The wind blew hard on her face as Angel sweated and exerted herself on the streets of Manhattan. Her long legs made her run as quick as she could have ever imagined. Her heart accelerated, not that she was running and all, but because of all the anxiety. She hoped that what she was told wasn't true.
After Angel had received that phone call in her office, all she wanted to do was faint. She couldn't believe what she had heard. She didn't know whether to cut the call and forget about what she was told or try to prove Miranda wrong.
"But it's the truth, Angel," Miranda's voice echoed in Angel's mind as she ran down the streets. "Your sister isn't what you think she is."
"It's a lie. It's nothing but a lie."
"If you don't believe me, then come over to Walters' Club and see for yourself. If you love your sister that much, you might try to find a way to help her from creating a tradegy in future."
And Angel was doing so right now. All she was hoping for was that everything was just a prank. Her sister couldn't have stooped so low. She was a good person. Not what Miranda said about her.
Or had Angel been playing the fool this whole time?
***
"I'm so excited, Trina, I can scream to the heavens right now."
Kim looked at herself in the full length mirror admiring at how gorgeous she looked in her wedding dress. It fit her perfectly showing out her beautiful curves. A small tiara was mounted on her head and her long brown hair was tired in a neat bun leaving a few strands of her hair in front to drop in curls. Her diamond necklace around her neck made her look magnificent.
"You look gorgeous, my friend," came a tall good looking brunette behind Kim, "I really envy you right now."
"Don't say that, Trina," said Kim as she turned to look away from the mirror to face Trina, "you might just be next to get married. And to Eric too."
Kim giggled and Trina had a huge smile on her face.
"Ya, thats all I want, for me and Eric to finally tie the knot," said Trina.
Kim went closer to her friend and held her hand. "I know it will happen. Even if we all know that Eric is more like a play boy, he has only eyes for you."
"You think so?"
"I know so. You'll see. The person who is going to catch the bride's bouquet will definitely be you and in a matter of days, you two will get married."
Trina had tears in her eyes. "You're going to make me cry, Kim, and that will ruin my make-up."
"Oh, sorry about that," Kim passed her finger under Trina's eye lids to wipe away the tears. "You don't worry, you're already beautiful."
Trina hugged Kim tightly. "I'm going to miss you."
"Hey, we will always be in touch. I can never forget my best friend."
A knock on the door soon interrupted their little moment. Kim's father's voice was heard outside the door.
"Girls, the car is waiting outside. It's time to go."
"Will be out in a minute, dad," called out Kim. She turned to face Trina. "My make-up still looks okay, right?"
"Of course, now come on. Let's get you married."
***
"What do you mean he is not here!"
Mrs McDonell's outburst almost shook the whole house. For a moment, those standing in the living room with her could have sworn that they saw the chandelier above them move.
"Bertha, what's all the racket about?"
Diana, Amanda's daughter and Mrs McDonell's sister in law, came rushing down the stairs in her pink high heeled shoes and a lovely white and pink dress.
"Leo isn't here. That's why," Mrs McDonell replied.
"He must be somewhere around here, Bertha," said Diana, "you're overreacting."
"The bride is on her way and Leo is no where. The workers have searched the whole house."
Diana told the waiters and waitresses to leave the room. She took Mrs McDonell to a chair and made her sit.
"If you start acting like this, you will burn the whole house down," said Diana, "Leo must be somewhere. If he isn't in the house, then he couldn't have gone far."
"But time is running out, Diana. The guests are about to arrive and so is the bride. What do you expect me to do?"
"He will show up. Don't worry. I'll get a glass of water for you."
Before Diana could leave the room, Amanda came in with Diana's ten year old son, Oliver pushing the wheelchair.
"I knew someone was going to blow a fuse today," said Amanda.
"Mum, now isn't the time for all this,"said Diana, "Leo isn't here. And the wedding is about to begin."
"Oh, is that so? Looks like Leo isn't like his mother after all. He listened to my advice and left this dump of a wedding."
"You just shut up," said Mrs McDonell with a furious look on her face. "This wedding is going to take place and you will do nothing to ruin it, okay?"
"Oh, ya, but where is Leo now? To me, it looks like he ran away."
"If you two are going to fight here right now, I will leave the two of you to tear each other apart and we won't be able to find Leo," said Diana.
"Find Fred, he will know what to do," said Amanda.
"Your dear Fred isn't home either," said Mrs McDonell, "I wonder where he is as well when he is supposed to be right here with me."
"Looks like both my son and my grandson have made wise decisions today," said Amanda with a smile.
"What are you trying to say you old-" before Mrs McDonell could finish her sentence, a sound of a car's horn was heard outside.
Everyone in the room paused for a second.
"Could that be Leo or Fred?" asked Mrs McDonell
"Or our first guest?" suggested Amanda.
Oliver went to the window and checked outside. He looked back at his mum, his grandma and aunt with a weird look on his face.
"We better find Leo fast, or things are going to get pretty ugly in a matter of hours," said Oliver.
***
Eric tapped the steering wheel as he waited in the car which was packed in the parking lot behind the club. He looked at his wrist watch and leaned down in the car seat. Waiting for Leo felt like a burden. It was totally frustrating and he was worried about what was happening back home.
He looked at his watch again. He had been waiting for thirty minutes and he was getting impatient. It was better if he called Leo and head back home. He hoped that his cousin had gotten his senses and would carry on with the wedding.
Before Eric could reach out for his phone, something black and red caught his eye across the street. He looked up quickly and he saw a girl with black and a few strands of red hair which stood out brightly in broad daylight. For a moment, he was captivated by the sight. As she ran across the street with her long legs in black skinny jeans, her long hair flew in the wind behind her and her beautiful face caught his eye. Eric looked at her with his mouth agape as though she was the most beautiful creature he had ever seen.
She was beautiful, no doubt about that. Her smooth face was like for those fair princesses in the movies, but he could tell she wasn't wearing much make-up. Her coloured skin was captivating to look at and all Eric wanted to do stroke her skin lightly.
As he looked at her face, he realised that she seemed familiar, but she was too captivating to look at that Eric couldn't think straight.
The girl was heading for the club, and Eric found that pretty awkward. Why would an angel like her be in a place like this? He decided to go and find out.
As the girl made her way inside the building, Eric got out of the car and locked it. He straighened himself up and went towards the club. For a moment, he thought he might just get lucky to know a sweet girl like her.
***
"May I know what you're doing here?" Carly asked. To her, saying those words was a struggle. It took her just a little bit of courage to speak.
"To be honest with you, I don't really know. I can't tell," said Leo.
His voice again made Carly feel like she was flying. His deep blue eyes looked at her with earnest and Carly couldn't help but get lost in them.
"That doesn't seem convincing," said Carly trying to straightened up herself to try and hide her anxiety. "You must have come back here for a reason and I want to hear it."
Leo gave a little laugh and Carly couldn't help but blush. He looked so cute when he laughed and Carly felt like she could just stare at him forever.
When Leo gathered his composure, he suddenly looked serious. Carly had this strong desire to grab him and kiss his adorable lips. Even when he looked serious, she still felt attracted to him and she felt she was going to lose control if she ever got the chance to ever kiss him.
"I don't know how to tell you this, Carly, but last night when I came here, something happened that affected me this morning. And I came to find out what it was."
"And so you think I've something to do with it?"
"Most likely."
"But.... what did I do? I was just doing my job."
"I don't think that's all you did last night, Carly."
"Okay, I'm confused," said Carly with a little intensity in her voice, "what did I do actually? You tell me."
Leo closed the small gap between them and wrapped his arm around Carly's waist. For a moment, Carly couldn't breathe and her heart beat accelerated. She loved the feeling of Leo being so close to her with their bodies touching. Leo breathed down her neck and that sent tingling feelings down her spine. She was liking this a lot and all she wanted was to lose herself in him.
Leo bought his lips closer to Carly's ear and whispered softly, "why don't we get down and dirty to figure it out?"
***
When Angel got in the club, she paused to look around and found the club partially empty with only a few people cleaning around the place. She looked around hoping to see her sister, but no luck. She walked up to the bar stand and found the bartender drying up glasses.
"Excuse me, sir," said Angel trying to get the bartender's attention.
The bartender turned his attention to her and he looked quite young to be working at a bar, but he seemed to be of the same age group as Angel. His soft grey eyes stared at her with sincerity. He gave her a little smile and Angel noticed the dimples on his cheeks.
"Hello, how may I help you?" asked the bartender.
"Mmmm, hi, I was just wondering if you know any girl who works here by the name of Carly?" Angel asked.
"Oh, you mean Carly Barclay, right?"
Angel's heart felt like shuttering to pieces. She just wanted to break down and cry but she couldn't in front of this stranger. It couldn't be true that Carly really did work here. Angel took in a deep breath to calm herself. She hoped that Carly just worked here as a cleaner or something. Not what Miranda had told her.
"Miss, are you okay? You don't look so good," said the bartender.
"I... I'm fine," said Angel, taking in a few deep breaths. "Where can I find Carly?"
"I hear she is upstairs attending to a client."
"A client? What client?" Angel felt like she was going to pass out.
The bartender looked at Angel with deep concern. He went to get a glass and a jug of water and poured the water in the glass and gave it to her.
"You might need this," said the bartender, "you don't look good. You sit while I call the owner."
Angel gladly thanked the bartender and sat on the stool. She took in a sip of water as the bartender took off from the bar stand. Angel was too absorbed in her mixed up thoughts that she didn't realise that someone was right beside her.
"Hey, there," came a deep husky voice close to Angel's ear.
Angel shifted on the stool and she was looking straight at a handsome stranger. His cocky smile made Angel blush despite all the mixed feelings inside her.
"Um... hello," said Angel, her voice almost came out like a squeak.
"What is a beautiful girl like you doing here?" asked the stranger.
"I... I came here looking for someone, that's all."
"Oh, where are my manners? I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Eric and yours?"
"Angel."
"Ah! I wasn't wrong to have thought of you as an angel when I first saw you then," Eric couldn't help but smile. He held up his hand, "I'm pleased to meet your aquitance."
Angel stared at his hand for a moment and she shook it. "The pleasure is all mine."
Eric held her hand for a little longer and they stayed like that for what seemed like centuries. Angel quickly withdrew her hand feeling a little awkward.
"May I ask what the two of you're doing here?" came a voice which echoed around the club.
Eric and Angel turned to look at where the voice was coming from and there was a huge tall bald man with a pot belly standing by the stairs with the bartender behind him. Angel quickly stood from her stool and she could feel Eric come closer from behind.
"You must be the owner of this place, right?" Angel asked with a courage she never knew she had.
"Yes, it's me. What can I do for you?" Mr Walters asked.
"I came here looking for Carly. Where is she?"