Chasing 35

KIAN’S POV I didn’t see her approach us until she’s standing right beside me. If the expression on Beverly’s face was the same one on mine hen I first saw Leslie, then Leslie was right to ask if I’d seen a ghost.

But unlike how my shock left me spellbound and unable to string together a meaningful sentence, Beverly is quick to get over it as she gets in between us and grabs Leslie’s hands.

Leslie is startled for a second while my uncle makes a move like he’s a bodyguard hired for her protection.

Jealousy is the first emotion I’m able to recognise since standing in front of a woman who was supposed to be dead and that’s because my uncle who I also lost contact with for an entire month suddenly resurfaced with my supposedly dead wife and is now acting like he has the right to protect her.

Once again, I don’t get to react before Beverly does the unexpected, stunning us all. She sobs while still holding on to Leslie.

“Leslie? Is it really you?” She says, squeezing Leslie’s hands as if to confirm if it’s really her in the flesh.

“Oh my God, you’re alive!” She continues, looking from me to her.

Leslie’s face twists in discomfort as she recovers from the obvious shock of Beverly’s reaction to seeing her. She snatches her hands away from Beverly and wipes it on her dress.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Leslie asks.

“We were so devastated when we heard the news…Kian wouldn’t leave his room for days and I could barely-”

“Oh, cut the crap.” Leslie shuts Beverly down, visibly disgusted. “How dare you stand there and pretend like you care? Am I missing something or weren’t you the same one who called me a whore the last time we met?”

Beverly tries to hold Leslie’s hands again but this time, I stop her, shaking my +25 BORIS head. I don’t know what she’s trying to do but whatever results she’s hoping to get, I’m damn sure what I’m seeing is the opposite just by looking at Leslie’s face. Hell, I can’t take my eyes off her.

Beverly scoffs, the tears in her eyes disappearing just as fast as they came.

“Having differences doesn’t mean I wish you dead. I was truly worried about you.”

“You have no right, Beverly. Not after you told me to my face what you did three years ago.”

I can’t hide my confusion at their exchange and it makes me intervene, “What do you mean?”

Leslie’s eyes meet mine, anger swirling inside of them.

“Why don’t you ask your mistress?” She says, crossing her arms, “Ask her to tell you the same thing she told me the night I left the house.”

I do as she says, turning to Beverly for an explanation.

“What is she saying Beverly?”

“Really? You’re asking me that? She comes out of nowhere after faking her death, spews some garbage and you think I’m the one you should be questioning?” Beverly retorts, voice rising. She draws the attention of a few people to us.

“Beverly, keep your voice down.” I warn.

“Don’t tell me what to do if you’re just going to stand there and let her accuse me of something I didn’t do.

She snaps.

Leslie gives a short mocking laugh.

“I can’t believe the both of you.” She says but she’s looking directly at me and I see a flash of hurt in her eyes that disappears almost as soon as I see it.

“I can’t believe how shameless you both can be to actually show up here.”

She speaks with so much disdain, so much anger that makes me wonder if this is still just about the fact that I cheated and got another woman pregnant.

I spent the past month mourning her death and yet it seems like she blames me for it. I have questions. Of how she’s standing here after her death was announced and why she is even at this gala. I need to ask why she’s looking at me like I had something to do with her supposed death.

I need to talk to her.

“Leslie, listen, I don’t know what this is about but let’s not do this here. We can “Kian, don’t.” Beverly snaps at me and glares back at Leslie, “She clearly doesn’t belong in a place like this so she doesn’t know how to act right. That fancy dress doesn’t change the fact that you are a nobody and it will be my pleasure to watch you get kicked out by the security for disrupting the Hanson group’s gala.”

At her words, Leslie laughs. She laughs so hard she draws even more attention to us than Beverly did the first time. The laughter is prolonged and it’s of clear mockery which seems to infuriate Beverly.

“What the hell are you laughing at?”

“Oh, I’m sorry. It’s just crazy to think I can get kicked out when I am the reason you both got to step foot in here in the first place.” Leslie says.

Her words are clear yet confusing. She’s insinuating something impossible and I want to ask what she means but as always, Beverly beats me to it.

“What does that even mean?”

Leslie steps closer so as to look Beverly dead in the eyes.

“It’s exactly what you are thinking, Beverly. I am the reason this gala is being held. I am the reason you are here.”