6: The Bet

“ I'm sorry okay. I didn't want to dance with him, your mum pushed me to.”

“ And you couldn't reject her?” He retorted.

“ I tried! I really tried.”

“ Then you didn't try enough, cause I saw your face when you danced with him. You were smiling and I could tell you liked it.”

His words cut through me like a blade, drawing blood, my chest heaved but I tried to calm myself down. “ It's just a dance Chris, it's not a big deal.”

“ It'll start with a dance then you'll end up screwing him,”

“ I'm not a cheat Chris!” I snapped, the rage I'd tried to bottle up came crashing down. “ Do you think I'm that cheap? That I'll go around sleeping with guys?”

He didn't answer.

Not even a “ I know you'll never do that”

“ You don't trust me?” My voice broke but his face remained inexpressive. “ Fine,” I sniffled, pulling out my phone.

I opened my gallery and showed him the pic of Grayson and Elara. His eyes flashed but it vanished just as quick as it came. “ Why are you showing me this?”

“ You can show this to your parents, tell them that Elara is cheating on you. End all this.”

“ She cheating won't change anything. This isn't the first time and I know it won't definitely be the last.”

“ Okay so she's allowed to cheat and we're not allowed to be with each other? Make that make sense Chris!”

“ It's only been a day and you're all over my brother after claiming you love me. Make that make sense zee!”

“ I've told you I didn't—” he shunned me with a dismissive wave.

“ I don't want to hear it.” With that he walked away, leaving me there. I tried to catch up with him but my heels kicked against a stone, my fingers fisted the dirt, dust filling my nostrils.

And not once did he look back.

And it was all Grayson fault.

I came to New Orleans to hang out Chris and prepare for my competition but now? I was at the brink of losing Chris and it was all because of his disgusting, self-centred brother.

Standing to my feet, I wiped the dust off my skin and walked back into the ceremony. As I reached the door, all eyes fell on me, my eyes searched for Chris but when I found him, he pulled Elara to the middle of the hall, kissing her deeply.

Pain, sharp and relentless bled through me. The weight pressed against my chest, suffocating me.

The crowd cheered the couple on and I watched as the man I loved kissed another woman like she was his world and it was all Grayson's fault!

My eyes stung but I still searched for him, he stood beside his mother, cheering Chris on as his kissed her. When his gaze met mine, a smirk grazed his lips. “ Just friends huh?” He mouthed, placing a tumbler between his lips.

I hated this man.

I hated him so much.

Releasing a breath, I walked back to my room, shutting the door behind me as I crumbled, the tears I tried to hold rolled down my face.

There was only one person I could call. The only person who knew Chris and I were dating.

Iyra.

I dialed her line and she picked the second ring. “ Hey babe! How was the flight? Have you met your Mr Charming yet?”

My voice broke as I gathered my self, trying to form words but failing. “ Pookie? Pookie what happened? Did he cheat? I knew that he couldn't be trusted.”

“ No— no. It's not like that.” I managed, through the sniffles.

“ Then why are you sobbing?”

“ It's a long story but Chris is mad at me.”

“ Tell me then so I can know how to phrase my words and cheer you up.”

“ You won't understand. You'll say I'm stupid.”

“ Try me.”

I hesitated and then I told her everything. From meeting Chris, finding out about his relationship, him warning me about his brother, him getting mad, Grayson being rude and other events.

When I finished, silence hung thick between us. “ Girl.”

“ I know.”

I heard the sound of sheets ruffling before she spoke. “ So let me get this straight, you found out that Chris is in an arranged marriage with some girl who's interested in his brother and knows about you and Chris's relationship.”

I nodded but when I realised she wasn't here I said “yes.”

“ And now Chris is mad that you danced with his brother? And isn't talking to you?” I'd intentionally left out the part where Chris kissed Elara, I knew it was his way of showing me how he felt when I danced with Grayson.

I felt hurt.

And so did he.

“ Girl you need to end that relationship, immediately.”

My brows knitted. “ What do you mean end the relationship? I've loved Chris for years, our love is much stronger than this. We can overcome this. He promised he'll find a way.”

“ And you believe him?”

“ Yes. I do.” My voice rose, “ Chris has never lied to me.”

“ Babe, you need to understand that being with Chris isn't everything and also how are you going to bear watching your boyfriend kiss and wed someone else? Whilst he'd come to you in private? I would never want to be anyone's secret.”

“ It's for a while Iyra.”

“ A while could mean months, years they could even have kids and where would you be? Still pinning for Chris? I will not let you do that.”

“ This was why I didn't want to tell you.”

“ Okay, okay. Look. You're my friend and I care about you but I don't think you should be sacrificing that much of yourself into a relationship.”

“ I'm not a kid, Iyra. I know what I can take and what I can't.”

She sighed. “ I do hope you know what you're doing.”

“ I do know what I'm doing,” I assured but I wasn't so sure about that but I pushed the thought down and continued. “ so right now I need your help to fix things.”

“ I don't know, but for now just give him some space and also don't associate with Grayson much.”

“ Do you think that'll work?”

“ It's worth a try.”

“ Alright, thank you.”

“ Also, when are you going to come? You know we have to prepare for the competition together?”

She scoffed. “ My parents are being overprotective, they said if I going they'd either come with me or hire a bodyguard.”

I chuckled, a little bit of weight lifting from my chest. “ You know the care about you a lot. That's why they're doing all this.”

“ Yeah, their stopping me from enjoying my life but…” she exhaled. “ It's fine, I'll come once I'm able to convince them that a dance competition isn't life threatening.”

“ Alright, I'll be waiting.”

With that I ended the call.

My back crashed against the mattress. My mind went to Chris and I prayed that maybe tomorrow, he'd forgive me. He couldn't be mad for that long right?

_______

I was wrong.

So wrong.

It was morning already and of course Mrs Russo invited me for breakfast. Mr Russo shot some glances my way, his eyes cold in a way that made a chill rack through me.

Grayson sat across me, his gaze fixed on his food. Whilst Chris? He was right beside me and not once, not once did he freaking glance my way.

He was all over Elara, feeding her, wiping stuff off her chin, taking care of her and I knew I told myself I could take it but suddenly the vast dinning room felt too tight and all I could see was Chris and Elara.

I hated it.

I hated it so much.

“ Aren't you going to eat your meal? It's going to get cold.” Mrs Russo's said and I snapped my gaze up, smiling awkwardly as I took a small bite.

“ It's delicious ma'am.” I chimed and honestly, I didn't lie the food did taste delicious but I could barely savour it especially when Elara started talking about wedding preparations.

“ What do you think, Zinnia?” Elara's voice cut through the haze and when i looked I saw all eyes turned to me.

“ Sorry, I need to use the restroom.” I said, rushing away but I could see Grayson's eyes trailing after me, I ignored him and walked to the bathroom.

After doing my business, I washed my hands and stood in front the mirror. I looked great but on the inside I felt like dying.

With a deep exhale, I mumbled some words and gathered a little more confidence and strength to be able to survive the rest of the morning.

But before I could take another step, the door opened and Grayson walked in, shutting the door behind him, my throat tightened and unconsciously I stepped back. “ What the hell are you doing here?”

“ It's a bathroom, what do they do in it?”

“ If you want to use it then fine, please get out of my way,”

“ I don't think I can do that.”

“ And why is that?”

“ Because I pity you.”

“ I don't need your pity!”

He chuckled, drawing close. “That’s right,” he said softly. “You need better taste in men.”

I scoffed. “You barely know Chris.” an odd thing to say since he was technically Chris's brother, but I felt like there was something between them. Something I didn't quite understand.

“I know enough.” He leaned against the sink beside me, his gaze fixed on me through the mirror. “I know a man who loves you wouldn’t leave you crying alone in a garden.”

My throat tightened.

“He was angry.”

“And yet you’re the one suffering for it.”

I turned sharply. “What exactly do you want from me?”

A smirk tugged at his lips.

“Now that’s the first honest question you’ve asked me.”

I rolled my eyes. “Answer it.”

His eyes moved up then fell on my lips, suddenly my throat felt parched.

“A Bet.”

“A bet?” I repeated carefully.

“If Chris leaves Elara before the wedding, I’ll leave you alone.” His gaze held mine. “No flirting. No bothering you. Nothing.”

“ And if he doesn't?” A dangerous question, one which a part of me didn't want to know the answer but another part— a curious part wanted to know what he'd say.

The distance evaporated as he took a step, the cold from the sink bit into my skin as he braced my sides caging me in his arms. “ Then I'll pursue you Zinnia Maxwell, endlessly till you couldn't see or breathe anything else but me.”

I swallowed.