The Love From Vengeance

216: A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE

LUKE’S POV

1 had been driving around on my way to Andre’s company. I needed to talk to him, and I knew he would be there. Finally, I saw the familiar building and parked, bursting out to make my way

The receptionist greeted me with a smile and asked how she could assist me. “I need to speak to Andre,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

“Do you have an appointment?” she asked, typing on her computer.

“No, but it’s urgent. Please, it won’t take long,” I pleaded.

inside.

She looked at me for a moment before picking up the phone and dialing a number. After a brief

inversation, she hung up and told me to wait in the lobby. I thanked her and took a seat on one of the plush couches, my nerves getting the best of me.

I tried to calm myself down by focusing on the soothing music playing in the background. Minutes felt like hours as I waited. And where the hell was that guy? Why was he taking so long? Didn’t he know I had other things to do?

Finally, the receptionist called my name and informed me that André was available to see me. I followed her to his office. She knocked on the door before opening it and gesturing for me to come in.

Files and piles of papers were all around Andre as he sat at his desk. He looked up at me with a raised eyebrow. “Luke, what brings you here?” he asked, his voice laced with surprise.

“I need to talk to you, Andre.”

He motioned for me to take a seat in front of him. “What is it?” he asked, leaning back in his chair.

I took a deep breath before blurting out, “Ariel is alive.”

Andre’s eyes widened. “Wow, you’re being real now?

“Yes, I’m for real. I saw her and even talked to her.”

saw her?

I’ll stop there. But you just have to know that Ariel

a huge grin, and his eyes shone with tears. “That’s amazing news, Luke. 1 can’t believe it. She’s finally back; I’ve missed her

why I

need to celebrate this. Let’s go out

but I have to go now. I just wanted

216. A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE

this, Lake,” Andre sald, getting up as well.

you some good news. You know what we had to

won’t forget those

terrifying, wasn’t it?”

Andre said in hushed tones. “So you’re not going

got a meeting to

hands

knew that Ariel was alive. But as for me, I needed to

with the CEO. Today was the day we would discuss whether we would carry out a project together. I took a deep breath and

acting like she didn’t see me. I couldn’t stress about what she was doing here.

say anything, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I was afraid of rejection, clearly remembering what happened the last time we met. So I just stood there, stealing glances at her every now

like an eternity, I finally broke the silence. “Ariel,

at me, her expression cold. “Don’t start

for minutes. She did the same, but I kept staring at her beautiful face and looking at her wonderful hair.

when the elevator began to shake violently, causing both of us to lose our

think it’s just a minor earthquake,” I

as the shaking continued, Ariel’s panic began to rise. “Oh

her eyes, and I knew I had to do something to calm her down. I reminded her of the time when we were both trapped in an

time we were trapped in an elevator, and you were in a panic?” But we got out of it, didn’t we?

was beyond reason. She began to hyperventilate, and I could see her starting

A SIMLAR EXPERIENCE

to do something