Right one for you

•Odette•

“W-what…?” I paused, unconsciously eager about the things Tristen had to say concerning Draven.

“Yes, Odette. I’ve seen the news, and I couldn’t believe that you, of all people, would have something to do with Draven.” There was a hint of condescension in his tone that rubbed me off the wrong way.

“What is that supposed to mean?” I took offense.

Tristen’s eyes widened when he realized what I was getting to, and he hurriedly let out a stream of apologies. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean it that way. It’s not like I believe you would- no, forget it. I’m sorry. I really didn’t mean to offend you.”

“For heaven’s sake, Tristen Montague, say what you sought me out to say and be done with it. I have a thousand better things to do than stand here and listen to you blabber unintelligently.”

My outburst was so sudden and rude that I immediately felt remorseful after the last word. I didn’t make any attempt to apologize cause the words did their work, spiking Tristen to actually speak well.

“I care about you, Odette. That’s why I won’t sit still and let you make a decision that would harm you. I won’t let you be another number on Draven Lockwood’s list.”

“What list?”

“The list of women that he has ‘successfully conquered’. Something like that.”

“Excuse me?” My facial expression scrunched up in confusion and irritation.

“Listen to what I have to say first. Please. You don’t know anything about it. Of course, you don’t, because you’re not the type to put interest in this sort of thing.

“Draven frequently does this thing where he picks a strong and accomplished woman, like a challenge, just to see how long it would take for him to get her to obsess over him. Time and time again, he has been successful.

“The moment he realizes that they no longer put up a fight to challenge him, he gets bored and tosses them away. And if they refuse to take it, he makes them disappear. You know what that means, don’t you, Odette?”

“Tristen, are you insane? Which CEO in the world, who has hundreds of businesses to look after, has the time to start playing manipulative number picking games with women?”

My brain didn’t even process anything Tristen said in a negative way as they all sounded like fiction.

“I knew you wouldn’t believe me, Odette. But it’s the truth. I swear it. He says it all the time to me and the guys when playing around.” Tristen argued.

I raised a brow in disbelief. “‘You and the guys’, ‘when playing around’. Tristen, you and Draven aren’t even friends. You guys don’t run in the same circle. Why would he even tell you about his private life?

“That’s it. I’m done. I’m done letting you waste my time with made-up stories.” I shoved Tristen out of the way so that I could leave the garden.

Unexpectedly, he grabbed my arm and pulled me back, almost slamming me against his chest.

“Are you crazy? Let go of me!” I yelled, struggling to free my arm from his tight grip.

Though Tristen was not a gym person who worked out, he still had a tall build with lean muscles gotten from negligible manual work.

I couldn’t rip my arm free from his grasp, so I stopped trying and resolved to use my mouth.

“Tristen, let me go. I won’t say this again.” I spoke with a composed voice as opposed to my panicked yell moments ago.

“I’ll let you go, I promise. Just listen to me first. Odette, please. End whatever you have with Draven. He’s not the right one for you.” Tristen said with a persuasive tone.

However, my heart was encased in ice and his words did little to move me.

“Then who’s the right one for me? You? The man who kept quiet with a bowed head when our engagement was broken off? The man who has no single strand of courage in his DNA and always does what his sweet mother wants him to do?

“Grow the fuck up, Tristen. And let go of my arm!” I finally ripped my arm free from Tristen, tottering to find balance.

“Odette, it’s not like that…” Tears glistened Tristen’s eyes.

“What is it like then? Are you trying to say you haven’t hooked up with Silver yet just cause your mom told you to?” I questioned aggressively.

“You know I’m only with Silver because it’s my responsibility. You’re the one I—”

“Were you about to say that she’s the one you love?” A high-pitched feminine voice interrupted Tristen’s heartfelt speech.

“No, of course not!” Tristen denied on instinct, quickly backing away from me as though his standing so close would lead to him contracting a disease.

“Silvia, you’re here…” He let out a sharp exhale, a guilty expression setting on his face.

I almost rolled my eyes. He was acting like he had been doing something wrong with me before Silver came in.

“I am,” Silver came between Tristen and I, wrapping her arm around his own.

I stepped backwards to give the two space.

“Dear sister, you shouldn’t be with my fiancé in private. It’s unbecoming. Don’t you know?” Silver spoke with a sweet voice, but she might have well had said, “Back off from my man, bitch.”

Being a very petty person, I took offense to her words and said, “I was on my way to Father, it was your fiancé who blocked my way.”

“Oh, really?” Silver turned to Tristen.

“I- uh, it wasn’t… not really. I just—”

“It’s okay, baby. It was just a question. It didn’t mean anything. I trust both of you. You guys would never do anything to hurt me nor the two families. I know it.” The threat in Silver’s eyes and words were as clear as daylight.

My fists ended up clenching on their own. I gulped on my saliva and said, “Of course. Now, if you’d excuse me, I have to see Father.”

I attempted to leave the garden but Silver moved first, closing the distance between us.

She whispered into my ear, saying, “Watch yourself, Fake.”

I almost flinched at the title. “I know.”

I bumped shoulders with her while walking, then went on my way.

Silver was not as formidable as the one I was going to meet, so I had no fear of her threats.