💔 🏨 International Hotel Entrance Area
The marble floor of the International Hotel gleamed under the opulent chandeliers. Ameya stepped inside, her eyes scanning the vast, crowded entrance. Her heart gave a sudden, sharp lurch.
A few steps away, near the revolving doors, stood Rico.
He was scrolling on his phone, looking focused and handsome in a dark suit. He hadn't seen her. A soft, relieved smile touched Ameya's lips. She clutched her sling bag, preparing to approach him, to surprise him with her arrival.
But before she could take another step, a blur of motion interrupted her.
Suddenly, a tall girl with bright blonde hair and an infectious energy ran across the lobby. She didn't slow down, and with a joyful exclamation, she barged right up to Rico. She looked distinctly foreign.
The girl threw her arms around Rico's neck and, without a moment's hesitation, kissed his cheek loudly.
Ameya stopped. The smile vanished from her face. This—she didn't expect this.
Rico, clearly confused and shocked, quickly held the girl's arms and tried to separate from the hug.
The foreign girl pulled back, her face cheerful and beaming. "I didn't expect you came this fast! What a surprise!" she exclaimed, her voice bright.
A cold, heavy sensation settled in Ameya's chest. Her world seemed to tilt. Ameya broke. A single, hot drop of water escaped her eye and trailed down her cheek. Her sling bag slipped from her numb fingers and fell to the ground with a soft thud.
The sound was faint, but it was enough.
Rico's eyes turned when he heard the noise. They traveled past the blonde girl, across the marble floor, and locked onto the devastating figure of Ameya.
He shocked. "Ameya..." he whispered, his voice barely audible.
The foreign girl followed Rico's gaze and saw Ameya too. She looked blankly, not knowing who she was.
Ameya's eyes locked in Rico's—eyes filled with pure, searing pain. She didn't wait. With a small, strangled sound,she took her sling bag from floor, she turned and quickly walked to the entrance, intent only on escaping.
"Ameya! Wait!" Rico yelled, shaking off the blonde girl.
He started to run. He caught up to her just as she reached the door and grabbed her hand.
Ameya didn't turn around. Her back remained stiff and unyielding. Rico quickly moved around to stand in front of her.
Ameya stared at him, a broken, cold look in her eyes. She chuckled in pain.
"Did find another girl in short time, Rico?"
Rico panicked. He couldn't let her misunderstand this. "It's not what you think! She isn't—"
"Then... Why did she kiss you?" Ameya's voice was barely a whisper, yet it cut through him.
Rico hesitated. He wanted to explain the full history, but the moment was too volatile.
Ameya shoved his hand off her wrist. She took a step back.
"I don't need your explanation. You can do whatever you want. Who am I to you? Not even your girlfriend..."
She looked into his eyes one last time, a look of profound finality. Rico got sad. He was stunned by her words, his defense mechanism shattering under the weight of her pain.
She walked away. Rico stood motionless, retreating from the argument.
The foreign girl, sensing the drama, came near to Rico. "Who is she?" she asked.
Rico's gaze was fixed on Ameya's retreating form. "My girlfriend," he said, his voice flat.
The girl's eyes widened slightly. "Yeah... Ameya... you told me before. Is she... so beautiful."
Rico looked at her, his expression devoid of emotion.
The foreign girl, Lilly, asked, "Why did she... angry?"
"Because you..." Rico lowered his voice, his eyes narrowed. "She saw you kissed me."
Lilly made a light, mocking sound. "So... I get another opportunity to... close with you?"
"Stop kidding," Rico said sharply. "I have already said... She is my only girlfriend and... my future wife in this life." He said it in a serious voice, his jaw set.
Lilly immediately sobered. "Sorry. I was kidding. I am so happy you have returned, so because of excitement I kissed... I will clarify to her."
"No," Rico said, checking his phone. "I will talk to her later."
His car pulled up to the curb. He got in and was driven away, his thoughts consumed by Ameya.
🏰 Michael's Mansion
Across the city, in Michael's opulent mansion, Michael and Jenna were watching a movie together. It was a stereotypical romantic movie.
Jenna, however, didn't seem to be concentrating on the screen. She was waiting for a call or a message. She opened her messenger app. Ameya didn't messaged after she reached LA. Jenna sighed, putting her phone away.
Her eyes turned to the movie just as a passionate kiss scene started.
Michael chose that exact moment to move closer to Jenna. She didn't notice him at first. He gently placed his hand on her shoulder. Slowly, his face leaned toward hers.
She finally turned, her breath catching. His face was so close. His eyes were intensely looking at her lips. Her heartbeat raised to a frantic rhythm.
"What lip gloss are you using?" he asked, his voice low.
"That..." she managed, unable to form a full word.
His thumb touched her lips, tracing the lower curve. He gave a slight smirk.
"Your lips asking..." he whispered.
"What...?" Jenna asked, her voice a near-silent breath.
His voice turned husky. "Mine."
He kissed her. Intensely. His hand moved to the back of her head, pulling her closer, capturing her. He kissed her captively, from one side to another, pouring all his passion into the moment. She kissed him back, lost in the sudden, deep desire. His hand traced a path from her hip up to her shoulder.
Suddenly, Jenna's phone rang. Their kiss broke. Their lips separated.
Jenna grabbed her phone. It was Ameya. "Hlo..." she replied, her voice still a little breathless.
Michael, clearly reluctant to stop, landed his head on Jenna's shoulder. He tightened his hand around her stomach from her back and started to kiss her neck.
"(Ameya's voice) crying on Jenna call..."
Jenna's eyes widened. She panicked. "What... happened?"
She quickly pinched Michael's hand. He let out a suppressed "Aw!" and straightened up.
Jenna sat straight. Michael looked confused. "What?" he mouthed.
"Shh," Jenna whispered into the phone.
"(Ameya's voice) Rico have new girlfriend in LA..."
Jenna shocked. "What?!" Her eyes immediately turned to Michael.
Michael again asked, "What happened?"
Jenna spoke into the phone, "Don't worry. I don't think so... I will ask Michael. Don't worry." She hung up the call.
Michael leaned in to kiss her again. She pushed him away using a finger on his lips. His eyes widened in confusion.
Jenna asked, with a straight face, "Who is that girl?"
"Who?" Michael asked, genuinely confused.
"Is Rico already move on from Ameya? Who is his new girlfriend?"
Michael chuckled in confusion. "He has no other girlfriend..."
"Don't fool me," Jenna snapped. "Ameya saw, with her own eyes, a foreign girl with Rico!"
Michael immediately remembered. "But... Rico has no interest in her."
Jenna's eyes narrowed. She leaned closer to Michael. "Wait... you said no one... now you are saying a girl has a crush on him! Tell me the truth!"
"Actually..." Michael sighed. "When Rico went to abroad five years ago... he met a girl named Lilly. She had a crush on him." Michael studied Jenna's angry face. He smiled, then said, "But Rico hasn't any interest in her. He only loves Ameya."
Jenna asked coldly, "Why didn't you tell me that before?"
"Because I know you girls are overreacting... so I didn't," Michael teased.
Jenna gave a small, cynical smile. "Overreacting," she repeated.
Michael leaned in to kiss her. She turned her face away. "Yes, we are. But you guys... are hiding too much."
She stood up. Michael stood up too, looking confused.
"What are you hiding from me?" Jenna asked. She placed her both hands on his shoulder and asked with an innocent face.
"Nothing," Michael said, leaning in again.
She removed her hands from his shoulder. "No more kissing. Who knows whatever you are hiding from me?"
Michael looked confused and a little pissed. "Why are you treating me like I have a secret girlfriend hidden behind your back?"
Jenna smirked. "Who knows?" She walked away and smiled a little to herself.
Michael stood there, utterly confused and pissed. Just then, he got a call from Rico.
He answered . "Who?"
Rico replied. "It's me, Rico ".
He immediately replied.."Rico! It's all because of you! My girlfriend is suspecting me too!"
Rico sounded confused. "What do you mean?"
Michael sighed. "What exactly happened there?"
Rico explained the entire situation, starting from Lilly's unexpected kiss.
🚕 On the Road
A few minutes later...
Ameya was in a cab. Jenna had explained everything on the phone.
"Is that true?" Ameya asked, her voice low.
"Yes, girl! Don't misunderstand him," Jenna pleaded. "Talk to him."
"Mm," Ameya said, hanging up the call.
Almost immediately, Rico called Ameya. She hesitated, staring at the screen for a tense moment, but then attended. She didn't say "hlo."
Rico's voice was full of panic. "Ameya, I want to talk to you... immediately. Please, don't..."
Ameya, her voice still quiet, said, "Where?"
Rico's tone immediately switched to excitement. "I will send you the location!" He paused. "Then see you there!"
"Mm," Ameya replied, and the call hung up.
She told the cab driver, The location he just sent to her. He nodded.
🌉 River View Road
A few minutes later...
On a quiet, dimly lit stretch of the River View Road, Rico was waiting for Ameya.
Ameya's car arrived. She stepped out. Her face was devoid of emotion.
When Rico saw Ameya, he smiled a little. But as he saw her face, his smile disappeared.
The cab drove away.
Ameya was on the opposite side of the road, near the foot of an old bridge. Rico was on the other side.
He started to cross the road, moving quickly toward her.
But before he could cross fully, it happened.
A person wore a black hoodie and a mask appeared seemingly out of nowhere, moving with frightening speed. The person reached Rico and, with a quick, brutal motion, stabbed him in the stomach.
The assailant didn't stop, turning and walking away into the shadows.
Rico's eyes widened in shock and pain. He can't stand straight.
Ameya couldn't process what she was seeing. It took a second for her mind to catch up. She noticed the dark patch bleeding on his stomach. Fear gripped her.
She rushed to him, screaming his name.
But before she could reach him, Rico fell to the ground.
"Rico! Rico! R-Rico!" Ameya cried out, kneeling beside him, tears streaming down her face.
Rico was looking at Ameya with a deep, emotional expression. His hand, already slick with blood, reached up and touched her cheek.
Ameya started calling for help louder.
Rico strained to speak. He whispered, "Ameya..."
She panicked. He was bleeding heavily.
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To be Continued.....
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