Ellaine looked at Arianna like a pitiful little puppy. Arianna was seated in her study room, busying herself with that high stack of documents. She wasn't deliberately trying to ignore Ellaine at all. It was just that there were currently so much things to take care of at the moment.
"You're ignoring me on purpose." Ellaine stated feeling wronged. "I've nothing to do with the earlier incidents. Please believe me!"
Arianna lifted her head for a while and glanced at Ellaine who was sitting in front of her.
"I'm not avoiding you. It's true that I'm busy. Plus, didn't I already accompany you in the morning? Let's go out some other time." she explained as she continued to revise the papers on her desk.
"No! It must be tonight! I'm going home tomorrow. I'm not sure when I can make it back."
Ellaine's words surprised Arianna making her drop the pen in she was holding.
"You're leaving so soon?" she asked looking straight into her eyes. "What's the rush?"
Ellaine looked sad as she relayed what happened. She also didn't want to leave so soon but she was left with no other choice. If she refused to go back with the dela Vegas, given the promise she made to her father before, she's certain her father will personally come to take her home and things won't be pleasant.
"So you're getting engaged..."
Arianna was put in a daze. She didn't know how she should feel about this matter. She likes Ellaine, but she didn't want to be acquainted to Vier at all. Should she just cut ties with Ellaine?
"How do you find your fiance? He's kinda handsome..." she probed.
Arianna caught Ellaine's sudden change in expression when she heard the question. She turned her head away, blushing.
"Yes he is. He's an ice king though. He doesn't talk much."
Arianna nodded. So he wasn't like Yago? Sweet, warm and caring?
"Do you like him?"
"Well... maybe."
Arianna was silent for a while. It was obvious that Ellaine liked Vier. Who could blame her though? Vier was really a hottie! Although she doesn't like the man, he still share the same face with Yago, and for Arianna, Yago was the most attractive man, ever.
When Ellaine noticed that Arianna was silent, obviously in deep thought, she gently tugged on her sleeves as she pout her lips like a child asking for some candies. "You'll come, right? You have too!"
Arianna sighed. What else can she say? She didn't want to be mean to her. "Alright but... I made a promise to Jayden that I'll be meeting him tonight. Can he come too?"
Ellaine's face instantly brightened. The rumoured fiance? She would surely love to meet him!
"Yes! yes! Take him along! The more, the merrier."
Arianna narrowed her eyes.
"Does that mean you'll be taking Vier with you?"
Ellaine was taken aback. She shook her head and hurriedly denied it.
"Why would I? It'll only be awkward with him around. And he looks like the type to go clubbing at all."
"Right." Arianna answered while nodding. "And, do you have a place in mind? We can go to the bar near Jayden's office. Jayden owns it and we can have him arrange the best VIP room they have." she offered with a smile. " What do you think?"
"Sure." Ellaine simply answered.
***
" Vier, what do you think of Ellaine?" madam dela Vega asked as they were seated inside the car. They were on their way to Vier's place to take care of the remaining matters that need to be settled before their flight the next day.
"She's pretty." he answered. His expression was saying he was unimpressed though. Truth be told, Vier only smile and joke around with the people he was fond of, and they were very few. A lot of times, even her mother receives a cold shoulder from him. "She'll do." he added.
The elderly woman instantly frown at his reply. "What do you mean she'll do? Treat her properly! She's a very nice woman!"
Vier thought for a while before he turn to his mother.
"Ma, that... Arianna, I think we shouldn't have let her know about the engagement between me and miss Ellaine. It'll be troublesome in the future."
The woman glared at his son.
"Do you think I didn't know that?" she said sighing. She didn't want her to know either, but those were beyond her control. She even offended her. Even she felt troubled! They can only hope for the best now...
***
The VIP room that Jayden reserved for them that night was really huge. It was located at the third floor, and there was a glass wall where you can see the stage below and the people dancing and having fun. When Ellaine first came in, her smile turned to a scowl as she didh't think the bar would be too noisy that it's kind of unbearable, but when they reached the VIP room, she regained her good mood immediately.
"Hello ladies!" a handsome man entered the room as they were watching all the fun downstairs. He was holding a bottle of exquisite wine.
"Ellaine, this is my friend Jayden." Arianna introduced him af once. "Jayde, this is Ellaine. The friend I was talking to you about."
Jayden raised her brows.
"Friend? Am I not your fiance?" he teased.
Arianna chuckled.
"Yeah, right. My friend here knows you've been using me to gain profits." she said smiling.
" Am I?" he said as he pour wine for the two pretty ladies. He then passed a glass to Ellaine and then sat beside Arianna, putting an arm around her shoulders. "Here. Have this." he said handing over a glass of wine to his 'fiancee'. "This wine waited for you for quite too long. You went abroad for several months and even after your back, you've been very busy with work related matters. I'm really hurt by your lack of attention."
" Aren't you the same too?"
Ellaine watched as the two of them teased each other. Didn't Arianna say they were only friends? Why does it look like they were acting so lovey dovey? And isn't Jayden being a bit too touchy?
Ellaine leaned closer to Arianna.
"Yan, I think he likes you." she whispered in Arianna's ear.
"I know." she answered with a straight face. "I used to like him too but he didn't like me. Now that he's chasing after me, isn't it my turn to dump him now?" Arianna joked, saying those words in a loud manner, obviously saying it for Jayden to hear.
"Of course. You can do that, but I'll still wait for you. Just dump me as many times as you like." Jayden responded with a smile. Anyway, he knew that Arianna never liked anyone aside from him. She's obviously waiting for him all this time. She was just giving him a hard time right now to vent her anger on him but one day, she'll surely accept his marriage proposal, too.
Arianna fell silent. She used to like Jayden, like a child having a crush on her favorite idol! She looked up to him and longed for his attention but he was cold and distant. Right now, hearing those words made Arianna's heart feel warm. If he didn't realize her feelings for Yago, maybe she'll be happy to accept Jayden in her life. But now... can there still be hope for the both of them? If he get together with him, maybe she can move on a lot more faster. Maybe...
Ellaine raised her glass and drank the content in one go. She suddenly felt like getting drunk tonight...
That night, the first to get drunk was Ellaine. Arianna called her little assistant, Atasha to pick her cousin up. After Ellaine was fetched, Arianna and Jayden was left alone in the room. The man's face was already red having drunk quite a lot. He inched closer to her grabbing her by the waist as he pressed himself closer to the woman's body.
"I missed you, babe." he whispered.
Arianna raised her brows. Who's your babe?
"You're drunk too, huh?" she said, trying to push his chest to make a distance between them. "I can drive you home!" she offered.
Jayden hugged her and whispered to her ear. "No... you drank alcohol too. Just stay here with me... there's a bed behind that door you know..." he flirted.
Arianna struggled. But the more she tried to free herself, the more Jayden's grip on her tightened. She was annoyed, but not scared. She knew Jayden was just drunk this time. But how the hell can she escape this situation?
While Arianna was thinking of ways to break loose, Jayden suddenly grabbed the back of her head and kissed her lips. He pried open her mouth with his tongue and relished her sweet taste. Arianna felt hot. It was because of the alcohol, she reasoned, but Jayden's touch sure reminded her of a burning passion she once felt for a man.
***
9 o'clock the next morning, Jayden woke up with a headache. When he opened his eyes, he was greeted by the unfamiliar room. Where is he?
He looked around and finally recognize the resting room in the bar. Yeah. He was drunk last night. He probably stayed as he can no longer drive. Suddenly, he was reminded of the scene that took place last night. She remembered kissing Arianna and...
At that very moment, Jayden finally realized that he was naked under the blanket. He hurriedly turned to his right and was startled with what he saw. A woman was sleeping on his bed, naked. His face turned pale as he saw the hickeys left on her fair skin.
"I'm sorry, Arianna..." he whispered.