Beautiful Dreamer

13. Top To Bottom

"You can't be serious, Ari! Quitting on such short notice?"

"Stop shouting; you're giving me a migraine."

"Will you please stop acting as if this isn't a big deal? Get out of the couch and put some clothes on!"

Ari laughed, then stood up. She loved how liberated she felt after freeing herself from an eight-year employment. She'd been planning to resign but hadn't gotten the right push yet. When Ned proposed, that was all the confirmation she needed to be ready to face the next chapter of her life. "Mun, I'm in my lazy, comfortable outfit. Why do I need to change when I'm not going anywhere?"

"You're going back to your office, that's what!"

"It can't be helped. My resignation has been made official, and I've also received my severance pay."

"You're exasperating!" Mun exclaimed and rushed to the kitchen. He gulped down a glass of water in a rush, his eyes on Ari, who stood at the centre of the living room with her arms crossed on her chest, and a confident smile on her face. "You could have given me a heads up Ari. I thought we tell each other everything."

"Didn't you read my handover? I left everything well organised for our upcoming appointments in the next quarter. It was all on your desk since you are more likely to be made the sitting manager."

"I don't want to be in management, Ari. That's your thing."

Shrugging her shoulders, Ari replied. "I can't retract my resignation, nor do I want to. Besides, I believe Rey told you all about it, and please do not think he has something to do with my decision."

"Of course, I'd think that, and now I owe him an apology for calling him out! I sincerely thought he was involved in this nonsensical resignation, and what the heck, Ari! Couldn't you at least serve a notice period? You're the one who is always conscientious about not giving up your job for a relationship. Were those empty words? Even if that guy is rich, you can't depend on his mulla! What are you going to be doing anyway? Stay at home all day getting pampered? What about this house... Our home...!"

Ari was enjoying the sight of her livid friend. "Remember that leave you've been begging me to take? Well, I need to relax my brain and live a little."

Mun shook his head, poured himself another glass of water and murmured, "You are serious about this...about that client?"

"We made it official a couple of days ago. Rey was a witness to it, surprisingly. I was expecting him to lash out like usual, but he sat quietly and listened to Ned give out his long, affectionate speech."

"You don't find that oddly strange?"

Walking to the kitchen, Ari poured herself some water but didn't sip it yet. Instead, she kept on swirling it for a while, then chuckled. "I felt like I was being given away or something of the sort. If anything, Ned should have been asking you for consent for my hand, but it appeared he wanted to ask for Rey's permission instead. Funny is, Rey never objected. I wasn't expecting him to, but at least some reaction. He wasn't disgusted either, from my point of view. I wished he were; at least I would have read his mind."

"You still like him, don't you?"

"I admit I have lingering feelings for him."

"Don't do that, Ari. Nope." Mun shook his finger just inches away from his friend's face, to which Ari grabbed it and began laughing.

"Its done."

"You couldn't even properly greet the guy when you met him again. Lingering feelings, my ass! Lie to someone else but not me."

"I never said I was over him. Either way, I have to move on."

"Explain to me why you'd involve yourself with an aristocrat. He has been all over the news lately after receiving numerous philanthropic awards. Do you think you two can hide your relationship from the media? Wake up, Ari. Rey was able to catch you two in just a matter of days. What will happen when juicy intel about him being a sex maniac is leaked to the public? For all I know, his staff already knows of his partners; they could have been sworn to secrecy, but the media isn't."

"I'm tired of being afraid of dating. I've never been in a serious relationship, yet somehow, I was always entangled with someone. It's suffocating Mun. Perhaps I've been rebelling within myself."

"This is a different matter, Ari. The person you accepted has power, money, and a reputation to keep. You know our society is not accepting of promiscuity and rumors travel fast. Rey is an example of what the majority think and believe."

"Then what would you have me do? Should I continue hiding? Do I deny myself happiness just because the one who likes me is an aristocrat? Or do I wait for an immature uptight intern to want me back? Mun, the odds are against people like me from the start. Older, tomboy, heck I don't even give a crap if I look attractive. My life is my career! I have zero hobbies and a past that haunts me to date! I'd do anything to get a contract! So what if I get found out? I'll be exposed one way or another. People love juicy stories anyway, so why not give them one?"

"But Ari..."

 "I often notice you nagging me about not being picky with guys or being too much of a workaholic. I've quit my job, and you want me to return. I'm finally dating; you nag me yet again."

"That's not the point I'm making here. Besides, no one can fault you for a past you left long ago. If anything, I'm still basking in it. Our industry is just that ugly, especially for women." 

"I'll miss the office, that's for sure, but I need a break after eight years of blood, sweat and tears I gave to the employment industry. It's time I thought about myself, too, and prioritised the things I like doing. While at it, I'm also choosing to let bygones be bygones. I may never fully get over Rey, but at least I dare to stop holding onto something that will never be. Perhaps, given the time, I will forget him and start loving Ned instead."

"No, Ari." Mun continued to shake his head. "That guy is just too good to be true. He has been a client for many years, then one day, he comes and confesses to you, and you accept him just like that? I haven't even given you away yet, Ari, which is my right and not Rey's!"

"Well, giving me away shouldn't bother you so much. I'm more concerned about him accepting to be dominated."

"You really haven't changed have you?"

"No. Ned seems to think a stereotypical role, but there's no rush. I shall clarify that in due time."

Ari and Mun stared at each other silently, then burst out laughing. "How did we get to this topic?"

"Do I know?" Mun replied, almost choking from laughter. "I seriously need to get laid, too. That last project we did took my social life away."

"Don't you get laid like every day?"

"Not lately, with you throwing bombshell news at me all the time. I'm tired of cheering after you. On a serious note, though, you wasted my time with Rey. I befriended that kid and even thought of enlightening him about handling a dominant woman."

"I think Ned executed that part exceptionally. I don't know how and why, but the guy stopped shooting daggers at me. He even congratulated me after offering a genuine apology. I'm still baffled by his rare kind gesture."

"I'd like to know, though. Considering his physique, stereotypes and terrible personality, I don't think Rey is a beta."

"Neither do I."

"Wait a minute... You already fantasised about this, didn't you?"

"A zillion times."

"Which means you've considered the impossible?"

When Ari smiled, Mun's jaw dropped. "We'll I'll be dammed. You considered submitting? You?"

"A woman will submit to the right man."

"A first fantasy submission. Omega, is it? You did love this guy, didn't you, Ari?"

"You have no idea."