Chapter 010

TALIA

Up and down the room Ruby went, her strides getting lengthier, as I typed away on my laptop.

The words on the computer screen first ran together, then blurred a little. I was trying to distract myself by starting on a homework project, to ignore Ruby but that attempt was not working very well.

My friend had that look that said she would not be able to keep quiet for much longer.

Less than a minute later, she stopped in front of me and spoke, revisiting the topic we had spent over an hour discussing since returning from the golf club.

"Are you really being serious, Talia? Are you going to give up on Cassian just like that?"

With a sigh, I snapped the laptop shut. "Yes, Ruby. Cassian-" I felt a pang when I said his name and swallowed. "He does not want me. He does not seem to have a problem with getting close to other women. Just me."

"But you just can't quit now," Ruby pressed. "You- We just got started."

I shook my head. "I'm done. There are only so many 'no's' I can take without permanently crushing my self esteem which is damaged enough as it is. Looks like your 5 sure tips did not work after all, huh?"

I laughed a little, trying to lighten the mood just a bit. But the laughter sounded hollow and sad and I stopped fairly quickly.

Ruby pushed my crossed legs to one side and sat beside me.

"Maybe we should give it one more try," she suggested, patting my knee.

"No."

"Yes. I think now that we have might have been going about this the wrong way. Here's an idea. Flirt with other men."

"How is that supposed to solve-"

Ruby squeezed my arm, making me keep quiet. "It solves everything! Can't you see? Nothing drives a man who is pretending not to like a woman wilder than seeing her being admired by other men. Get other men's scent on you and Cassian will grow crazy with jealousy!"

Ruby had that light in her eyes. The one that said she was on a path and would not be convinced to take another. And inspite of myself, I felt a faint stirring of hope.

Ruby, who could always read me so well, noticed it and grinned.

"You know I'm right," she said. "In fact, I think we should have done this first."

"How are you sure this is going to work?"

"Well... there is no harm in trying, is there? If it doesn't work, then we can finally stop."

***********

It felt like the world's biggest drum was banging in my head. The coloured lights in the club, though dim, seemed very bright.

I tried to stand, and for a moment couldn't feel my legs. Or the rest of me.

I was... floating. Then suddenly, I was falling. I clutched one of the bar stools, giggling when I almost missed and fell on my face.

An arm went around me.

Ruby's voice in my ear, raised to be heard over the steady thrum of the music, said, "You need to stop drinking. You have had way too much."

"No," I said, protesting weakly as she shoved me back onto the stool. "C-can't. Don't want to... And it's Cassian's fault anyway. He broke my... my..."

I could not remember the name for the organ beating in my chest so I placed my hand over it.

Ruby leaned over me. I blinked many times to get her in focus, saw she was frowning.

"Stay here, okay?" she said, speaking slowly. "Sit here while I go to call a cab to take us home."

My lips turned up into a pout. "But I don't want to go home!"

The sight of Ruby shaking her head made me slightly dizzy and I closed my eyes.

"Wait here," she said and muttering under her breath as she moved off, said, "I should really have my head examined for letting you get so wasted in the first place."

With my eyes still closed, I leaned back against the bar and felt myself drifting... drifting...

I caught the scent of male perfume as someone took the stool next to mine. Still I didn't open my eyes until a deep voice said, "What is a beautiful girl like you doing spending the evening alone?"

The man was so close I could feel his breath tickle my ear. I jumped, nearly tumbled off the stool. A hand on my waist stopped me.

The hand, big and warm, slid along my thigh, a little exposed because of the short dress Ruby had made me wear, before falling away.

I blinked up at the man but could not quite get him in focus. All I knew was that he was big and wearing a checkered shirt.

"I'm... waiting for a friend," I mumbled, reaching for my cocktail which seemed miles away.

The man laughed like I had said the funniest thing in the world.

"I can be that friend," he said, and there was something dark and suggestive in his tone that sent the alarm bells blaring in my head. "Now, why don't we get out of here and do something really fun?"

"No," I said with some heat, brushing off the hand which he had placed again on my thigh. "I'll- I'll go now."

I stood up. This time I didn't fall, but the room swayed a little before steadying.

I took a step, then two, not really sure where I was going but just wanting to get away from the creepy stranger.

His hand clamped over my arm and the man said, "You're coming with me, baby."

'NO' I tried to scream, but my tongue felt thick and useless in my mouth as he dragged me past the bar, past the crowded dance floor.

My heart pounded hard. There were people everywhere, but they were dancing, drinking, chatting, laughing. No one even looked our way.

As we began to move into a quieter part of the club, I tried to hit the man. He only laughed. His grip on my arm tightened.

"Please," I pleaded, fighting the sudden urge to vomit. "Please let me go."

"Not a chance," he said and chuckled.

I stumbled down a corridor, heard the click of a lock and was pushed into a small room. The man's breathing had grown harsher.

"Here we are, baby," he panted, twisting his fingers in my hair and smiling down at me. The light in the room was bright and I could see the stranger better. His eyes were gray and hard as steel. I was in trouble. "Just you and me now... About to have some fun."

I opened my mouth. Terror stole my voice. The man moved to close the door.

A hand shot out and pushed it back with so much force it slammed against the wall. Another man barged in, his arms swinging.

I froze as I saw that familiar face begin to turn in my direction.

"Cassian," I gasped.

At the same time, the creep, who stood staring at Cassian in surprise, shouted, "What the hell are you doing here, asshole? This is a private room!"

Cassian lunged at the man, grabbed him by the collar and dragged him out of the room. The door slammed shut.

There was the sound of scuffling, pained grunts, heavy breathing .

Stumbling backward, I stood slumped against the wall, breathing through my mouth. A while later Cassian entered the room, his face set, his eyes angry.

"Let's go. Now!" he said, reaching for me.

I slapped his hand away and would have slapped him too if I had the strength. I wanted to cry and shout and yell at the same time.

It was his fault that this had happened in the first place.

"I am not going anywhere with you," I yelled.

"If you stay here, you will get hurt," he said coldly. "So let's-"

"Why? Why did you even interfere? Do you really care about me?" Seeing the look of frustrated anger on his face, I laughed. "Of course, you don't. You don't give a damn about me... While I... I have been trying so hard to get your attention, you have been pushing me away."

"Miss Westwood-"

"You are cruel," I spat, glowering at him.

"Then stop trying to get my attention already! How many times do I have to tell you that I am not interested!"

"Why?" I asked softly, moving closer to him and trying not to trip over my feet. "Because you like other women?"

Cassian's jaw tightened. He said nothing. Just stared at me, his expression smooth and annoyingly unreadable again.

I dragged in his scent, and unable to help myself, placed my hand on the back of his neck. I brought my lips close to his, a rush of heat flashing across my skin.

He was so close I could almost taste him. And then suddenly he wasn't. He had pushed me away.

"If you want to stand even 10 metres close to me ever again," he snapped, glaring at me as he straightened his shirt. "you had better learn to control yourself!"