Beta's Lover

Chapter- Two

MACKENZIE

My eyes followed the steam that was originating from the hot cup of coffee that was sitting on the floor beside me.

It was a peaceful night. No noise, no crying of the babies in the building, no birds smacking their beaks on my window.

Just me and the sky full of stars.

Tightening my hold on the woollen blanket, I put my chin on my knees and just looked at the surroundings. With no thoughts in my mind or any worries.

Just blank.

That was the condition of my mind right now.

I felt good being in my element, but at the same time, I felt lonely. I have been feeling weird ever since I came back from the horrible date. It wasn't like Elier was a horrible person. No, we didn't match and decided to be acquainted with each other.

After I came back alone, I had a sudden urge to drink coffee and sit outside on my balcony. I opened the cabinet to take out the cup and pour in water. I put it in the microwave to heat it. Jabbing the button and fixing the timer to 2 minutes, then I walked into my room and took off my clothes. I stood naked in my room, only holding my night suit in one hand as I stared outside the window at the sky. My heart felt heavy and unintentionally I sighed.

I had everything I wanted in my life. Stable job, money, happiness, friends.

The thing missing was my dead family and my life partner.

A father who never was there before or after I was born and a loving mother who is wallowing in her sorrow.

I don't know my mother's past even after begging Mom and Aunt Susan. All I got in answer was I was too young to understand, and once I got older, Aunt Susan would tell me all about there to tell. I still remember Aunt Susan, holding me in her delicate and warm arms and looking at me, with sorrow, and love.

My pretty baby, you just need to know how much your mother cares about you and wants you in her life. She doesn't hate you and is just going through a rough patch in her life.

I sighed, feeling my heart sink, I miss Aunt Susan.

Where are you, mom? Are you doing okay? Are you happy?

Sometimes, I used to call Aunt Susan's mom. She was my second mother, who taught me how to be a confident, considerate, and caring girl.

With a deep sigh, I pulled myself to stand, grabbing the blanket along with me. The soft thump of my feet was the only sound that could be heard in the darkness as I threw my blanket over the couch and got under the covers.

Starting the new day, I followed my usual routine, which consisted of taking care of my washroom business, and then preparing breakfast. Watch the news while I eat my breakfast after I get done, I brush my teeth and change into a fresh pair of clothes.

Simple routine.

Walking inside my studio, I nodded my head

in response to my employees' greetings. I found my assistant waiting for me at the door of my office. Upon hearing my footsteps, she hurriedly opened the door and nodded her head. Giving her a stern nod, I walked into my office. As soon as I put my bag down, my assistant Ivy started narrating my schedule for the day. As she spoke, I had my front facing the mirror wall, looking out as sun rays bathed me in its warmth.

"And that's all for today," she sighed at the end,

"Quite a lot," I chuckled and looked back at her to find her pouting.

Guess who wasn't leaving early today?

I had two VIP clients today, for which I have been preparing for a week to impress them and hook me as their interior designer. We were currently sitting in the meeting room with Ivy sharing the details of our plan with them while I was analysing their reactions. The presentation finished with numerous claps erupting from the pupils. I stood with a proud smile on my face as I shared a glance with Ivy.

"I am impressed, Miss Mackenzie. I would like you to design our new housing society," the Chairman said as he extended his hand forward.

"Thank you, Mr. Roman. You won't be disappointed," I spoke as I shook his hand.

He nodded his head with a sense of trust etched onto his face. After signing the contract, the VIP left, and my whole studio erupted into chaos. Clapping, hooting, and yelling of happiness could be heard from every corner of the building. A smile plastered on my face as I looked at the happy faces of my employees. I took a sip of beer and looked down at the glass, as my thumb caressed the smooth surface of glass and my mind seemed to be somewhere else.

I wish Aunt Susan was here to know that I have become successful.

Excusing myself, I went back to my office. I placed the glass on the table, which was half filled with beer, and I picked up my phone. My fingers hovered over the phone screen that showed Mom’s number.

How will she react after hearing this news?

I questioned myself as I dialled the number. One hand on my waist as I paced in the office while waiting for her to pick up the phone. But after the beep ended, my hope died. With a deep sigh, I walked towards the mirror wall and don’t know for how long I stood there staring outside until when I heard my phone ringing. My head snapped back to the table where my phone was placed. My inside is filled with hope that it must be Mom. Running towards it, I flipped open the phone to find it was Quinn.

My heart sank in my stomach as I stared down at my phone.

That's how easy it is to break me.

“Hey! Did you get the deal?” her curious voice rang in my ears.

“Yes, I did. Sorry, I forgot to call you. I got caught up “ she started hooting while cutting me off, making me chuckle at her excitement.

I felt my heart fill with giddiness once again.

“Yoohoo! Congratulations! Omg I can’t sit still. Mack, we need to celebrate!” her excited voice brought my happy mood back. Quinn is my sister from another mother. that's how close you are.

“Thank you. Yes, of course! Let’s gather at Hersham’s. Good?” I asked, walking towards my table to see my schedule.

“That's good,” I could read her mind right now. She must be thinking of what she should wear tonight.

“Okay, let’s meet at 7 then. Bye, girl,” I said, playing with my nose pin again.

“Okay bye babe!” her cheerful voice made me cheerful.

I typed in an invitation for today’s celebration and sent it to my friends and employees and one to Jack. My business partner. He must have heard about the deal by now. I was curious to know how things were going there. I felt my phone vibrate before I could hear the ringing of the phone. It was Jack.

Wow, what a connection.

I rolled my eyes at myself for the lame joke and picked up the phone.

“Hello, Jack,”

“Hey, Mackenzie. Congratulations on striking the deal with Mr Roman.” his thick voice held a sense of exuberance.

“Thank you, Jack. Now we have to work harder than before,” I said with a chuckle, knowing Jack would roll his eyes at my statement.

“Yes Madam,” he said sarcastically, making me smile.

I wasn’t open with everyone except my two good friends. Quinn and Jack.

“Meet you at 7. Don't be late,” I ended the call after hearing his response, which was a dry yes.

After finishing my work at the office, I almost ran to my home. It was 6 pm, and I only had one hour to get ready, though I could get ready in 30 minutes easily, but the problem was I hadn’t chosen what clothes I should wear. After making my way inside the house, I threw my bag on the bed and opened the wardrobe. Finally, after five minutes, I was able to pick the dress for the day. I took a quick shower, did my makeup, changed clothes, and added light curls to my bob hair in just 20 minutes. Adjusting my nose pin, I wore a pair of rings and matching earrings. I heard my phone ring while I was wearing my heels.

“I am here. Come down,” Quinn said and cut the call.

Switching off all the lights except one in the kitchen, preventing myself from hitting anything and falling when I come back, into the pitch-dark house.

As I entered the elevator, I could feel people guys on me. I know I looked good, but it was uncomfortable. The long coat that I had placed neatly folded on my arm, I straightened my arms so that the coat covered my front to the ankle. My heels clicked on the marble floor as I exited the building and found Quinn’s car parked beside the No parking sign. Chuckling, I bent my two fingers to knock on the window of the car, which caused her to startle as I expected. Her wide eyes met my mischievous ones, and I could read her moving lips, which were probably sputtering out curses at me.

Chuckling, I opened the car door and heard her saying,

“My heart. You s**t,” then her vent ended up, and I cracked up at her useless vent.

Quinn was the most scared cat I have ever seen. It was so easy to scare her, and I enjoyed every bit of it by scaring her at unexpected places and times.

Yes, I was evil.

Well, we reached the club on time, and I found my guests coming out of their cars. Thank goodness, I wasn’t late, or else it would have been embarrassing. As I said, I am a very punctual person.

After everyone was huddled together, I, along with Jack, made a toast, celebrating striking a deal with a world-renowned housing society company. It was a huge deal for us, and if this goes we, our market value will skyrocket. Just the thought of it makes my skin go excited with goosebumps.

I was congratulated by every guest of mine, and I was met with some unexpected situations during the greeting.

Some of my friends were happy for me, and I could read and see their happiness for me in their talks and gestures. Those who were just acquainted with me, were green-eyed and bitter.

I don’t care what people say, but at least they could pretend to be happy in front of me. Right?

It just makes me wonder how as a human we have changed and don’t care about other feelings. We are so caught up in our ego and feelings that we forget the other person has feelings too and end up hurting them without thinking about the consequences our words or actions could bring.

Of course, even after noticing their bitter feelings towards me, I treated everybody the same way. I'm making sure everybody has a good time today.

I sat on the sofa, which was located in a corner of the room from where you could see everyone. It was one of the small corners at the club where you could sit and relax under the dim lighting. I drank my beer in peace as I watched Quinn getting high on tequila and making her way towards the people who were dancing and grinding on each other. The sight made me cringe and had me look away. That’s the downfall of the club for me.

“I knew I would find you here,” Jack’s voice reached my ears despite the loud music and chatter.

I looked up at his relaxed smile and shrugged my shoulders while taking a sip of my drink. Taking a seat on the other sofa beside mine, he sipped on his drink.

“Well, I don’t find you hanging out with any girls here,” I said, with a smirk on my face.

Teasing him was the fun thing to do. It was my way of being comfortable with him. Jack has been with me through my tough and good times, so I was grateful for having him in my life. Some part of me wished I could get a man like him for myself but I warned myself to not go near that thought. I don't want to lose him after some emotions that I am not sure about myself. I honestly don't know what I wanted either.

Having feelings for someone, loving someone or staying away from these heartaches.

“I have my eyes set on someone, but-“I find his eyes locked with mine, and he sighed, casting his eyes down.

“But?” I asked, placing the glass on the table, and putting my focus on Jack, who seemed a bit upset.

............. ....

JACK'S POV :

I looked up at Mackenzie's statement, wishing she could see the answer in my eyes, but she was too naive. So I decided to let go and talk about it on another day.

“But she doesn’t know,” I said, taking a sip of beer that tasted bland now.

“You should tell her about your feelings. What if she likes you back? Or if she doesn’t then walk away,” Mackenzie said nonchalantly, rotating the glass of beer in her hand.

I pursed my lips and just nodded my head.

I liked Mackenzie when we were in college, but I wasn’t acquainted with her before. I used to hear from my friends how a girl, a year below them, never responded to any boy flirting with her and brushing them off. I was intrigued by her, so I watched her occasionally and found her an interesting girl. I wanted to befriend her, but I never got the chance, and soon I graduated and left the city.

I was surprised when my assistant told me about an email from an uprising start-up company that wanted to join hands with them. Upon looking at the file, I found it was Mackenzie and said yes immediately. I knew Mackenzie was a brilliant and hard-working child. I looked up their work as I was impressed and needed another partner for the business. I found the perfect partner and killed two targets with one shot.

Mackenzie and I started working well from the start, and our business was going well. We both worked in perfect harmony and balanced the firm well. As time went by, I became a good friend to her, and she was my good friend. We both shared our problems and encouraged each other to face them head-on. I found Mackenzie opening up to me slowly, but I was happy to be there for her. I helped Mackenzie with problems with her mom and found Mackenzie leaning on me whenever she faced a problem.

But one day, I found myself caught tangled in love. My eyes met with Mackenzie, who lit up when she saw me and came to hug him. This made me realise these were true feelings.

I have feelings for Mackenzie.

I knew that I liked her as a friend but never thought it would be in another way.

When Quinn told me that they were set up for a date, I felt like someone churning my insides. But I controlled my emotions and remained silent. I was scared to ruin our friendship because I knew Mackenzie didn’t like me in that way. So I took a step back and just observed her.

I didn’t dare to bring the topic up to Mackenzie, but I am planning to shoot my chance after the new project kicks off.

.................