Chapter 57

"Hey, stop crying Em," Aurora pleaded to her friend who was crying silently in the corner of the elevator.

Aurora went closer to her and cuddled herself to her. "You are my brave girl. Don't cry over an owl's words. See, he even apologised to you."

Emily couldn't help but smile, recalling

how Aurora warned Kevin and forced him to apologise to her. "You always do that, Aurora, it's been four years since we met and you always stood for me. You helped me when Viktor hated me then that competition and now Kevin…"

"And you always stood for me as well, Em. Do you even remember how many times you handled my drunk ass? I lost count of it…" she said, brushing Emily's tears with her fingers.

She chuckled. "Taking care of you while you get drunk and standing up for me to the people of your class is a completely different thing, Aurora. You are still backing up your promise to help me in achieving the success you made four years ago."

At that Aurora rolled her eyes. "That's what friends do, Em. But this time it was not just you I was helping but myself."

She shook her head. "You see, I behave like a fool with Gabriel. Susan was right, it was only him in that relationship. It was always about what he wanted but I guess I figured it out late. I mean it's better later than never, right?"

Emily nodded. "I was fighting with Dad to marry Gabe. I genuinely wanted our relationship to grow but when he said that I would be helping him in the restaurant by washing dishes. I got sacred, Em. That was the wake-up call for me. I have nothing against washing dishes but I had dreams and Gabe never believed in me. He never believe that I would be able to achieve them no instead he always think of me as nothing but a rich brat who knows nothing except for spending her dad's money."

Emily patted her hand. "I understand Aurora. No one cares about our dreams or hard work until we achieve success."

"I guess so. Initially, I wanted to prove it to him by winning that contest but then I saw how unimportant I was in his life. One month and not even a single message from him to me. It hurts when he doesn't show any concern for me."

Emily gulped. Adrenaline shot through her body in anticipation. She recalled how many times he called her when they were on that cruise. How many times he called them, he even called changing the number but Susan blacklisted all the contacts which were not saved in her cell.

What have you done, Susan? What do you make me do?

"You know what, leave everything aside and let's go home now. I am about to take the most important decision of my life," Aurora said. A little hope and excitement erupted in her heart imagining Liam and herself together.

"What do you mean?"

Aurora shrugged. "I will tell Gabriel that I don't love him anymore and return his ring to him."

Emily nodded. "It's for the best," she said but before she could say anything else the elevator pinged and they stepped out. Once back in the cafeteria they found Susan waiting for them.

Upon seeing them she moved to them. "Coffee?" She asked.

"No, I just want to go home and have a long warm bath," Aurora replied and they left for their home.

After Emily left for her dinner date, Aurora and Susan were sitting in her room and she was fumbling with her cell phone. "Come on call him."

She took a long deep breath to calm her racing heart and opened the phone book. In the past month, it never occurred to her but today when she was about to take such a big step for herself she noticed how Gabriel's number which once used to be on top of her call history was nowhere the view now, strange how a single month changed the perspective for her relationship.

Once she found his name in the phonebook she tapped on it and the call started. Her heart was beating at the record speed. Even Susan was feeling jittery about the phone call.

She was glad Aurora asked her to sit with her while she talk with him because she knew he would not let her go easily and Susan was ready to interfere if needed.

But things didnt go as they planned. Instead of ringing, they heard that the number is switched off. Aurora frowned and called two more times and both times it was switched off.

"I think I should call his restaurant," saying that she called Gabriel's restaurant. It started ringing, Aurora waited for the straight face Manager to accept the call. Her heart thumped loudly when she heard the hello from the other end.

"Hello, George."

"Miss Aurora, is that you?" He asked and Aurora chuckled hearing his dramatic voice.

"Yes, it's me, George. How are you doing?"

"Fine, I am doing fine but where are you?"

"Somewhere. Anyway, George can you please pass the phone to Gabriel. It's kind of urgent," Susan rubbed Aurora's hands to comfort her.

"Mr James is not available Miss. He went to meet his uncle and had not returned yet. I don't have any other information than that."

Aurora's shoulders slumped in disappointment. "Do you know where his uncle lives, George? I need to meet him."

"Yes, I can give you the address if you want."

"Yes, send it to me." She said and after a little talk, she ended the call. After ending it she saw how badly she was shivering. Aurora hugged Susan who held her in a comforting manner.

"I am going to meet Gabe, tomorrow and return his ring to him."

Susan nodded. "I will come with you."

Aurora nodded. She wants Susan with her. She needed that extra courage. It was not like she was not sad. She was, it could have been a beautiful relationship if only things would have been worked differently but they didn't.

It was for the best, she thought. Instead of trying to join broken things, it's better to move on and she would be doing the same. She wanted to feel the thrill she felt with Liam.

He was the sun and she was being attracted to him with his gravitational force.

On the other hand, Alexandrio ordered the best wine for Emily and cling their glasses together. "To our new journey."

Emily gritted her jaw. "There is no new journey Mr Kyschove. I am not here on my free will, this is your blackmail."

Alexandrio mocked a salute and gulped or down. "It's our first date, Emily," he leaned a little forward on the table and looked into her eyes.

"And I suggest you smile a little on our special occasion."

Emily forced herself to smile. "This much is okay?" She mocked. Alexandrio nodded. "Very."

They started eating but unlike other couples, instead of talking to know each other, there was only the sound of fork and knife.

Alexandrio couldn't take it anymore, he broke the silence by asking a question which he had asked her many times but she refused to answer. " will you still not tell me why you stopped seeing me, Emily?" He asked in all seriousness.

Emily paused for a moment. Left her cutlery and wiped her hands to the napkin. "Because I don't want to be with you. I don't want to be known as a social climber who is dating a multibillionaire for his money. I don't want to be called gold digger who…" she stopped, glued and finished the sentence, "...whore around rich people to get things done," she snapped and threw the napkin on the table, stood up and moved to walk away.

Alexandrio threw the cash on the table for the bill and followed her out. He grabbed her hand once they were in the lobby. "What's that supposed to mean? Have I ever questioned your motives?"

He demanded.

Emily snatched her hand away. "One day you will and I don't want that. So I am begging you to leave me alone. I came here because you blackmailed me and I value my friendship with Aurora more than anything in this world. If you like me, please let me live in peace," A few tears rolled down her cheek when she said that.

Alexandrio could see how shattered her eyes were, "who hurt you, Emily? What is this all about?"

Emily gulped. "No one has hurt me, Alexandrio. It has nothing to do with anyone except for myself. It's about me and my identity…" saying that she walked away and this time even Alexandrio didn't stop her.

"Na! There is something you are hiding from me, Emily. There is a reason behind your pain and I will find it out," Alexandrios promised himself.

He was about to call one of his men to dig up her past but before he could do that his phone started ringing. He looked at the sky for patience.

It was a call from Russia, more precisely his brother, Dmitri Kyschove was calling him. "Dmitri?"

"How are you doing sweet boy?" He greeted Alexandrios.

"Not a boy anymore, and I am doing fine, you tell me? Why the call?"

He chuckled. "I was in the neighbourhood, so I thought about meeting you." He replied.

Adrenaline shot through his body, "you are here in Canada? Why?" He knew there had to be a strong reason because the Oakham of the Russian mafia wouldn't just come to Canada for holidays.

"Business calls. I want you to arrange a meeting with that friend of yours…"

"His name is Liam and why the sudden meeting?"

"Because I say so, Alexandrio," Dmitri replied in a pure businesslike tone.

"When?" Alexandrio asked.

"Tomorrow, in the evening," saying that he ended the call.

Alexandrio cursed at his luck. He was stuck between two egocentric alphas who want nothing more than to kill each other. Gritting his jaw, he called Liam and asked to meet him.

Liam swirled the amber liquid in the glass and glanced at Alexandrio. "I would have met him but there is this little problem, friend." He said pointing at the part of his finger over the brim of the glass.

"Your brother denied his assistance when I asked him regarding that masked man. And I don't think there is any way our meeting will not end in a bloodbath…"

Alexandrio straightened in his seat. " There will be no blood bath, Liam. My brother asked for a casual meeting. I will be present there and I want you both to think about all the business arrangements you have with each other before pulling guns at one another's head."

"All I want is to bathe in his blood but I am interested in why he wants to meet me. I have a perfect place in mind to meet your brother," Liam said with a chuckle. Alexandrio shook his head guessing the place was nothing but a dance club amd one thing which Dmitri hated was a fucking dance club.

The next day, Aurora went to Kevin's cabin to ask for two days leave.

Kevin joined his fingers together. "I am sorry but I can't allow you to leave Miss Knight. That's not in my hands."

Aurora scowled. "What do you mean?" She asked.

"Well, according to your contract you can't leave Vancouver for two months and if you want to go to Churchill you have to take Liam's permission and I don't think it will be difficult for you."

Aurora ignored his jab and nodded. "Thank you, Mr Rawls, I will ask Liam's permission."

"Oh, but he didn't come to the office today. So I guess you have to wait till tomorrow," he said with a mocking smirk on his face.

Aurora sighed at his attempts to provoke her but once again she ignored him, smiled and walked out of his cabin.

Should I Call him?

She tapped her foot rapidly on the floor while thinking and decided that she should wait till tomorrow. She knew it wouldn't be easy to get permission from him.

In the evening when she and her friends were going home, Susan spoke. "Do you guys want a club night tonight?"

Emily rolled her eyes and looked out the window. Aurora agreed immediately. "Why not?"

Suddenly, Susan stopped the car and glanced at Aurora. "We will go there but you will not touch a single drop of liquor or so help me god, Aurora I will make you diet the whole month."

Aurora raised her hands in surrender, "alright, don't get your panties in a bunch. I won't drink alcohol."

Susan started the car once again and upon reaching home they all dressed up for a fascinating club night.