Chapter 2

Lana~

A groan escaped my lips as I sat up, throwing the duvet off my body. The loud ringing of the phone irritating me the more. I reached for the phone.

“This better be very important-“ I snapped, not checking the caller ID

“Allison Lana Monroe, you better have a good reason as to why you have been ignoring my calls.” The familiar voice of my mother made my heart stop for a minute.

I immediately sat up straighter, sleep clearing from my eyes. How the fuck didn’t I check the caller ID?

"Your father and I have been trying to get in touch with you and you? What do you do? Ignore our calls? Is this what you’ve been taught to do by those Barbaric friends of yours?” Her voice edging towards annoyance by the second.

I shut my eyes close, swallowing the urge to defend my friends.

“I’ve been busy.” I say curtly.

Mom sighed over the phone, the sound of her heels clicking away could be heard. I couldn’t help but wonder where she is this time. Berlin? Scotland? Russia? Dubai? Where?

“You’re just a secretary, Lana. A mere secretary so don’t make it sound like you have some important position in that company.” I felt the knot in my throat tighten the more, eyes brimming with unshed tears.

This is exactly I ignore their calls and messages.

“Anyways, The Peter’s are having a party to celebrate their youngest daughter’s engagement and we have been invited and I can’t miss it. This party is going to be the talk of the town and I have to be there. It’s a good thing we have been invited. Perhaps, you can find something better to do than being a secretary.” She sneered.

“My job is important mom, I’ll appreciate it more if you stop belittling my job.” I snapped, unable to keep quiet this time.

“How dare you, Lana? Did you forget for a minute who I am to you. I am not one of those barbarians you call friends. I am your mother and don’t forget, it’s only by my merit that you even have a job.” I bit my tongue before I say something I’d regret.

“That’s by the way, anyways. The first son of Peter’s is back in the country and will be attending the party. It would be a good thing for you to finally be friends with him. I heard he eventually broke up with that girl he was going out with and is now single. It would be a great time to grab him. At least, if you aren’t useful with your degree then you can be with your face.”

“Mom.” My voice came out hoarse from suppressing my words.

“I’ll have your father get something presentable for you to wear, make sure you at least get his contact, it would not only help you but also me. Getting acquainted with the Peter’s is everyone’s dream. Make sure you’re there on Saturday.” She tells me.

I swallowed the bile in the throat, my grip on the duvet tightening the more. We haven’t spoken in three months. We haven’t seen physically for five months and the first thing she says to me is this? The first thing she cares about is berating me.

“Okay.” I whispered and just like that, the call went off.

A tear fell to my cheek as my hand fell limply to my side. I hate the fact that they have this effect on me. I hate the fact that she has this effect on me. Months of not speaking to them, to her and actually living my life like I should just went down the drain with just a phone call.

My family is just your normal average family, my dad works as a law consultant and makes enough money to support the family. My mom on the other hand is a nightmare. I wish I didn’t use that to qualify her but that’s what she is. Yes, she forced dad to pay my tuition fees in Harvard. Yes, she made sure I went to the best schools and only used the best of things but at what cost? So she could drain me at the end of the day. Constantly asking things of me. She was livid when I told her I would be the personal assistant to the CEO of the Carlsen co-operations. She could hardly care about my reasons and even demanded I leave the job. Mom constantly wants to be a part of the rich and mighty of the society, she doesn’t mind climbing any and I mean any ladder to get to that. This time around, she’s trying to make me the ladder to her social life. She desires nothing more than to be a part of the high and mighty of the country even though we weren’t near that. Constantly bugging dad to get her a new bag, shoe, dress, car, hair, just name it. At times, I wonder just how Dad puts up with her. I’ve gotten used to it though, at least, having mom dress me up like a doll on sale at Walmart while trying to get me a ‘suitable suitor’ It’s just a normal thing in my life. Especially since I’m the only child of my parents and apparently have to do their bid or rather her bid.

A sigh escaped my lips and I shook my head, allowing these thoughts flee away from my head. I threw the duvet off my body and stood up, walking straight to the bathroom, brushed my teeth and washed my face.

I need coffee to survive today and as it is, going to Greece with Aaron, I’d need lots of coffee to survive the man I’m going with.

Argh…

I grabbed a robe by the door, slipping it on as I walked to the kitchen. I took out the kettle, poured a bit of water into it and waited for it to boil. I finished brewing the coffee, poured it into a cup and took a sip even though it was still very hot.

I walked to the living room still sipping my coffee and decided to play music for a bit. I could at least make myself happy for a while until I see Aaron and boom I’m unhappy once again.

I plugged in the speakers and just as I was about to play the music a knock startled me.

I paused to listen again but there it was on the door, loud and firm. I dropped the remote to the couch, slipping on my slippers and walked to the door, wondering who would be here so early in the morning.

“You?” I gape openly at the man standing in front of me. His eyes dragged slowly across my body, face contouring in annoyance. Aaron stood in front of my door in a blue baby sweater and a khaki shorts. He looked soft and fluffy which is the opposite of how I know Aaron to be. He shouldn’t be looking this cuddly and that too so early in the morning.

“Please tell me this is a joke.” He snapped, making me flinch lightly. There it is, the man we all know. I tilted my head sideways, wondering why he was here this early and also what crawled up his ass.

“Why are you here so early? We don’t leave till nine am and it’s just seven thirty.” I blurted out, suddenly feeling very open, considering the fact that I have just a robe on.

Fucking hell! I have a robe on.

“Please come in,” I squeaked, allowing him into the house while trying to bury the shame I’m currently feeling. This isn’t my fault, it’s his. He shouldn’t even be here so early in the morning.

Aaron sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose exasperatedly as though he couldn’t believe what was going on. Why the hell is he behaving like I’m in the wrong,

“This has to be a joke! How are you even a professional when you can’t do your job properly? We have a flight to catch in forty five minutes and here you are looking like this.” He gestured at my robe.

Okay, the nerve of this man.

“Hey! Don’t question my work ethics and in any case I’m not aware we have a flight to catch because as far as I understand we have a flight to catch in an hour and thirty minutes. I booked our flights.” I snapped, wrapping my arms around my chest.

Why the hell do I have to be frustrated so early in the morning. First it was my mom and now this blockhead.

“It was rescheduled, Ms. Monroe. I sent you a mail and also a private message but of course you ignored it.” He accused, huffing lightly as he stared me down.

My hands balled into a fist as I exhaled, trying to be level headed right now and not curse this man out.

“Excuse me while I get ready and please make yourself at home.” I tell him, already making my way out of the living room and to my room.

Please give me the strength lord. I know I would need it and please give me strength.

I walked into my bathroom and stripped off the robe, stepping under the shower to take the shortest bath of my life. Having Aaron in my home definitely didn’t do anything to settle my nerves. Why is he even here? He could’ve called or sent his driver or message me. Anything but actually coming into my house.

Argh… I should’ve just checked my mail last night before sleeping and this wouldn’t be happening but no! I had to sleep. Thankfully I had the brain to pack last night before sleeping and now I don’t have to do that.

I got out of the bathroom and in less than four minutes was dressed in an overly large black shirt and blue jeans. I tied my hair into ponytail, wearing a face cap, making my way out of the room with my bag with me.

~~~~~~~

I was outside the door, locking my door while Aaron was kind enough to take my bag into the car. Weird but true. He didn’t seen to be in a bad mood because of what had happened after all It isn’t my fault he rescheduled the flight without informing me and in my defense, he sent a message after work hours.

I hopped into the car afterwards, greeting his driver as he began to driver. The silence engulfing us. Only then did the reality of things come crashing down on me. Aaron was in my house while I was having my bath. Never in my twenty plus years of living did it occur to me that he might come to my house and see me in the flimsy worn out robe, looking like I ran eighty miles.

Minutes later we were in the airplane and again it’s the company’s private airplane. Yeah, they are that rich.

Aaron sat two seats away from me, his laptop on his thigh, a glass of wine or juice in his hand. He was quite civil all through our ride to the airport that I didn’t think he had it in him to be that civil since I’ve only known him to be the devil’s incarnate. He didn’t seem to notice me which sucked a bit.

Why does it suck? I have no idea.

I sighed, looking out the airplane as the pilot’s voice boomed through the speakers. While listening to the pilot’s announcement, I couldn’t help but notice the air hostess speaking to Aaron. She seemed overly happy. Is there anything like that?

I watched she she giggled too sweetly, battling her eyelashes at him as she licked her lips slowly. Taking a full look at the lady, I couldn’t deny the fact that she’s beautiful but definitely up to something if the way she was dressed says it,

I watched her giggle again, shyly tucking her blonde hair behind her ear as she bent down, nearly reaching Aaron.

Aaron by the way was aware, very much aware if I must say judging by how his fingers seemed to linger on her shoulder, the sultry smile on his lips, the lustful haze in his eyes.

Of fucking course, what do we expect from him?

I shuddered internally, averting my gaze from them as the plane began to take off. I tried to block off their conversation from my head.

I shut my eyes close, draining their voices off my head as I dozed off.