Chapter 54 - Deja Vu

Giovanni O’Connell was driving to the construction site meant for the supermarket for a feasibility study. Sierra Eleanor Clifford sat in the front seat with him, but she leaned her head against the window and looked out to avoid engaging in a conversation with Giovanni.
She was still majorly pissed off at him for the way he spoke to her last night, and no matter what he did, she wasn’t going to forgive him. His words hit a little too close to home and regardless of how hard she tried to not think of it, her mind drifted back to it.
Since morning, she had noticed his little attempts at trying to engage in small talk with her, but she had dismissed him every time, making it clear that she didn’t want to speak to him.
Unfortunately for her, they had to be at the site visit. She didn’t want to be anywhere near him but it seems like the universe had other plans for her. So when he spoke to her in the morning, she pretended not to hear and instead got dressed up and waited for him in the car.
She felt his gaze on her, but she didn’t let it deter her from her promise to avoid him. He brought up small topics he knew would make her talk, but every time, he was met with silence.
“Come on Sierra, you’re going to have to speak to me at some point,” the young man said when he was tired of being ignored. He let out an exasperated sigh when his words didn’t seem to affect the young girl.
He tried placing a hand on her thigh, but she shifted before he even had the chance to.
Once the car came to a halt at the site, Sierra quickly took off her seatbelt and got out of the car, not giving a single chance to Giovanni to speak.
The mayor had sent someone to give them a tour of the site and answer every question they had, including when they could talk with the population to inform them of their plan for the city. Although, Giovanni was certain the entire town knew about it.
They had finished the tour visit and Giovanni O’Connell was on phone with his bosses giving them feedback on the visit when some girls walked past him with a conversation that intrigued him.
At once, he ended the call to pay better attention to the girls.
“I’m telling you. I saw them myself, she walked out of the room and he followed behind. I was there” the first girl said.
Somehow, Giovanni knew who they were talking about. Only one person had the attention of the entire and he wanted to know what it was they were saying about her.
Who did she sleep with this time?
“There’s no way. First, it was that low-life Luke and now him? Seriously, is she that desperate she’ll sleep with anyone for money?” the second girl said in a condescending tone.
“Actually, I heard someone say she didn’t do it with Luke” the first girl clarified.
Hearing this made Giovanni somewhat relieved, but it didn’t change the fact that he didn’t know who her latest conquest was.
“What? How? The second girl questioned.
“I don’t know, but she didn’t. Now, with the mayor. That one happened” the first girl clarified.
Giovanni O’Connell fisted his hand so much so that his knuckles were turning white. A big scowl be seen on his forehead, his jaw was clenched and he gave both girls an intense stare.
“I can’t believe she slept with him. They were so close, everyone thought he will become her stepfather. God, her mother must be turning in her grave, poor woman” as the second girl spoke, they left.
Giovanni had fisted his fingers so tight that his knuckles had turned white. He wanted to follow behind the girl and call them out on what they had said about Wren, but he couldn’t. He was frozen on the spot.
He didn’t want to believe what they had said. He knew Wren, his Wren wouldn’t do something like that.
“Wipe that look off your face. If you’re not going to defend her when people speak ill about her, you might as well not bother to look offended because you’re making a fool out of yourself” Sierra, who had witnessed and overhead everything, walked past Giovanni with a frown on her face.
The young man opened his mouth to speak up but was cut off by the brunette.
“Save it. I don’t want to hear it. Drive me back to the mansion” Sierra called out.
Giovanni O’Connell let out an exasperated sigh and did as Sierra instructed, intending to drive over to the pub to have a word with Wren.
Later that evening, the blonde made her way to the pub with a big smile on her face and was practically jumping out for joy. The reason for her joy was inexplicable, but she had woken up after a four-hour nap feeling overjoyed.
She was certain nothing would spoil her mood for the night.
The closer she got to the pub, the happier she was as she was elated over seeing her friend, Gwen. That was until Luke appeared before her, his presence blocking her way.
She rolled her eyes. “Please step aside. I am overjoyed this evening and I don’t want you to ruin that for me” Wren said.
Luke grabbed her arm firmly, making Wren flinch. “You lied to me and made me look like a fool” he spat out.
Wren wriggled her arm away from his hold. She had told herself she wasn’t going to allow anyone to kill her joy this night, and that included poor little Luke.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about and I don’t give a bloody fuck. For the last time, step away from me” she stated firmly this time.
In a fit of rage, Luke raised his hand and was about to connect it to Wren’s cheek when the blonde quickly reacted and dodged it. Then, she looked at him with a perplexed look on his face.
“Did you just try to hit me” she tilted her head quizzically.
Luke didn’t reply to her question. Instead, he grabbed her arm firmly and began to pull her towards a dark area. This time, the blonde was unable to wriggle away her arm. She yelled out, screaming and ordering Luke to let go of her arm.
But he never did.
That was until they heard a voice and Wren Austin felt like she was having déjà vu.
It was the second time he was coming to her aid in a situation like this.
Only this time, she wasn’t jumping for joy at his presence.

_______-