Before Paula could walk away, Len grabbed her hand, stopping her from moving forward. His eyes were cold but beneath them was something that betrayed his demeanour. Paula didn't notice it but as they were dancing, his breaths had become uneven.
It had never happened to him before.
Due to his occupation, he had involved himself with countless women but none of them had been able to ignite those feelings in him.
"Mr. Bertram, please let go" Paula's voice rang in his ears, jolting him out of his thoughts.
He immediately let go of her hand, seemingly back to his senses.
"I don't understand the intentions you have towards Drake but be careful. I can't let a distant relative like Drake make the same mistake I made." Regaining his composure, he spoke without emotions.
Paula frowned, not understanding what he meant by 'distant relative'.
"It seems he hasn't told you yet. We are related to each other and I bet he doesn't really know who you are" He spoke fast, his words betraying his intentions.
Not waiting for Paula to reply, he prepared to walk away but Paula's next words stopped him.
"You weren't the one who made a mistake Len. I was the one who stick to you like a fool." She uttered, her lips spreading into a small smile. "Six years have passed but you still remain the same as before. Since we are going to be working together anytime soon, I would like us to bring all our personal issues aside. As you can see, I don't really mind but it's you I'm worried about. We just had a simple dance but you brought what happened in the past."
Paula paused as if contemplating her words.
"And please, keep whatever happened between us to yourself. I don't want to be associated with you at all. Thank you."
Before Len could reply, someone appeared behind Paula. It was Drake. He widened his eyes, exchanging glances with the both of them.
"Do you guys know each other?" He questioned, surprise coating his words.
"We don't know each other" Paula was quick to reply. "He was just my last dance partner."
"Miss Maillet," Len let out a scoff, a little surprised at Paula's denial. "We are going to be meeting more often in the future, I hope you get used to it."
"I don't think so, Mr. Bertram" Paula smiled back, her smile fake.
Drake watched the two, a little surprised at the exchange of words between the two. He was quite surprised that his distant relative who rarely talks seems to be having a conversation with Paula. Although he didn't know what they were talking about, he had seen them conversing.
"Len, are you pestering Paula because you invested in the movie?"Drake said teasingly, trying to ease the tension that was already building up. "Maybe we should meet sometime and get together, so we could get to know each other. There is no need for me to introduce you since you guys already know each other. So what do you think, should we meet up?"
Before Paula could reply, a woman appeared behind Len, slipping her arms into his. It was Melissa.
"Sure, Len. Let's make it a double date. And I want to specially apologise to my sister" Melissa said, letting go of Len's hand. She blinked her eyes slowly, tears filling her eyes. "We are family, we shouldn't be enemies."
Drake, who never knew what had happened between the two sisters, cast a glance at Paula. "You guys are sisters? Wow!"
Len pulled Melissa to his side, placing his hands on her waist. "Melissa is right, Paula. We should meet up and let go of our differences."
Seeing the two had agreed, Drake pulled Paula's hand, blinking his eyes innocently. "Paula, they've agreed. Please don't say no. I don't know what happened between you, but Melissa is willing to make up."
"Or are you still in love with…"
"You don't have to worry. It's just a meetup, I will show up" Paula interrupted, her eyes narrowed with burning intensity.
When they locked eyes, Melissa's gaze bore into her with intense loathing.
"Then it's done! Sunday evening, I will choose the venue!" Melissa exclaimed, grasping Len's arm closer to her body.
Later that evening, Paula walked into her car after the last event of the anniversary. As she settled in, she let down a deep breath as if she had just escaped a burning volcano.
As she prepared to start her car, she saw two figures walking closely to each other, metres away from her car. She leaned back to the car seat, a low chuckle escaping her lips.
"They even act shamelessly outdoors."
Paula's eyes flashed back to the moment when Len had put his hands on Melissa's waist.
Len had never held her so affectionately even though they were married for two years. The only intimate thing that happened between them was 'sex'.
Since Paula had conned the entire family into marrying him, Len did not give a damn about their marriage. He never cared about Paula or her interest.
Paula smiled sadly as she watched the two hug themselves. Perhaps Len was not really meant for her after all; perhaps Melissa was meant for him.
Maybe, just maybe, she had been the one forcing things that were never meant to happen.
Forgive and forget? Paula had said this to herself during the past six years but is it possible to forgive when you can't even forget what happened.
Smiling bitterly, Paula started her car. Even if she had forgiven Len, she would never forget how he had hit her and sent her out of the family.
After Paula drove off, Melissa's lips curled into a smirk as she hugged Len even tighter. She felt as though his Cologne was making her completely insane.
"I don't know why you are hugging me, Melissa. Let go of me" Len scolded sternly, his cold eyes on her.
"I don't want to let go. We used to hug a lot when we were younger, and perhaps we would be married by now if my sister had not done what she did." Melissa said all this in one breath, not daring to look him in the eyes. "I apologise for any inconveniences my sister may have caused you."
Len couldn't push her away, hearing her sincere words. Melissa wasn't the problem. It was Paula who started all this in the first place.
Although this was what he was thinking, his heart says otherwise as it seemed to even beat more thinking about how Paula had treated him.
Melissa could feel Len's heart beating as her head was placed on his chest. Feeling as though Len's heart was beating for her, she felt joy coursing through her veins.
She silently promised herself, "You will be mine soon. I promise"