2 The Prologue to the End of the World

Part 2

When they set their sights onto the special guest, David could not help the little gasp that escaped his mouth. This was the first time that he was ever stunned. Beautiful people were a norm for him however, he had never seen such a dazzling and beautiful man in his entire life. David had always thought of himself as tall, he was 6'0" and practically towered over most people. But this man, no this god, was even taller than he was. His skin was like the finest dark chocolate, stretching and straining against his muscle and peeking out of the rolled-up sleeves of his suit. The man was coming in their direction with David's friend leading him. They suddenly made eye contact and David could not help but notice his piercing blue eyes that gleamed with ambition and humor.

He wanted to stare a little long but Felicity tightened the grip on his arm and he looked down to see her eyes shining with desire. His heart broke a little as he thought that she might have a better chance at gaining his affections than he did. David then promptly placed his attraction to the back of his mind and put on his business smile as the finally made their way to where he and Felicity were standing.

"Hey~ David! I'm so glad that you could make it! I would like you to meet Aston Reeves, he's my new business partner. Aston, this is David Harper my long time fiend and business partner," Damien said enthusiastically. He was pink, David was sure that he has had a bit of wine already.

David presented his hand for a shake and pointed his smile at Aston, "Nice to meet you mister Reeves."

Aston gave a half smile that sent butterflies into David's gut with the force of a nuclear explosion," Please call me Aston."

The three then proceeded to talk about business while completely forgetting Felicity standing awkwardly at David's side. She gave a small cough which quickly alerted David of her presence. He was a bit shamed that he had forgotten her and quickly made the necessary introduction.

"Aston this Felicity, my date for the night and my best friend," he said quickly. A faint blush making its way onto his cheeks as he refused to look at anyone in that moment.

Aston was transfixed however, he was a gentleman.

"It is very nice to meet you young lady," he said unenthusiastically, looking at her for only a few seconds before his attention was on David again.

Felicity was shocked but the confidence that she had built in these several years could not be trifled with. She thought that he was the type to play hard to get. Her plans to capture him were quickly formulating until she finally settled on something and gave a dazzling smile. Damien was immediately enchanted. He was tempted to call her that night, but she had strict rules and if he did not follow them, she would stop seeing him. He knew she would.

*

Felicity engineered many opportunities for her and Aston to 'accidentally' meet. She put her best foot forward to woo him, the man she had chosen to wipe clean her reputation and transform her from a poor girl leeching off of her childhood friend into a dragon among men and the queen of the corporate world. She tried and tried but at almost every location that her contacts told her he would be, Aston was either conducting business or eating. She could not find an opening to latch onto.

One evening she finally got him alone as he sat in the VIP seats of an upscale club. His friends had left for the bathroom and she took that opportunity to strike.

She moved seductively, turning heads as she made her way to him, "How are you tonight Aston?" Her voice was soft and charming. It could make the blood boil and have one's common sense fly out of the window. However Aston was not impressed.

He raised an eyebrow, his eyes cold and his usual smirk humorless," Well if it isn't the pest that has been buzzing around me. Who told you that you could say my name? Are we friends? Do I owe you something?"

Felicity forced a smile as she endured the chill that Aston was emitting, it was almost unbearable. She forced out a breath and continued," Mr. Reeves, why are you treating me like this? I only want to be your friend!"

Her face contorted and crystal like tears fell onto her cheeks. This was the look. The look that she had perfected after years of practice. A look that drove men to madness and secured her a place in their hearts.

Aston frowned coldly, "What are you trying to do young lady? Get out of my sight." Felicity was again sure of her choice because only a real man could resist her base charms. She did not take the hint and leaned closer to him. Her ample chest swaying slightly as the light from the club gleamed on their roundness.

"Come on Mr. Reeves, do you really want to treat me like this?" she all but gasped.

Aston was fully disgusted with her display and inability to take a hint. He reached his hand out and grasped her jaw- painfully, "Let me tell you this, and it would be in your best interest to take everything that I'm about to say to heart. I am not interested in playing the little game that you have planned out in your head. I am not interested in your body or mind. I do not desire your presence in front of me so I warn you: the only reason that I'm tolerating you is because my little bunny introduced you as his best friend. For his sake, I have tolerated your actions thus far but no longer. Seeing you buzzing around me has made him unhappy and I don't appreciate his sadness. I don't ever want to see you near me again unless you are with David, because I'm sure that he'll carry you just as he has done all of these years. Isn't that right Ms. Felicity Carlisle?

Felicity could not feel the pain in her jaw after he said those words. When he revealed his intent for David, Felicity saw red. 'Why was it him again? Why is it always him?! He gets to have everything, and I get the surname of that deadly poor family! Why?! Why?! Why?!' However the fact that really pushed her over the edge was that David has always carried her along on his adventures. She was a prop, a piece of luggage. The thought that throughout their lives she was made to look like a leech was damaging and she walked out of the club a shocked, angry mess.

*

David woke up the next morning feeling love sick. The man of his dreams was actually interested in him. Their first date was adorable, and he found himself swooning by just the thought of it. A lunch date was not anything special, but it was the most special that he has ever felt in his life. He always had to play the hard ball card in front of his father's subordinates and the only persons that have ever seen his true face were Felicity and his mother.

However, on their private date, he laughed and joked and generally had the most fun that he could have in years. It was amazing, and so was all the others that they have had thereafter. Their first time making love left him hurting a little but it was just as memorable, he could not wait to see Aston again.

The smile was still plastered on his face when he turn on the television to listen to the news as he showered. His movements were practiced, he would take the remote from his side table and as he walked to the bathroom he would pass the TV and turn it on. It was always on the news channel because he watched it last before going to sleep.

He turned on the TV and as he took a few steps the story that the reporter had made its way into his ears," Recent photos have been leaked that reveal David Harper, CEO of Harper Industries as an escort. These photos depict him in illicit affairs with several of his business partn…"

David was shocked. His mind went blank, his thoughts far and racing. He was so far gone that when his phone rang and rang and rand, he could not hear it. His legs went weak and he fell to the ground.

It was the banging of his apartment door that eventually woke him from his daze. He slowly turned his head and saw Aston standing in front of him panting. His eyes were concerned, so gentle that David felt tears welling up into his eyes.

"Ash… what do I do? I don't understand. What did I do?"

"My love, I have some more bad news for you. It's going to break your heart."

"What could possibly destroy me more than this?"

"…Your family was arrested this morning."

David's field of went dark.

*

Felicity felt amazing as she watched the despair on David's face as he realized that she was the main witness of the trial. She could feel herself becoming a little wet in the process.

"Your honor, it is my duty as a citizen on B Country to aid the police in their efforts and I have come with irrefutable evidence against these villains…"

David felt lifeless as his little sister condemned his family to prison. He felt that it was his fault that she turned out this way. He spoiled her too much, allowed too much. It was all his fault. So, when his elder brother wanted to get rid of her before the trial, he stopped him, he protected her. Now he gets to see his family one last time in the open. But in the moment that the judge slammed her gavel and the officers were taking his family away, he felt oddly calm. He saw Felicity looking at him with a smug glint in her eyes and he smiled.

"I'm sorry and I forgive you little sister."

Felicity felt a boiling rage fly up into her head. How could he still be so, so…Ugh! In that moment she had truly lost her mind. She moved quickly, snatching the gun from the waist of an officer and pointed it without a single second of hesitation.

On that day David Harper and his unborn fetus died at the hands of Felicity Carlisle.