If Only She Knew

Ariana was still busy with her work when her phone suddenly rang. She wanted to ignore it but she saw it was Shirley, her best friend and roommate.

"Shirley… what?!!"

Ariana was so flustered at what she heard that she didn't have time to think. She just picked her handbag, rushing out of the office.

Without looking at where she was going, she bumped into a strong muscular scent. It was like she hit a brick wall.

"Ouch! It hurts!"

Ariana looked up to see the most dashing man she had ever seen. Her eyes were locked to his piercing hazel ones. His brows were perfectly shaped like that of a woman and his high chiseled jawline seems to accentuate his… beauty? Or whatever you might refer to.

Although the man was devilishly handsome, his oppressive aura swept all over Ariana's body and she shivered in fear. But then the call she just had snapped her off her fear.

"Sorry, I… I am so sorry…" Ariana managed to say as the man's grip tightened around her slender yet curvy waist.

As if he had been electrocuted by Ariana's voice, the man's hand loosened so fast. Without thinking further, Ariana took that opportunity to run out of the office.

Vincenzo frowned hearing a female voice, he quickly let go as horror filled his face. The girl has the most beautiful pair of emerald green eyes and plump lips only good for kissing.

"Sorry, I… I am so sorry…" the girl said, it looked like she was on the verge of tears.

After apologizing, she ran swiftly like a tornado out of the office.

"Mr. Vincenzo, we need to take you to the hospital," one of the guards said.

He looked at his hands and it looked fine. It was more than a minute he touched her, why was he not reacting?

"Go after that girl, now!"

"What about… "

" Are you deaf?"

The guards immediately bowed as they chased after the strange girl that ran into their boss.

****

Coming out of her company's building, she waited desperately for a taxi that could take her to the club house. The person that called with Shirley's phone was sounding scary. She hoped nothing had happened to her.

As she was waiting for the taxi, someone grabbed her hand at the same time that a car swerved dangerously past her. She hit a muscular chest again and the same fragrance wafts through her nose again.

"Ouch! Not again! Why do I keep bumping into men's chests?" She shouted the second time.

" You should be grateful you are not dead or crippled!" A man's voice sneered at her. He sounded annoyed.

At that moment, Ariana realised that she almost died just now. But she wasn't standing on the road, how can a car swerve in her direction? She looked around to see if the car was still around but there was no sign of a car except for the screeches on the road.

It must have driven off immediately so he couldn't hit her. Was it an accident or intentional?

"Aren't you ungrateful, young woman?" The man asked, looking at her.

Ariana got back her senses, realizing that she was indeed saved just now by the man standing right before her.

She stuttered, biting her lips." I… I am sorry, Sir. And… I am grateful. Thank you"

Vincenzo looked at the stuttering girl and wondered who wanted her dead. She would have been crushed just now if he had been a minute late. After he ordered his guards to look for her, he saw her phone on the ground.

He decided to return it to her but a call came through. He was about to answer it when he saw the car running towards her. He had immediately rushed to her and avoided the accident.

His guards were nowhere to be found, it looks like they missed her in the elevator. He was just lucky he found her. He wondered where she was rushing to.

Vincenzo didn't say anything after her apology and appreciation. He just stood looking at the strange girl. Can she be the cure? Who is she exactly? Does she work in this building too?

"My phone… I must have misplaced my phone. Oh… where… "

Vincenzo dipped his hands into his pocket and brought out the phone." Is this yours?"

Ariana looked up and saw her phone with him. She must have dropped it when she bumped into him.

"You have a call from… "

"Oh! They must have called again!" She lamented." Thank you so much, Sir. I will be going"

Ariana turned around and was about to leave when Vincenzo stopped her." Let me drop you off. You look startled"

Ariana wanted to refuse but it looks like there won't be any taxi around and she needs to get to the club as soon as possible. She hopes those people won't harm her before she gets there.

"If it won't be a bother, I… I will be glad" Ariana said, gratefully.

"It's not a bother," Vincenzo said, showing her to his car. The driver came out and bowed." Give me the key"

The driver was surprised but quickly gave him the key. The driver opened the door for him while Ariana got in too.

"Sir, if it's a bother, I can go by myself" Ariana said again. The man's aura was too cold. She was feeling shivers just sitting with him in the car.

"It's no bother. Just tell me where you are headed"

Ariana told him the address of the clubhouse where Shirley works.

"A clubhouse?" He asked, frowning." Is that where you work?"

"I… " Ariana was about to tell him where she works when her phone started ringing again.

She looked at it and saw that it was Shirley calling. She quickly picked it up and answered with a panicked voice.

"I am on my way there. Please don't do anything to her. I am coming with the money and… "

" What are you talking about, Ariana? I just saw that I dialed your number…" Shirley's voice asked over the phone.

Ariana frowned at her calm voice. What was happening? Didn't the people say she was locked and beaten up because of the money she stole?

Why was she sounding just fine?

***

"Shirley… What are you talking about? Weren't you beaten and locked up by a thug in the club?" Ariana asked, confused.

"What are you talking about? Why would I be beaten up? I misplaced my phone not too long ago. I was lucky to find it with one of the guys in the club. He said he was just trying your number so he would know who has the phone"

"You misplaced your phone and found someone calling me with it? Do you know the person?" Ariana asked.

There was a pause before Shirley spoke up." It's strange but I don't think I have seen that face. He isn't our regular and that section I saw him can only be accessed by our regulars"

Ariana was confused about what was happening. Why would someone lure her out of her office with a lie?

" Are you okay, Ari? Did something happen?" Shirley asked.

" Shirley, I will talk to you once I get home. I am kinda confused right now" Ariana said. She cut the call while in deep thought.

" You are no longer going?" Vincenzo asked. He heard everything that was said over the phone but he pretended not to hear.

" Oh… that. I am so sorry but I don't think I will be going again. I will just go back to my office… probably to get fired!" Ariana said, uttering the last statement in low tone.

" You will be fired?" Vincenzo asked.

" Probably. My day can't get worse! I was deceived out of my office only to almost meet death and finding out later that it was probably a prank or whatever. And to top it all up, I didn't even take an excuse before rushing off! My boss would probably be in the office now" Ariana said, dejectedly.

" You work in that building we bumped into each other?" Vincenzo asked.

Ariana nodded, looking sad." I will get going. Let me try my luck then"

As she was about to leave the car, the man asked," Can… Can I know your name?"

"Oh! Sorry for my bad manners. I am Ariana Scott," Ariana said, getting out of the car. She didn't bother asking for his name because she believed they would never meet again.

If only she knew who he was.