An Inevitable Fate?

"Crysta!"

Rachel stormed forward to hug her best friend. She felt like she was seeing her friend after some years.

"Okay, why are you being dramatic?" Crysta teased her.

"Why are you so late? And, why didn't you call me as soon as you reached?"

"Wow, slow down, girl. I just came and was about to call, but saw these kids."

Rachel saw the 'kids' and laughed. They were none other than Jane and her gang.

"Alan?" She saw Alan who was standing in between Jane and some girl.

"Yeah, I invited him!" Jane said cheerfully. She was glad that her friends were here. With them here, she wouldn't get bored. This banquet was so boring!

"You?" Rachel had thought that Aaron might have asked his brother to attend. But, Jane?

"Yeah, we are friends!" Alan spoke this time, grinning.

Rachel was speechless. Weren't they fighting and ripping each other's hair not long before? Now, they are friends?

"And, this?" She asked about the girl who was standing next to Alan.

"Oh, she is Avery. My new friend! Avery, this is my sister-in-law, Rachel." Jane introduced them.

"Hello," Avery greeted shyly. Beside her, Alan thought his heart would get blasted anytime. His girl was so cute while being shy.

'Aww, my poor heart can't take it!'

"Girl, you look innocent and kind. Be careful of Jane." Rachel winked at her. The group started to laugh out loud.

"Sis!" Jane w.h.i.n.ed. How could her sister humiliate her in front of her friends?

"Just kidding," Jane was satisfied, hearing that.

Rachel turned to Avery and mouthed, 'I am not!'

Everyone laughed ignoring Jane who was clueless.

Rachel's phone rang.

"You must be busy, go on." Crysta knew she would be busy. Hence, she had not called as well when she reached.

"Oh, yeah, dad was looking for me. I will be back." She waved and left. The group went back to their conversation.

"Right, you were so cool back then, at the bar!" Edwin started his flirting again with Crysta.

"I know, kid" She added a wink.

"Goddamnit, can you stop calling us kids!"

Ren who was standing silently at the side suddenly spoke, gritting his teeth. Everyone stopped laughing and turned to see their friend with shock written over their faces.

Crysta didn't even bat an eye. Seeing her you-wanna-bet expression, Ren cursed and stormed away.

He had taken only twp steps and the lights were turned off. A stage light was lit, focusing on Rachel and her dad, Colin, who were standing at the center of the stage. Colin motioned Rachel to speak first.

"Good evening to all, I am Rachel, the project manager of the Steins industry. I am glad that I have got an opportunity to share the good news with you all. We all know the McSweeney company that is one of the top companies. We are happy to announce that we have got an opportunity to work with them. Ours is the first company in this country to get tied up with their company."

As she finished announcing the tie-up, she proceeded with the presentation about the upcoming billion-dollar project. She invited the McSweeney company's Chairman and the CEO on stage and signed an agreement in front of everyone.

All the while, Aaron and Darren couldn't avert their eyes from her. She looked so confident and cool while giving a speech and during the presentation.

Aaron believed that no one else could look hot like her while giving a simple speech.

"You like her," Sarah, who was standing next to Aaron, spoke.

He turned his head to see her. She wasn't looking at him instead her eyes were on Rachel.

"What makes you think like that?" He questioned her. Was he being that obvious?

"Earlier, you excused yourself saying you would be going to the washroom."

He didn't reply but waited for her to continue.

"But, you went in the direction of women's washroom."

"I never said which washroom I would be going to." He replied as a matter-of-fact.

"..." Sarah was speechless.

"I saw Ms. Rachel going to women's washroom. And, you went in that direction. But, gent's was not in that direction. So, you had followed her."

"That's it?" He scoffed.

"Mr. Lee, how come you are wearing a silver-scarf that is exactly similar to Ms. Rachel's dress?"

She knew about this already when she saw Rahel's outfit. Sarah was wearing a black dress. So, he should have put on something that matched her dress as she was his date for the event. But, here he was, wearing a silvery thing.

"I know right? What a coincidence!"

He was being shameless again. But he didn't want to admit that he was slightly amused by her observing skills.

"..." Yeah, indeed!

"Anyways, you are not denying my assumption. So, I must be correct!"

This time, Aaron didn't respond.

On stage, everything went smoothly. Both the company people took a picture with the agreement file in the hand. The chairman and the CEO got off the stage while Colin and Rachel stayed back.

Rachel smiled at the crowd and was about to climb down the stairs, but froze when she noticed a familiar face on the screen.

A slide show of photos was being displayed on the projector screen.

Rachel just stood there, on the stage, like a dead person.