Chapter 1

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Marisa

In the darkness of the night, surrounded by the decor of white flowers and twinkling lights, I stood with a glass of sparkling wine. A pair of arms securely wrapped around me as they look around at the mass of people in front of them – some of who were dancing, some of who were just swaying, some laughing and joking, while some eating.

The bride and the groom stood in the middle of the garden, smiling at each other. Happiness and content reflecting from their faces. Though, this event was an unexpected and extraordinary preposterous, I would expect something like this from them. Both the bride and the groom have a similar personality which is different from the world, making them a unique and odd couple. But I could not imagine those two with anyone else but each other. They looked to be in their own little world which was far away from the party that was attributed to them.

My eyes shifted to the person standing a little away from the happy couple on the dance floor with their hands around a slim, beautiful woman. The heat that I had suppressed for all these years, came alive. It wasn't the heat of lust or jealousy. It was the heat of anger and hate. The man has always ignited an emotion out of me; it could be anger, hate, jealousy, confusion or love. Though, the feeling of love vanished in these past years replacing it with confusion and anger.

"Babe, let's meet them before they get lost in their own world again." Said the man who had his arms wrapped around me.

I looked up at Jackson and gave him a small smile before nodding and following him to the bride and groom, who finally came out of their bubble.

"After congratulating them, I want to talk to you." Jackson spoke again, this time softly in my ears.

I creased my eyebrows and looked at him in confusion. "Is everything alright?"

"It depends on how you take it." He said, hesitantly. I frowned at that. I opened my mouth to ask him what was it about, but before I had a chance to, we had reached the couple, effectively cutting our conversation.

"Congratulations." Jackson said, smiling and shaking hands with the groom.

Instead of doing the same, I broke out of Jackson's hold and reached to give a warm hug to the bride. "Congratulations, Scarlett."

"Thank you for coming, Marisa." She said, grinning at me. Her eyes shines in happiness of the day, contrary to how she used to feel about marriage.

"Congratulations, Ethan. I never imagined you to get married before Will and Sophia." I teased which earned me a laugh.

"Thank you." Ethan said with an equal grin matching that of Scarlett's. "He is still grumpy about it."

I let out a laugh and lean against Jackson, who wraps his arm around me and gives me a small smile. "I'll let you guys be now. There is a long list of line waiting to meet you and ask you about your runaway wedding."

Both of them smiled at me before Ethan turned and gave Scarlett a cheeky smile and a wink. The runaway wedding idea had to be Ethan's show.

Jackson and I made our way back to our seats to talk about what he had mentioned before. Just thinking about it was making me anxious and jumpy. I could not stop bouncing my leg as I wait for him to speak.

"I don't know how to say this," he began, running a hand through his hair.

"Are you breaking up with me?" I blurted. Because that's how all the break ups happen. 'I want to talk to you' or 'I don't know how to say this, but we can't be together' or 'It's not you, it's me'. I personally don't understand that concept, but it makes sense to few people.

"I'm not breaking up with you," he quickly assured, making me sigh in relief. "Because that actually depends on you."

I stiffened at his statement. "Did you cheat on me?"

Jackson gave me a blank look. I sighed. Okay, this could definitely not be a reason. "Would let me speak before you start with your overthinking and fake scenarios that could lead to misunderstandings?"

I gave him a sheepish smile before clearing my throat and sitting straight and waiting for him to talk.

"You know how I was struggling with the promotion at my job, right?" He asked and I nodded in return.

"Did they finally give you a promotion?" I asked, my voice hopeful. Jackson has been waiting to be promoted for quite some time now. He has worked incredibly hard on the latest project which would guarantee his promotion.

"Yes." He answered.

My eyes lit up in happiness and I nearly jumped out of my chair to give him a hug. He really deserves it. "Oh, my! Really? That's so amazing. I'm so happy for you!" I nearly scream in his ears.

Jackson chuckles and hugs me back tightly. "Seeing you happy makes this promotion even more deserving."

"Of course, I'm happy. I know you've worked very hard for it. And you deserve it." I stated, firmly. "But why do you sound so somber. Aren't you happy?"

His smile slowly faded which caused mine to fade as well. With a good news comes a bad news as well, doesn't it?

"My company promoted me," he said slowly, taking a deep breath and releasing it before continuing, "in New York."

My hands that were on his arm fell beside me as I took in his words. "New York? As the city that is in the States. Very far away from London."

"Yes." He replied, hesitantly. Without waiting for my response which really wasn't going to be anything because quite honestly, I was speechless, he spoke again. He grabbed my hand in his, holding onto it tightly. "This could be good for us. We could move to the States and start a new life. I've heard you complain about your job on how you have to deal with your ex because of the project. You could leave all this behind and start afresh. I know this isn't how we had initially planned our future, but we can still continue with it, only in a different city."

"I don't know," I stuttered. I really don't know want to say. This was so sudden. "Can't your company promote you in London itself?"

He did not say anything for a minute, looking uncomfortable. He wouldn't meet my eyes.

"What is it?" I asked, aware about the fact that there is something more to it.

He sighed. "I had an option to choose between New York and London."

I slowly yanked my hands from his and let them fall to my side. "You chose New York without talking to me or taking me into consideration?"

He tried to grab my hand again, but I kept mine away from his reach. "I did consider you. As I said, I thought a fresh start for you in New York would bring better and less stressed opportunities–"

"No, you did not consider me when you took this decision." I strongly opposed as I moved back in my seat. "You assumed I would want a fresh start."

"Is there even a difference?" He asked, raising an eyebrow at me.

I scoffed. "Of course, there is! If I am getting an opportunity like this, I would sit down with you and ask for your opinion and options. I would have a mutual conversation with you by looking at all the pros and cons that would work for both of us, rather than just accepting and throwing the decision in your face."

"But you said you weren't happy." He argued.

"I never said I wasn't happy, Jackson. I said the job gets a bit hectic being a secretary, and then being given an important job. That certainly does not mean I'm not happy. I've been made a part of something so huge for the company with me leading a team. This is my big promotion. I can't just throw it out and hitchhike with you to New York. Had you told me about this before, we could have talked." I snapped. "I can't do this here. Can we talk about this tomorrow?"

"I actually leave tomorrow." He informed, frowning.

I closed my eyes and covered it with my fingers before I make a scene here. "And you are telling me this now? How long have you known this?"

"Two weeks." He confessed.

I breath out an angry huff. "You've been keeping this news to you for two weeks and telling me this just a day before. I thought we were more truthful to each other; open and honest with a promise to never keep secrets from each other because the other person would understand."

Having keeping secrets from me has now become a common foreplay for guys. It makes me question if something is wrong with me since they don't feel comfortable to confine me with the truth.

"Is it really necessary to make such a big deal about it right now? It only has been a two years of our dating." He stated, sighing.

I scowled openly at him. "You're being a jerk now."

He didn't say anything, his head bowed down. "I know. I'm sorry." I didn't reply and kept the angry tears that welled up in my eyes at bay. Crossing my arms, I waited for him to continue because it seemed like there was more he had to say. "I should've told you this before and should've had a talk with you. I was just so excited and far up my ass that I did not consider you. I get it now and I'm really sorry, Marisa. I was being a jerk. I've come to love you and your strange habits in these two years and I don't know why I said this, sounding utterly insensitive."

I sniffed and wiped the stray tear that left my eyes. I pushed my lips into my mouth as I looked up to stop anymore tears to fall down.

"Please don't cry." He said, softly taking my face in his hands so I could focus on him. I stared at his forest green eyes that I once fell for and found guilt swimming in them. "I am not going to force you to come with me, and give you as much time as you need to think about it. I may be leaving for New York tomorrow, but I will come back in a week for your answer. If you want to come with me, then you'll make me the happiest person on this earth and if not, I'll let you decide our course of relationship."

"Alright." I said, my words coming out shaky. I needed time to think about this and having space from him would definitely help me come to a conclusion.

"I think I should leave now." He said, looking around before settling his gaze on me. He leaned in for kiss to which I kissed back only for few seconds before pulling away. "Can I give you a ride back?"

"No. I think I'll stay." I informed him.

"Okay." He said and left.

I slouched in my position, heaving out a shaky breath as he walks away. I hugged myself as few more tears escaped my eyes. I quickly wipe them off before anyone could realise. Slightly turning in my seat, I watch him disappear from the garden.

I met Jackson in a club. I remember that day as if it happened only a day ago. That day I was really frustrated and wanted to drink it away when he suddenly walked in. I remember glancing at him once before proceeding at crying over my failed job hunting. As if noticing my bad mood, he came over and sat next to me, not saying anything, occasionally throwing curious glances at me. At one point, I was so aggregated by his suggestive glances that I almost snapped at him. Though, I could not complete the curses that were lined up in my head because of his smile. He had dimples. I swooned at the sight of it with my anger washing away. He initiated a conversation that flew freely, taking so much time that we did not realise it was midnight. We exchanged numbers with a promise to keep in touch. We followed through our plan and became friends. Slowly, this friendship turned out to be more. Jackson asked me out and I said yes. We had an amazing time together. We talked about future plans and what we wanted in life. More importantly, we wanted everything to be in each other's presence. He turned out to be my lucky charm because as soon as I met him, I landed my job at King Inc., my current company.

He was all that a woman would look for in a boyfriend. He was sweet, caring, charming and respectful. There has been times when he loses his patience, but even in those time he never really disrespected me. He has been understanding and open. So, his action of leaving to New York without my presence in it, left me in a turmoil. I was thrown off guard. All I could do was watch an amazing man as him walk away.

What I also failed to see was a conceited man standing at the back, observing everything that unfolded a few minutes ago with a glass of champagne in his hand. And that Jackson leaving would change everything in my life and turn it upside-down with events that I never in my million years would have imagined to happen.

**

So, here is the first chapter in the story of Nate and Marisa. Share your opinion guys, I need them! Until then.

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