A stolen life

Rich in love

23 years ago

"You look different. My God, Aurora you are glowing" - Martin told Aurora, almost shouting. He got up from his chair, making a mess around his table, due to the lack of space at the bar they were at, and hugged his friend tight. They knew each other from university, they became good friends, from the first day they met. 

At the time, Martin has just come off the closest, confessing to his family and all of his friends that were gay. It was incredibly hard for him, due to the rejections and prejudices he was facing daily, throwing him to a desperate and miserable place. Aurora was for him an angel sent from heaven, she helped him immensely to go past those difficulties and to learn how to love and respect himself first. 

"I missed you too" - she said smiling while holding her tight in his warm hug

"You look incredible. Robert is such a lucky man" - he said while offering her a chair. 

"I am a lucky woman too. He makes me so happy" 

"Oh, so you have that "I am madly in love and having great s*x glow" Got it" - he said chuckling and gave Aurora a small glass with alcohol. "Cheers, to love my darling" - he said 

"To love" - Aurora smiled happily and drunk all at once. 

"Oh, you here. You are late" - Nicole said to Aurora while lowering down to her level and gave her a kiss on the cheek. She then sat at the chair in front of Aurora and looked at her intensively. 

"She looks so beautiful, while I am here looking like a cheap w***e" - she cried out, half-drunk to Martin's shoulder. Aurora patted her shoulder, feeling sorry for her friend. They knew each other since childhood, Nicole was the daughter of one of the maids that worked in her house. They started college at the same time, but none was successful at it. Aurora dropped out to marry Robert, while Nicole's grades were so low, she was failing in almost all of her classes.

"Did you broke up from Liam? " - Aurora asked with a sad tone.

"Worse. He lied to me" - she said and cried even harder

"What happened? " - Aurora felt extremely worried for Nicole "Did he hurt you? Because if he did, I swear to God that..." 

"He lied to me. That bastard lied to me! He was not rich, he is the son of a miserable accounter and of a housewife. He has nothing, nothing I am telling you" - Nicole explained, looking historical. She took another glass of alcohol and gulped all down at once.

" Oh..." - Aurora looked at her baffled. She knew how much her friend appreciated wealth, but did not think she would break up with her boyfriend because of it. "Nicole... Liam loves you, he is a good man. You know that he has proved many time how serious and committed he is" - Aurora said in a careful tone

"He lied to me. All I ever wanted was a good man, with a thick wallet and a big d**k. Why is this so hard for me?" 

"Oh, God, Here we go again" - Martin said annoyed, but Aurora glared at him, feeling sorry for her friend

"You should think it again Nicole..." 

"Oh easy for you to talk" - Nicole snapped at her " You have been born in a rich family, you have always had the easy way" 

"You really think that?" - Aurora said feeling hurt, but then she tried to justify her friend, due to the state she was at. Her angriness was quickly replaced by petty and understanding

"I was so miserable at my father's fancy home. I had money, yes, but I was so lonely and isolated, you know it. Now I have nothing, we struggle to meet ends every month, but I am so incredibly happy. Robert's love has made me the richest and happiest woman in the world. I would not trade what I have now, not even for all the money of the world. " - Aurora said in a firm tone, smiling at her friend

"You are such a wonderful human being" - Martin said with admiration "Here, take another shot. Come on Nicole stop whining, we are out for fun, not to hear your cryings all over again" - he said sipping alcohol from his glass. "Here come the others, let's get the party started " - he said with enthusiasm. Suddenly the music became stronger. Suddenly, Aurora saw Robert coming inside the bar, she raised her hand high, smiling brightly at him, while calling his name. 

Soon there were on the dance floor, dancing and kissing amongst others, looking so much in love. They were so lost in each - other, they did not even notice the jealous stares of Nicole, sitting at the table, drinking one shot of alcohol after another. 

.....................................

23 years ago

"I am sorry Robert. But the investors were not so convinced of your idea. They said it was way too futuristic, they were... skeptical to say the least. " - his professor told him, over the phone. 

Robert took a deep breath, feeling so much disappointment and frustration. 

"Can I meet them myself, professor Richards? If they would just listen to me..." 

"Of course you can Robert, but I am afraid it won't change much. But don't be discourage my son, keep working hard to fully develop your idea. The day will come and the doors will be open for you, I have to go now, I'll get in touch with you soon" - the professor suddenly cut the call short

"But I wanted to ask you about...." - before he could finish his sentence, Robert heard the signal of the phone closed off. He smashed the phone on the floor and rubbed his temple hard, feeling stressed and like a total failure. Suddenly he felt Aurora's soft hug from behind, she should his broad shoulders and kissed his neck. 

"It's their loss, one day they will regret deeply for not supporting the great Robert Anderson, while they had the chance. You will change the world and they will be watching " - her sweet dreamy voice, had an immediate effect in him, calming him down

"Maybe I should look for a normal descend job, to support both of us and just give up on my crazy dream" - he said with a defeated voice, but he wasn't feeling as bad anymore

"Don't you dare! The road to greatness it's never been easy for anyone. Besides this is your dream we are talking about. There are thousands and thousands of normal jobs out there and they produce new money every day. None of them is worthy to give up on your vision, one day your ideas will shape the world" - she said putting soft kisses over his neck again. 

Robert grabbed her arms and pulled her over his lap, cupping her face and looking into her eyes intensively 

"Don't you get tired of me? You had everything and I dragged you down in my poverty. And now I am running like a crazy fool after a dream I don't know where will take me, instead of working to provide a descend life for both of us" 

"No, no my love. I have never been this happy. I love you, I love you so much. There is not a place I'd rather be in this world, but with you. Only you" - she replied kissing him with tenderness. Robert kissed her back, with passion, feeling intense desire and love for her. Their small apartment was filled soon with the noises of their wild passion. 

..........................

23 year later 

Martin entered Robert office,  holding a small file 

"I narrowed down the list of the new interns, but you have to confirm the list" - he said, dropping the file over his big glass table and went to the alcohol table, pouring some whiskey in his glass

"Is there anyone good? Hope they are not all some spoiled braits, like last year" - Robert said, looking up at the file

"They all are. The only one that stood out to me, was this girl Rea something. Her grades were not the highest, but she had worked her way through college. Her project was fantastic and at the cover letter she sounded very ambitious, it almost reminded me of you" - Martin said, taking a seat, at the leather chairs in front of him. 

"Now you are exaggerating. Okay, I approve of this. They can all start tomorrow, top three of them, offer a permanent job" - he said, throwing the file away

"You are sad and nervous. What happened? " 

"Same old, same old" - Robert poured some whiskey for himself as well 

"That b***h Nicole said something, didn't she? " 

"I don't even bother to listen to her anymore man. She whines about everything, I am getting so tired. I made a mistake marrying her, I was so ... angry" 

Martin took a deep breath "Divorce her and go look for Aurora, get her back. You were the happiest when you were together. Now you look so miserable" 

"She is married to another man" 

"Break them up. Take your woman and don't look back" 

"I can't forget her betrayal, as much as I want to. And besides who told you that she wants to be back with me? All these years, she has not tried not once to get in touch with me." 

"Robert... you haven't stop thinking about her, not for a day" 

"I will love her to my last breath. And that's why I will not interfere in her life, ruining her happiness. As much as it hurts, I'll stay away from her...