Chapter Four
1169 Words
Ciara's pov
The door opened and Liam walked in, carrying two large bags, panting slightly.
If only he knew what just happened.
“Bro these are heavy as hell," Liam complained, dropping them on the floor “you couldn't just send one of your nurses to get them?"
“I told you," Mateo smiled politely like he never asked me to f**k him for six months “i wanted them handled carefully and of course the signature requirement.”
Then he glanced at me but I turned away immediately. The last thing I wanted was for Liam to notice anything between us.
“By the way, Liam" he looked away from me
“Yeah?"
I could hear how proud Liam was to have his stepbrother talk to him.
“You should keep Ciara."
Liam blinked and so did I.
“Huh?" He arched his brow.
Mateo walked around the desk to meet him where he stood, he placed his hand on his shoulder and squeezed lightly
“She's respectful, calm and decent. Most girls your age wouldn't last five minutes before throwing themselves at the bigger fish"
He was talking about himself, I slightly scoffed at his arrogance.
“But she knows how to carry herself and I envy that"
Liam turned to me and then to his brother, surprised. “Really?"
Mateo nodded once “You'd be stupid to let someone like her go."
Then Liam puffed his chest slightly, a pride for me I never knew he had swelled “I mean… I guess she's not that bad”
" She's better than not bad, in fact she's a good girl” Mateo added, making the last words feel like he was talking to me.
“How long have you been dating again?" he said as he gestured for us to sit. Liam drew a chair for me and urged me to sit.
Something I had never imagined him doing in a million years.
“Since college," he replied
“And you plan on marrying her" he strode over to the side of his office and picked up some nutrient booster.
“I mean we will proceed with the court wedding but a formal wedding will be after we have kids" reaching for my hand which I slowly slipped into his grip, convincing myself this wasn't a dream.
On one hand my plan to get Liam to forgive had worked more than effectively but the price I had to pay also felt like I was in one of those tragedy romance movies.
Mateo offered us the nutrient boosters “sorry if I can't offer beer, I don't drink in the hospital"
“Always so professional" Liam praised taking the booster I knew he wouldn't ever drink.
“Hold on to her Liam, she's one in a million" then he turned to me, with a small smile.
" What is your name, mademoiselle” he reached out his hand
I gulped, I knew Liam was staring directly at me, like if I didn't take his gesture I would be dead meat.
If only he knew there was nothing platonic about his gesture.
“Ciara " I took his hands which he held and squeezed. He let me go and reached out to shake Liam.
“Thank you for managing the hospital"
“It's no problem Sebastian, I'm glad you're back"
With that Liam held my hand and led me out, feeling Sebastian's gaze burning into my back until the door closed.
The ride home was silent as always.
Liam kept smiling to himself, proud that his brother had praised something, someone that belonged to him.
I kept staring out the window, barely breathing. How was I to keep on seeing Mateo while tied to Liam?
Now that he looked so proud to have me, I couldn't afford to allow my secret to be out.
The moment we arrived home, Liam dropped the bags by the couch.
“I'm going out to meet the boys," he said “Don't wait up"
He didn’t kiss her. Didn’t hug her. I didn't even look back and that was the Liam I knew.
The door slammed.
But as soon as I was alone, I grabbed my phone with trembling fingers and called Laura.
Laura, who took the call instantly, yelled through her phone “Girl, I've been calling you! Where have you been…. What happened what did he say and why the hell are you breathing like that”
I slumped on the edge of the couch letting out a heavy sigh
"I messed up.”
There was a small pause
" How bad?”
" I messed up so bad Laura" I straightened up and started pacing
"With Liam, did he hit you or do something shitty…oh f**k Ciara I'm so sorry about the club…You could come over….
“No it's with someone's else, a guy"
“Huh?"
“I slept with somebody and now it's all blown up in my face I told you I shouldn't have…
“Ciara, whom did you sleep with?” she cut in through my ranting
I closed my eyes shut, pausing in my tracks “Liam's brother”
Silence
Then another few seconds passed.
“Laura?”
“I'm sorry I was thinking how the f**k does this make any sense”
I pressed my palm against my forehead.
"The guy from the bar, we hooked up. Turned out it's Liam's stop brother”
“Oh my f*****g god. This feels like Goodbye lover, only you're not doing this for manipulation…
"Laura" I let out
“I'm sorry I just….
Before she could say any more my phone vibrated
Another call with the caller ID saying Mateo wild.
My heart skipped three beats.
My fingers turned cold, not thinking much on how he got my number but on why he was calling.
“laura he's calling me”
"Who is calling you…
" I'll be back”
“Don’t pick it up!” Laura hissed. “Ciara , don’t…
My thumb moved on its own and I answered. Putting Laura on hold.
“I need you. Now."
His voice washed through the speaker.
“How did you even get my number..
"Does that matter? Ciara ”
"Sebastian… Please..” I tried to explain
" Don't make me repeat myself.”
His voice was stern and commanding, it sent a cold shiver down my spine.
I glanced at the door, as though Liam would burst in at any moment.
“I’ll text you the address,” he said calmly.
“And Ciara ?”
“…yes?” clearing the crack in my voice
“Don’t be late.”
With that he ended the call.
“Ciara ? What did he say?"
Laura's call returned.
I sighed heavily, I couldn't speak, only stared at the message lighting up my screen.
Mateo Wild: 30 minutes. 12 Crown Street, Royal Villa. Come alone.
My world was collapsing.
And I had no choice but to walk straight into it.
- Writer
