What Dreams Are Made Of: Episode 42

▶#Episode_42

People had also accepted Chrissy in spite of all the differences because they could her genuine soul. So to Linda, this decision to move out was utterly confusing. According to her, Chrissy’s mother would obviously benefit more by being closer to all the medical facilities she could get in the proper city. Moving to a smaller town may, therefore, not be the best option as per her.

She never knew Chrissy to take things casually. She had an inclining feeling that this had more to with her mother’s health. But she didn’t want to pry into her friend’s life. They were close but she respected Chrissy to keep her personal life just that, personal. So even though she was against this decision, she could do nothing but accept it for the moment.

Chrissy had finally decided she would go to hotel once, collect all her belongings and move out immediately. She would not take long and she should be out before most people even came to know about her visit. In any case, what she had to avoid was not many people but one man.

She had to find out when he was out so as to ensure any chance encounter. She wouldn’t be able to manage one. She had discreetly tried to get his schedule information from Linda who had informed her that Nikloi was out of country for some business. Chrissy had been visible relieved with the information.

She went in to Le Swaroski hotel next day to get her stuff. While she had braved herself to be there, albeit, for a short time, she was not fully confident.

When Richard showed at her place just as she was about to leave for the hotel, she was silently grateful to him. He told that he needed to discuss some client’s information with her, but she had known it was primarily to silently support her in her ordeal of being at the hotel. In spite of their ugly start, she was indebted to him for all his support now.

Richard drove to the hotel in his car. Just as they reached the hotel, he got a call from his office. Before taking the call, he asked her if she wanted him to accompany her inside or would she be able to manage on her own. Seeing he was genuinely concerned for her, Chrissy politely declined saying it would not take her long.

She left him in the car to complete his call and went inside the hotel. Her heart was pounding as she stepped inside the hotel and she had to literally calm her heart by repeating to herself Nikloi was not at the hotel. She was greeted warmly by the staff and her team who were delighted to see her at the same time sad with her decision to leave.

It was difficult not to be affected by their affection but she didn’t want to prolong the visit any more than it was necessary. With heavy heart she wished them well and quickly went in to her small room at the back of the museum. That every small part of the place was pulling her relentlessly, was making this much more difficult than she had ever thought.

She had thought that she had to be careful of only Nikloi. And so coming to the hotel in Nikloi’s absence would be far easier. But she had underestimated her own attachment to this place she had been involved in building from the scratch. While picking up her things from the desk drawers, she was reminded of it all.

This hotel was the reason why this whole thing had started. Her earlier shop and its

loss, her meeting with Nikloi at Swaroski House, Regency Palace and then back to

this hotel.

What an irony!

She had got to open her museum in this very hotel which had caused her to lose her shop in the first place. And now, she was again going to lose it all. Her heart cried remembering every day, every night she had spent around this place, building this beautiful antiques museum. How she had worked hard to acquire each and every piece in this museum. She would never forget this place ever just like its owner.

She was so lost in remembering those numerous moments she had lived here, that she never realized she was no longer alone in the small room.

“What are you doing here?” A sharp voice from behind shattered her emotional

memories.

Turning around, Chrissy found herself face to face with Nikloi Swaroski.

Her face turned white and an audible gasp escaped her mouth. Her body trembled visibly at the sudden appearance. She would have fallen down had she not held on to the chair next to her, for support.

He was supposed to be out of country. How did he come back?

Coming further inside the small room, he towered in front of her and said hauntingly, “Your contract with Swaroski House has been terminated already. You are not allowed here”.

Though he was speaking in a balanced tone, she could feel the temper lurking below the misleading calm surface. Her hands shook in anticipation of that temper and its fallout. The papers she was holding in her hand slipped off from her hold. She bend down on her knees to pick them up but her hands, fingers refused to follow her command. She felt miserable at her pathetic state. Trying to control her flustered mind and body, she tried to form words coherently.

“I.. I… I came to collect m…my things left here.”

“Nothing here belongs to you”, he answered coldly.

The meaning was not lost on Chrissy. She lowered her head to control the beastly tears that were pushing against her eye lids, looking for a release. She couldn’t let him see how much pain he was causing her. Pulling every iota of her strength, she said in a low voice, “I am sorry for the intrusion. There were just a few things. I will be leaving immediately.” Saying this she stood up. She wanted to get out of the small room and his company as soon as possible before she lost herself completely.

She tried to get around him but he stepped in, blocking her path.

“You never did hear me. I said nothing here belongs to you. The contract clearly said that all of this is hotel’s property. You can’t take anything from here”.

“I.. I.. am not taking anything from the shop. These are my own things”, Chrissy said stammering.

Nikloi pulled the bag from her hands making her scream. “Are they? Show me what’s inside”, he said authoritatively.

“No!”, Chrissy screamed suddenly realizing what Nikloi was about to do. She tried to snatch her bag back.

“Why? Are you worried that the bag may reveal more of your dark secrets?” He asked sardonically.

“Please leave my bag”, Chrissy pleaded, worrying exactly what he had said. Her dark secret. She was shit scared of Nikloi seeing his picture in her bag

And that was not it. Her bag had the Stonhenge mini replica they had bought together at Bath, the handkerchief he had given when she spent the night in his hotel room, his muffler he had given her when she was freezing outside the hotel, among other things.

Chrissy had not dared to think that Nikloi had any deeper feelings towards her. But she had still treasured these small inanimate things. And still did, even after their painful breakup.

But she couldn’t let him know that. He had robbed her of everything, her heart, her work, her happiness, her joy. In the process he had also robbed her of her most intimate touches. She would never be able to think of his touch without being scalded by his rejection of her – mind and body.

She was scarred for life. Never would she love another man, the way she loved him. And never would she allow another man to trample her, the way he did.

He had destroyed her completely. But she wouldn’t let him take away her last vestige of pride. She wouldn’t let him know that in spite of his throwing her away, she still holds a candle for him. She will not let him laugh at her misery again. All the pain, humiliation and hurt came rushing back to her, giving her a sudden jolt of energy. Pulling herself away from him, she jerked her bag free from his hands. Nikloi, who was trying to open her bag, was not expecting such strong force from her and was not able to hold on it.

Hugging her bag close to her breast, she screamed, “Stop it, please! I know you don’t trust me. I am not asking you to trust me. But the reason for this mis-trust has nothing to do with my work. Surely, you have seen me working all this time. I was never insincere or corrupt

or useless.

Whatever work I have done at this museum, I have done it through my own honest abilities. You must

know that I will never cheat with my work whether it is mention in a God-damned contract or not. There is nothing in this bag that belongs to this shop. I am not taking anything from here. Must you still humiliate me further and check my bag?”

She quickly ran out of shortly acquired steam, making the last few lines come out as not more than a whisper. Nikloi was shocked with her sudden outburst but he was quick in overcoming his surprise. Covering the distance she had created between the two of them in one stride, he caught her on both sides and pulled her close into his chest, the suspect bag squeezed in between.

“You honestly have no clue what you are taking from.. here?” Nikloi asked her accusingly, looking deep into her frightened green eyes. The moment froze in the time space with both of them standing together in the small office. Every nerve in Chrissy’s body was telling her to throw her arms around him and pull him in a tight embrace.

It was only then she realized, she wanted it so badly. She was lost in his intoxicating scent. His hands on her arms were digging deep into her skin over her sleeves but she wanted so much more. She wanted them on her bare skin. She wanted them on every part of her body.

The accused bag had slipped from her grasp on to the floor and her hands were spread out on his chest. Her eyes lowered to his chest. She couldn’t help but feel his heart pulsating strongly under her hand. Just as she was about to caress his broad chest and push herself into him, there was a sharp sound of a door opening and someone stepping inside the small room.

“That’s enough Nikloi! Let her go”, she heard Richard say.

Alarmed, she looked up to see Richard standing at the door. Nikloi was still holding her tight at her shoulders and from Richard’s perspective it would have looked as if he was abusing her. But Chrissy knew better. She knew Richard meant good but she couldn’t thank him for his untimely interruption. She was horrified to think how Nikloi would take Richard’s presence in her shop.

Her fears were confirmed when she looked back at his face to find utter disgust there. She saw the hurt before he covered it up with rage. Pushing her away with force, he said gritting his teeth,

“I should have known you will be accompanied with your dear partner. In spite of all the lies you had tried to fill me in, you couldn’t really keep away from him. Get the hell out of here before I get you kicked out!” Nikloi screamed impatiently.

“Nikloi, you are being disrespectful to Chrissy!” Richard jumped in to protect Chrissy.

“Disrespectful? Huh! I have no intentions of being anything to her. Or to you. You are no longer welcome here. So you can both leave. Now”, Nikloi said while turning away from both of them. Chrissy squirmed at Nikloi’s words. Pain and humiliation washing all over her once again.

To_be_Continued