8

Tiana's POV

I stomped into the suite, pacing to and fro the sitting room, my fingers flexed before balling into a fist. I finally stopped pacing and sat on the couch, burying my face between my palms as I stared down at the floor.

It was him who mentioned that the staff would immediately alert his father if they found anything suspicious, now look at him, eating with another woman, laughing, flirting and getting all touchy with her. 

Wait, was I jealous? Or was I just mad that he abandoned me for so long to be with someone else? Argh! That was the same thing.

No, I shouldn't be mad, I shouldn't be jealous. He wasn't even mine. He never was. He was free to do whatever he wanted to do with other women as long as my life returned back to normal after this shitty two weeks honeymoon, I was okay with it.

I didn't know for how long I sat there but when I stood up and started to head to the bedroom, Seth walked into the suite. I turned to him, making sure not to show any sign of anger. He looked at me and then turned away without a word. 

"You are back!" I called out in an unexpectedly sharp and loud voice. 

He arched his brow, giving me a confused look, "obviously." 

"Oh, I was just wondering, don't you have somewhere else to be?" I asked, folding my arms across my chest. 

"Like where? I don't understand what you mean." He removed his watch and placed it on the table. 

"I don't know, like in another..." In another woman's bed, I wanted to say but the rest of the words remained stuck in my throat for some reason. 

What was wrong with me? I was letting my emotions get the better of me again. 

"Just forget about it." I waved my hand in dismissal and opened the door to the bedroom.

"Tiana!" He called out, making me stop to look at him, "is anything the matter? You are acting all weird." 

I forced a smile and shook my head vigorously, "n- no, nothing. I'm perfectly fine. I'm good and I'm feeling alright." 

"Tiana..." 

"What!" I snapped, making me recoil slightly at how cold I sounded.

He paused and gave me a long look, "Is this about the kiss? There is no meaning behind it, it was a huge mistake, so just forget about it." 

Jerk. 

What did he mean there was no meaning to him devouring my lips like he would die if he didn't? What did he mean there was no meaning behind him getting hard as steel and making me so turned on from touching me like that? How could he be so cold?  

He narrowed his eyes at me and then folded his hands across his chest too, mirroring my stance. Stupid me couldn't help but notice the way his muscles flexed as he did that. 

I forced a smile and said, "What? Did we kiss? Oh my gosh, I've totally forgotten about that because it was hardly a kiss. You know, I've had lots of really hot make out sessions that yours barely even count as one.  So, no it's not about the kiss or anything, I told you I'm fine." I rambled off, almost forgetting to breathe. 

"I know you, Tia. You are lying." 

What was with the sudden nickname? I hated it but I loved it. 

"Oh, please! Just because you know one thing about me doesn't mean you know me. You don't know me at all, Seth." I walked into the bedroom and slammed the door behind me. I slid down the door until my butt hit the floor with a soft thud.

Okay, now he was going to think I was mad because of the kiss. I wasn't exactly mad about the kiss, because it shouldn't have happened in the first place, but I was mad about his reaction to it, and I was also mad because he met up with his ex. 

Ugh! But why did I have to act like a cranky old lady in front of him? 

Knock! Knock! Knock!

I scrambled off the door and jumped on the bed, pulling the covers over my body and pretending to be asleep as the door to the bedroom opened.

"Tia, can we talk?" I heard Seth ask in a soft voice. I fisted the covers, almost turning to look at him.

"Why are you calling me that? And I don't want to talk to you right now." I mumbled with my eyes closed. 

Christ! I was acting like a teenager. 

"Don't you like it?" He asked, waiting for an answer but I had no plans of responding to him anymore, "I'm gonna take that as a no then."

"I don't mind." 

"What!" I heard a bit of chuckling from him. 

"Whatever, Seth. Just leave me alone, I'm trying to sleep." I pulled the covers over my face and sank deeper into the bed. 

"Alright. I will talk to you later then. I'm sorry about what I said earlier,” he paused for a while and I heard him sigh before saying, “let's just talk later.” 

I didn't sit up until I heard the door close. I rolled my eyes and held my knees close to my chest. My phone buzzed from the nightstand, I reached for it and saw a text from Elina. 

Elina- Dress slutty and come down to this party. Bring Seth with you, that woman is here. You gotta show her your 'fake' man is off the market. 

Me- What! No. I shouldn't. 

Elina- What do you mean you shouldn't? Come on, Tiana, at least protect your sister's man. 

I rolled my eyes playfully at her message, she was right, even if Seth wasn't mine, I shouldn't let another woman steal him from my sister. And besides, I didn't like the way that woman was touching Seth earlier, she had to know that he was ‘married’. 

Me- Alright, I'm coming. I don't have a slutty dress though.

Elina- Wear one of your sister's dresses.

Me- They are too slutty. Like, wayyy too slutty. 

Elina- Perfect! 

I got off the bed and walked to the closet, selecting a black mesh column dress that was made of black metallic beads, stitched together in a diamond pattern. It was a glorified, sparkling net.

The dress plunged low on the neckline, and the hem was cut high on my thigh, dissolving into long, dangling chains of the same black beads that slashed down my leg, revealing far more skin than they covered. 

It was the definition of slutty. 

The first time Maddie wore this cloth last Christmas, she looked dashing and sexy in it, there was no doubt I looked the same as I stared at my reflection in the mirror. 

I did my hair and makeup and when I was satisfied with my looks, I headed to the sitting room to tell Seth to get ready. 

He looked up from his phone when he heard the clicking of my heels against the tiles, his mouth opened slightly and froze for a moment before getting up from the couch. 

"What- I thought you wanted to sleep, why are you dressed up like that?" He questioned, his gaze turning heated as he looked down at my outfit, his eyes staying on my exposed thigh longer than necessary. 

'Stay focused, Tiana. Don't be swayed by the way he is staring at you.'

I shook my head before answering, "Elina texted me about a party, she wants us to have fun while we are here. So, get dressed and let's go." I smiled at him mischievously.

Seth gave me a suspicious look before nodding and heading into the bedroom to change. 

I had come up with a plan in my head while dressing up, Seth had no idea how much I could be like Maddie if I really wanted to, he definitely wasn't going to expect what would happen in the next few minutes.