Unexpected Encounter: A Second Chance at Love

"I am not looking down on you," Kazi sighed. He always wanted the best for Riftan This is why when he heard about the sudden meeting he had with Andrew, he came to see him immediately. 

What Riftan was about to do came with benefits but also consequences. 

"Then shut the fuck up and let me do what I want to," Riftan snapped before storming out of the kitchen. 

Kazi was about to follow him but he decided against it. He knew nothing could make Riftan change his mind once he had decided on something. 

"Is everything okay?" Janet inquired as she entered the kitchen. "I met Rif on the way and he looked a little pissed." 

"Everything is fine." Kazi took a deep breath to calm himself down. Even if it wasn't fine, he would have to make sure everything that Riftan had planned would execute smoothly with minimal invasion or problems. 

Janet did not question him any further, she quietly brewed herself a cup of coffee. 

"So how are you?" He walked towards her, closing the distance. 

"I am okay," she gave him a polite smile. 

"That is good to hear," he smiled back. 

The two of them kept standing in the kitchen, facing each other for quite some time. They occasionally gave each other an awkward smile. 

"So I guess I will take my leave now." Kazi walked out of the kitchen, relieving the tension that had formed between them. 

Janet breathed a sigh of relief when he was no more at sight. 

As Kazi was Riftan's best friend, she knew him for a long time. In fact, he was the only one she was comfortable with after Riftan. But this was before the embarrassing incident that had happened a couple of weeks ago. 

She covered her face with both her hands and groaned. Whenever she thought of it she felt nothing but embarrassment, Only if she could turn back time and prevent it from happening. 

"Okay, calm down," she muttered to herself as she composed herself. She took a few deep breaths before resuming brewing her coffee. 

...

[Volkov Mansion] 

[Andrew's Room] 

"We are so sorry Rachael," Kate grabbed her hand and apologised again. She was on the verge of crying. 

"Kate, It's okay." Rachael gave her a hug. "You don't have to apologise, it wasn't your fault." 

"It was wrong of us to leave you alone." Elsa wasn't feeling any less guilty. 

Since Rachael was new to the country, it was their responsibility to keep her safe and to make sure she came home unharmed.

"I told you guys to leave." 

"Yes, but—" 

"It was the best thing to do at the moment," Rachael remarked. If all three of them were taken away, the rescue would have been more difficult. There was no guarantee that they would be able to save all three of them unharmed. 

Elsa sighed and gave her a hug. "I was so scared, I thought I would never see you again." 

"I was scared too." She was very scared. "But everything is okay now, isn't it?" 

"Is it true that Riftan Genovesse rescued you?" Kate curiously inquired. She remembered Daniel telling her this yesterday when she was half asleep. 

Rachael nodded. "He did." 

"That's strange," Elsa frowned. Given their history with the Genovesse, it was indeed very strange. 

"Well whatever it is, I am happy that you are back home safe." Kate gave her a hug again. "Let's plan a girls date again after we go to the city, okay?" 

Rachael smiled and nodded. "Let's do that." 

Just then her phone pinged. 

[Unknown: I hope you are okay now ♥. Let me know when you are up for a coffee break]

"Who is that?" Elsa glanced at the screen. 

Kate slapped her arm. "El, you don't peep into someone's messages like that." 

"No, that's okay." Rachael handed Elsa her phone. "It's from Janet." 

"Janet Genovesse?" she raised her brows. "When did you become friends with her?" 

"I met her at the mall the day we went to buy dresses for the party and then I met her yesterday as well," Rachael answered. "She is nice." 

Kate nodded in agreement. "She is nice but what happened to her sucks." 

"I heard about that." The mere thought of what had happened with Janet made her heart ache. 

"Janet and I were in the same dance class when we were young," Elsa shrugged her shoulders. "She was a very silent kid, you know. It was like she was always scared of something or maybe someone." 

She sighed. "But since our family's hated each other, I never talked to her. But I heard from a bunch of gossip girls that she had bruises all over her body. One time, she came to the class with a black eye." 

"She asked for my number yesterday," Rachael explained. 

"In front of Andrew?" She nodded. "And he didn't say anything?" 

Rachael shook her head. "No, he didn't say anything." 

Kate and Elsa exchanged looks. 

"So does that mean Andrew has no problem with you being friends with Janet?" 

"Even you can be friends with Janet and Andrew will have no problem."

All three of them looked at the entrance. 

Andrew entered the room and approached Rachael. "Why did you wake up so early?" He kissed her forehead. "How are you feeling now?" 

"I am okay." She smiled. "Did you eat breakfast?" 

"Not yet, I was waiting for you." He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "What do you want to eat?" 

"Yes, yes we know you two love each other—" Elsa scoffed. "You can continue after you tell me what is going on." 

She looked at Andrew. "So you have no problem with us being friends with Janet Genovesse?" 

"Yes." 

"Wait—" Elsa nervously chuckled. "I don't think you heard me right." 

"I said Janet Genovesse," she repeated herself. 

"Yes Elsa, I heard you the first time." He wrapped his arms around Rachael's waist. "You can be friends with whoever you want to. No restrictions on that." 

"Wait a second." Kate raised her brows. "So you're telling me that we can be friends with Janet while you men are ready to slit each other's throat?" 

"Probably," He shrugged his shoulders. 

"What discussion is going on here?" Daniel entered the room. 

"Well—" Kate wrapped her arms around his waist. "Andrew is telling us that we can be friends with Janet Genovesse." 

"Now that doesn't sound like a very bad idea." Daniel smiled and looked at Andrew. "Janet is sweet unlike her brother." 

Elsa gave both of them a suspicious look. "Now this is weird. Are we finally calling a truce with the Genovesse?" 

Daniel and Andrew looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders. They didn't have a definite answer yet. 

Elsa kept asking questions to understand what was going on while Daniel kept her on her toes with vague answers. 

"You still did not tell me what you want to eat." Andrew hugged Rachael from behind and rested his chin on her shoulder. 

Rachael smiled and leaned against his embrace. "Let me think. I think I am craving a cheeseburger." 

"Alright then  cheeseburger it is." He kissed her shoulder. "Let me take you out tonight, okay? I have a meeting in the evening. I'll pick you up after that." 

"Where are we going?" She curiously asked. 

"Somewhere nice." 

"Like a date?" 

He nodded. "Like a date." 

... 

[High-end Bar] 

When Andrew entered the bar Riftan near the counter, sipping his drink. 

"You really came alone." Riftan looked at Andrew when he took the seat beside him. 

"Why? You wanted me to bring a gang with me?" When the bartender handed him the drink, Andrew looked at Riftan. 

"I ordered it for you beforehand." Riftan took a sip of his drink. 

"It's weird that you know what my usual drink is." 

"We have been dealing with each other for eight years now, Volkov. I think it's normal for me to know my enemy's usual choice." Keeping quiet for a while, he asked, "How is your wife?" 

"She is okay," Andrew answered. "She is trying her best to cope with everything that happened." 

"Why did you do it Andrew?" Riftan looked at her. "Why did you marry someone like her?" 

Andrew took a sip of his drink and smirked. "Someone like her? I would much rather appreciate it if you don't judge my wife right in front of me." 

"I am not judging her," Riftan defended himself. "And you know exactly what I mean." 

"She isn't meant for this world and you know that too," he added. 

Andrew did not say anything. He knew Riftan was right but did he regret marrying Rachael? No, not even for a second. 

"I love Rachael," Andrew stated. "I almost lost her once because of my cowardness. I couldn't let that happen again. And I won't let that ever happen again." 

He looked at Riftan. "I don't know what you are thinking and what kind of interest you have in my wife but I will suggest you drop it." 

"What? Are you scared?" Riftan chuckled. 

"Not even a little bit," Andrew smirked. "You can try as hard as you want. In fact, even if a million of you try to take Rachael away from me, you will end up failing." 

…..