FALLEN

CHAPTER 2. (Edited)

Aurora's P.O.V

"Oh my head." I groan as I try to sheild my eyes from the sunlight. Slowly getting up I make my way to the bathroom and start running the bath, after brushing my teeth and tying up my hair I get into the bath. It takes me a while to head out but after I do I get dressed, choosing to wear a black pants suit with a white silk blouse and white stilettos. On my way to the office I grab a greasy breakfast and head to work.

"You're hung over." Justin, my assistant says oh so obviously. I breathe out loudly.

"Yes I know that Justin, fill me in on today." I get straight to business.

"Well I just confirmed your nine am meeting with Spencer Publication, I had to squeeze him in before Ben and-" Choking on my coffee Justin stops talking.

"What? Why do I have to have yet another meeting with that imbecile." I ask holding the bridge of my nose.

"His assistant didn't specify why he wanted another meeting with you but she did say he mentioned it being urgent." Great. Justin takes my silence as an agreement to move on. "Next on the agenda is your meeting with Ben, which personally I am excited about, you guys are meeting because he's interested in doing a collaboration with us. He was, and I quote "moved" by the last book we published and is keen on having his company be our sponsor for the making of the movie. If there ever is one." My heart leaps the more Justin speaks, not believing that thee Ben Jefferson wants to work with us! Me! Let me just put it this way, if we land this partnership with Ben and actually have his name on our work it will be the highlight of my career.

"When is the meeting?" I ask Justin looking through the list to see which book we published last.

"Ten." Finding the book amusement envelopes me, he found 'The Deadly Mistress' moving? Interesting. "And that smile ?"

"Oh nothing." I shake my head. After Justin leaves I dig into my breakfast and find myself feeling better already then I call Kim just to make sure she's okay but her phone goes straight to voicemail, perfect.

"Amira! Let's go." I yell exiting my office, Amira is one of my employees, she always accompanies me to meetings to take down notes, record the minutes or anything else really. Arriving the same time as Spencer does we head into my board room and take our seats. "Why are we here Spencer?"

"Always straight to business Aurora." He states chuckling.

"I just don't like my time wasted, especially by you."

"Look Aurora I know we mildly scratched on us doing business together in our last meeting, which you obviously disagree with but, I think that together we could make millions." He explains, he is right about one thing, us doing business together would increase our profits tremendously but that's not what I'm after.

"You're right Spencer, us working together would make us millions maybe even billions but that's not at all what I'm about or after. I didn't start from the bottom, working my ass off with the thought of chasing money and power. I did it because I wanted to make a name for myself, to help people, to build something with substance and that's laced with unquestionable respect. And that is why I cannot do business with you Spencer, because the only thing you care about is money."

"You think you know me-"

"Power and influence! That's all you care about and I bet you've stepped on way more hands to achieve this than you've made millions. You are selfish and lack a backbone and I will never! Ever do business with you. Now please leave." I finish off getting up and leaving. Getting to my office I don't waste time to pour myself a whiskey neat and throwing it down my throat. I know I was a bit harsh but I hate men like Spencer, who only work hard so they can have power over other people and care about nothing else or no one else. Just like my father. The phone connected to my office rings, breaking my train of thought.

"Miss Anderson, your ten o'clock is here." Amira announces.

"Thank you Amira, I will be there shortly. Please make sure that Justin sets up the drinks." I'd be lying if I said I am not nervous but I don't want to get ahead of myself. I make my way to the boardroom and find Ben already seated. "Mr Jefferson." I great reaching out my hand for him to shake and he does.

"Miss Anderson, I finally put a face to the name."

"So Mr Jefferson what can I do for you?"

"I'm going to cut to the chase Miss Anderson, I have been keeping tabs on you and the work you do here and I must say, I am impressed, frankly your work speaks for itself and I'm interested in doing business with you. As you know I own a picture company, the biggest in New York and aside from producing successful movies we help talented new writers by funding them when they step into the industry, so with that being said I would like to sponsor the writer of the book, The Deadly Mistress." I can't believe this, not only did he compliment my hard work but he is also asking to work with us!

"It would be an honour to work with you Mr Jefferson, I will discuss this with my writer first and give you an answer by Friday afternoon." I can't accept any offers without talking to Cassandra. Nodding he gets up from his seat and reaches out his hand for me to shake.

"Good day Miss Anderson." With that he leaves and I throw myself back onto my chair. What just happened? I take my phone out and immediately call my mother, picking up I tell her about my meeting with Benjamin and her screeching echoes through my speaker.

"Charlie! Charlie come hear the great news!" She calls out to my father who is probably in the garden.

"Ma nothing is official yet so please don't make a big deal ou-"

"Oh hush you silly child, this deal is as good as done and I'm saying that because I know you Aurora, I know that you'll get this." My mother's words touch me deeply, her and my father have always supported me in whatever I chose to do. When my dad gets to the kitchen my mom starts going on and on about this so I hang up after saying my 'I love yous'.

"Amira, can you schedule a meeting with Cassandra for tomorrow please." I say passing her desk.

"Yes Miss Anderson, any specific time you'd like it?"

"No." After reading four book drafts that were on my desk I choose to call it a day and pack up. No one is here except for me and the cleaners, like always, heading to my car I get in, put it in gear and head home. I find Kim home cooking in the kitchen.

"Hey!" Always chirpy this one.

"Hey hey hey, when did you get back?"

"This morning right after you left, how was your day? Oh and I'm making chicken strips with rice." Hmm one of my favourite dishes, okay something is up.

"Yum, my day was good actually. So Ben Jefferson came in to see me, offering to work with me." I beam.

"Shut up! Aww I am so happy for you A, so did you say yes?" I exhale loudly.

"No because I still need to speak to the author of the book he's interested in and hear what she has to say."

"Well I know you're going to get this so all you have to do is hang tight." She's probably right, what's meant for me will come to me. Kim fishes up cooking and I set the table, pouring us some scotch then we sit down and start eating.

"Now onto you, is there a reason you're trying to buy me with food?" Her eyes go back and forth suspiciously and I lightly laugh. "Just spit it out Kimberly."

"Jay asked me to go on vacation with him and I said yes." She blurts out and I think I blinked twenty five times just to make sure I wasn't imagining this s**t.

"Why?" I ask baffled.

"Because he's really nice A, he's not as bad as you may think, if you just take time to get to know him you'll see that-"

"Over my dead body." My voice goes up a tad bit.

"Aurora he is not Cyle-." Standing up abruptly I lift my hand to stop her.

"That’s enough. You know what you’re absolutely right, I'm done with always running after you to make sure you stop dating every Tom d**k and Harry that offers you expensive roses and meaningless word. For goodness sake Kimberly, grow up!" Angry, that is exactly how I feel.

"I may know nothing about love or have any common sense, as you say, but at least I try! At least I let people in unlike you who shuts the world out to protect your cold broken heart." Tears well in her eyes as she moves around the table to stand in front of me, holding my hand. "It's been thirteen years Aurora, how long are you going to wait until you forgive him?" She whispers to me.

"Never." I say turning away and heading to my bedroom but stop by the door feeling her eyes on me still. "Wipe your tears, they're a waste." Getting in I shut the door. After taking a shower I wear my tracksuit and sneakers. I slip past Kim and head out for a run. Whenever I run my mind becomes clear, I think better and my emotions take a back seat. She had no right to mention him! Whatever our disagreement might have been about, she had no right and she knows that, that's what pisses me off. Stopping by the pink fountain I catch my breath, him and I used to come here as often as we could as kids, escaping reality. My mind begins to drift to a specific memory.

"If you keep playing in the water you're going to get sick." I warn.

"You worry too much αγάπη μου , come enjoy this moment with me." He offers his hand and I reluctantly take it. As soon as I do he pulls me to him and spins me around.

"Stop!" My laughter fills the air as he spins me again and again and again. "Okay I've had enough." Laughing we both sit on the edge of the fountain to catch our breath.

"Why do you always say αγάπη μου when you refer to me?"

"Because you are and always will be." He softly smiles at me.

"Always will be what ?" I ask confused. Gently placing the palm of his hand on my cheek his thumb circulates slowly.

"I'll explain it to you one day, when we're older and when the time is right."

"You don't know if you'll still be in my life in the years to come." I tease but his face turns deadly serious.

"I will never leave you αγάπη μου."

———— end of flashback. —————

"You lied." I whisper bitterly while gently touching the fountain then run back home to calm my nerves. Getting in I head to the bathroom, take a quick shower and get into bed. Trying not to think about him anymore I keep tossing and turning in bed. "Maybe listening to the rain will help me sleep." I take my phone and play a recording of the pouring rain and as I sink deeper into the covers I sigh, quickly falling asleep.

________________________________

And the past is slowly being revealed ?.

Hope you liked it.

- zendea ❤️

αγάπη μου - My love, in Greek.