You're Not Danielle!!

CHAPTER THREE: A GHOST FROM THE PAST

"You do?" Antoine asked, raising an eyebrow. He was skeptical, but something about her seemed familiar. Her eyes. It looked so much like Danielle's.

"I'm sure I've seen you before," she said, studying his face. Then it hit him - she looked just like Danielle. Though her features, like her hair, which was reddish, and her beautiful radiant smooth face with high cheekbones, were so different from Danielle's, but the eyes. They were unmistakably Danielle's. She can't be Danielle? Can she?

"I'm sorry, I don't think we've met," he said, trying to convince himself more than her. He wanted to keep himself in check before he becomes insane.

"I think we have." She said peering into his face, "I know you,"

"You need to be taken home because you're so super drunk."

"No don't take me home!! I don't want to go home!! My angry girl friend is waiting to chew me up for drinking today!"

He sighed out starting to get frustrated, "Why did you drink if you know your girl friend will scold you for it?"

"That's because my boss frustrates me a lot! My boss will do anything to make sure I'm reduced to nothing?! I'm the only one my boss hates at work." She said before she broke out into a round of laughter. Antoine was taken aback by her statement. "Wait - your boss frustrates you? And you're the only person your boss hates?" he asked, trying to clarify what she was saying.

"Yes! You wouldn't believe the things he says to me! He calls me all sorts of names and tries to make me feel like I'm not good enough," she said, her tone turning angry.

"That's awful! No one should be treated like that, especially not at work," Antoine said, feeling a surge of protectiveness towards this girl who reminded him so much of Danielle.

"But you know what? I'm going to quit! I will tell Mr. Roderigo or whatever his name is that I'm not working for him anymore from tomorrow." She said with her face so red and her hands on her waist as she stared into the distance imagining her boss to be there watching her. Antoine couldn't help but smile, it's so obvious that she's very drunk.

"Let's get you home."

"No! I don't want to go home! I don't want to see my girlfriend!" she said, stamping her foot like a child throwing a tantrum. Antoine sighed, not sure what to do.

"Why don't we just go somewhere else then? We can get you a coffee and talk about what's going on with your boss. Maybe I can help you come up with a plan to deal with him," he suggested, trying to keep his voice calm and reassuring.

"Fine, let's go for coffee then." she said, relenting.

Antoine led the girl to a nearby cafe, trying to ignore the stares they were getting from passersby. He could tell that she was still very drunk, and he felt a bit responsible for her, even though he had only just met her. "What would you like to drink?" he asked as they sat down at a table.

"I want a hot chocolate, please," she said, still sounding a bit sulky.

"Of course," he said, going to order for them both.

When the drinks arrived, Antoine brought them back to the table and set them down. The girl looked at her hot chocolate and sighed.

"My mom used to make me hot chocolate when I was a little girl. It was the best hot chocolate in the world. Nothing compares to it now," she said, looking nostalgic. Antoine wasn't sure what to say.

"Well, I'm sure this one will be pretty good," he offered, hoping to cheer her up.

"Maybe," she said, not sounding convinced.

Antoine sipped his coffee, trying to think of a way to turn the conversation to her boss. "So, about your boss. What makes you say he's treating you unfairly? Are there any specific examples you can give me?" he asked, trying to sound like a concerned friend. The girl looked down at her hot chocolate and took a deep breath. "Well, he always criticizes my work, even when I do everything perfectly. And he never gives me any praise, even when I go above and beyond."

"That's so bad."

She took a sip before she continued. "Very bad. He said I have one month to behave like a human being or I will have to resign."

"Resign???"

"Yeah, he just doesn't know how hard it is for me, for my family especially my dad everytime he had to look at my face and__" she stopped talking and looked up to Antoine's face again. She looked closer, "You look so much like someone I know in my past."

"Someone you know from your past?" Antoine asked barely paying rapt attention to her now. He was looking around the room and every man seem to be looking at Danielle and murmuring about her extreme beauty. He became extra conscious of her safety,

"Yes, an old friend which I'm sorry for." She cackled and touched her red cheeks, "I just wish my life never took this turn because this is never what I wanted for myself."

Antoine heaved at her, "Not everyone have it just the way they wanted in their lives,"

She raised her brow and as if mocking him, "You don't mean that, do you? Because from the designers you are wearing, the watch and the shoes you're putting on, I can see you're living a luxurious life."

He scoffed. "You're drunk but you saw all these."

She nodded. "Yeah, I have eyes even if I'm drunk, I'm not blind." She took another long sip while Antoine kept watching her.

"You know, not everyone who is rich is having it all good in his life."

She giggled in a drunk manner, "What could possibly make a rich man unhappy? Money is everything Mr. Dior." She called referring to the Dior designers he's wearing.

Antoine couldn't help but laugh at her playful teasing, even though he knew she was just drunk and didn't mean any harm. "You make a good point, money is important. But it's not everything. Sometimes, the things that are most important in life can't be bought with money," he said, trying to be serious despite the lighthearted mood.

"Like what?" She asked tilting her head.

"Well, for example, things like love, friendship, family, health, and happiness can't be bought with money.

"They can be bought Mr. Dior, so let me tell you, no matter what you think you're facing, it can't be compared to mine."

Antoine found her statement insane, "How did you know that? Being extremely beautiful and having to be the talk of the whole room or maybe the whole town is making you feel stressed out or your boss, that's all. But mine, I can't even start explaining to you because you won't understand."

Danielle's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "You know, you're being very secretive about whatever it is you're going through. And I don't think it's a good idea to keep it bottled up inside. I know I'm just a random drunk girl you just met, but I can be a good listener if you want to talk."

Antoine looked at her for a long moment. She seemed genuine in her offer, even though he knew she was probably not in the best state of mind to be giving life advice. But something about her felt trustworthy, and he felt the urge to confide in her.

"I'm getting married next month to a person I can't even see myself loving."

"Then call it off, you can do that." She said with a shrug. "I've done that once, it's easy."

"I can't."

"Why?" She furrowed her brows, "Why would you be with someone you don't love."

"Because it's a business marriage."

"A business marriage?" Danielle's mouth fell open in shock. "That's a thing? That's crazy! You're getting married just for business reasons? That doesn't make any sense to me. Love should be the foundation of a marriage, not money or business. Reject that marriage, don't let anyone force you into what you don't want to do."

Antoine sighed. "It's complicated. My family has been in the fashion business for generations, and I'm the only son."

He then shrugged, "I have been neglecting the company and family until five years ago and I knew that it's time I stop putting myself out of the family. And to make up for it, I have to marry her."

"So you're getting married to her not because you love her, but because it's what your family wants?" Danielle asked, trying to wrap her head around the situation. "I still can't believe that's what is bothering you. It seems so wrong, to marry someone you don't love just for business reasons."

"It is wrong but I don't have a choice, there's no one to take over the family business when my father retires.'

"But what about your happiness?" Danielle asked, clearly concerned for him. "Are you just going to put your own happiness aside to please your family and their business?"

Antoine sighed again. "It's not that simple. This is my family's legacy, and I have a responsibility to carry it on. My father has worked so hard to build this business, and I don't want to let him down. Besides, She is a good person, even if I don't love her. Maybe I can learn to care for her over time.

"So this night, I am thinking you ran away from her because she bothers you right?"

He sighed out. "You can say that.." his phone began to ring. He saw his father's name flashing on the screen. "Hello, father," he answered.

"Where are you?" His father's voice was stern and sharp. "You left the party without a word."

"I'm fine, father. I just needed some fresh air." Antoine tried to keep his voice steady.

"Get home now!!!" He yelled at him.