THE PHOENIX

TRISTAN

FIVE YEARS LATER 

I’d spent every day, all this time, regretting it.

The burden of guilt never weighed any less. Each time I closed my eyes, I was tormented over and over again, without mercy. 

By that soft, oval face framed with the most striking ginger hair. By those captivating sea-green eyes. By those lips that had tasted like strawberry and honey all at once. By that impossible music of her laughter. By those soft gasps and moans she uttered when I fucked her all night.

She was all I saw whenever I closed my eyes, ever since we had that mind-blowing fling which had left a lasting impression on my busy mind and soul. I had felt bad when I woke up the next morning and she had snuck away. Maybe that was the first sign the universe gave us. 

My stupid mind had chosen to believe that it was fate at work, when we ended up meeting at work again. 

I didn't think fates were supposed to be so cruel. 

Laura Hayes had bewitched me. Maybe she had betrayed me too. I never did find out if she was truly at fault. I just knew that I never stopped feeling bad about never defending her, even once. Or hearing her own side of the story. 

I never meant to just sit there silently. My hands were…tied. 

Five years had passed like a broken clock. There were days that moved so slowly, dragging with the weight of my thoughts about her whereabouts, what she could possibly be up to, how she could be faring… On days like this, I could do nothing but sit with the pain. 

There were other days where I pretended that everything was fine, sharing a good time and laugh with my fiancee, and hanging out at a private bar, where the loud music drowned out the depressing thoughts for a few hours. Madison and the private bar were sharp opposites, so the equation balanced out perfectly. 

Days like this were even worse, because at the end of all the pretense, the darkness returns heavier. 

A hand came down on the table in front of me, half-startling me. “Fuck’s sake, man. Are you even listening?”

I looked up to see Harlan Voss watching me with a scowl. 

“Of course.” I cleared my throat and sat forward. “Please carry on.”

But my mind drifted again, the moment he opened his mouth. He wasn't the problem. I was.

I had regretted it almost immediately, not hearing Laura out that day. Or making the bullies stop. I had simply lied to myself that keeping quiet was the right call. The professional call.

The truth was, I was more afraid of how much I had come to care about her, than I was willing to admit. And it had happened only after one freaking nightstand. 

The board meeting had given me a perfect exit from those unnecessary emotions, and I had taken that exit without looking back. 

My father had approved of Madison Steele. I had to carry on and live my life.

Another rap sounded in front of me. “Where the hell is your mind?”

“Trust me, Harlan. I'm with you.” I leaned forward and clasped my fingers together. “So, this…Phoenix. Do you think you could bring them onboard? Pierce Holdings needs a talent like that for our current merger plan.”

Harlan stared at me like I just spoke complete gibberish. It was that look he gave me when he was worn out by my constant shortcomings. “You've not listened to me at all, have you? You've not heard even a word of all I've said.”

Harlan and I used to be former close friends, way before we became business partners. A falling out five years ago had destroyed something solid. And it was over an issue that ran deeper than business. 

Thankfully, the business relationship remained. So we kept in touch every now and then.

He had built his own empire and now moved in the same high-end circles as I did. It was fulfilling to see, nonetheless.

“Please repeat. Thank you.”

If eyes could kill, I'd have dropped dead right here, because Harlan’s did nothing but shoot lasers at me. 

“I explained that Phoenix is not a model you get to see whenever you want. That's a very busy brand. I'm sure you know it better than I do.”

I folded my arms across my chest. “What exactly do you mean?”

“How many times have your invitations been rejected by the brand?” He leaned back with a smug smirk. “Let me guess. About a hundred frustrating times?”

“Just do this for me, man. You don't have to rub your obvious connection with this person into my face.”

“I'm not rubbing anything in. I'm simply stating the facts. You can't meet Phoenix unless you put in the work. Real, smart work.”

I stared at him for a long moment, digesting his words. “So, what do you suggest? You've swam in the fashion waters better and longer than I have. I'm sure you'll know better.”

He scratched his jaw and leaned forward. “Host a fashion showcase. And I'll bring her to you.”

°°°°°

The showcase happened about three weeks later, and to my surprise, the partnership invitation sent out to Phoenix was acknowledged.

It was a large event. Every major name in fashion and business was here. I'd gone the extra mile with this one, because according to Harlan, I had one end-goal; impress Phoenix.

I sat in the front row with my fiancee as the showcase commenced. Madison's large diamond rock sat heavily on her finger, glittering against the stage lights. She looked calm, like a woman who had everything she needed in the world. 

I looked away before the negative thoughts kicked in again.

Models of different shapes and sizes, races and tribes, strut up and down the runway, their auras mingling intermittently, and keeping the crowd entertained. 

Some moved like Panthers…some, like robots. Some floated across the runway with their otherworldly auras, captivating the audience. 

Then, there was she. Phoenix, the obvious best, saved for the last.

She owned the runway like it was her home. The model with the shapely, oiled moves, wearing a molten gold dress that contrasted beautifully with the green mask covering her face.

She had an ethereal, yet dominant aura. It was amazing how she moved, hypnotizing the silent crowd. 

She paused at the end of the runway, very close to where I sat with Madison. 

And when the stage lights began a transition dance, she slowly reached up and pulled off the mask. Holding it elegantly to the side, she revealed her face.

The crowd reacted with gasps and murmurs. Madison gripped my arm.

Me? I went completely still. 

I didn't breathe as she began a slow, sensual strut up and down the runaway, and when her eyes eventually found me, a sea of green perusing me across that space, something moved in my chest. 

For a second, we stared at each other, and it was just us in this large hall. 

Then she looked away and continued wowing the crowd. 

The room exploded with deafening applause as she finished with an elegant twirl and left, without another glance at me.

Laura Hayes stood there in her full, blinding light, looking exactly like she did five years ago.

Only this time, she was bolder…more beautiful…and that was when I knew.

My life had just taken a one-way ticket to fuck town.