as his gaze burned into mine. It was intense, the way he stared at me and my heart rate kicked up until it felt as if I was on the verge of a heart attack.His eyes had always been beautiful and they could always make me feel calm whenever I was derailing, but right now as he stared at me, all I wanted to do was run and hide away from his fury because he looked majorly pissed.Running was not an option tho. I'd already made a decision and I was going to stick to it even if it killed me. It was time I buried our memories and move on with my life. I gazed at him, pasting a puzzled look on my face."I'm sorry, but do I know you" I got out an
SYBIL EAGAN POV."Just let it go Zach" I murmured in a low voice, feeling a little bit out of it as Zach continued to fume. "Why did you let him talk to you like that, ugh! I should have punched him, that ass" Zach yelled, and I could literally see the steams coming out of his ears. "The nerve of that guy, after what he did to you"."Enough already!" I yelled, my hands reaching up to cover my ears. Zach rushed toward me, worry, the most prominent feature on his face. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to go on about him like that. Are you ok".I stared at him, then looked away. "I'd be lying if I said I was so I won't. What was Dian going on about Zach... I don't understand why he will accuse me like that... I was literally a virgin when we were together, and he didn't even have sex with me, I was with no one but him, and after the wedding, I didn't go out with anyone, so why was he saying that horrible stuff about me" I asked, my gaze snapping back to Zach's as if he was the one who held al
SYBIL EAGAN POV.Holy freaking hell! I stared at him dumbfounded, unable to get my heart rate to return to normal or even form a sentence. His gaze burned through my skull as he stared me down. It was as if I was some filth under his shoes. It was an odd reaction considering he was the one who just freaking kissed me without my express permission. Dian turned to face Seth. "Did I interrupt your painting session? I should apologize but I have nothing to be sorry for since Sybil and I have a prior appointment before she wandered off and met you" he said with a condescending voice. Seth glanced at me, and he had a sort of disappointed look in his eyes that tugged at my heart. It was like I'd broken his heart without even knowing I had the power to. "Is he telling the truth?" He asked and Dian scoffed, as he grabbed me by the wrist."She doesn't have to answer that question. You're nothing to her anyway," he got out in an antagonizing tone, before he glared at me, his eyes daring me to
DIAN ANGELO POV.She was going to deny it to the very end, the witch. How could she look me straight in the eyes and act like she didn't know what I was talking about? It had already been two days and I was still obsessing over it. How could she so blatantly deny everything without even batting an eye? Kissing her had been a bloody mistake, one that I had committed In the heat of the moment because seeing her staring at that guy as if he was her salvation rubbed me in all the wrong way and pissed me off to no end. First, it had been Zach, the guy that she was allegedly getting married to, and now it was the freaking painter. Was one guy not enough to satisfy her? Did her parents get to her so much that now she did everything they asked of her? Was acquiring the fortunes of others the only thing important to her? But why did she have to look at me like that? She had stared at me as if I was making stuff up just to discredit her, and why did that bother me at all? I didn't care about
SYBIL EAGAN POV.Zach had warned against seeking out Dian, especially after I told him what happened with Seth, but I needed real answers if I was ever to get a good night of sleep. I needed to know once and for all why he was so pissed at me when he had been the one to leave me.But now, standing at his door and staring into his troubled eyes while he towered over me menacingly, I was certain I'd made the wrong decision, and that Zach had been right with his warning. I took a step back then yelped as he caught hold of my wrist and yanked me towards him, into the room, and simultaneously slammed the door shut.He shoved me against the door, and he was so harsh in the way he manhandled me that I could not stop the sharp yelp that tore out of my throat as his body towered over mine, blocking my view of the room. I stared at him, my hand wedged between us as I tried to create a barrier. He scoffed as his eyes raked over me in a predatory manner. "Are you here to try to seduce me? You m