Chosen By Fate, Rejected By Hate

Chapter 19

Mavi Pov

"Goodbye, Mavi," my boss Arthur Salvatore, CEO of Salvatore Real Estate and Development, said warmly as he bid me farewell.

"Goodbye, Arthur," I replied before stepping into the waiting taxi. He preferred that I call him by his first name whenever we were away from his employees.

I had been working as Arthur’s personal assistant for one week, and I was grateful to have such a kind employer. He got along easily with everyone and always wore a smile. It seemed as though his day would not feel complete without one. He was so different from Alpha Magnus, whose brow was always furrowed, whose face was always serious, and who wore a permanent frown as if the world would end if he smiled even once.

My work was never difficult. He already had a secretary who managed his duties at the office. My role was to handle his personal matters, such as preparing coffee and accompanying him to private functions. It seemed he simply wanted a dependable companion, which was why he had hired a personal assistant.

I did not mind the light workload at all. I was not exhausted, yet the salary was more than enough to support myself. I also enjoyed the events we attended, because for a few hours at a time, I was able to forget the heavy sadness of being separated from Moses.

When I arrived at Lotlot’s house, she was already waiting excitedly at the door.

"So, how is your new job and your new boss, Mavi? Was I right about him? Is Arthur not just kind but also handsome?" she asked eagerly before I had even stepped fully inside.

"Will you let me come in first before bombarding me with questions?" I said, shaking my head gently. She had returned that very day from a week-long seminar in Hong Kong, so this was her first chance to hear every detail about my new life.

"Oops, I am sorry. I am just so eager to know what you think of him. Who knows, you might already be falling for him after just one week together." Her tone was playful and teasing.

"You are partly right, my friend. Arthur is indeed kind and handsome. But if you think I am developing feelings for him, you are mistaken. What kind of woman do you take me for? We have known each other for only seven days. Do you really think I would fall for someone that quickly?" I answered as I settled onto her sofa.

"Who knows? You and Alpha Magnus barely knew each other either, yet you shared something intimate within just a few hours of meeting," she teased with a knowing smile.

I gave her a light, playful tap on the arm and looked at her with a firm expression. "Can you please stop mentioning that man? Hearing his name ruins my entire mood."

"Why? It is the truth is it not?"

"Enough about him. Tell me, do you truly have no feelings left for Alex?" I cut her off. I knew she hated talking about Alpha Magnus’ friend, and if I wanted her to stop teasing me, this was the perfect topic to change the subject.

"Fine. I will not mention that man’s name ever again, as long as you stop bringing up his friend," she replied with a frown.

"It is a deal," I said quietly to myself, pleased that I had successfully silenced her.

"By the way, Mavi. Will you come with me tomorrow night? I have been set up on a blind date," she said, shifting to a new topic.

"A blind date?" I asked, laughing in surprise. Since when did my friend agree to blind dates?

"Do not laugh at me. I did not want to go at all. My mother arranged everything. The moment I stepped off the plane, she called me and told me I had to go. I could not refuse her or she would be angry with me for months. You know how she is. But I told her I would only go if I could bring you along as my friend. I said it would be a double date, or I would not go at all," Lotlot explained, looking at me with hopeful eyes.

"Very well. You win. I do not have work tomorrow, so I will come with you," I agreed. "But do not expect me to talk much."

"Do not worry. You can stand quietly beside me like a statue if you wish. As long as you are there with me, I will not mind being in front of that stranger," she said with a grin.

The following evening, we arrived at the restaurant to meet Lotlot’s date and his friend. Both men were handsome enough, but neither of them caught our interest. Still, we were polite and gracious, just as they were to us.

"It is still too early to go home. Why do we not go to a nearby bar for a few drinks?" suggested Ted, Lotlot’s date, with a smile.

"Come on, Mavi. Join us," said Ben, his friend who had been paired with me.

I turned to Lotlot instead of answering him. "Do you want to go?"

Lotlot leaned close to my ear and whispered. "This will be the first and last time we ever see these men. Let us just go along with it for now."

"Is the bar very close, Ted?" I asked.

"Just a short walk away," Ted replied cheerfully.

"Very well. Let us go," I said.

"That is my kind of woman," Ben said with a broad, confident smile.

Your woman? I thought to myself, raising an eyebrow but choosing to say nothing. Lotlot rolled her eyes at his bold words, but she too remained silent and kept walking.

The bar was indeed nearby, and we arrived quickly. We chose a private room because the main area was far too loud, with music blaring and people shouting over one another.

"I will have pineapple juice," I told the waiter when Ted ordered our drinks. Lotlot asked for only one small can of beer, while the two men ordered strong alcoholic drinks.

"To a wonderful evening and new friends!" Ben said, raising his glass in a toast.

"Cheers," Lotlot and I said in unison, raising our glasses and taking a sip.

I had barely finished half my drink when my head began to spin. I felt light and dizzy, as though I had been drinking heavily even though I had only taken fruit juice. I shook my head hard, hoping the feeling would pass, but it only grew worse. I stood up unsteadily, needing to wash my face and get some fresh air. I felt strangely hot and feverish, even though the room was cool and air-conditioned.

"Where are you going, Mavi?" Lotlot asked, her eyes looking unfocused and heavy. I noticed with alarm that she too seemed intoxicated, even though she had barely finished one small can of beer. That should not have been enough to affect her this way. Unless what she had been given was not beer at all.

"I feel terrible. We should go home now. Whatever they gave me is far too strong," Lotlot slurred, leaning heavily against the table.

"Do not worry. We will make sure you both get home safely," Ted said smoothly, watching us with a calm, unwavering smile. He and Ben appeared completely sober.

"I will be right back," I managed to say to Lotlot as I stumbled out of the room.

I had barely walked a few steps when the dizziness became unbearable. My vision blurred and my legs turned weak. I reached out weakly, searching for something to hold onto, feeling as though I would collapse at any moment.

But before I could fall, someone caught me firmly by the arm and guided me away. I had no strength left to struggle or fight back. I felt myself being led into another room, and I heard the door click shut behind us.

"You look even more beautiful like this, Mavi. I am the luckiest man tonight," a voice whispered close to my ear. It was Ben. I had never suspected him to be such a monster, hiding his true nature behind a polite smile.

I felt his weight press down upon me as I lay helpless on something soft.

No! I screamed silently in my mind. Danger was closing in all around me. Alpha Magnus! Help me! I did not understand why his name was the one I called for in my heart. But even if I screamed his name, he would not hear me. He did not even know where I was, or what kind of danger I had walked into.