A Step Closer to Love

The name Kimberly was enough to get Kieran back to his seat. Why would Aurora go as far as mentioning her name?

“Why would you mention her name?” Kieran asked with gritted teeth.

“Because it seemed the reason you have refused to go on with me is because you are still waiting for her,” Aurora said.

Kimberly, Aurora, Ryder, and Kieran had been a famous group in school. Kieran and Kimberly started a relationship. They were later termed the campus couple and got separated very painfully.

The incident had left Kieran with a huge scar and he never wanted to let anyone in again. He knew that he would eventually have to get married because his mom would not leave him alone if he doesn’t but he wanted to push it as far back as he could. He had been pretty hurt badly by Kim.

They planned a life and future together. Everything about their relationship was perfect until Kim dropped the let us break up line on him.

“Don’t you ever think you can blackmail me into marrying you” Kieran whispered harshly.

Aurora felt her forehead creasing and her smile turning into a frown. She felt deeply insulted but couldn’t bring it out in words. She also felt like what she was doing was blackmailing.

“Do not ever think of mentioning Kimberly again. She is as good as dead to me” he continued in his harsh whisper.

He had not let go of the pain and it was so obvious. He was still hurting that the sound of her name made him feel worthless. Was he not good enough for her? Was he not trying enough? What was her reason for cutting him off? The fact that she never defended herself or gave a reason made Kieran hate her the more.

“I am sorry,” Aurora said when she saw the hard expression on his face.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“And also, I would be getting married in the distant future but not to you” Kieran added.

Aurora felt her heart drop. He did think about marriage but not to her. She was the one there for him when Kimberly did that to him. She was the one who comforted him. It was sad to think that he never for once saw her as a liable partner for himself.

“So don’t do this again” he added and then stood up. He walked a little to the entrance before turning back to the table they just sat.

When Aurora saw him come back she wanted to feel elated that he was coming back. Was it possible for him to have a change of heart in a few seconds?

“I would pick up the check so just have dinner here and then find your way home,” he said and then turned back to leave.

Aurora watched as Kieran walked back to the door. She had never been so seriously turned down before. Although she had not proposed before. It was all Arabella’s fault. She was going to pay for it

“Is it because of Arabella?” she screamed after him standing up.

Kieran stopped in his track and turned back to face her. Both of them stared at each other dead in the eyes.

“You are being extremely weird,” Kieran said looking back at her.

“Bullying her too is a different kind of low. I would not sit back and watch you bully her into quitting her job as you did for Mary” he added.

Aurora felt her blood boil. Who did he think he was? Turned her down multiple times after he had been there for him and then now has the guts to defend another woman in his presence.

“All I ever did was show you my love” Aurora responds.

She can feel her heartbreak and her chest constricts as she watched him turn back and walk out. She sits back and screams out loud startling the other customers in the restaurant.

She puts her hand through her hair angrily and bangs her fist against the table. She hears whispers of the other customers calling her a psycho. She has been loud enough that anyone could tell what conversation she had with Kieran.

The waiter cautiously walks toward her and stands before her. He rubs his hand over his outfit nervously before mastering the courage to talk.

“I am sorry ma’am please can you keep your voice down? You are creating an inconvenience for the other customers here” the young boy said slowly.

Aurora raised her head to meet the eyes of the waiter. She has never felt so embarrassed and insulted in her life and this was all because of Arabella.

The only reason she jumped the gun and went ahead to propose to Kieran was because of Arabella. He even defended her. Her luck in life was not looking up at all.

“You guys can have the food that he paid for. I am out of here” she screamed as she stood up.

She stood outside on the platform. Her eyes became teary and she wanted to cry. She was not a fan of tears and being sentimental. She hailed a taxi and went back home.

Arabella was already wrapping off her presentation to show Michelle why she should choose them when Kieran walked in.

“Welcome back” she greeted him out of courtesy.

Kieran stood and stared at her for a long time. She felt uncomfortable with the way his eyes did not move from her body.

“I think you might need to find a new job” he finally said after thinking long and hard.

‘Wasn’t he the same guy telling me not to give up in the morning’ Arabella thought?

“Find a new job? But I have barely spent three two days here” Arabella replied.

Kieran knew that he had offended Aurora big time and that she was going to get her revenge. No doubt the revenge would not be directed at him but at Arabella instead.

He should have been nicer. Now Arabella would have to suffer the consequences of his actions. The only thing that would save her would be if she can successfully leave the environment and establish herself somewhere else.

“I would get you a job at a bigger company,” Kieran said assuring her. He had that much influence at least. He could move her from their small start-up to something bigger.

“Why do I have to leave?” she said. Even if she was going to leave then she had to know why

“I have offended Aurora”