"Get in"

Eric sighed as he found Joanna's hesitation. After that confession that came out of no where, Joanna was obviously lost. He came back as usual to pick her up from work, while she tried to avoid him.

But her man won't budge!

"Fine!"

She had to give in.

'Now what to say? How do I face him'
Joanna had a lot to think but then she was reminded of what her mother had to say

"When it comes to relationships its always best to be honest"

An advice that kind of proved to be true at every event in life.

"So, Eric..."
She cleared her throat and what he did next startled her, made her heart race and her eyes.....they were kind of fluttering.

He leaned forwards and grabbed the seat belts and locked it for her.

"Seat belts" Eric smiled and asked
"What were you saying?"

'What was I about to say?' Her racing heart made her forget everything.

'What was it?Ah....I... Why the hell is my heart pounding like this? What is this feeling?'

She was sure that her feelings for Eric was truly dead by now. It wasn't easy but Eric really did hurt her feelings back then.

'A fling!' His words echoed every night in her ear for a very long time and she had finally learned to find peace with it.

But now, why was she feeling like this? Or did she truly ever stop loving him!

"I...."

"Listen, Joanna" Eric stopped her again.

"I know. I had screwed up back then. The time was not ours. I know whatever I say will be just an excuse....but...."

Joanna couldn't help but notice how cool he looked while saying all those words. He had his sleeves rolled up and his veins that was risen in the background of his pale arm...... In a long time, she found a man sexy. Especially when he was reversing the car with one arm. Sexy enough to make her skip a beat in that wounded heart.

"Can't you let me stay by your side?"
He glanced over and saw her nervous face.

"I promise that I won't keep any expectations. You certainly don't have to feel the way I do...... Like we agreed in the beginning, if you fall in love with someone else, then we can end this marriage. But just know, that this marriage is not a deal for me....It never was...."

"Why now?" Joanna finally asked him.

"Why now, Eric? Were you not fine all these years? Have you not become a successful man with Clara by your side?"

Clara Goldwin. A topic left unaddressed for a while.

Was it not strange? She was a girl who was obsessed with Eric since teenage years. She tried everything in her power to make him hers. Then how come she calmly attend his wedding without any turmoil? Why was she okay with all these? Did her love just die like that?

Clara is definetly not the kind of girl who would back down on a guy just because he rejects her. Then how did she let go off Eric?

"I thought you knew it all well. Clara and I never dated."

"But you let the whole world think so. Why? She was someone fine enough for you to show off to the world, wasn't she? Did you not use her as you pleased, Eric?"

"She threatened me with her life, Jo! What could have I done?"

Joanna looked out of the window with a pout.

"You were not jealous, right?"

"Huh? Jealous? Who? Me? Why? No way...."

Though he couldn't notice how cutely her lips pouted, he was determined not to get distracted by her charms.

"Can we leave whatever that happened in the past, in the past itself?"

Sounds like a fair deal.

"Whatever.... I am hungry!"
Her cheeks were as pink as tender rose flower and Joanna was trying to unpack her feelings.

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

There were days when Joanna couldn't sleep well due to her pillows being soaked in tears. Yeah, this was her 11 years back, when Eric said all they had was just a fling.

Joanna was a girl who was raised with  lots of love. She was rarely heartbroken and  truly damaged a part of her heart, back then.

Then, it just became a habit. She kind of learned to live with that pain, to which she eventually became numb. Honestly, it wasn't that bad. She still had the love of her parents and friends that she cherished.

Life happened! Her parent's death made her realize that, losing them, was the worst kind of pain. Now she was truly alone! No one to rely on. No one to cheer for her. No one to tell hef that no matter what happens, I am by your side.

Then Roy stood by her side. She knows and appreciates how precious his presence was.

'This man could never hurt me'

She believed and held onto that belief even when the signs were obvious! She trusted, even when she was ignored.

Strange, right?

The man who gave her the first heartbreak, became the man who saved her from a lifelong pain.

Who is good? Who is bad? Whom to trust? What shall I do now?

She was lost and the very same man who gave her teary nights, was now offering to be by her side, forever! Without any expectations! Without any compulsions! Is this the kind of love, poems were written about?

He, who shines like a star, was offering to be her light!

It was impossible for Joanna to not be torn! Her feelings..... Her dilemma..... Her despair....... All wrapped around her neck, trying to choke her for life.

But boys can wait. Her dream and the fruit of her hardwork can't. She can't lose Dandelions Corner!

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

"You?"

Next day was also full of surprises.

A pair of unexpected guest showed up at Dandelion's Corner, during the evening hours.

Nancy Luther Jones and Clara Goldwin.

"Its actually empty!"

Clara came in with a smirk and Joanna could feel her pride being belittled.

"What do you guys want? Why did you demand to see me?"

"Sit down. Either way its empty!"

Joanna sighed while Nancy pulled a chair for her.

Their managers were waiting outside and she even saw Nancy's photographer.

How did she forget!

Nancy and Clara, both are influencers with millions of followers.

"What would you like to have?"
Joanna decided to stick on to business.

"Oh, Come on! Sit down, sister-in-law!"

Nancy finally managed to get what she wanted.

"We were thinking of being a bit generous today"

Clara spoke up and Joanna could only sense danger over there.

Generous and Clara? What a joke!

"Look at her face!"
Nancy and Clara burst out into giggles

Joanna sighed.

"Can't you both not bully me? I am genuinely tired and its honestly not a good time for me!"

"I know!"
Nancy smiled seeing her food, which Janet was now serving. She was extra polite and Joanna sensed hope in her eyes.

"I can make this better for you, Joanna. All it will take is one post from us!"

Janet's eyes lit up the moment she heard that. She would have begged had Nancy not asked her to leave. Joanna could read Janet's eyes. She was full of hope and this was truly a chance to revive their reputation.

"I know it won't be for free! What do you both want from me?"

Nancy sighed.

"Why do you think I would want anything from you?" She pulled out her phone and clicked an aesthetic picture of their signature Pasta and continued

"You are family!"

Family? Says the girl who sided with her grand mother to mock her!

Joanna laughed and Nancy frowned.

"Hey! Thats rude!"

"Family? You guys don't even treat my husband right! What family does that!"

Husband!! My husband!

Even Joanna doesn't know how she blurted that out. Technically, she was right, though.

"Oh! Come on! He is the one who has a problem with us! When I was young, our grandma didn't let us play together. Abraham used to sneak behind our backs to take care of him.
Eric shut us all down, once his mom passed away! Its like we are all his enemies! I agree that I too gave him competition but he is still a Luther! And so are you!"

Hardly believable, lets believe for a min. but Clara? This is not the Clara Joanna knew.

"I know! But, I really hate you! But for Nancy and for my only childhood friend Eric, I want to help!"

"No! Get the hell out of here!" Her desperation didn't let her say that out loud.Instead all she asked was one thing

"Did Eric ask you?"

"You think he would? I am even banned from his premises!"
Clara reminded her.

"So, come here, girl!"

What followed was a photo session and Joanna swallowed her pride and let them help, for the sake of Janet.

And it worked! It truly did!

Within few hours they had customers coming from Nancy and Clara's posts.

And finally Joanna saw Janet's face again. That face that she had on the first day when they opened this place.

An apology and a hug sorted out their differences and Joanna was finally able to breathe again. And for the business? Their food spoke for itself.

But Clara was still a mystery! Not just for Joanna but also for Eric.

'What could have made Clara change overnight?'

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

"What do you want now?"

This was the only thing that came to his mind when Clara sat down with him. He had to meet her. If she is plotting anything to harm Joanna, he ought to know.

"Woah! No hi, No hello? That hurts, Eric!"

He sighed and patiently waited till she finished her food order.

"I am not here to have a meal with you! What do you want now?"

"You tell me, you are the one who asked me to meet you! You are mean, Eric!"

"Cut the act, Clara!"

Clara smiled and asked

"So it took her, for you to finally see that I am alive, right?"

Eric sighed and Clara continued

"Don't worry! I won't hurt her or you!"

"Thats hard to believe"

She smiled

"You don't know me that well, Eric. Anyways, are you going to watch me eat?"

Eric promptly left, leaving Clara laugh again.

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

Clara relished her salad, imagining it to be a burger.

She meant when she said what she said.

She was done with Eric!

Not because she wasn't intrested in him anymore but because she had no reason to hold on to him.

She loved him. Loved him enough that it drove her crazy, to force him with her life.

But there was another emotion in her stronger than her love.

Fear. Towards her mother.

In a way, Clara was pathetic. All her mother wanted was a celebrity daughter and Clara did everthing she could to make that dream come true.

She was the kid who wasn't even allowed to have a piece of cake on her own birthday and honestly, Eric and the friendship he gave her was like her favourite comfort blanket.

He was familiar and knew all about her. A reason why he couldn't let her get hurt, till it all came down to Joanna. She meant everything to Eric and it drove Clara crazy.

Then what made her give up on Eric?

Luther.

The father who assured that

' Eric is not going to inherit my empire, no matter how good he was.'

To cling on to such a man would mean to go against her mother and her expectations about her and Clara's fear triumphed over her love. Her ambition took over her affection. Thus Madame Jones and Clara ended up backing out but thats definetly not something Eric would know, right?

So, she let him walk away, as he was not of use to her. This was the only reason why Clara would give up on Eric and be nice to Joanna.

Her heart ached but she wasn't going to let that in her way and in a way, its fair to say that,

Luther freed Eric!