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Devon noiselessly descended down a short flight of stairs that led to the basement area of the villa in the West Wing. It was a dark barren place surrounded by tall white pillars and stone walls. There was only a small light bulb glowing weakly in a corner on the ceiling. As he got to the foot of the stairs and adjusted his eyes to the dull white light, his saw her....

Everything around Eleanor was absolutely still, silent and empty. Her past was stood in the dark shadows behind one of the pillars watching her. Unknown of his hushed presence, she balled her hands into tight fists as she stood in a combative posture in the middle of the basement. Dressed in a sky blue sports bra and black shorts that showed off her well-toned body, she looked fierce and predatory with her gazes sharp and piercing, her jaws clenched tight and expressions cold and hard.

When she had built enough power and force in her knuckles, she knocked a heavy punch in the air, followed by another and then another. Devon watched with bated breath the many number of strikes and blows that she drilled into the air grew powerful and aggressive by the second. She was never so agile and strong ever before. Her hand and body moved in perfect sync as she practiced all the intricate fight moves and every block strategy with absolute flawlessness.

Nathan, who was on his heels dreading he'd come across more girls in the villa, unknowingly got to the basement area. The moment he caught sight of the fiery girl practicing martial arts, he was bewitched. And his heart missed a beat like never before....

She let sweat cover her entire body but never stopped for a breath. Her eyes grew darker and intense as her knockout strikes became more severe and dangerous. She effortlessly balanced herself in one leg as she lifted the other for showering thunderous kicks one after the other in the air which made her long black hair that was tied in a high pony to swish violently in the air.

Nathan was completely dazed and mesmerized by her. Afraid that he might be caught gawking at her, he left as quietly as possible without Devon and he knowing about each other's presence.

Eleanor did a sharp backflip and was on her toes again for an effective knock out kick. Her body language grew harsher as she leaped up in the air and delivered a heavy kick. An intense flaming ardour tore through his veins dilating his heavy pupils. Devon couldn't be prouder of his girl.

It was only when her feet touched the ground again did she grow aware of a presence behind her....

That got her alert like never before. With her orbs resembling two dark burning coals, she spun around and was just about to heavily punch the intruder but stopped short realizing who was standing in front of her...

Her hard fist was barely an inch part from smashing his face but Devon didn't flinch one bit. He gazed at her with his brooding eyes and a solemn face.

Eleanor froze in shock for a moment finding herself face to face with her past. She didn't even realize when she pulled her hand back and it dropped to her side.

"Remember when you were dating that quarterback douche in high school, you warned that when you'd learn martial arts, you'd break my nose into two?" said Devon grimly. "Well, this is the perfect time for that. Go for it."

Eleanor didn't say anything but just kept looking at him indecisively.

Devon took a step towards her. "C'mon. Hit me."

Funny that even after he hurt her so bad, she just couldn't bring herself to harm him the slightest bit. Was this a weakness she hadn't yet conquered or was it a strength she had unknowingly acquired?

As Eleanor wasn't responding in any way, Devon advanced another step towards her and noticed her hands curl into fists at her sides.

"If you're not liking the way I'm getting too close to you, why aren't you punching me?!" he demanded hoarsely.

"You broke my heart and trust, Devon, and in return you just want a temporary physical injury. Sweet deal, ain't it?" Eleanor smiled bitterly.

"Remember you had once told me there would be nothing left in you without me?" spoke Devon, nursing the pain in his heart. "Is this how your nothing looks like? Because I think you've achieved everything without me," he added, referring to her combat skills.

"Oh, no Sir, you're mistaken there," said Eleanor in a ridiculing tone. "I did not groom myself every day to get over the pain you caused me. Infact I groomed myself everyday so that I could keep the wounds you've given me fresh and alive and running in my veins like blood. So you see, something of yours, that is your deception, is still there with me."

Eleanor was about to leave.....

"Won't you ask how I managed to find you after all these months?"

Eleanor looked back at him. "When I find dirt on my chair, I don't bother to wonder how it came to be there. I just sweep it off and forget about its existence. Same case with you."

Devon's jaws became taut as he spoke. "But you can't sweep me off 'cause unlike last time when I was your neighbor, I'll be living with you now in this villa under one roof."

It wasn't like Eleanor didn't see that coming. "Incredible," she said plainly. "You'll be happy to know that you're a little less important to me than a stranger." She added snidely.

No sooner did she say that, Devon dropped to one knee in front of her which caught her completely off guard.

"I'm really sorry for betraying you," he said, a lump of remorse appearing in my throat. "Please come back to me. I love you, Eleanor. I really love you a lot."

"Guess some things don't change," she chuckled dryly. "You still didn't learn to deliver a proper genuine apology."

On the contrary, it was the most meaningful thing he'd ever told her or anybody for that matter. And that was why he was hurting really bad.

Just when she was set to depart, Devon stopped her. "I've never felt my existence without you, Eleanor. Don't walk away from me. Let me love you..."

Eleanor looked down at him once more and spoke, "The thing is I've gathered all the broken pieces of me to build a stone heart this time. So I can forgive but never forget. And I'm sure nobody better than you can empathize me on this."

And she walked off with her head held high leaving him to the floor.

***

Preston was walking along the corridors having no clue at all as to where his bespectacled friend or Devon had suddenly disappeared.

Where the fucking hell is Devon?? Better I find him before Nathan who must have surely come to know of the truth by now....

Preston let out a sigh. Gotta find Devon quick.

But it was an entirely different person he came across in the passage way in the West Wing.

Lady Hitler, murmured Preston in his head seeing Eleanor who had just come up from the basement area.

"You're Preston, the office guy," Eleanor said, recognizing him. And at the same time, she could guess how Devon found out about her.

Which automatically led her to bear a grudge against Preston.

"And I should be leav---"

"You know Devon, don't you?" she demanded sternly as he tried to walk—no, scurry away.

Her manner stumped him. Fuck, did Devon play one of his nasty pranks on her too??! Which explains his sudden disappearance. Damn, I told him to stay away from her for his own good!!

"D-Devon who?" Preston blurted out, doing very poorly at lying. "I don't know any Devon. Have no idea what you're talking about! I-I think he is some sort of a....a guy....Okay bye."

And off Preston went. Eleanor rolled her eyes.

***

Preston got to his room and found Devon plopped down on his bed.

"Fucking where have you been, dude?!" Preston yelled at the other boy. He was about to lecture him further but right then, Nathan entered the room absent mindedly. From the looks of it, Preston knew that his bookish friend was aware of the truth.

"Hey, bro, where have you been?" Preston asked him sweetly, pretending to be innocent.

Devon rolled his eyes at that. "Preston knew long back that there would be girls moving in this villa," he told Nathan. "He had planned to act in front of you as though he just didn't know about it. He made me practice with him for the same in the garden area," he added with a drawl.

Preston jaw dropped as Devon spilled the beans. He glared at him for ditching him at the last moment. He fucking always adds fuel to the fire!!

But Nathan couldn't be bothered about the truth. Not after having witnessed the spunky girl in the basement area....

"Yeah, It's okay...." he muttered, appearing dazed and lost.

Preston's jaw dropped again at his friend's dull reaction. It was nothing of the sort he'd expected. What the fuck??! How can Nathan be okay with girls living here??

When Preston turned to Devon with expectations of finding him dumbfounded as well, the latter appeared to be least bothered about everything that was going on. Devon appeared to be lost in his own brooding thoughts.

What's fucking wrong with these two?!!, Preston could only wonder.

Are you excited for the next part? ;) Coming up soon!

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