Aurora lifted her head from the couch. She felt a sharp pain in her head as her eyes slowly flickered open. She blinked slowly, adjusting her eyes to the light.
She placed one hand on her head and took in a slow breath. When her eyes fully adjusted to the bright light in the office, she squinted, her mind spiralling with questions.
This was Liam's office. The clock ticked by the side and a phone on the table beeped. She picked it, recognising it as the last model she used before her wedding to Liam.
There was a message from someone, but what actually caught her attention was the date. She unlocked the phone and stood, and the entire room spun.
"Is this the afterlife?" She asked, but her surroundings betrayed her.
This was the day before her supposed wedding.
She had come to Liam's office to find it empty. His number wasn't going through and she fell asleep while waiting for him.
They had arranged a party with a few close friends. She went to his office hoping they would go together.
Aurora started towards the door while tapping on the message she received.
Jenny: Hey, babes, I will not be able to come to the party later tonight. I have other plans. Love ya.
Aurora paused, and her entire body froze.
Memories from her past life rushed into her mind. Liam cheated on her with Jenny, her best friend and they had pushed her to her death.
The emotions came rushing in, pain, anger and betrayal.
She left the office, her heels slamming sharply on the tiled floor.
It was past 5pm. A few people walked around in the corridor.
At this point, one thing was clear to her.
She had been reborn!
She has been given a second chance in life.
Aurora knew things others didn't. For example, she was aware of Liam and Jenny's affair.
She remembered Liam's words clearly, "We've been together since before the wedding."
That means one thing, they are cheating currently.
It finally made sense why they were always absent at the same time.
She remembered being alone at the party.
Liam never showed up, and he gave a flimsy excuse. The old Aurora believed him. But now, with the knowledge in her possession, it was clear he had hooked up with Jenny that night.
They were away having fun while she waited for him all night and had to party alone with her friends.
Something she hated.
Immediately she stepped into the lobby. Liam came into her view wearing a grin, she gritted her teeth upon seeing him, a part of her wanting to slap that stupid grin off his face.
But she had to hold back, not sure what would result from another confrontation.
Liam caught sight of her and his smile widened. His assistant followed closely behind him.
Staff bustled around in the lobby, their ID dangling from their neck. They bowed to Liam as he walked past.
Aurora clenched her fist, anger soaring within her. She bit down on her tongue, knowing that Liam had no idea she knew about his betrayal.
She shouldn't act like she knows. She should act normally.
"Act normal."
"Don't forget, normal."
However, her hands seemed to have other plans, and immediately they got close to each other, a loud slap echoed across the hallway.
Gasp!!!
Time froze for a second, Liam held on to his left cheek, surprise etched on his face.
"You bloody liar," Aurora said under her breath, and her hand collided with his right cheek. Another gasp resounded across the lobby and mummering began.
Hushed whispering, expressing surprise but also thrill at the event.
The second slap was as unexpected as the first one. Pain spread across Liam's face. His brows drew together. "Fucking bastard," Aurora yelled.
Liam flinched, refusing to believe the fact that this was his fiancée.
Aurora is the most cultured and calm woman he has ever met. She respected him.
No, it would suffice to say she worshipped the ground he stepped on. This behaviour was unusual.
Whoever took his woman and replaced her with this thug better return her.
After steadying himself and breathing, he looked up at Aurora, his face red from anger and embarrassment.
Aurora's chest heaved up and down. She stared at him with a straight face.
Liam's lips moved slowly, "Aurora, what is the mea-" she pushed him at that moment, and he collided into a staff holding a cup of coffee.
Liam landed on his butt, the cup of coffee landing directly on his face.
"Good, that's where you belong, trash." Aurora kicked his leg and stormed off.
As the CEO of the number publishing company in the country, Liam was highly respected.
He has never experienced any embarrassing event, at least, not in this capacity.
He stared at Aurora's retreating figure. Everyone was staring at him; his image, which he had worked so hard to maintain, was ruined.
His P.A., Jay, extended a hand and helped him up. "What are you staring at?" He shouted at the staff all around him and they quickly scurried away.
He placed a hand on his waist. "I think I cracked my waist," he said to Jay, who assisted him, and they walked him to his office.
…
Cool air slapped against Aurora's face. She stood in front of the bar.
She had gone home after leaving the company. Ignored all Liam's calls and eventually turned off her phone.
The slap and humiliation from earlier were not enough to cool off her anger.
She decided not to show up for the party, after all, Liam wasn't going to show up either. He would spend the night having fun with his mistress.
Aurora planned to allow herself some fun, hence the reason she was standing here.
The plan was simple: drink, have fun, hook up with someone.
She would think about her next steps tomorrow, but for now, she didn't want to think about anything.
…
In the underground parking lot of the same bar, a sleek black Mercedes-Benz S-class rolled to a stop. A man in all black attire stepped out of the car and opened the rear door.
A Polish black valden noir stepped onto the floor.
Slade Wellington stepped and straightened to his full height, radiating power and control. His face expressionless and gaze distant.
A man in a blue suit rushed forward, and he then bowed slightly. "Mr. Wellington, Welcome. Your private booth is ready." The man's voice shook, not from fear but awe.
Slade Wellington didn't just grace any establishment. Having him here and standing in his presence was an accomplishment.
Slade didn't blink.
"Lead the way."
[Note: This is a complete work of fiction, set in a fictional place and time. Do not relate it to any real-life event, place, or time.]