Meant To Be

LUCY

As soon as I sat on my seat, I plugged in my earphones and closed my eyes. Jay and Vicky sat in the back, as Vicky wants a window seat and Jay doesn’t like strangers.

I tried to sleep but I can’t just sleep anytime and anywhere unless it’s night and I’m home.

At one point, I gave up and sat straight, removing my earphones. I was confused when I saw Jay glaring at the man beside me and blushed, realizing who he was.

He is the hottie from before. And also the pervert who catcalled me. Argh. I don’t like him.

”Jay, are you okay?” He still looks angry.

”Yeah mom, he is just being an Idiot” He said, glaring at the pervert.

It’s nothing new to me. Jay just doesn’t have a filter and speaks his mind. Still, this attitude will bring him nothing but trouble.

”Jay! This is not how you speak to elders. What did I tell you?”

”Give respect to elders” he muttered, looking down. I hate seeing him like that.

Though he looks arrogant and rude, I know he won’t snap at others without any reason.

”Then?” I asked, raising my eyebrows.

Oh, how I wish I could raise a single eyebrow.

“But mom, he is speaking bad words and Vicky heard it!” He said, pointing at him with an accused glare.

See? He has a reason! But not valid enough to argue.

I signed “So? You’ll call him an idiot? Don’t mind others Jay, we have a long flight ahead”.

“Okay mom” he said, rolling his eyes. Pstt, he needs to stop doing that.

I shook my head and got up, placed my right knee on the seat and climbed up, to check on Vicky. Awe, my baby is sleeping.

I could have seen him from the space between our seats, but I didn’t want to go near that pervert.

All of a sudden, the plane started to jerk violently. My back hit the plane and I landed on this pervert’s lap, hitting my stomach to the armrest in the process.

Ouch, I groaned in pain. He wrapped his arms around me and gripped the armrest to keep us studying.

”Mam!! Are you alright? Please try to sit and tighten your seatbelts.” The air host said, looking at my weird position but having her own battle to stand.

”Yeah, we got it” He said, holding me tight. His warm breath fanned at the side of my face and his voice, Oh god, his voice is so deep.

I frowned. Wait, why does it sound different from before?

I looked up facing him, we were so close, making my breath hitch.

”Why is your voice different?” I asked him lamely, even though deep down I know the answer.

He smirked. ”You know why”.

I closed my eyes and groaned internally. Damn! He wants me to admit it.

”Sorry, I thought you were the one who catcalled me. But in my defense, you were looking at my ass!” I added quickly, desperate to make a point.

He chuckled and shrugged. It was music to my ears.

“I did think you had a nice ass” he said, making me blush.

I closed my eyes tightly and hid my face in his chest when the plane jerked more violently.

Everything was still when the turbulence stopped.

An announcement came in the calmest way possible that the turbulence was gone and that we would not die.

I released a breath and tried to move, but I still felt his grip. I looked up to say thank you only to realise how close we are when my lips brushed his.

We froze for a moment but I quickly pulled away, detangling myself. He too released me.

I took a deep breath to calm my heart.

”Jay! Vicky! Are you guys alright?” I asked loud enough for them to hear. I’m too afraid to look back like before.

”Yes mom, we are okay!” Said Jay, making me relax.

”Ha mamma!!! That was fun! Will it happen again?” Vicky said enthusiastically, which made me smile.

What a combo I got here!

I glanced at Hottie, who looked at me. ”Hope it will not. And that wasn’t supposed to be fun”.

I signed. What just happened?

My life was always plain. I used to live with my parents in a small town near Pennsylvania.

We aren’t that rich, but enough for them to make me go to college, even when I barely passed high school.

I was a rebel but only to make my parents mad. They were always so protective. I was not allowed to hangout with my friends, not allowed to parties.

Basically, I’m grounded my whole life. I didn’t mind that too much because I know they love me to death and I love them too.

I was okay with everything and it’s not like I have a life. I prefer to sit at home than go to uninvited parties and I only had one friend who backstabbed me.

Noah.. My first love. At least that’s what I thought at that time. But now meh, that was just a phase.

In my first year of high school, I used to be a fat ugly nerd and he was a new kid looking cute and handsome. One look at him and I was a goner. He soon became popular. Cliché right? I know.

I somehow managed to get his number. I know he will not like me back , but that little bit of chatting is enough to satisfy my heart.

We never spoke directly , he never acknowledged me. Even when chatting he used to ask about girls in my class , it used to hurt, but as I said before, it was enough for me.

I thought one day he would accept me, but what actually broke my heart is seeing him making out with my one and only friend on our graduation day. She knows I like him, but still chooses to hurt me.

And on the top of that, I hate MBA. Even though I was not smart, I admired doctors and always wanted to become one. But my father was so adamant about making me do an MBA.

That’s when I rebelled and started failing classes. I gained more weight and my lifestyle became unhealthy.

But when my parents died, I regretted everything. The pain was unbearable. It’s too much for me to handle.

If only I had not been mad at my dad during his last days. If only I had visited my parents frequently and made more memories.

I just don’t want to face them like that when I was failing in life. I wanted to make amends, to eat healthily, to lose weight and to not fail. I wanted to but I couldn’t. I tried but it was not enough and it was too late. They were already dead before it could happen.

I somehow picked myself together and did everything to make my parents proud. I graduated with good grades and have a healthy life. If only they were here to see you.

I then moved to New York when I got a job and now, here I am.

I took a look at Hottie but he was busy with his phone. The rest of the flight was awkward and we didn’t utter a word.

●●

New home. I smiled. Here we will be safe.

“Woah.. mamma this place is so cool !!” Vicky said excitedly, jumping up and down.

I chuckled and turned to Jay. “Do you like it?”

He just nodded with a smile and went to look around.

“Girl !!! You look gorgeous. Your photos don’t do justice to you”, I heard a squeal from the entrance.

I turned and saw Nat ‐ Natalie running towards me. She gave me the tightest hug ever.

Nat is my social media friend. Last year, she slammed my inbox, accusing me that I had stolen her boyfriend. Soon, we cleared the misunderstanding. She apologized repeatedly and, like that, we became good friends.

When I told her that I was coming to Rome permanently, she nearly died from excitement.

Nat is really beautiful and has a model-like figure. Her brunet hair reached her back and she had brown eyes. She is 5’6, where I’m just 5’3.

” So? had a safe journey?” She asked, smiling widely.

My cheeks flush when I recall everything.

“Yes, we had. Thank you so much for this though “. I said, looking around.

She is the one who selected the appartment and even shifted here for us, saying it is nearer to her office and also planning to move.Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

“Nah.. not a problem” she waved her hands dismissively.

I looked at my watch. Shit! I’m late.

” Ok I gotta go. Take care of them.” I said, pointing to Vicky and Jay and hurried outside shouting a bye over my shoulder.

●●

It took 30min to reach the building. I quickly parked the car and went inside.

I felt slightly dizzy. I have motion sickness and I can’t bear the journey for more than 20min. I’m ok with flights, bikes and metros though. There will be more places to breathe.

I just shoved my office ID in the face of the receptionist and hurried towards the elevator. I pressed the highest floor, which was 13th.

I leaned back against the walls of the elevator and closed my eyes as it started to move. Yeah, I can’t even cope with elevators, only start moving though, so it’s not a big problem.

The elevator opened with a ding. I stepped out of it and huffed.

Where the hell is his room?

“Excuse me mam ? You can’t go any further”. A women in her mid thirties stopped me.

“What? Why?” I frowned.

She sighed and said ” There is a meeting going on here, I can’t let you inside. Mam”.

“What!? What do you mean by meeting? I have an appointment with him.”

“I know mam, but I can’t allow you” she said with a sorry face.

I closed my eyes tightly. Uff.. cool Lucy, cool…

“Look , I know that you are aware of the situation. You have to let me in. I have to stop the meeting.” I almost pleaded.

“They are dangerous mam , you can’t do anything. Our boss has already signed the papers, they just have to make it official. ”

God..!! That son of a Baboon !!

I sighed loudly. “Who are they?”

“They are from Moretti Industries ” she whispered.

A chill ran down my spine and my breathing became irregular as I remembered the time when I heard the name Moretti for the first time.

“Mr. Moretti said to leave this place as soon as possible. The car is going to blast at any minute “