Ayesha tied her bandana on her head, fluffing up her curls. It had been a blissful two weeks, and now they only had one day before returning to their lives in Watford. So, for their last day in Greece, the last country he had worked in, they were escaping to spend the remainder of their time at one of the more private beaches.
She shimmed into her dress, using the sheer gown to hide her swimsuit. She packed her beach bag with towels and lotions. After everything was set, she went to the adjourning door to check on Dimitri.
“Hey. You ready?”
“Come in.”
She turned the knob and peeked in cautiously. He smiled at her from the bed. He was bent over, tying the laces of his sneakers.
“Just about ready. You?”
“Done. Done.” She showed him her packed bag and entered the room. “I have packed my bags. We can leave as soon as you’re finished.”
He chuckled and stood. “Then let&
Dimitri thanked the driver as he dropped the last of his bags on the stairs. They had returned to town in the evening because she wanted to spend the day walking around the city and buying gifts for Joseph and Carol, plus a few other friends she had not mentioned before. He indulged her. With her help, he got gifts for his sisters and parents.“Take the rest of the things to her place.”He asked and handed the address to him.Ayeshadidn’tbother arguing. She thanked the driver before he drove off and walked ahead to open the door. Dimitrididn’tlook over his shoulder as he kissed the top of her head and walked in behind her.He and Ayeshahadn’tspoken about being more open with their relationship since he proposed it weeks ago. Hewasn’tgoing to pres
Ayesha woke up in a fright. She yanked her hand back from the invisible grip and scrambled away from the darkness until her back hit the bed frame. Her lips trembled. Her eyes scanned the room, feasting on every bit of light it saw. Itdidn’ttake long to realise where she was.The suitcase on her bed, clumsily packed with clothes falling out the sides, made her stop. Then she remembered her frantic actions when she returned fromDimitri’splace. Her words rioted in her mind, blossoming her headache as she recalled arguing with Joseph.She sniffed, using the bed to help herself up from the floor. With fresh tears
Dimitri looked up when someone passed by him. He meant to continue reading the email on his phone, but whoever it wasdidn't move away from the table. And for a split second, he wondered if it was Ayesha, only to raise his head to see his younger sister.“Morning.”He raised his cup to her.“Gloomy.”She replied before she sat down.“Brat.
Ayesha glanced at the car park where some of her former colleagues ate. She was surprised that the few people who came over to speak to her on the issue seemed kinder and less judgmental than she thought they’d be. They gushed about how shocked they were to find outshewas dating the mayor's son and teased that they were jealous of her luck. Ayesha had every chance to tell them it was over, but she didn’t.She wasn’t trying to enjoy their attention, but she wasn’t ready for the awkwardness that would set in when she said the words. She didn’t want their pity, or questions, or understanding. She just wanted to be alone with her loneliness.The girls cleared out after three minutes, but it felt like forever. So, she waited fo
Dimitri entered the house and was immediately greeted with the smell of curry and gravy. His family were already seated at the table, passing their plates around. He greeted them with a smile.“Morning everyone.”“Morning.”They all resounded. Vienna patted the chair by her side.“Sit with me.”“As you wish.”
Ayesha smiled at one of her colleagues as she arranged the stools in the room, prepping for the morning class. Three weeks had passed, and she had gratefully gotten the job at the pottery store, so she was filling her time with work while she tried to settle back into a quiet life. There were still a few interested eyes lurking here and there. She could see them when she left the apartment, but they were dwindling. On the bright sight, no more magazines posted about their relationship, and it all fizzled after some time. She wondered if Dimitri had something to do with it or if people just got bored and decided to face their business.Maybe since they stopped meeting, there was nothing spicy to report to the ton, she thought with a scoff.Aside from the news, there was no indication that he
The trees rushed at her face as she sped through the dark forest, nothing but muscle memory leading her down the green path. She could hear the men behind her shouting in their local dialect that a thief was on the loose. She knew they would be on her soon enough if she did not lose the weight of the money and gold at her hips, but she could not. She needed everything in the bag so letting go was not an option. Her eyes fell on the light from afar. Then she saw it. The light as it hit the end of the sea. Her escape, her way out. Her feet moved faster, and she picked up her pace towards the cliff. Seventy steps after she passed the ancient oak tree, she would be free. The more she ran, her chest ached, and her muscles burned, but she smelled it, the ocean and her freedom. She reached the edge of the cliff and jumped, but life was anything but sweet. It had a way of taking perfection and slapping it into a paste of pain. Her shoulder burned as she trashed in the air; a bullet tore thr
Dimitri walked into his parents’ mansion. He stripped out of his jacket and handed it to the maid who stood by the door. When she offered to inform his mom that he had arrived, he promptly stopped her. His flight had landed in Watford the previous night. After an eight-hour flight, he opted to sleep in a hotel for the night. As soon as he woke up, he prepared everything he needed and left for the family home. He had been away for seven years. It was not his intention to be away that long. One thing led to another, and he got too busy for his usual travels home. A lot had changed since the last time he visited. It didn’t surprise him much. His mother liked to remodel the house, once in a while. This time, she didn't only change the furniture but also the paint. Their mansion used to be red. It was blue now. The glasses for the windows were no longer plain but etched with flowery patterns. Fracturing the lights that broke through and giving off colour in a few places. Dimitri raised