Rebirth: Flirting with a Dangerous Billionaire

Alpha Males

It was still dark when I arrived at the field. The air tasted sharp, and the grass crunched beneath my feet. "This isn't funny anymore. Let me in!" I repressed a sigh and made my way towards the burly, babbling figure that was Ben Turner, who was attempting to gain access to the changing room. Blocking the door with his equally large frame was Zack. "I think you should go home, pal; you're not even fit for a sub."

"Come on, practice starts soon!" Zack clocks me from over Ben's shoulder, and his face breaks out in a grin. Before me, Ben continues to whine, exasperated. I am equally irritated. Not because I care, it just agitates me the length Zack goes to for attention.

Back in my school days, Zack was one of the kids in my social circle. Whilst the rest of us matured, he has yet to grow out of his habit of bullying weaker individuals. It's all part of a misguided attempt to impress others or avoid being forced himself. He's pathetic.

"That's enough, Zack." The voice came from behind me. Zack moved aside and silently retreated to the back of the room. But, of course, I didn't need to look to see whom it belonged to. Sloane brushed by me, "How long did you intend to do nothing?" his tone was assertive.

"Not my fight." I snapped, watching the team captain's face darken at my provocation. Sloane is who I hate the most. We are similar in circumstance, only he is revered around the university for being exceptional. His cavalier attitude toward me, who is clearly superior in all aspects, offends me more than being associated with Zack.

I place my bag down and look up at Sam, who gives me an almost imperceptible nod. Only I notice, and he continues in his conversation. Sam, I wouldn't have to deal with these people if it wasn't for him. Back in school, Sam was one of the bullies I befriended. He was the one most suited to stand beside me as an equal out of everyone I knew. Sam was considered privileged even among the elite. His family's wealth surpassed my own, and he was deemed attractive with his tall stature and blonde mane. He was the centre of campus society. In a world where wealth and connection were significant, everyone wanted to be associated with him. Women swooned in his presence, and he manipulated them with ease. He was popular. An unfortunate consequence of this was that he attracted people like Zack. The latter would do anything for a glimmer of approval. He is helpful to have around, but we drifted apart. I have never been invested in relationships. They definitely became superfluous when I met Mara, if they weren't before.

My solitary existence, now restored, was not what it once was. It's required of me to be a functioning member of society, so I attend rugby club to dissuade parental concern but keep to myself. It's easy to do this without repercussion. Most of my teammates are idiots who no one wants to associate with. It's not just me who feels this way. After I began to distance myself, Sloane and Sam had a brief friendship which has now ended. Not unlike myself, Sloane is still on speaking terms with Sam but has become somewhat of a loner. At first, I assumed this was due to his aloof attitude, but he likely just grew tired of Sam's cult-like following. I enjoyed watching them. There was tension between them following Sloane's elevation to team captain, a position Sam felt he should naturally inherit.

We were all energetic as we commenced the morning's cardio, followed by scrums and weight training. But, aside from our shouting, the campus was quiet. It was now 7am, and the clubs permitted to enter the grounds off term did not start until much later. Our energy began to wane, and with no women present to impress, we to talk amongst ourselves for encouragement. The conversation took a divisive turn.

"I hear Mara the mad is out of the hospital?" I spat out my water and glared at Zack until he had withered to my satisfaction. Then, to my left, Ben intervened, "Come on, dude, that's his sister."

"Yeah, but I mean, not by blood. Cain, you don't seem all that close to her. She spent all her time simpering around Sam." Sam glanced at me and shrugged in response. "Just don't bring it up around Akari" he hesitated, and when he spoke again, his voice took on a restrained quality. "Is it true? Is she coming back?" I shrug in reply, unable to bring myself to speak without revealing my true sentiment. It was true I appeared distant to Mara. Like the other women who littered campus, she had been resolute in her misguided affection for Sam. She continually rejected my advances despite being equally charming. At the time, it suited me to let her self-destruct. She would come fleeing into my protective embrace, or that was the plan. I neglected the fact that she was in denial about our relationship. A barrier that drove her off a building instead of into my arms.

Sam ran his fingers through his golden hair, barely concealing his smirk. "Just keep her away from me. I don't need the heat." There was a burst of laugher as those who did not share our secret misunderstood his words. I shut him down with a look and again shrugged me off. "You just need to leave her be. She's lost her memory." To our audience, my tone was subdued, but when I met Sam's eyes, I knew he understood the warning and my intent. He seemed relieved that our secret was safe. We were all too occupied to discuss Mara further in our remaining time together. But, as always, she was on my mind. This would be our new beginning; I could sense her attitude towards me changing. I returned home full of hope, knowing that I could use this to my advantage despite the hiccup in my plan. I'm fortunate we have a fresh start, but you must never find out what I did to you.