Chapter 1
The sun was setting. She was still in her office working on some paper work. Looking at the clock she sighed. She put down the pen and turned to look out the window just in time to see an orange coloured sky. It was the first time she saw such a sky, actually the first time she saw it from her office. Ever since she could remember after taking this job, her work multiplied, at the beginning she never had so much work to do. Arin Howard was the director of one of the largest media companies in Sydney, Australia. She became the director, after years of hard work. The promotion of director came when she was still in Melbourne; she hated the idea at first but after some things that happened, she gladly accepted the offer. About three years had passed since then and she was pretty happy where she was now. At 27 years of age she was as normal as any other woman. She went out from time to time but she was mostly at work. She met a lot of people through her job, from politicians to movie stars or even judges. This was one of those days when one of the soccer stars would come for an interview after one of the most discussed games of the season. She had a lot to do in order to ensure that the interview went well so now there was a lot of paperwork to do. As she went back on signing papers the office phone rang.
‘Hey Sarah, what do you have for me?’
‘Just wanted to tell you Andrew arrived for his interview. Oh and your father called ten minutes ago. He said to call when you have time.’
‘Thanks Sarah. Oh and go home, there is not much to do here. I will take any other calls myself if necessary.’ Sarah was her secretary and a good friend. She was 24 and married with two twin girls.
‘Thanks see you tomorrow. And please don’t stay late again. It is bad for your health.’
’Haha..ok I will try.’ She said, with a tone that made it believable even to her own ears. Ever since she came here, little by little she started to stay over office hours.
‘Good.’
She put the receiver down and continued her work. After awhile she remembered to call her father. She knew from experience that he was not that patient when it came to her calling him, most likely because of his overprotective nature more than anything else. She reached for her phone at the end of her desk and went through her contacts. Her father’s name popped up and she dialled the number. Not even three rings and he answered.
‘Hi dad, how are you?’ She said with joy, it had been long since she heard his voice.
‘Hello love, very well, we both are.’
‘That is good to hear. I heard you rang?’
’Yes honey, your mother and I wanted to remind you about our wedding. It is a week from now. We want you here.’ He said with a trace of restraint in his voice.
‘Of course I would be there. It is silly of you to think I won’t come.’ She said chuckling.
‘Hun, I don’t know how to say this but...’
’I know, I figured he would be there. After all the law firm he is in is one of your firm partners and his parents are your friends.’ Her mouth saying those words... Arin seemed calmer that she thought she would be.
’If you’re sure, we miss you. Can’t wait for your arrival, call us when you land.’
‘Miss you too, both of you. I can’t come earlier than your wedding day but I would stay for a few days after.’
‘That is ok. Then see you next week, be safe.’
’Thanks, you to father say hello to mom.’
They said their goodbyes and Arin resumed her work until the clock strikes nine. She arranged her stuff and left the building arriving home at ten sharp. After taking a bath Arin climbed in her bed for a good night sleep. Sleep didn’t come that night or the next few days either as her mind tried to come up with ways of avoiding her past. Then again she thought, after a few sleepless nights, what was the point? One way or another there was no way she could avoid the past that invaded her nightmares.
The days went by one by one. She remembered the past she so desperately wanted to forget. It all started in her first year at Ink Screen, the media company she now was the Sydney branch director. With the fine recommendations from the university she attended, started the job she always dreamed of. At twenty years of age she was naive and trustworthy, at the same time she had a great mind. A few months after she started, she met Robert O’Hara a young lawyer at K&M one of her father’s associates. With the help of her best friend Melanie, Arin accepted Robert’s advances and dated him. She spent her days in his company or at gatherings with all their friends. Melanie and her spent days talking about their affairs with their boyfriends and what not. She was glad that her friend approved of her relationship, thing that surprised her. She let it go though, on the account that Melanie was happy for her.
Everything went great as the years past. After almost three years in their relationship, by the time her boss offered her the promotion of director in Sydney, Robert proposed to her and she said yes, postponing the job offer for after they married. So, they began planning the wedding. The big event though overlapped with a busy time at work and her days off shortened. Without her asking, Melanie said she will plan the wedding as a present for her, Arin accepted her offer without second thoughts, never questioning her friend’s intention. The days passed and she found herself a day before her wedding planning a surprise for Robert. She knew he would be at work still on a special last-minute case so she went to town and brought a few things to make him dinner. As she entered the building of their condo, she kept daydreaming about their wedding the next day without realizing she arrived on their doorstep.
Taking out her keys she tried opening the door but realized the door was already open. Funny, she thought, they locked it that morning before leaving did they not? She stepped in and put the bags on the counter, took of her coat and went to prepare the meal. She didn’t do much before hearing noises from the bedroom. `Was Robert home?` she thought as she put the onions she just pealed on the counter and went to investigate. As she approached the bedroom the noises become clearer. Someone was moaning in there, both a woman and a man. She tried to stay calm and reason with herself, he couldn’t be, Robert would never cheat on her ever.
She reached the bedroom door and opened it. There in front of her, in their bed was Robert and Melanie having sex. That was the day all her dreamed crushed. Their betrayal marked her in ways she never expected. That was the day she fled heartbroken in search of a new beginning and in hope of forgetting what was once a fairy tale.
