Rebirth: Second Chance At Love, War

Chapter 4

THE ANNOUNCEMENT

ZARA'S POV

I was just clocking out after a long day when I spotted Nathan's office light still on. Giving his door a few knuckles, I popped my head in with a smile. "Hey boss, you busy? I was hoping we could chat."

Nathan glanced up from his mountain of paperwork, perking an eyebrow. "No problem. What's on your mind?"

I shuffled inside, suddenly feeling shy. "Well, thing is...I've got this high school reunion coming up. Was hoping I could get a plus one, you know, to show some faces."

He studied me with thoughtful eyes. "And you want me to play the part of arm candy for the night, is that it?" A light blush rose to my cheeks but I nodded in affirmation.

“And what makes you think I’d do that Zara? I’m your boss” he emphasized.

“Nathan, please just this favor,” I begged.

Leaning back, he stroked his chin in thought. Finally, he broke into a soft grin. "Alright, how about we strike a deal? My grandfather will only give me full access to my family’s wealth if I show him that I am ready to get married” he explained.

“I’m confused” I stated.

“Zara, I am not interested in women or getting married. I’m purpose driven and I don’t want such distractions. But my grandfather is a very stubborn man and he likes to get what he wants”

“Okay, so what’s the deal?” I asked intrigued.

“We are having a family dinner tomorrow. I’d like you to pretend as though we were dating because I’d be bringing you as my plus one”

“You’ll be my plus one to my reunion and I’ll be your plus one to your family dinner. It’s a deal!” I squealed, lunging to squeeze him tight. "You're the best! Seven o'clock out front, Nathan, don't be late!" Nathan chuckled, patting my hand as I flew out the door.

I rushed to get a taxi to take me home so I could start preparing. I met my own gaze in the mirror of my makeup table and sighed - same old me, with my long hair hanging limp. Not tonight. Gripping a pair of scissors, I went to work chopping it all into a sleek new bob.

Next came the cosmetics - a smoky eye with lashes that could take flight, rosy cheeks, glossy lips. Then I slipped into my dress: silk with the color of wine, hugging my figure. On went the stilettos that gave me a few extra inches, and around my neck the glittering gems Elena lent me. I turned this way and that, beaming at the confident woman gazing back.

Just then a knock came in- Nathan, right on time. Taking a breath to steady my pounding heart, I swung open the door. The way his eyes went wide made me glow like the sun. "Zara, you look..."

I smiled and took his offered arm. "Not so bad yourself, Boss. Care to escort a girl to her big night?" As we walked to the car together, I knew my grand entrance would be one to remember. And it definitely was.

While at the party, compliments from left, right and center gushed in. The only negative vibes were the ones that came from jealousy, just like the three girls who were approaching me. Well, if it wasn't the three ‘vipers’ from chem class - Amanda, June and Willow. Soon as they flitted up fluttering their lashes, I knew the night was about to sour.

"Why Zara, look at you all glammed up!" cooed Amanda, running her claw along my necklace. "Elena has one just like it, except hers is real silver I heard. Must be tough trying to keep up with her."

I bristled, but June cut in, sweet as arsenic. "We're just surprised to see you walk in without her, that's all. Figured you'd be her puppy as always."

"You clean up nice for once, but let's be real - we all know you'll never escape her shadow." Willow smirked like a cat. Their niceness was more toxic than straight poison, but I wasn't rising to the bait. "Well ladies, been lovely as always. Catch you on the flip side..."

I slipped off with a flip of my hand, struggling not to storm away. In the bathroom, I took a long breath, staring my new self. As I leaned against the stall, memories of sneering laughs and cutting whispers washed over me like an icy tide. Why had they targeted me so relentlessly all those years?

I heard the giggles of the vipers and quickly entered the convenience. Just then the vipers slithered in, oblivious to my presence, and launched into gossip. "Can you believe how Zara turned up looking like some high-class dame?" snorted Amanda.

"As if she wasn't a total loser in school. I heard she stole Elena’s boyfriend again. I think he’s name is Mark." June cackled.

Willow chimed in, "I heard from Trisha that Zara's working as a contract staff in the same office where Elena’s an assistant manager."

White hot anger and humiliation welled up in me, but I bit my tongue until it bled. Oh, they still hadn't learned. The night was far from over...and so were these bitches' reigns of torment.

As I crouched silent in the stall, their cruel gossip scratched like claws down my spine. Then one of them said carelessly, "Ugh, did you guys notice how she escaped from us? She probably ran off to the bathroom to cry or something. She always was such a crybaby."

I tensed, memories surging back in a bitter tide - all those times before, cowering meek while they laughed and pried. Never again.

“Zara…” Amanda sang “Come out… come out, wherever you are” Amanda continued as she began opening each stall one after the other. Her shadow crept over the stall door I was in as she muttered, "I'll check if she's in here sulking."

With full force, I pushed the door in a savage kick, the flimsy door flew open to slam Amanda back on her ass. "Looking for me?" I hissed.

They gaped like fools. Stepping close, I stared each viper down in turn, all their sins etched onto my seething glare.

"Let me enlighten you three about the bitter truth” As the vipers watched with hungry eyes, I dug out my phone and hit Mark's number on speaker. He picked up breathless after one ring.

"Zara! I've missed you so much. How are you baby?" The affection pouring from his tone was sickly sweet.

Plastering on a smile, I cooed back, letting the show begin. "Oh Mark, it's been so hard without you! I really think we could work things out..."

The girls' jaws dropped like anvils as my performance unspooled. Clearly, they had no idea who this man's heart truly belonged to.

When we finally hung up, June stuttered, "B-but what about the man you came with?"

I merely chuckled. "Nathan's just a friend and colleague." Their triumphant sneers collapsed like flimsy houses of cards.

Then Willow just had to add "So what? We all know Elena's the assistant manager now."

My laughter rang out like chimes. Whipping out my work ID, I dangled it gleefully before their disbelieving eyes. "Assistant manager not a f*****g contract staff."

I turned and left the vipers, then I walked through the narrow passage, heading for the main room our reunion was holding, then, a velvety voice stopped me cold. "There you are, Zara! I've been looking all over."

Elena smiled like the snake she was, gaze darting to her little minions emerging behind me. A confrontation was coming, that much was clear.

"Funny, I just had an… enlightening chat with these three. Care to enlighten me on the rumors you've been spreading?" My saccharine tone held a razor's edge.

One of the vipers, ever blunt, asked "What about Matt? The guy you stole from Elena in high-school?"

Right on cue, Matt appeared with a friendly "Hey girls!" And immediately, Amanda pounced. "Did Zara really steal you from Elena?"

Matt laughed bemused by such statement. "Elena? I and Elena never dated. It’s Zara I’ve always liked." The look on Elena’s face was an epitome of shame in its purest form and my smirk was wickedness incarnate.

"You lying b***h!" I spat, “You made everyone think I was desperate to be just like you when in fact you’re trying so hard to live the life I worked hard for! You want everything I own! My life, my job even my f*****g boyfriend! You’re a sick lying psychopath who belongs in a f*****g asylum”

With an enraged shriek Elena's hand cracked across my cheek, the crowd erupting into shocked cries. But before I could retaliate, Nathan materialized like an avenging angel to restrain her wrists.

"I can stand the sight of anything but not you laying your hands on her. Don’t you ever do that again," he growled low in her ear. She sputtered indignantly as he pulled me protectively to his chest.

A throat cleared pointedly - that foolish viper girl smirking with malice once more. "Friendly colleague, huh? Don't make me laugh."

Nathan silenced the wench with an icy glare before turning to address the hall. "Oh, you didn’t know?" He took my hands as he gazed tenderly at me. "Zara has done me the honors of accepting my proposal. We're engaged."

“What?” I muttered under my breath in shock