Love By Error v

Chapter One

Actually, she’s never been pretty. Never been famous, never been popular, never been rich, never eaten out at a fancy restaurant or had a dress worth more than a hundred dollars. Never had a sensible boyfriend or rich friends, wealthy parents or uncles and aunts that own cruise ships. And she knows imaginations can be dangerous, but she never even imagined she’d be all she’ll never be. Just to keep it short, she’s never had or been a lot of things in her life.

Rose. To her, the name’s an error because she seems nowhere near a roses beauty. She had the most humbled life till her parents died leaving her and her younger brother, Miles to live with their aunt. She finished college and got a job as a reporter with a news agency that’s just good enough to give her a good pay. Always the last to leave the office, but never the first to resume.

She had hoped to get a good story to report and get a promotion at her office since her boyfriend, Gray, a complete loser and bummer wouldn’t put in a good word for her to get a job at his news agency. Gray was living the life of his dreams as a reporter too, but he just wouldn’t help her dreams. Rose knew for sure that he didn’t love her as much as she loved him, but why wasn’t he letting her go?

She had to stay late at work, just incase “she’d catch a good story.”

She picked up her phone, “what’s trending?” she sighed. An ad popped up to the screen- Glover Stones, Owned by one of the wealthiest families in the whole North America.

“Glover stones, you’d wish you were one,” Julian’s voice floats out from the ad.

Well him? Julian Glover, only heir of the Glover family; he had the brightest eyes, clearest face, perfect abs and a heaven on earth life; the fourth generation of the Glover family who keeps topping the list of the wealthiest people in North America.

He and his fiancée, Maya Ferris had been out of the country for a month for the Global Business Conference.

Maya Ferris, the girl who shattered more girls’ hearts than men. When Julian revealed her as his girlfriend two years back, it broke the internet. Rose, though never imagined she’d be Maya one day, but a few times, the thought flashed. It’s every girl’s dream!

Although Maya’s parents are as well rich, but not compared to the billionaires called Glover. It was said that they rose from absolutely nothing to later become well to do that the Queen of England called them the royal family best friend. How lucky.

Maya finished from Cambridge, where she had grown up with her parents before they moved to the US. She and Julian met when he came for her fashion show one summer. And She? She had blue glassy eyes and was as white as snow- more like snow white because she came with damn pitch black hair. She won title of the most beautiful woman in the world after she met Julian. Truth is, she stepped in the spotlight after she met Julian, but what does that matter?

“Lucky her,” Rose muttered and closed the ad. Then Benny’s call came in. She had been expecting it. “What’s up?”

“Yeah, Rose,” Benny said over the phone, “I have big news for you.”

“Come on, I’ll grow old at this rate. Spill it!” her eyes brightened.

“Ok. Ok. This is top secret ok?”

“Cross my heart.” She whispered.

“You know the d*******l case we’ve been on to for some months now?” Rose nodded, as if Benny could see her, “We have them now. They’ll be having another deal with some guys from Mexico at El Paso tomorrow night.”

“Oh my.”

“Yea, so if you can get your boss to let you cover it, I’ll speak with them over here. It’d be a great chance for you.”

“Damn!” She jumped up, “this is it Benny! I’ll get promoted after this for sure.”

“Yea girl.”

“I’ll tell my boss right away. Thank you- thank you- thank you Benny!” She starts packing to leave.

“Yea, you welcome.” He hanged up.

Rose called her boss immediately. One thing was sure, she would be allowed to go, but she would go solo- just due to some company favoritism and all; and it’s a dangerous story to report, but considering the fact that Rose had volunteered to cover it, her boss granted her the chance.

Rose wouldn’t tell her aunt and her husband that she’s going to cover the story alone, else they wouldn’t agree to it. However, she’d go anyways, whether they wanted it or not.

She helped her aunt cook dinner that night and stayed with her and her husband to watch TV- which was not typical. Even Miles knew.

He sat at the dining giving her the eye until Rose finally spilled it.

“Rose that’s like sending you off to die.” Her aunt noted. “I mean, dear, I know how important your job is to you, but you don’t wanna die for free.”

“Aunt, it’s going to be fine. I’ll be with the police.”

“The Police wouldn’t care too much about you when there’s gunfire.” Her aunt’s husband added.

He had acted like he didn’t hear Rose talk about it since she came back. He can be like that, acting like he doesn’t even know Rose and her brother.

When they first began living with them, he’d ghost them. He only started loosening up to them after Rose helped him settle a case that would have fetched him a few months in jail.

“You don’t have to worry about me. I’ll be safe- Benny’s there with me. He gave me the tip. I can’t turn it down.” Miles rolled his eye in disdain. “I saw that Miles.”

“Yea, yea, whatever.” He responded.

“I just need you guys to support me this once.” Roses pleaded, holding her aunt’s feet.

“You know I’ve always supported you hon. I- I can’t just let you go Rose.”

“Let her go Melissa.”Her aunt’s husband said, “it’s her career, she needs to grow to.” He means it, surprisingly to Rose.

“But- it’s-“ her aunt looked from her husband to Rose, cornered.

“Please.” Rose whimpered.

Her aunt sighed, “Ok.”

“Thank you!” Rose hugged her.

“Just promise me you’ll be safe.” But Rose had already left to her room. “Seriously.” She faced her husband.

Rose came back out with her back pack heading out. “I need to get some stuffs for the story, I’ll be back.” She left before they could respond.

Benny and Rose had been friends since high school. It seemed as though they were dating, but they were just friends. Benny left for Germany to study criminology and came back to the US to work with the police as he had always desired. He had gotten call to do an escort duty for Julian and Maya as they were arriving the country that night.

Knowing how much Rose loved to move high in her career, he informed her- just Incase she could get an interview with them.

Julian and Maya would have their wedding in a couple of weeks. It was all over. Sure, very few people of their status would be invited but who wouldn't want a chance to be associated with the wedding. Tens of reporters awaited the couple at the airport, including Rose.

As they appeared on the tarmac, the reporters stormed them.

"Maya, how do you feel getting married to the only heir of the Glover family?" A reporter snapped.

"What plans do the Glover family have for you after the marriage?"

"Has it always been your dream to marry a wealthy man? "

Whose lady's dream wouldn't be marrying a wealthy man? Rose had thought. For some reason, she withdrew from asking questions or pressing towards them. Benny watched her from beside Julian wondering why.

She just stood, admiring Julian and Maya whom, all they could do was smile, blush and hold each other's hands as questions fly at them. Camera's flashing, hearts leaping. What a dream.

She thought, "they're so compatible. So cute together. So perfect. It wouldn't be bad to even have him as a friend - for a start." Because no one would be contented having Julian just as a friend.

"I'll be having my first fashion show for the year a few days before the wedding, I hope you all have heard about it." Maya gleamed.

"And it would be opened to as many that wants to come." Julian said.

"Julian, if it wasn't Maya Ferris, would it have been someone else?" the voice echoed and the air quieted."what's your type or spec exactly?"

It was Rose. The words had slipped out of her thoughts and the universe seemed to be aiding her.

"Well," Julian's smile faded a bit as he focuses on Rose. Maya looked at him, a bit off, then at Rose. Julian faintly smiled, bowed his head, then walked towards Rose. Rose held her breath.

"It could have been you, sweetheart." He winked.

The air seemed to have been blocked and some birds could have dropped from the sky. God damn, he's handsome! He walked back and everyone laughed, Rose heaving heavily. She's never been so close to Julian. He scented like sunrise over the ocean- cool and fresh.

"I could have found true love anywhere and with anyone, but it's with Maya now. Thank you." He concluded and they're led through the crowd.

"Nice one there." Someone chimed past Rose.

"Hey, you coming? We're going over to the Glover's villa now." Benny said quickly snapping her out of a dream she seemed trapped in.

"Oh yes. Yes." But her boyfriend's call came in. "I'll catch up." She answers the call while Benny moves on.

She couldn't stop thinking of his dreamy face and blushing. She didn't even know how she could ask such question. Luck could as well be smiling at her at that moment because a few blogs would lift her question and she'd be popular. Who knows, Julian might even invite her for the wedding. She giggled and composed herself on seeing Gray.

Rose had been dating Gray for close to 2 years. She had applied to the agency he presently worked and he was the intern officer at that time. Gray said she looked naive and he was attracted to her. But for Rose, he's as handsome as Julian, just not as rich.

When they began dating, she had thought they'd get married almost immediately but he began withdrawing after some time. All she knew was that they hadn't break up, but she couldn't boldly call him her boyfriend. They seemed to be miles apart, even if they weren't of the same status.