CHAPTER NINETEEN

SCARLETT'S POV

_______________________________________________________________________________________

I stood still there. He came more close to me. Our bodies were practically almost touching each other.

His intoxicating cologne hit my nose. It smell of masculinity and strength.

His deep eyes were staring intensely in my own as if trying to read my soul.

I don't know why or how or what....

But I always get lost in the beautiful depths of his eyes.

I was so busy in admiring him that...

Wait.. admiring him? Where did that come from? I need rest , definitely rest. I'm going crazy..huh..

He cocked his left eyebrow at me.

Wait..did he ask me something before?

What was it? Ugh..I don't know why my brain finds it so convenient to always go for a walk when I need it the most. You stupid piece of shit, come back, I'll deal with you later.

"I asked you something." He breathed in his deep voice that always managed to leave me breathless enough to not understand anything.

"Huh." I was dumbfounded.

There was a hint of smile in his eyes.

"You plan to go like this or is this show just for me?" He questioned again.

Ohh.. I get it now.

That was what he asked before.

What the heck is happening to me? Why can't I behave like a normal human being.

That's because you aren't normal.

I am normal, thank you very much.

This stupid inner voice. How can she say I'm not normal.

Cause normal people don't talk to themselves like this and ignore the person talking to them.

You shut up. I don't ignore the person talking to me... I didn't ignore Xander...oh I did. Maybe. A bit I guess. But that's not the point.

Yeah exactly!

The point is just stop talking to me and concentrate on this beautiful being in front of you. His deep , beautiful eyes, his strained vest showcasing his muscles, his...

Fine! Stop now.

Okay, so what was he saying?

Yeah , something regarding some show, right?

"Where are you lost?" He looked a bit concerned.

"Oh, nowhere. Just in my mind."

"What?"

"In my ....no I mean nowhere."

I remembered I need to change my clothes.

"Uh.. I'll go change." I went straight to my room.

My closet was a mess. Looking like a wreckage piece which was once a beautiful statue. I organized it a week ago but god knows how messy I am.

I wonder how my messy being might irritate Xander a lot. I chuckled to myself thinking about this.

I quickly got changed into a simple black colour coloured knee length dress.

I applied some kohl and lipbalm and tying my long hair in a quick ponytail, I was all ready to go.

I came out of my room to see Xander being busy on his phone. I took this time to message Kat and Talia that I'm going out for ring shopping.

I went towards him. He looked up at me.

"Let's go." I said.

He nodded his head a bit.

We both went towards his car parked in front of my apartment building.

It took twenty minutes for us to reach the store.

It was a high end store. Things at such places must be really expensive. I was getting nervous thinking about this. I don't want to spend so much money, although Maria said she'll be the one who will pay for everything but still....I don't understand why you need to spend so much money on a ring and for what?

An arranged marriage?

We went inside the store. The moment we entered, everyone's attention came on us. They all were looking at us. I could see the fear in their eyes. They were looking as if we would just eat them raw.

What were they scared of? Me?

Am I that scary? I pouted a bit.

Why would they be scared of me? Ain't I look cuuuute? I made a face looking at my reflection in the glass door.

Hmm...I don't think so this face would scare anyone.

My question was soon answered when I saw Xander's face, it was cold and stoic. His eyes were staring intensely at everyone. His one hand was in his coat pocket and the other was wrapped around me. I'd be lying if I say I didn't feel warmness flow through me with his touch.

The manager's hands were literally shaking when he came to greet us. He was an average looking man in his late 30s. His hair had a few grays in it.

"Good... morning S-Sir. Wel-Welcome Sir." He stuttered looking at Xander.

Then his eyes trailed towards the hand wrapped around my waist. He eyes met mine and he gave me a polite smile.

"Welcome you too Mam."

This time he didn't stutter.

Okay. So I'm not the scary one. It's obvious from how the manager not at all looked scared when he greeted me.

So the scary person was this handsome hunk standing beside me.

"Engagement ring for my girlfriend." Xander said tightening his hold on me.

I was surprised when he said "girlfriend". Who? Me?

I turned around to see if he was referring to someone else. Umm..no, no one else was there.

I looked at him from the corner of my eye.

I don't know why I was surprised...

What else would he have said anyway?

We were led towards the counter.

It was made up of shiny , black marble glass. I looked at the designs laid in front of me. All of them looked so beautiful and pretty. I wish I could have them all. Haha!!

But really, all of them looked too good.

Xander was staring at me, might be observing my reaction but I didn't care.

I couldn't choose any one of them, they all are so pretty. I pouted while trying to choose.

I huffed. And then looked at him.

He was already looking at me with an unreadable expression on his beautiful face. Why is he like this?

"Which should I choose?" I asked to myself with a soft tone to my voice.

I looked to my left to see Xander wasn't there. Looking around,I saw that he was talking to someone in his phone near the wall opposite to entrance.

"You really think you are going to get married to Xander. Have you looked at yourself ? He deserves someone elegant and classy, not some kid." The female assistant said looking at me with a nasty look. How can she call him Xander? Do they know each other? Did they.....d-date before? What the heck!

If they had dated before then what in the name of holy marshmallows I was doing here?

But anyhow.

I realized no one was there around me except her, giving her freedom to talk the way she did.

And how dare she call me a kid? Has she looked at herself? She is the one who's a kid, with stupid neon pink nailpaint and headband. Idiot.

"Too bad. 'Cause he's actually marrying me." I said , putting emphasise on "actually".

She scoffed. "You wouldn't satisfy him."

My eyes widened. How could she say such a thing.

I was about to say something when I saw Xander coming back.

"Mam, these all are really good. These are the best ones. Sir, don't you think so?

I think this round one with gold trim is much better." The assistant said, twirling her hair and looking at Xander flirtily. Her tone changed so suddenly. She looked like she would jump his bones right now. She didn't even pay any attention to me. It was like I was invisible to her or something.

For some reason,I didn't like the way she was looking at him. Is she an idiot?

Can't she see we are here to buy engagement rings for our engagement.

Stupid her.

And besides Xander himself called me his girlfriend in front of everyone.

Maybe I was too busy in not liking the way that assistant was looking at Xander that I didn't notice him glaring at her, but for what? or maybe he also didn't like her, the words that next came out of Xander's mouth shocked me,

"You are fired."

Wait...who is he to fire her? He is not her boss. Is he?

The assistant looked scared.

"Fired? B-but ...why ..why Sir?"

Now manager also came to us.

"What happened?" He asked his assistant.

"She disrespected my girlfriend. Meaning, she disrespected me. Do I pay you for you to disrespect your own boss?" Xander coldly questioned.

Ohh...now everything made much more sense.

He owns this store. Wow! And here I was worried about spending too much money here.

He's full of surprises. Like the time when I thought he might be mute, but naah he surprised me by actually speaking. And here he brought me to his own store.

I felt as I should say something.

"Look, we are matching." I said smilingly.

What the holy flamingoes!

Stupid Brain. Why do you always come up with something stupid.

I mean I know I call you stupid but that doesn't mean you actually have to act like a stupid.

Then why do you call me stupid?

Because you are stupid.

Your point?

Ughhhh. Stop. Why did I say that?

Here, he fired her and all I'm thinking about is that we are matching.

Xander looked at me with a dumbfound expression on his face. Maybe he didn't understand what I said the first time.

I should probably repeat it.

"We are matching. You are wearing a black suit and me, a black dress." I smiled at him.

He shook his head. Even I would have shook my head at myself if I was him.

"She is fired and I should not encounter such behaviour in future or else." He threatened the manager.

I was going to say something but I saw he already walked away

What's up with this man?

I walked fast to catch up to him.

"Hey, wait

How the heck are you walking so fast? You have long legs doesn't mean everyone does. Are you even listening to me?"

He didn't say anything, just slowed down a bit for me.

What happened to him suddenly?

He and his mood swings. Huh

"Hey, Scar. Show me the designs you guys have chosen." A sweet and kind voice entered my ears. It was familiar to me.

Maria walked up to us with a small smile on her face.

Her smile faltered when she looked at Xander but she composed herself quickly.

"C'mon show me." She again tried.

I just shook my head at her a little to tell her we didn't choose anything.

I gestured towards Xander and shrugged my shoulders a little as if to say I don't know what happened to him.

"Badima, I've got an important meeting to attend. I'm going." He said started to walk away but was stopped by Maria.

"But....Xander..." I could see she didn't know what to say. Poor Maria..

Xander is so confusing.

"You said that you are free today." Maria was really trying hard to make him stay.

Her sad and almost tearful face said it all.

Xander looked at me for a moment.

As if he was searching for something on my face. What? He thinks he'll find an answer on my face? I'm not Google!

"I don't have time now." Saying this he again started walking away.

I don't know what to do.

Maria was looking so helpless.

I was thankful that my parents weren't here. I don't know what I would have answered to them. They messaged me last night saying how they'll be unable to come today as Raj Uncle suddenly got unwell last night. So they had to stay there.

I started to walk towards Xander.

Why he has so long legs? He always uses them to his advantage. I huffed.

"You! Listen to me." I half shouted behind him.

Thank god he stopped but didn't turn around.

When I reached him, I turned to face him .

"What happened to you suddenly?"

He didn't answer, just kept looking ahead. He wasn't even looking at me.

"You can't go like this. We have to buy rings. And you won't get time in following months too as you already told how busy you are the day when my parents came. So we have to do this today only." I tried to reason with him.

This time he looked me straight in the eye. It looked like he was restraining himself. From what?

His expressions were of anguish and confusion.

He looked ahead for a moment before looking back at me.

The words that next left

"Why are you so worried about this? As far as I know you also didn't want to get married to me. This marriage doesn't make you happy. Why do you want to choose a ring for this yourself." His eyes showed he was mad.

But what made him mad? Did I do something.

"Or you dowant to get married to me? But let me guess why?" Putting his forefinger and thumb on his chain in a thinking gesture he said, "ohh, I know. Money, right? Or my status?" His crude words stabbed straight to my inner soul.

How could he say such things? What happened to him all of a sudden?

I thought we could atleast be civilized in this relation which might turn into friendship eventually.

But now,I don't think so it'll happen.

I swallowed the lump in my throat.

Why is he being like this?

I could feel the tears trying to pour out from my eyes.

He came more close to me,

"I don't have time to waste on something that isn't real."

The look in his eyes, it's like he was disgusted by me.

When I reality I should be disgusted by him. He brought me to his ex's place, well, not exactly but yeah she works here.

How are you so sure she is his ex. Maria said he doesn't date.

So what? I know she is his ex. People don't call people by names for no reason.

You can be misunderstood too.

Maybe I am misunderstood. But what about the way he spoke to me? Those things he said.

I was filled with anger and sadness at his words.

But my anger overpowered my emotions.

I was shook when a slapping sound was heard.

My anger all vanished away when I realized I slapped him.