{unedited}
CHAPTER 1
Can I ask you why?
Why did you lead me on? Why did you say all those things to me, knowing they weren't true? Why did you make promises you knew you were going to break? Everything you did for me will never make up and excuse what you did to me.
Lily's POV
FOUR years ago
"I don't want to be with you anymore, don't you get it?" he spat on my face.
"But Dustin I....I.... I love you", "what about the two years we spent together? Don't they mean anything to you anymore?" I cried. "No. You worthless piece of shit. You are an ugly bitch" he told me. "The only thing you are concerned about is your brother's death. You are not the Lillian I first met or the one I loved." He knew that my brother's death was a sore subject for me. How dare he bring that up I thought. "You know I am better off with Caitlin," he said. That's when I saw Caitlin step out from behind him. I took a step back. "What! Caitlin?" I shouted. "How could you do this to me? You were suppose to stand by me and support me, you back stabbing bitch!" I accused. I was minutes away from slapping her face senseless. "What can I say? You couldn't take care of your man. I did that for you. Tsk.... Tsk... You should know even your boyfriend has needs." She replied. "Oh so you went behind my back and assumed you had to do all of that." I all but shouted at her. "Don't you dare shout at her, you bitch," Dustin roared. I could see the smug smile forming on her face. I turned my accusing glare towards my boyfriend. Oh my ex-boyfriend!! "How long has this been going on?" I pulled his collar and repeatedly smacked him. "Tell me you cheat, tell me!"
"A year" Caitlin replied. I gasped surprised. No this can't be true. I shook my head repeatedly to clear it. "A year! And now you tell me" I looked at them horrified and backed away. Dustin had an evil smile on his face which matched with Caitlin. "Go away from me. I don't want to see your face anymore. The both of you. Go to hell!" I shouted enraged. "Have a nice life!" Caitlin shouted behind her back as she retreated with Dustin hand in hand. Once they disappeared out of my sight I started sobbing. I could see in the nearby mirror that my eyes were all red and puffy. The best friend of mine in this world turned against me and became my enemy. The nearest and dearest to me, that person who I trusted with my happiness and my good name, became traitor to my faith. Could a dead frozen heart break? It felt like mine would. "Never again, will I give my heart to anyone. Never again!" I vowed.
FOUR YEARS LATER
"I now present you the new CEO of the Phoenix Company - Miss Lillian Phoenix" my father proudly announced to the company. I took a cursory glance at all the members present and found my mother at the VIP table. I put on a fake smile and greeted everyone. Once the ceremony was completed I ascended down the stage and sat down with my family. "Oh my dear baby girl, I am so proud of you!" my mother told me. "I am glad" I replied with a genuine smile. "Baby girl I hope that you run this company the way I did." My father said. "I have total faith in you baby girl. You have always made me proud," he continued. I had a big grin on my face. I wish I had made my brother proud the way my father was. He would have turned twenty year old this year. "But baby girl I worry about you." I could see the wrinkles forming on his forehead. "What is it dad that has you got so worried? Is something going on wrong with the company?" I questioned worried. I started wondering what possibly could have gone wrong with the company that hasn't been yet brought to my notice. " not the company baby girl," he started shaking his head slightly " nothing has gone wrong in it from the day you joined it and worked with you mighty professional attitude, like me," he stated joking, " it's about you."
"What can be possibly wrong with me?" I stated wondering "Unless I have started growing a second head which cannot be possibly seen by me," I added jokingly. "When are you going to find a nice young man and settle down?" daddy said in no nonsense tone. Immediately my fist clenched and my body tensed. "I don't need anyone daddy I am just fine on my own" I retorted. My father shook his head disapprovingly. " one of these days Lilly I am sure you are going to find the ONE destined for you and is going to love you for who you are and piece together all of those broken parts!" my mother piped up smiling. I rolled my eyes heavenwards and let out a sigh. No use telling them to stop now, I muttered in my head. I just hope that before he finds his way to me he gets stuck in a tree or falls down in a pit or something! I added. "Let her be Elena," my father told my mother. "Oh hush Darry! I just want to see her happy- and have many grandchildren" she added thoughtfully. I chocked on the juice I was drinking and glared at my mother. "What? I am not getting any younger" my mother replied. "Ugh! I can't take this anymore!" I stood up and started walking away from both of my parents. Once I left them I went in search for my best friend and my assistant Harmony. "Sometime you meet someone, and it's so clear that the two of you, on some level belong together. As lovers, or as friends, or as family, or as something entirely different. You just work, whether you understand one another or you're in love or partner in crime. You meet these people throughout life, out of nowhere, under the strangest circumstances, and they help you feel alive. I don't know if that makes me believe in coincidence, or fate, or sheer blind luck but it definitely makes me believe in something. It was the same way with Harmony. I met her in a coffee shop when we collided and spilled coffee all over both of us. But that story is for the other time. We were both totally opposite in nature. Where I was calm and collected and the reason of voice behind any stupid plan that was made, she was an energized bunny, bubbly and sparkling in nature. I used to be like her once. Not giving a damn in the world.... Stop! You cannot go there, stop right there. That was you years before, now you are not as innocent and naïve as you were then. I was so lost in my thought that before I knew I collided to a wall. I was about to fall down on the floor. I braced myself for the impact but it never came. Two solid warm pair of arms circled around my waist. I slowly opened my eyes to look at my savior only to be met with a well built solid chest. I scrunched my brows together in confusion. I could easily make out the solid built of his body. His expensive suit clung to his body like a glove. I slowly raised my head to look at the persons face and met with the most striking pair of cerulean blue eyes with a hint of coffee brown streaks around the irises. His forehead was covered with fringes of luminous black hair which he either forgot to gel back or purposefully left it the way like that, which gave him the aura of a bad boy. Holy Moses! Did he look amazing? I shook my head to clear out such errant thoughts. "Do I pass your test?" he questioned looking amused. JESUS.H.CHRIST, his voice was like honey dripping on a silk, so soft like a lullaby captivating a person like a siren and I couldn't help but feel lost.
