Intertwined: Invisible Strings

Chapter Eight

I nodded, remembering how I reminded her this morning about agreeing to go out with him. I couldn't help but feel a jolt of happiness rising in the pits of my stomach. Aishna deserves all of the happiness in the world.

"Well, I went on a date with him," Aishna said, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "We went to see a movie, and it was... really nice. He's a great guy, Rubiya."

I felt a rush of happiness for Aishna. She deserved to find someone who treated her well and made her happy. "That's wonderful, Aish. I'm so happy for you," I said, pulling her into a hug.

"Thanks, Rubiya. I'm happy for you too, despite the drama," Aishna replied, returning the hug. "I think we both deserve a little bit of happiness in our lives, don't you think?"

I smiled, feeling grateful for having Aishna as my best friend. "Definitely. And who knows, maybe things will start looking up for both of us from now on."

With that, we settled back on the couch, sharing stories and laughter late into the night, grateful for each other's company and the bond that held us together through thick and thin. I fell asleep slightly dreading the events of tomorrow and as well pondering immensely on the thought of what Alaric could possibly want from me.

The next morning, I arrived at the office feeling a mix of anticipation and apprehension. I couldn't shake the events of the previous evening from my mind, especially Alaric's unexpected appearance at the restaurant. As I settled into my desk, I tried to focus on my work, but my thoughts kept drifting back to him.

I was engrossed in drafting a legal document when a knock on the office door startled me. Looking up, I saw Alaric standing in the doorway, his expression unreadable. I tensed, unsure of what to expect after our heated exchange last night. As usual he was dressed in his designer suit and expensive watches with his dark eyes carefully observing as he was deep in thought.

"Rubiya, may I come in?" Alaric's voice was calm, but there was an underlying tension in the air.

"Of course, it is your law firm," I replied, gesturing for him to take a seat. He entered and closed the door behind him, his gaze never leaving mine.

"I wanted to talk to you about last night," Alaric began, his tone serious. "I apologize for my behaviour. It was unprofessional and uncalled for."

I was absolutely taken aback by his apology. I had expected him to be his usual arrogant self, but here he was, admitting fault and showing a vulnerability I had never seen before. Too stunned to speak is what I was feeling, THE Alaric Vanderfield was apologizing to me and he genuinely seemed to mean it. Did I wake up in an alternate universe?

"I also wanted to apologize for interrupting your date," he continued, his gaze softening slightly. "I had no right to intrude on your personal life."

I nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over me, I was so sure that the office would've erupted in chaos as we're both hot headed individuals. "Apology accepted, Alaric. I understand that you were just looking out for me and I appreciate your honesty." I could almost congratulate myself for being professional and civil instead of snarky for once.

Alaric's expression softened, and for a moment, I saw a flicker of something in his eyes—regret, perhaps, or maybe even gratitude. "Thank you, Rubiya. I appreciate your understanding."

We sat in silence for a moment, the tension between us easing slightly. Despite our rocky start, I couldn't deny that there was a mutual respect between us, a recognition of each other's strengths and weaknesses.

"I also wanted to discuss what I mentioned last night," Alaric said, breaking the silence. "About you repaying me."

I nodded, curious to hear what he had in mind, that very thought plagued me since the moment it escaped his lips, I swear I dreamed all about it last night as well, I couldn't stand the anticipation any longer. "Yes, what did you have in mind?"

Alaric leaned forward, his gaze intense as he bit his bottom lip, seeing him do that sent tingles up my spine...I didn't know what I felt for him yet but I definitely respected him a bit more now. "I need your help with a case. It's a complex matter, and I believe your skills would be invaluable."

I felt a surge of excitement at the prospect of working closely with Alaric on a case. Despite our differences, I admired his legal expertise and knew that I could learn a lot from him.

"I would be honored to help, Alaric," I said, smiling. "Just tell me what you need me to do."

"The case I need your help with belongs to Demi's father, Joseph Johnson," Alaric explained, and I felt a slight pang of jealousy at the mention of his girlfriend. I pushed the feeling aside, confused as to why I was feeling that way. I tried to push the feeling aside, telling myself it was irrational. After all, I had no reason to feel jealous. Alaric and I were colleagues, nothing more. But as he spoke about her, mentioning her name with such familiarity, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy.

"Mr. Johnson's eldest daughter is getting married, and we need to attend the wedding in order to help him with the case," Alaric continued. "I need you to accompany me to the wedding, which is out of the country."

I was taken aback by the request. Attending a wedding was the last thing on this planet that I wanted to do, especially considering I had recently received an invitation to Rohan's wedding. The thought of seeing him again filled me with a mix of emotions, none of which I wanted to deal with and the mere thought of attending another wedding would bring up all of my emotional baggage...and I didn't know if I was strong enough to deal with that. At least I would be engrossed in work.

"I understand it's short notice, but we leave tomorrow night," Alaric added, his tone matter-of-fact. "Where we're going isn't your concern, just pack your bags and be prepared."

I was about to object, but then I remembered how Alaric had taken care of me while I was sick. I felt obligated to repay his favour, even if it meant attending a wedding I had no desire to be a part of.

"Alright, I'll do it," I said reluctantly. "Can you tell me where we'll be going?"

Alaric's arrogance returned as he replied abruptly, "Where isn't your concern, just be ready. We leave tomorrow night." I rolled my eyes mentally, he could've told me where...it wasn't that hard, what is wrong with this man? With a sigh, I nodded, resigned to my fate.

I couldn't fathom what had just happened and god alone knew what this trip would have in store for me...I just hope I'm strong enough and career-focused that I don't let my emotions overwhelm me by mourning over the wedding festivities. Also...I'm praying that I can survive a business trip with this impertinent attorney of mine.