The Devil's Sweetheart

Harley has been seeing Ethan and Devin's fights from the school days and there are times both ended up with bruises and it was a pain in the arse for Drew, Jasper, Kurt, Austin, and Wilbur to see the feuds. "You must be offended right? After all, I brought my brother's topic again?" With hesitation, Harley asked.

"No." He chuckled. In the past, he inclined his animosity towards Devin assuming he was the one for his misfortune. But as Ethan grew up, he understood, he has screwed it up due to his insanity and put the blame on Devin. But Ethan's ego would never allow him to admit his faults openly even now.

"That's a relief." Harley sighed and put a spoon full of pecan caramel swirl ice cream into her mouth. "It tastes wonderful."

"Because I have ordered it." said, Ethan.

"But you didn't make it, Mr. Davies," Harley teased him. "Now tell me, why did you come to New York?"

"Business." He said, not going into the details. It's true, he is here on a business trip but he was also hoping to talk with Leena although he knew the probability is very less.

"I am here to talk with Devin also." He stated. Many questions were running in his mind and he wanted to try asking Devin. Ethan might not like Devin but at least he is honest, unlike his friends and family. He wants to know the truth before he regrets it.

"Ethan." Harley sighed. "Why don't you quit_"

"Don't worry. It's a business transaction and nothing more." Ethan reassured.

If it was business and being his executive assistant, Harley would be the first one to inform. But why didn't he tell? What is the planning? "Does Devin's know about your visit?" Harley inquired.

"He knows." Ethan continued. "Our company is planning for a fashion week to showcase the new models and I assumed, WD brand's clothes would be the best option."

"And he agreed?" She asked, her mouth opened wide.

"We don't mix up personal and professional things." He said. Devin was against the offer but when Ethan offered the eighty-twenty profit, he readily agreed. Ethan wondered when did he become money-minded. Little did Ethan know, Devin turned into it because of one fashionista. He is saving all his fortune for the future.

"I can't believe it." Harley rolled her eyes in shock. Sun must have risen in the west if these two would sit and talk for a minute without fights and now that they have agreed for a business deal, it is an eight wonder.

"Did you find you back, Twiggy?" Ethan asked with a smile.

"Huh?" His question confused Harley.

"You just rolled your eyes so hard. I thought you finally saw your back." He taunted.

"It's not funny, Ethan" Harley looked away, a frown on her face.

"Alright, alright. Let's go. I am not going to tease you anymore." Ethan got up from his seat. "I have an appointment with my sworn enemy in the afternoon."

"You still call him this." She giggled. I can tease Devin with this name to anger him.

"Can't help it... We are born to hate each other."

Ethan led the way to the parking slot. All the way, to the office, Harley and Ethan chatted about their school dramas happily. After a long time, Ethan's genuinely smiled in the presence of Harley.

As the car was coming close to the office, Harley's panic grew. She was scared to see Devin's murderous eyes in case he spotted her along with Ethan. Right when they got down, she quickly guided him to the private elevator. It was a relief that only security guards observed her since they started in the basement.

Once they reached the topmost floor, she took him to Devin's office. "Thank God! He is in a meeting. I will pretend nothing has happened."

"Stay here until he comes. He must be in the meeting." Harley said.

"You seem to be a lot scared of him?" Ethan heckled her.

"It's all your fault," Harley said and scurried out of the room in rush.

.....

Ethan got bored sitting alone in the silent room. His meeting with Devin would be at two in the afternoon and he still has time for it. Not knowing what to do, he grabbed a magazine and began reading to kill the time. Just then he heard the door open followed by footsteps. Ethan did not turn around assuming it was Devin until he heard a voice.

"My dear Babylicious, I just messaged I am here and you are already in your office room? You should get punished for not attending the meetings properly. Your employees would think I am eating up your time."

"Leena!" Ethan whispered without turning. The voice he longed to listen to and the person he wanted to see badly has appeared in front of him finally. But he was scared to face her.

"Why aren't you talking? Are you mad at me for my uniformed visit? But I was missing you badly in the home." In a hurry, Leena started at home without wearing her contact lens and the outline of the person was a little blurry. But as her footsteps approached closer, she sensed it is not Devin.

'Mad Leena! You spoke all gibberish in front of some other man! At least apologize before he thinks of you as a crazy nut!'

"I apologize for_"

Her voice broke, footsteps halted, her body froze, everything happened at once. She swallowed her words when the person turned around. The man she never wanted to see and face she never wanted to remember has appeared in front of her again.

"Leena!" Ethan spoke up. The glimpse of the smile he just witnessed has flashed way in seconds. There was only panic and hatred in her face.

"W_hy are y_ou here?" She stuttered. Her voice was barely a whisper. Her brain shut down, she held her dress with her clammy hands, cold sweat formed all over her body. "I do_n't w_ant to see y_our face."

"I am_"

"DEVIN!" She screamed at the top of her lungs. Her watery eyes enlarged. She was scared. She knew it is dumb to get scared but she couldn't help it.

"DEVIN....." She screamed again. A muffled cry for help forced from her throat and she felt drops of tears running down her cheeks.

"Leena, please" Ethan begged. His heart was brutally wrenched seeing her tears and he knew he was responsible for it. He wished to go back to the past and killed the monster in him but he couldn't. "Please don't get scared. I am here only to talk with you." He consoled and tried to take a step forward but Leena took a step back.

"No!" Adrenaline surged, her eyes are wide filled with fear. She wants to run away from him for safety but instead, she remained where she was. She wants to face him, face her fears today.

"At least tell me why did you disappear after that night?" He pleaded in a whisper. So many questions he wanted to ask. Why did she not come to meet him that night? He waited for the whole night for her but she disappeared completely from his life.

"You are behaving as if you don't know. Paralyzing me was not enough and now you want to kill me?" Leena mustered up all the courage and spoke up.

Her voice laced with a mock. Assaulting was not enough on that night and he even joined his hands with his ex-girlfriend and planned an accident. How much hatred did he hold back then? Now that he is repenting over his mistakes, does he think I would accept his faults?

"What are you talking about?" Ethan asked, barely moving a muscle in his face. Was this a cruel joke? Why would I kill her?

"What an actor you are, Mr.Davies. Didn't you tell your girlfriend to make me immobilized for life long so that you can be together with her?"

"I swear, I don't know what you are talking about, Leena." Ethan took a step forward. He is not understanding a word Leena was speaking.

"Don't come near me." She screamed and took a step back. Beads of sweat trickling down, she was drenched in sweat despite the air conditioning is on high. She turned around to run into Devin's arms and. All of a sudden, the door opened. She did not need to see who it was. Without any word, she rushed and hugged the figure tightly. "Devin!" Her voice, a child-like sob. Tears, in her eyes, she muttered, tormented by the sound of her own whimper.

"Don't panic, I am here," Devin whispered caressing her back and loosened her fists with his fingers. Until she was steadily breathing, he whispered only three words. 'I am here'. Neither he saw anyone in the room nor bothered when he heard her cries.. He was only tending to Leena alone.