Left Me Broken

Chapter 3

“ Why are you saying that? What happened?" I was concerned.

“ He stood me up," she said with a saddened voice. “ I have been waiting for him for an hour but he didn't come."

“ Relax, Sharley, maybe he got stuck in some work," I said.

“ I have been calling and texting him on his phone but it's turned off. Perhaps he had come but didn't like how I look personally so he decided to dump me.." Her voice broke at the end. How could he do this? She was so excited for the date.

Now she was feeling miserable and I could not leave her alone.

“ I am coming to receive you…" I said and stood up.

I grabbed an overcoat from the cabinet and wore it. I didn't have time to change my dress so an overcoat did a great job covering my worn out blue gown.

I arrived at the luxurious restaurant where Sharley went for her date. I saw her sitting on a reserved table and went to her. She looked up instantly with a bright expression which faded away quickly as if she was expecting her date would have come. I sat opposite her and settled my purse on the table.

“ Thanks for coming…" Sharley whispered.

“ It's alright. Have you called your friend who set up your date?" I asked.

She nodded and said, “ He told me all he knows that Josh, the guy I was supposed to date with, was coming for the date two hours ago. But he had no idea why he hadn't come yet." “ Josh and I, we talked twice on the phone and I thought he would be a nice guy..but... Did he think I was ugly because of my squinted eyes?" Her voice broke.

“ Shh.. don't think like that.. you‘re so pretty and nothing is wrong with that.." I calmed her down but rage built deep down in me. He made her feel terrible. If he wasn't going to come at least he could have given her an explanation.

“ You guys are going to have a double date, aren't you? What happened to the other couple?" I asked.

“ Actually that date got cancelled because you refused to come," she responded.

“ Have you had your dinner?" I asked and she shook her head in response.

“ Let's eat something first," I said and called for a waiter.

“ I don't feel hungry at all." She interjected.

“ Didn't you always tell me that no matter what we shouldn't skip our meals. So why should we?” I said and continued with a laugh, “ besides someone has told me that men like curvy women.."

She smiled at my words and mumbled, “ okay.."

We ordered the food and soon the waiter arrived with our orders.

He served us the food and walked to another table.

We began to enjoy our food while conversing about our cafe and customers.

“ Hey, Are you Sharley?"

We heard a deep manly voice and turned towards him.

A handsome man dressed in a solid black suit with a matching black tie was staring at us. His deep blue eyes were dancing between us as if he wasn't sure who Sharley was. He had sleek black hair and tanned skin.

“ Yeah, I am Sharley," she responded.

A bright smile flashed on his face and he said, “ Oh I am so sorry Sharley for---"

“ For being late?" I cut him off furiously. “ You're so reckless and selfish."

“ Excuse me, you should know about me first." He was pissed off.

“ Should I? You know how much trouble you cause for her? If you are going to be late, at least you would have to inform her.. She has been waiting for you for an hour and do you think your empty apology will work here?" I said all that in a breath.

He looked stunned as he stared at me.

“ Ashley… hey… Ashely, " Sharley called me with a whispering tone. I diverted my attention to her and she leaned forward to speak in a lower voice, “ He is not the guy."

“ What?" I blurted out.

“ He is not the guy I was going to date,” this time she spoke louder. “ He doesn't look like Josh."

“ You’re not Josh," I asked with a shocked expression as I stared up at him.

He shook his head no and replied, “ No, I am not..Miss."

Oh damn no.. I literally shouted at a man for nothing. I wanted to hide somewhere as it was so embarrassing.

I was about to say sorry but Sharley said, “ Why are you looking for me? Do I know you?"

“ No you don't know me Sharley. But we both know Josh who you are supposed to date with. Josh is my manager and almost two hours ago he got hurt because he saved me from an accident. That's why he couldn't come."

“ Oh my god, is he okay?" Sharley asked worriedly.

“ Yeah, he is fine now, don't worry," he assured her.

Hearing this, Sharley and I sighed with relief.

She said, “ I've been trying to reach for him but his phone was off."

“ It got broken, that's why. Ten minutes ago he received a call from his friend that his date was waiting so long for him. He got upset and informed me that he was going on a date. I thought I owe you an apology, because of me you have to face trouble." He said.

I was stunned with his sincereness as I stared at his handsome face. Really, genuine people still existed on earth.

“ Well, along with my apology I’ve brought your date too," he said with a broad smile and turned around to the door of the restaurant.

A man entered the restaurant with the help of a man who supported him to walk. The man had band aids on his forehead and arm. I guess he was Josh this time for real. He had hurt his leg too as he walked with difficulty with the support of the other man.

Sharley sprinted from her chair to help him out. I immediately stood up and moved to the side. She sat him on the chair and scanned him from top to bottom.

“ Oh my god, Josh, you shouldn't have to come when you're injured," Sharley said with an emotional voice.

“ I am alright, Sharley," he assured her. “ I just don't want to miss my first date with you."

Josh stared at her with such an adoration which reminded me of my first date with Zach.

I scolded myself mentally, why should I start comparing everything with him. I looked at Sharley and leaned towards her.

“ So now your date is here, I will excuse myself." I said in a teasing tone.

Sharley nodded her head with a huge smile and her cheeks turned rosy.

She was blushing so hard and I was so happy for her.

I excused myself and moved to the door. Before I could push the door open, a hand grabbed the handle and pushed it open for me. I turned my gaze towards the person and my eyes met with a pair of deep blue eyes. He was the man dressed in the black suit.

“ Oh I’m so sorry," I said immediately.

“ Sorry? I think people usually say thanks for a person to show gratitude," he chuckled.

“ No, it's not for gratitude.. I mean yeah thanks for opening the door for me..”

Which was not needed by the way. But I didn't say that aloud. “ and sorry for what I did earlier.”

“ Oh for scolding me? Then it's fine because I knew you misunderstood me," he said.

This man was so friendly that I began to doubt if he had been sincere with his words or if he was just mocking me.

I smiled and said, “ Well thank you then."

“ So can I now know the name of the person who has told me sorry and thanks," he asked as he tilted his head.

“ Ashley Wallace," I replied.

“ Beautiful name just like how beautiful you are," he complimented with a broad smile on his face.

My cheeks turned hot despite the chilling air out there as I blushed. Tucking a lock of my hair behind my ear, I stared at him as I expected him to say his name.

“ By the way, My name is Harrison Prakash," he said as he held out his hand for a handshake. “ It's my pleasure to meet you."

I forwarded my hand and accepted his gesture. His handshake was warm and firm.

“ Mr Prakash, all pleasure is mine," I responded.

“ Oh please call me Harrison or Harry," he interjected.

“ Umm okay, Harrison," I said. I called him Harrison because Harry gave me more of a closer one feeling as if we were some sort of good friends or something else which we were not.

I looked for a cab as my gaze scanned the area. I thought about booking a cab over the phone. Just then Harrison offered me a ride. “ I could give you a ride to your home."

I diverted my gaze towards him with a surprised look. When I registered he was serious about his offer, I declined that immediately. “ Oh..no..thank you, I can go by cab."

“ Okay, if you don't want to go with me, it's alright. I don't mind," he responded and turned around to go but stopped and faced me again.

“ I hope we will meet again, Ms Ashely Wallace."

I only smiled at him and he nodded his head to say goodbye. I stared at his retired figure as he walked away and disappeared from my sight getting into his car.

I huffed as I glanced down at my watch. It was twelve past ten. My eyes fell on a club on the other side of the street and I craved to have a glass of drink suddenly. Suddenly I began to feel lonely again and wanted to forget the feeling for some time.

I crossed the street and entered the club after showing my id to the security guard.

The club was packed with people mostly because it's the weekend. I ran my gaze around me and found them drinking, dancing, chatting and flirting with each other.

I moved towards the bar and ordered a glass of vodka for myself. The bartender was a woman in her late twenties and looked damn gorgeous just in a white shirt and black trousers. I had seen her before but I didn't know where.

“ Is there anything wrong with me?" She asked, smirking at me as she poured the vodka in a glass before me.

“ Oh no absolutely nothing is wrong, I was just curious about your job that's all," I said immediately as she caught me staring at her keenly. “ I feel like I have seen you before."

“ Really? Then you have seen me here before because most of the nights I present here," she said as her hazel eyes danced on my face then dropped on my lips. I adjusted myself on my chair as I avoided direct eye contact with her.

“ It's the first time I came to the club."

“ Then tell me where have you seen me before?" She asked as she pushed the glass towards me.

I took the glass and gulped a little. She stared at me all the time as I put the glass down to think for some time. I thought for a while but didn't remember if I had really seen her before.

“ I didn't recall that so I think I misunderstood," I gave up and she shrugged.

“ How long have you been working here?" I asked.

“ Almost for a year, this is my ex-girlfriend's dad club. She couldn't take the responsibility of the club so she sold it to me at a reasonable price," she replied.

“ One minute.. are you Jessica Moore? The owner of Blue Nights?" I asked with a shocked expression.

She laughed heartily and nodded her head in yes.

“ Oh my god, I couldn't believe my eyes," I responded as I placed my hand on my mouth. Jessica Moore was always mentioned in a business magazine praising her success. She opened a club Blue Nights when she was nineteen years old and became so successful that she started multiple branches over the cities. So she bought this club and added it to her branch. I had never thought she would have been working on her club like that. I meant a billionaire woman served drinks to the customers of her club when she could have just sat and enjoyed her luxury.

“ You're the most amazing person I have heard of. I won't lie, I was shocked seeing you working here as a bartender, " I said with a huge smile.

“ The person who agreed to give a nineteen years old teenager a loan to start her business said that starting something is easy but to maintain it and grow it is another thing so you must not forget how it all started because that's what gives you a sight of your success and failure." She responded with a glimpse of thoughtfulness in her eyes as though she was recalling the moment.

“ What a deep thought!" I said as I sipped vodka from my glass.

“ Now I can take charge from here," a man said to her as he came to the bar. He had some grey hair and looked attractive with the way he had kept his shiny blonde hair combed back with perfection.

“ Sure," Jessica giggled and glanced at me. “ Looking forward to meeting you again here, I hope you have enjoyed your time in my club."

“ I guess I have enjoyed it," I said with a laugh.

She left the place and I began to feel bored again. I ordered some more glasses and gulped the warm liquid down my throat. I looked around and suddenly my eyes met with a pair of brown ones. I caught my breath as I stared at his face.

Zach Collin was there. My skin was on fire as his eyes trailed from my face to my body. Seeing him scowling at me brought back the memories of that night. What should I do now? Why was he here?