The stranger
Lotus’ P. O. V
I woke up to a searing headache, the remnants of a night spent drowning my sorrows in alcohol. Every sip was an attempt to forget the pain I had felt the night before, but of course, it had only made things worse. I looked at myself, and from the stench that filled the room, I guess I was still in the bar but in a private room. Looking around me, I wondered how I got here. The interior of the room looked really expensive, and it’s only someone well-to-do who can afford this for a stranger.
I pulled myself out of bed, and I surveyed the room, looking for any sign to point out who had helped me. The last thing I remember was dancing like a drunken lunatic on the stage last night, then a hand wrapped around my waist, pulling me away from the crowd before I blacked out. I could swear that I got a whiff of his scent, but he was too cold to save me from my disgrace. Even if he saw me, he would probably hate me more.
I looked around the corridors to be sure no one was lurking around who could recognize my identity. I slipped past everyone and made my way home. Checking the time, I was late for work again. This time I couldn’t lose on both ends, my marriage was failing, and now I can’t let my business fall down the drain as well.
As I got ready for work, I couldn’t help but wonder how my personal life had become such a mess. I sighed, knowing that I couldn’t let my love life bring down my company. This was my baby, my architectural firm, and I couldn’t afford to let it suffer because of my own foolish mistakes. Yes, lately, j have considered my decision to bring Peter into my life as a mistake. I shouldn’t have accepted him as my husband. Well, I couldn’t put the blame totally on myself. I was so blindly in love with him. Even now, I was still longing for his touch, irrespective of how he pushed me away consistently.Nôvel(D)rama.Org's content.
Once at the office, I tried to bury myself at work, hoping the dull ache in my head would eventually fade away. But as the hours dragged on, the pain seemed to intensify. I ordered Sarah to get me a coffee and some painkillers to relieve the headache.
“Thank you, Sarah.” I mouthed softly as she handed me the cup filled with hot brown liquid. Taking the painkillers seemed to reduce my tension a bit, and I found myself slowly breathing in the cool air of my office.
It was then that I remembered I had a meeting with Elvis, a famous dealer who was introduced to me by Peter. Was it right to meet Elvis at this time?
Elvis walked into my office, his eyes filled with sympathy but his lips sealed tight. We dove into the deals we needed to sign, discussing the intricacies of each project pertaining to the growth of my company. As we worked together, the familiarity of our partnership gave me a strange comfort, even in the midst of my turmoil.
Finally, when all the papers were signed, and the meeting had come to an end, Elvis placed a hand on my shoulder and looked at me intensely. “Lotus, don’t give up on Peter. I know things seem tough right now, but true love is worth fighting for.”
I could feel the anger bubbling up inside me as he let those words hang in the air. How dare he tell me what to do? How could he possibly understand the pain I was going through? I clenched my fists, trying to conceal my frustration. “Elvis, you have no idea what I’m going through. I can’t keep holding on to something that’s already slipped through my fingers,” I replied, my voice trembling. He truly didn’t know what I was going through. I don’t want to be apart from Peter. But the fact that he is going all out to ignore me is something that pisses me off.
Elvis sighed, his gaze unwavering. “I may not understand exactly what you’re feeling, but I’ve seen the way Peter looks at you. There’s love there, Lotus. Don’t turn away from it so easily.”
“I am not turning away easily, Elvis! He doesn’t value me. That’s why he thinks he can do whatever he likes and ignore me whenever he can.” I said, the pain filling my chest. It was a painful truth I didn’t want to accept now.
“Things might not be the way they seem,” he said.
With those final words, Elvis left my office, leaving me alone with my anger and confusion.
My thoughts flashed back to yesterday and how he might have been the one who saved me from my shame on the dancing floor.
FLASHBACK
I couldn’t bear to face the reality of my crumbling relationship, so I decided to seek solace in the one place that had always brought me temporary relief – a bar. I called up Stanley, telling him I wouldn’t be around for the night. I also urged him to inform Natasha of my whereabouts.
I found myself in a dimly lit watering hole, the air thick with smoke and the sound of laughter. I made sure to wear a mask, figuratively and literally, desperate to avoid any recognition from the public eye. I needed this night to be just about me, where I could drown out my pain with the intoxicating effects of alcohol.
As I began to dance among the crowd, trying to lose myself in the rhythm, I felt a hand on my arm. Startled, I turned to see a complete stranger, his face hidden behind a mask like my own. Without a word, he pulled me away from the crowd, dragging me towards a secluded corner.
Confusion and fear mingled within me, but before I could protest, my world went black.