HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY MY LOVIES! <3

CHAPTER 4 - AND WHO ARE YOU?

CECILIA'S POV

I guess no matter how strong you are, if you get your heart broken, you will still feel the pain of being betrayed and broken.

I loved him so damn much, I even thought of having a future with him, but I didn't realize how much his ego drove him. He wanted to be in control, and I couldn't believe he was capable of cheating just to feed his self-worth.

I tried my best not to shed even a single tear in front of Freddie. He didn't deserve it. But, despite my efforts, I couldn't help the tears flowing down my face.

I rushed out of The Plaza, hoping no one would see me in this messed up state. But as if luck was not on my side, when I turned the corner, I clashed with someone that made me stumble and fall to the ground.

"Get off me!" I shouted at the person who lay on top of me.

He immediately jumped off me and offered me his hand to help me up. "I'm so sorry," he said apologetically. "Are you okay?" he added.

I just glared at him and looked at him up and down from head to toe. He was about the same age as me. His build was tall and not too muscular, though he had visible muscles in his arms and legs, like he was involved in sports.

He had a strong jawline and piercing eyes, and he was wearing a cap that hid his dark hair. I thought he was one of my mom's guests at brunch or someone I go to school with, but his clothing suggested otherwise.

He was dressed in a plain white t-shirt and jeans, with a black jacket draped casually over his shoulders. This made me think he was more of an ordinary guy than someone in our social circle.

I didn't take his hand, not because I didn't want his help, but because I was capable on standing on my own anyway. But just when I was about to stand, I heard a loud rip sound coming from my dress. I had torn them while I was trying to get up! I tried to figure out how this happened, and suddenly, I saw this guy standing on my dress! He stepped on it without noticing.

He was as shocked as I was. I could tell from his facial expression that he didn't mean to step on my dress.

"I'm sorry." He apologized again and knelt down to examine the damage. "Shit." I heard him curse under his breath when he saw the extent of the tear. He looked up at me apologetically and I could tell from the look in his eyes that he felt terrible.

Can this day get any worse? I thought to myself, feeling freakishly overwhelmed!

While glaring at the guy, I noticed the double take he gave me, like he knew me, like he had seen me before. "Cecilia VanLeer." He said, not ask, but said it in a manner of recognition.

"Do I know you?" My brow shot up as I asked him. I didn't bother to ask how he knew me, since that was already a given already. Everyone on the upper east side knows who I am. So it's not a brainer that he knew me, even though I had no idea who he was. Who knows? Maybe this guy is a stalker or something.

He chuckled and shook his head. "Maybe not, but we go to the same school."

"Guilford Private School." I said as I study him more. Like, did I miss something? How could he be in the same school as me?

"Wow, you didn't even try to hide your judgy face." He smiled like he wasn't offended at all. "Anyway, are you okay? Your face--"

There I realized that someone who not just know me, but also attends to the same school as me, saw my tear-up face! "It's none of your business. And if you ever tell a soul that you saw me like this, I will make sure you'll regret it." I warned him in a serious voice, trying to make my point clear.

He raised his hands in surrender. "You don't have to be so snarky about this. Instead of worrying about me tattling, how about we do something first about your dress?"

"We?" I glared at him. "There's no 'we' in this. This is your fault, and I will figure this out on my own before you cause any more damage." I looked at my dress and it was worse than I expected.

Dammit!

Why did I even choose to wear such a sheer and delicate material today? I couldn't even get on my feet without exposing myself. I could drape it around me, but walking to the valet would be difficult! The asymmetrical design of this dress was great when worn, but terrible when damaged. It was as if there was cloth or part of the dress was missing!

To my surprise, a dark fabric landed on my lap. I looked up and saw the guy took off his jacket to help me cover up, as if he knew my struggle.

"Is it such a crime to at least let me help you since this is my fault anyway?"

You don't make me feel needed.

You always seem like you have it all together.

She always makes me feel needed. Like I'm the man that can save her.

Freddie's words rang in my ears, haunting me even in situations like this. I couldn't help but feel damn annoyed!

"For your information, I don't think I already have everything and don't need any help. I'm just used to getting things done on my own, raised to think strongly and independently." I blurted out in matter of factly, but more like defensively.

"Look," the guy said in a calm voice, "I'm not trying to talk you out of doing things on your own. You are strong minded person, everyone at Guilford knows that. All I'm saying is, I want to make up for the mistake I made to your dress."

Though I found him such a smartass, and his choice of words were so unexpected, I couldn't help but feel the sincerity of it. He was genuinely sorry for what he had done and really wanted to make it up to me.

I didn't say anything. Instead, I let him drape the jacket over my shoulders to cover me up. "If you stand, your dress might fall down," he pointed out.

I rolled my eyes and glared at him. "So, what are you proposing?"

"I might need to carry you to your valet. If you're okay with it," he suggested casually.

Now that I know how intimidating I can be, even Freddie feels less of a man around me, this--whoever this person is, still speaks to me with such familiarity and ease. As if we were close or something.

This guy was weirdly different. He was not trying to impress me, or make me feel like I'm superior. He is just simply being normal even though he knows who I am.

"But I can call a hotel staff member to--"

"No," my voice was stern and hard. "I don't want anyone else involved. This is your mess, right? Well, unless you don't have that strength to carry me, I guess--" I gasped when I felt I was being lifted off the ground as he scooped me into his arms. I felt the strength in his arms as he easily carried me out of the room.

"Light as paper. Seriously, you just had brunch, but did you even eat?" He joked.

Wow, he even tried to joke so casually around me? Who the hell he is?

"Well, with the amount of strength you have, it makes me think you finished all the food then."

I saw a hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "I had a few. I served the food afterall."

"You're a server?" I looked at him with wide eyes. "What an imposter! I thought you were a student at Guilford." I was enraged. I couldn't believe I let this phony trick me so easily! "Liar!" I groaned, trying to wiggle my way out of his arms, but he held me strongly.

My chauffeur raised his hand and this imposter immediately headed to my car. He set me gently inside and said, "I didn't lie. We go to the same school. In fact, I'm one of the scholars at Guilford."

"What?"

"Yeah, most of the people in your circle think nothing of us but eyesores. But, I hope you aren't one of them. See you, Cecilia."

The guy didn't even wait for my response. He just closed the car door and left.

Who the effin hell are you?

-END OF CHAPTER 4-

A/N: OOOhhhhh. Is he the lead? Hmmm. What do you think of the story so far? Share your thoughts!

Advance chapters are available on my Patreon Account: notjustarandomgirl (link in Bio) enjoy!