Nathan's POV

I still was hoping that everything that i heard was a misunderstanding. The thought of last night made me feel betrayed. I opened the liquor cabinet in my office and poured myself a glass of whiskey.
Drinking my pain away. Thats what my father did when my Mum left.

Someone knocked on the door. I hid the glass.
It was Ananya. The pain in my heart rose the moment I saw her. The pretty picture we drew last night faded.
But i had let my thoughts go astray before. I need to trust her and let her tell me the truth. I calmed myself a little when she spoke.
"Are you alright? You look absolutely terrible." Her concern seemed genuine but  who can tell.

"Am ok. I didn't  see you since I left you and Alex to talk. All Ok now?"

Her body language shifted a little.
"No. I don't wish to talk about it at this time. Please."

"Alright!! Calm down. You were here for any reason?"

"I wanted to ask for the remaining day off. I am not feeling good. Wish to go home."
I closed my eyes. So this is the story you are making to ditch your boss, your boyfriend?
Neat! Play the 'i don't feel good' card.
"Sure. Do you want me to drop you home?"
"No. I will manage. What time will you be picking me up for dinner tonight?"

"If you are unwell we can postpone."

"No. I want to be with you. Tell me a time and I will be ready." She said.

"8 pm."

" See you then. Take care." She  came up to me and gave me a hug. I looked into her eyes, there was still no trace of betrayal in them. She gave me a kiss on my cheek before she left.

How does she manage to play games and still look innocent?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nathan turned towards the glass window and looked outside, still cursing the moment he fell for her.
A little drop of tear rolled down his cheek as he remembered how his mother left him for another man and how he is being played by the woman he loved for another man.
He hated women at that moment.
'I will never trust anyone ever again' he promised himself.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ananya's POV

Alex hurt me. If he doesn't want me in his life I will leave him alone. I don't wish to cause any further emotional turmoil in his life.
I was hurting and I wanted to spend some time alone. And there is only one place I would go when I felt really alone.
The cemetery.

I will tell Nathan everything today. He has every right to know.
But it will have to wait until after the dinner with his friend.

It was getting dark and I needed to reach home and get ready for dinner. I didn't realise what the time was. I may already be late. Nathan would be reaching in an hour.

I took a cab and reached home in a hurry.
My resolve to never bother Alex again broke something inside me, but that was what he wanted.

I reached home and to my surprise Nathan had already reached.
He would know I lied this afternoon. As i stepped into the living room, a worried Maa came up to me.
" Are you alright my dear? We were so worried."

"I am alright Maa. There is nothing to worry about." I tried to calm her down.

"Nathan told me you left work early as you were unwell. Where were you? We tried calling you but your mobile was not reachable. "
I knew i would have to face this question.
"Maa, we will talk tonight. Just know, I am alright. Now i need to quickly get ready for the dinner."
Nathan was standing at the onset of the stairs with his hands folded and looked in a terrible state for some reason.
"Nathan, I can explain. Please give me a chance."
"Trust me I am sure you have a very good reason. But lets just get over with this dinner and we can talk. I want to speak to you myself. I am just glad you are feeling good now."
He sound blunt. His voice was devoid of any emotions.
I knew I was the reason. I just nodded in agreement and climbed up the stairs to get ready.
I chose a black asymmetrical shoulder dress with a zip line at the back and which ended just above the knees. I quickly put on some basic makeup and tried to avoid any further delay. I let my hair loose, just the way he liked it.

As i descended the stairs i saw Nathan looking at me, but he had this strange look on his face. He didn't speak a word about how I looked.
I wondered if he was still going to be angry on me for the afternoon.
I couldn't wait to speak to him after the dinner.

We said good bye to Maa and left for The Palace.
Nathan was unusually quiet the entire time. He just answered my questions with a yes or no.
I touched his hand and he just pulled it away. I did hurt him bad.
"Nathan, i can explain. Lets just talk after dinner."
"Sure." He answered without even looking at me.
He poured himself a glass of champagne and finished it in one go. He repeated this for the next 3 glasses until we reached the hotel.
The wave of guilt drowned me. The time was passing rather too slow now.
When we reached the rooftop restaurant, the weather was amazing. A gentle breeze was blowing and it made me feel a little cold.
Nathan's friends had already started.
He introduced me to Robert, his girfriend Lisa,Daniel and his girlfriend Andrea, and Mike.
Both Nathan and I were lost in our thoughts while the other couples showered us with compliments.
Lisa was a tall blonde and looked more like a Victorias secret model. She sat next to me, to make me feel comfortable. I was rhe only one the table who was not drinking.
I lost the count of how much Nathan had had to drink.
It was just after the main course that i asked Nathan to stop srinking anymore. He already looked quite high.
"Nathan, I think you should stop drinking now. You have already had enough, don't you think?"
I was concerned for him. But he was in no state to listen. He placed his arm around my shoulder and whispered in my ear.
"Did I ever stop you from doing what you wanted?"
He continued talking to his friends just after finishing this sentence.
Lisa understood my discomfort and tried to occupy his mind with a different topic.
"Hey Nathan, how did you convince Ananya to go out with you?"
Nathan laughed out loud and looked at me. His one arm still around my shoulder and other holding a glass of whiskey.
" Lisa, Lisa, Lisa..  this is the reason you are ny favourite. You ask the right questions at the right time."
Nathan's voice was a little shaky now, and I could see how he struggled to even keep his eyes open. But what he spoke next shook me completely.
"You know, It was very difficult in the start to convince her. She had a line of billionaires waiting for her. And I was at the end. But I guess the highest bidder always wins. You pay her more and she is yours."
I stared at him in disbelief. It was quite embarrassing for me and it certainly did nake others uncomfortable too. I decided to excuse myself, but Nathan held onto my hand.
"Oh am sorry. I was just kidding. Sit my love. Sit with me." His shaky voice spoke those words but I knew he didn't mean them.
To avoid any scene I sat back. I tried to make myself understand that it was the liquor speaking but this doesn't stop ny eyes from becoming moist.
Daniel saw me wiping my eyes.
"Hey guys, i think Nathan has had a lot to drink for tonight. I think we should call it a night and go home.
I will drop Nathan to his penthouse and will also drop Ananya." He understood to situation and wanted to put a break before it got worst.
"No! No! I will go with the love of my life. She wanted to talk to me. I guess she is going to tell me who was with this afternoon." Nathan fumbled with words.

I realised it was this afternoon, and my lie that led to Nathan drinking beyond control. He was disturbed. I thought I should talk to him before leaving.
"I think should drop him back. I will ensure he gets home." I agreed.

"You know, may be you should take Nathan to the Lisa's suite here in the Palace. She is anyways going to spend time at my place." Andrea suggested.

"That would be good. Thanks guys. It was nice to meet you all. Hope to see you soon." Nathan was waving at them. He declined Daniel's offer to help him to the suite. He just wanted me to come along. I didn't feel like leaving him there in that state.

Everyone else left, still worried how I would handle him all alone.
I managed to bring Nathan back the suite and helped him lay on the bed.
He was asleep by now. I loosened his tie and and took it off. I remoced his shoes and socks and opened the top 2 buttons of his shirt to help him get a feel of the air.
He was murmering random words which didn't make sense to me.
I stayed by his side sipping on the glass of coffee I ordered.
He partially opened his eye and reached onto him.
"Nathan. Do you feel ok now?"
"No. I don't. You hurt me."

"I know Nathan. I really am sorry. And i told you we would talk. But what you said on the table in front of everyone was very inappropriate."

He pushed me aside and stumbled towards the liquor cabinet.
"No Nathan. You have had enough to drink."
Nathan pushed me hard and I slipped and fell in the space between the couch and the table. The corner of the table hit me hard on the head.
It started to bleed.
But Nathan didn't stop. He took out a bottle of whiskey and gulped the liquid down.
He came back towards me before I could compose myself after the first fall and picked me with my elbow which was also hurt.

"Nathan stop. You are hurting me. Stop. Please stop." He pulled me up and threw me on the couch.
His eyes were red now and he didn't seem like Nathan anymore.
"I told you. I told you I hate cheaters. But you women are all alike. All you care for is money. I have money but I am not sure what pulls you more towards that bastard."
"What are you saying Nathan?"
"You lied to me to go and fuck that sone of a bitch? And you thought I wouldn't know. I heard you both speak.
You act like a virgin in front of me?! But you have sold it long time back i must say?"

I was drowning in my own tears. I was unable to understand what was happening and why Nathan was behaving this way. The pain and hurt was too much for me to handle.
"Nathan its a misunderstanding. Lets talk it out."
He pulled me up andheld me by shoulders.
"You want money right? Only then you let someone fuck you Ms.Donavan? I will give you money and buy your warmth for the night."
I slapped him as hard as i could.
" How dare you?! Let me go this instant Nathan." I screamed at the top of my eyes.
If he was angry before, he was boiling with rage now. He pulled me by my hair and dragged me to the bed, throwing me on the bed. The back of my dress was torn. My cry for help went unheard.
I screamed and screamed and screamed for help. But it wasn’t Nathan in the room anymore.

He pushed me so hard that my head hit the wall and everything blacked out. I closed my eyes as the warm tears continued to flow.