CHAPTER 3: SNOWDROP

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You can't buy love..............

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Riven went back home that night in the same bad mood as the previous day. He was by the pool, still wearing his dress shirt, his office pants folded and legs in the pool. It gave him some sort of relaxation and tranquility.

His unsettlement was affecting his normal routine. He couldn't go a minute without thinking of Arabella's lips that begged to be kissed. Her long brown hair, that he wanted to inhale and her hazel eyes, that he craved to look into for warmth. The light in her called out to the dark in him. And it was driving him to the brink of madness.

"Master Riven, aren't you going to have dinner?" Agatha asked.

"No, I'm not hungry, thank you Agatha!" Riven responded rather dismissively. The old lady looked at him with concern. She had practically raised him, since his parents were always away, so she knew that something was bothering him.

"Are you okay my boy? Your thoughts seem to be far away." She asked, as she approached the young man, and sat next to him by the water.

"It's nothing Agatha. Good night!" He said, in a tone that meant end of discussion. He was a master of his emotions, he hated it when people knew what he was thinking or even feeling. For this reason he always kept a neutral expression on his face.

But how much longer until he couldn't wear his mask, and people could see right through him. All because of Arabella's hold on his "he didn't know what yet".

The old lady kissed him on the cheek, though he hated being given affection, and she went back to the house. But something told her it was about a girl. She had seen this with her son once, and that's why she was certain a girl was causing Riven conflict. She couldn't help the smile that played on her face, finally the young master would be engulfed with love. But this was a journey that he would embark on alone,....given his nature.

Riven remained outside for a while, flapping his legs in the water, gazing at the stars up above.

Little did he know, that all roads were now intended to lead him to love.

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Arabella got home finally after a long evening of looking for jobs, and a long day of dealing with Riven. She finally got an evening gig at a hotel, and the money was great too.

"Ara, is that you darling?" Her father called from the kitchen.

"Yes, it's me." She said, as she made her way to the kitchen where her father was.

"Dad, I got another job, at a hotel. That way, I can help better with the debt." She said, when she was finally in the kitchen. Her father stopped what he was doing and looked at her with concern.

"You don't have to clean up my mess sweetheart. With your full-time job, what time will you have for another job?" He asked.

"The store is not bringing in a lot of money Dad. Let me do this for you, please!" She pleaded.

"You have your whole youth ahead of you, trust me, this debt will suck the life out of you. Let me be a father and protect you from it." He said.

"This is the least I can do. And I hope you don't mind that I won't be helping much at the store." She said.

"Fine, you can help, but for only a month. And leave the rest to me." Steve said, and she nodded her head in agreement.

"Now go on, get to bed, you have an early morning. Good night sweetie."

"Good night Dad." Arabella told her dad, kissed him on the cheek and went to her room.

Their house wasn't that big, but it was comfortable. Her father's store was their main source of income, but for a while it wasn't doing well, and Arabella's parents kept that concealed. How many more secrets were they hiding?

Arabella enjoyed a beautiful night of sleep, she would need it, because this would be her last day when she would make any decision for herself....one that wasn't governed by dear old fate.

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It was about 2:00am in the night when Steve Gold's phone rang. He reached out to his bedside and retrieved it. He checked the caller ID and it was unknown. His heart instantly started to pound violently in his chest, as he was devoured by an aggressive fear. He answered it, knowing their would be gruesome consequences if he didn't.

The person on the other side of the phone said something that made the hairs on Steve's neck to stand and his body to develop goosebumps. He swallowed hard, and loud, enough for his wife who was a light sleeper to wake up.

When the call ended, Steve looked at his wife, his face mirroring utter fear, and his eyes glinting with tears.

"He found us honey, he found us!" Steve said to Paula as he started to sob. She hugged him and soothed his back.

"We will be fine, it's time for plan B." Mrs.Paula Gold said, but this time, it was her who sobbed, infact she cried harder than her husband. Steve in turn wrapped his hands around her and pulled her into a loving embrace, with the hope it would comfort her.

Mr. and Mrs. Gold didn't sleep that night, for they were afraid of what came next.

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In the morning, the sun light snuck through Arabella's half-opened curtains, and shone bright on her face, letting her know that it was time to wake up.

She moved her limbs languidly and made her way to the bathroom, inorder to prepare for the day. When she was done, she made her way downstairs to greet her parents before leaving for work.

"Ara, you're going to be late!" Her mom exclaimed, but with a chuckle.

"I know, my alarm didn't go off, again." Arabella said. As she wore her shoes, her father came from the kitchen holding a tray with pancakes and some juice.

"I hope you don't intend to go without having breakfast." Steve said.

"You know I can't stay dad, I will get something to eat at work." She said.

Steve set the tray down, and hugged Arabella python-tight, her mother followed suit in embracing her tightly.

"We love you Ara, very much." Steve said as he kissed her hair.

"Yes honey, always remember that." Paula said and kissed her temples.

They finally broke away and let her go to work. She rushed to get to the office, but she was already late, and that wasn't going to be good for her.

Arabella finally reached her office, only to find Riven sitting on her desk, his legs kriss-krossed and his arms crossed on his broad chest, making his muscles bulge out. His long hair was disheveled, like he had been running his hands through it in frustration. But that did nothing however, to his elegant look. Despite the fear that was growing within Arabella, she couldn't help but notice how handsome and extremely alluring he was.

"You're late Arabella. You're now down by 65%." He said in a tone that was as neutral as his facial expression. Then he went to his office.

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You can't buy love, but can pay heavily for it. Henry Youngman.

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