Chapter 6: The moment that changed everything

Half an hour later she was in her supercharged sports car driving to the location. She loved cars, they were wonders of technology, and ofcourse all of hers were modified to her own standards. Driverless if needed.

She parked her Koenigsegg in the mall car park and walked towards the book signing event. Just as she stepped off the escalator, a squeak, a cheer and a red faced excited Victor met her.

"Daaaaarling you're here!!! You must get a copy signed! And you must read the new book it's amazing!!!"

"mmm" she mumbled not in the least interested in whatever this book was about. Victor had forced her to read romance novels in the hopes it would turn her into someone with feelings, he said.

No luck, she found most romance books too predictable. There were only a limited number of plots that were over used. Sure some plot twists were funny but beyond that, too predictable. The characters were all the same, especially with mainstream authors. Same plot line, same female lead style if it was a female author, and always the same style of male lead. The overbearing, possessive and jealous type. Cold, ruthless…oh, I guess she fit the profile of the male lead better, but only up to a point.

Romance was just not her thing, but Victor insisted she would 'looooooove' the enemy to lovers book trope so she gave it a go. Just as she suspected… not her thing, at all.

Just as she was trying to organise the rest of the day in her head, thinking about how to get away from this situation, Victor stopped and squeaked again. They were in front of the author, and he was holding two copies.

"Who should I make this out to?" the voice of the woman got her out of her trance. It was musical, with a hint of an Irish accent. There was something mystical and powerful in the way she was carrying herself. She was wearing a beautiful sunflower dress that complimented her fiery red hair and porcelain complexion. She looked ageless, you could put her in any bracket between 20 and 40, but what really stood out was the way she looked at them, it was mischievous.

Riven somehow expected the lady in front of her to have green eyes to compliment the red hair, but the woman had the most interesting shade of grey purple eyes she's ever seen. Her thoughts started drifting away at how she could replicate that colour for one of her projects. It was beautiful.

Victor was lost in the woman's eyes as well, and he could not utter a word.

'Fine I'll help him one more time' She yanked the books out of his hand and confidently said: "Please make both of them out to Victor, he is a very big fan of yours".

The woman sighed "and you are not?" she asked with her musical voice.

"I'm afraid I'm not into the romance genre, but my friend speaks very highly of your books and your talent, I'm sure they're great." She tried to save the situation, clearly the woman could read her lack of interest on her face. Interesting, most people just accused her of having a constant resting bitch face.

The woman suddenly touched her hand as she was handing her the book. A strange current passed through their touch but she dismissed it. It must be static from somewhere. She shook her hand clearing away the feeling, and handed the woman the two books.

"I tell you what" the book author suddenly said " I will sign your friends books, but you have to read it, it's the least you can do now that he dragged you here, just look at his adorable face". The woman's accent was coming through stronger now and she could feel the magical sound penetrating her subconscious. What a strange woman.

"I'm sure I'll give it a go, at some point" she said thinking she'd be polite. She had no intention of even taking the book, but oh well, the pains she went through to help Vic.

Victor was beside himself " Omg! She said I'm adorable!!"

Both women giggled at his antics. He was so excited, like a puppy.

They took their signed copies and left the queue as people behind them were starting to get annoyed.

"Hmm, that's strange." Victor suddenly said."I don't remember you telling her your name".

"That's because I didn't" .

Victor looked a bit baffled. "Then how did she know to write 'for Raven' do you know her?! You know the most amazing author in the world of romance and you never told me?! And she knows your real name?!" Victor was now in full blown crazy fangirl mode.

"I don't know her, and I have no idea how she knows my name, but I'll look into it, this is a bit strange you're right."

"OMG OMG OMG!! You know her! Don't lie to me! Can we meet her again?! Can we arrange something! After I've read the book ofcourse, I mean…" he trailed off talking excitedly and she just decided to tune him out. ' what a day…'

Victor insisted that she take her signed copy home. It was hers. She tried arguing with him but to no avail, the man was determined to make her read it.

Later in the evening, she finally made it home after being dragged everywhere in the mall. There were lattes and then there was lunch and then there was shopping and then there was tea and… so many things, she was exhausted.

Her day was hijacked and now she needed to sacrifice her weekend and her sleep, yet again, to catch up with her plans.

In spite everything, she couldn't get the woman's eyes out of her mind. That colour was magnificent, she really should try to replicate it.

Finally in her bed with her cute pink fluffy pyjamas on, she decided to turn on the news. Nothing interesting on TV, no movies or documentaries, relaxing was hard. ' why would relaxing be hard' she thought, and then heard Victor's voice laughing and judging her' for a workaholic like you, only work is relaxing, daaaaarling.' Maybe he was right.

She was going to try. Today's meeting with that author was very strange , maybe she should read her book after all.

She took a deep breath and opened the book. The illustrations were minimal, clearly it was all about the written word. She started slowly reading and trying to get herself into the story.

It was now 4 AM and she had finished reading. She had mastered speedreading very early on in her life, so books like these were nothing for her.

"Just as I thought same old same old. Nothing new, but I do feel a bit sorry for that guy, the second male lead, he was better. He did dodge a bullet with the female lead though, too flimsy" she said outloud about to turn the last page of the book. It was blank. There was no ending.

' Didn't these books have a happy ending epilogue or something?!' she wasn't that bothered. The male lead and female lead got married, everything turned out ok, but she had notes! The plot holes were massive, sometimes the actions of the characters did not make sense. It felt like the second male lead was just not interested in the story, like he was not part of it. He had the makings of a male lead but the rest felt like it was just thrown in there to create some rivalry.' How unnecessary' she thought.

It felt like he was surrounded by so many idiots that he eventually became an idiot himself. And who in their right mind would be a slave to their family and obey everything they said. If her parents ever behaved like that she would give them a piece of her mind for sure. 'How ridiculous to force someone into marrying for alliances, what was this, the middle ages?!'

Not at all disappointed at the lacking last page, she threw the book on her desk and got ready for bed.

This was such a waste of time, and so badly written…