-52-Meeting Stuart.
"Love creates jealousy. And the weight of jealousy adds extra desire. Desire to have her in every way."
....
He reached a door where a beautiful hand-painted nameplate stood intact under the shade, which read "Mindy and Riley's home." And he traced those written letters for he knew it was her handwriting. There was a small beautiful red heart painted between their name. Which pierced his heart. It increased his feeling of insecurity for the man he hasn't met.
The name that might have been with his name. The name that might have been on his house nameplate. But destiny chose otherwise. For a second he wished he could go in the past just to see how she would have reacted if he had proposed to her for marriage.
Taking a deep breath to calm his nerves he pressed the doorbell waiting for someone to open the door.
As the door opened, A man of 6 feet 2 inches Brown hair falling over brown eyes in front stood before him in all his glory. His white skin glowing as the sun rays fell upon his face. Yet the distinguishing feature was his eyes. He seemed to saw the same eyes somewhere too. He just couldn't pinpoint where?
"Who are you?" Christian asked him in a suspicious voice. 'Isn't he the man who came to My company last week? What was his name? Ah! Why can't I remember? But what is he doing here? Does he know who am I?'
As they both were watching each other suspiciously. A distinct voice of Riley came from inside along with the voice of her footsteps.
"Who was at the door, Mindy?"
Christian turned his upper body towards her to answer her when she came beside the door.
"I don't know. This man is just watching me for few minutes. He is not saying anything."
"Oh. Wait let me see."
She moved towards the front of the door and looked up from down to top. Only to see the man of the hour. They were waiting for. Immediately after a beautiful smile curved on her lips. As she uttered happily, "Stuty Pooh. You came."
"Of course I would! I am not cruel enough to not come when you invited me."
"Awe. Thank you, Georgie. Come inside."
Stuart raised a brow at her and raised his hand. Flickering on her forehead with a finger.
To which she grunted in response.
"What did I teach you, in childhood? Did you forgot?"
"No. No, I didn't."
"Really? Then why don't you recall it and tell me again? What was it?"
Rubbing her forehead Riley glared at him but complied with his demand. "#Rule-1-in friendship there is no sorry and no thanks."
"Good. Now That you remembered it. I am going to go easy on you. Next time there will be a punishment if you broke our rules.
"Okay, baba. I won't. Now come inside."
Glancing at Christian who although was trying to appear calm and nonchalant, yet was clenching his hands so much that he raised his brows at her. "Wait, won't you introduce me to your husband?"
Embarrassed Riley turned around sheepishly, looking at him guiltily. 'Her eyes filled with an unsaid sorry.' Which he chose to ignore. Dodging her stare he moved forward towards the man of the hour. The man was flirting with his wife in front of his own eyes. The man who was hell-bent upon challenging his limits. 'It is intentional. Otherwise, no man can not afford to treat his wife the way he had done in front of her husband. He is challenging me!'
As they both stood in front of each other, Stuart compromised first. Ignoring the glare Riley's husband was giving him, he forwarded his hand for a handshake. Curving his lips in a smile. A smile stung his eyes.
"Hello, Mr. Mandicate. I am Stuart your wife's childhood best friend."
For a second he wanted to strangle him and break the fingers that had just touched her forehead just for him to see that she was his. That she only belonged to him and him.
Yet contrary to his thinking he took his hand in his.
"Hello, Stuart. Though you know me already. I will still like to introduce myself to you. My name is Mendicant and I am Riley brown's husband."
As the words came out of his mouth, his hold tightened upon his in a death grip. And they both threw death glares at each other.
"You missaid it, it's the contractual husband."
As Stuart mocked him, he threw a glance at Riley. A look that screamed betrayal to her. Shocked to know she told him about their secret the first day she met. 'Is he so important to her? Or is it because I am less important.'
Now Riley felt bad to tell him about their secret. 'How could he insult him like this, that too when they just met. I should have kept my mouth shut. Firstly I ignored him, secondly this insult. Oh, Mindy. I am sorry Mindy.'
She ran towards them, giving a nervous smile, and pried their hands free from each other.
"Stop saying, Nonsense Stuart. Come on let's head inside. Food is getting cold."
Glaring at Christian and giving him a cruel smile. He walked inside. Seeing the smallest living room he ever saw in his life. It was of the same size as his bathroom. His forehead creased as he thought of her living here.
Hatred fell in Christian's stomach as he saw them walking together. Hands in hands. Smiling all the way. His hands clenched at the sides as he fought the urge to smash something. Or better someone.
Stuart analyzed the condition of the place they were living in. Although it was a place where poor people were living yet contrary to that there was no record of crime taking place. For which he was thankful. He followed Riley to the couch which was just beside the window which was covered in feathery white curtains. Although he was a little disgusted by the place. But it ended when a sweet fragrance of food and an aromatic stick overtook his senses. Making him relax.
"Stuart. You shouldn't have done that."
"Huh. What I shouldn't have done?"
"You know what I am talking about? How can you be so mean to him? You just met him."
"So what! My words might have been a little mean but what I said was true and he needs to accept that. The early the better."
"Please Stuart. For my sake. Don't bully him. Okay. He is a great man."
Stuart laughed at her choice of words. 'Bullying? Had she ever saw me how I bully people?'