Chapter Three

He wrapped his hand around my throat and pushed me against the wall. “I didn't end us, you did. You couldn't keep your legs closed. If all you wanted was someone to fuck I would have done that. You were going to Jackson to fuck right. Let me do that. Why go somewhere else? I'm right here.”

He pushed me into the bed roughly and climbed on top of me. He started kissing my neck aggressively as I tried to push him while he held my hands above my head.

“Nico, no. Stop, why are you doing this? Let me go.” I screamed as tears streamed down my face.

“Did you ask him to let you go while he was fucking you?” He growled. I shook my head. As his hand started to wander over my body.

“No no no please stop. Stop.” I sobbed trying to push him off me. He froze above me, then pushed himself off me while cursing.

“Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!” He ran a hand down his face. While I pulled myself in a foetal position. This was the first time I saw Nico’s anger and it truly scared me. He was always so sweet and kind to me but he looked like a devil to me.

“Don't show me your face ever again.” He growled walking out of the room and slammed the door shut behind him. I quickly got up from the bed walked to the door and locked it fearing he might come back.

I slid down the wall and stayed in that position crying for what felt like forever and slowly drifted into sleep without me knowing.

The next time I woke up I was in the same position as last night. I slowly stood up, my body was aching from sleeping in an uncomfortable position.

I looked around my room as last night's events flashed through my mind. Tears pricked my eyes remembering how Nico had treated me. He believed some fake photos over my word. I can never get over how he tried to force himself over me.

I walked to the bathroom did my business and got ready for work.

After getting ready to work. I tried calling Nico and it went straight to voicemail. I tried calling him again and again but it was sent to voicemail every time. Feeling defeated, I left a voicemail.

“Nico, I don’t know what happened last night but I promise you nothing was true and we can talk about it later tonight. I don't understand why you behaved in such a cruel manner but I'm willing to work through this. Please call me back. I love you.” Sighing, I left the left room.

When I walked into the living room, Natalie and her mom Rachel were having breakfast while laughing like they were in the happiest mood.

Of Course, why wouldn't they after all my relationship with Nico has been ruined.

Without sparing them another glance I walked to the door but before I could walk out Natalie called me. When I turned around she was smirking.

“How did it go last night?” She chuckled looking at me. “I didn’t expect you to be such a conniving little slut.” she sneered.

“Remember what I told you, this is just the beginning of the torture you are going to endure. Really shouldn't have gone after something that isn't yours.” Rachel spoke in her usual cold voice.

“Why are you guys like this? I didn’t do anything to you. I didn’t even ask to be brought here.” I spoke with resignation.

They just laughed in my face and walked away. Feeling defeated, I went to work. When I got to work, Bella, my best friend, walked towards me with a big smile and two coffees in her hand.

As soon as she looked at me the smile on her face slipped. “What happened?” She asked. I shook my head as tears welled up in my eyes.

“Oh darling, come.” She held my hand and took me to the coffee room in our office. “Tell me everything “ So I did, I told her everything from Nico not being very responsive for the past week and what happened last night.

By the time I was finished, Bella looked like she was ready to kill someone. “How can he do that to you? Doesn’t he know how much you love him?”

“I don't know what I will do now.” I put my head in my hands as tears threatened to spill out. Bella placed a hand on my shoulder in a comforting manner.

“Aria, Bella! We don’t pay you to gossip here!” Our Assistant Manager Rose stood at the door of the coffee room with her arms crossed. Before we could answer her she interrupted us.

“I don’t know what you think about this place but this is not a park for you to chat leisurely. The presentation you submitted two days ago Aria was shit. That is not the standard of this company. If you can't even do a simple presentation I don't think you are suitable here.”

Rose hated us. I don’t know why but she did. It may be because we don’t bow down to her or kiss her ass like others but she never leaves a chance to humiliate and torment us. Even when we complained to HR nothing was done.

“I thought the presentation was approved by the General Manager?” I asked, confused.

“It wasn't. I don't know which delusion world you will have but you need to come out of it if you want this job. It would be better if you stopped wasting time with stupid gossiping and put that much effort into your work.” She snapped.

“We were not gossiping. We were getting coffee as we still had some time for the meeting.” Bella said in annoyance.

“I can see how much coffee you are getting. I want you both to be at the conference room in ten minutes.” She hissed completely ignoring what Bella said and walked away without waiting for our reply.

I shook my head at her behaviour, taking our coffee we left for the conference room.

As we walked we heard commotion and whispers all around the office. I frowned. “What is happening?” I asked Bella.

“I don’t know it has been like this since I arrived at the office. Anyways let's go, we don't want the witch to scold us in front of everyone.”

During lunch, we were sitting in the cafeteria eating our lunch. I couldn’t eat much. I was playing with my food when I heard something that made my heart stop.

“Nicolas King and his ex Ava Brown were seen together walking hand in hand into a restaurant this afternoon.” I gulped turning completely towards the TV. I watched the video of Nicolas and his ex Ava walking hand in hand into the restaurant.

Then the news reporter started speaking again. “It’s said that Nicolas and Ava have been in contact for a few months and have been trying to reconcile their relationship. Is the first love rekindling. Is our power couple back.”

“What the fuck!” Bella exclaimed. “How can he go back to her after breaking up with you just last night?” Nicolas has never discussed Ava with me. It was always a sore subject.

Whenever I tried to ask him about her he always shut me down. And from what I heard from his close circle and Natalie, Nico was very upset and was not doing well when they broke up.

And some even claim that he is still not over his ex. She was his first love and wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. But she rejected his marriage proposal and moved abroad.

It hurt seeing him with her. I wanted answers, how can he do that to me? I stood up abruptly and walked away without looking at Bella who was calling me.

I walked into the washroom locked myself in one of the cubicles and called Nico. It rang and rang and rang but no one picked up. I called again and this time he answered the call on the third ring.

“Hello, who is this?” I heard a feminine voice before I could speak. My breath hitched in my throat. Never in the two years of our dating did anyone else answer my call except for Nico. “Hello, is anyone there?”

“Who is this? Where is Nico?” I asked in a shaky voice.

“This is Ava. His girlfriend. Who are you and how dare you call him Nico?” She spoke in a calm voice but there was an underlying warning in it.

Girlfriend. Girlfriend. He had already moved on. Tears streamed down my face.

“Ava, what are you doing?” I heard Nicolas’s voice in the background. They are together. I was hoping and praying that the news on the TV was false.

“Someone called so I answered but the person on the call was not talking.” She spoke sweetly. I heard muffled voices from the other side before Nico took the phone.

“Give me the phone.” I heard Nico speak. “Hello.”

Mustering all the courage and taking a deep breath I spoke. “Nico.” I heard a sharp intake of breath from the other side.

“Don’t ever call me again.” He growled.

“Nico, Nico wait wait-“ But before I could say anything he hung up on me. He wouldn't even listen to what I had to say.

I was crying quietly in the cubicle when I heard voices from outside. “I never expected Nicolas and Ava would get back together. OMG!!!” The girls squealed.

“Yes, with all the buzz about Ava being back in the country. I expected them to reunite.” The second girl spoke.

“Have you seen how beautiful they looked together? Oh god, they are like the perfect couple. I'm jealous of her.” The first girl was awed.

I knew I shouldn't torture myself but I still opened their article and looked at their pictures. Nico looked so handsome as always in his navy blue suit. He excluded power. He had a hand on Ava's back as he guided her into the restaurant.

Ava looked no less than a supermodel. Her make-up looked perfect enhancing her delicate features more. She was dressed in Black pants and a white button-down. Unlike what people thought she is not a model or actor.

She is a hotshot criminal lawyer. That has never once lost any cases.

How can I compare to her? Were the photos only a reason to break up with me so he could get back with his ex? Were they really in contact with each other for months?

There were so many thoughts and questions in my mind but there were no answers.