my nemesis

Asena

I step out of the taxi and look at the huge building before me.

My phone chimes with a new message.

Suite 412. Can't wait to see you in the dress, babe.

I press my phone against my chest, trying to calm the wild flutter in my heart.

In three days, I’ll wed the love of my life.

Matteo Russo.

The bold letters “Bellagio Resort” glare at me, announcing my destination.

Of course Matteo chose Bellagio for my dress fitting.

Nothing but the best for his bride, he'd said when I suggested a less costly resort.

Excitement bubbles inside me as I make my way to the reception.

I give my name with what I hope is a confident smile. However,the receptionist’s expression shifts immediately and for a fleeting second, her professional mask cracks.

She regains composure and pulls the keycard, handing it over to me.

"Suite 412. Fourth floor."

I nod, say my thanks and skip away. However, my mind replays that moment of shift, the pity I saw in their eyes.

Not wanting to overthink, I push the thoughts away.

The ride up the elevator is short and I find the earlier excitement flaring up again.

The fourth-floor hallway stretches before me. My heels click against the carpet as I make my way to my suite.

My ears catch something before I even reach the door.

Voices. They are muffled but distinct. Followed by laughter, a familiar one.

My heart begins to race and my hand trembles as I slide the key card into the slot. The door clicks open and I walk inside–quietly.

The sitting room is empty, but the bedroom door is half closed.

A giggle, followed by a moan.

“God, yes, right there…"

I should turn around and leave.

I should pretend I never came here,but my feet seem to have a mind of their own. They carry me forward and I take one step.

Then another until I am standing in the doorway.

Then I see him.

Matteo Russo, my boyfriend and now fiance.

He is shirtless with his back to me.

A woman lays beneath him on the bed, legs wrapped around his waist as he rams into her with reckless abandon.

Her face is flushed with pleasure, dark hair fanned across the pillow.

The woman turns her head, dark eyes meeting mine with unmistakable recognition and triumph.

Sophia.My stepsister, wearing my wedding dress.

The dress is hiked up around her waist with the lace I spent months choosing bunched and wrinkled and stained with…

The musky smell of sex is heavy in the room making me feel nauseous.

A gasp or is it a whimper escapes my lips at the scandalous sight before me.

Sophia's head turns first, and when her eyes meet mine, she smiles.

There's no shame or guilty in her smile, only victory.

"Oh," she purrs, not even bothering to push Matteo away. "Look who finally showed up."

Matteo pulls back slowly and pulls his briefs up, a scoff leaving his lips.

“ This bitch is fast. I thought I’d cum before she gets here.”

My eyes widen at the insult.

The audacity! No apology? I even expected him to scramble to explain but I get insults instead?

Sophia sits up slowly, deliberately, adjusting the bodice of what's supposed to be my dress.

“ Matteo…” I croak out, the name tasting bitter on my lips.

“ What's the meaning of this?”

I don't know why I even bother asking. Isn’t it clear as day what's happening?

"It's exactly what it looks like,dumbass."Sophia replies, running her hands down the lace.

“ I have to say, this dress is really stunning.

Asena, for once I can acknowledge that you have great taste.” She sneers.

I stumble backward, my back hitting the doorframe hard enough to bruise but the pain barely registers.

“ How long?” I whisper. “ How long have you been screwing behind my back?”

"How long?" Sophia tilts her head, seemingly in thought.

“ Mat,honey, when did we start this? Was it before or after the engagement party?"

"Before," Matteo mutters, and that single word destroys me.

What a fool I am. While I was planning our wedding, Matteo was busy fucking with my step sister?

"Why?" My voice comes out barely a whisper.

Matteo finally looks at me and there is no guilt in his eyes.

All I see in those bottomless orbs I used to love so much is irritation. "You really want to do this now?" He mocks.

"Because you wouldn't satisfy me!" He declares.

"Jesus Christ, Asena, we have been together for two fucking years and you won't even let me touch you. What kind of woman does that?"

The words hit me like a physical blow and I actually stagger.

"A frigid one," Sophia chimes in.

She examines her nails now, completely unbothered.

"That's what he calls you when we are in bed. Says his frigid little fiancée kisses like a dead fish."

Dead fish.

The word feels like a slap to the face. The room tilts and I grip the doorframe so hard my knuckles go white.

"I tried to be patient," Matteo continues, yanking his shirt on.

“I thought you would open up, that you would relax eventually. But you never did. Every time I tried to take things further, you'd freeze up or make some excuse. Do you have any idea how humiliating that is? Having a girlfriend who acts like I am assaulting her every time I try to kiss her properly?"

"I didn't..I was just…" I trail off,unable to finish the sentence.

I can't explain that I was scared, that I wanted to wait, that I thought he understood.

"You're pathetic," Sophia says, getting up from the bed.

The dress pools at her feet when she stands.

“You have always been pathetic, Asena.

You can't keep a man because you don't know how to be a woman," She continues, stepping closer.

“You walk around with this innocent act, but it's not innocence, Asena. It's incompetence. You don't know how to kiss or dress. You don't know how to make a man want you. Hell, I bet you don't even know what an orgasm feels like."

My face burns with humiliation as the reality of that truth slams into me.

At 22, I have done almost everything apart from sleeping with anyone.

"Every time you kissed me, I had to think about someone else to get through it," Matteo adds. That statement shatters something inside me.

It's even more humiliating than being cheated on

"You are not enough,Asena.You'll never be enough, not for Matteo or any other man.

"Stop!" I cry, my voice breaking completely.

"I'm going to take everything from you,Asena.” Sophia roars.

“ I made it my mission to take everything you think you have, everything you think you deserve.

I'm going to rip it away piece by piece. Matteo is just the beginning." The hatred on her face is unconcealed.

We have always had our differences but I never thought she would ruin my life like this.

“I can't stand watching you be happy. I can't stand watching you smile and pretend like you have actually earned anything in your pathetic little life." She continues. My tears sting but I push them back. I am already this humiliated, I won't give them the satisfaction of seeing me break down.

"Why would you do this to me? I ask.

" I have never done anything to you…"

"Your existence is my nemesis.” Sophia snaps, an ugly look on her face.

“ If it weren't for you and your bitch mother, I wouldn't have been called a bastard all my life. My mother wouldn't be called the other woman.”

Matteo finishes buttoning his shirt.

“ I think we are done here. The engagement is off. You can keep the ring if you want.Consider it as payment for being a decent placeholder until I found someone actually worth my time." Matteo announces.

Placeholder. That's actually what he took me for all these years.

“ Unless you want to watch as your ex boyfriend gives me an orgasm, I suggest you leave.” Sophia says with a playful smile.

I don't wait for more. I turn around and run.

I stumble out of the suit and rush down the stairs.

I burst out into the lobby, and everyone turns to look. The clerks at the desk and the others lodging stare at my tear-streaked face, my running mascara, my obvious devastation.