401: ASSERTING AUTONOMY
ARIEL’S POV
Feeling the tap on my shoulder, I turned to see a man standing there, his gaze fixed on me with a curious intensity. His demeanor was confident, almost bordering on cocky, and I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of unease at the way he was looking at me.
“Excuse me, miss. Can I have a word with you?” He asked, his voice smooth and persuasive.
I hesitated for a moment, unsure of what he wanted, but eventually nodded in agreement.” Sure, what do you want to talk about?” I replied, trying to keep my tone neutral.
The man wasted no time in launching into his spiel, his words flowing effortlessly as he explained that he was a talent scout for a modeling agency. He went on to praise my appearance, complimenting my features and telling me that I had the potential to be a successful model.
I couldn’t help but giggle at his flattery, feeling a mix of amusement and disbelief at his audacity.
“Thank you for the compliment, but I’m really not interested in all that,” I told him, shaking my head.
But the man seemed undeterred by my refusal, continuing to extol the virtues of a career in modeling and how it could change my life for the better. He painted a picture of glamorous photo shoots, exotic locations, and lucrative contracts, all of which sounded enticing but ultimately not for me.
“I appreciate the offer, but I’m just not interested,” I insisted, hoping he would take the hint and leave me alone.
However, this man persisted, his persistence bordering on annoyance as he pressed me to reconsider. I could feel my patience wearing thin and my irritation mounting with each passing moment.
“What’s your problem? I told you already, didn’t I? I’m not interested. Please, just leave me. alone,” I said, my tone firmer this time.
ove to walk
But before I could make a away, the man suddenly seized my hand, his grip tight and unyielding. My heart began to race with a growing sense of trepidation as he pulled me closer to him, his eyes narrowing with strength of character right there.
“Where do you think you’re going, sweetheart?” he said, and there was a hint of menace in his voice right there, which was not good.
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I tried to pull my hand away, but his grip only tightened, making the fear move within me.
of me,” I demanded, my voice trembling with
anger
and fear.
11
“Let go
But the scumbag ignored my plea; his gaze locked on mine with a predatory intensity. You’d be making a big mistake if you walked away from this opportunity,” he said, and that was actually menacing.
Desperate to break free from his grasp, I tried to push him away, but he only pulled me closer, his grip like a vice around my wrist. The realization of my entrapment sparked a surge of panic within me. Well, sort of.
To hell with this stranger who seemed intent on forcing me into something I didn’t want.
Just as I began to fear the worst, a voice suddenly cut through the tension like a knife, startling both me and the man holding me captive. I looked up to see Andre standing there, his expression dark with anger as he glared at the man.
“Let go of her now,” André demanded, his voice cold and commanding.
The man hesitated for a moment, taken aback by Andre’s sudden appearance, but then sneered dismissively. “And who are you supposed to be?”
Before I could respond, Andre lunged forward, his fist connecting with the man’s jaw with a resounding thud. The man stumbled backward, releasing his grip on me.
“You’ll regret this,” he spat with so much venom, and then he turned, hurrying away, disappearing into the crowd.
Breathing a sigh of relief, I turned to André, gratitude shining in my eyes. “Thank you.
A
Andre simply nodded, his expression tight with concern. “Are you okay?” he asked, stepping closer to me.
“Yeah, I’m fine. All thanks to you,” I replied.
“Who the hell was that guy?” Andre was quizzed, looking into the crowd.
“I don’t know. Just a stranger who came and started telling me…” I paused and shook my head promptly as I grunted. “Never mind, it’s not that important anyway. So, care to tell me why you wanted the both of us to meet here?”
“I will, but first, let’s go somewhere more comfortable.”
“Isn’t this place comfortable?” I asked him, gesturing all around the park.
“Well, this place is filled with a kind of noise,” he answered. “I want us to go somewhere
T: ASSERTING AUTONOMY
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with less noise and more relaxation.” Perhaps any restaurant nearby.”
“Yeah, I think there’s one not too far from here,” I told him.
“Let’s get going, then.”
I shrugged, and we both walked to our cars. I led the way, and André drove behind me until we reached our destination. It didn’t take us that long, so yeah, we were cool.
We both stepped out of our cars and made our way into the restaurant. The air inside was warm and inviting, a stark contrast to the chilly breeze outside.
Andre held the door open for me,
and we both walked inside, greeted by the aroma of freshly cooked food and the gentle hum of conversation.
Finding a table tucked away in a cozy corner, we settled down, the edginess from our earlier encounter slowly dissipating. Andre let out a deep sigh, his expression serious as he looked
at me.
“How’s Luke doing?” he asked me.
“He’s okay,” I replied with a small smile. “I’m just glad to have him home.‘
Andre nodded, his gaze drifting away for a moment before returning to me. “Ariel, there’s something I need to tell you.”
I raised an eyebrow, curious about what he had to say. “What is it?”
1
Taking another deep breath, André leaned forward, his voice lowering. “I’m going to Norway for a business trip.”
“Norway? That’s quite a distance. When are you leaving?”
“In a few days,” he replied, his expression solemn. “Also, I want you to come with me.”
I felt my heart skip a beat at his words, my mind racing with a million thoughts, “Come with you? To Norway?”
Andre nodded, his gaze steady. “Yes. I think it would be good for both of us.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle at his suggestion. “As much as I would love to, I can’t just drop everything and fly to Norway. Luke just got out of the hospital, and Janice needs me.”
“I understand, but…” Andre trailed off, his expression conflicted.
Before he could say anything else, a waiter approached our table, interrupting our conversation. He took our orders and, with a nod, disappeared into the kitchen.
As the silence stretched between us, Andre sighed again, his shoulders slumping slightly.”
401: ASSERTING AUTONOMY
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Ariel, please reconsider. You can bring Luke and Janice along. It would be a great opportunity for all of you.”
I shook my head, feeling a sense of frustration creeping in. “I appreciate the offer, Andre, but it’s just not feasible right now. “Lucas needs time to recover, and Janice has school.”
Andre didn’t say anything in response, but I could see the disappointment in his eyes. When our food arrived, he picked up his fork and began to eat, his movements stiff and mechanical.
We ate in silence, and I began to wonder why Andre was so insistent on me accompanying him to Norway. Surely, he couldn’t be that upset with my response. After all, I was just being realistic, right?
When we finished our meal, he got up from the table and left without saying a word.
Honestly, it was kind of surprising. Not the typical Andre.