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2420 Words
His name tormented me the whole night that I was so afraid to close my eyes. I just couldn’t believe that after all those years, we’re going to see each other again. But never I imagine it would be in that kind of circumstance.
“Like seriously? The Tanner Hargreaves?!” Becky is still in shock and couldn’t believe about what happened. “Were you dating him behind my back?” She gave me a spine-chilling look which annoys me the most.
“Have you been paying attention to everything I said? Ugh!!!” I walked out of the room to go straight to the backroom to take my first break. I work as a planning manager in Persson Industrial, I was recommended and hired by my childhood friend Alec Persson. He’s like the male version of Becky, but more serious. He offered to help with all our finances, but I told him to just give me a job and he didn’t think twice, here I am, working my butt off. I still want to get our family business back, but I don’t know how to pay our debt. “What’s going on?” I curiously asked as everyone in the room was giving me the mystifying gaze. They were all gathered in one spot.
“You’re in the news!” Alec said with despondency in his eyes.
“Oh gosh! Turn it up!!!” Becky snatched the TV remote and turned the volume up.
Oh god, just take me now. I don’t even want to see this. But I couldn’t go anywhere because my best friend is gripping my whole body.
Today is not like every other day, because the famous Bachelor Tanner Hargreaves is now engaged.
They showed a headline ‘TANNER HARGREAVES ENGAGED!’ with his half naked picture. Are they kidding me?
Tanner Hargreaves has faced so many controversies, but now he decided to settle down. Let’s take a look at what happened at the proposal.
They showed the front of the restaurant.
The unexpected proposal happened in the most famous five-star restaurant, Holiday Spark. The restaurant is popular for its ‘magic of love’.
"I did many terrible things in my life and one of those is letting you slip away. Today, I want to make sure that it will not happen again.”
They showed the video of us, and I looked like an i***t. They did a close up of my face! Jerks!!
“When I remember what we had in the past I couldn't help but smile.”
And I just died after that.
“Oh my god Sloane!! Did you just grab his manhood?!!” Becky looked like she’s going to have a heart attack – from laughing her butt off. “I can’t!! I can’t!!” She couldn’t even talk straight from cracking up. I couldn’t believe I’m friends with her.
Wait a minute, the soft thing that I accidentally touched was his – oh, I feel like I am going to pass out. What can be more embarrassing than that?
“My heart skips million times whenever I think of you. Now, I want to tell the world that you are the only one I want to spend my life with. Will you marry me?"
I wasn’t even paying attention to the news anymore. I am trying to comprehend everything.
The question of many, who is the mysterious girl? That’s all for our showbiz news.
“So does that mean you’re leaving the company now?”
“How did you too meet?”
“Gosh, Sloane, I did not envision you as an assertive perv!!”
“You did not even hesitate to say yes!”
“So where’s the ring?”
“How much does the ring cost?”
“Is it a Branson Jewelry?”
They’re swamping me with questions, and I couldn’t even defend myself. I saw Alec looking at me. He was about to say something but then he just took off.
“Why don’t you all shut your filthy mouth and go back to work? Go!!!” Becky irritatingly screaming her lungs out and nobody protested.
“Thank you.” I took a deep breath while opening a bottle of water. “That wasn’t fair! I am blind without my glasses. Why would he even scooch down that close to me? Like what was he thinking?!!!” I am so pissed that I just want to punch this guy on the nuts.
“Why don’t you figure this out? I’ll talk to Alec.” Instantaneously, Becky seemed downhearted, like she believes me at all.
“There is nothing to figure out. I wish I could tell you something else, but there is nothing to tell. It was all his plan and – “ I cut myself off, “ – you don’t believe me, do you?” She didn’t say anything. “Fine! I’ll prove to you I am not lying! I will come back with the justification you need!!” I departed hastily.
“Sloane, that’s not what I meant – Sloane!” I heard Becky calling me from behind. I ignored her and just went straight to the parking lot. “Sloane, just hang on a second!” She was still following me, so I walked sprightly. She wouldn’t be able to keep up as the lower-level parking lot is a lot confusing that the other one.
“You know what – “ I turned around as soon as I realized I didn’t have my car keys with me and that’s probably why Becky’s calling me. I was on my way back when a guy grabbed me, “ – who are you? Let me go!!! Becky!! Becky!! Help!!!” I screamed as loud as I could but then he covered my mouth with his hand. Oh god, it tasted salty, and it stinks!
Two more men came out. The other one opened the van door and shoved me in. Everything happened so quick that I couldn’t really do anything to get away from them. They were armed. “Please don’t hurt me. We don’t have money anymore. You can take our debts if you want.” I begged but they weren’t paying attention. They looked like robots. “I haven’t showered in weeks, you wouldn’t want to take my innocence away. It’s going to smell bad, like grossly bad!” I don’t know where am I getting the courage to speak up like this. The man who groped me just gave me a nauseating look as I was slowly backing up, when they all started laughing. They think it’s funny huh. Well, that’s a relief. I just made a disobliging cackle to take my part in.
At the end of my kidnapping journey, we finally reached our destination. It’s a modern style, vast lush, extensive, well-kept, elegant huge multi-billion-dollar mansion. Wait a minute, a mansion? Why did they bring me here? I hope they’re not going to sell me to some old dudes, oh no! “Get out!” The man yelled at me. I was so afraid I did not wait for him to ask me twice. They closed the door behind me and took off.
“Wait! Hey, don’t leave me here!” I don’t have anything with me. How am I supposed to know where I am? I started walking around hoping to find a good-hearted person to help me.
“Not even close to my type!” I stopped for a bit and listened to the voices talking. “She was so old.”
“What are you going to do now? You’re all over the news.” I heard another voice talking.
I followed their voices and it led me to the poolside. There were two men talking but all I could see is their back.
“I don’t know, I’ll tell grandma it was a mistake. She’d understand.”
“Did you get the ring back?” The other guy asked him.
“Dude, I am not worried about the ring. I am worried about my life. She’s probably stalking me right now.” The guy looked around and my eyes widened from disturbance and annoyance. “Dang man, she hunts me in my sleep! She’s my worst nightmare! Disgusting!”
I am now fuming, and I just want to annihilate this person. I spotted a rock and I picked it up. Steadily and calmly, I made my way as closed-pack as possible to my antagonist. I aimed for his head, then I strike forcefully with resounding blow. I didn’t hit on the head, but it surely hurt his shoulder. “Who the heck was that?!” He squawked while I hid behind the huge pole. “You know I can see you, come out now before I call the guards.” I am shivering, is he trying to trick me? How could he possibly see me when I am so thin you would mistaken me as the pole. “I said come out – “ then he just suddenly showed up in front of me, “ – what the f*ck? Were you stalking me?!!”
“In your dreams!!! You were the one who had me kidnapped!” I yelled back at him. I want to show him that he couldn’t intimidate me with his charming voice, sexy eyes and alluring lips. I’ll pretend I didn’t say that.
“Kidnap? You?” He started laughing then his friend walked up to us. “Dude, this woman is so hilarious.” He said in between his breaths.
“Well, if you were taken against your will using force that is considered kidnapping.” I went on. “Is this how you make money now?” His face suddenly changed upon hearing the word money. “You proposed to me, embarrassed me, and then kidnapped me? What kind of human being are you? You’re saying you’re Tanner Hargreaves yet you’re so desperate to marry?” Now it’s my time to laugh. His friend just folded his arms over his chest and sat on the pool table as if we were entertaining him.
“And who says I am going to marry you? You were the one who grabbed my manhood, I bet you dreamed about it.” He gave his friend a high five while being cocky about it.
“I wouldn’t really know, I thought it was your pinky!” I even laughed at my own witty remark if I am being frantic.
He took few steps forward as I took few steps back. “I know people like you. Trust me, it takes one to know one.” If he has the intention of terrorizing me in retribution for something untrue, it’s working. He cornered me and now my heart is racing.
“You’re just good at dumping women!” I tried to push him, but he closed the gap between us.
“That I am, because I can.” His eyes were raging, and he was gritting his teeth. “So now, get the hell out of my house!!”
“Who the hell you are kicking out of my house?!!” He suddenly jumped off his feet upon hearing an older women’s voice.
“Grandma, hi!” Tanner greeted her as I was making my own exit.
“And where do you think you’re going?” I moved only my eyeballs to look at her as my whole body frozen. “Come in here at let us talk.”
“Grandma, she’s leaving. It was just all a misunderstanding.” He was gesturing me to leave but his grandma is scarier than him.
“It was all over the news! How could you do this to your grandma?!! The world knew about your engagement before me!” She smacked him on the back many times. He deserves that anyway.
“I – I was about to tell you but something came up, she left then I couldn’t find her and then – “ he took a deep breathe, “ – honestly grandma – “
“I know that’s why I looked for her myself!” His grandmother smiled and came to me. “She wasn’t hard to find.”
“You got me kidnapped?” I asked with uncertainty and hesitation.
“Oh, come on, I was trying to surprise the two of you. I just want to discuss about your wedding!” She took my hand and she looked genuinely happy. I feel bad for her then I remembered my grandpa. I wonder how he’s going to react when he sees me.
“Grandma, I am sorry, but I am not marrying this person.”
“Excuse me, ma’am, but I think human is meant to be with human and I don’t think your grandson is a human. He doesn’t have feelings.” I told her and her eyes widened from excitement.
“Coming from someone who doesn’t even look like a human being!” As much as I want to ignore him, I don’t think I can because I am at his house.
“I’d rather look like this!” I said while pointing at my face and body. “Than be like you!!! Goodbye!!!” I turned my back at him. “I am sorry ma’am, I am not marrying your grandson.”
“Wow, thanks for doing me a favor!!” He rolled his eyes and walked the other way.
“Misunderstandings are normal, I’ve had a lot of that in the past. But I won’t wait any longer!” We both looked at her without saying any words then her bodyguards just grabbed me, and Tanner and they tossed us in one room. “Make up now because I already scheduled your wedding.”
“WHAT?!!!” We said in unison when the light in the room shuts off. Now I am stuck in a dark room with my ex.
“Just tell me if you’re not in love and I’ll donate everything to charity. I’m done spoiling you. Man up and be a responsible fiancé or lose everything! You have until sunrise to decide! No one is getting out of that room!!”
I am really confused with what just happened. When I thought yesterday was already complicated, today doesn’t even match compared to that.
“I want the money.” Tanner said as he pulled me closer, suddenly, in that moment, all my feelings for him came back.
- Writer
