Crimson Crest

Jake had always thought that the dull hum of the city at midnight was his favorite soundtrack. It was a quiet reassurance that life, no matter how turbulent, continued moving forward. But as he turned the key in the lock of his apartment that night, he was greeted not by the silence but by the hushed whispers and soft rustle of sheets.

Curiosity piqued, he stepped inside, his footsteps quiet on the worn wooden floor. The living room was dim, shadows cast long by the moonlight filtering through the curtains. His heartbeat pounded louder with each step, a drumbeat of dread as he approached the slightly ajar door.

A breath caught in his throat as he pushed it open, the scene before him unfolding in slow, agonizing motion. There, entangled in the very sheets they'd shared on different nights, were his girlfriend Emily and his best friend Mark. The room froze for a moment, a snapshot of betrayal and disbelief.

For a second no one moved, Emily's eyes widened in shock, and Mark's face turned a shade paler. Jake stood there feeling a chasm open within him, swallowing the love and trust he had freely given. Words failed him and all that remained was raw, shearing pain of a heart shattering in silence.

He walked back to the living room in a daze. He could not think of anything at that moment. He was shocked beyond relief. He wanted to give her the best. Jake and Emily started their relationship in high school. They both love acting, and they're in the industry, but Emily has a bit of fame, while Jake only acts in minor roles.

Mark looked at Emily. " You clean up and meet at my place". He was putting on his clothes tiredly.

" I didn't know he'd come home, thought he was having night shoots today". Emily hasn't recovered from the shock.

"You have to tell him, we're in love," Mark yelled angrily. He had always wanted this day to come. The day he will win against Jake. He has always been a backdrop for Jake. " You're signing with my company, and we're in love" he declared, and left the room. He met Jake in the living room. He smirked and left.

Emily put on her clothes slowly. A lot of thoughts were running through her mind. A part of her wants to apologize to Jake, but the other part isn't ready. She loves Mark and that's final.

Emily walked to the living room and met Jake looking in a daze. She almost knelt down to apologize but quickly controlled herself.

"Let's get married tomorrow" Jake looked at her, his eyes filled with tears. He's ready to forget about it and get married to her.

"Sorry" Emily was shocked. How could he just forget about the past and get married to her? She sighed.

"I'll forget about everything" Jake declared. He's not ready to leave her. He loves her with everything he has. He can't let her go.

"I'm sorry, I love Mark" she declared, without stuttering or thinking twice. She has made up her mind, she must be a star, she must be popular.

"You can't love him Emily", Jake was shocked. He thought she wanted to apologize. He would have hugged her tight and told her not to apologize, but who would have thought?

"Let's break up Jake. You can't give me what I want" Emily did not bother beating around the bush. She pushed their love to the floor because of fame and money.

"I can make money, Emily, I can take a good script and make money." Jake almost knelt down. He was in tears now. He can't let her go.

"I'm sorry, Mark got me a good script. I'll start shooting next month" she declared and walked out without looking back.

Days after Emily and Mark's betrayal, Jake moved through life in a daze, his heartache gnawing at him like a persistent shadow. 

Determined to escape the memories that haunted his apartment, he decided to take a long walk through the city, letting the night air clear his mind.

He found himself at an upscale bar, it's warm glow and soft jazz offering a brief respite from his turmoil.

Seated at the bar, he ordered a drink, hoping the burn of the whiskey would dull the ache in his chest. He gulped down the whiskey, cringing at it's burn. He noticed a woman at the far end of the bar, her elegance and poise unmistakable. She had an air of confidence, yet there was something in her eyes that mirrored his own sorrow.

 Their eyes met, and she smiled, a small knowing smile that seemed to see right through him. She walked over to him. 

" The weather seems cool, don't you think?" She smiled at him and sipped his whiskey"Ahhhh" she screamed at the burns.

"What?" Jake looked at her in disgust. He hates ladies, he doesn't want to have anything to do with them.

" Seems you are heartbroken." She mocked. " What happened? " She asked. Though she knew his problem, she found him funny.

"What do you want " Jake asked. He was getting furious. 

" Let's get married " she said. 

" Excuse me" Jake raised a brow. He was surprised at her audacity.

" I need to secure my position in my family. Grandpa promised to sign  the company to me once I got married," she declared.

" You must be drunk. Where's your guard " Jake looked around .

" I'm Arabella Sinclair" she introduced herself. Jake almost choked, she laughed and picked up her bag. " Here, call me after you make your decision ". She dropped her card and walked out of the bar.

She looked elegant and classy. Arabella Sinclair is the richest young lady in city Z and she's the most beautiful spinster . 

" I'll take you to Eden crest now" her guard said. She looks professional and rigid.

"Kelly take me to Opals garden" she requested. The Eden crest is the popular estate of the Sinclair family. Arabella is tired of staying in that mansion, her cousins Catherine and Eliza are the only problem she has in Eden Crest .

Kelly opened the door for Arabella. She entered quietly, thinking about the man in the bar.

He looks handsome with his sharp jaw and filled eyelashes. He looked sexy with his beard.

Jake looked at the card and smiled. Arabella Sinclair. He smirked" she thinks I'm stupid, she's fake", he mocked.

He took out his phone and checked her name on Google. He opened his mouth in awe. He had just met Arabella Sinclair and she proposed marriage.

He sighed and reclined on the chair. His phone beeped and he checked the caller. It was his other friend or his only friend, Evans.

"Hey, where are you? I'm at your place" he said gently. Obviously, Evans is trying hard not to make Jake feel bad.

"How's Emily?" Jake could not help it. He missed her every day. He could not spend a day without thinking about her. 

"I called to tell you about her .... She's the protagonist in the new movie survival", Evans said quietly, unsure if he was doing the right thing or not .