The path Aryanna walked on was decorated with flower petals. The sun rose in the sky and filled her dull life with colors the moment Sebastian walked into her life.
Aryanna stared at the documents with her name on them. She was frozen in disbelief. All her life people have made her feel irrelevant and undeserving of anything including life. Yet, Sebastian didn't hesitate to hand his billion-dollar company to her.
He left no stone unturned to shower her with affection. Sebastian brought the world to her feet and made certain there were no thorns in her path. Aryanna stared helplessly at her name.
He raised her to stand beyond what she knew was possible for her in her life. She was an empty sky until Sebastian walked into her life and filled it with stars.
"Aryanna! "
Aryanna flinched at the sound of her name. She didn't need to turn around to know that it was Carlos who addressed her.
His voice was etched in her system. Aryanna veered around to face him, her chest tightened and her heart dropped. The humiliation he showed her at the party a week back replayed in her mind. Aryanna clenched her fists.
Carlos looked around, he ensured that they were alone before pulling Aryanna by the hand. "What are you doing here? And where have you been the past week, huh? " he asked putting pressure on his hand that held Aryanna's.
Aryanna cringed in pain. She balled up her fists and dug her nails into her palm. The documents Sebastian gave her fell to the floor.
"I came to look for you, I believe you owe me an apology for the scene you created that night, " his tone is nonchalant.
Carlos rubbed the side of his temple. He eyed Aryanna from head to toe, impressed by how she dolled herself up. Carlos was pleased by her appearance.
"I see you made an effort to look good for me, I like it, " he arrogantly let out. "At least now you're starting to learn how to act around a man, " he added.
Aryanna stared at him, questions puzzled her at the back of her mind. She wondered how she failed to see Carlos's true nature in all the times they were together. Aryanna scolded herself for being so foolish to have trusted the sweet lies he told her.
Tears sting at the back of her eyes. She shut them right before opening them again, tears flowed down her cheeks. Aryanna went silent for a few moments to collect her thoughts.
Carlos let go of her arm, he snaked his hand around her slim waist and pulled her into his arms. Aryanna gasped, her body shivering at his touch. He disgusted her to the core.
Carlos sighed, "Why don't you show me how sorry you are, Arya, " he invited. "Give me a kiss, dear, " his tone softened in his attempt to lure Aryanna to kiss him.
Aryanna bit her lower lip. She swallowed the lump in her throat, annoyed and irritated by his presence. Carlos wasn't a man when compared to Sebastian. He lacked in many aspects, from his arrogance to his ego.
"You used me and I'm the one that owes you an apology. Are you mad? " she lashed out at him.
"Lower your voice!" Carlos barked pressing his index finger to her lips. "Don't you dare speak to me in that tone of voice, Arya? I'm warning you!"
Aryanna's eyes darkened. Anger burns in her chest. "Bold of you to assume that you can command me. It's you who should lower your voice, " her stern cold voice surprised Carlos.
He thought she would coil into his arms and apologize like she normally does when he loses his temper. Aryanna's fear of being abandoned and left alone made her submissive to him and forced her to apologize even when she wasn't wrong. To keep him with her and avoid losing him and being alone.
However, that girl was dead. Aryanna had a guardian angel who was slowly teaching her to hold her head up high in front of her enemies. She refused to let Carlos walk all over her, she wasn't a carpet.
"Alright, Arya. I'll be understanding this time and forgive you, " Carlos lazily let out. He made it appear as though he was doing her a favor.
Aryanna had an urge to give him a tight slap. He fooled her into falling for him to break her in the name of love for the woman he cared for. Still, he dared to stand before her and act all high and mighty. Aryanna shoved him back.
She freed herself from his hold and wiped her tears. Carlos was in no way deserving of her tears.
"How dare you push me, Arya?"
"I have no idea how many scars I justified because you were the one carving them in my heart. All because I was scared to lose you, " Aryanna cried out. "I'm a fool, darn it, " she cursed.
"What happened to you, Arya? This isn't you, " Carlos refused to accept Aryanna's changed attitude. In his mind, it was all her attempts to get him back. He thought she was playing games to win him over and get him back. "You don't have to change to win me over, " he closed the distance between them and wrapped his hands on Aryanna's shoulders.
Aryanna pushed his arms off. Her eyes turned razor-sharp as she glared at Carlos. The man was adamant about playing his games with her. Even though the truth was out, he acted like nothing happened. In his mind, he was the victim and she was the culprit for learning his truth.
"I didn't come here to see you and I most certainly didn't dress up to impress you, Carlos, " she firmly claimed.
"Why are you here the.... "
"Carlos, there you are, " a man approached. "The meeting is about to start, why are you still in here?" the man asked.
Before Carlos could speak up, the man pulled him away and into the meeting hall. Aryanna felt drained. It hurt to watch the shattered dreams she had in her heart for the two of them. It was too soon to come face to face with Carlos.
Her heart shuddered at the replay of their encounter. There was no guilt in Carlos's eyes. He had no pang of conscience about how he treated her that night.
He used and discarded her to prove his love for Leah. Carlos made a joke of her life and acted nonchalantly about it. Aryanna felt the walls of her past caving in. Haunting the peace and warmth that came into her life. It made her feel unworthy of the affection from Sebastian.
Aryanna felt too ruined to stand next to Sebastian. Without hesitation, she sprinted from the spot Sebastian asked her to wait for him. She ran away with tears flowing down her eyes.
Tears clouding her visage, she thought it best to wake up from the beautiful dream before she got deeply wrapped up in it. Her heart thundered against the walls of her chest.
Walking into the building, she felt as though walking on glass and now, the glass was coming apart from beneath her feet, threatening to swallow her whole. She ran for her dear life.