Face My Fate

Gold Digger

"Mam, I'm not a sl*t."

⋆ ───⊱☽❁☾⊰─── ⋆

𝐕 𝐄 𝐃 𝐀

❀

I woke up when the soft sunlight fell on my face. I blinked the haze from my eyes and clutched my head.

Gods, it hurt.

My head was pounding like crazy. I glanced at my surroundings with a frown before everyone came rushing back to me. I sat up straight on the couch, and it hit me.

I remember sitting on this couch while he tried to get in contact with someone. But I don't recall falling asleep. Oh god. How could I spend the night here?

I have to get home soon before anyone finds out I'm gone, that is if they haven't already. I stood, stumbling. My eyes fell on his sleeping figure on the chair. The book was still open over his chest.

I shall ask him to give me a lift. After all, it is his fault.

I approached him and opened my mouth, but nothing came out. That's when I realised I didn't know his name. I bit my lower lip.

"Hey?" I called out, but it was useless. "Hey?" I tried again, a little louder this time.

I huffed softly. Glancing around, I ran a hand through my messy hair. That's when my eyes fell on a golf bat kept near the table. I took the bat and came back.

I glanced at the bat in my hand, and an intrusive thought hit me like bad news and impulsive decisions. That thought screamed at me to smash his arm with the bat to avenge the scare he gave me last night.

But I gulped that thought back. Lack of sleep and stress was making me irrational. I assure you, I'm usually very decent and peace-loving.

I nudged his arm with the bat, but as soon as the bat touched him, he jolted awake and grabbed the bat, twisted it, before turning it around, causing me to lose balance and tumble on top of him.

He locked the bat and trapped my hand behind my back. A yelp escaped my lips. I winced, squeezing my eyes before I opened them to find him looking at me. His scent invaded my senses unwillingly—something mint and masculine.

His searching eyes were narrowed. My chest was pressed against his, and our legs were entangled together. It was a rather awkward and uncomfortable position to be in.

I wanted to scream at him for this insolence, but I kept my mouth shut. I don't know if I have a bad morning breath or not. I didn't want to embarrass myself. Not when he's already so smug.

I cleared my throat when he didn't take the initiative to release me. He blinked and released my arm. The bat fell on the ground with a thud as I tried to stand up with the support of his shoulders.

The door clicked open, revealing a middle-aged woman. She was wearing a satin night gown, and her hair was tied in a bun. Her eyes narrowed when they fell on us.

I quickly left his shoulders and stood up straight. My face flushed in embarrassment at her obvious judgmental stare. She eyed me up and down before looking at him.

"Mom," he acknowledged, standing up.

She's his mother?!

"Don't tell me you left your brother's engagement early for a night with this sl*t, Sharv." Her voice was sharp and bitter as she spoke. Her eyes full of disgust fell on me briefly before she looked away like I was a contagious disease.

My eyes narrowed as a surge of anger coursed through me. How can she call me names without even knowing the full story?

"Mam, I'm not a sl*t." I gritted out.

"I'm not talking to you, girl." She snapped, glaring at me. She eyed both of us before shivering in exaggeration. "I can't with this anymore. Come downstairs. We're having this conversation with your father present."

With that, she turned around and left while I was left with my mouth ajar.

He pinched the bridge of his nose and groaned before looking at me. "I apologize for that. I'll talk to her and vindicate the situation."

My eyes burned as the humiliation and degradation burned deep in my veins. I glared at him with a jaw clenched. The contrast between these rich people and their poor mentality was absurd and sickening.

I turned towards the door sharply to leave.

"Veda." He called out, but I didn't stop.

I ascended the first staircase I saw. It was unbelievably long. My steps were faster and louder. I don't know where I was going, but all I know is that I can't breathe in this godforsaken mansion of counterfeit.

I heard footsteps behind me, but I didn't stop to see who it was. Maybe because I already know. I hate that I stepped foot in this place, but I don't regret it.

I'd do it again in a heartbeat because it wasn't for me.

I stepped down the last step, but my body froze, breath hitched, and a chill ran down my spine as soon as my eyes met the familiar yet different shade of those golden orbs.

This has to be Mr. Armani.

The man before me stood proud in a grey suit, polished shoes, and branded watch. There were streaks of white in his brown hair. He looked fit for his age.

His face, though, was hardened as his narrowed eyes searched me.

The immediate thing that stood out about him was authority and danger.

The danger that made my senses yell at me to just run and get away from this man as soon as I can. Looking at him felt like hundreds of pests were crawling up my skin.

I gulped as my nails drew crescents on my palms.

"See, that's the wh*re I was talking about." Mrs. Armani sneered beside him.

"She's not a wh*re, mom. Stop disrespecting her." A commanding voice came as I felt a protective presence behind me.

"How dare you cross me for a girl you probably picked up from the street, Sharv?" She gasped like it was the end of the world.

My hands clenched at her words.

"I'm not crossing you, mom. But be aware of the line you're crossing." He gritted out.

"What's your name?" Mr. Armani asked, ignoring his son and wife.

"...Veda." I said after a pause because it was hard to find my voice before him.

"Sir, I think she's related to the employee who got promoted this month." A middle-aged man beside Mr. Armani spoke.

I didn't even see him standing beside Mr. Armani. I'm pretty sure I saw this man on Bhai's promotion ceremony. I gulped, but my throat burned, too parched.

"Is it true?" Mr. Armani asked.

I contemplated taking my exit, but I feared that'll affect my brother's employment.

"My," I cleared my throat. "My brother, Viraj Bansal, works in the Armani Elite Ventures." I spoke, forcing my voice to be steady.

The man beside Mr. Armani typed something on his tablet and nodded. "She's telling the truth, sir."

Something shifted in Mr. Armani's gaze as they hardened a degree more.

"Oh, so, you were right, Sharv." Mrs. Armani spoke coolly with a cold smile on her face. "She's not a sl*t, but a gold digger. She and her brother must've orchestrated this whole plan."

My eyes widened as I frantically shook my head. "What? No! That's not true. I just came here to search for my—"

"Quiet, girl." She cut me off, harshly. She turned towards Mr. Armani. "I say we fire her brother and report her to the police."

My heart dropped to my stomach as panic and desperation settled in. I can't. I can't. Bhai will hate me for this. This is his dream job. His dream company.

My chest constricted as I gripped the shirt button over my chest. Breathe, Veda. You're okay. But no matter how hard I reassured myself, my heart squeezed in my chest.

"Mom, can we be rational here?" Sharv said, looking his mother a exaggerated look. "I invited Veda in because she needed help."

"What help and why you?" Mr. Armani asked, voice clipped.

Sharv's jaw tightened as he turned to face his father. "Her sisters are missing. She came to me because I'm the new ASP of her district." His tone was sharp.

"That's all a part of her scheme. I'm sure her whole family planned it." His mother said.

"Mom, stop it, will you?" He sighed, biting his inner cheek like he was trying to control himself.

"Can you stop defending her? What type of Voodoo doll did she use on you?" She snapped, before turning towards Mr. Armani. "Fire her brother and call the cops. Wait, before that call the security."

"Stop making a fuss out of nothing, mom." He stood beside me. "I'm the cop here. And I'm taking her with me." Without waiting for a reply, he took my hand and started dragging me towards the door.

I let him drag me because honestly, I was too emotionally drained to deal with these people.

"Sharv!" His mother yelled behind us but he ignored her, as we stepped out of the manor.

I glanced back. My heart was feeling uneasy. Like... like it was saying that I'm on the right path but I don't know where that path leads. My insides are screaming that I'm too close.

The nameplate shining brightly beside the door.

ARMANI VALE MANOR.

And they claim to be a family.

A dry chuckle escaped my lips before I can stop myself. He halted and turned back to me, raising an eyebrow. I met his eye and pulled out my hand from his hold.

He doesn't have the right to touch me.

"What?" He questioned.

"Nothing." I looked away. "Drop me home, will you?"

I would've gotten a cab but I have no money, unfortunately.