Alex Darwin :

One minute, I was seeing Ariana smiling giving me an innocent sly smile and another minute I was seeing her lying on the side of the road with blood oozing out from her chest.

She was staring at the sky with something similar to relief. She should be in pain but for some reason, she was smiling.

My eyes didn't move from her for once. I stared at her with horror and yelled for help but some kind of invisible wall was blocking me from running to her and helping her and taking her in my arms.

I felt an agonizing pain in my chest when I saw her closing her eyes. It seemed like she was giving up.

Tiredly, I slide down and shouted as the pain in my heart started to increase with each second. I cried out in pain — heart-wrenching cries were coming out of my mouth until my voice was hoarse.

I woke up with a jolt finding myself covered in sweat on my bed in my room. I threw the covers away from my body and got up from the bed. Sighing, I walked over to my window and peeked at her house. The lights of her room were off which means she was sleeping. I felt relieved knowing that she was sleeping.

I recalled the horrible dream that filled my heart with terror and shook my head to clear the images. I never got dreams or nightmares a lot even when I was a kid. But now these terrible nightmares were occurring almost every night from the day my eyes landed on her.

I wanted to discuss this with her but I was scared. I didn't want her to think that something was wrong with me.

"Hi," She said after receiving my call.

"Hi," I replied letting out a sigh of relief on hearing her voice.

"How are you?" I asked her after the long silence.

"Don't tell me you just called me at three in the morning to know how am I? Or did you?" She asked giggling.

It was the first time, I heard a musical sound coming from her mouth. She smiles a lot but she never giggled before, she was always anxious and frowning most of the time.

"As a matter of fact, I did call you to ask how you are," I said to her.

"I'm exactly the way you left me this evening; the only difference is that I'm dressed in my night attire at the moment." She said little breathless making me smile.

"Are you still blushing?" I asked teasingly.

"No. I'm still dazed," She said in a breathy voice.

"I want to see you," I said.

"You want to see me right now?" She questioned.

"Yes," I said hoping.

"I not coming outside, its cold and I love my bed," She replied giggling.

"Just come to your window, please," I pleaded.

"Are you outside my house?" She asked, coming to her window.

"Maybe I am," I murmured.

"Where are you? I can't see you." She complained.

"You can't see me but I can see you leaning out of your window," I replied, staring at her from afar.

"Liar, you're not here. You're teasing me right?" She asked me looking around on the street.

She was still oblivious of the truth that I live across her. I plan to tell her tomorrow who I am and where I live.

"You're looking cute in blue shorts and a white tank top," I said, smiling to myself.

She gasped and looked outside from her window again.

"Where are you? How can you see me when I can't see you?" She asked me in confusion.

"I'm a sorcerer," I said, laughing.

"Of course, you are." She said chuckling.

I yawned.

"You sound sleepy. You should get some sleep," she said.

"I might not get any sleep tonight," I said.

"Why?" She asked

"Because I saw you in your cute shorts and a tank top, the images won't let me sleep," I teased her.

"Goodnight. I hope you get some sleep tonight". She said in a shy voice.

"Goodnight, love," I said and fell asleep.

In the morning, I was having breakfast with my parents' when my mother cleared her throat loudly to get my attention.

I raised my eyebrows at her and looked at dad. He shrugged, trying to act nonchalant.

"When do you plan to introduce us to her?" She asked.

"What are you talking about?" I asked taking a sip of coffee.

"Your girlfriend," My mom said.

"Mom, please, I'll introduce her when the time is right," I told them.

"I'm an impatient woman. At least, tell me her name," Mom said.

"Ariana Beckley is her name," I said.

They smiled at me and I shook my head at them.

"It's a beautiful name. Is she a model?" Mom said but dad was silent.

His eyebrows scrunched like he was thinking about something.

"She's not a model. Honestly, I don't know much about her. She's a mystery that I am trying to solve," I said.

"I just want to meet her, that's all. I want to know the girl who has smitten my son," she said excitedly.

After breakfast, I went back to my room to check my emails from the office. Then I attended a meeting with my staff on Skype, informing them about my extended vacation plan. When I ended the video call my father entered my room looking anxious.

"Dad, is everything fine?" I asked him.

He walked to me and typed something on my laptop. My breath was knocked out of me when I read it.

The pictures of Ariana appeared in casual clothes, designer clothes and in a waitress uniform. Then there was a tag showing pictures of "Ariana Beckley got shot".

My dad clicked on the article and the picture of her lying outside the court building in the pool of blood appeared. Her mom was cradling Ariana's head while tears were streaming down from her face.

Suddenly, I felt sick to my stomach. My heart was squeezing making it difficult for me to breathe.

I pushed the laptop away and went to my balcony. I clutched the cold railing in a strong grip and took a deep breath.

My dad followed me, he squeezed my shoulder lightly. "I guess this is the same Ariana Beckley you were talking about. It looks like it she hasn't told you about her past," Dad said.

I stayed silent unable to speak. My feeling was jumbled, my throat was clogged with emotions.

"There are so many articles about her and about what happened to her six months ago. I think you should read them," He said and left my room.

I didn't want to read those articles; I didn't want to know that something bad happened to her in the past. I knew one thing and it was that she didn't deserve any of this.

But I went back inside my room and with the shaking hands, I picked up my laptop and read it.

"Ariana Beckley, the first daughter of Mr. Beckley, founder of Beckley international bank and the man who runs many businesses around the globe was found scrubbing floor in a small bar of California. A source says she has been working there as a waitress for almost a month. We have yet to find out why the daughter of one of the richest men has been moping floor in the bar and serving drinks."

The article was attached to a few pictures of Ariana. She looked tired, fragile dressed in black mini skirt and white lose t-shirt, there was a mop in her hand. Her eyes were hollow, empty of any emotions except exhaustion on her face.

I clicked on another article that was attached to the video. I opened it and saw Ariana standing beside her mother, she looked weak, her cheeks were sunken, and her eyes were swollen as she cried a lot earlier. Her lips were trembling. She was wearing blue jeans and a grey shirt with full sleeves, it looked worn-out. Her mom was clad in a black dress, her eyes were also swollen. The reporter asked her mother "Why are you asking back for your shares in the company? Her mother didn't answer. Another reporter questioned them, this time the question was directed to Ariana. "Miss Ariana do you think your mother can win the case against your father? He is a rich man and we all know, you are barely scraping for necessities. Do you think it's the right time to file a case against your father for her shares?" Ariana glared at the reporter. She pushed her mother and herself forward while protecting themselves from the reports and getting in the cab.

There was another article attached and it was about a tragic incident.

"Today a very tragic incident happened in California, around noon. Ariana Beckley was shot thrice outside the court building. According to the sources, she came there with her mom to hear the decision of the jury about the case her mom filed for shares in the family business. An eyewitness told us it was a man who fired at her and escaped. Police have started searching for him and Ariana Beckley has been moved to a hospital in critical condition."

There was a picture of Ariana lying down on the pavement; her white t-shirt was covered in blood.

I shut down my laptop and got up from the bed. I threw on my black hoodie and went down to leave.

My parents head snapped in my way, they stared at me like they wanted to ask something but they knew it wasn't the right time.

I made my way to her house and knocked at her door. After a few minutes, her mom opened the door.

"Hello, Mrs. Beckley. Can I meet Ariana?" I asked her.

She smiled at me warmly.

"Please, come inside," she said.

She called Ariana down and went to the kitchen.

"Hi, what are you doing here?" Ariana asked me.

"Let's go to the park," I said.

"Uh, right now?" She asked.

"Yes, right now," I said.

"Mom, I am going out," She said then dragged me out.

"You are acting weird. Should I be concerned about my safety?" She asked me with the playfully smile.

"No. I will never hurt you." I said.

"I know, Alex. I was just joking." She said with a light laugh.

We walked silently to the park.

"Is everything okay Alex?" She asked me, looking worried.

I swallowed with the difficulty.

"I know Ariana," I mumbled.

"What do you know?" She asked in confusion.

"About your past," I said softly with my eyes downcast staring at the grass.

She stayed silent making me look up to see a small smile playing on her lips.

"It was not a secret, Alex. Everyone knows about it. It was a shock to me when I realized that you know nothing about my past." She said.

"I am sorry," I said to her for not being there when she needed someone to love her and protect her.

"You don't need to be sorry. I can understand it. I'm glad I met you. The time we got to spend together was nice. I hope we can be still friends, right?" She asked me.

I didn't understand what she was talking about?

"We were never friends, Ariana. I told you this before everything," I said.

"Oh, sorry. I guess you are right. I'll just go back home," She said taking a step back.

I grasped her wrist and pulled her back then crashed my lips on her. She was shocked at first then started to respond back. Her actions were slow and delicate like her.

I kissed her slowly and fervently. I promised myself to protect her, love her and cherish her until my last breath.

I wanted to memories her taste, the feel of her soft lips on mine and her soft flowery scent.

My hands went to her neck and I slipped my fingers in a mess of raven hair to press her mouth closer.

Her hands were fisting the front of my hoodie pulling me closer.

We pulled away from each other, breathless.

"Why were you going to?" I asked her. She looked at me with a questioning gaze.

Her swollen lips were still looking tempting enough to distract me.

"I love you, Ariana. Did you think the secret of your past will change my heart, my love and feelings for you?" I asked her.

"Yes. My past is horrendous. It should've scared you. You should have believed that I am a damaged, personally. You shouldn't be kissing me and telling me that you love me." She said.

"Miss Ariana Beckley you need to know me better if you still think I will leave you because of something like this. Your past made angry at the person who had hurt you. I wish I was there for you when you needed someone to love you." I said pressing my forehead to her.

"I wish you were there so I wouldn't have given up," She mumbled.

There was peaceful silence between us.

"Who did that to you, Ariana?" I asked her.

"What?" She asked confused.

"Did they catch the man who tried to shot you?" I asked her, trying to control my anger.

"He was not there to shot me," she mumbled.

"What?" I asked her.

She took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

"My mother was his target. But I saw him aiming his gun towards my mom. Before he could've shot her, I pushed her down on the road. It was too late to save myself and the bullet lodged in my chest. He tried to shot her again and I was still able to evaluate his actions so I stopped my mother from getting up from the road. The second bullet lodged in my stomach. He fired again, this one with the intention of killing me because I had seen his face, that bullet missed my heart by few inches and pierced my chest," She said with the faraway look on her face.

"Tell me he is behind the bars at the moment. If he is not then I swear to god, I'm going to kill him myself." I said clenching my jaw in extreme anger.

"No, you cannot kill him because he is dead already." She said.

"He is dead?" I asked her confused.

"Yes, he is dead. The person, who gave him orders to kill my mom, killed him after he failed to complete his task." She said with the bitter voice that gave her out.

"You know that person. You know who wanted to kill your mom." I said.

"I know." She said.

"And he is not behind the bars?" I asked in anger.

She sighed.

"Yes. He is not behind the bars and he'll never be," She answered me.

"Why?" I asked her. She stayed quiet.

"It was your father, isn't it?" I asked and her silence confirmed it.

It shocked me to the core. I couldn't believe how a man can do something like this to his own family.

"Alex, promise me you will stay out of my past. I talked to my father about all this. He left me and my family in peace when I promised to keep my mouth shut," She said placing her soft hand on my jaw.

"I am going to ruin that man," I said gritting my teeth.

"Just forget it, Alex. He is a pernicious man," she whispered. "You are too soft and kind-hearted. I love you the way you are."

"You don't know everything about me yet," I said.

"I don't want to know anything. I am rather fond of the person you are." She said and hugged me.

"I am glad to know this, love," I mumbled pressing her to me and inhaling her soft inciting flowery scent.

To be continued........