Tricks

ROSALIE'S POV

My eyes widened as they locked with Chris's, caught in the act.

Before I could think twice, my hand moved on its own.

SMACK!

The sharp sound echoed through the room as my palm connected with Elijah's cheek.

"Don't you ever touch me like that again!" I snapped, my voice trembling with anger.

Elijah's head tilted to the side. A dry chuckle escaped him as he slowly arched a brow, seemingly unfazed by my warning.

"Was he touching you?" Chris asked, striding toward me, his jaw tightening.

I quickly forced a small smile.

"It was just a silly mistake. You don't have to worry about it," I said calmly, reaching for his hand. "Come help me pack."

I tugged him toward the room before he could ask any more questions.

I didn't want the situation to erupt into a fistfight. I knew Elijah, and he could be a ticking time bomb.

"A silly mistake?" Elijah's voice rooted me to the spot, a heavy sigh slipped my lips.

Chris turned to him slowly.

"Of course you were her mistake. Everything about you was a mistake from the very beginning," Chris shot back, holding Elijah's gaze without wavering.

Elijah slipped a hand into his pocket, his eyes flickering with a golden glint that made me swallow.

Then he took two steps closer. “How can a mistake like you call me one?” Elijah spat with a mocking gaze.

Before I knew it, Chris lunged at him, but I caught him in time.

"Don't." I stepped between them.

Fixing Elijah with a glare, "You can't come here and cause a scene." I said in a stern voice.

Then I turned to Chris. "Trust me, he's not worth it. He's talking nonsense," I assured him.

Chris's gaze softened instantly. That was one of the reasons he was the better man. He knew how to rein in his anger.

His hand cupped my cheek. "Of course I know he's talking nonsense. After all, you're my fiancee, not his," he said calmly.

Elijah scoffed at once.

Without sparing him another glance, I pulled Chris away.

"Come on, I still need you to be by my side while packing," I said with a smile.

He nodded as I guided him off. Together, we packed every last thing I needed.

Chris zipped up the box. "Damn, I'm going to miss you, baby." A smile tugged at my lips at his words.

"I'll miss you more. Don't forget you promised to call me every day," I reminded him.

He laughed softly. "That's a must, baby. How could I go a single day without talking to the love of my life?" he asked, raising a brow.

My lips parted to answer when Elijah's voice cut through the moment.

"I don't have all the time in the world. We have to leave now," he growled, irritation dripping from every word.

Still, I melted into Chris's embrace and wrapped my arms around his waist.

My heart squeezed painfully. I was going to miss him, but this was a stepping stone toward a better future.

He pulled back slightly. “Rosalie," he called softly.

I looked up at him, batting my lashes innocently.

"I know this isn't easy, and I know you have to go. But this opportunity could change everything for us. I just hope you won't forget the bond between us," he murmured, brushing a strand of hair from my face.

My face lit up like the sun breaking through clouds.

"I won't forget our bond. I'm doing this for us," I chimed.

He gave a curt nod with a satisfied smile, leaned closer, and pressed a kiss to my forehead.

"Don't forget the money, so I can start putting every plan in motion," he whispered in my ear before stepping away.

"I won't," I replied.

Our tender moment was interrupted once more when Elijah cleared his throat and grabbed one of the suitcases.

"Meet me outside," he said firmly.

Chris quickly led me out and helped me into the car.

I couldn't stop staring at him through the window, even as the car pulled away.

"He won't chase after you. It's pointless to keep staring," Elijah said, dragging my attention back to him.

My mood soured instantly.

"What do you care? He's my fiance and that's all that matters," I replied smoothly.

A smirk curved his lips. "What makes you think he see you then same way?" he asked, glancing at me.

I rolled my eyes at the ridiculous question.

"Can you stop pretending you're a saint?"

"No one is a saint, Rosalie." The way my name rolled off his tongue made me swallow hard.

Turning my gaze away, "Besides, you claimed he fucked you better. Have you been telling him I don't know how to satisfy you?"

The question made my heart skip a beat.

My fingers curled as my lips parted, only for the words to die before they escaped.

"You don't have to question me. He does it better," I lied with a straight face, shifting uncomfortably.

Silence settled over the car.

"I guess we'll find out about that," he said quietly.

Thinking about his words, and about what had happened in the kitchen, brought me to a final decision.

"We need to draft a contract between us," I declared, giving him my full attention.

He hummed, silently urging me to continue.

"I know this ninety-day relationship is based on an agreement, but there are certain things I'm not comfortable with," I said firmly.

The car screeched into a sharp turn, and I gasped at his reckless driving.

"I'm listening," he murmured.

I felt like planting a sharp slap across his face. He knew exactly what he was doing by driving this way.

Still, I exhaled and tried to calm my racing heart.

"I want us to respect boundaries. I have a fiance, and I don't want anything to do with you when it comes to intimate activities," I said calmly.

He chuckled as the car rolled to a stop, his eyes met mine.

"I thought he didn't care about that as long as money was involved. So why do you want to keep your legs closed for him?" he asked, his eyes locked on mine.

My teeth sank into my lower lip.

"It's common sense. I'm not like you, Elijah. I stick to one man and give him my complete loyalty."

"Oh." That was his only response.

My brows furrowed. "Did you understand what I meant?"

The words had barely left my mouth before he leaned closer.

My breath hitched.

"What are...?"

The question lodged in my throat as our faces hovered mere inches apart.

My heart pounded against my ribs at the sudden closeness.

His ridiculous, intoxicating scent curled around me like smoke, and my toes curled with it.

Just when I thought he was about to kiss me, the click of his seat belt unfastening shattered the tension.

"Let's go inside. We'll talk about this another day," he said smoothly before climbing out of the car.

I touched my face, shaking my head as I watched him walk away.

"You can't fall for his tricks, Rosalie," I whispered, pushing the door open.

"Tricks?" Kara's voice echoed in my head.

There was a strange pause.

"Rosalie... what if he isn't trying to trick you?”