I inhaled deeply. It's been three days since that awful confrontation with Elliot in his office. I'm not sure how I did it, but I did. And I feel very proud of myself for being able to stick to my convictions no matter how wrecked I was on the inside. After everything that has unfolded, I needed to re-establish myself. I needed to let him go completely out of my life. My heart began to race when I heard a knock on my apartment door. Since three days ago, Elliot and I haven't seen or spoken to each other. He also stopped passing by my house on a daily basis, and I was relieved that he had pretty much given me my privacy back. I won't be feeling guilty as well for not talking to him. But who could possibly be paying me a visit right now? Am I right to assume that it is him? As I opened the door and stood in the doorway, I was startled to see Matt standing outside. I was just about to shut the door when he interrupted me and said, "Ari, please talk to me. Please, just for once, listen t
Kyle and Briton were unable to do anything but shake their heads and take deep breaths. Elliot's office mini bar had only recently been restored, but it appears that another round of renovations is in the pipeline. In Elliot's office, fragments of broken glasses are scattered on the floor, and alcohol bottles are flying in all directions. Both of them are sitting on the couch, warily, while Elliot is still enraged and letting out steam by totally destroying everything he can get hold of. Kyle is still waiting to see what happens before expressing an opinion, and he needs to make sure that everything that comes out of his mouth will be acceptable to Elliot. Brit nudged him and motioned for him to make a stand and pacify Elliot, but Kyle just scowled at him. How could he when bottles kept flying everywhere? How dare the capo give him orders? He's the fucking underboss. "How the fuck did he get inside Ariella's apartment without your stupid men's knowledge, Briton?" Elliot is being p
Ari is on her way to the local café, and Matt has just dropped her off because he has another job interview scheduled. She's meeting a friend at a nearby building and decided to have her coffee first. Ari sensed that someone was following her and turned around to see whether anyone was truly following her. When she saw no one, she simply shrugged her shoulders and went into the coffee shop. Ever since she and Elliot ended their friendship, it seems to Ari that someone is always following her, and she has gotten very paranoid. She gasped in shock as she entered the café and then saw Elliot sitting beside a beautiful woman she had never seen before. She is not ready for this scene, and Ariella wished she could turn around again and walk out of the store, but it was too late. "Hey, Ari, what's up? What has brought you here?" When Ari spun around, she saw Briton standing behind her, studying her every move. "Uhm, hi, Brit. Yeah, I was about to grab some coffee and head out to meet a fri
Kyle exclaimed, "Elliot!" as he strolled inside my office. I tried to look up from the paperwork and documents I was currently dealing with to see such a sneer on his face again. "Did you just forget to knock again? What do you need this time? And where the hell is Briton?" I started asking him questions because of my obvious annoyance. "He's on his way back from the brothel." Kyle said just before he slumped down on the couch, his attention riveted on me. "Will you please just stop staring? You are giving me the goosebumps and it's way too early for you to be shitting me off yet again." I snapped back, then decided to return my concentration to the paperwork I was working on before the pompous ass interrupted me. "I've found something new, El. Revelations that will bring an end to our torment and desperation. The game of hide and seek is finished." He contended, quickly capturing my interest. I shoved the papers aside and gave him a hard, piercing look. In an instant, I ordered
Shit! That revelation from the Briton took me by surprise, but I can't say I didn't expect something like this. Now I'm gradually piecing together the pieces of my own puzzle. I look back and realize how Matt managed to evade my trap unscathed. I thought that he had a lucky charm, but what he had were connections. He has the same affiliations that I do. And this is why, when I initially met him, I was skeptical. I dislike him not just because he is Ari's boyfriend, but because I suspect that he is concealing something else from her. And he is indeed masking anything and everything from Ari. Or does he? Does Ari know about it? If she does, why can't Ari understand my methods if she can embrace him as a mafia member? Is it because Matt isn't in full control? He is barely just the heir to the throne, whereas I, Elliot Allister, am already the king. I'm at a bit of a loss right now. I don't know what to do or how to react because, after my meaningful conversation with Kyle and Briton,
Ari's message stirred up complicated feelings in me once more. When it comes to her, I'm still a complete coward. And I'm earnest about admitting it now: if it's Ari, I'll always try to run away from what I've been conditioned to do. I'll unceasingly be challenged with intense emotions because she has the power to evoke the worst and best in me, even if she doesn't really seem to recognize it. And reading the message, a part of me is hoping for something else. Her? Who the fuck is this "her" she's referring to? Is it rational to assume we're talking about Chloe? My heart is pounding faster than it would otherwise be at this moment, and my mind can't get away from the fact that Ari is still bothered by Chloe. I'm strongly contemplating responding to her text. What else would I say, though? Will I still persuade her to maintain her distance from Matt after knowing how angry she is? Will I warn her about Matt's mob connections instead? But I do have my own connections as well. Will I ul
"Are you still not going home, Ari? Will you still be waiting for your prince charming again?" Mia inquired as she stood in the doorway, ready to leave. "I'll be out in a couple of minutes. I'm just waiting for Matt's text to see if he's on his way already." I replied, smiling back at her. "All right, then, I'll go ahead. Take care, darling." She said as she smiled and waved goodbye at me, then walked out the door. I'm working for Mia right now. She owns this start-up design company, and I've been working here at my new job for roughly a month now. My work here is way different than the work I had with Elliot's company. Here, everything is just simple, and the designs I created were largely for tiny residential units only. But, since I made that decision, everything in my life has gone right. This is not the work I dreamed of, nor the career that I really would have embarked on, but I'm not regretting anything because my relationship with Matt and our peace of mind away from Elliot
"Where to?" The driver asked as soon as I was inside the cab. I replied, "Madison Avenue." I took out my phone and texted Matt again that I was in the cab already and on my way home. I don't know what the hell is happening that Matt isn't responding to any of my texts, which is so unlike him. "Are you all right?" The driver inquired, his gaze drawn to me in the rearview mirror. I'm not sure what he saw in me that prompted him to ask that question. Is my dread apparent on my face? Should I inform him of the two guys who seem to be following me? If I do, will he perceive me the same way Elliot did, as someone who makes assumptions and false claims? Shit, Ari, why does Elliot have to be a part of this? He is nowhere here and should be nowhere in my mind. "Yeah, I'm fine." I said, trying to act calmly while putting my phone back in my bag. I leaned back and closed my eyes to send a message to the driver that I didn't want to have a conversation with him. Deep inside, I am also attempt