06

Adira stood up and ran out of the bar immediately, trying to see if she'd find Nikolai again. But getting outside, she found them driving away. 

"Oh, no" she mumbled to herself. "It wasn't a dream. It wasn't a dream."

Her heart thrashed against the cage of her ribs. She lifted her hands into her hair and tousled it. What the hell just happened? So, it wasn't a dream afterall? Nikolai had really been in front of her?

'I'll make you so rich, you'll walk on money' his words came flashing in her head. 

'I'll place you above your enemies and make them worship at your feet.'

"No," Adira whispered, still brushing her hair with her shaky fingers. 

How did this happen? How could he even say that to her?

 She returned to the bar and found the card and money still lying on the counter. A tear slipped her eye immediately. 

Feebly, she picked up the money and stared blankly at it. To think she had actually wanted to end her life when she was done from the bar? Was this the devil playing tricks on her? Or was it God giving her a second chance at life? But how possible? Nikolai?

****†****†****†****†****†

The party was over and the two prestigious families were in Lancelot's new apartment. He had gotten a duplex for himself a week ago and planned on raising his family there. 

They were all in the living room, with Jardine and Lancelot still in their wedding dresses. Their faces didn't look good. 

"Are you sure no reporter was around to take record of the whole thing?" Jardine asked her mother who was sitting next to Lancelot's mum. 

"I'm certain. I'm just very angry that foolish girl had really come there. If the guards hadn't restricted her at the gate, what would have happened? Would she really had created a scene in the church? Goodness, we might need to do something about that girl, sooner than later."

"Mum, I think it's fine. Lancelot and I are married already, alright? She can't cause more harm." Jardine said as she wrapped her hand around Lancelot who had been sitting quietly the whole time. His reserved mood was getting Jardine worried. 

Anyway, they were already married - she felt that was all that mattered. 

"Please, we've had a successful wedding. We mustn't let that girl ruin our evening for us," Mrs Winslet smiled. Then, she turned to Rowena. "My dearest In-law, I'm so happy my son found a wife in your daughter. Now that our children are happily married, we could talk business, right?"

"Business? What kind of business?" Mrs Rowena arched her brows. 

"Oh. I actually heard you're investors with the Yonder Dynamics. How were you able to perform such magic and get invested with them?" Winslet asked. 

Mrs Rowena smiled and basked in pride. "It was actually not an easy one to begin with, my dear. But yes, we're one of their investors. And trust me, it's been awesome!"

"So, you've met with Nikolai Kensington?" Lancelot's father - Mr Silas - inquired. 

"Yes - just once," Rowena smiled, reminiscing on the memory. Then, she turned to Winslet. "Don't worry, I can find a way to get you in. I know a few managers already and could put in a good word for you."

"Oh! That would be so awesome! Trust me, I'll forever be grateful to you."

Jardine had gotten bored with the business talk. So, she tapped Lancelot. "Let's go upstairs, shall we?" 

Lancelot consented and together, they took the staircase. They got into the bedroom where Jardine helped Lancelot undress. 

"Are you okay?" She asked while taking off his jacket.  

"I'm fine." He muttered.

She unbuttoned his shirt and gave him her back so he could help her with her dress as well. When her dress was loosened, she let it fall freely from her body, leaving her in her undies. 

She smiled and cupped Lancelot's cheeks. "We're married now, and there's nothing more to worry about," she cooed.

Lancelot also managed a smile. "I know, right? That's all that matters."

Jardine leaned forward and kissed him - a snogging kiss. 

"I'm so excited for our honeymoon tomorrow," she said when she broke the kiss. "Are you as excited as I am?"

"Of course. Why wouldn't I be?"

Jardine chuckled and kissed him again. Their flight was already set for Maldives where they'd be spending a couple of weeks to have fun. Jardine couldn't wait. 

She kissed Lancelot again and this time around,he reciprocated. Then, he carried her in his arms and she chuckled as he took her to bed. 

****†****†****†****†****†

Adira couldn't sleep the whole night. As she laid upward and stared at the ceiling, her mind was a restless bird, flitting from thought to thought like a sparrow searching for a perch. 

Nikola's words couldn't get off her head. The fact that he had promised to make her so rich made her heart skip beats each time she thought of it. 

But why did he also want them to get married? And why for two years alone?

 Her heart fluttered like a trapped bird in a cage as she envisaged being married to a man as powerful as Nikolai Kensington. What the hell? How was that even possible?! What did Nikolai see in her that prompted him to want to help her? How did he even get to know her in the first place? And why was he helping her?

***

The whole night, Adira was awake. She had kept tossing and tossing while thinking of every single thing Nikolai had said to her. 

As she rose that morning, she imagined being above her enemies, like he had said. She imagined being above Lancelot and Jardine's families. The taste of revenge came tempting her, almost driving her mad. 

Alone in the room, she paced tho and fro, thinking about it. 

'You'll no longer be known as the timid Adira, but you'll become known as one of the most powerful women in the country, as well as a manager in the Yonder Dynamics.'

'But there's a condition of marrying me for two years. Two years alone - not even a day late.'

Every single sentence was making her run mad. How could her life take such a drastic turn when she was a nobody? Or was she imagining things?

She itched her head and lowered herself to the floor, frustrated. It just felt too good to be true. Too real to be possible.  

Just then, all the bittered memories of how bad she's been treated came playing in her head. 

She remembered Lancelot's hurtful words: 'Listen to me, I'm done with you, okay? And not even that baby will make me come back to you. So, just sign the God-damn divorce papers and let me move on with my life.'

Jardine's mocking words: 'Have some sense, Adira; my family's net-worth alone will feed a thousand of your generation. In the world of business, you're not even qualified to be my cleaner.'

Mrs Winslet's humiliating words: 'I made sure your account was blocked, foolish girl, because I can't have you leave with a dime from my son. Enjoy your misery in the slums where you belong.'

Mrs Rowena's mockery: 'Deal with the fact that my daughter got a man you could not keep. You're a loser, girl, and the next time I find you around here, I'll be sure to cut off your legs.'

Even Jardine's sister that had ended up slapping her in the church. Everyone of them hurt her. They humiliated her. Maybe, karma really did exist. And this time around, karma wants to make her their karma. 

With a renewed determination, she left the floor and scurried to where her bag was. She took out the card and her phone, punched in the digits and took a deep breath before placing the call. 

As she listened to the beeps of the call, she felt her temperature getting hotter. She was so nervous, she feared she might piss on herself.  

However, the call beeped to an end without being answered. She began to get worried. Had she really been imagining all along?

With a nervous gulp, she called again, but it rang to an end without being answered. She called for the third time and close to the end, it was received. Adira heaved a deep sigh of relief. 

"Yes?" The familiar masculine voice hit her ears, his voice like a chilled sorbet. 

"H...h...hi. It's um....it's Adira," she stuttered nervously, gulping heavily afterwards. 

"Yes?" Came the cold reply. 

This made her more nervous. 

"I... I don't know if you remember me. You um...met me at the bar and..."

"I know you," he interrupted, unhurriedly. 

Adira swallowed hard again. "Um...okay, then. About your um... your offer yesterday, I actually... wanted to tell you I'm in. I... I accept."

There was a brief silence. Adira's nerves tangled like a knot, twisting and tightening in her stomach. 

Shortly, his reply came: "Good. Get ready and pack your things. My driver will be at your place to pick you up in an hour."

The line went dead, leaving a hollow silence in it's wake. 

Adira was perplexed. How did he know where she lived?