I Am The Queen 49 Prologue

In the usual morning sky, amidst the vast field of flowers and greeneries, two silhouettes of people were laying comfortably under a cherry blossom tree.

A young man was happily resting on the lap of a young woman who was humming him a lullaby.

The young man closed his eyes, a peaceful, contented smile playing on his lips, listening to the soothing sound of the woman's humming tunes while the woman was looking at the man full of affections and love in her dark amethyst eyes. Her soft long hair was falling in each side of her face, humming sounds vibrated in her lips that made the young man smile even more.

"Hey…" The young man said after a while.

The young woman stopped and looked at the man on her lap who was still closing his eyes. "Hmm…?"

The man didn't speak while he gradually opened his eyes, his smile still plastered on his face. The man's brown eyes instantly captivated the woman in a spell, unable to look away.

After a moment paused, the man continued in a serious voice, hands gently raised and held the woman's cheeks. "After you graduate… let's get married…"

"….."

"….."

The woman couldn't speak from the sudden surprised. Needless to say, her entire system had stopped from the sudden explosive 'out of the blue' proposal.

When the woman recovered, the man continued. "By then, I'm sure I'm already a worldwide renowned actor." The man grinned, flas.h.i.+ng a boyish smile. "I'll definitely be able to take care of you for the rest of your life by then." And he raised his thumb in a confident pose.

The woman blinked then finally she laughed and giggled which made the man frowned and got up from the woman's lap.

"What's with that laugh? Don't you believe me?! I have you know that I'm very popular! My popularity is flouris.h.i.+ng and limitless. Sponsors, movies, dramas and different advertising company are trying to lull me in you know! That's how famous your boyfriend is!"

The man continued to boost while the woman giggled.

Finally, the man got angry and pushed the woman beneath him, pinning her on the ground with nowhere to retreat.

The giggles and laughter gradually stopped, and the woman looked at the man she loves with adoring and affectionate eyes while the man's mood instantly turned solemn. His eyes reflected the woman's face, flickering with different emotions of love.

Gradually, he held her cheek and leaned in closer while the woman couldn't break away from the man's heated gaze.

"I'm serious... After you graduate… Let's get married…" He repeated once more, his tone softer and gruff.

The woman's eye moistened and shone, gradually nodding her head in unconcealed happiness. "Mmm…"

Slowly, their breathes turned faster, synchronizing with one another while their lips touch in a soft kiss.

The woman's eyes closed, letting the man kiss her. Drowning in so much happiness and contentment that she almost sobbed in joy.

"I love you..."

"I love you too..."

Gradually, the two of them found themselves lost in each other's kiss while the man's hand slowly traveled on the woman's body.

"Don't worry. I'll make sure it will hurt."

GASP!

The woman flung her eyes open when she felt suffocated. The hands that were caressing her turned rougher and bigger. The gentle lips that was kissing her became savage and domineering while the kind brown eyes she dearly loves turned dark, ruthless and sharp.

ARGH!!

Satele quickly rose from her bed, gasping for air. Beads of sweat coated her entire face while her clothes felt dump from sweat. Her breathing forced and labored as she desperately breathed for air to calm herself.

*pant

*pant

*huff

After some time more that she finally realized that she was having a nightmare, she gradually relaxed her stiff shoulders. Nevertheless, she didn't loosen her tight hold on the quilt that she was so tightly grasping between her white fingers, clutching it close to her body while the sheets twisted around her limbs.

Her dark terror-stricken eyes gradually began to gleam while her breathing stabilized.

A nightmare.

It's just a nightmare…

A nightmare...

She continued to comfort herself. But deep down, she knew that it wasn't just a nightmare.

For almost two years, she had dreamed the exact dream that always ended in a nightmare. Only to be awakened with the reality that the ordeal was both real and much worse than the fragmented memory her brain was showing her.

Instead of relief of waking from the horrible delusion, she felt pain as the trauma made fresh and new once more — day after day after day...

However, even so, no matter how many times the nightmare comes, she welcomed it the next. Hoping for it even.

Because the beginning was the only time she could be with him. Seeing his loving eyes and warm smile, hearing those tender words and feeling those warm caresses that she was still having a hard time believing that he was no longer part of her world. Part of his world.

Her tears that she didn't know were already falling on her cheeks continued to freely drift. Her hand covered her eyes while the other continued to grasp the quilt tightly against her body.

If she didn't cling to any fabric, she felt that she was really naked underneath the blanket. A feeling that brought unfathomable disgust to herself and bile started to boil from her stomach rising to her throat.

She swallowed the salty lump back down. Still a bit shaken, she went out of bed and walked towards the bathroom to clean herself.

Cleaning the filthy lingering images of that night out of her mind.

----

Meanwhile, Eric had come home late as usual from the hard days of work. It was a Sunday, thus his whole day was occupied with work though he had to request some time off since he had to do his and Evangeline's projects and a.s.signments.

In the past, Eric had no problem balancing his study and work, but now that Evangeline had come into the picture, he had to cut some time of his job to accommodate her.

It had been two days after that event with Evangeline.

At the memory of it, Eric's tired face gradually showed a smile.

That's right, I have to fetch her tomorrow to buy ingredients with her.

Eric's smile progressively turned playful, a mischievous idea kept playing in his head. He couldn't wait to see the woman's reaction at seeing what he had planned for her tomorrow.

He kept his happy and eager thoughts throughout the night. Even after he took a bath, his brain was still formulating plans. Images of her different expressions at seeing what he had in store for her dominated his entire mind. He even went as far as to ready his clothes for tomorrow.

Though he tried to conceal it, he was really looking forward for morning to come.

Riiinngg~!

Riiinngg~!

And his happy thoughts immediately shattered like a broken gla.s.s upon hearing that ringing sound.

If it were maybe in the past, he wouldn't waste a second more to answer the phone. But now, he was even contemplating whether to answer the call or not.

However, he knew that not answering was never an option for him since the other party would know.

They would always know what he was up to.

With heavy steps and heavy sighs, he walked towards the hallway and answered the call with a concealed unwilling tone.

"h.e.l.lo…"

"Eric."

Instantly, his spine straitened, eyes closed shut upon hearing that deep, pleasant voice that didn't hide authority and power.

"Congratulations in finis.h.i.+ng your contract with me, Eric. I can proudly say that you pa.s.s with flying colors based from the report and your performance."

Eric inwardly controlled his breathing while he answered. "Thank you."

The other man on the line didn't seem to be affected by his somewhat distant voice as the man continued. "Judging by the pace you're going; I say that you can acc.u.mulate your quota two years earlier from the remaining four years' time limit. And with your performance, I'm sure that you will pa.s.s these trials as we have done so in the past."

The other line continued, yet Eric didn't seem to hear any of those words. His mind drifted once more to the images of Evangeline's expressions for tomorrow. What time would he wake up? Where would he take her? What dishes would he create for her?

"Eric."

Eric blinked, snapped out from his thoughts. "Yes?" He immediately answered.

"….."

"….."

The other line sighed, finally gotten the clue that Eric was not in the mood or that Eric's mind was elsewhere.

"Did you hear what I just said?" The man asked.

"….."

Eric didn't answer, and the man on the other line only sighed once more.

"Are you still working in that convenience store?"

Eric's eyebrows twitched. That convenience store was that precise store where he saw Evangeline saved that puppy. And the park near that store was where she frequented to every weekend, walking her pets in the morning and doing her jogging in the afternoon.

Sensing that he was not about to say anything, the other line continued. "I'm not against you working in that store since as per rule you can do whatever you want as long as it abides within the rules. But Eric… that store is not affiliated in any way in our family's business. You know that, right? No matter how much you work there, what you earned will not be counted."

"What are you trying to say?"

Eric's voice turned deeper and sharper, and without knowing it, he used a tone of voice that was disrespectful for the first time.

The man on the other line seemed to have been shocked as he didn't answer right away.

Realizing that he was discourteous, Eric immediately followed up. "My apologies…"

"…. It's fine… *sigh… I won't stop you from working there since it doesn't conflict your schedule with me… However, I had reports that your performance had gradually lessened these past few days… If you keep these kind of routine, not minding about your performance reports, the greatest hurdle would be your quota… You might not be able to make it within the remaining four years of your time limit. And besides… it's her turn now…"

Eric's lower lip numbed between the confines of his teeth while his brows creased in one line. He didn't even know that he was already holding the phone tightly against his fingers that were gradually turning pale while his other hand balled into fist, wanting to punch something to let out whatever emotions he was restraining at the moment.

"I emailed you the summary of the work she prepared for you since she was busy to do it herself. And I have to say this to you in advance… The job she had for you requires your full attention every weekend. That means, you have no choice but to resign at that convenience store and all other part time jobs you have that conflicts with your new schedule."

"….."

"….."

"Eric… don't let your emotions ruin what you have been working your entire life…"

That single line seemed to have pierced Eric's heart. His gaze steadily dropped in a defeated manner while all strength was drained from him. His eyes that were s.h.i.+ning brightly a while ago returned to its usual dim and dull state. His distress face gradually turned still, devoid of any emotions.

"Finish your quota first… Then you can do whatever you want to do after."

"….."

"….."

When Eric remained silent, the other person sighed before he released an exasperated breath.

"We'll give you a month to sort all your works. Then after that, you'll start working for her. Remember, finish your quota first. The other things can wait."

Tut

Tut

It had been a while now that the call had finish, yet Eric continued to remain there standing, unmoving like a statue. No one knows what thoughts were running inside his head nor what emotions he was showing on his face as the dim lights could only illuminate the shadows of his dark silhouette.