0 Celsius: To thaw a frozen heart
Chapter 22: 11 degree Celsius

Deceived

I was desperate for his forgiveness...

Desperate beyond limits...

And maybe that's why I was standing here in Henry's office handing him over the file behind Andro's back.

As I made way out of his office and the news of Henry's final confirmation to the project spread my happiness had no limits.

I was sure Andro will be very happy after all this project was his dream project and also one of the biggest.

He was celebrating his victory

But his celebrations involved being with her and not me.

I must admit I never saw Andro as happy as he is today..

With her in his arms he is staring at Andrea with so much love.

"Oh god Alex I can't believe....I am so happy for you..."

With this she captured his lips...

I should look away

I know but I can't

My eyes wanted to see it...to feel my heartbreak...to feel emptiness

His hand pulled her waist to deeper the kiss

They looked oblivious of the world

Oblivious of me

But for me seeing him in someone else's arms was the only thing that mattered.

It didn't mattered that I was shamelessly staring at them

Or that people around were talking about me being a sl** who sold her body to get this deal. They ended the kiss...

Smile lingered on their faces as the first teardrop managed to escape my eyes.

I turned around my back to them and I remembered the last time he turned his back on me.

Flashback

The debit card in her hands brought a smile on her face as she proceeded towards the jewellery shop.

Her eyes landed on it...

The perfect cut diamond ring

The one she always used to see from the window and wonder if she will ever wear it.

Placing the ring on her finger and giving it a kiss she handed over the card at the counter.

"Thank you ma'am"

the counter girl said

She nodded and made her way out to the car that was already waiting for her.

The driver opened the door for her and she again smiled wondering how money can buy everything.

As she entered the AR mansion looking at her ring from different poses she saw Andro's back on her. He looked engaged on a call.

Unable to hide her happiness she engulfed him from behind and pressed her head on his shoulders. Usually he replies or reacts but today his hands stood stiff. Still at his side clenching. Something was wrong and she could sense it

"Andro...."

He didn't turn... he didn't reply...he simply cut the call and unwrapped her arms that engulfed her.

As soon as his touch left her and he moved away from her without even looking at her the smile on her face disappeared. "Why?"

Was his simple question. A question that sparked the long hidden fear in her heart.

She knew what he was asking...

The question was her worst nightmare

The nightmare that was becoming a reality.

"A....Andro...please first....listen...to...me....."

He turned around and I saw a fire in his eyes which I never saw before.

His fire didn't scare me but the burning hatred in them against me did.

Before I could react a lot number of pictures were thrown at my face...

As each picture descended on the ground and my eyes lingered on them

My heart got ready to burst and my hands started shaking...

With the little courage left I lowered on my knees and picked the first picture

It was true..

The picture was not fake but the emotions were.

It showed me in arms of him...who was my worst nightmare.

He was holding me but you can't see how he was forcing me.

His harsh grip on my waist and it leaving a bruise for next few days was hidden from the picture.

The next pic my eyes landed on was again true.

Me handing over bundle of dollars in his hands

But the fear in my eyes of him blackmailing me was again hidden.

No one knew the secret behind this happy smile.

But the next picture that laid near my heel made my heart stop for a second.

Two people were laying naked under the sheets. His hand held my locks as he smiled at me ..I was asleep peacefully on his chest.

But they didn't show that I was drugged that night

They didn't show that this picture was planned and clicked perfectly when nothing actually happened.

"Is anything left to listen after seeing this?"

Andro's voice brought me back and I looked up at him

"Andro...I swear....I..."

"Just shut the Fu** up Saph...!! Shut up!!....I want just a yes or no ...tell me Saph...

"Are these pics true?"

They were but they were a deception. He forced me...he blackmailed me...

I continued to sob. How do I tell him the truth..

"Are they true Sapphire!!"

His thunderous voice made me shiver and I nodded

"Y..es"

"Did you stole my money and gave it to that bastard?"

I remained silent not able to answer

"Answer me dammit!!"

"Y....es..."

"Did you lied to me that your friend needed it for her operation...did you lied to me that you were in the hospital that night...did you lied ...?"

"Yes..."

He turned around and grabbed his hair in his hands frustrated...

"Did you did all this for my money...did you agreed to be my fiancé because I had money...."

"Andro...initially-"

"Yes or no dammit!!"

"Y...e...s"

Next I heard a glass landing on the wall and breaking into pieces..

Followed by another and another...

His violence and anger never surfaced before...he was mostly very calm and composed but today this side of him made me fear him.

"I satisfied each and every wish you had...you asked and I placed it at your feet...clothes, jewellery...everything....in return I asked only one damn thing....your love....but you couldn't give it to me......"

I moved towards him trying to explain that I did like him...maybe not as much as he loved me...but still he was the first man that made me feel this way.

The first man who brought butterflies in my stomach and whose one touch made my soul shiver.

"Andro.... please........there is no other man in my life.....'

"Oh so this is a hobby...huh..?...he is not the only man...you go and sleep with other guys and in front of me you act as a virgin...well played miss Sapphire Brown....well played..."

Next I know he grabbed my shoulders and pulled me up

His eyes were pools of hatred

"Tell me Saph.... wasn't I enough?... wasn't my love enough for you?...or I was always just a source of money for you....a toy with who you can play as you pleased..."

Tears were leaking like stream and my throat felt blocked with all the tears and anxiety..

I wanted to tell him so much but he was not ready to listen to me...

"Andro...you are getting me wr...ong.."

But he won't listen...

He had stepped back from me and turned his back

"Just get lost from my life and don't you ever show me your face...you were a mistake...a mistake that made me realise what a fool I was defending the girl the everyone warned me about..." "Andro......!!! Please.....I really love you...."

He shut the door on my face and like this the girl named Sapphire Brown was thrown out of Alessandro's life.

She stared at the ring on her finger and endless teardrops fell on the solitaire.

This ring was his only sovereign she had and she loved it more than herself.

After all it was the only thing that made her realise that materialistic things can not buy you true happiness....only love can.

..000