MY VALENTINE GIFT

𝑌𝑂𝑈 𝐽𝑈𝑆𝑇 𝑀𝐸𝑇 𝐴𝑆𝐴𝐸𝐿 𝑅𝐴𝐼𝐷𝐸𝑁

ᗩՏᗩᗴᒪ

         ✯

“…What do you mean wrong?” Alastor asked slowly. “I sent a midnight ballerina to you.” Those words Alastor said rang in his ear , all of women , to send to him he sent a midnight ballerina. He really had some nerve.

“You sent a what?”

“A ballerina,” Alastor repeated. “High-class. Midnight special. You’re welcome.”

Asael let out a sharp breath. “Thank goodness I didn’t see her.”

“Wait,” Alastor said. "so you're telling me nothing happened between you too?"

“No.”

“…Are you serious?”

“No,” Asael replied calmly, firmly. “I’m serious, Alastor. I didn’t touch her.”

Alastor hummed. “That’s not like you".

"What do you mean , that's not like me ?", Asael said trying his best not to raise his voice. " This was your idea in the first place , and even if I wanted to do something, she isn't who you said she was". "I didn't even know she wasn't.... whatever it is ,you thought she was , until I heard her sleep-talking".

“Sleep-talking?” Alastor echoed.

"Yes".

“And you didn’t put her in a hotel?”

“No.”

“Why?”

"Because, Asael started. "she was asleep what if people saw me carrying a sleeping lady into a hotel, do you have any idea what the repercussions could be?".

"You're right" , Alastor said "maybe next time—"

"There will be no next time" Asael said and hung up.

ᗰᗴᖇIՏ

☆

Meris sat stiffly in the back seat, her fingers clutched the the hem of the oversized shirt she was wearing .

The car was quiet. Memories of her last night flooded her mind — everything felt so unreal;like one of her many dreams.

"Please ". she said softly , leaning towards the Chauffeur . "could you please power my phone ?"

The chauffeur nodded, plugging it in without a word.

Minutes passed. The screen flickered once… twice… then lit up.

"Phewwww" . She sighed in relief. Then her breath caught up.

Fifty missed calls .

All from one name.

Alora—her best friend.

"Oh no...." She whispered.

She immediately tapped the call button, lifting the phone to her ear, heart pounding. It rang once, twice—no response.

She tried again.

Nothing.

Maybe Alora's phone was off , Maybe the battery had died. She made up her mind to try again when she got home.

She leaned back, staring out the window as the city blurred past. Deep down , she wished, this was all a dream that she could wake up from.

Not long after, the car slowed.

“We’ve arrived,” the chauffeur said as the gate of her estate came into view.

"Can you please drop me here " Meris asked politely.

The car stopped. Meris stepped out, murmuring a quiet thank you before the car drove away, disappearing down the road.

She walked into the estate, she didn't want anybody seeing her align from such an expensive car and start getting funny ideas. As she drew closer to get gate . She spotted a familiar figure leaning close to it , she Squinted her eyes.

Alora.

Standing right outside the gate.

Her arms were folded tightly around herself, phone in hand, eyes darting around anxiously—until they landed on Meris.

Relief washed over her face instantly.

“My God, Ris!”.

Leya rushed forward, hugging Meris by the shoulders. “Where have you been? Fifty missed calls and you didn’t think to return even one?”

Meris opened her mouth to speak but no words came out.

"I was worried sick" , Leya continued , her voice shaking , are you okay? Did anybody hurt you ? Why didn't you come home from work last night or at least take your calls? — what happened?.

I called Liam to ask if you were at his place , but he said you dare not be at his place.

Questions poured out of her like she had been holding them all night .

Meris swallowed hard , her throat burning .

"I'm... I'm okay" She said her voice sounding very unconvincing .

Leya studied her closely—the borrowed clothes, the tired eyes, the way she stood like she might crumble if touched too hard.

“You don’t look okay,” Leya said softly.

Tears streamed down Meris's face. Leya didn't wait for her to explain . She pulled Meris into a tight , grounding hug.

And that was it.

Meris broke.

Her knees gave way slightly , as the emotions she had been holding all morning broke .

She clutched the front of Leya's hoodie , sobbing into her shoulders .

" I lost everything " , She said . " "Liam , my job, the agency , my sister , I could have been killed last night". Her voice cracked amidst sobs.

Leya froze.

"Calm down Ris, what do you mean you could have been killed last night? , breathe and talk to me"

Meris pulled back to catch her breath, wiping her face with the back of her hands. " I was drunk , I didn't know where.. where I was going . it started raining all of a sudden and I didn't care anymore . I just didn't care anymore . I just stood there . " Ley the agency dropped me , Liam said he doesn't want me anymore , he's with Keisha now and I'm just tired and confused and then this guy picked me and then took me home because I was drunk, but nothing happened.."

She choked on her tears and couldn't continue. Leya pulled her into a hug and stroked her hair . They stood there for a moment , holding each other in a tight embrace .

Leya pulled back , cupping Meris's face gently " You don't ever think that again " . She said. "not now , not ever".

Meris nodded weakly.

" I feel so stupid , feel used".

Leya hused her and embraced her " don't ever say that , Now let's run you a bath".

The bathroom was warm , filled with steam and smelt of lavender and roses.

Meris sank deeper into the bathtub breathing loudly and freely with Leya joining her.

“You scared ten years off my life,” Leya muttered.

Meris giggled softly. “I said I’m sorry.”

“You cried like someone in a tragic movie,” Leya said laughing.

“I was in a tragic movie,” Meris defended, splashing a little water in her direction.

"So..." Leya said slowly . " Do you have any idea who this man is ?"

Meris leaned her head back against the tub, staring at the ceiling.

" He's quite, hmm rude, ooh and he has this daughter ".

“Tall?”

“Yes.”

“Rich?”

Meris hesitated. “His house looked like a museum.”

Leya’s eyes widened slightly.

“He wore simple clothes,” Meris continued. “But you can tell. It’s in the way he moves. Like he’s used to being listened to.”

“And the daughter?”

Meris smiled softly.

“Haelyn,” she said. “She’s four. Tiny. Bossy. Adorable. she even hugged me.

Leya blinked. “Wait. Haelyn?”

“Yes?”

Leya slowly sat up straighter. “What did you say his name was?”

Meris frowned, " Asael, if I remember well , it's Asael, because that's what his driver called him.

"Full name?" Leya asked .

“I didn’t ask for his last name,” Meris shrugged. “But someone called him Asael. Why?”

“Meris…” she whispered. “Was he— dark hair? Sharp features? Always looks like he hasn’t smiled in ten years?”

Meris squinted. “That’s oddly specific.”

“Oh my God,” Leya breathed. “You don’t know who that is, do you?”

“Know who?” Meris asked slowly.

“That’s Asael Rayden.”

Meris froze.

“…Who?”

“The Asael Rayden,” Leya repeated. “Rayden Group. Real estate. Tech. Investments. Half this city breathes because that man signed papers.”

Meris blinked.

“No,” she said immediately. “No. That’s not possible.”

“Yes, it is,” Leya insisted. “And Haelyn? I thought his daughter was like seven or something.”

“She’s four,” Meris said firmly. “She said it herself.”

Leya covered her mouth.

“You got drunk,” she said slowly, “stood in the rain, and accidentally got rescued by one of the most powerful men in this city.”

Meris stared at the bathwater.

“…You’re lying.”

“I wish I was.”

Silence.

Then suddenly—

They both burst into shocked laughter.

“This cannot be my life,” Meris said between giggles.

“You always do the most dramatic things,” Leya accused. “Normal people cry at home. You? You wander into billionaires’ cars.”

“I didn’t wander,” Meris protested, laughing harder. “I was emotionally unstable.”

“That makes it worse!”.