Chapter 6. That Day: Eric

It was supposed to be a quick and easy distraction. Coming back to town after years away, my life had transformed. But returning to this place brought back a flood of memories and pressures I thought I had left behind. The stress of reconnecting with old faces, dealing with family expectations, and planning an engagement party had been suffocating.

After a tense meeting at the family estate, I needed a break. I wandered through the old part of town, reminiscing. I found myself near the bakery where I used to buy pastries as a kid. A simple comfort, I thought. As I stepped inside, the aroma brought a fleeting sense of calm.

That's when I bumped into her-a woman with a mischievous smile and a bold proposition. It was reckless, impulsive, and exactly the distraction I needed. The alley seemed private enough or so I thought.

But as I lost myself in the heat of the moment, a flicker of movement caught my eye. I turned my head to the side and caught a glimpse of a girl. For a split second, our gazes locked before she turned away, her eyes wide with shock. Just as quickly, she hurried off.

I didn't care, instead, I doubled down, quickening my pace.

*****

I stopped the car at an old, abandoned library. Why the hell did Sophie bring me here? The place looked like it hadn't seen a renovation in decades.

"Wait here," Sophie said. "My friend works here."

"Oh, so it's not abandoned. Do people even come here?" I asked.

"I want you to meet her. She'll be happy," she said, smiling at me, completely ignoring what I just said.

"Okay, make it fast," I replied, forcing a smile back. I wasn't in the mood to meet anyone. I was tired.

"Be nice to her, okay? She's broken and scared of people," she explained, looking down, her expression sad, as if guilty of something. I had a feeling she was hiding something, but whatever. I didn't care. It wasn't significant. I just stared ahead.

"Let's make it quick," I urged.

"Okay," she replied as she got out of the car, but her phone started ringing. Here we go, fuck. Now she'll be on that call for hours. She excused herself to take it.

I slouched in the driver's seat of my car, my eyes scanning the surroundings of the old library. The place had an air of decay, the windows clouded with dust. It was the perfect spot for a low-key meeting, away from prying eyes.

Then I saw her.

A girl emerged from the library. She walked with an air of arrogance, and my attention snapped to her. Average-looking, nothing special.

Her posture was too proud, chin held too high, arms crossed, tapping her foot as she waited. There was something about her that irked me, something that reminded me of the arrogance I so despised, the same arrogance I often found in men in my line of work.

I stared at her for no reason, just bored. Why did she look familiar?

Her eyes darted around as she stood, and then her gaze locked on me.

She caught me looking at her. She gave me a once-over, her eyes narrowing, and one side of her lips curled up in contempt. I was stunned, and then I felt a jolt of irritation.

I watched as she turned away, dismissing me like I was beneath her notice. The audacity of this bitch. My hand clenched into a fist at my side.

On top of that, what happened next shocked me.

Sophie appeared next to her, gesturing towards the car, probably explaining that she wanted her to meet me. I could see the realization dawning on her face. She finally understood who I was. The girl, no, the bitch's expression changed. She looked horrified, and for a moment, the arrogance slipped.

I saw Sophie take her hand, trying to drag her towards me, but she yanked her hand back, making Sophie's excitement and smile falter.

She shook her head and fled back inside the library.

I frowned, watching her retreat. What was that all about? Why was Sophie putting up with someone with such a terrible attitude? More importantly, why did I have to deal with her? Why was she trying to convince this girl? Was I doing the right thing by marrying Sophie? She was strange, and she had strange friends.

Sophie finally made her way back to the car, looking a bit flustered. She opened the door and sat down beside me, her smile a little forced.

"Um, sorry, she's shy and nervous."

Shy or proud? I thought to myself. The girl's attitude had rubbed me the wrong way. People like that—arrogant for no reason—really got under my skin. I hated it. I started the car, eager to leave this place and the encounter behind.

As we drove away, I couldn't shake the feeling that I had seen her somewhere before, but I couldn't place her. The way she looked at me, the shock in her eyes—it was all too familiar. But it didn't matter. I had more important things to focus on than some prideful bitch with a bad attitude.

*****