BILLIONAIRE'S UNINTENDED BRIDE

Chapter 18: Whispers of What-Ifs

Chapter 18: Whispers of What-Ifs

Saturday morning arrived, brushing away the remnants of the night before, yet the emotions lingered, swirling in the corners of my mind. I decided to take refuge in the comfort of my apartment, away from the world, away from Luke. My TV flicked to life, the colorful images from Netflix dancing across the screen, but my mind was elsewhere. I kept replaying the scenes from last night, Luke's words echoing in the silence of my apartment. "Mistake," that word seemed to have formed a cold, steel wall between what could have been. I wished I had the courage to tell him how he made my heart race, how despite his sometimes abrasive demeanor, there was an attraction I couldn't shake off. Each scene from last night played in my head like a movie, each word he said was a script I had inadvertently memorized.

But life was knocking on my door, demanding my attention. The upcoming trip to Brazil beckoned. I had to shake myself out of this reverie and focus on packing. The thought of meeting my best friends Sophia and Sarah, attending Ashley's fairy-tale wedding, and celebrating my 25th birthday amidst the euphoria of Rio's Carnival Parade did manage to bring a smile to my face. I began to pack, folding each clothing item neatly and tucking them into my suitcase.

Sophia had taken upon herself to design all our costumes for the parade. The picture of the costume she sent me was nothing short of stunning-a white rhinestone crop top paired with a fringe mini skirt that seemed to hug every curve. The pièce de résistance, however, was the huge angel wings that were to accompany the costume.

I remember her words as if she said them yesterday, "Emily, if you mess up these wings, I swear I am going to kick your ass!" She had laughed heartily but I knew she was half-serious. According to her, among the three of us, I was the 'angelic' one, Sophia the 'wild' one and Sarah the 'serene' one. The concept reflected in our costumes. With her words echoing in my ears, I gingerly packed the angel wings in a large box, cushioning it with layers of bubble wrap to ensure they remained intact.

Then, I carefully folded the white rhinestone crop top and the fringe mini skirt, placing them delicately atop the other clothes in my suitcase, ensuring they were well-protected and free from any potential damage. Each fold, each placement was done with a mix of excitement and care, the anticipation of the parade mingling with the desire to preserve the beautiful costume Sophia had crafted so meticulously.

As I went about packing, my mind kept floating back to Luke. The way his eyes searched mine, the warmth of his touch still lingered on my skin. "It's not how I should act towards my employees," his words stung, creating a chasm between my hopes and reality.

I sighed deeply, trying to shove away the thoughts that threatened to drown me in a whirlpool of 'what ifs'.The promise of the adventure that awaited me in Brazil was a sweet distraction.

The thought of dancing through the streets of Rio with my best friends, the rhythm of drums resonating with the beats of my heart, brought a flutter of excitement. I zipped up my suitcase, a silent promise to myself to live in the moment and leave behind the bittersweet memories that threatened to cloud the joy that awaited me.

Brazil, with its promise of laughter, dance, and the infectious camaraderie of my friends, was the balm I desperately needed to heal the wounds of unspoken words and unexplored feelings.