CHAPTER 7

ZOE( LUNCH BREAK)

Kate and Stella were fussing about the Calcus assignment; the most hated and disliked topic in the world for them.

Zoe " Guys it's not that complicated you know as both of you guys make it seem." Narrowing their eyes they showered me with hard glares " Um ok ok don't scare me to death, only if eyes could kill I would be 6 feet under the ground. Jesus."

" Well you know Zoe eyes could kill but in romantic way.""Ummm ya how?" Stella looked at me with strange twinkle in her or better to voice out mischief that was quite leaking from her eyes. "I stella takes up the duty of making the swan of our group miss zoe to know the basics and rules of romance and hence will make sure........""Stella hold on please let it be whatever that means i really and i mean really not interested to know what that means i have to leave know bye. See yaa.""Hey zoe listen let......me ""no no thanks stel byeeeee."

Geezz Stella your the only one with such thoughts don't know how that boy is alive murmuring I passed the library gate.

Lost in thoughts i was walking when suddenly i was nocked off by a wall in the mid of the hallway i was about to touch the floor when strong arms emerged from the wall and pulled me towards it.

As if everything happened in a slow motion the wall pulled me to itself and my eyes connected to the blue oceans and my lips touched the most beautiful lips in the whole universe it felt as there are electric sparks and tingling in my whole body though the contact was if mere seconds the sparks got me frozen to my place. That's when i realized that the wall was actually Brandon. He slowly murmured " Sorry". I was still in a daze coming out if it I looked up and saw Bradon's eyes have changed it colour to slightly darker shade of blue his face looks like he is having an internal battle but those intense glances have me lowering my face that is as red as a cherry.

Silently I said " Sorry i wasn't looking where I was going."

Suddenly I remembered I have to talk to Emma what's going on with her.

I straightened myself and brought some distance proximity with this guy was messing with my head I am not able to think straight around him.

Clearing his throat Brandon asked "What's wrong? You seems to be lost. " Umm nothing I was looking for someone, I ---- i - I gotta go and thanks for not letting me fall. " replied nervousness evident in my speech.

"Ummm Ok i will see you around ?" Brandon asked hesitantly . "Ya" I smiled and started moving to the exit of the college I needed to talk to Emma there is sure some major issue she is hiding . I want to know what she is thinking something is going on that is troubling her for so long. I headed to the library to collect my assessment and headed to the café I had a shift .

Entering the cafe Mr Mario greeted me with a charming smile . I returned the smile and started of with my work . It was one of those days where you do not get to stretch for even 2 seconds the queue was up for orders the cafe was buzzing with customers one after another .

reaching home I just collapsed on the sofa I heaved a sigh it was really oh so busy day I moved to take a glass of water there she was sitting on the bar stool with her head down on the counter I slowly sat down beside her I pat her on the shoulder" what's wrong Emma what's going on tell me please why are you so troubled these days where are you going what are you doing tell me" Emma hugged me so tight and started crying so hard whatever it is she was keeping to herself just broke out the wall she was building finally broke I hugged her and let her cry till she felt OK and ready to tell me what actually was bugging her for so long.

FLASHBACK(EMMA)

I entered the hotel mumbling I asked the receptionist there is a booking in the name of my parents . She guided me to the cabin where my parents were waiting for me as soon as my mother saw me she gets up from her seat and gave me a hug for my father he was as usually busy on a business phone call I took my seat and said 'Cut this all out. Tell me why have you called me. What is the reason?"

She smiled a sad smile and said honey 'I we're very sorry but you have to go through this your father's business is facing financial problems this is the only solution where we can hide the issue from public's eyes and come back in business market."

'Just to restore the f##king business you agreed to sell me to God knows Whom. no !! Never Absolutely no I will never marry a guy for business profit I am not in this deal of yours.' I abruptly stood up and was ready to leave I am not going to do this that's when my father thought it was a perfect time to speak up 'listen Emma we're not asking you to this we are telling you. you are doing this you are going to be married to whom so ever I decide and I have decided. See this has to be done ,I cannot lose my business, this is the only solution this is the only way I can save the my business stop behaving like a spoiled brat. I am not going to tolerate this. you are going to be married . By hook or by crook I will make it happen . you're going to meet them and that is day after tomorrow if you tried to back off or tried to do something that breaks this deal or effects this deal in any harmful manner I am telling you that I will not SPARE YOU I will make sure that you are suffered you will not be able to meet any of your friends and I will cut off all your allowances don't try to do anything stupid you know me well if I were you I would not do anything you can go know and prepare for the meeting and marriage ."

We don't know how Many hours we spend like that Emma cried her heart out and I kept comforting her till her sobs turn to heavy breaths. Wiping her tears strained face I told her lets sleep for now its too late and you seems too exhausted. She nodded her head and we both move towards our room.



This day seems a little different from others I was worried yet a sense of relief was settling in my mind .

Worried that what was it that got Emma so worried , relieved that finally she don't have to through it alone anymore.

I couldn't bink an eye all night as Iq check the clock it was 5'o clock the sun has started to rie. The area is covered with long

pine tresses fog covered the dense forest as I opened the window soft sunshine caress my face while a cool breeze brushed my bare arms.

"You awake Jee" Emma's weak voice broke my trance she looked like a mess fussy hair red tired swelled up eyes . " Don't look at me like that I know I look messed up come down I will brew some coffee for us ." I slowly nodded and she went downstairs. I let the sunshine and breeze caress me a little longer for a while and went downstairs to Emma.

"Good morning " Emma said taking the coffee mugs in her hands. "Good morning Emma" I replied with a soft voice I don't know how to ask about what happened last night without bringing her pain back everything from her entering the house drunk till her sobbing in my arms was replaying in my head .

"Zoe... umm..... I...look" Emma broke my train of thoughts . She heaved a sigh I looked in her eyes one thing that I could capture was determination.

"Zoe first of all I am sorry for worrying you I ...."

"No Emm..."

"Shh just listen to me let me pour my heart out .... just listen I know you have a lot of Questions but first just let me tell you what has been going on and then I will answer all your questions. " Emma said and its the first from all these days she was hiding so I decided to be silent. I nodded as a sign that she can continue . And when she said the first sentence believe me I was nothing but all ears to her .

" Zoe I'm getting married. " if I say I was shocked it will be an understatement . I nooded signaling her to continue.

"Well where to start fromm...." Emma scratched her head. She toke a long deep breath and sat on the kitchen slab cross legged.

"So Zoe the thing is my family business is sort of crashed i don't my so called father is having some financial crisis sort of thing so they thought of engaging their lovely daughter to an unknown idiot rich snob type of a man to merge both companies. " hufffff Emma exhale a long breath. And i sat there processing all the information that my brain caught up.