When Love & Hate Collide [Completed]

Chapter 83 - Surprise, Surprise!

I would be lying if I said I wasn't hoping him to be the man who mattered the most but I was in for a rude shock. For the man in front was not Norberto. Instead he was someone I was hoping to never lay my eyes upon.

"Wow! What a surprise! Is that really you Melanie?"

My shock was too intense to lend me any voice and I stared back instead of answering him.

"Well I must say it's a small world to be meeting you here, of all the places! I would have never imagined of seeing you again after you disappeared from Paris and the entire fashion space. That was quite a shocker, not just for me but for everyone. I know we had not parted on best of the terms but believe me it was really a dampener to lose such a talented artist."

I still did not answer. Part of it was because of my lack of interest to be having a conversation with the man, the other part was because I was still not sure of my throat capable of forming coherent words. After all, one doesn't expect one's past to come walking right back into one's life. But with me, it seems to be happening again.

"Melanie? Melanie? Do you hear me?" He asked coming closer and I was immediately woken out of my inaction.

"Uhmm.. yes... yes... I do. And that's kind of you to say, Chris. I was just a little too shocked seeing you here," I replied with difficulty still trying to figure out what was happening.

"Well I am surprise too but it's a pleasant surprise indeed. It has been years but you haven't changed a bit. If you were to walk the ramp right now, no one would remember the years you haven't been around in between," he said appreciatively as his eyes roved over my body from head to toe.

It was meant to be a compliment or so I would like to tell myself but cringe inducing feeling ran over with as his eyes travelled all over my body. He hadn't changed much either. He was still surprisingly super handsome for his age as well as super shrewd to be wasting his time in a small town of nowhere.

How did he land up here? Is my life up to springing another surprise on me? I wondered even as I kept a blank face, not wanting him to know any of my apprehensions.

"You are your usual charming self as well," I forced through my lips, putting up a smile that I was sure wouldn't have reflected in my eyes.

"It was surprise meeting you here but I was in a hurry actually. So, if you will please excuse me," I added quickly desperate to get away from him as soon as possible. It was too much of a coincidence to expect him to have landed here without any pre-cursor or agenda. Curious though I was to find out what exactly he was doing here, I was more worried about what he would find if I stayed back any longer. Given our history together, it wouldn't be surprising for the discussion to turn to Norberto sooner or later and it would be absolutely impossible to feign ignorance about Norberto current whereabouts. Couple of months back I would have done without being conscious because it would have been the truth but not anymore. And I didn't want to be answering to any of the questions related to Norberto, least I gave away my updated status of being married to Norberto. And then there was this question of Raul's identity. If things got out of control, before I could blink my past and my present would be spread all over the world being served best cold and calculated by my dear friends in the media whom Chris carried in his pockets.

Chris on the other hand appeared completely at ease as if he had all the time in this world. "Oh yes, yes. I understand. But it would be such a shame to just carry on. Why don't I drop you where you are headed and you can fill me up with what all happening in your life ever since we separated, ha ha ha ha!"

"I know, I know. We were never in a real relationship to start with to be separated but an old man can delude himself, especially when she comes packaged like you!" He added slyly but his hollow and creepy praise did nothing to warm my heart. If anything, it further strengthened my resolve to get as far away from him as possible.