Chapter Five: Forced To Make A Choice

Sometimes it is our smallest decisions that can change our lives forever because life is a matter of choices, and every choice we make, makes us. 

Zoey opened her eyes only to see Dionysus in front of her and the man that tried to hit her was now lying on their crashed table. But, Dionysus seemed like he wasn't finished with the man yet. He looked like he was just starting. 

He immediately pulled the man's body upwards by holding on his collar. Right after, Dionysus' fist crashed into the man's nose again and again as he fell on the floor once more. Yet, no one dared to stop him and aid the man's cries of help. Everyone remains unmoving.

Each and everyone in that restaurant became so afraid at the amount of anger showing on Dionysus' handsome face, even Zoey. Seconds later, Dionysus whispered beside the man's ears, whose face cannot be recognized anymore. 

"I'm going to make your life miserable after this, buddy. Even your whole family won't be able to recuperate. I will scrape everything from you until the last penny. And, you will be begging for your food on the streets so that you won't be able to do this to someone ever again. Mark my words."

The pitiful man whispered back with a sob. "Who are you? Why are you doing this to me?" 

But, Dionysus turned to Zoey and never looked back at everyone else again, even to his date. He was about to say something to Zoey, but Zoey stepped back, looking so scared at Dionysus. Dionysus scoffed. "No thanks or whatsoever?"

Instead of answering that, Zoey did what she thought was the right thing to do. And, that was to run. So, she ran away from there, away from Dionysus. Dionysus only devilishly smirked at that. 

"There's no way you can get away from me, witch." Dionysus immediately ran after Zoey. Once outside, he saw Sebastian walking towards him. His men were always around wherever he went, just hiding from plain sight. Dionysus' eyes wandered around, trying to unearth where the bloody hell Zoey had gone to. Then, he saw her across the street, waiting for a taxi cab to pass by. "Get my car at the back, Seb. We are going to hunt down a witch."

While waiting for Sebastian, Dionysus thought of a way to delay Zoey. He called her on her number. He got that from Zoey's application folder yesterday. The ones he crumpled yet taped back to life. Zoey answered at the first three rings.

"Hello, who is this? I'm in a bit of a hurry right now so can you call me back later?" 

"It's me, witch. Why are you running away from me?" Zoey gasped on the other line, and roamed her eyes only to see Dionysus standing outside the restaurant's entrance from where she was working for more than two years now. She had other side jobs aside from that, but she was still hurt to speculate that she would be fired for what happened earlier, regardless if she was at fault or not. Besides, she has two siblings and her mother to feed, so it will really hurt her pockets as well. 

"I'm not running away. I'll just go home. Can't I even do that?"

"Alright. But, can we talk first? I have a proposition for you. Cross the street now. I'm waiting." 

"Why would I do that? Are you nuts?"

"You're clearly not hearing me, Miss Lavigne. I said that I have a proposal to offer you. You will learn about it if you come with me."

Flashbacks of Dionysus punching the man that bullied Zoey came rushing back to Zoey's mind. Back at the restaurant, Zoey was very sure of one thing. Dionysus had intended to kill the man at first. She clearly saw the urge in Dionysus' eyes. It was like, it was really Dionysus' true nature. For a split second, Zoey had forgotten that Dionysus was the infamous Mr. Chevalier, the C.E.O. and the billionaire. Back then, she could only compare the fuming mad Dionysus to a raging bull, with no restrictions to kill at all.

And, even from afar, Zoey could clearly see the bleeding hand of Dionysus. It wasn't his blood, though, but from the rude man's. "No. Don't contact me again. And, I hope to never see you again." Thereafter, a cab stopped in front of Zoey and she immediately rode it at the same time Sebastian parked his big boss' car in front of Dionysus. 

"Where to, my lord?" Sebastian asked as soon as Dionysus hopped inside the passenger's seat. 

"Trail down that cab. And, tell our men lurking around the area to do the same. We have to catch the witch no matter what." Sebastian laughed at that, finding his big boss' actions towards a woman quite funny because it was the first time in history. "Stop laughing and just drive if you still value your life." 

"Can't we just ambush her at her house?"

"That's the last option. For now, I prefer to be dramatic. You know I'm dramatic, sometimes."

"Tell me about it." Sebastian laughed as he stepped onto the gas, accelerating the car for them not to lose sight of Zoey's cab. He expertly had overtaken each vehicle blocking their way in the most calmed manner. "Why are we following this girl again, boss? Care to enlighten me now?"

"I'm going to make her my pretend girlfriend. I finally have an idea on how to stop grandpa pushing me to marry just anyone." 

"Pretend girlfriend, huh? I'd love to watch that happen."

~~~~

"I think someone's following us, miss. Do you know that black, sports car?" 

"No." She replied then looked behind her, to get a good glimpse of the car as well. She was trying to catch the driver's face but unfortunately, the car was heavily tinted. "Maybe, they were just going for the same lane like ours."

Zoey murmured to convince herself, because she was starting to have suspicions on who the bloody hell was following them. To confirm her suspicions, she called back the unsaved number of Dionysus from her call logs. The jerk answered on the first ring. "Where are you right now?" 

Zoey almost closed her eyes. The tone in her voice sounded so sweet, rather than being annoyed. Dionysus on the other line was caught off guard as well. It took him seconds to clear his throat and answer Zoey's question. "I'm following you. So, you better stop that cab now. Or, you'll regret it." Zoey moved her phone away from her ears and looked at it like she could really show Dionysus the evident disbelief in her face.

"Tell me you're kidding, Mr. Chevalier."

"No, I'm not. Who said I was kidding?"

"The hell. What do you want from me?" Zoey frustratingly grunted but Dionysus ended the call already. Just like that. Seconds later, the taxi cab driver noticed something again through the rear view mirror. 

"Miss, there are four other cars following us right now. I'm starting to get scared. This is like what I had seen from those action movies. And, the taxi cab driver always ended up being shot in the head. You know I have family, miss. I can't afford to die."

Zoey panicked right there and then. "Ohh, my god. Then, drive faster!"

"Fuck! This is what I am always scared to get involved with!" Zoey ignored the driver then looked at the establishments they were passing by.

"There, sir! Turn right to that street!" The driver was surprised at that sudden command from Zoey that's why when he turned right, Zoey was thrown off towards the other side of the cab. "Ouch!" To make the situation much worse, the driver suddenly hit the brakes making Zoey crash at the driver's seat so hard. It was a deafening moment when the cab's tires screeched so loud. "Damn it! Why would you stop like that, mister?"

"Holy shit! Holy shit! What's wrong with these people?" Zoey couldn't understand what was the driver's bloody problem not until she saw the number of cars in front of their cab that suddenly stopped and blocked their way a while ago. 

Then, they heard another car stopping behind them. And, that's when she remembered Dionysus again. Seconds later, Zoey flinched when she felt the door on her side being opened with so much force. "Hi, sir. Sorry for causing you great trouble. My girlfriend and I were just having some petty lover's quarrel. So, can I take her now?" Zoey's eyes widened so big upon seeing Dionysus right in front of her, and so freaking close to her.

"What girlfriend? I'm not your girlfriend. What are you saying?"

"See? She's denying me now. I just want to fix our fight but here she is, staging a dramatic escape from me. Very original, right?" Zoey didn't dare to say anything anymore. Dionysus' acting just felt so real and so on point, she wondered if he could debut as an actor instead. 

"Really? Jesus. He's your boyfriend and you were just having a lover's quarrel? God. I can't understand kids anymore." Because of that, Zoey was left with no choice. She hopped outside the cab and it instantaneously took off. The driver didn't even ask for her fare anymore. 

"Just get in the car, Miss Lavigne. Running away is futile, vain and pointless. I just want to talk, alright?" Dionysus called for her. The infamous Chevalier was already standing beside his car, and the passenger's door was already opened for her.

"Alright. Let's get this done and over with." She said as she strutted towards Dionysus. 

"At last. Good choice. Why would you even run away from me like that? It's not like I am going to assault you or something. Though, you looked good in that waitress' uniform. Ohh, let me rephrase that. Stained waitress' uniform." Zoey immediately covered her chest because her uniform was too revealing in that area and her uniform was too tight for her body, too. Though, she had always been skinny since she was a child. 

"Pervert." Zoey murmured before hopping inside Dionysus' car. 

"Hey! Don't get me wrong! I am not lusting over you! Over my dead body! I'm just saying you looked good on that compared to your usual witch's O.O.T.D.!" 

"I hate you so much." 

"Well, the feeling is mutual. That's why you are so perfect for my plan." 

"You know what I can see, boss? A newly married couple bickering about where their next honeymoon will be." Dionysus smacked Sebastian's chest after his right hand man gave him his car keys. Sebastian laughed. "Alright, Dio. I'm leaving you now with your 'girlfriend'. Have fun." Right after that, Sebastian walked towards one of the waiting black cars and hopped inside. Once he was inside, all of the black cars surrounding Dionysus' car started leaving one by one, leaving Zoey and Dionysus alone by themselves. 

Dionysus closed the door on Zoey's side and trudged towards the driver's area afterwards. He started the car's engine and also hit the road. "Who are they? Those men in black?" Zoey was trying her hardest to act so cool, like she wasn't so afraid of Dionysus up until that moment. 

"My bodyguards."

"I thought you don't have bodyguards and you just wanted to keep living like a normal person."

"What? I didn't specifically say that I don't have bodyguards. They were just there, doing their jobs, guarding me from afar." 

"You're not running a secret mafia organization or something?"

Dionysus shook his head and laughed a little. "I'm surprised you believed in those shits?" 

"Yes, why? The stunt you pulled back there, I only have read that in novels."

"What stunt?"

"Cornering our cab like that?" 

"Yeah? So? Don't tell me you got amazed by that?"

"No. But, I think I just had a concussion because of what you stupidly did." 

"What!" Zoey crashed again, for the third time around. But this time, she crashed on Dionysus' dashboard right after Dionysus stopped the car so abruptly. 

"Argh! What is wrong with you!"

"You said you have a concussion!" 

"And, you just worsen it!"

"Let me see!"

"Don't touch me!"

"Alright, alright! Stop shouting! And, please wear that fucking seatbelt! It won't move itself to be strapped on your body!" Dionysus started the car again and drove off. Seconds later, he asked Zoey in his softest voice. "Do you want me to bring you to the hospital?"

"No. Just tell me what the bloody hell you badly wanted from me. And, after this, I don't really want to see your face ever again." 

~~~~

"So, remember. All you had to do was to make grandpa dislike you very much. Or, much better, hate you or loathe you to the core. Understand?" Zoey sighed, looking outside the car where the Chevalier mansion stood almighty on a hill. There was no gate surrounding it because it was located in a very secured and exclusive, high-class subdivision.

"Whatever. You know what? What is really your plan here? What was the point of all this? Because for one, even if I did succeed in making your grandfather dislike me, he can still set you up with another woman. From what you said a while ago, he is very persistent in marrying you off." 

"Yeah. I know that. But, here's the thing. I will really make him believe that I did fall in love with you. And, after a few days, I will send him a picture of you kissing another guy. That would really break my heart to the point that he won't ever push me again to any women out there. Because, his trust was already shattered by you." 

"Wow. So in the end, I will look like a bad guy. Nope. I still haven't agreed with that." Zoey said, as a matter of fact, after a long stretch of silence. Though, Dionysus wasn't listening at all.

"Ohh, hang on. You can't face grandpa with that stained uniform. I have an extra sweater and jogging pants here." Right after, Dionysus fetched his gym bag straight from the backseat. He always brings that wherever he goes. He tossed it rudely over Zoey's lap. "Come on. Change your clothes now. There's no time to waste here."

Zoey's almond eyes widened. "What do you mean by changing my clothes? I can't see any nearby restrooms here, bastard." 

"Stop calling me that. Grandpa will notice. And, just change here. Come on. You're not my type. Even if you flaunt your entire naked body before me, I won't jump on you. Also, I don't like women."

"What? So, you're actually gay? Holy shit. No joke? The infamous Chevalier was actually homophile?" 

"What? No. You're judging me again." Dionysus banged his head behind his seat. "Damn it. Just because I don't like women in general doesn't mean I'm not straight. How about you? Do you prefer women as well? I mean, in a romantic and sexual way?"

"No." Zoey immediately shook her head as she started rummaging inside Dionysus' gym bag.

"See? But, do you like men?"

"No as well." 

"So, does that mean that you're not straight?"

"Of course not."

"See? See my point?" 

"Whatever, gay. Give me a second here. I'm still thinking about it." 

"Thinking about what? If I'm really gay? Ohh, come on, witch." 

"No. About your most ridiculous job offer to me."

"I'll pay you fifty thousand dollars. Even if we succeed or not." Right at that moment, Zoey froze. She cannot believe her ears.

"Really? You won't back down at that?" Dionysus' thick eyebrows furrowed.

"Why would I, though? I told you. This is very important for me. I love my grandpa so much but sometimes, he tends to be way out of line. Besides, you're perfect for the job because I know grandpa will hate you instantly at first sight. No doubt." Zoey had hidden the gnawing pain that emerged inside her heart again.

"Alright, then. I'll agree if you agree on my three conditions as well."

"Let me hear it first." 

"No problem." Zoey showed her right thumb as she enumerated her conditions. "First, let's sign a contract about this. Second, pay me a total amount of one hundred thousand dollars instead. But, if we fail and I have to go back here tomorrow, pay me another hundred thousand in cold cash. And third, hire me as your secretary." Dionysus blinked at that. He surely didn't expect that Zoey would come to those terms. She sure was as cunningly smart as him.

"I can agree to the first and second condition. But for the third one to happen, our mission should fail. Because, come to think of it. If we broke up, why should I still hire you, right? Wouldn't it be so absurd for grandpa?"

"Ohh. Right." Zoey exclaimed, disappointment was written all over her face. 

"Kiddo?" Their conversation was interrupted by that voice from afar. When they both looked back at the mansion, Dionysus' grandfather was slowly trudging towards the car with his nurses guiding him his path. 

"Fuck. You have to change now. Come on. I'll help you." Zoey panicked again, but she still held her ground.

"No. I can't change when you're here. Go. Then, I'll change. This is non-negotiable. You can't change my mind." 

"Damn. You're a very stubborn witch."

"Gay."

"Stop that." Dionysus murmured as he stepped outside his car. Zoey, on the other hand, was so used to changing clothes in just a matter of seconds. She felt relieved after tossing her stained uniform on the backseat.

"What are you doing here, kiddo? What happened to your dates? Don't tell me you had ditched them all. I have received calls and. ."

"Grandpa. I want you to meet somebody." Dionysus opened the door on the passenger's side just as the same time Zoey finished pulling down Dionysus' shirt on her. The old Chevalier looked stunned for a while, and quite scandalized as well. Nevertheless, Mr. Hermes Chevalier started to smile like he just won the lottery.

"Who is this lovely lady, kiddo? This is my first time seeing a woman ride your most precious sports car." Dionysus gently ushered Zoey outside the car and guided her towards his grandfather. 

"Grandpa. This is. ."

"Woah." Zoey tripped on the grassy ground because Dionysus' pants were just too big for her. She still redeemed herself and stood up as fast as lightning, even after seeing the old Chevalier's nurses laughing discreetly at her. "Sorry about that." Zoey smiled awkwardly while Dionysus cleared his throat. 

"As I was saying. Grandpa, this is Zoey. My girlfriend. She was the one from the dating app, the girl I met from last night." Zoey started to literally hear her heart beating so loudly against her chest because of the lies Dionysus started to weave, even though there was some pinch of truth in it. "I decided to pursue her when I couldn't stop thinking about her since last night. It was maddening. So, I acted upon my feelings and here we are." 

Zoey's heart was now wreaking havoc inside her rib cage especially when Dionysus held her hand tightly in front of his grandfather. But, the old Chevalier's response wasn't the one both Zoey and Dionysus had utterly expected. "Damn. This is what I call a destined love. I'm a genius! You know what, forget about the girlfriend and boyfriend dating stage, kiddo. Because next week, you two are going to get married. Pronto."