Chapter 6: YOU ARE MINE, ARIEL!
1176 Words
The flashlights from the numerous cameras of the paparazzi nearly blinded me but the arm of Xavier was a solid assurance that I was safe– at least that was what he wanted me to believe after the lies he had tried to force me to believe earlier.
And here we were in public, walking hand in hand like the whole world was perfect and we were the most beautiful couple in the whole room without a single care in the world.
It turned my stomach to remember that Xavier could think that I can be easily fooled or deceived.
It was demeaning and stupid.
Do not overthink it, Ariel. She just happened to look like you. It is a complete coincidence.
Who is she?
She is no one for you to worry about. Just a friend in my past. She is dead to me and long gone. She won't bother you.
Is she Laura?
Yes.
That single answer broke me.
The hall bustled with elite women and men who waltzed through the door but my heart was not in the right place neither was it in the right state.
I had fallen in love with a man who thought lying was romantic and secret, the pathway to my heart.
Through the entire process of pretending, I passed to him a fake smile which I believed he blindly trusted.
I had no idea what was happening in this dinner party as I walked hand in hand with my pretend boyfriend for the evening – Xavier King.
He looked impeccable in his suit and the whole room turned their heads at his presence. He had so much effect on me and I had a hard time thinking clearly.
We eventually sat at one of the high tables decorated lavishly with different food and drinks.
“ Are you enjoying yourself?”. Xavier leaned towards my ears and whispered.
I nodded once. A way to convince myself that life was good again and everything was simple.
But it was not.
My life is in disorder and I am at a loss. Again. I had a new plan hatched at the moment.
To tempt Xavier to take my virginity tonight. Make him drunk enough to sign the new contract that I drafted that cancels out the two month habitation rule under his roof among others.
After which I will be free from his b*****e.
I knew in my heart that there was no one else I would rather give my virginity to but also knew that the woman whose face looked like mine was no coincidence for Xavier.
He had bought me with her in mind. And I would not stay in his life to continue to play as her replacement.
I refuse to be weak and stupid at the same time which is why I am taking control in my own hands tonight.
Tonight is the night that I will leave Xavier King forever.
“ Are you still thinking about earlier?”. He asked, placing his palm on my exposed thigh.
I glanced at him, admiring and committing his face to memory once more. “ Of course not, I totally believe you, Xavier. It is nothing but a coincidence”.
I smiled at him.
He rose up a few minutes later to speak with some of his associates. I took a deep breath in his absence.
A young handsome man walked to my table and sat beside me, his dark eyes following my every move.
He was attractive, but not even close to Xavier. s**t. Now I am comparing this stranger to Xavier.
“ My name is Hardin Scott”. He introduced himself with a bright smile. I nodded.
“ Ariel”. I simply stated. I was not really in the interactive mood at that point. He had arrived at the wrong time.
“ I saw you across the room while you sat with Xavier King and trust me, you did not look very happy, Ariel”. He muttered and I stared at him.
“ It is nothing, Hardin. You should get back to your party”. I shrugged dismissively.
“ Do you work with Xavier or are you together romantically?”.
I sighed. “ It is complicated. How do you know Xavier?”. I asked, trying to shift the attention from me.
He dropped one of his legs on the other one and stretched out. “ I work as a secretary for his rival company”.
Xaveir’s rival company.
I furrowed my brows in confusion. “ His rival company?”.
“ Yeah, I guess we were also invited to the same party. Would you care to dance with me?”. Hardin asked and my heart pounded.
What would Xavier say if he saw this?
A pool of defiance washed over me and I dropped my hand over his outstretched ones.
I knew no one dared to disobey Xavier King but I wanted to find out what he could possibly do.
Hardin smiled widely at me as he dropped his hand on my waist. I noticed that I did not feel the sparks I usually felt with Xavier. I also noticed that his touch does not take my breath away like Xavier's but I still went ahead with it.
We joined the other group of couples on the dance floor. Hardin tightened his grip on my waist and I wrapped my hands around his neck.
We swayed lightly to the tone of the music when I felt the intense stare on my back and my face. I trailed the hall with my eyes until they landed on Xavier who watched me with his predatory eyes.
I could not take my eyes off him when he carried a glass of whiskey and gulped it down. Neither did I take my eyes off him when he stood up from the chair.
I watched as he walked towards me in fast, confident strides. In one quick motion, he was at my front. I slowly dropped my arms from Hardin’s neck and stepped back.
Hardin looked at me with confusion and then he turned back to stare at the intruder.
“ You do not ever get the chance to touch a single piece of her ever again”. Xavier said, his voice very low and commanding.
His hands wrapped around my wrist and he tugged me towards himself.
“ She gets to make that choice herself, don't you think?”. Hardin glared at him and I almost opened my mouth to say something but nothing came out.
The crowd now paid in-depth attention to us and my skin itched.
Hardin stepped forward and grabbed my other hand that was not free. Xavier cornered him and gave a painfully blinding punch to Hardin's jaw and my eyes widened in utter shock at his possessiveness.
“ She is mine!”. His voice echoed dangerously in the large hall. “ And no one gets to touch her. Except me”.
- Writer
