It’s Your Loss Novel – My fiance Rawle leaned down and pecked my best friend Lissa’s upturned lips. I stare at my mother, “You know?” My mother Chuckling, “of course, idiot” she retorts. “Everyone knows,” she laughs. “I can see that Rawle made a fool of you, yet again.” “Yet again?” I repeated softly. Then I see my fiance and best friend exchanging rings. My entire body felt numb. I need to get away from here! Turning around one last time, searching for the happy couple, my eyes met the eyes of the happy groom to be.
LEAH’S POV Left alone after entering the large ballroom that’s decorated in a light shade of pink and purple fabrics, balloons and streamers. I have to admit it looked absolutely amazing, with the full works but then again, it’s the ballroom of the grandest hotel in the city. I frowned when everyone I knew, stared at me with scorn? What’s going on with everyone? Where are my parents and why did they abandon me after our arrival and where’s Rawle? This function is being hosted by my fiance’s family but I wonder why he didn’t mention it to me when he dropped me off after a lunch date earlier this afternoon.
Looking around, I frowned when I saw Rawle walking hand in hand unto the large stage situated at the corner of the ballroom, with my best friend, Lissa? Something was wrong! What is going on? I heard shouts and applause but I still didn’t understand the full extent of anything, except my mother and my father were smiling at the couple who gazed adoringly at each other. Rawle? Lissa? As the applause died down, my chest tightened, when Mr. Ambrose, Rawle’s father accepted a microphone that’s handed to him by a DJ, whose stationed to the side of the staged.
Rawle leaned down and captured Lissa’s upturned lips. WHAT? Clasping my hand against my chest, I gasped, instantly covering my mouth, hearing the soft whimper escaping my lips, from shock as I stared at my fiance and best friend. I didn’t realize Rawle’s sister stood beside me until I heard her voice, mocking me. “They make a awesome couple don’t they?” She smirks at my demeanor which must be changing by the second. “What’s going on?” I whispered, tears already streaming down my cheeks. Reverting her eyes to the stage where her father stood addressing his guests and where her brother stood with Lissa, still gazing at each other. “My brother’s getting engaged to his girlfriend,” Evelyn smiles, eyeing me from head to toe with disgusted and scorn.
Staring at my parents once again, “they know?” I whispered, wiping my eyes, that’s fixated on my parents. Chuckling, “of course, idiot” she retorts. “Everyone knows,” Evelyn laughs. “I can see that my brother made a fool of you, yet again.” Evelyn adds. “He was suppose to fill you in at lunch.” Evelyn shrugs. “Yet again?” I repeated softly. Waving her manicured fingers at me, “guess Lissa wanted to ensure you witness her special day.” Evelyn smirks, her eyes fixated on her brother, my fiance and best friend, as they exchanging rings. My entire body felt numb. Hugging myself, unable to hold back the tears that’s flowing. There was a hearty round of applause as the newly engaged couple hugged and smooched in front of their happy guests, who shouted their love to them. Evelyn moved to walk away, then turn to smile at me with scorn, “by the way, I’m not sure if your parents mention it, but there’s no longer a job for you at the company.”
Cold dark eyes stared back at me. “Rawle made sure your desk has been cleaned and your belonging have been sent to lost and found, you can pick it up on Monday.” Evelyn smiled at how pathetic I must look right now, with hate. “Now run along and bawl your a-ss off, just don’t embarrass us further in here.” Turning around, Evelyn walked away towards the front of the ballroom, while I slowly backed away. Turning, I almost bumped into a waiter holding a tray of glasses filled with champagne. I need this to wake up! “Wait,” reaching out I stopped the waiter, who paused, giving me an impatient glare. Lifting a glass of the tray, I gulped down the bubbly in one shot, grabbing the waiter’s arm to keep him there, until I was done. Taking my fourth glass of the tray, I heard another female voice behind me with the same mocking tone as Evelyn.
“Leave some for my actual guests,” Mrs. Ambrose mocks me. Turning around shocked at her attitude towards me, since we have always had a good relationship. Smiling at the couple moving around to greet their guest, “they make a beautiful couple, don’t they?” Mrs. Ambrose, just like her daughter came to mock me. Staring at the two snakes whose sting is still burning from their poisonous venom. I smile wistfully, as the champagne kicks in. Staring back at the cold hearted woman mocking me, I nod, “yes, I never knew rattle snakes could look beautiful covered in pounds of makeup,” I retorted, taking no delight in the shock and embarrassment that seeped unto her flawless face, that up close reflects the one hundred pounds of make up she wore. Gulping down the last of my drink I turned and walked out, covering my mouth as I hiccuped, handing my empty glass to another waiter who walked by. My parents knew, was the only thought flooding my mind.
Why did they join with the Ambrose family to hurt and humiliate me like this. What did I do to deserve this? What did I ever do to Rawle, except love him? Pulling out my phone from the small clutch purse in my hand, with the one thought ringing through my head. I need to get away from here! Not just from the Ambrose family but my family and I need to get away quickly, before I break. While digging into my handbag, my eyes fell on the diamond engagement ring Rawle gave me last Christmas at a roma dinner in front of both of our families and now in front of both our families he has dumped me, crushing me in the process. Turning around one last time, searching for the happy couple, my eyes met the eyes of the happy groom to be. – Leah’s POV With Rawle’s eyes on me, I couldn’t make out from the distance if he was sorry that he hurt me or if he even cared.
As if in slow motion, I slid his ring off my finger, while we stared at each other, my face crumpling in tears and threw the ring towards him. Shaking my head in disbelief, covering my mouth, I turn and ran out of the ballroom without looking back. Pulling out my phone once again, I called a cab and walked unto the curb to wait for it, realizing I forgot to take my shawl that’s together with my mom’s. As I wait for the cab to arrive, I fought the urge not to turn around because if I did and Rawle didn’t follow me, it would kill me. By the time the cab arrived, he still didn’t seek me out and neither did my parents, especially my father. “Miss are you okay?” The cab driver asks politely. Staring at the cabdriver, confused at his question. “What?” I frowned. Touching his cheek, the elderly driver smiled politely at me. “Your tears.” He answered simply. Nodding quickly, I wiped my tears with the back of my hand. “I’m sorry, yes I’m fine,” I responded softly. “Where to?”
He asks but I still haven’t work out where to go from here. Turning to stare at the entrance of hotel with neither Rawle nor my parents in sight, my tears started flowing, once again. “Miss?” The driver calls to get my attention. Looking away from the entrance of the hotel, I wiped my eyes once again and politely give my home address to the cabdriver and leaned back in my seat, pinching myself to see if all that’s happened in the last hour was just a bad dream. Feeling the pain of my pinch, I started crying once again, covering my mouth to subdue my loud sobs. I could sense the cabdriver glancing at me through his rearview mirror but I couldn’t help myself nor could I stop the tears from flowing. I looked out when I felt the vehicle slowing down and stared at the mansion that’s been my home all my life, realizing that from this moment, it won’t ever feel like home again.
“Miss?” The cabdriver call me again. I have no idea what to do but I do know I can’t be here when my parents get home. Maybe they’re secretly hoping that I’m not here so they, like Evelyn and like her mother won’t have to look at me with scorn. “Can you wait for me?” Turning my eyes to meet the driver’s, smiling for the first time since I entered his cab. Staring at his meter, he turned back to me. “I won’t be long,” I promised and I exited the vehicle the second he agreed. Instead of using the front entrance, I walked to the side of the mansion, using the blind spots, as I tried to avoid the cameras because I don’t want to be tracked down. I entered the house and thankfully the servant’s are in their quarters since the family of the house are out for the evening. Entering my bedroom, I had no time to spare since I didn’t want to keep the cabdriver, waiting.
Grabbing a duffle bag, I pulled three working suits of the hanger and just a few underwear and bras and three sets of casual wear, one pair of working shoes and sneakers which I wore when I changed. I have not idea where I am going and I have to travel light, plus I didn’t want, should my parents actually care to notice any of my clothes missing. Stuffing the dress and jewellery I wore this evening in my bag, ensuring there is no evidence to prove, I returned home. Zipping my laptop into it’s bag, I pulled out my wallet and stared at my bankcard. This is traceable! Taking another carry on bag, I entered my parents bedroom and headed to my father’s safe, taking my personal documents, which my father would hardly miss, since I’m always using them. I stare at some cash stashed in the safe and wondered if he would miss much.
Grabbing a few stacks of cash, since mom is always taking cash from the safe, hoping it’s enough to help me until I get a job and apartment. Securing my parents room, without looking back I returned to my room packing some toiletries to last at least two days. Securing my room, as if I wasn’t even here, I exit the mansion the same way I entered, carrying my bags and laptop. Smiling sadly at the cab that was still on the road, I ran towards it as if it was my safe haven. “Thank you for waiting.” I started pulling out some cab fare from the cash I stole from my father’s safe and used clothing to secure the balance realizing it’s was piles of large notes that I stole. Gosh, how my life has changed in just two hours. I got dumped in front of everyone I know and love and now I’ve turned into a thief, stealing from my parents. Would they call the cops on me.
“Miss?” The cabdriver, called once again. I met his eyes, expectantly in the rearview mirror. “Where to?” He asks politely. Shaking my head, “I don’t know,” I whispered looking away, to stare at the building I felt safe in, because my father was here. Now? “You changed your mind?” The driver’s words broke into my thoughts. Frowning, “what?” I whispered. Nodding to the house behind the high walls, “about running away.” He responds politely. Unsure of how to respond, I look away again but stared straight ahead. “Umm, the bus station.”