Chapter 2
1188 Words
When I woke up the next day, I could feel a smile on my face. It had been a while that I felt fulfilled in any way but that night, I could have sworn I had the sweetest dreams.
It was the soft white sheets that first triggered me back to reality and the colossal decorations in the room I currently occupy.
“Where am I?” I thought.
Then, it all started coming back to me. The bar. The stranger. The night.
“Oh! God. There is a stranger in the room with me,” I panicked and threw the white sheets away. But to my suprise, there was no one there.
His clothes, his jewellery, his scent, everything that represents his presence was gone. I checked every corner of the room but he was nowhere to be found.
Finally, I found an envelope by the table beside me. I picked it up and saw a note inside that read, “Thank you for a wonderful night”. I opened it and it was filled with some cash. I was enraged.
“Who does he think I am?” I thought.”A p********e?”
Then, my phone rang, triggering my panic attack. I quickly rushed to pick it up.
“Hello?” I said with annoyance written on my face.
“Hey, baby girl,” a soft, nonchalant voice replied over the phone. I recognised that voice. I haven't heard it in a long time, but I can't miss it in an ocean of voices. It was Arianna, my childhood friend. The one who stood me up the night before and caused all this mess to happen in the first place.
“Arianna?” I said. “ Where the hell have you been? I've been trying to reach you since yesterday,”
“I'm sorry, babes,” she replied. ”I was out partying and I just got distracted. You know how I am,” and she was right.
Arianna was the most nonchalant person I have ever known. When we were kids, she would talk rudely to the estate guards and sneak out of the mansion at night, causing me to get into a lot of trouble.
When I think about it now, I wonder whether that was the reason she wanted to be friends in the first place.
“So where are you now?” Arianna asked. I looked around but I wasn't even sure where I was.
“I'm at a hotel but I don't know the name,” I replied.”Just hold on, let me confirm for you,” and then I got off the bed.
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I walked out of the hotel and I saw Arianna sitting there in her sports car. She screamed my name over the loud music and the revving of the car, unbothered by the uncomfortable crowd that surrounded her.
“You should have told me it is THIS hotel,” she screamed at me.
“What?” I asked.
“We own this one,” she said with a proud smile.
I finally walked into the car and she drove off. The roads were busy very early in the morning. There were people going to their workplace in suits and other appropriate dresses. It reminded me of when I worked with my father too. It was the best time I had learning about running the family business.
But that all ended now because of my foolishness.
I am not going to let history repeat itself this time. Whatever opportunity Arianna gives me, I will make sure to utilise it to be the best of my knowledge. This is the only way I can save my family. I don't have a choice.
“We are here,” Arianna said. I looked up and saw the gate to the estate opening inwards.
The Richardson estate was grander than she had imagined. Even though it was populated by identical houses, they all look luxurious and well structured.
“That one belongs to a military general,” Arianna said casually. “He is a friend of my fathers”
There are signs all over the estate advising against noise pollution but Arianna paid no heed to them, blasting the music as high as she can. No one could tell her not to. That is the flex of owning one of the biggest estates in New York City.
She finally drove into the biggest mansion in the estate and parked the car unevenly outside the compound. The guards rushed towards the and opened the door. She walked out without care and I struggled to follow her.
The inside of the mansion was something else too. The living room alone was the size of my father's house, I couldn't believe my eyes.
“Welcome to my humble abode,” she said, laughing at her own false humility.
“You'll be staying here with me for your stay in New York. You don't have to worry about anything. Food. Water. Money. All you have to do is ask, baby girl. I'll lighten you up and make sure you get your glow back,” I wasn't quite sure if that last part was a slight jab at me or not.
“Mr Knight,” she screamed at the top of her voice. Then, a frail old man walked out with a stick. He had the eyes of a soldier and all the other guards seemed to fear him.
“Mary Anne, this is Mr Knight. Whatever you need in this house, just call his name and he will answer,” she said, ignoring the old man. “He used to be in the military or something. My dad hired him to protect the house,”
“Where are your parents?” I asked. The question seemed to trigger her a bit.
“I don't know,” she said dismissively. ”Maybe in a business meeting or something,” I could tell she was hiding something but I decided to let it go.
“Actually,” Mr Knight interjected with his deep voice that scared me deeply. “Your father is in the house,”
“He is here?” Arianna's face lightened up immediately. “Where is he?” She asked.
“In his study,” Mr Knight responded.
“Come,” she held my hand and started dragging me towards the study. I had no time to protest.
The door to the study opened and she rushed in. I gently walked in after her.
“Daddy, I didn't know you are home,”
“You weren't here when I arrived,” a strange but familiar voice responded. I know that voice. It was just with me yesterday.
“Dad, meet my friend. The one I told you about. Mary Anne,” she moved out of the way and we finally saw each other.
It was him.
It was really him.
The man I had a one night stand with last night is the father of my best friend.
“Oh! God,” I thought. ”I have messed it up,”
- Writer
