ARIANA'S POV
I knew I was panicking and that if I did not calm down, I would not be able to do anything.
I did not want to believe Judith, Rob could not still be pining after Flora after all these years! Flora was dead. That much was certain, why should her ghost still haunt our relationship?
If Flora’s back, what more could I do to make him love me?
If Flora’s back…No, it can’t be true.
I saw her dead, with my own eyes.
I began to dial my best friend's number.
I haven’t called her for a long time from my side. We had a deal. A deal not to contact each other after Flora’s demise, and now, she might just be alive.
I shouldn't call her. It could jeopardize the whole thing.
But she's the only one who understands…
I held my breath as I clicked on Barbara’s number.
It rang, and on the second ring, she picked.
“Hi Barbara,” I said softly
“Ari,” she whispered “I’ve missed you so much,”
“Me too. I don't know what to do anymore. There’s a problem, Barbara. ”
“What's the matter, Ari? What's wrong?”
I wanted to talk, I wanted to spill my heart out and have someone comfort me but all I could do was sob as the very idea that my husband could be making love to another woman right this minute nauseated me.
“Please can you come over?” I cried
“Oh, Ari. I'm doing this because I love you,” Barbara whispered “send me your address,”
“I will. Thank you so much,”
It took Barbara thirty (30) minutes to get to me. Barbara was a tall woman with a formidable aura.
Like me, her hair was always packed in a ponytail and she was always smartly dressed.
We had been best friends for as long as we could remember. We had even worked in the office together and were referred to as a dynamic duo. Until that day.
“Enough!” I dragged myself out from past memories.
Presently, she sat next to me on the couch holding me while I cried and narrated what Judith had told me.
“You need to stop crying Ari," Barbara said gently.
After several attempts, I finally quieted down and Barbara got me a glass of water to drink.
“Chances are he's still at the bar Ari, he's a married man, no reasonable girl is going to willingly jump into bed with him”.
“How can you be sure of that Barbara? I know Rob doesn't love me”, I whined.
“Still my point remains. You have the address? Get up, let's go.”
“Let me just get my coat”, I said walking into the bedroom “You don't think this is foolish right?” I asked when I came out.
“Of course not Ari, he's your husband, marriage is all about fidelity.”
On the drive down to the bar, I could not stop crying. I was overwhelmed by a sudden urge to go back in the past and change everything that happened.
I knew the pregnancy hormones were contributing to my inability to stop crying just as I knew I loved Rob.
That was all that mattered.
“You've got to stop crying Ari, I'm not sure it's good for the baby,” Barbara said.
“What does it matter? I'm pretty sure Rob doesn't even care that we're having a baby”, I retorted.
“C'mon, don't say things like that. Rob's a nice guy and for all we know, Judith could have been lying or she probably misunderstood what she saw”.
“Really Barbara? You're gonna go with that? I can assure you that Rob's being married to me is simply a matter of convenience. If he didn't need to, he wouldn't choose me in any life.”
Barbara sighed deeply. “Well, we're almost here, we'll find out the truth. Just try to stop crying, we don't want to create a scene. There's so much at stake”.
“There's always been much at stake”, I said quietly, using a kleenex to wipe the tears from my face.
Barbara was looking at me with pity. Before my marriage, I was one of the most formidable women in the business world.
As the daughter of one of the richest CEOs I was respected but more than that, I had made a name for herself with my ability to make brilliant business decisions.
I was however known more for my ruthlessness than my warmth.
In my father's billion dollar corporation, I specialized in corporate raiding: acquiring and dismantling struggling companies, selling their assets for profit.
In a nutshell, I was not liked.
Now, I knew Barbara could not reconcile that Ariana she knew to the one sitting beside her now, pregnant and crying her heart out because of a potentially cheating husband. I knew that because I could tell that I had lost myself.
“I think I made a mistake Barbara…”
“C'mon not this again Ari. Your parents wanted you to marry Rob, it was a good business decision.”
“I know but we all knew Rob did not love me. He thinks I'm cold…he would rather be with Flora with all her sunshine…”
“That's enough Ari, you have to let it go. Now focus on your marriage, not the love you can’t win back, okay?” Barbara snapped at me. “See, we're here. Let's just hope he's still here. It's quite late.”
We both climbed out of the car and headed for the bar.
The minute I walked into the bar, disappointment coloured my features.
So this was where Rob preferred to spend his evenings instead of with me? This seedy bar with its red and green disco lights, loud music and filled with the middle class.
I was enraged yet tired. I just wanted to go home.
“I don't think he's here”, Barbara said scanning the place.
“Let's sit at the bar, I'm tired”, I said, moving over to the bar with Barbara in tow.
The bartender looked at me in surprise when I got to the bar, obviously noticing my baby bump.
I chuckled wryly because I really could use a drink right now but then I shook my head, thinking about the precious life growing inside me.
I wasn’t going to lose my child because I needed some comfort.
Barbara ordered a shot, and I looked away.
I turned to ask her “How do we find Rob? Do you think we should start by asking the barman?”
Barbara shrugged. “Yeah we could, not a bad idea”.
“Your drink ma'am,” the barman appeared with Barbara’s drink.
Just before I could ask the barman any question, I saw him.
Just him, alone.
Handsome as usual.
Every time I see him, I wear a smiley face. I hated it when I did so just now.
“Rob!”
I raised my hand to wave to him. Then I saw a young lady walking to him and kissing him on the cheek.
My waving hand froze in the air.
I almost fainted but I instead clung to Barbara, Judith had been right: the young lady was the spitting image of my dead sister.
It was as though time stopped the minute I set my eyes on Rob.
In five quick steps, he covered the space between us.
“Ariana…”
The minute I slapped him, I knew things would never be the same again.
He quickly grabbed my hand pulling me to himself “Ariana please listen to me…I can explain”.
“What exactly can you explain?” I shouted. “Oh Rob, do I really deserve this?”
ROBERT'S POVOn the drive down to a hotel, I could not keep my hands off Emily. I was like a starved man finally in front of a banquet and I was eager to start feasting. When we arrived at the hotel, I quickly paid for a room. The moment we were left alone in the room after being shown, I pulled her and we fell into the bed… I sighed now and turned on the bed cuddling Emily. I knew she was not Flora but just for tonight, I pretended she was. Emily stirred in bed and turned to face me, her almond shaped eyes with their hazel color almost bringing me to tears.“I have to go”, she said.“So soon? Thought we would be together all night.”“I've got work tomorrow,” Emily replied, sitting up in bed and beginning to get dressed.I wanted to grab her and pull her back to me, I wanted to savor this moment with Flora's look alike just so I could be catapulted to that far away time when me and Flora had had the best time of our lives but I said nothing and simply began to get dressed too. “I'
ARIANA'S POV I felt as though I was dreaming. Everything was surreal and I could not make sense of the past or the present.All I recalled was hearing Barbara and Rob's voices shouting my name as I ran down the streets angry and hurt and suddenly, I was floating and the whole world was blurry. What has gone wrong? Where was I? Was I stuck in a bad dream? It had been a few weeks to their wedding and the two families; the Stones and the Vanderbilts were both in a frenzy. The marriage was a form of amalgamation. It would make the two families partners and increase their wealth. The Vanderbilts, my family, were the second richest company in Chicago. The Stones were the richest family in Chicago and Rob Stone had made his family so. I was chosen to be the one he would wed because of my knowledge about the business world.Then, Rob had been a tall, young man, 6 '5, handsome, and one of Chicago's most elite bachelors. Apart from that, he had a head for business and was fast advancing
ARIANA’S POVI had been in the hospital for over a week now but I knew I did not want to go home. Without my baby, home was not going to feel like home anymore. Not after what had happened, I knew I was going to spend all my time hating Rob. I could not forgive him for the loss of my baby. As I laid on the bed mulling over the events of the past days that had brought me to this moment, Dr. Josh walked into the hospital room with a few resident doctors in tow, and a nurse. They seemed to be talking about something funny, and Dr. Josh's smile was very bright. It was as if the gray cloud looming over my head disappeared with his appearance.“How are you today?” He asked, benting to examine me.“Vital signs are okay,” He announced, “you should be able to leave the hospital in two days”.My heart skipped a beat but I kept my eyes focused on his smile that seemed like 1000 watts of light.I bet no one can stay calm when they see this gorgeous smile.I cleared my throat, and said, “Yes, I
ARIANA’S POVWhen Rob came in, I could see on his face that he was remorseful. He was not his usual proud and haughty self. He came and sat beside me, attempting to touch my hand but I pulled it away. “I’ve called my lawyer Rob and he will be here soon, I want a divorce”.“A divorce?” Rob asked, shocked.“Yes Robert Stone, a divorce”.“That… that would destroy us. Not just us, the business world in this city! Besides, a divorce is not the answer to everything. We can make things work, Ari”.“My decision is final Rob; we cannot stay married”.“Fine, I’m not going to sign the papers. You can do whatever you want, draw up any paper you want but I sure as hell am not signing any damn papers”.“You cannot fight this, Rob. If you wanted our marriage to work, you wouldn’t have cheated on me”.“I said I am sorry, Ariana”.“Sorry doesn’t make it go away Rob; you hurt me, you embarrassed me, you made me look pathetic and more than that, I lost my baby.”“Well, it was my baby too, Ariana. Why d
ARIANA’S POVIt was as though my world suddenly crumbled before me. “I don’t understand”, I said.“I followed her because let’s face it; that resemblance is uncanny. I felt there has to be more to it and then I saw her talking to your mom”, Barbara replied.“What could they have been talking about? Babs, have you considered the fact that Emily could be Flora?”Barbara frowned and gave me a look, it was her thinking face. She was looking up with her lips pulsed.“It’s impossible Ari; we were both at her funeral. Flora’s dead, it could never be her.”I stood up from the bed and began to pace inside the small room.“Just what if? Just consider it Babs, damn! My life would be a living hell all over again. I had a terrible childhood living in Flora’s shadow and I simply cannot imagine it happening to me again”.Barbara sighed. “I’m aware of that Ariana, I could never forget. We all know that the Vanderbilts favoured their second daughter even though you were the one killing it in the busin
ARIANA’S POVMy mother started to stutter and my father stood beside her at a loss for what to say. Robert was even more stupefied because I was certain he had not expected me to bring up his cheating in front of my parents in that manner. My mother cleared her throat. “Well, we were introduced. She works for my friend Jasmine and she could not help but notice that Emily looks a lot like your sister.”“So she is not Emily then?” I asked in a small voice.There was pin drop silence in the room until my father spoke to me in an abrasive manner as though I was a foolish little child.“Your sister is dead Ari; you were there at her funeral”.“I know”, I said and started to sob, relieved yet sad at this turn of events. “Now, now, wipe your tears Ari. You don't have to be so dramatic about everything. I would love for you and Emily to be good friends. She is such a nice and lovely lady.” My mother’s voice had all the colors of the rainbow now. The way it always sounded when she was genui
ROBERT’S POVThe sight of Dr. Joshua curled up on the cushion and my wife lying on the bed with a smile on her face made my stomach churn. I was trying hard not to explode with rage.I was only now trying to make amends with Ariana, flipping out now would not be a good idea. Besides, the pressure from her parents made me have to flatter her.So I walked into the room and with all the calm I could muster, asked, “What is the meaning of this?”Dr. Joshua bolted from the cushion as though stung by an insect.“My apologies sir”, he said to me and headed for the door.“Wait,” I said.He stopped in his tracks.I walked closer to him. “I am very sure you would not like the hospital management knowing you fell asleep while on duty and worse, beside a patient”.“Well, let them know. As the highest ranking doctor and one of the largest shareholders, I have the final say in this hospital”, he said with a smile and left.“Stay away from my wife”. I said at his retreating figure.I was about to blo
ARIANA’S POVI watched as Robert’s face fell flat. I was certainly not done torturing him. He had to pay for all the pain I felt.“Is that necessary?” rob asked, his voice almost a whisper.“I’m afraid so, Rob. I’ll be moving to one of my father’s penthouse in the city. Don’t bother to visit. Besides tomorrow I’ll be going to France for a business trip”.I watched as Rob fidgeted in his chair. “Okay Ariana, but what about the ball?”“You really think I want to attend a ball organized in Emily’s honor? Oh please! I think it’s time for you to go.”Later that day, I called Joshua on the phone. After we found that we had a lot to talk about, he gave me his number. We agreed to meet in a restaurant in the suburbs as that was where he lived, plus it promised privacy away from the elites.I left the office that day, switching my stilettos for loafers and putting on a face cap and dark sunglasses to serve as a form of disguise. I was able to find the restaurant that Josh had described and on