CHAPTER 2

Meeting an old friend, again!

I looked up to find the owner of the deep, pleasant voice. He smiled ingeniously but my mind was off, not able to recognize the man infront of me. I thought for a moment and realized who he was. "Rowan! What a pleasant surprise? Oh my god! How good your looking!" I exclaimed. He was Rowan, my childhood friend who shifted abroad for studies when we were young. "Hey Matty. You look good too. Everyone's watching you out!" he complimented with his eyebrows raised. Was he teasing me? I turned around to watch everyone's faces, special men. Of course I knew. I smiled back embarrassed by the situation. "Nothing to worry as long as I'm here. I won't let anyone trouble you." his warmth was still the same as it was years ago. I smiled gorgeously. We were busy in our talking that we never felt the night falling. Later, after midnight the guest started to call off their night and in no time the banquet was all empty with only few workers, Darcy, Logan, me and Rowan. They both were glad to meet him either. For Darcy, she never met him much but Logan, we've grew together and our trio was inseparable untill Rowan flew away. We both felt bad for him but anyways, he's back and I don't know for what and how long. As long as I knew his family had a business partnership with us from last few decades. We were family friends but few things changed alot in past few years. "Any help?" he called me back from my thoughts. "Huh? Ah, no thanks. It's okay. I'm just bit tired, that's it." I plastered the same fake smile. "Okay, if everything's done then, should I drop you?" he smiled pleadingly. "Umm.... Okay!" we headed to the main door where his white, limited edition, Porsche Cayenne was brought by the chauffeur. He dismissed him and we got ahead with our drive. "So, for how long you're gonna be here?" as the silence hit so bad, I broke it. "Um... Don't know! As long as it takes." he glanced at me elegantly. I don't know why my heart skipped a beat when his olive green eyes glanced over me. He appeared more handsome then ever before. But, was the same Rowan Dorthan that I knew since our childhood or he'd changed in abroad. That thought darkened my facial expressions and we were silent for the rest of our ride.

We pulled up at my villa's driveway. For the last time in this night I smiled back, saying goodbye for now and entered back into my reality. As soon I stepped in, I found the trio waiting for me. "Hey! You guys still up. It's late!" I sensed the atmosphere was tensed but, why? "What happened?" I squinted my eyes to figure out what wrong happened to them. "What the hell was that?" then I remembered my savage stunt at the red carpet and in no time the guilt took over my face. My father's voice never sounded so cold and chilly than at that moment. I looked up pleading to grant me one chance to explain everything. "How dare you to put on a show like that? Just look at you, how awful you look? This exposing dress, this much of make up, oh my god! You literally looked like a piece of meat in the cage of hungery dogs out there in the party. How could you act so recklessly?" mother bombarded with her obscene words which pierced painfully in my heart. All my emotions were about to burst out like a bubble filled with air and soon tears stained my cheeks. "Stop crying, Matilda. You're not a kid anymore. Please act like grown up! I guess its enough. Be careful next time, I'm warning you!" father took the situation in his hands and spared me. But what's the use when the damage is done?! I was bleeding already with that hurtful things told by mother and he ended up sparing me! Bearing the dam of my eyes I ran to my room, locked the doors, turned the shower on and vented my heart pain out there.

Sleepless night wasn't long enough to vent everything but I made it enough for that day. I was curled up in my bed, letting woeful thoughts stabbing my head and eyes running continuously that made them look puffed and red. Meanwhile sun shone too brightly, having it's rays glancing on me, letting me know it was morning already. Tidying up I showed up at my office before time. Of course, I wasn't willing to see any gloomy faces in the start of my day. Resting in my chair my mind wondered how good it felt with Rowan last night. All the good memories woke up in my mind, as a small alluring smile crept my face. We really had a good talk but suddenly all the smile faded away when my good memories backed with the bad ones. As usual stromingly, Darcy and Logan arrived in office and were stunned to see me. "Matty, you're early!" Darcy exclaimed childishly. Both the happy faces darkened on seeing my sullen face. "What happened .... You cried?" both asked in unison. "Uh.... It doesn't matter. Anyways, we have important meetings...."

"Matty don't even try to hide it! You were good untill you left last night? Then, Rowan said something?" I tried to change the subject but failed terriblely. Suddenly Darcy remembered something. "The trio! I forgot about them. Did they?" my mood sanked deeper. "Just forget about that guys. Move on!"

"What did they said? Matty how long your gonna cover for them?" and what? I let out everything. "That fucking bitch!"

"Logan!"

"What Logan! She runned her mouth and you listened! How long you're gonna do that? She literally called you a whore. Are you getting it?" I tried to open my mouth. "No wait! Let me finish. You know, last night that little bitch who's name is what, Pristine! She was the one who was dressed like a slut over there. How exposing that sliver dress was and with her firlty attitude, she completely portrayed the fucking bitch."

"Logan, mind your tongue!"

"You known, even for once I saved her from being abducted by our new investor, Mr Ling. He was so interested in fucking her last night. Of course I won't blame him, he never knew who the hell she was. He really thought she was some sort of girl searching for quick-dicks for the night."

"Logan, please stop!" I covered my ears with my hands. "And you know the best part, your mother was watching the whole show of getting her touched by that man-whore and even enjoyed each and everything. If I wasn't to show up, I guess she would've been found in someone's bed right now. Even I doubt she's still a virgin."

"Enough! You've crossed my limits..." my voice rosed in displeased. "Why are you yelling at him Matty, truth pinched?" Darcy exclaimed offensively. "Please! Stop this! At least you guys don't do this to me. It's hurting."