Amanda's POV 

I didn't eat breakfast and I also skipped lunch but I didn't feel hungry too . I wonder where Mr Reynolds was because he didn't show up since the morning . He was so busy all the time or maybe he just kept himself consumed with work so as to get away with everyday issues.

"Oh MY Lord ", I shouted in excitement on spotting Francis , Gina and Sonia . Well , the happiness was inexplicable as I experienced it after so long. I bounced on my bed as I replaced my sitting position into standing . I threw myself in Gina's arms and everyone leaned in for a group hug .

"So how is my girl ?", Francis winked.

"How do I look ?", I arched my brows whilst re-questioning . I tried plastering a fake smile over my face , I didn't want them to know how dreadful I truly was.

Sonia examined me for a while ,"Your face looks like a wreck , to be honest . Don't mind ", she pinched her lips so as to avoid herself from grinning. 

"Long story ", I folded my hands around my stomach ,"You guys tell me , what's up . How's my babies ? How's the yellow teeth guy Gina ?"

One thing I noted was Gina wasn't in a jolly mood like how she usually was . Her eyes were a bit swollen surrounded by dark circles . Maybe I should ask her directly about her problem , I could maybe solace her . "Gina , what's wrong  ? ", I glided closer to her and crooked my hands around her neck.

"Samuel and I are no longer together . ", I covered my mouth with my right hand which hung open .

"And ?", I tried digging. .

She pulled me closer and engulfed me into a hug . Francis and Sonia sat silently on the edge of the bed . "It'll be okay , please don't cry . Tell me everything in bits and pieces ", I pulled away and wiped away her tears . Small droplets of water took birth in my eyes blurring my vision . I just couldn't see her that way . 

Francis collided his palms with the back of Gina's hands and rubbed it to stop her from crying anymore . "What did that dick-face do ?", I calmed myself and breathed in . 

"He didn't allow me to talk with guys , Francis included . I tried objecting a lot bu-but ", she stammered so I passed over the water bottle to her , she took a small sip and continued "But once I warned him to stop his over possessive nature or else I'll dump him "

"And ?", I interrogated .

"He got so offended by the word 'dump' that he straight-forwardly slapped me in public , in the campus , in front of everyone . ", I passed her a tissue which was placed on the table beside my bed .

I raised my eyebrows whilst looking at Sonia and Francis directing them to do something to cheer her up . "So , Sonia , do you remember the golden rule ?", I questioned increasing my pitch on purpose . 

"Whaaaaaaaaat ?", Sonia exaggerated the word.

"Don't use one guy to forget another , use two or three because love always hurts ", I winked at Gina when she faced me . A small smile took birth on her lips . Francis walked through his knees and came closer to us .

"I can be the guy you can overcome him with ", he went closer to Gina and murmured "I am good on bed , remember ?", I slapped him playfully on his arm and Gina did the same .

Sonia watched us from afar and pouted  ," Am I third-wheeling ?".

"Of course not ", I crossed my legs and for once forgot everything which was going on in my life. 

"What about you France and Sonia ?", okay I was digging a lot but I wanted to know everything I missed in my bestfriend's lives . "Don't dare hide ", I warned both of them .

"Day 1 I slept with Rosy , Day 2 she dumped me . The third day she came back again asking for forgiveness but I avoided her texts and calls and warned her to stay away or else I'll open our case in front of her boyfriend , so she left ", I watched him in amusement.

"You slept with a girl who already had a boyfriend . Oh my God . You're such a pervert , Ew ", he grinned while looking at me.  I turned my attention towards Sonia wanting her to continue her part . She blushed , it could be seen as her face was glowing. 
"He uh . Umm , Dan and I are very close . He introduced me to his family , we got along with each other really well during his mother's birthday "

"Someone's got promoted so fast ", I smiled genuinely.

"Yeah , it's kind of official between us . Thank you Amanda for match-making , if you wouldn't have forced us for that dance , we would've never got along . Can't thank you enough . I never really believed in love before I met Dan . He truly made me believe in it . No it isn't easy , we pay a price for it but we don't mind paying it . It changes our perception to look at the world , everything seems so wonderful and colorful after experiencing it ", her cheeks were reddened automatically .

"Another impure lady in town ", Francis interrupted her awe moment. 

I diverted my attention towards Gina and paved my way towards her ,"So what's happening in college ?"

She unlocked her phone and swiped some images , showcased one to me whilst forwarding it in my direction "A project ?", I pouted making an air quotation . 

" I'm in exile , long story ", I shrugged "Don't know if I'd be able to come ".

"I miss you , I miss us ", Gina hugged and then every one joined in . I didn't tell them about the things I was going through , about how I loved someone so tenderly and that someone cheated me .

The three of them took small steps towards the exit , "Oh wait ", I ceased them from walking anymore . They all turned around in synchronization , looked at my direction holding back to hear . 

"Who called you guys here ?"

Sonia was the one to speak up first ,"Your Mr Reynolds dropped a message on Francis's email , he wanted us to entertain you . He told us that why you have to stay with him . Francis forwarded us the recording in which he was having a talk with Mr Aaron so we decided to inquire about your well-being"

"And ?", I questioned intrigued.

"And , he sounded concerned . Like he has a thing for you . Why would he do so much for you ? You are just his secretary , think about it ", Gina stated half-smiling . "Oh ", I replied turning my head away , a tear rolled through my cheeks . I just expected that they were out of my room by now and to my contentment they were .

I cuddled the fluffy pillow around me . "You don't look much okay ", I titled my chin and met eyes with Francis . Why didn't he go like the rest.

"So?", he seated himself .

"So ?", I re-questioned .

"You're not okay . Tell me what's going on . Right now ",he commanded resting his hands on my shoulders . I half-smiled looking at his face , he knew that I wasn't truly sane . What on earth did I do to deserve such an amazing friend. 

I breathed in before dictating the whole story ,"I fell in love and I fell out of it at the same time .. I loved him so much , it consumed me . Fraudulently , he allowed James to have a night-stand with Samarrah . You know the consequences , right ?", I rested my head on his chest.

"Hey , shush . You'll be okay . I'm here now ", he twirled his hands around my waist patting my shoulders comfortingly . My tears soaked in his t-shirt , I pulled away feeling his breaths . Francis was always a brotherly figure to me no matter how much people considered our relationship wrong.

I kept silent , avoiding the tears to flow from my eyes . "It's very clear that he didn't mean to hurt you intentionally . He has a rough history , you just need to find out about it so that it may help you overcome this fact and concentrate on future . He's a nice man , I know because I had  talk with him several times "

"He paused for a while and then continued ,"You didn't love the wrong man. Time heals , remember ", he pulled me closer in his direction . I crooked my hands around his neck . It felt so lively to speak about what was going in my life with someone. I wanted to share the same with Gina but she was already going through a lot.

"Ahem ", we heard someone coughing , I distanced myself from Francis that very moment . Mr Reynolds stood there , his expressions denoting bewilderment. I gasped realizing what was actually going across his mind.

He arched his brows towards Francis , took small steps towards us and interrupted the silence ,"I guess, you should be leaving Mr Rutherfold ", he twisted his watch around his wrists .

"Trust me , I was about to . Nice to meet you Mr Aaron ", Francis smiled gesturing his hands towards him for a handshake .

Mr Reynolds's hands were in the either side of his pockets , he sarcastically smiled looking at Francis ,"I don't reciprocate the same feelings , though ", I collided my hands with Francis and shook it warmly so that it doesn't hurts his self-respect . He smiled looking towards me in my eyes one last time before leaving.

"Didn't know that you have a boyfriend ?", he shrugged looking straight in my eyes.

I pouted at his unanticipated statement ,"Really ? You know I shouldn't be giving any clarifications to you but I will anyways , he's my bestfriend "

"Bestfriend?", he repeated .

"Yeah but I so wish I could love him . He is selfless when it comes to serving his friends , he understands the fragility of one's emotions . I wish I could love him the way I ", I paused "The way I hate you ", I continued faking a smile . "Why are you here though ?"

"To check on you ", he answered.

"Well , now you certainly did so you should leave me alone ", his eyes traveled on the food -tray.

"You didn't eat anything , did you ?"

"I didn't . Is that a problem ?"

"I'll be waiting for you in the dining room . Dress up , freshen up and join me within half an hour. I won't encourage your tardy behavior", he looked at the time .

I watched him carefully folding my arms ,"I don't want to eat , with you or anyone . I can order my food online , if I am hungry . Bye ", he marched towards me with a poker face . 

"I said , I'll wait for you", he fake smiled as he rested his ass on my bed close to me . I pushed myself away . I gasped realizing his proximity towards me , my heart thumped and so did my ability to think . 

What was he upto ? If I agreed to his condition , he'll consider me his puppet i.e weak and fragile . I didn't want to project that image of myself in his eyes anymore. I wanted to take a stand on my decision and stay glued to it . Was that too bad?

He propelled his body closer to mine , he smirked creating a dimple on his right cheek . For a moment , my reflex stopped working after having an encounter with such an alluring face . "If you don't agree to eat with me ", his nose rested on mine , I could feel him breathe .

"If I do-don't ?", I stammered widening my eyes on his unexpected behavior.

"Then, I'll make sure you bath with me ", my heart raced in a multiplied speed . I tried to draw myself back but his hands rested on the back of my hair . I had no choice , did I ? But I couldn't just let him win anyway.

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I'll be posting a chapter every week. Stay tuned.

& also,  I want to keep  an unexpected personality of Aaron's which is why I try to decode him slowly and steadily after every chapter.  And,  I could've told his secret in the initial chapters but then it would've been a short story and not a novel.  Trust me,  I have everything planned and their love story will be worth the wait . I didn't want to add any clichè misunderstandings and triangles which is why I try thinking of concepts which can entertain you to the most.

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@complicatedjule  : This one's for you.