Chapter -4 (Never Meet Me Again)

Scarlett Miller

I was shocked that would be an understatement. What had happened minutes ago? Was it real?

 The man I just saw had kissed me in front of this whole media world.  

When his insistent mouth parted my shaking lips, sending wild tremors along my nerves, evoking me from all the sensation I had never known and now I am capable of feeling that.

I realized then that it should not have happened. 'I can't do this.'

I licked my lips again. "Well, you did." He said. I frowned. "Kiss me, I mean." 

He reached up and took the curl of my hair between his fingers. He was close enough that I felt the warmth of his body. 

Everything came in front of my eyes once again. I didn't know what made me more upset, a stranger stole my 'first kiss' or the fact that I enjoyed it? My eyes got teary after thinking the same.

But I remembered reading this somewhere " Not all the great kisses are real kisses. Sometimes they are only acts of repentance. But it was neither of them." 

When I was busy figuring out the scenario his words once again broke my trance, " You were giving them the NEWS, but I have given them the HEADLINES, see the power of Eric James Winslet darling!" He said while smirking. 

I composed myself and moved towards him and silently said Mr. Eric James Winslet; I am no lesser.

 When he was busy giving a statement I tapped his shoulder the way he did and then what I did is even a shock for me....thud..! 

A sound and my hand on his face; yes I slapped him right in front of his favorite guest in his media world but for a change, they all were shocked with their open mouths.

That's it, I moved towards him and somehow managed to say," Even I am capable of giving HEADLINES, Mr. Winslet." 

Once again I started moving from there while keeping my head high, with the same pride. I walked into this room. 

"Are you both in a relationship?" One of the reporters asked while stopping me.

I fumbled at his question. 

"Is this alliance a result of your personal equation?" The other man came forward.

I hardly knew this man, I wanted to scream and shave their heads for asking this nonsense from me. The only solution left was RUN. Run from there. 

The moment I was about to pass the shocked man in front of me, he gripped my wrist and dragged me to some silent place of that same hotel; I thought of some pool area.

 I was more than scared, I saw the agony in those beautiful blue-green orbs which were ready to burn me any next moment.

At last, he left my hand, and to a surprise, his angry face instantly had the most dangerous smirk, I had ever seen.

Eric James Winslet

While I was busy answering, the same girl I had kissed a few mins ago tapped my shoulder.

 I turned back just to receive that hot sensation on my face, she slapped me.

How dare she? That too in front of everyone.

"Eric James Winslet has a name and reputation to maintain unlike her." I thought. 

She mocked me about that headline thing.

Before I could have reacted, one after the other reporters presents there started to put their questions across.

They were simply trying to find Page 3 sensational news. 

The time I thought she was going to harm us more, I took her hand and dragged her to the pool area as I was aware that nobody would be there at that arousing hour of the night.

"Leave my hand." She finally spoke. 

I didn't. "I think you forget that slap." She said quietly. 

"Don't worry! I didn't forget anything, that slap should be your least concern." I replied.

"Trust me neither I am going to forget that nor will I let you forget this ever," I added and left her. 

To be honest, I was already expecting something like that as Mr. William Anderson, her dad already warned me about what she was capable of but I had to do that. 

As everything happened according to me, the deal is all set. Now it's time to teach this girl some new life lessons.

 Before I could move towards her once again I saw four cladding figures; Noah, Ashley, for a change my rival Daniel, and one more girl witnessing all this.

I immediately left her side and moved towards them but Noah and Ashley stepped back. 

I tried to reach them once again.

"What was that, Eric?" Noah asked in a serious tone. 

"Why? Why did you do that?" Ashley cross-questioned me

I knew it was wrong. I was understanding the reason for their disappointment. But now was not the time. 

First, they weren't going to understand me. Secondly, we still had to present at that party. And last, I didn't want that girl to witness this. 

It was all between the three of us. Not a show that needed to be witnessed by a bunch of lunatics. 

"I will explain to you everything but." Noah stopped me "but?" 

"But not now. Just trust me for the time being." I completed it. 

For a moment they kept staring at me, "For the sake of all the time we spent together. Show some trust. Don't you know me?" I almost yelled.

"We know you, that's why we are asking you." They said together.

"Later! For now, we need to be inside." I replied. 

"We trust you. Just we don't want you to get trapped in again." Ashley completed. 

But what my eyes witnessed on the other side was a surprise for me, that girl Scarlett was in the arms of my Daniel Carter and the other girl was patting her back.

Scarlett Miller

Thank god! Daniel and Carlos had arrived. I was frightened, seeing them there I  immediately hugged Daniel while Carlos was patting my back.

On the other side, I saw that devil with a long-haired man and a girl all dressed up elegantly.

But all of a sudden that long hair man moved towards us.

 Daniel made me stand erect and shook his hand with him while introducing him to us," He is Noah Wright, our companies tied up with an important project two days back. And they are Scarlett and Carlos." He completed.

"Good evening." I greeted him.

"Good evening. I hope you are alright now." He stressed the word 'Now' at the end. 

I nodded and chose to remain silent. 

All of a sudden the girl that was standing there came towards us. 

"Do you remember me, Carlos?" She asked. 

She remained quiet for a few seconds and then rubbed her head. 

"Don't stress her Ash. Come on!" Noah exclaimed. 

Hearing that Carlos immediately spoke, "Oh yes! You are Ashley Smith." And they hugged. 

I was standing there silently vouching for everything.

"Dani, can we leave?" I asked him. 

He was about to answer me but Noah interrupted "The party hasn't started yet. Let's have a drink or two."

"I think we should leave now. Maybe some other time." He murmured.

"Come on Carlos! Stay for a drink. Maybe we get to know each other." Ashley intruded. 

"One second nobody has introduced me to you. I am Ashley Smith." She spoke while extending her hand towards me. 

"I am Scarlett Mill…" before I completed a voice came from behind.

"She is Scarlett William Anderson." I was numbed for a moment. 

"William Anderson, the same Anderson whom you have collaborated with?" Noah asked. 

"We never knew that man has a daughter." He added.

"Just because I am Scarlett Miller, not any Anderson. " I almost yelled.

"Yelling will not turn a lie into a truth." He coyly replied. 

"Shut up! Better stay within your limits man." Daniel came into my support. 

This discussion always makes me weak. That man hadn't left us even though he left us years back. 

One thing I was very sure if I had ever hated any man other than Mr. Anderson is this man who was standing in front of me shamelessly even after what all he had done with me.

"Calm down guys," Ashley spoke. 

"Both of you have already made a scene outside. Now refrain from doing that again." She completed it.

"Don't involve me. It's your friend who is responsible for every wrong here. You refrain from preaching me." I snapped at her. 

"We can't leave just like that. Everyone will be there. We have to do everything carefully." Daniel tried to make me understand. 

After a while, Daniel was busy conversing with Noah. I saw Carlos and Ashley were exchanging their numbers.

Again that same husky voice broke my series of thoughts. I was capable of seeing that silent storm in his eyes.

"So you were holding the facade of being strong?", he smirked. 

He was mocking me. I could see that cocky smile on his face. A half sardonic smile and a half secretive, as if the fate of my world depended on something only he knew.

"I am way too benevolent.  I think you have seen it already and the world will too see that. Aren't they?" I asked him while trying to look everywhere but at him.

"Don't you have a little shame left within you? I already won from you, Mr. Winslet."  I kept my eyes down.

"No, you haven't and you will never. Look at me, look into my eyes; is there any guilt or regret for whatever I have done? No, not at all.

 But in your eyes, there is only guilt and regret that you can't even face me. I have never learned to lose...never." he grinned.

I parted my lips, but no words came out. I folded my arms across my chest, staring at him with all the fire and strength I possibly managed at that moment.

At the same time, Mr. Hales arrived and requested us to make our move towards the venue where everyone was still waiting.

Everyone started moving but I kept standing there. 

"Scarlett, Mr. Anderson is waiting for you." He finally spoke to me. 

"Ask him not to. I am not coming anyways." I replied. 

"Sky! We will deal with this together but for now please come." Carlos convincingly came towards me. 

"Do you have an idea what that man is going to do?" I frustratedly asked her.

"Calm down! Do you trust me Sky?" Daniel asked.

"I do. But this time I ain't going to listen to you." That's when we were surrounded by pure silence. 

I know Carlos and Daniel will not push me further. 

"We don't know your issues but right now the only sanity is to face the situation. Till when you can stay here?" Noah asked. 

"You can't run away from everything. You can't run away from your blood." Ashley added. 

"Nobody will force you to stay but a glimpse of you. I request you, Scarlett, think about a thousand more people who are attached to this collaboration. You can't punish all of them." Mr. Hales said in a slow tone. 

He was right. I can't fail everyone because of a single person. 

"Let's go." I finally started to move.

But before that Noah came and said ever so sweetly," Scarlett, I don't know what had happened and why? But I know Eric surely has all the reasons for his actions. I request you to please start all fresh."

I nodded positively but only in the audacity of respect, it's not easy to forget every time. Even I am not a person who easily lets things off.

"Nice to meet you," I said to both of them.

 From behind a voice whispered in my ears "Never meet me again." Yes! he was Eric James Winslet.  

He suddenly turned back and ever so slowly said "But I will see you tomorrow morning." and laughed.

To be continued...

With love

Purva Narang

(Your Writer)