Two years later, Boston.
Zara stepped out of the chemical analysis laboratory. She wears a white coat and glows and holds files in her hand, walking in the hallway as her heels click against the polished hallway, mixed with students' murmurers. She entered the staff room, and her gaze immediately landed on Professor Alex, his fingers dancing across a laptop keyboard.
"Mr. Alex," she called, her voice a professional cadence.
Alex turned, a warm smile softening his features. "Zara, please, sit." He gestured to the chair opposite him.
"Thank you. Professor," she replied and placed the files on his desk. "The lab report and sample we tested files."
He took the files his brow furrowing slightly as he scanned the report. "Thank you, Zara. Everything is perfect, you may go," he said and returned to his laptop.
A sigh of relief escaped her as she left the staff room. "Finally. My work was done. "She murmured as she headed towards the DNA analysis lecture hall. Her hand gripped the handler and opened the door gently as she stepped inside the dim light room.
Inside, the projector cast an ethereal glow, illuminating swirling images of DNA strands. She slid into a middle desk where her friend Emmy sat and waved to her.
"Where you have been?" Emmy asked, placing her hands on her but her eyes were still fixed on the screen.
"Staff room," Zara replied, her voice low, her eyes fixed on the phone as she checked her mail.
"What about today's party? You are coming, right?" Emmy asked, placing her palm on her Jaw.
"I want to, but I don't know anyone except Xavier. "
"Yes, who cares, "Emmy dismissed with a wave of her hand as she had written a time on her notes.
"What? Night 9 pm " Zara eyebrows shot up in surprise, a continuous message popped up on her phone display on the desk.
"Yes, night party, be ready before 9, "Emmy confirmed with a playful nudge.
Zara nodded absently and her eyes fixed on the displayed notification on the phone. "Are you free today, Zara..." Why aren't you replying…? she flipped the phone face down and her eyes returned to the lecture.
The dim room changed to a glowing white light; silence was broken by the sharp clink as Zara cut a piece of chicken on her plate. The surroundings were luxurious, Dante and Selena seated stiffly opposite Zara at the vast rectangular wooden dining table. "How were your studies going on?" Dante asked broking the plate sound.
"Good, Dad. I have already applied for several internships" Zara replied, her gaze fixed on her food, avoiding her parents' eyes.
"What about Adam? How is he doing?" Dante asked, cutting his dessert with a spoon and noticing her half-done makeup and the painted nails.
Zara instinctively curled her fingers inward, concealing her nails as she noticed Dante's pointed stare. "Everything was fine," she said, her voice low.
"What's 'fine'? Have you two had any arguments? He hasn't been around lately."
"Dad... Maybe he is busy with his work, " she offered, though her thoughts were already plotting the escape plan for the party.
A knowing smirk appeared on his lips, "Busy.... or you just ignoring him, Zara..." he said his voice in anger.
Zara rolled her eyes, a disappointment smirk tugged on her lips, placing her fork and knife on her barely touched plate. "Did that ass*ole say that?" she retorted, a defiant glint in her eyes.
"Zara.... Language!" Selena shouted; her voice sharp with disapproval.
Dante forcefully pushed his spoon against his plate, the sharp crack of the breaking sound echoing in the sudden silence.
"You guys are crazy about what I do, who I speak to, what I wear, how to speak. Even I don't have any right to pick my life partner." She said, pausing to take a steadying breath, her gaze moving between her parents. "These stupid restrictions are making me sick." She stood from the chair and pushed back. "I am enough," she said as she stepped into her room, the click of the closing door echoing downstairs.
"Dante.... Why are you rude to her." Selena asked her gaze fixed on the closed door upstairs.
"I am not, She's the one who's been behaving rudely lately," Dante countered, his voice low and dangerous, a flicker of something unsettling in his eyes. "Did she take her medication correctly?"
"Yes," Selene nodded, as they continued their dinner.
Inside her room, Zara removed her blouse and speedily pulled a body-hugging black dress with a high side slit from her closet. She struggled to zip her back shoulder, her fingers fumbling before finally succeeding. She slipped on a pair of black stilettos, the height adding to her already striking figure. Wearing a small diamond chain and applying red lipstick completed her look, adjust already combed wavy hair.
As everything was done, she glanced at her mirror, "Everything is perfect " she said as she grabbed her phone watching the screen "What?18 missed calls, 5 voice messages," her eyes wide in shock, her hands immediately called Emmy, "It was almost ten! Xavier is waiting outside the gate," Emmy shouted after attending the call, over the loud background music.
"Okay, I'm coming out now, " Zara said as she cut the call and walked towards the door. She paused, her fingers on the door handler, and unlocked it silently. She pressed her ear against the door, listening for any sounds from the hallway. The hallway was silent, she thought. She silently took a step, her heels clicking sound echoing on the wooden floor, "shit!" she whispered, quickly removing her heels and clutching them in her hand. Glancing around cautiously, she crept along the polished wooden floor. Finally, she reached the main entrance.
Zara let out a deep breath, standing just inside the grand front door. Her eyes moved to the security roaming the garden, not again... she thought, hiding in the shadow of large garden plants. As the security moved towards the back side of the mansion to check. "Zara.... this is the time," she whispered to herself, without wasting a second she ran towards the imposing gate. Her fingers fumbled with the heavy lock, finally clicking open and she slipped outside as a victory smile replaced.
A relieved breath escaped her lips. "I did it" she whispered her voice trembling tired of running. Her gaze shifted to the bike that was waiting, Xavier wore a black leather jacket pants, and a helmet as he raced the accelerator. As Zara put her heels on her bare feet and placed her hands on his shoulder, she mounted the bike.
Xavier turned his head slightly. "Ready?" he murmured his voice muffled by the helmet.
Zara nodded up and down. "Yeah.... Go..." she shouted as he raced the bike speedily, her dress billowing in the wind.
After a brief drive, the bike stopped at a brightly lit bar. "OMG, I thought I was going to get caught, but I escaped Xavier!" she exclaimed as she stood near the bike.
Xavier removed his helmet and glowed, revealing a familiar grin. "How many times did I have to call you?" Emmy called out, walking towards them, her expression a mix of annoyance and relief.
"My problem, I have to manage my father. Finally, I did it " Zara threw her arms around Emmy, her excitement palpable.
"Finally! Come on, Xavier's friends were waiting for you." Emmy said, holding Xavier's hands tightly as they headed to the entrance of the bar.
Xavier opened the glass door. The bar erupted in music the colorful eye-catching light spinning around the bar and people enjoying dances and drinks served by service girls. Couples were kissing on the sofa, friends were laughing and playing funny games. A mesmerizing 3D light show danced across the walls.
Emmy led Zara through the throng to a large VIP table. "Everyone, this is Zara," she announced, settling into her seat.
"Hi everyone," Zara said, offering a handshake to everyone with a bright smile glancing at everyone and taking a nearby seat of Emmy.
"I am Patrick, are you Emmy's classmate?" a slightly tipsy young man asked, his gaze already a little unfocused.
"Yes," Zara replied, returning his smile.
"Are you single?" another voice asked, low and suggestive. Lucas's eyes lingered on the exposed skin of Zara's neck.