"I'll see what I can do about it", Aeryn said politely to Candice. "He's a workaholic, he is always busy."

Candice was washing the dishes and said, "Yup. I have read about how workaholic he is."

Aeryn and I hummed in response.

As Aeryn stirred the sauce beside me, I whispered, "Isaiah is back."

For a second she froze and then faced me. "What?!"

I sighed. "He came to meet me yesterday, here in the restaurant."

She gasped. "How did he find you?"

So I told her how he found me, repeating his words actually. And even told her everything else he said.

She gently placed her palm over my cheek. "Are you okay?"

I smiled. "Yes. I'm okay, I won't let him affect me."

She patted my cheek. "That's the spirit."

I chuckled softly and my phone rang interrupting our conversation.

I took out my phone from my handbag that was kept on a nearby counter and smiled on seeing Dave's name flashing on the caller ID.

"Hey", I greeted him.

"Hey", he greeted back in a dry tone. "Can we meet tonight?"

"A date?"

"Umm...not really. I just need to talk to you."

"Is everything okay?"

He chuckled nervously. "Yes, of course."

"As you say. So, where are we meeting?"

"I will text you the place and time." He sounded to be in a hurry.

"Okay. Bye."

"Bye", he mumbled and hung up the call.

Weird.

I went back to the stove and continued to work on the dough for the bread.

"Can I leave early today?", I asked Aeryn.

She wiggled her eyebrows. "A date?"

I let out a sigh and chuckle at the same time. "No. He just needs to talk about something."

"Okay. You can leave early."

"Thanks", I muttered.

.

.

.

I walked inside the Backstreet Cafe where Dave asked me to meet him.

I spotted him sitting at a table in the corner and smiling, I went over to him. Blond hair, blond light beard, an oval face. A white shirt with floral prints and a pair of blue jeans. He looked good.

Taking a seat opposite to him, leaning I pecked his lips but his eyes told me he didn't like me pecking his lips.

"So...", I said. "What do you wanna talk about?"

My hands were resting on top of the table and his eyes lingered on my left hand where the engagement was sitting.

"Dave", I called to him. "What happened?"

Just then a waiter approached us and Dave said to me nervously, "Coffee?"

Hesitantly I nodded and he ordered for us.

As the waiter went away, I said immediately. "You seem to be nervous."

He cleared his throat. "Look. I think the marriage can't--"

"Happen this early?", I interrupted him. "It's okay if you are busy. We can wait for a few more months."

He sighed. "No. What I mean is--"

"I get it. We both don't have enough money for all the preparations. It's still okay. I don't want a lavish wedding or hundreds of guests."

The waiter chose that moment to return with our coffees and placing it down, he went away.

Dave's jaw clenched. "Harper. We can't get married. Not now. Not even in the future. We just can't."

My voice dropped to a low volume. "Why?"

His eyes refused to meet mine. "I think we should break this engagement and whatever we had between us."

My mouth slightly parted. "W-what?"

"I...I am breaking things off. It's over between us."

I leaned closer, eyes widened and jaw dropped. "We are engaged, Dave. You proposed to me. Now what happened?"

He didn't answer as he lowered his gaze.

I realised something. "Did you find someone else to replace me?"

His fists clenched and he didn't answer.

My voice cracked. "Y-you found someone else, didn't you?"

He lifted his head. "I can explain."

"Explain what? How long has this been going now?"

He rubbed his beard. "A month?"

Tears welled up in my eyes. "You were lying to me all this time. You are a cheater. I thought you loved me. Hell! I even loved you back."

"I did love you, Harper but things changed--"

"Someone else came in to your life and you realised you don't love me anymore?"

He tapped his forehead with his index finger. "Kind of."

I slammed my fist on the table. "Unbelievable."

"I am sorry", he whispered.

I let out a humorless chuckle. "Sorry? You think it will change the fact that you cheated on me?"

A tear rolled down my eyes. "I loved you. But at this moment, I don't feel anything but hatred for you." I wiped away the tear with the back of my palm.

He genuinely looked guilty but I was not buying it.

"Who's the lucky girl by the way?", I asked sarcastically.

When he didn't reply, I repeated my question. "Who's she?!"

"She joined our office a month and a half back. I met her then."

I snorted and got up and furiously removed the ring from my finger and threw it at him. "I hope you both will have an amazing future together."

When I turned and made my way for the door, he called out for me but ignoring him, I ran out of the door hastily wiping away the tears falling down my eyes.

.

.

.

I was done crying. I won't cry for that fucker.

I am glad I got to know his real face, all this time I was thinking he loved me and I loved him back. But that's it. Not anymore.

I picked out one of the best dress from my closet, I didn't get the chance to wear it. It had a deep plunging neck, it reached till my mid thighs, silver in colour with sparkles all over it.

I opened my hair letting it fall over my shoulder and grabbing my clutch, I called for a cab.

Let the fun begin.

The lights were dim, the music was blasting from the speakers, everyone was dancing like crazy in the club. Just what I need tonight.

I moved to the bar and ordered myself a Martini while sitting on the barstool.

Having drink a few glasses of it, I moved to the dance floor swaying my hips, dancing all alone without a care in the world.

I danced with a stranger for some time, I don't know who he was and then pecking his cheek, I left the dance floor.

"I need another drink", I said to no one actually and made my way back to the bar. I was feeling a bit dizzy when I collided with someone's chest.

The impact of it made me stumble back and the person's hand grabbed my forearm making me stand straight.

"Always bumping into me, aren't you?" That person chuckled.

I lifted my head and finally saw him.

Gareth.

He had a slight smirk on his face as he subtly eyed me from head to toe.

He wore a black plain shirt, the sleeves rolled upto his elbow, black pair of jeans and his spectacles were missing.

Looking hot as always.

I took a deep breath and stepped back and he greeted. "Hello, Harper."

I bit my lips and his gaze flickered over it for a second. "Hi."

He stuffed his hands in the pockets of his jeans as he glanced behind me. "All alone?"

I brushed away a strand of stray hair behind my ear, his intense gaze making me nervous. "Yeah."

He smiled and offered. "Wanna grab some drinks?"

I mirrored his smile. "Sure."

I followed him to the bar all the while staring at his back and his broad shoulders that flexed as he walked.

I can't blame myself for checking him out since I am about to get my periods.

And I am also single at the moment because of that fucker.

I sat down on the barstool as he sat beside me on another stool. "What do you wanna drink?"

"Umm...whiskey."

He ordered whiskey for me and himself.

"Are you alone too?", I asked as the bartender gave us our drinks.

"Yes. I am actually here for a random inspection."

My brows furrowed. "Inspection?"

He smiled. "I own this club."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know that."

He took a sip of his whiskey and shrugged. "It's alright."

I picked up the glass with my left hand and his eyes fell on my empty ring finger.

"Where's your ring? Did the engagement broke or what?" He joked.

"Yes", I muttered bitterly.

"Are you serious?" His eyes scrutinizing my face.

"Yes. That bloody bastard, motherfucker found someone better to replace me so he broke the engagement."

He was drinking and on hearing me curse Dave, he choked on his drink. The bartender quickly gave him a glass of water and he drank it.

"But he just proposed you a few months back, didn't he?", he said in shock.

I pressed my lips into a thin line. "He did. He said he did love me but he doesn't anymore. Got interested in some chick that joined his office. He is a fucking cheater."

"So, you are single at the moment?"

"Why? Are you planning to ask me out?" I questioned amusingly.

He let out a small chuckle. "Of course, not. I don't date."

I rolled my eyes and ordered another drink for me.

"Does Aeryn know?"

I gulped down the drink. "No. I don't wanna tell her yet. And you mister, are not going to tell her either or you won't like the consequences." I warned him pointing my finger at him.

He raised his hands in surrender. "I won't say a single word to anyone."

"Good."

"You are paying for the drinks, right?", I asked him while I ordered another drink for me.

"Drink as much as you want. It's free for you tonight." He winked.

I winked back and grinned. "Thanks."

His eyes swept over my body, not so subtly this time. "You are looking stunning, Harper."

"Stunning enough to seduce you?" I flirted.

He looked a bit taken aback by my statement but he recovered quickly and smirked. "Stunning enough to seduce me easily."

I battered my eyelashes at him seductively and leaning closer, whispered in his ear. "Glad you told me. I was going to do just that."

I trailed my fingers down his arm before sitting back straight in my seat.

He chuckled in a sexy tone and ran his tongue over his lips making me mentally groan because his lips looked so good.

And then I drank and drank and drank untill my feet were stumbling and my knees were buckling. But my mind was still working okay. I was able to understand everything.

Gareth wrapped his arm around my shoulder making sure I don't fall and I giggled at him.

"I'll drop you home", he said and I giggled again, nodding at him.

He took me out to his car making me sit in the passenger's seat and did my seatbelt before sitting in the driver's seat and revving the engine as he asked my address and I told him. And he drove away from the club.

All the way to my home I couldn't stop myself from drooling at him. He noticed it but didn't say anything for which I was glad.

The car stopped infront of my small apartment building and he killed the engine turning to me.

"Can you make it up to your apartment?", he asked.

I didn't reply and just giggled again while staring at his lips.

"Harper? Are you listening?"

I nodded.

He sighed. "Can you go up to your--"

I didn't let him finish as I grabbed his collar and smashed my lips with his, kissing him hungrily.

He froze and I was waiting for him to kiss me back but he gently pushed me away and I pouted.

"It's not a good idea", he rasped.

My hands were still clutching his collar and I cocked my head. "Why?"

"Harper..."

I leaned closer. "You only said that I could seduce you easily. What happened now? What changed?"

He didn't reply and I said, "Just for a night, Gareth. You have my permission."

He stared into my eyes for a few seconds before he cursed underneath his breath and slammed his lips on mine.

Rest everything was blur.

The last thing I remember is me falling down on my bed with him on top of me.