Mistaken

Why is he looking as though he’s seen a ghost?

“What??!” he asks, horrified. Does he not know? His emerald green eyes bulging and his dark brown hair tousled from the run, he still manages to look very attractive. Not that I’ve been staring. Maybe, just a little.

“You didn’t know that you were supposed to meet your going- to-be fiancée tomorrow?” I ask, quizzically, pointing at me.

He shakes his head, speechless, I think. Oh, poor boy, must come as a hell of a shock. It did for me. I remember my conversation with my father a two days ago.

Two days ago:

“Avery” My father called out as I entered his enormous study. “Yes, Father.” I said as I stood before his desk. He removed his glasses and stirred his whiskey.

“Do you remember The Addams?” He asked. The Addams? “I’m afraid not, father.” I said.

“Of course, I thought so.” He said, chuckling. Then why did you ask me, huh? I thought. Of course, I can’t speak my mind. ‘Behave ladylike’ That’s what they always say.

“You were both kids when we agreed.” He continued, taking a sip. Sighing, he kept his square glass down and looked at me with a dead serious look.

“You’re getting engaged next week.” He said. I stared, eyes wide at him for a spilt second before almost screaming, “WHAT!!?”

“Avery!” He said sternly. “Behave – “

“Oh, shut up with that nonsense for once! This is my life we are talking here!” I holler at him. What the hell does he think he's doing?!

"Damn Right and you will listen to your father and get out of the study before something happens which we both will regret!” He shouts at me, standing up, slamming his glass on the desk. I glare at him with so much anger and he gives a deathly look. “Go.” He says slowly with menace. I storm out of the room, slamming the door shut.

And then my mother comes to my room, seeing me curled up in the bed, weeping. She tries to comfort me and hands me a file named Jaden Addams.

Now:

“So, you’re my fiancée?” Jaden almost chokes out the words, pulling me out of my reverie. “Do you have a weird habit of repeating everything?” I ask, smirking. He just stares. Okay, that was rude. He’s in a shock. And I’m not helping.

“Hey. It’s hard I know. I got to know this only two days ago. Just breathe. In and Out.” I say, giving his shoulder a reassuring squeeze.

“I know how to handle myself!” He snaps at me, brushing out of my hold. He gives me a cold stare and gets up and starts walking away.

“Hey. Wait up!” I shout at him as he pulls up the hoodie of his dark blue jacket and walks away in brisk strides. I fumble for my heels in the dark and race after his direction until I have no idea where I am.

I look around, trying to find my way in the dark. And anger boils in my veins. What does he think of himself!? Bringing me to the middle of nowhere and running away like that? He’s nothing like the guy I read about in his file.

Yesterday:

Kind, Smart and a True Gentleman? Who wrote this patronizing bull? I snort and throw the file across the room umpteenth time. I clutch my forehead in exasperation. This is my life now. No. This has been my life for 19 years. But this takes it to a whole new level. But maybe this won’t be so bad…

Now:

This. Is. Horrendous. Taking a deep breath to calm myself, I walk towards the hedges. We definitely crossed those while we ran away like little children up to some mischief. It’s been a long time since I’ve let loose like that. I liked it. He kept glancing over his shoulder to check on me and it was…. considerate of him.

And now, he behaved just like the jerk I thought he would be. Or… Sighing, I decide It’s no reason blaming him for his behaviour. Hugging myself to bring warmth to my chilling bones, I curse at myself for not thinking of the cold before getting out alone. And to see my father on his balcony before I came face to face with Jaden and acting like that ideal perfect lady, It really is a lot to handle for me too.

The lights turn on suddenly all around me. And I can see the pond I looked into. I’m quite closer to the main door than I thought. As I walk as fast as I can in the shivering cold, I see a man jogging up to me.

"Ms. Thompson!” A young man in a servant attire, rushes up to me and hands me a jacket.

“Mr. Addams told me to give you this as soon as possible.” It’s the same one he was wearing. Dark blue with his initials J.R.A carved in silver with a stylish font. Jaden Ronald Addams.

“I don’t need these.” I say as I walk past the servant. “I’ve almost reached the door.”

“But Miss, Mr. Addams said – “

“I don’t care what he said, okay?” I call to him as I walk faster. He jogs to catch up with me. “Ms. Thompson, he’s in a bad mood now. You’d like him better at the engagement.”

I come to a halt. Of course, the servant knows, he’s going to be decorating the estate. But apparently, they thought, the groom didn’t need to know about his own engagement.

“Does everyone else in this freaking mansion know about the engagement except the groom?” I ask him, shrilly. He shuffles on his foot, clearly uncomfortable with my outburst.

“That is quite enough, Avery.” I hear my father’s voice, cold and dead serious. I turn around and see my father with another tall brunet man with face closely resembling Jaden.

Does Jaden too live a life similar to mine? Empathy grips my heart. I stare at my father, bleakly. And walk the rest of the way to the main door, and the servant with Jaden’s jacket comes up. He holds out the jacket and I take it wordlessly. Wrapping it around me, I get through the door and climb the stairs.

I open my room in the 2nd floor and fall onto the comfy bed, pulling the jacket closer. It has a scent combination of leather, musk and something exotic. It’s a welcome distraction to my whirlwind of thoughts.

Far away, I hear piano notes drifting through the house. It’s distant with each note distinct. A melody so sad, moving around the estate lonely. As my eyes droop sleepily, last I hear is faint even tapping in the wood.

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