Vengeful Echoes

chapter 3

Leah's pov-

As we enter The Campbell Bar, the vibrant melodies engulf my senses, and the rhythmic beats pulse through my ears. The rich aroma of whisky lingers in the air, creating an inviting atmosphere. I glance around and spot people gracefully swaying on the dance floor, lost in the music's rhythm.

I look at Elena, the vibrant lights of the bar section catch my attention, prompting me to suggest, "Let's head over there." Elena meets my gaze with a pitiful expression and asks, "Can I go and dance?" .This girl . ..I let out a sigh, trying to remain composed, and gently respond, "We're not here to party, Elle." Despite her disappointment, I maintain a calm demeanor and proceed towards the bar.

Elena is typically serious and composed during work, but whenever she encounters a party with drinks and attractive guys, she undergoes a complete transformation. Her usual restraint disappears, and she simply can't resist letting loose and embracing the lively atmosphere around her. The allure of a fun-filled gathering proves too irresistible for her to control herself.
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I took a seat at the bar, and Elena followed suit, sitting beside me. "Two whiskies, please," I said to the busy bartender, who was attending to other customers. "Make one without ice," I added.

He looked at me and replied, "On the way, miss." Then, he got busy making the drinks.

While I scanned the bar, my eyes caught sight of Xavier standing across the dance floor near the hallway. His extravagant jewelry made him stand out, as he always liked to flaunt his wealth. . He was standing with man in his 40s who was dressed like a businessman . Asher i thought to myself . I can recognize him in a glance , after all I knew him very well ....

" Here's your drinks, miss " the bartender said while serving us our drinks . I take a sip , still looking at Xavier . He was handing a file to Asher and whispered something . I look at Elena who was enjoying her drink and said , a smirk growing in my face " Get to work , Elle"

She turned towards me , excitement clearly visible in her doe green eyes . She gets up from her seat elegantly , her black dress swaying and walks towards the hallway , making a dramatic sound with her heels . She stopped at a 5 foot distance from Xavier and i saw heaving of her shoulders.

She must be getting into the character .

One

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Three

And she accidentally bumped into Xavier. Sorry , she made it look accidental.

Xavier, feeling a jolt as someone collided into him, turned around with surprise to find a girl standing there, her eyes widening in feigned surprise. Despite the definite intentionality behind her actions, she managed to mask it well, making it look like a mere accident.

Whoa, sorry about that!" she exclaimed, flashing him a wide, innocent smile. "I wasn't watching where I was going."

Xavier, slightly taken aback by the unexpected encounter, couldn't help but crack a smile in response. "No worries," he replied, his tone laced with amusement. "Just caught me off guard there." I found Asher looking at her with merely no expression visible

With a subtle glimmer of mischief in her eyes, Elle extended a hand towards him. "I'm Elena," she introduced herself, holding back a mischievous giggle. "I guess I owe you an apology for the collison"
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A chuckle escaped my lips, thoroughly amused by the dramatic scene unfolding before me, I took a sip of my whiskey and turned around to face the bar.

She can handle it well....

"Leah, what a coincidence!" I heard a voice behind me. I turned around and saw the person talking. His gray eyes sparkled as he smiled at me. His messy hair had that I-just-woke-up look, but it suited him well and really good muscled arms ...

I was surprised to see him here. "Ethan, really a coincidence. What are you doing here?" I asked him, and then I passed him a glass of whiskey while he took a seat beside me

"Oh, I'm here to meet a friend," Ethan says, his voice tinged with anticipation as he delicately takes hold of the whiskey glass. "It's been such a long time since we last saw each other," he adds, his words laced with nostalgia, as he takes a sip of the whiskey.

"Indeed, it surely has. Three whole years have passed since you graduated from college,"I nod and say and Ethan remarks, a mixture of awe and realization playing on his face.
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His phone rang and he immediately picked it up. "You're here, okay. Just come inside," I heard him say to the person on the other side of the call. He ended the call and looked towards the entrance, still holding the whiskey glass in his hands.

Curiosity beckoned me to also glance towards the entrance.
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Five seconds later, the door opened, revealing a sight that sent shivers down my spine. There he stood, a man in a white button-down shirt with rolled-up sleeves, looking as handsome as ever. As he looked at me with his blue eyes ,a flood of memories rushed back, memories I thought I had buried deep within me.

How is he here? Why am i here? Why does this has to happen ?

I questioned silently, unable to grasp the sudden appearance of someone who had once meant so much.

As I sat there, my heart in turmoil, the overwhelming desire to flee consumed me. The memories and emotions were too intense to bear, and I wanted nothing more than to escape the situation unfolding before me. I felt a growing sense of unease as he drew nearer with that familiar smile, unaware of the internal struggle I was facing.

No no no I can't run , he doesn't remember me, yes I can't run

Leah , you are not a coward....

End

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