3:00 A.M.

Special Chapter 1

I hated wind that comes with rain because it always reminded me of sad songs, of empty cups, of smiling goodbyes, of flowerless plants, of starless skies. That's exactly what I'm facing at the moment and yet instead of cursing Zeus or whoever it is hiding behind those clouds, I was grinning like some lunatic.

This was the day when Dave is going to tell me the result of my presentation which was long overdue.

I entered the building with a permanent smile plastered on my face and the people gave me the same positive, genuine smiles.

They've literally been angels around me. Even the rumors that circulated me were all sympathetically inclined towards me.

Apparently, the McKinleys forced me into an engagement I didn't want and that oh-so-handsome, drool-worthy Lucasinto Roscoe had to save me to prove our love. I also was so poor because my family had suffered for years from the evil and most cruel curse of a man, Mr. Owen McKinley.

I don't know where they got those information. It disturbed me at first especially because they quite get most information wrong but because it's not in my control and everytime I try to explain, they always somehow make another version of it. However, the ending's always the same - Mr. Owen is a bad man and nobody knows Auberon is my brother.

They also treated me specially because you get supportive workmates when you catch a bullet.

Almost a month and two weeks had passed after the whole Mr. Owen's conviction incident.

I was now standing together with the other employees who are waiting for the elevator when my phone rang.

I know some people were glancing at me but I didn't hide the smile that slowly made its way on my lips.

"You're becoming too obsessed with me, Mr. Roscoe." I teased.

A manly velvety voice that could make any girl's knees buckle came through from the phone.

"Only because you're the only one greater than Espresso in this world. Your scent is quite more addicting also I must say. Did you change your perfume?"

He's purposely using his raspy rocker's singing voice. He doesn't usually sounds like this on normal conversations.

I grinned and bit my lower lip before speaking back in a lower tone, almost a whisper.

"Are you trying to seduce me right now?" I teased before I thought about it.

"Wait, how do you know about my perfume?" I asked, my brows knitting.
I heard him release a deep chuckle before saying, "Turn around."

I did and to my surprise he was standing a few steps behind me. His hands were covering his mouth and phone so that I won't be able to hear him speak behind me.

That was why his voice sound muffled.

My smile grew bigger and before I knew it, my feet drag me towards him and I flung my arms around him.

"I thought you were already in London." I said through his coat.

He was going there this morning and told me he'd be coming home next week but now he's actually in front of me.

He laughed lightly.

"My flight was delayed and we're wrapping up the project today right?"

I pulled back and only remembered it now.

LaVida was going to feature Roscoe Fortune on its next issue which was supposedly last month but because of the whole family crisis, it kept being postponed and now we're finally printing it. Only I didn't incorporated it in my schedule and forgot about it.