3 The Permission

She tried to take a step back but he pulled her waist and grabbed her face roughly, moving it, closer to his.

"I don't give a damn on who you go with or sleep with. Just make sure to be out of the media's eyes. I don't wanna see anything happening to my family's reputation which we have worked so hard to built be tarnished by a lowlife like you." His voice cold and low, becoming harsher by each word he said. She felt her heartbeat quicken as her insides shook.

"Do you get me?" He said, his hold tightening around her face. She tried to move her lips to say 'yes' but no words came out. So she just nodded. She felt his grip loosen and watched as he walked towards his room closing the door with a loud thud. She felt something wet on her face and moved to touch it realising that she was crying. She climbed up the stairs going straight to her room closing the door softly as she climbed onto her bed.

She didn't know what just happened. She didn't know why he was this furious. She wanted to smack her face for thinking he was actually jealous. But of course he never really had any feelings for her to begin with. She removed her cloths and went to take a warm bath. She needed it very much at the moment. She wanted to forget the scenario which had just taken place.

He had lost it. He knew that. But she fucking deserved it. "Who does she think she is!" He muttered to himself remembering her scared face. He felt something prick on his heart. Was that guilt? Hell no! He had never regretted his actions and never will.

After a quick shower he climbed on his bed, turning off the lights and focused on sleeping before his mind wanders back to the event which occurred an hour ago. If he did, then he would be thinking of her. And he didn't ever want that.

**************************

One month had passed ever since. Eric snubbed her making her feel as if she was invisible. But to her relief she have a friend in that lonely house. Miss Hannah, their maid. A 63 year old kind and sweet women. She was like a motherly figure to her. Always making sure of Adrienne's health, scolding her whenever she tried to leave without having breakfast after waking up late for class. As in college, she met a lot new friends. Bunked classes just to hangout with them. Completely different from her school life. Back then in school, she was an absolute nerd. An actual boring person with less than two as friends until she met Isabel. She was the complete opposite. She had been the one who created a passion out of Adrienne. Made her participate in many contests. But never really missed classes even though Isabel always insisted. She even changed her a bit. For good, of course. She never would have guessed that Isabel would leave her just like that after their 5 years of friendship. There were times where they fought like crazy but it only lasted for hours or at least one day at max.

"Hey! Whatcha dreamin' on about?" She turned to face Leah who was sipping on her orange juice gazing out on Adrienne with a questioning look.

"Nothing much. Just about past"

"On What?"

"School days?.. "

"Hm. But when I'm with ya, you better focus on me. Understand?"

"Sure babe~" she said with a small laugh. She had met Leah on her business class. A red head with an adorable grey eyes almost like Adrienne's. A bossy bud. But as they met constantly she found herself drawn towards her and ended up being besties.

It was their break hour. And they were sitting on the canteen waiting for Tanya to show up.

"Adrienne! Leah!" They turned to see Tanya running towards them with enthusiasm.

"Girl! Do ya know for how long we had been waiting! Where the hell were you!?"

"I'm so sorry guys. I was so busy talking with Ken that I almost forgot the time."

"Is that why you seem so excited?" Adrienne said as she watched Tanya's face turn a bit pink.

"That's not all! I brought a good news for you, Addy. You're so gonna be jumping with happiness after hearing this."

"Oh! What is it then?"

"Spill it out already!" Leah said getting annoyed.

"Can you be a bit patient. I'm on it!" She uttered getting an eyeroll from Leah, as she sat down beside Adrienne and turned to face her, giving full attention.

"Addy! Didn't you mention that you have always been crazy about dance and was looking for an opportunity since it's been years, you got to go for those competitions?"

"Yeah.. " She mumbled stretching the word.

"Then you gotta thank me for this." She handed her a notice in which 'Dance Competition' was written on the top. "It's a solo actually. Hope you won't faint if I said, you have to perform in front of all those VIPs. Celebrities and bussinessmens."

"Huh?"

"It's actually a surprise for them. Since they're important people the club wanted it to be the best and formed this competition." She exclaimed whilst eyeing Adrienne for any sort of reaction and got alert when she turned to face her.

"Okay but how are you guys thinking of coming?"

"Well, since my boyfriend is from a wealthy family he would get invited too. So if I ask Ken then he would set it up for Leah and me."

"Okay.. "

"So?"

"You have no idea how much glad I am to even hear about this and I would love to try but.. "

"But What?" Leah asked.

"But, after all these years I don't think I would be able to do it." Suddenly Eric's annoyed face popped up on her mind making her face turn pale. She was 99 percent sure that he would disagree.

"Oh, come on! From the way you have described your experiences and achievements, we can say how big of a talent you have kept hidden in that cute little body of yours. And a passion which you treasure the most can't be just blown away by those mere year gaps." Tanya moved to give her a pleading look. "Please Addy. It's our first ever chance to see you on stage showing those moves you got. Please, for us?"

"Yeah, please girl. For us" They both turned to give her a puppy face. Batting their eyelashes on the way.

"You guys.. " They were right. Those years were just mere number, it wasn't enough for her passion to leave her. But she couldn't tell them the real reason. She didn't want her friends to know about her miserable married life. They would come to know of it someday but she wasn't ready for it to be anytime soon. "Okay. Fine."

"Yay!" They both said in unison as they moved to give her a hug. There was that 1 percent left, of hope. At least it wouldn't hurt to try.

After reaching home, she went directly to his bedroom and was now standing in front of it contemplating whether to knock or not. Gathering all her courage she finally lifted her hand up and was about to knock when a familiar voice made her stop on her tracks.