A Step Closer to Love

Now it is Arabella’s turn to stare at Kieran. She has expressed herself to him even though she did not want to and then he went ahead to make her even more pissed.

“Why would you do that?” she asked her voice dangerously low.

“Well I did not mean to offend her,” Kieran said.

“But you did and now I have to suffer for it,” Arabella said.

“What was I supposed to do? She suddenly asked me to marry her”

“And I was used as a scapegoat for your escape from marriage?” Arabella asked.

She felt betrayed by this man. She may not be close to him or know him that well but his actions just showed how unreliable he might be. She was not even interested in him and she would be getting bullied for the rest of her stay at that office.

‘Should I go and work somewhere else?’ Arabella thought. Her subconscious mind that loved books shouted in response ‘And miss the chance of meeting and working with Michelle Michigan?’

“How could you be so careless?” Arabella screamed. The sound of her voice shocked her too. She could not believe she just screamed at this man.

“You just made my work life hell. Why do I have to repeat high school all over again now that I get to work?” She said with a groan.

The statement she made sank into Kieran’s mind. Was she perhaps bullied? Was she an outcast in her high school? Did he make her live her high school life again? What had he just done?

Arabella packed up her thongs from the table and made her way to her room. Maybe she should pack up and leave the house and make her way back to Japan. She would be safe there. She did not want to go back to the trauma she felt during high school.

Kieran stood still in the living room contemplating what he had just done. Should he call Aurora and make peace with her? Was that why she was extra sensitive about getting bullied when she spoke to him about it that afternoon?

“Oh my gosh, Kieran you scared me,” Everly said when she saw her son standing there like some statue.

“What are you doing home so early? Arabella told me you had a date with Aurora are you finally going to date her?” Everly asked.

“Why should I date her if I don’t like her?” Kieran found himself blurting.

He wanted to right the wrong and call Aurora. He wanted to beg her and tell her he would date her but he couldn’t find himself to do it. Not only did he not like Aurora as a woman she always reminded him of his harsh past with Kim.

There was no way he would let go of himself at this moment. He would advise Ryder to give Aurora a compulsory six months off and then by the time she was back she would have let go of her hate directed towards Arabella.

She mentally pats himself for coming up with the idea. Since the inception of the business she had been working tirelessly and now she deserved a break. There was no way Ryder would refuse.

“Thanks, Mom,” he said patting her shoulders as he jogged towards the stairs.

“Hello Mom,” Arabella said over the phone.

She had decided before now that she would put up with whatever Aurora threw her way. Now that she was angry at Kieran she was sure all the pent up aggression would be coming her way.

She would blame her even if she was not at all. The bullying would get worse and might even get physical. Aurora looked much more heavier and healthier than her so there was the probability that if they got into combat she would lose.

“Why does your voice sound like that?” Ava asked as soon as she heard her daughter’s voice.

Ava had been in her children’s space continuously for fourteen years. She could tell by her voice that something was wrong.

“My voice? Nothing. Maybe it’s the stress?” Arabella said asking.

“Are you asking me?” Ava asked her back.

“No Mom, I am not asking I am telling it just sounded like a question” she quickly defended.

“So what is wrong with you? Don’t say anything as usual but just tell me the whole truth” Ava asked.

“Why would you assume that something is wrong?” Arabella asked trying to sound brighter than usual.

“Because I know you and I know you are currently forcing your voice to be cherry so that I don’t worry,” Ava said.

“But you know what? I am your mom to worry about. That’s what parents do. They worry over their kids even when they are old and big enough to take care of themselves” Ava added.

“Mom I’m fine sincerely” Arabella lied.

“Ara, don’t make me call Everly to ask her what is going on. Just tell me. A problem shared is half solved. I might give cool advice” Ava said trying her best to convince her daughter.

“Ughh Mom” Arabella let out seeing that she was already losing. She would have to tell her mom so she doesn’t worry Everly too.

“There is this woman at work who likes our boss and I hear she bullies everyone who our boss talks to or favors” Arabella let out.

She decided to leave out the part where the boss is her flatmate and she was currently squatting in his house.

“Which boss? Kieran? Everly’s son?” Ava asked.

So her mom knew already. She has probably heard from Everly that they were working in the same company and that Kieran was the boss.

“You know people never change. Everly still bragged about her son and his achievement to me which is why I came to know that you work together” Ava said.

“I thought by now she would be tired of all the bragging” Ava added.

“Mom focus. I am being bullied again”

The word again brought back memories of what Arabella suffered in high school. She has to change school but was still bullied for being a bookworm and having a tiny figure.

“Can I come home, Mom?” Arabella’s question cut Ava’s train of thought.Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

“Why?”

“Mom I do not want to be bullied again”