Part-7 My Journey Begins.

Part-7

Ariana's POV

I reached the boulevard and breathed thinking I eluded from that situation but this time I am remorseful and sadly laughed at myself reminding myself that today I became a thief.

But I washed away all guilt guessing a day I will pay back to him. Also, he was rude to me so I can take this as his punishment but whatever he did, I can't deny that he is my saviour. Let's not focus on the past, murmuring this I headed towards a bus station after inquiring from passersby.

Where should I go? California or New York or somewhere else? I sat there thinking it but nothing was coming in my mind.

One thing I surely inferred, running away from a bungalow is not as effortless as it is exhibited in movies. I took this decision in a haste, of course, I am not grieving. I am only stating some realities and that time really some movie scenes were flashing in my brain which played a pivotal role but once I reached the highway some problem came.

At that point, I presumed nothing can be bothersome than this but at this moment my thoughts are taking a 360° turn as escaping from Joseph's men or dealing with Mr Fierce is trifling as compared to deciding where I should go? And even if I decide someplace then how will I manage there? And which job I will do? As I lost my hopes in the form of my backpack. I sighed considering all this and cried in my mind.

"Then go back to your home and be on your knees and ask forgiveness from your foster family, they will surely forgive you as they want to sell you but be aware what if that buyer won't accept me then you know what they will do with you, lock you in a dark room for days or," my brain retorted.

Shall I? Closing my eyes I thought about that option which the brain attempted to give.

"No, I will be going anywhere except that place," I whispered standing seeing a bus coming and looking at a group who was beside me, picking their guitars.

"Where will this bus go?" I asked.

I know they will think of me as mad as I moved some steps in order to catch that bus and still asked where this bus will go but let them.

"Albany," one of them said confusingly and  checked me out 

I smiled at them then looked at the bus murmuring, "so, New York will be my destination, and hopefully this turns out to be a good choice."

The bus arrived there, and with some nervousness and anxiety, I clambered and took a seat after paying for a ticket.

That group also came on the bus, and one of them sat beside me.

"Are you going, Albany for the first time?" She asked. I nodded fidgeting my fingers.

"Olivia and they are my friends," Olivia introduced two boys who were Luke and Andrew and a girl, Erin. They waved their hands at me and looked at me with questions.

"Ariana, you guys live here or are you going for an outing?" I meekly asked.

"We have a band whose name is Eaglesica. We were here for performance and now going back to our place, you must be thinking about why we are wandering in the bus? Actually, we all love some adventure. Sorry for speaking this much, all scold me for such a habit but what can I do?" Olivia seemed sweet to me, and her friends too talked with me friendly. Maybe they got a grip of my situation and thanks to them I don't even know when this journey passed and I reached Albany and now my journey begins.

…………………

Two months later,

Aiden's POV

Sitting in my cabin, I was engrossed in signing some documents yet disturbed by Adam's secretary Ms Eva Brown who entered my cabin without knocking.

"What are you doing here? And how dare you enter without knocking?" I yelled standing, she flinched listening to my tone and attempted to open her mouth.

"Jacob," I yelled further causing Ms Brown to cower.

Jacob is my new secretary who joined two months ago. He never gave me an opportunity to fire him but today he let me down.

Jacob hurriedly came inside and endeavoured to say something but interfered by Adam who came inside, seeing him Ms Brown who was cowering sighed.

"Eva, you may go, and Jacob, can you excuse us?" Adam said in a sugar-coated voice, Jacob gawked at me but my eyes were ablaze fire at Adam who lingered steady. That's why I hate him most as he always shows himself different from them unlike Ryan and others who openly accept they are cunning.

"You may go," I said and kept looking at Adam with a furious expression.

"Brother," Adam endeavoured to say but I arched my brows indicating he should come on the matter.

"There will be a shareholder meeting after a week, I will vote for you but," Adam struggled to say but stopped seeing my laugh.

"You will support me? You have a 12% share, and why is this meeting happening? As far as I know, there is still a month left," I said.

"Ryan and others forced this on investors and some directors. They all are planning to overstep your position because of last week's scandal," Adam said with the same cool expression.

I fisted my hand recalling last week I slapped someone before the media. It was not my fault at all, that guy only came to my empire all drunk and behaving inappropriately with the female guard, I may be a jerk and arrogant who doesn't give a chance to my employers if they do mistake and scolds at the small matter but I can't take if someone insults them or behave indifferently with them. I who was arrived at the office got nasty seeing his ordinances, so slapped him and gave him some nice kicks then throw him before my guards but that stupid media presented that incident in a different way like I fired that guy and when he came to talk to me I am behaving like this. I didn't care to hold a press conference for this as I thought this matter would be blown away with some other hot topics but now it seems I made a mistake.

"And you may not know but only 12% difference is between you and Ryan," Adam said further. This information was surely shocking as I didn't expect my trusty people would betray me and go to Ryan's side but then I smirked recalling someone.

"And why are you thinking that I will take your help to save my position? And why do you want to help me?" I asked hiding my smirk also I had genuine confusion.

"You don't take me as your brother but I do, and I know Ryan can't handle this huge empire. Also, I am not doing it for free, in exchange for my vote I want something," Adam said calmly.

Another drama of Miller's family, Miller is the surname of my stepfamily, yes my surname is Connell because I still carry my biological father's surname instead of a stepfather.

"And what you want?" I smirked sitting at my place and played with a paperweight.

"You should give me a chance to prove that I am different from my family," Adam said, making me ballistic.

"Oh! Really? You can get out and don't worry I am not going to lose my position and tell your brother that such tactics will not work with me," I sarcastically said. Adam tried to say something but I yelled and called Jacob.

"I only wished to help you," saying this Adam went and Jacob came inside and bowed his head.

"Why didn't I get prior information about Ryan's doing?" I asked, clenching my fist, 

"I am sorry but Mr Miller didn't come office for a month so I didn't think he would be planning something like this but I am ratifying my mistake and ready to give resignation.

"That I will surely take but after that shareholder meeting, find out about that meeting and fix my schedule with Mr Connell, my grandfather," I said as in the short span of time he is the only person who can be helpful for me as he has 15% shares also he has some hidden secret which always controlled greed of Mr Miller, my stepfather.

Jacob nodded and went from there, I opened my drawer to keep my files there so I could move from here as it is almost night also my mood is spoiled but my eyes fell on an identity card, and instantly I became gratified 

"Ariana Gray," I whispered, closing that drawer and recalling it has been two months since I met this girl in an unexpected situation and that day too when I kept this card with me.

To be continued.