THE REUNION
1748 Words
Aurelia sat in her office, staring blankly at the papers on her desk. The evening sun shimmered through the window. It's light on her face. Her mind was stuck on a moment from earlier. Lucien, on his knees.
She bit her lower lip, cringing at how awkward she had been. The memory of how she nearly tumbled down the stairs made her stomach twist. She glanced at the bandage wrapped around her ankle and let out a slow sigh.
At least, she had avoided his question that way.
Two Hours Ago
Lucien stepped closer, his voice steady but intense. "What do I have to do? Tell me." His dark eyes locked onto hers. "Do I need to kneel? Do I need to beg, princess?"
His words hit her like a punch to the chest. Before she could even react, Lucien dropped to his knees.
"Is this enough?" His voice was softer now, and pleading. "Can I have a chance now?"
Aurelia took a step back, her breath unease. Was this really happening? The same man who had been so cold, so distant, was kneeling before her? she took another step back until she left nothing.
Her heart leapt into her throat as she realized she had reached the edge of the stairs. Panic surged inside her, and as she lost her balance, her hands flailed for something. Anything to hold onto.
Suddenly, Lucien caught her.
His arms wrapped around her, pulling her against his chest just as her ankle twisted sharply beneath her. Pain shot through her leg, and she bit down on her lip to keep from crying out.
"Are you okay?" He asked, looking down at her, but Aurelia’s face tightened as she fought the pain.
"Where does it hurt?" He wasn’t letting go as he saw her unrelaxed expression.
She shook her head quickly. "I’m fine," she lied, pushing him away as he was too close.
As she tried to take a step on her own, the moment her foot touched the ground the pain shot up her leg. She crumpled forward, falling.
Lucien sighed. "You're so damn stubborn."
Without another word, he lifted her into his arms, lifting her as if she weighed nothing.
"Put me down," she muttered, but he ignored her, carrying her straight to his car. He opened the door with one hand and set her down in the front seat, putting on her seatbelt before getting in himself.
The drive to the hospital was filled with arguments. They arrived at Aven’s hospital. As soon as she spotted him coming her way, she tried to get out of the car on her own, but the pain was too much.
Lucien was already there. Again, it was as if he had disappeared right there. Why was he so fast? She thought. He picked her up effortlessly.
"Lucien put me down," she hissed, hiding her face as curious eyes followed them through the hallway. However, even though she tapped on him to put her down, her hands were wrapped around his neck.
"Let them," he said simply, carrying her into the doctor’s office.
Dr. Mark. He was a mutual friend. He raised a brow as he examined the situation, but not only her leg. He side-glanced at them since knew about their divorce. His curiosity was suffocating for Aurelia, but not Lucien because his worried gaze was glued on her leg the whole time.
Minutes later, they pulled up in front of her gallery. The moment Lucien parked, she reached for the door, hoping to get down before he arrived, but yet again, he was faster.
"Careful," he said, helping her as she stepped out. Aurelia could only glare at him. Although he helped, he seemed joyful that she was in this situation.
The moment they walked in, her employees gasped. "Oh my god, Miss Kiley! What happened?"
"I’m fine," she reassured them. "Just a sprain." She turned to Rachel, motioning for her help. "You don’t need to stay, Lucien. Rachel’s got it from here."
"But—"
"You’re busy. You should leave," she interrupted.
His jaw clenched. Before he could argue, his phone rang. Lucien's face darkened at the time. He looked at Aurelia and she smiled, staring at his phone. If it weren’t important, he would fire whoever dared to interrupt, but as he picked it up, his assistant voice echoed with desperation. He looked at Aurelia and sighed, accepting she won this time.
"Alright. I'll call you."
Aurelia rolled her eyes, "You're blocked."
He leaned in too quickly, causing her breath to freeze. "Then unblock me. I promise I won't bother you."
Aurelia rolled her eyes, but he stormed out, answering the call.
Two weeks later. Lucien had disappeared; the person who seemed so eager to get back to her stopped sending flowers, no calls, no visit. Just gone, like he never existed.
"Maybe he is busy, who knows?" Susie said.
"I don't want him to call me; I just asked, do you think it's possible he knows I unblocked him?" She said, sighing heavily.
This was the third time she had tried to explain to Fay and Susie. Aurelia rolled her eyes, standing from the sofa.
"You guys are hopeless; why do you think I'd be restless for my ex-husband, who is gay, to call me?"
"Think about it, is this really about his sexuality or is this about you being mad he is starting to fall in love with you now? I mean, he is gay, and you had s*x with him; gay men distaste women. Or you're punishing him?"
Aurelia blinked. "Is it bad to punish him too?"
Fay and Susie looked at themselves. "You make sense, but is that the case? Mom said she saw him go on his knees, did you know Fay?" Susie said, looking at Fay who gasped, turning her gaze to Aurelia.
"For a brief second," Aurelia said to her sister, glaring at her. The living room fell silent as her mind trailed back to the time she had found out.
IN LUCIEN’S OFFICE, THREE MONTHS AGO.
There was a man in his home office. He was on his knees so close to Lucien’s d**k. She could barely see who he was or what exactly she was doing, but the muffled kisses engulfed his office.
And a deep voice broke out. "I'm telling you being my boyfriend would make you so happy rather than being married to a woman you don't love."
"I don't do love either way."
"And she's not yummy enough to f**k?" He asked, but Lucien remained silent. "She's hopelessly in love with you, Lucien, thinking one day you'd return it. Are you just going to keep punishing her? It's been two years already."
Suddenly, his voice cut through like ice. "Yes, doesn't she deserve it?"
Those words hurt her more than a knife piercing through her heart. What had she done to him to deserve it?
Aurelia nodded. That was right. There's no way he would love her? His actions were all an act so he could have her to punish her, just like he had said.
"Oh, by the way," Fay's voice pulled her back to the present. "Are you coming for the reunion?"
Her head shifted slowly towards her. "What reunion?"
"Come on, do you ever open the group message? The school reunion?"
"Oh, that. No, I'll pass. I feel a little heavy even my stomach has been cramping. I think I'm not eating well. I've been feeling too heavy," she said, standing from the couch.
"Kevin is coming. Finally," her feet paused. Susie gasped
"Kevin? You mean that Kevin?" Susie snapped.
"Yup, that Kevin!" Fay said. Aurelia's gaze darted between her sister and Fay.
That was her problem. She always loved too deeply, and they ended up breaking her beyond her expectations. Kevin, her first crush had openly rejected her, leaving her embarrassed. She wondered what he looked like now. Would he regret not having her? The thing is, Kevin had lost his wife years back, and everyone knew it.
Hours later. The car slowed and stopped at the grand restaurant. Aurelia sat still, her fingers lightly tapping against the smooth surface of her purse. She could feel the weight of the night settling in, pressing against her ribs.
"You okay?" Fay asked, peering at her from the front seat.
"I'm fine," Aurelia said, adjusting her dress. "It's just a reunion." One she had never been to because of the humiliation, but it was different now, how could she continue hiding?
"Right," Susie smirked. "Just a reunion where Kevin will see you looking like that and Lucien will—"
Aurelia shot her a look, and Susie pressed her lips into a thin line.
The driver opened her door, and the cool night air brushed against her skin. She stepped out carefully straightening the dress against her body. The sleek black fabric hugged her curvy frame and flared slightly at the hem. A line of white floral traced the neckline.
She held tightly to the small black bag on her. Her outfit fitted the pearl earrings she had chosen, the only jewellery she had worn that night.
As she took a step, the faint ache in her ankle reminded her of Lucien. Of the moment in his arms, the way he had carried her without hesitation, but tonight she wasn't going to think about him.
The entrance shimmered with warm lights, and laughter came from inside. Old friends, old memories, things she wasn’t sure she was ready to face. But she had come. Aurelia held her head high, back straight walking in.
There he was, smiling at the lady beside him. Kevin Bentley, her first crush. That year, she had thought they would get married. The moment he saw her, he stood up, staring at her walk across the room to her friends, totally ignoring him. Hell, she had grown into a fine woman.
"Heyyy! Guess who decided to show up today!" Ben, one of her old classmates, said loudly, drawing everyone's attention. "It's Mrs Kiley!"
Aurelia lowered her gaze, pushing her hair backwards. Another classmate cut through.
"Stop it! They are divorced!" Nicole said.
"It's fine, Nicole. Thank you."
"Hey, Aurelia, are you going to ignore Kevin all night?" Ben said, her head turned in his direction, and he walked closer to her.
He stopped feet away. His gaze swept head to toe. It's been ages since he saw her last. She was glowing.
- Writer
