Scared.

The one word I never felt in my life was now the only feeling I had.

Alone in these woods, I felt left out. Of course, I left my family behind, but not the world. I left it because I was lonely, my bullies made it worst. I was lonely but I was never scared of anything or anyone.

Today they again reminded me that I was adopted and my own family didn't want me. I had a friend Kaira who shifted to Chicago a year ago.

Even though I had this planned a while ago that I would leave them and this life with Kaira and her family, they had to spoil that too.

______***______

INTRODUCTION -

That's me - Payal Varma

I'm 21. Even though I live in a house where people say to my parents, I'm an orphan. I was 10 when they adopted me from an orphanage where I was living for 2 years. I don't remember much of my family because I had an accident and a guy found me near the seashore.

Anyway, I have been pursuing my degree in Fashion design and got accepted by one of the top companies in Chicago for my first job.

NAME - Noel Fraza

The CEO of 'F&D Fashions' is known for his cold behavior. He is very possessive of his family but does not express himself to them.

NAME - Ashie Arora

And not to forget my enemy Ashie. She is also the one who has been accepted to do a job as a fashion designer in Chicago.

______***_______

"Payal I know you are in there so don't think you would escape us this time." I was sitting inside the washroom when I heard her high-pitched voice again.

Urh! Not again.

"Escape from what exactly? You? I never tried that Ashie. It was always you who chased me, don't tell me you are a lesbian." I mocked.

I'm sure I made her shut up, because after that when I came out of the washroom she was not there.

Today we got our results of the internship and the recruitments. 5 people got accepted into Chicago companies in which Ashie and I were also on the list. She was one of my bully's girlfriends and was always kind of jealous of my successful grades.

( Bullying here means verbally. Sometimes only cruel words hurt us more than physical pain.)

When I reached home My so-called parents were sitting in the living room with some guests.

"Here she is. Payal meet your fiance Yash Mittal" she said while pointing at a young guy who was sitting in the middle of his parents.

Shocked

I dropped my bag and yelled at them "Why are you deciding for me again? Didn't I say that I will continue my career as a fashion designer? Today I even got selected for god's sake stop all this."

"Don't shout. There are guests here and we did this for you. We care about you." she said as if she was gonna cry the next moment.

What an actor?

"How are you speaking to your mother dear? About your career, I'll allow you to do it after marriage. I have no problem." That guy Yash spoke sympathizing with my so-called mother.

"Point is not about your allowance, it's about forcing. I don't want to get married now. I would be going to Chicago tomorrow to start my new life, so I can't marry you or anyone else." I explained.

After that, the situation was not the same at all. Surprisingly, Yash and his family took a stand for me and left, and for once I felt supported. My parent's insulted me for my behavior as always, but today, when they brought my parents in between it felt insulting.

"Your parents must have thrown you down that valley because of your this behavior," he said with a knowing smile that these words made me weak.

But not today.

"Maybe, but they would still never try to rape her for her misconduct." I snapped and he looked at me in shock before looking at his wife.

I expected his wife to snap at him but instead, she slapped me.

"Only because we adopted you doesn't mean you are allowed to break my family. My husband is not like that and I won't trust you." her answer was shocking but I didn't feel like arguing anymore.

"When did you ever trust me?" I whispered under my breath and ran towards my mini room. I packed my stuff for tomorrow's flight and jumped through my window.

I knew that there won't be any person dropping me off at this time of night so I took my way through the forest.

I was never a fan of nights for some unknown reason. Whenever my so-called family used to lock me out of the house, I had nightmares.

Suddenly some flashes of a small girl running came into my mind and I felt scared.

Maybe I'm tired. I should take some rest and then continue my journey tomorrow morning.

I searched for a place where I could sleep for a night and found a small hut on my way. When I knocked on the door an old man opened it and looked at me questioning.

"Sorry to disturb you, but I was camping here and got lost. I can't find my friends and it's late at night. So, can I stay here for the night?" I lied.

"Sure, please come inside."

That night I couldn't sleep because I was thinking about my life in Chicago. I ran from my house so technically I had no money but just some savings that would survive for a week or so in Chicago. My job is the only financial support I would have.

Skip 2 days ahead...

When I reached Chicago I went to the house which was given by the company and got settled. From the very next day, I had to report to my job so I could only unpack my stuff.

As I reached in front of the office I realized that it was a multi-storage building and as I never lived up to this high standard it would take time for me to work here.

I saw a lady wearing a professional dress with a mini skirt standing near the front desk and went there.

"Hello, I'm Payal Varma and the new designer from India," I said.

"So?" she said without even looking at me.

"This is my first day. Can you guide me where to go?"

"Take the life and 15th floor," she said without even giving me a glance.

Wow! what a friendly receptionist! Note the sarcasm.

When I went where she pointed, I saw 2 lifts and many people were standing and waiting at one gate so I walked towards the another and clicked the button when I felt everyone suddenly staring at me.

Before I could question the door opened and I went inside before pressing the 15th-floor button.

That was weird. Why use one life when we have 2?

When I reached the floor and entered, I saw everyone in the office looking at me. I shifted uncomfortably under their gazes and went towards the desk in front of me.

The girl looked at me and smiled which I reverted.

" Hi. I'm Payal Varma and this is my first day as a fashion designer. Can you help me with the process?"

She suddenly stopped smiling and looked at me weirdly.

"You are a designer so why did you come by that lift?" she asked and it was now my turn to look at her weirdly.

Her eyes showed some realization and she immediately told me "That's the lift only the boss or his assistant could use so next time please take care of it." she explained and I realized the reason for which I got weird looks all over.

Then afterward she showed me an office and asked me to wait for the boss for further procedure.

"Boss personally assists the newcomer, so you should wait here," she said and left.

He must be a nice boss, who personally assists a newcomer.

Surprisingly there was no one except me in the office.

Weird again. I thought the other people also had to join today. Why are they not here?

After a few minutes of waiting, the door flew open to reveal a woman who wore a professional dress and a file in her hand.

"Hi, I'm Alisia Orami, the assistant of Mr. Fraza."

"Hi, I'm Payal Verma."

"Okay, usually the boss guides the first-day worker, but he got into an urgent meeting today. So I'll be guiding you from here."

"Sure."

"Great. So let's get started with your office?"

"Yeah."

From there she took me to my personal cabin where I would be working and then gave me a few themes on which I was supposed to demonstrate designs.

"Okay so you will have to complete this work within this week, and you'll be having a meeting then with our boss where you would present your designs."

"A week?" It's a concise time to do so much work. Could I do it?

"Yeah, the time's limited here. Work smartly," she said realizing my nervousness.

And before I could say anything else her phone rang and she left.

Smart work Payal. I need to finish my planning today by hook or by crook.

A week passed by in a blink. I was checking my presentation for the last time before leaving for the meeting room.

"So, is everything ready Miss Payal? Alisia asked while I was nervously tapping my foot and looking at the PPT.

"Yeah. It's just I'm a little nervous."

In the meeting room...

I was setting up everything when the door opened and entered the most handsome man I have ever seen.

A well-built muscled man. He was wearing a luxurious suit that screamed richness, but when I looked at his personality it was typically cold. He just came and sat on the main chair while scrolling his phone.

It was awkward.

Soon enough Alisia came and sat beside him. "This is our boss Payal, Mr. Noel Fraza."

That was when he finally looked up and froze. I saw his eyes and there was a shock written on them but he quickly recovered and waved at Alisia. Why is he shocked?

"Okay Payal, you may start," Alisia said understanding her boss's instruction.

During the whole meeting, he did not say anything, in fact, he didn't even look up from his phone.

After the meeting, Alisia came into my office and informed me that I was now the permanent employee. This was a piece of happy news, but what shocked me was that he didn't even look at my design once so what made him judge me?

Anyway now it's been a month since I started working and everything was going great till yesterday.

Alisia came to my office in the morning to inform me that the boss wants to meet me.

I went to his office and knocked, but no one answered so I slowly went inside. This was the first time I saw his office and it was glamorous. On one side there was an office with a table, books everything, and on the other side there was a cozy place with a bathroom, TV, and so on.

I was so busy exploring the office that I didn't realize Mr. Fraza come out of the bathroom half naked. As soon as I saw him I yelled and turned my back to him hiding my face in my hands.

"Don't act as if you never saw a naked man Ms. Payal." He said cockily.

Did he just?

"That's because I never did," I replied almost not realizing my voice.

I don't usually talk to any boys, especially if they are like him. But this new confidence in front of him was a surprise.

After a few minutes of silence, he told me that he is dressed and we both settled on the sofa in his office's mini-living area.

"Okay, so now whatever I say, listen to it first and then react." He said getting in a very serious mood.

"Okay..." I said suddenly a lot more nervous than before.

"So, I have a best friend Alexander Romano who is also my business partner. 20 years ago there was an attack on his family, in which they lost their mother and little sister. They were kidnapped. They now only have their photographs and never stopped searching for them."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Because when I saw you that day in my office I was shocked. You looked like their mother, just with different eye colors."

He stopped before continuing. I looked at him confused and shocked.

"I'm sorry but I researched about you, but you have nothing in your data before you were 5."

I know. That was my age when I was adopted. Before that, I don't remember much. I wanted to tell him, but my voice was just stuck.

"I had to inform them and they want to meet you."

"What?"

"I know it's a lot to take in, and I'm not good at emotions so I can't understand what you are feeling now. But I'm sure you are very confused. I suggest you should meet them and get answers." he said while staring at me.

"I..."

What should I say? My emotions are high and I can't think straight. A family... a brother... my mother.

Mr. Fraza did not speak after that and I was really thankful for that. There was a long silence.

He placed an envelope in front of me and told me that it had all the information about his friend and his family. He told me to take my time and decide whether to meet them or not.

That night I could not sleep.

I sat on my bed and looked at the envelope which was placed on the bed in front of her. I was nervous... no angry... no scared. I didn't know that anymore.

The next morning came by a little early than expected and I went to the office as usual. But my mind was stuck.

I read every piece of information in the envelope and felt overwhelmed. There was an address in it too, and I made a decision.

It was 7 pm and I was standing in the middle of the road alone with the envelope and a huge door in front of me. My hands were shaking badly.

Was I ready to face the truth? Will they like me? Will they...

I shrug off my thoughts and rang the bell.

No response.

I rang it again.

I stood there on one leg, nervous.

Didn't he say they wanted to meet me? Why aren't they opening this damn door? Have they changed their mind? Are they even home?

As I was going to turn back, the door clicked open. And there stood two guards who bowed in front of me and asked me to go inside.

They didn't even come to the door to welcome me. How unwanted was I?

As I took a few steps ahead I stopped again. In front of me, there was a house. No mansion to be frank.

Before I could go further inside, a girl came running toward me with emotion. Scared?

Scared of what? whom? Me?

She came near me.

"Ma'am I'm Tania, a maid here. I am here to take to inside. Everyone is waiting." she said while looking at the ground.

"Oh." was all I could reply and followed her inside. The house was huge. There were many bodyguards everywhere, I wonder why they were so many of them? We were walking and suddenly I realized that we even passed the living room.

"Hey!" I said suddenly which must have scared her because she looked at me immediately scared.

"Sorry to scare you, I was just intending to ask you where were we going. We just left the living room behind us."

"Oh! It's okay ma'am. We are going to the dining area everyone is waiting there." she explained.

"Did I disturb them?" I asked.

She didn't reply but led me toward the dining area.

Suddenly a lot of voices could be heard...

"Why is she here dad? Because of her mom is no more." voice 1 said. His words were harsh which literally made my heart break. Do they blame me? Is my mother dead?

"Antonio is right dad. And what if she is not even our sister?" voice 2 said.

"You saw her yourself, Dom. She looks exactly like Veronica." voice 3 said which I assume would be my dad as Veronica is my mother's name according to the Information in the envelope.

"Dad, there are people who look identical you know. She could be anyone." voice 1 said whose name I caught up as Antonio. He must really hate me.

Suddenly a throat cleared near me and I looked at the person who was none other than the maid who brought me inside looking at me with pitiful eyes.

She opened the door to which the room suddenly quiet down. I gave her my famous fake smile and entered behind her.

There were six people all sitting at that table. One on the head chair was a man in his 40's whom I assume could be the father and the other five must be the sons. Two of them were glaring at me, two of them had cold expressions and the one sitting near the father had a small smile and everyone had a shocked expression for sure.

"You must be Payal. I'm Arman Romano." The father said and asked me to join the dinner. There were two empty places, one near the cold expression person and the other with a scroll on his face. I sat down near a boy with a cold expression.

The maid served me the food but I could not dig in because I could feel everyone looking at me and none were eating. I cleared my throat to snap them out, but all in vain.

After a few seconds, I felt the atmosphere being tense but everyone resumes eating giving me glances here and there.

"So, um boys introduce yourselves first." the father said.

"Alessandro, age 28, oldest brother." the boy with a cold expression said.

"Romeo, age 27, second oldest." the boy with a smile said.

"Roman, age 25, third oldest." the boy who glared at me first said without looking at me.

"Dominic, age 23 and this is my twin, Antonio." one with a cold expression said while pointing to his twin who just glared back at me.

Great almost all of them hate my presence here.

"I'm Payal, age 21," I said and looked at them. No one except the boy who smiled at me looked at me for a moment and then resumed eating like others.

They definitely don't want me. Then why did they want to meet?

After a few minutes of silent eating and them discussing something in another language I felt frustrated.

It was a wrong decision to come here.

With that, I stood up and yelled.

"Why the hell did you wanna meet me, if there is nothing to talk about? You guys definitely are not giving me my answers and in fact, I feel like I'm unwanted here too." I said while glaring at them.

"Of course, you are an unwanted guest girl," Antonio said, and I must admit. It hurts.

"ANTONIO!" the father yelled and his aura was enough for everyone to keep quiet and look down.

"Sorry for that Payal. We were just discussing that only. First, complete your dinner then we can talk." he told me.

"Okay. I'm not hungry anymore so I'll be waiting till you have my answers. Thank you." and with that, I left them.

I didn't want to be in that house anymore, so I took a taxi and came back to the house where I was living.

That day I realized something. In just a few days, my life was completely changed.

1. Now I don't have any friends, not even the colleagues in the office talk to me properly.

2. I left that so-called family who at least gave me some attention and care.

3. I found my real family and felt unwanted.

And I was all alone once again like I was before I turned five.