They exit the building with Ethan dismissing the driver, taking the keys from him.

Sitting on the driver seat,he sees Vivian sitting slowly beside him putting on the seatbelt.

Her eyes wary of his every movement,trying to guess his mood.
By taking hidden glances at him.

Pressing on the accelerator,he jerk starts the car giving Vivian her answer.

He was beyond angry.

His knuckles on the steering wheel white and eyes hardened at the road. Not saying anything.

And she decides to be silent as well.

Who was he to get angry. Last she remembers.

He was the one who questioned her morals and called her a who**.
The memory itself filling her insides with her own anger and confidence.

"Were you in contact with him all these years?"

He asks breaking the silence. And she looks outside instead.
In no mood to answer his stupid baseless questions today.

His grip on the steering wheel tightens further,as he steals a look at her.
Her ignorance, aggregating his anger further.

"I asked you something Vivian. Answer me!"

His voice booms in the car and she flinched, but still she doesn't say anything.

He breathes heavily trying to control himself and next she knows,he stops the car at a side.
On a deserted road with no one around.

She still doesn't look at him ,but she could see him struggling to control his anger.
His next words coming out low.

"Don't test my patience Vivian. I asked you something."

She finally answers looking back at him.

"And I refuse to answer on personal matters....Sir. we are getting late for the next meeting."

"You should drive if you wish to reach on time."

He just stares at her. Not believing her words.

"Personal? So that bastard became personal to you now? He is also a working partner of Lockwood industries now... don't you forget it Miss Vivian."

She answers with held held up and determination evident.

"I am aware Sir. Don't worry. I don't mix personal and business ."

He scoffs, with hands clenched. Looking at her from top to bottom to stare at the road in front.

"As if you haven't fuc** him already."

That was it. Vivian has had enough of his bullshit.

"Excuse me? What did you say Sir?"

She says with gritted teeth and his brown eyes stare back at her in arrogance.

"I said what you heard Miss Vivian."

"After all weren't you two in a relationship in high school? Weren't you two what we call...quote fuc* buddies unquote?"

Tears filled Vivian's eyes as she looked at the man she once loved.
Her anger crossing all limits and barriers she had set.

"How...how can you say something like that Ethan!"

"How can you say that when you know you were the first man I ever gave myself too!"

"You were the first man I trusted enough to give my body and soul both too!"

"When it was you....who I gave my everything...yet"

"Yet...it was you who said you didn't love me!!!!"

.
.

"When it was you who said that"

Her next words coming as a whisper , but he heard her.
Loud and clear.

"...you loved Sophie! "

There is a deadly silence in the car as a sob breaks through her lips. Her cheeks and face flushed in red,due to the pent up frustration and anger.

"You are right....."

He answers,when she thought he wouldn't.

"You are right .....I was wrong to give you hope of having something real between us when my heart always belonged to my Soph."

"But what did you do Vivian?"

"The very next days of our break up you go and lock lips with that bast*** Elijah.."

"..one week later you fuc* him .."

"2 weeks later you ditch Sophie saying she is not your friend anymore..!!"

"..and 3 weeks later...."

"You kill her?"

"I DIDN'T KILL HER DAMMIT!!!!!"

She screams ,with all the energy left in her body.
Her frame shuddering.

While he speaks coldly, not looking at her.

"You were in the influence of those anti depressent medicines that night.....along with very high alcohol. You were mentally ill....."

"...and you couldn't see me loving Soph...so you decided to kill her."

She moves her head in a no.....tired of explaining this to everyone..

"You couldn't even remember your name that night Vivian...you don't remember but it was you."

"It was you who killed my Sophie."

Vivian's breathing was turning rugged. She couldn't remain any longer in his presence....it was suffocating her.

Opening the door and rushing out, she breathes heavily.
Holding onto the car, she moves forward.

The wind on her face, calming her to some extent as Sophie's screams echo in her mind.

Hold onto me Vivian!

Save me Sophie!

No! Hold on!

I am coming Vivian!

No! Sophieeeeeeee!

V!!!!

She couldn't breathe. Her heart was audible to her ears....and it was making a throbbing pain to enter her head . Her vision hazy as tears streamed down her eyes.

She didn't kill her....why didn't anyone belived her?

Why will she kill her...when she was her only friend ?

Her legs wobbled, not able to hold her weight and that's when she crashes on the gravel of the road.
Her knees hitting it as she placed her palms on the ground to balance herself.

"Vivian!!"

She hears him calling behind her in worry, to be followed by the sound of his car door being slammed shut.

"Fuc*! "

He screams holding her shaking body in his arms. She tries pushing him but he remains his grip firm on her.

"L..ea..ve me...!! Don't...tou...ch ...me!"

She shouts at him,to only make his grip on her to tighten. Pulling her to him,he makes her cheek to rest on his chest.
Running his hand on her head.

Trying to calm her.

"Shhhh you are fine. It's alright.....it's alright...come on breathe."

She shakes in his arms,thrashing . Her lips wobbling and body feeling weak suddenly.

"I... didn't...kill her....Ethan...I didn't kill her."

Was all that she kept repeating. To which he just nods. Knowing lies were the only thing that will calm her.

"Why don't you believe me...? I....I kissed Elijah...I did it just to make you jealous...I never slept with him Ethan....I...."

"I would never.....I know how much Sophie meant to you....Why...will I kill her....I didn't..... please believe me...."

"Okay. Calm down. We will talk about it later."

"No...you still don't believe me....I....Sophie...she was my best friend...why will I ....?"

Ethan just sighs, seeing her body go weak. Engulfing her in his arm, he hears her cries slowly silencing.

He doesn't remember...how long they stayed like this.

With her clinging onto him like  her life was dependent on him while he held her like a delicate price of glass that could be broken any second.

He could see his shirt all wet with tears,but he doesn't mind.
Placing his one arm below her knee and other behind her back,he picks her up and proceeds towards the car.

Making her sit on the passenger seat, he gets a bottle of water and places it's lid on her lips that were wobbling.

"Come on drink."

He urges her to drink and she does reluctantly.Eyes fixed at a spot on the road, lost in thoughts.

Her nose and eyes red from crying. Making her look nothing like the strong Vivian he knows.

Ethan doesn't know what to do to bring her back to her orginal self....to the Vivian that was not so lost and broken.

Not knowing what to do...he just closes her door and proceeds towards the driver seat.

"I...I will drop you at your place....you can rest for the day."

Was all he said to get no response from her.
Pressing on the ignition, he starts the car to again look back at her.

"Vivian. The seatbelt."

He says to again get nothing.Her eyes still fixed at the same spot they were 5 minutes ago.
Hands clenched into fists in her lap.

Sighing, he opens his own seatbelt. To help put hers.

Moving towards her, his body hovers over her as he pulled the belt.
His face just inches away from his ,as he stated at those beautiful green eyes that  looked lifeless.

He stills.

Her slow breaths hit his lips and and he couldn't help look down at her soft plump ones.

How much he missed kissing them.

And that's when her forest green eyes met his brown ones and he couldn't help himself.
Leaning closer he was going to smash his lips on her.

When she surprised him by moving her head to a side and looking outside.

Realisation striked him and he moves back from her immediately.

Cursing himself.

When he is around her,he can't help himself......he keeps remembering the feeling of her lips on his and the touch of her skin under his fingers....it has to be lust.

It has to be.

For he has only loved one woman all his life and that was no one other than his best friend

His Sophie

Starting the car,he drives through the city. With silence the only thing stretching between them.

"Tell me your address. I will drop you home."

He suggests and she motions him to stop the car on the road side. He stops , looking around in surprise.

It was a marketplace. There are no houses around.

Sighing, and running his hand through his hair. He almost pleads her this time.

"Just tell me Vivian. You don't look fine...I will drive you home."

She doesn't bother.Picking up her purse and  pulling on the door handle,she was going to leave when he stops her.

His fingers brushing on hers at the handle, making her retreat them immediately.

"Don't be stubborn."

He says,their faces again. Inches closer to each other.
Looking back at him with coldness she whispers.

"Thank you for your concern Mr Ethan Lockwood. But I can manage from here."

"Fuc* ! Stop it Vivian! "

He says pulling her back from her arm. To only make her push him back from her.

"I have managed alone all these years Mr Lockwood. I am sure I can manage in future as well."

"Goodbye"

Slamming the door shut,she is gone walking down the street.
Leaving him frustrated and confused.

Slamming his hand on the car steering. He curses.Trying to control his anger once again.

"Damn you Vivian."

...................................................

"No Roman...of course not. You have been there with me always, why won't I help you?"

Ashton says as he looks at Elle who nods at him.

The man Roman looked weak from the past time they met him. His eyes looked tired and body frail .

"I know it's too much to ask but I am left with no options."

Ashton places his hand on his thigh, telling him he is here with him while Roman just sighs.

Continuing.

"Ashton you already know how my businesses are suffering because of my health..."

"Eliza is too young and gullible to handle everything. She is trying but I know ....she can't handle it for long.....there are rivals who want to see me fail....she won't be able to understand their games."

"I thought I will be fine....but...now it seems...."

"I  have few days left....Ethan. I...this sicknesses is killing me slowly...I... "

He breaks down and Ethan rushes to support him. Hugging him,he tries to sooth his friends pains.

"Don't say that Roman...you are a strong man...we are gonna fight this together..."

"No Ash...after Amelia left me....I have been a broken man ever since."

"I... can't fight this anymore. I can't...."

Giving him a glass of water Elle joins the conversation. The hardships of this man, softening her heart.

"You have been a great father Roman. You have raised your daughter's well. Ash and me...we are willing to help you in any way we can. "

Elle says with both Elle and Ash unaware of how this man disowned Vivian after she was convicted of murder.
How Vivian, struggled all her life without a father figure.

Amelia, her biological mother left her in the care of her second husband, her step father Roman who failed to fulfill his promise to his dying wife.

Who failed to take care of Vivian.

Eliza still had family, Roman's brother ie her uncle. Her cousins. But Vivian?

She was alone. Always.

As a rejected child of a father who left her.

"I...I want someone who is intelligent,smart and well versed with my business sphere....who can take my business to new heights... someone who knows well how to manage them..... someone extraordinary like you Son.."

"Like Ethan"

Ashton nods,feeling proud of his son while Elle could feel that he was trying to insinuate something.

"I know... Ethan has even surpassed me....he is doing really well managing and expanding Ashelle industries. I am really proud of him."

Roman nods with a sad smile looking at his hands.

"Ash... actually...this is what I wanted to talk about."

"That's not a big deal Roman. I knew some men with exceptional skills in managing businesses...I...can..

Roman shows his his hand. Stopping him.

"Not someone new. I want someone I can trust with my secrets... someone who is like family Ash."

Elle and Ash again share a look, not able to understand where this is going.
When Roman sighs.

"Look Ash...Aliza...is alone..she doesn't have anyone after me. Before I leave...I wanted to make sure she and my business are in good hands."

Elle and Ashton both nod at him and that's when he drops the bomb finally.

"I want to ask your Son's hand for his marriage  to my Aliza."
.
.
.

"I want to make Ethan my son in law."