“VICTORY is sweetest when you’ve known DEFEAT”

ROSE POV.

Shock was understandable, the arrogant, selfish, coldhearted the oh so great zyan Bruce, standing in front of my door in his glory.

' But why is he going to murder me in my house and than leave my body in my bedroom.' What if he cut your lungs and sell them, he will get a good price.' my conscience stated.

" your lungs are not worthy much" he said stopping my train of thoughts.

" what" I ask. "Your mumbling" he answer I mentally slap my head for making a fool of myself again. I really need to do something this started to embarrass me.

"Move" he said "what are you doing here" I ask crossing my hand, making my face emotionless. He didn't reply.

He roll his eyes , he raise his hand mid in a air , " hey what are y-- he push a little not so hard but to make a space for him to enter. I huff in announce and close the door.

He sat on my couch waiting for me " what do you want mr. Bruce" I ask watching his face carefully for any emotion but like always emotionless.

"Why didn't you answer my calls"he ask .

" because I don't want to " reply folding my arms in my chest.

" it's about today's-- " No I cut him off.

He signed " I want to explain" he said looking at my eyes.

" explain what" I ask boringly.

" about today" he reply.

" I am not intrested, you can save your explanation" I reply try to make my voice as cool as possible.

" no you have a right to know " but I held my palm to stop him. Why he is behaving like that, we are no one and it's not like that we are best friends not even a friend so we need a confession session.

" oh you don't have to" I said and take a chair far from him. My heart telling me to listen whatever he has to say but my mind another.

' really' my conscience mocked. ' What' i said defending.

' it's you who don't want to listen ,stop blaming me' my conscience mock. ' I am not' I snap back and divert my attention to him, who is looking me like I have grown two heads. really need to do something. I make myself comfortable on my seat.

He signed " what you saw today it's not true" he said calmly. " she come to me and try to sedu-- I cut him off

" I already told you mr. Bruce you don't have to explain yourself, it's your life you can do whatever ." I said boringly but only I know how it irritated me when I saw her clinging in his arm like leach and he didn’t look like minding at all.

" Rose -he signed again - she is my family friend daughter and kind of having liking to me-

"We are in contract marriage you don-

" stop cutting me off" he spat angrily standing up , he take fast stride toward me. My eyes widen at his sudden change in behavior . He is giving me so so angry type of vibes. he is normal a second ago now he is shaking with anger. What the hell is my chain of thought again broke by his hand pulling me furiously to him caging me in his arms. " what the I was about to say but one stern look and I shut my mouth.

" I very well know about contract between us you don't need to remind me, I came here to explain but its look like you don't give a shit about anything" he said looking at my eyes furiously. And as he command no interruption, I didn't say any word just stare at his eyes which shown so much anger.

"But now I won't explain" he loosen his grip on me and push me back I stumble a little but composes my self , he rub his forehead and close his eyes he take deep breath and look at me.

"I-I he sigh again and leave. I stare at his retreating back. Once he was gone, I let out a breath which I didn't realize I was holding. I hop down thinking about what happened. After thinking about a lot finally I head to my bedroom and drifted to sleep but not before wasting another hour thinking.

'Two days later'

I woke up at six, not a good thing I know. I head to bathroom but not before making my bed. I enter in bathroom and look at myself in mirror. Bags under my eyes with good amount of dark circles. My eyes shows lack of sleep. Yeah I woke up at night , because of my nightmares. I don't know what trigger them. Sighing. I did my business. And come out.

Shuffling through in my wardrobe, I pick a blue pant with white button up shirt. Putting my hair in a ponytail, I apply a natural makeup but its go to vein because of these dark circles, I hide them with concealer, taking my bag and phone. I head to kitchen not wanted to make anything I fill a glass of orange juice and gulp down.

Locking my house I head to elevator to down. I still have an hour so I walk to nearest park and sat down on a vacant bench, admiring nature.

After an half an hour I hailed a cab not wanted to take a bus. I sat inside and stare at people who is walking hurriedly for their work or college. Once I reach I paid my ride and walk inside making my way directly to Mr. Black office with his coffee in my hand . Stacey is nowhere , again late . She is the new secretary of mr. Black it's been four days from her joining , she is a decent and sweet girl ( I forgot to inform about her in my previous chapter).

I greet him and gave him his morning coffee, we talk a little and I walk back to my cabin and start doing my work, stace came running.

" sorry I am late aging" she apologizes.

" it's ok but don't be late next time, mr. Black is a punctual man and he like his employees to be punctual" I said and she nodded giving me her sweet smile . Soon we thrown towards work I teach her everything to how to do and she listen patiently. She is a fast learner.

It was our lunch time and we head to lunchroom when my phone buzz. It's from colt. I knit my eyebrows in confusion, I told stace to go and answer his call.

" hey colt" I greeted him. We become a good friend in time being.

" oh hey rose" he said " I want to talk to you".

" ok" I reply. " can we meet outside the cafe of your office" he ask.

" yeah sure" I reply.

" good come down, I'll there in 10 minutes" he said " bye".

"Bye" I said and cut the call. I inform hailey and stace that I am not having lunch with them. head back to grab my bag. And out of building. I enter the cafe and sat on a vacant seat waiting for colt. Exact 10 minute he came and sat in front of me.

" hey" I said and he reply " hii".

" what do you wanted to talk" I ask getting straight to the point.

" first let's order something" he ask and called for waiter. Soon the waiter place our food and leave.

" so" I ask. He sigh. " I wanted to talk about zyan" he said and my mood changed to sour.

" what about him" I ask putting my fork back.

" the girl you saw" he clear his throat " it's not what it look like".

" I am not interested in it" I said sternly.

" listen me first" he said . I roll my eyes but nodded.

" well the girl you saw that day she is his father close friend daughter " he said .

" I know" I reply.

" whatever" I said and started eating my food.

" as I said his father's friend daughter, her name is Victoria, and also zyan childhood friend" .

" are you here to tell me about his childhood sweetheart" I ask sternly.

" geezer woman listen first, now I realize why he is so furious". He whisper yell. I scoffed.

" as they join college together they become quite close friends more like benefits type" I open my mouth to comment but he spoke " but he took over his father position he spent less Time with her, she always try to be with him but he don't want to because of some unknown reason which I don't know. He distance himself from her and break contact with her. He talk to her father and make him to send her abroad because she always try to stuck with him. she came back after 6 years and he avoid her but she show up at his office that day ". He take a glass of water and gulped down.

I was another hand listening with interest and also shocked that I didn't interrupt him.

" she get to know he is going to get married. She wanted to break this marriage because she love him, but he didn't" he quickly add.

" what you saw, I know you think they're doing that there I can't judge you everyone thought the same but she is the one who is trying to kiss him, he didn't and when he's about to do anything we came" he sighed.

"I am not saying to trust someone who is strangers to you but you know he is not completely strangers, if you can't trust him but at least try to understand him a little" he make himself more comfortable in his seat, checking my reaction he sighed.

" you know why he ask you to marry him in two days" he ask and I shake my head in no.

" because of some people are after you" he reply and I look at him with wide eyes.

"M- after me, b--but why" I ask feeling panic.

" he is a successful businessman rose, and have many enemies, you can't say when what happened".

" he make this marriage as confidential as he could but some get to know that include Victoria". He take a hold of my hand reassuring me.

" don't worry nothing will happen to you, just talk to him and short out things not as true finance but as a friend. You know his parents force him to get married to a decent girl and he find you" I just nodded at everything he said. Now I feel like jerk to him. I nodded my head.

He smile " good now finish your food before it get too cold" he said and dig in. I also follow his suit . When we are done we walk out , he started to walk towards his car and open its door when he turn.

" give it a chance" he said and I give a single nod. He smile and sat inside stroll in rode. I sigh and made my way to my office, I teach stace her work and did mine, i complete my work quickly because i want to meet him. i check time in my watch its shows five. packing my things and bid to stace. I text hailey telling her about my leave . i quickly hailed a cab to his office.

i reach in 30 minutes , paying my ride i head to the building, when i enter the same receptionist , she stood and bowed a little learn from last lesson i thought . i quickly enter in elevator, when i reach up, i spotted no one, i search for mazekeen his assistant but she was nowhere, i sigh and sat on the chair which is available for waiting person. half an hour and there is no sign of him. i wait again. two hours pass and he is still not here, i took my bag make my way to elevator when doors open, and walk out, the man who i waited to meet for damn two hours.

when he saw me he didn't said anything just enter his office and slam the door. His assistant watch his door and then me. i sigh.

" is there any problem" she ask. i nodded and said " a lot of ".

" then you must clear them, because he is giving everyone hard time" she said indicate me to his office. i gave her little smile and knock twice.

" come in" said in deep voice. i close my eyes and open again mentally preparing myself i enter.

" we need to talk" i said.

(20 minutes later)

Now I am sitting in his office , preparing my self what to say while he stare at me like I grown two heads. He finally decide to meet me but that jerk really make me to wait for fucking two hours , I push this aside and try to focus on what to say . I was debating myself when his broke the silence.

" you decided what you have to say, Ms. rose" he ask boringly. Well he will feel bored I was sitting here fiddling with my fingers from half an hour gulping two glass of water. It's so irritating, i prepare myself when i was in elevator now what , It is so damn difficult to say just a sorry. I hate it but it's my fault I jump on conclusion without hearing him.

" ms. Rose" he again ask sounding irritated. And I look up at him, his green eyes staring at my brown orbs, I just stare at him taking his feature his pointed nose strong jaw and those lips you can die to --

" click a picture" he said smirking at me, I gave him awkward laugh trying to hide my embarrassment.

" ah I-- I --am he- here" I shutter, damn you again make yourself fool.

" I don't have whole day ms. Rose if have something to say then say it if not than you can leave" he said and start doing his work. I close my eyes and take deep breath.

I open them and look at him who is busy in his computer.

" I am sorry" finally said. " for what" he ask still looking at his computer.

" that night when you came, and try to expl-" I said but he beat me in it.

" its has nothing to do, I get your point-- "

" here me first" I said irritated but realize I again cut him off.

Sighing I said " look I know I judge you and ignore your calls and when you came to explain I push you off which is rude I get it . That time I didn't know anything and just thought you are doing some you know that I- I just got irritated and behave like a brat , I know I shouldn't push your patience like that and I am really sorry for my behavior, I'll marry you in two days if you want I won't complain, I didn't know Victoria was forcing herself on you and I believe what I saw , i am really really sorry, ok" i release a breath which I was holding and look at him , his face amused but he make it emotionless in a second, he stare at me not saying anything. I broke the silence.

" if you don't want to forgive I won't fo-"

" who told you about her" he ask.

" colt" I answered.

" traitor " he said under his breath but i heard it , clenching his jaw. His aura held anger , I look down at my hand. No one spoke a single word . After some time he calm himself and started to do his work and sat there for a minute thinking maybe he would say anything but he didn't.

Standing from my seat, I took my bag and head to the door ready to leave when he spoke. " sit we are going out in an hour" he command and get himself busy in work, I sat on a couch looking around a bit, that man really spent his money in right place. I play some games in my phone and watch some videos to kill time.

I was so busy in the video that i didn't realize he stood just an foot away from me. I look up to meet with his piercing green eyes. Some times i feel like they can burn me in instant but at the same time calm my nerves. I don't know what to feel even.

" come " he said and started to walk outside, I follow him soon we we were outside of his building. He told his driver to leave and sat inside his car.

' what a gentleman' I thought and sat in passenger seat. He start the engine and it roar to his life. we reach a fancy restaurant. he stop his car make got out and me behind handing keys to valet. we head to inside a waiter guide us to our seat. he didn't ask name maybe he know him of course he knows after all he is zyan bruce the millionaire.

once we seated he order food and i mine. we ate in silence, more like force whenever i try to talk he do eveything to avoid. i gave up at the end and ate silently.

he pay the bill and we head to his car again silence surrounded us. I was lost in thoughts that didn’t realize, when car stopped and he got out, door open and a hand stretch out. i look up at him frowning, his face still emotionless. i take it and come out. he lead me to my house( apartment but i like to call it house/home) we enter in elevator and he press third floor. all alone his hand still holding my hand i just look at him puzzle.

A ding sound and door open he led me to my apartment door. he search something in his pocket and took out a set of keys and open my door. i stare at him with wide eyes. he have my house keys, how.

" go inside" he said the first time. i just stare at him not moving from my place. he enter inside with me.

" Don't pressure your little head" he said making me come out from my thoughts. i open my mouth to say but he spoke before I could.

" And don't worry about anything, we'll get married as you said in two weeks and i won't change it" he said and i stare at him in shock not because of what he said but its because of his sudden action. he wrap his hand around my waist and hug me tightly.

" i forgave you, i never blame you because you don't know anything". he said and buried his head in my neck. i stood there processing every word when i didn't hug him back he started to lean back but i quickly wrap my hand in his neck , hugging him tightly. it felt good , its the first time i am in his arm and its feel safe and forget the butterflies which started to grow more in my stomach. we pull apart after five minutes.

he smile showing his perfect white teeth, seeing his smile, I smile automatically.

" Sorry" i apologize again.

" there is nothing to apologize again, you look hot when you are jealous" he said chuckling making me blush.

“ hey, I am not jealous” I said defending myself.

“ok your not” he said and kiss my forehead. i close my eyes feeling his lips on my skin. i open my eyes to meet with his . we stare at each other when he broke the contact an move backward. clearing his throat.

" i should leave, Goodnight Rose" he said and walk out , i held the door and said " you too Zyan". he smile and head to elevator and enter and i watch his back . he smile seeing me still there, when elevator doors closed, i closed mine and change my clothes but not before taking a peaceful shower, the memories flashes and a sudden thought came what if we are not a contract couple, what if we love each other. A sudden thought mke me sad and i shook them quickly.

'where did this come from' i thought. i lie down on my bed and sleep with smile on my face.