Original Love

Episode Fourteen

"They're crazy."

"And... very funny," Austin flops face-down on his king-sized bed, laughing in the process as he listened to the sound of Samantha's heels clicking against his massive bedroom tiled floor filling the silence between them. It had taken them a long hour of consistent laughing and gushing about their relationship before they had finally managed to escape, raising up the stairs faster than they needed to, just to get away from the insaneness of their parents. And since, the two knew they were just out for pretending their love for each other, they didn't absolutely find the humor and happiness on discovering that their upcoming wedding has been already marked on the calendar.

"It's insane! I can't believe they're so obsessed with us!" Samantha growls, dropping down beside Austin's lying body on top of his black comforter. Her weight created a slight bounce on the soft thick cushion. "It's like we're being arranged together behind our backs! And we're just making it easier for them because they think we're really together!"

"Yeah, it's really funny," Austin murmured, raising his head to look at Sam with a huge grin, "And they even believed us."

"Well, at least there's one good thing about all of this," She says, returning Austin's gaze and sighs, "But we still have to prove this with the rest of Prime East."

"Easy peasy, babe." Austin replies with a smirk, sitting up, "But the question is... How long?"

"We need to think this through first..." Sam muttered, leaning her head against the hard shoulder beside her. Austin smelled something distinguishingly expensive and comfortable. Sam let herself sink into the scent that overwhelmed her. "And we need to have a well-laid plan."

"Right..."

"So I'm thinking we need to fake this relationship for three months."

Austin jerks to this causing Samantha's head to instantly slip down as she tried to catch herself before she falls. She scowled at Austin. "What the hell?"

"What the f**k, Sammie? Three months?! That long? How are you even sure Emma's still available after that?"

"Of course, she will be. Trust me."

"And that should make me feel relaxed? How does that even have to help with the upcoming problem?"

"Would you at least put some trust in me?! Gosh! Sometimes you are just so hard to please!" Sam frowns.

"I'm just stating the matters that we need to agree on, Sammie."

"Puh-lease! You're overthinking it all. And anyway, three months isn't that too long."

"It's long enough for me!" Austin snaps, his disheveled hair sticking up in all directions. "Elle and I had even lasted for only two months. Why don't we decrease the time range by one month, at least, Sam? Say, two months, no more no less. I'd be fine with that." He offers, with a stare that somehow passes to be challenging.

"No, we need to make everyone really believe that you're not a player anymore and three months is a reasonable time arrangement for this deal, Aussie. No more no less!" Sam mocks back, her gaze leveling him. She knew she would win this argument no matter how he would try to fight it. And Austin knew he had no choice... Now, who's the pathetic one, here? Women can be really vicious and bossy sometimes.

So three months, it is. No more, no less. But even with a manipulative bitchy competitor supporting his side, Austin still can't help but feel doubtful... Will, they gonna win the game? Or will he just put all these risks for nothing? Who knows?

It's all just the beginning, anyway.

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Brad stood rigidly in front of the tainted floor-to-ceiling windows of his apartment flat at The Prime Empire Hotel, holding a crystal glass, half-full with brown metallic bourbon, a hard expression marked on his strong handsome face. He looked down at the starry skittering lights and glowing buildings of Prime East at the top floor view from his condo. Brad closes his eyes. It was torture. 

He can't even barely appreciate its beauty now, not like he ever did before, when a golden angelic beauty, with soft curves and addictive giggles, Chanel no. 5 scent lingering around him, wearing nothing but a blue-buttoned down Polo shirt he owned and had kept just for her, stood there, enveloped tightly within his arms, her hair soft against his cheek, and his head resting comfortably on her warm shoulder.

"f**k!" Brad cursed loudly, his sharp voice echoing throughout the hollowed area of his living room he was caged in. A sound of glass breaking against a wall was heard at the same time, and a slim figure instantly appears by the doorway of Brad's living room. An average-height brunette, wearing a white robe from one of Brad's extras, came in, her face full of concern and fear.

"Brad..." the whispered softness of her voice jerked Brad, making him turn around with a deathly glare. He looks at her, not pleased with her appearance at his place. What is she still doing here? He's done with her. She's not the one he wants.

"GET OUT!" He shouted, the fairly pretty face of hers crunching as subtle marks of tears formed instantly beneath her blue eyes. He was scaring her, but she seemed to be mustering too much bravery to back down right away. She stood frozen.

"Brad..." she says again, putting a step closer instead. But Brad had already turned his back to her, shoulders tensed and sturdy, and his jaw hardening. He does not want her there. He hates how he craves for someone else, someone who's far gone... Someone, he cannot have again. And now all that's left to him is this slick, disgusting habit of f*****g strangers just to make him breathe. Make him feel he's still alive, that he still can do some work. But he's truly not.

"I said, GET. THE. HELL. OUT!" He exploded, the words came out much stronger and fiercer, which seems to work because the girl didn't even let a second waste as she skitters outside of his place in haste with a stifled sob that didn't even fail to reach Brad's knowing. She is crying because of him. Because he was being a d**k. An asshole.

"You're killin' yourself just for that girl?" Another different voice startled him, now it is of a man's. Brad didn't even mind acknowledging his presence nor the intonation of the pronoun that certainly implies someone else. Instead, he walks towards the kitchen counter to get another glass, to replace the broken one, and poured another shot of bourbon. The man from the doorway watches him with a steady gaze and finally speaks again.

"Stop this, Brad. She's not worth it."

"You shut up! I don't want any of your s**t. Go away." Brad snaps right back, his gaze sharply meeting the man with a permanent scowl on his face.

"She's treating you like trash. B. Look at yourself, you're becoming a whiner who's letting himself get swallowed by crap. Stop this, Brad. Or I will." The threat in that statement is very clear. But nothing had made Brad flinched or changed from where he stood. He just smirks back, raising the glass to his mouth mockingly, and takes a long hard swallow. He had gone through worse than what he said. When she left him, Brad had died too. And nothing can make him feel much worse than that now.

"You and I are just another pawns on her stupid game. We both know from the start that she was just playing us... I've told you, B! I've told you about this before! I've warned you of how she is! She's not gonna love you back! SHE'S NOT CAPABLE OF THAT! SHE NEVER WILL!" The hard strong voice hovered the cold air between them and the man silently took a deep breath.

Brad felt his heart's beginning to break. It's lurching, as he remembered the soft lips he had used to kissed before. He remembered the warmth of her embraces, her chest against his. The golden girl had shown him how the world was not just about sports cars, money, fame, attention, and s*x. He remembered how she smiled at him and made him forget about everything else... He remembered her telling him her secrets (or maybe just the little parts of them) and still loved every inch of it. Her flaws, the freckles, and the way she sometimes talks in her sleep... How she likes to watch rom-com movies, and imitate Audrey Hepburn's movie dialogues. He remembered the way she had looked at him as if he was everything for her... As if they had shared the same thing... As if she loves him. As if her heart was only for him and his for hers... He remembered her saying that he was beautiful and he was the first one who had made her feel complete. But the truth crashed him down. And everything was revealed, all of those things were just illusions. Lies. Fake affection. Her perfect manipulation to control his soul and his heart.

With the pour of these thoughts, Brad instantly broke down, his hands shaking as he gripped the edge of the kitchen counter in front of him. Another glass breaks against the tiled floor. His wet tears pouring endlessly down his cheeks and his sobs echoed.