Amy

"Did you take everything?" I asked mom as she was ready pulling the zip of her suitcase.

"Yes, Amy", mom replied.

"Your Id cards, jackets, chargers and cellphones?" I asked again.

"Yes, mother", she laughed.

"Just making sure. Call us if anything, okay?" I told her.

"Yes, don't worry", she smiled back.

We took the bags and walked to the living room where Aaron, Daniel and dad were waiting for us.

Yesterday, after I reached home, I almost ran to Aaron's room to take a shower. I went straight to the bathroom and took a long shower trying to forget everything that happened. I got out after almost an hour when I finally had a better control on my emotions. I made the cake and helped everyone with the decorations and setting up everything. When Aaron came home, he was indeed surprised and happy.

We had a fun night. We decided to spend time by playing cards and board games. We played a few games and I tell you this family is crazy competitive. We literally fought over every single point. Aaron cut the cake at midnight and everyone wished him. It was really awkward when I wished him because I avoided looking at him at any cost, even when he fed me a piece of the cake. Obviously, mom and dad expected me to be a little more romantic in my wish. But, before anyone could say anything about me kissing him or something, thankfully, Daniel understood the gravity of the situation and diverted everyone's attention to the on-going game. We stayed up until wee hours of the morning and when everyone finally got tired and our bodies begged us to sleep, we all decided to call it a night.

I had offered my bedroom for Daniel to sleep but, he decided against it and left to go back to his home. Mom and dad went to theirs. I didn't want to enter Aaron's bedroom but, what choice did I have? So, I decided to delay it as much as I could.

I made an excuse of cleaning up a little before going to bed. I was about fifteen minutes into it, when Aaron came out of the bedroom and silently walked to his study. He had been avoiding me since he came home. No complains there though. Whatever happened or rather almost happened was something neither of us wanted to talk about. He shut the door of his study and I realised that he too didn't want to make it any more awkward than it already was. So, I had finally called it a night.

We hadn't crossed paths since today morning, until now.

"We should get going", dad said.

"I'll drop you to the airport and then go home", Daniel shrugged.

"Stay here for sometime if you want. I can go drop them instead", Aaron told him.

"Nah, I just came back yesterday morning. Need to sort some stuff at home before I leave next week", Dan told him.

"Next week? You're going back to Italy?" mom asked and Daniel shrugged in reply.

"You'll be there for the annual function right?" Aaron asked.

"Yeah, flying the day after that", he answered.

Just then Aaron's phone rang and he excused himself.

"What's been keeping you in Italy, Daniel?" I asked jokingly.

"I am opening a new hotel plus restaurant under our franchise in Italy. It has been a hassle going back and forth to check the location and now the setup", Daniel smiled.

"So, it has been just business?" I asked him suggestively.

"Well, both business and pleasure", he winked.

I raised my eyebrows in surprise, "Pleasure, huh? Should we expect that soon it will be you with a plus one?"

"Ha! Him and a serious relationship? Not possible", mom scoffed. "He probably means that he is sleeping around with those Italian girls."

I burst out laughing as Daniel choked on his spit.

"Mom! Don't forget, you are my mother. You can't talk like that", Daniel shook his head at her.

"Says who?Those fake smiles and fake bodies can never be anything serious for you. Mark my words, though. One of these days you will find a strong headed woman who can knock sense into your head and then there will be no going back. She will always keep you on your foot and you won't be able to do anything about it", mom gave him a pointed look.

"Just like you are for dad", Daniel muttered.

But, mom heard him. "Yes, something like that", she shrugged. "You and your father as so much alike", she shook her head,

"Aaron was no saint either. Why did you never have any such predictions about him?" Daniel asked her.

"Well, I did have. That is why, it didn't come as a huge surprise to me when he got her home. One glance at Amy and I knew that my predictions had fallen true", mom smiled at me.

I mentally scoffed at that. Funny, mom thinks I am perfect for him. If only she knew the truth.

Before, I could reply, Aaron walked back.

"Ah, speak of the devil and the devil appears", Daniel rolled his eyes.

"What were you guys talking about?" Aaron asked almost soundi

"Nothing, your past affairs", Daniel laughed.

Past affairs? He has some current ones too. I rolled my eyes mentally.

"I think you guys should get going", Aaron said without a tinge of emotion in his voice.

Daniel picked the two bags and we hugged them goodbye. Soon they left and it was just Aaron and I left alone in the house. I stared at the shut door for couple of seconds and just out of nowhere muttered, "I'll miss them."

"What?"Aaron asked.

"Nothing, I..I just said I'll miss them. I had so much fun with them for the last few days. Time just flew by. It felt so natural. They are like my parents and I am like their daughter", I smiled slightly.

"No, you are not", Aaron spat with anger.

"What?" I asked surprised.

"I said no, you are not. You are not their daughter. You can never be their daughter. You are just in this family because of me. I didn't get married to you to make you a part of this family. Do you understand? You are not their daughter. You are just-"

"Aaron, stop it. You have no right to decide that, alright? They are my family. Like it or not, it is the way it is. Even in future, when you finally come to your senses and divorce me, that is something that will never change", I yelled at him angrily.

Aaron gritted his teeth and clenched his fist. He was glaring at me with anger, but I didn't care. He had no right to say that.

"Stop your drama. It will not work on me. Get your stuff out of my room before I come back", he gritted.

"Fine! Not like I wanted to stay there any longer either", I gritted back.

"Just because I was nice to you for a few days, doesn't mean that everything has changed between us. I still hate you", he spat back.

"I can never forget", I stared in his eyes angrily.

"Good to know that you still remember", he spat back.

We glared at each other angrily and hatefully for sometime. After what felt like hours but was a few minutes, I stomped to his room and he angrily walked out of the house, slamming the door shut.

"Be ready at twelve. We are going out", Aaron said as I entered the kitchen.

Seriously? After yelling at me for no reason yesterday, suddenly he wants to go out with me? He has lost it if he thinks I will listen.

"I am not going anywhere with you", I told him without giving him a glance.

"I am not asking you to go on a date with me. It is for business", he said.

"Business! What business do you have on a sunday?" I asked him with a frown.

"The company's annual function is next week. I need to buy a new suit", he said.

"Okay, go buy it. Why do you need me?" I told him while making my coffee.

"Don't you want to buy anything?" he asked me.

"I already have many clothes. I will wear something from them", I told him without facing him.

"You need formal evening gown", he said.

"I have a few old ones", I told him.

"Why don't you buy a new one?", he stopped me in my tracks forcing me to face him.

"I don't have any reason to", I glared at him.

"You don't have to have one", he replied looking at me calmly.

"I don't waste money unnecessarily. Why should I buy a new dress when I already have so many to choose from?" I asked him with a frown.

"Because I want you to", he said surprising me. I stared at him with my eyes wide in shock.

"I...I mean you are...you are my sec..secretary and I want you to..to wear something good as it is the company's annual function. People might notice you. I don't want you to create a bad impression for the company", he said averting his eyes to the coffee on the kitchen counter.

"I am your temporary secretary and I will be gone in a few days. I am sure Peter will be there too to save your reputation", I told him.

"Fine. If that is the way you are going to be, then so be it. Consider it as Mandatory Shopping. I am ordering you as a boss to go with me at twelve and buy a new dress for the event tomorrow or else you are fired", Aaron said and walked out of the kitchen, leaving me to stare behind his back open mouthed.

The nerve of the man! He shouts at me and avoids me for a whole day and then suddenly comes and acts all high and mighty. He has got some serious issues. Just three more months. Then, I will be free to leave this job.

Why doesn't he understand? After what happened last time, I don't even feel like going to a party at all, let alone buying a new dress.

Flashback...

"Excuse me", I told my friends as I got up to go to the restroom.

Friends, my foot. I was forced to go here tonight. I hate being here. Everything about them is just fake. If it was not for Marcus' business, I would have said no.

I am currently in a rooftop restaurant for a charity party with some important business associates. Everything about this party is as fake as their concern about cancer patients and to top these fake girls, there are these disgusting men who have been throwing flirty glances at me since I entered the room.

I made my way to the restroom trying to run away from these people when I suddenly bumped into someone.

"I am so sorr-Aaron?" I asked surprised.

"Hey, Amy. Long time no see?" Aaron smiled at me.

"We met yesterday", I rolled my eyes at him, laughing lightly.

"Well, yesterday is still a long time", Aaron smirked at me. Aaron has been my friend for almost two months now. He has been trying to get me to go out with him ever since. He is always acting flirty nowadays.

Well, honestly, in the last four months that we have known each other for, since we met at the art gallery, I have grown to like him slightly too. Maybe, just maybe, one of these days, I might finally put an end to his misery. The only problem is that I am scared. He has had many past affairs and I know that it is easy to fall for him. I don't want to end up getting hurt.

I rolled my eyes and said, "Why didn't I see you until now?"

"Well, because I just arrived. By the way, you look marvelous. Black is totally your color", he said eyeing me up and down. That made my smile flatter. It reminded me of how every men in the room was still gawking me and I got uncomfortable once again.

"Thanks, I'll just come, okay?" I told him and went to the washroom.

I waited inside the washroom for quite a while, taking few deep breaths to calm myself. I decided to not go back to the party hall right away and stroll around for a bit. I went out of the washroom and took a right. I was walking around for about thirty minutes and finally I decided to go back.

When I reached the hallway, Mr. Coleman crossed my path.

"Hello, Ms. Lawson", he slurred. He was definitely drunk as hell.

"Hello", I said forcing a smile and tried to walk past him.

"You look ravishing in that black dress", he said as lust filled his eyes. I fought the urge to roll my eyes.

"Thanks, Mr. Coleman", I said and tried walking past him.

"What's the rush, Amelia?" he said holding my hand.

"Please, let go of me, Mr. Coleman", I told him trying to free myself of his hold.

But, he pulled me towards himself and said, "Why are you acting so formal? You can call me James. I am only a few years older than you."

"Let me go", I shouted a little more as I wriggled to free myself.

"You know Marcus has been dying to get a contract with me, right? I can give it to him, of course, for the right price", he said and I turned my face away from him disgusted by the smell of alcohol.

I pushed him a little harder, finally getting out of his hold. "I am not up for sale." I turned to go back but he held my hand again. I had had enough. So, I slapped him hard across the face.

"You bitch", he spat and pushed me against the wall.

"How dare you slap me! Now, I will definitely not let you go until I have broken you completely", he yelled and bend down intending to kiss me. But, I looked away and kept pushing.

"Leave me alone!" I shouted but, he didn't listen. He held me tight and ripped my sleeve.

Tears ran down my cheek as his hold on my arm was hurting me. I was struggling in vain and I felt his breath on my neck. I decided to kick him between his legs, but before that he was suddenly snatched away from me.

Aaron punched him in his face before I could even take a breath.

"You bloody bastard! How dare you! How dare you touch her? How dare you do that to a woman! Who the fuck do you think you are? Get the bloody out of here before I kill you, you fucker", Aaron yelled at him as he kept punching and thrashing him.

Finally, that man ran away and Aaron turned to look at me. I was still shocked and kept looking at the ground. I took a shaky breath and I rubbed my arms wincing slightly. I was too shocked to even realise what was happening. I just started walking until I found my way out of the building. I walked around the streets as I hugged myself and thought about what just happened.

My legs weakened and I was about to fall to my knees when someone held me up.

"Amy..." I looked up to see Aaron.

He read the unspoken question in my eyes and said, "I was following you for last forty minutes since I found you in the hallway with that bastard."

I just shivered and Aaron covered me with his jacket. I couldn't hold it anymore and let the tears fall from my eyes. "A..Aaron...", I said as I started crying.

I was about to fall to my knees again and he caught me again. Aaron hugged me silently as I cried my heart out. He kept caressing my back comfortingly.

"Relax, it's okay. It's gone", Aaron whispered to me.

"What..What if he..he comes-"

"He won't. I'll make sure of it", he said to me as I held him tighter.

"I..I shouldn't have worn thi.this dress. I knew I shouldn't have. It is my-"

"Don't you dare, Amy. Don't you dare say it. It is not your fault, okay? He should have known his limits", Aaron said looking straight into my eyes.

"Come here", he took me to a bench in the park. I didn't even know where I was.

He made me sit on the bench and gave me a bottle of water. I assume he must have picked it from some food truck on the road. I took the bottle and drank silently.

"Amy, shit happens all the time , okay? He is a bastard and I will make sure he pays for it. But, you do not have to blame yourself for it", Aaron told me when I was done.

"Aaron, but he wouldn't have done it if I had dressed up how I usually do. No one has ever done it when I am being the wallflower in the room. I just thought of wearing something different tonight", I told him.

"You think he wouldn't have done it with you but, what about the other women around? You think he wouldn't have tried it with them? You were just the unlucky one tonight. He is the bad guy forever", he explained to me.

After that, we just sat there silently looking at each other and the place around.

After a while I spoke, "Sorry for ruining your shirt and thanks for saving me."

"Do you know how many such shirts I have? Besides, you've not done any damage that a good laundry wouldn't be able to fix and you don't have to thank me. I would have done it for any girl out there", he smiled lightly.

"Still, I feel like I owe you", I told him.

"You don't."

"No, let me know if someday I can do something for you", I told him.

"You don't have to but if you still think that you do, then..well, there is something you can do for me."

"What?" I asked excitedly.

"There is this girl I like. I have been asking her out for a long time and she has been saying no. Can you convince her to go out on a date with me?" he asked making me chuckle.

"Aaron, I don't know.."

"Come on, don't tell me you don't like me."

"Well, I don't know if I do", I shrugged biting my lip to stop myself from laughing.

"Bullshit, it is impossible", he scoffed.

"You are so full of yourself", I rolled my eyes.

"Just one date. I promise I will never pester you if you don't like it. We will go back to being friends and remain so for the rest of our lives. Please", Aaron pleaded.

Finally, I gave up, "Fine. Just one date."

"Yes!" he smiled happily.

"Let's go", I said getting up. I pushed my hair behind my ear.

He got up and frowned looking at my ear.

"Where's your other earring?" he asked making my touch my ear.

"I think it must have fallen at the restaurant", I pouted. "It was so special. It was expensive but, I always wanted it so I had saved so much to buy it."

"Don't be sad. I'll buy a new one for you", Aaron said.

"What? No", I argued with him as usual.

Present...

I got ready and waited for him in the living room. When the clock struck exactly twelve, he opened the door of his room and walked out. He looked at me and said, "Let's go."

I glared at him and followed him out of the house. I knew he was trying to control his smile. He is so full of himself. We got into the car and soon hit the road.

"You have anywhere specific in mind?" he asked me.

"This was not planned by me", I retorted and he just shook his head.

"I think we should go to Ashley's boutique", Aaron said making me snap my head at him.

"I am not buying anything from there", I glared at him and he had the fucking audacity to laugh.

"I seriously don't get it. What is between you and her?" Aaron said still chuckling.

"Have you looked at her carefully? That should explain it all", I rolled my eyes.

"She is not that bad", he said.

"Of course, she isn't", I glared at him and looked outside the window.

Why will he find her bad? Ashley is his friend since even before he met me. Why will he change his opinion about her just because I said so? After all, I am just in his life because of the revenge. Nothing about me will matter to him at all.

"Do you want to visit the mall then?" he asked again.

"Just go wherever you want to, okay? Stop acting nice. It is only us here and we both know what the reality is", I shook him off angrily.

"Is it so impossible for us to behave normally just for once?" he asked with frustration.