The Gala Night
Arabella’s POV
Everything seemed perfect, down from the interior designs of the hall to the exotic guests who were all dressed for the occasion, this was a memorable night for my family, it was a night to honor the death of my mother and open a new beginning in our lives, tears got stuck in my eyes as I looked at the painted image, she was nothing short of beauty and intelligence.
"I will always love you my dear Arabella, you're a reflection of my soul" her words still echoed in my ears as I gently wiped my tears off silently.
I grabbed a shot of whiskey from the waiter, and with each sip, i was determined to forget my pain for at least a second.
"Hello Miss Arabella" a masculine voice called out to me from behind, startling me from my deep thoughts, his Italian suit screamed elegance and wealth, his looks were astonishing and sexy.
"The legend is true, you are as beautiful as they say, it's my pleasure to meet you and I must sincerely express my condolences, losing a mother can break even the strongest heart in the world" he added, bringing my hand close to his lips to press a tender kiss.
"Thank you Mr..."
"Mr Sinclair, David Sinclair" he revealed sharply with a smile etched on his lips.
"I do appreciate your concern and I hope you do enjoy the event but I have to leave now"
"Perhaps we can talk some other time, I would love to listen to you and get to know you better," he said, holding tightly to my hand.
"I'm not interested!" I replied harshly, yanking my hand off his tight grip, I could see the look of shock and disappointment in his face but he quickly covered it with a smile.
The orchestra didn't fail in their job to supply melodious tones while I sat alone, taking more shots of whiskey than I could count, my heart ached me as I tried to hide the burning sensation under my skin, I wasn't myself for sure, the chains of my heart could break at any second as they held the weight of a thousand pain.
"Arabella, what are you doing to yourself?!" I could hear my father's scolding voice as he squeezed my glass of whiskey.
"This event is hosted to honor your mother and reveal some of her heirlooms which will be passed down to you as her precious daughter, this is no time for you to get yourself wasted!" he scolded me with a grumpy look on his face as our eyes met.
"I'm in pain, father, she didn't have to die like that, I lost the only woman I care about!" I yelled, almost drawing a little attention to our conversation as some guests turned around sharply, their eyes searching for a new controversy to gossip about.
"She was my wife too and I loved her more than anything in the world, we can't undo the past but we can start a new beginning. Allow yourself to heal Arabella, stop holding the pain, it's killing you and you know it!" he said, his words almost penetrating my heart.
"This Gala Night is filled with exotic guests, I suggest you try to make some connections too, I'm quite displeased by how harshly you spoke to the senator's son, that doesn't speak well of your manners. We are more civilized than that" his grumpy tone echoed in my eyes like an everlasting torment.
My anger flared up in seconds as I stared into the eyes of my father, all he cared about was money, fame, and connections. He loved business more than family and I hated him for it, his quests to be better than his rivals always ate his soul away like a disease.
"I have no interest in speaking to the senator's son, but if you crave a conversation with him, then he's all yours, after all, you find opportunities in almost every relationship" my response turned his expression to a frown, hearing the truth never sat well with my father, not even for a moment.
"I can see that look in your eyes, you are still clinging to the past, you're pissed your childhood lover isn't here, you still miss that boy, Damon"
Those last words struck me hard like lightning and that was the height of it, I couldn't take any more of my father's insensitive words.
"You have successfully ruined this Gala Night for me, perhaps you should enjoy the evening alone with your guests, I'm going home father!" I lashed out in anger and walked away, my heart racing as the attention slowly turned to me, I didn't care about their opinions either.
"Take me home Walter!, I have had enough of my father for one night!" I yelled at my driver in frustration but he never moved an inch as his eyes feasted on my face like a vulture waiting to feed on my carcass.
"The convoy isn't ready Miss Arabella and some of the security guards are in different positions at the moment" Walter revealed
"I don't need the convoy, I just need you to drive me home, I'm not in a good mood at the moment" I spoke softly, trying to ease my anger and just leave the premises in one piece.
"I can't ma'am" his decline fell hard on my face.
"Walter!, get in that car and take me the hell out of here!"
"Enough with your tantrums Arabella, the family heirloom is about to be revealed, you're not leaving anywhere!"
"You only care about flaunting your wealth and accepting donations for tonight, I can see it in your eyes father, you never loved mom the way I did" I whispered as I got close to his face, he slapped me hard as tears streamed down my cheeks.
"You can go home if you want and I will have some of the security guards accompany you..."
"I don't want anyone accompanying me, tonight, I want to be left alone with my thoughts, I will take a cab home father" I interrupted my father before he could say another word.
"I know how you feel my dear..."
"No you don't, just leave me alone for tonight" I screamed at him as tears rolled down my cheeks, more preying eyes stared at us and I could see the tiny goosebumps on his skin as my father grew uncomfortable by the minute, he walked out on me and I walked out of the gate with grief having me on chokehold
I soon found myself walking alone for several minutes with no one in sight, just street lights and a shadow of my wrecked self on the road but soon, I noticed a guy in black hoodie, his face covered and his hands tucked in his pockets, he followed me, turned whenever I turned, he matched my speed and followed me too closely, my chest thundered as I quickly turned to the next alleyway I could find, I was prepared to run like my life depended on it when I found another man wearing same hoodie approaching from the front.
They had me cornered with no hope of escaping, and fear gripped my soul at once as tiny goosebumps appeared on my skin. I tried to speak but my lips were shaking with utter fear and confusion, the cold evening soon became too hot as sweat gathered on my forehead, this was pure reality.
"Empty yourself and no one has to get hurt!" a deep voice thundered from my back as he approached me carefully, each step making my blood rush with adrenaline.
"I have nothing on me, please don't harm me, please!" I cried out as I went on my knees, begging for my life, I watched as one took out his dagger and the other took out his gun, my life flashed before my eyes like a cinema, will I have my life cut short in this manner?.
"I find that hard to believe dear, perhaps your father will pay a good ransom to have you return home to his caring arms, you come from wealth after all" the leader spoke with confidence as two of them approached me, I tried to run but I was caught and punched to the ground.
I screamed for help but that only angered them as one kicked me hard, watching and laughing as I groaned in pain with his gun aimed at my head, fear became my best friend in a second as I watched my life hanging from a thin thread.
"Leave her alone! a man screamed out loud in my defense as he came closer with a baseball bat in his hands.
"Why don't you pick a fight with someone your age!" the armed leader lashed out as his sidekick pinned me against the wall while they laughed uncontrollably.
The man in my defense dashed at them, i was struck with shock, he had no fear at all, what turned out to be a street robbery changed into a heated fight and in the blink of an eye, one man fighting like a Spartan to save hopeless stranger, I quickly grabbed my phone and took to my heels in a heartbeat.
"Run!" my superhero screamed as he held down one of the robbers, punching and beating life out of him.
The second thug tried to grab me but I pushed him hard and continued to run when I heard a scream from behind.
"No!!!" I turned around out of curiosity and fear, only to see a man jumping against me and the next sound I heard was a gunshot, i froze in a second, the hairs on my skin stood like an army as i dropped to the ground with a loud thud. The blazing sound of the police scared the thugs as they took to their heels while I struggled to move with a man over my body.
I pushed him to the side, only to realize he was shot, my hands soaked in his blood and I screamed at the top of my lungs in fear, he had taken a bullet for me, he saved my life in exchange for his.
"Call 911, Arabella" were the words that came out of his mouth before he passed out before my eyes.
"Please stay with me, please don't die!" I screamed as tears streamed down my cheeks while dialing 911 with my hands and dress covered in blood.