Chapter Three

Adrian

I ran my eyes through the documents on my desk. So much work to be done, guess I'd have to stay overnight today. My phone rang and I checked to see it was Ellie calling. The urge to decline the call was there, really strong but then, dad...

"Yes, Ellie,"

"Adrian! Come on, you didn't even greet me first, an hey or hello would have really been appreciated," she complained.

"Why did you call?"

"Well, I called to ask you the color of outfit you'd be wearing tonight at the party. I'm actually at the boutique right now and I want us to wear matching dresses, what do you think?"

"I think it's nonsense," I said.

Indeed, I really had a party to attend tonight and I was thinking at working overnight.

"Really Adrian? Maybe I should just ask your father to pick a color for us instead," she said, I could feel the annoyance in her voice as she spoke.

"Okay fine, blue," I said. It was way better than dad getting involved.

"Great outfit," Ace complimented at the event. I had gotten here, at the event, a while ago. It was really nice, great hall decoration and the arrangement was very demure. All young company owners were present and it was an opportunity to meet up with potential investors for TWI.

"Thanks," I replied.

"So finally, you're getting along with Ellie, I saw she wore blue too," he teased.

"Probably," I replied with a smile. I hadn't seen Ellie which was great, I hope she doesn't come to me before the event begins.

Ace excused himself and went to Claire. Claire was here too? I didn't expect she'd come since she was heavily pregnant.

I always wondered why someone as nice and perfect as Claire would choose to marry Ace of all people. Yeah, he was my brother but then, the truth was the truth. Neither was he a good brother nor a good husband. Love was blind after all, maybe that was why Analyn fell in love with an imperfect me too.

Thinking about Analyn , my eyes drifted to Caroline, Analyn's sister. She was talking to a group of men, she was in white suit, with a bossy kind of vibe.

Yes, Analyn and Caroline were twins but not very identical. Caroline was classy, hot, she was the tough kind of woman, the type that knew was she wanted and aimed at it. I heard she could get any deal she wanted through any means, whether by hook or crook. She was intelligent, very intelligent and rumor had it that she never took a no for an answer.

But Analyn was different, way different, yes, she loved fashion, infact, she was a fashion artist but I could never imagine her in suits. She was simple, really naive, timid, she could never talk to a group of men, let alone strike a business deal. She wasn't intelligent at all, I used to tease her for that. But then she was the only Analyn, no one could ever be like her. She was pretty in her own way, perfect in her own way. Where Caroline was hot and seductive, Analyn was cute and charming. She could give that lasting effect and you'd continue asking how you got addicted to her.

There was no way I could have ever chosen Caroline over Analyn, no way.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this event is about to begin, let us first make a toast for the governor, the organizer of this event," I heard the host say.

I went towards the table reserved for the Wens. Ace and Claire were already seated, I waved at Claire and joined them. Ellie surprisingly joined us shortly.

"I thought I deserved to be here since in a few month's time, I'd also be a Wen," she said to us when she was seated and all I could do was stare.

"Wow. I must commend your optimism," Ace told her and she smiled.

"Hi Claire," she waved at Claire before finally speaking to me.

"Hi babe," she said to me, the went ahead to intertwine my fingers with hers. I quickly removed my hands from her grip. Her face turned red but I smiled at her.

"Don't mess with me," she whispered giving a frown.

The event started finally, and after the speech by the governor, each special guest gave a speech. Ace did give a speech for the Wens, about TWI, The Wens Industries.

Caroline also spoke for the Laurels, she talked about how far the company had grown, despite the challenge that struck three years ago. Several other young business CEO's came too to give their speeches, the party was really boring and I couldn't wait to leave in a few hour's time.

"Now, we're going to welcome the CEO of lyn's fashion house. Lyn's fashion house which began two years ago in Chicago has been the talk of the town ever since its debut, having several branches in different cities of the world within a short time. And for the first time since its debut the CEO would be going public and that too at this event," I heard the host say.

Yes, indeed lyn's fashion house was really the talk of the town. How it started within a very short time was puzzling. People said the founder was a brilliant designer but nobody knew who she was. It was nice that I could meet her at this event, maybe I could make her a friend, she could be an investor at Wens in the future.

"And also, Lyn's fashion house would be taking the award for fastest expanding business in town . With great honor I'd welcome the CEO of Lyn's fashion house, Miss Analyn Laurel," I heard.

Analyn Laurel? Analyn Laurel? My heart pounced faster and for a while I stopped breathing. I joined the group of people who turned backward to look at her.

She was tall, slim, fair skinned. The black slim fitted red gown she wore gave full details of her perfectly curved body, her heels screamed elegance, her long flowing hair gave a copious definition of classy. She was everything a man could ask for. I looked at her face, this time my heart raced, it was Analyn, Analyn was alive?

It was as if my eyes did her walking as I didn't for a moment take my eyes off her.

She walked up the stage, smiled at the host and then to the audience.

"Hello everyone, I am Analyn Laurel, CEO of Lyn's Fashion house. Just as he said, this is the first time I am going public and it is really an honor to do so at this wonderful event organized by the governor," she was saying but I couldn't focus.

Analyn was alive, she was alive? Not only was she alive but she came back different, her accent, her gait, her aura, she was different. And she was the CEO of Lyn's fashion house. The Analyn I knew loved fashion but I could never imagine her owning a fashion house as envious as Lyn's. I quickly shifted my gaze to Caroline, her expression was enough to know that she just found out too.

The I looked at Ace, who was already looking intently at me.

"Are you okay, Adrian?" Ellie asked, she must have noticed how tensed I was.

"Yes, I am," I said without looking at her.

"Thank you all for listening," Analyn finally said before leaving the stage. She walked down the aisle and when she got to the exit, I couldn't help but stand up to follow her.

I soon caught up with her when she was outside but then her bodyguard stopped me.

"Let me go," I screamed at them.

She turned back to look at me and they let me go.

"Analyn, Analyn," I said to her eagerly.

She looked at me and gave a smile.

"Do I know you?" She said and I was shocked, hurt.

"It's me, Adrian,"

"Oh... You're Adrian? Adrian who? Nice meeting you Adrian," she said giving another smile. I was dumbfounded, I couldn't say a word, I could only stare at her.

"If you don't have anything important to say, I'd take my leave," she said before walking up to her car. I watched her enter into it and her driver drove off.

I stood there for several minutes before walking up to my car and driving home. Analyn was alive. This time she was even better, she had transformed into another Analyn, a new version that I already found myself falling for. Whether she was the old or new version, so long as it was Analyn, I was in.

Life has given me another chance to write my wrongs, another chance to make up for all I did. I finally had the chance to earn her forgiveness and tell her how much she meant to me.

But she didn't know me? Maybe she was just pretending, after all, I hurt her so much, her reaction was justifiable.

It doesn't matter, so long as Analyn was back, my new purpose in life was earning her forgiveness and eventually her love. My Analyn was back, it was the best gift life had given me since I was born.