In Love With The Enemy

Chapter 30

Alina Pov:

I woke up hours later to the door of the room being opened. I've always had this alerting sense where my nerves would be uneasy when someone entered the same space at me.

Mostly, it was because of who I knew would be at the other end of the door. Just like then, I knew exactly who entered the room. It was none other than Tristan.

What gave me a little shock was that I knew it was him, but my nerves were calm. I was at peace with myself and all my feelings were numbed down till it was nothing.

The calmness I felt didn't last long, though. I softly asked the reasoning of him being in here, but his response erased all the numbness I felt. Realization, guilt and hurt filled me once again as I remembered the pain and betrayal I had no other choice but to inflict on my family, very soon.

"We should practice how everything should go for the dinner you set up with your family, so nothing goes wrong and no one unnecessarily gets hurt. It's two days from now.

I gave you time needed for yourself and to accept the actions you will have to carry out and do, willingly."

I gave him a dumbfounded look straight in the eyes. "What makes you think I'd ever hurt my family on purpose. Willingly, you said? Don't forget, I'm unwillingly doing this."

He sighed, an unrecognizable look in his eyes which he hid immediately, before I could try and figure out what it was.

"Either way, you will need to know what you are supposed to do as to get me your brother without any unnecessary attention or suspicions." He said flat but with a hidden threat which I caught.

I shuddered as his gaze on me intensified. Instinctively, I hid the strong effect he easily had on me, to keep as much self-confidence I could in this situation. I didn't want him to know how vulnerable I could be with just one simple, hard glance in my direction.

"Yeah, whatever." I replied, as nonchalant as possible.

I guess my reply wasn't good enough for him, because he grabbed my shoulder harshly and glared at me. It felt like at any moment, my shoulder could displace or break for the rough grip on it.

"You better take this serious, Alina. I meant it. Every fiber of my being has been very patient with you. The punishments you complain about are just the beginning of my wrath and what I can do. Don't push me, because the beast inside me is slowly rising every f*****g minute you carelessly play games and disregard my warnings." He gritted with clenched jaws and dark eyes.

I stood there, trying not to take his words too seriously. His aura was definitely terrifying and intimidating to many, including me.

My knees buckled underneath me, making my legs weak. If it weren't for the hard grip on my shoulder, holding me up, I would've been on the ground by now.

He squeezed my shoulder a little harder, causing me to wince painfully and a low shriek escaped my mouth. Noticing my state, he released a little, but I could still feel the pain shooting there.

"Do you understand me?" His voice felt like daggers shooting inside my body.

I stammered out a short and low, "Yes", which he seemed unpleased with.

"I'll ask this again, and I want you to mean yo-" I cut him off with a loud "Yes" and begging eyes that urged for mercy on my shoulder.

He didn't fall for it, and instead replied with a cold and curt, "Say it again..."

I didn't waste a minute to do so, and continued repeating the same word over and over again, each time a little more urgency and honesty.

"Real words, Alina," He said, still not pleased with my answer, obviously.

I was getting frustrated with him, but I was eager to get him to let me go, so I tried again. This time forming a full sentence instead of a short and simple, yes.

"Ye-yes! Yes, Tristan. I will take you warnings and orders seriously! I w-will listen, o-okay? I- I pro-promise. I promise, I w-will....T-Tristan. I-I will." I promised him with much difficulty, because of the effect the pain was starting to have on my body.

Tears started forming in my pleading eyes as I stared him in the eyes with the last of my effort in my body.

He silently glanced at me as he seemed to be in deep thought about giving in. Eventually, he nodded, pleased with my answer.

"Good, because you have a lot to learn before that dinner." He said, leaving my shoulder.

My body slumped on the ground, knees hitting the floor as I sniffed and wiped my teary eyes dry and clean. He turned his back on me while I bowed my head down, trying to recollect enough energy to get up and take in all of his so called, "Learning", before I visit my family for the first time in almost six years.

"Get up, and go freshen yourself. Once you have done so, we will get straight to work. I will not allow to waste any more time than you have already." Tristan said, his back still facing me.

I nodded, but forgotten he wasn't looking, so I gave an "Okay," and stood up, going straight into the bathroom with long strides to get as far away from him as possible.

Something inside me gave me a feeling that he was lurking somewhere in the room, so I didn't hesitate to lock the door behind me. Once I was sure that I was safe from his gazing eyes, I undressed myself and stepped into the shower.

Author Pov:

Not wanting to come out of the bathroom anytime soon to find Tristan's intimidating presence, she purposefully stayed in the shower while Tristan impatiently waited for her to come out.

Just as she was running her hands through her hair, her legs felt weaker as if a boulder was weighted on them, suddenly. Not able to stand up any longer, she sat down on the expensive cold tile floor of the shower and pulled her knees to her chest, head bowed as she silently wept in guilt.

Tristan continued to check his watch, getting more and more impatient each passing second. Somehow, he knew that she was purposefully staying in the bathroom so she couldn't face him. Knowing that, he gave her a few more minutes in before he finally ran out of patience of waiting.

He stood up from his sitting spot on the bed, taking long strides towards the bathroom. Tristan knocked on the door and got no response from her. All he could hear was the shower running.

"Alina, hurry up. I know what you're doing, and believe me when I say....that locking yourself in the bathroom, won't stop me from kicking the door down and dragging you out of there in any form you're in." He said, his tone very serious.

By now, Alina understood that he always carries out his promises. She knew that if she stayed any longer in the bathroom, he wouldn't hesitate to do just that. Forcing herself up, she turned the water off wrapped a clean towel around her wet body.

Unlocking and opening the bathroom door, Alina walked out and was met with the protruding glare of Tristan. "Try that again, and I won't give you a heads up next time." He walked closer towards her shivering figure and whispered in her ears. "I will just do it...." He threatened.

"Now quickly put some clothes on and meet me in my office. I know you know where it is. You have five minutes." He said and walked out of her room, going straight to his office.

Alina knew what he meant when he said how she knew where his office is, but she ignored the thought altogether. She found a plain black shirt and a pair of black tights on the bed, which she grumpily dressed into and quickly walked out of her room, after fixing her hair in a messy bun and slipping on a pair of slides.

A few minutes after five had passed, she made her way into her way into Tristan's office, and found him leaning on the gigantic and expensive table in the middle of the office, arms folded as he watched Alina like a hawk.

"You're late." He told her before getting up to stand right in front of her. "Didn't I say you had five minutes?"

She rolled her eyes and decided to ignore his question, not even bothering trying to explain herself. He wasn't pleased with the fact she ignored his question, but he let it slide.

"How about we get started since you claimed you didn't want to waste any time. I want to leave here as soon as possible." Alina grumbled under her breath, but Tristan heard it clearly.

Tristan was amused by her behavior, but she very much right when it came to not wasting time. His stoic expression returned and he walked back to the table where he was previously leaning on.

Alina stood at her spot, closer towards the door, just in case she would need to hurrily run out of his office. She was uneasy the entire time she stood there.

Hour after hour had passed as restless Tristan explained and made sure overly-exhausted Alina knew exactly what to do and say in front of her family, including the plan on luring her brother out to Tristan.

It was pass midnight by the time Alina had finally escaped Tristan, going straight to the same room she had left, and threw herself onto the bed. Her body had no more energy but her mind was completely restless. Forcing her thoughts to shut off, Alina closed her eyes and succumbed into a deep slumber.

Unknowingly, as half-peaceful Alina slept, Tristan was silently watching her through the bedroom door and smiled to himself. "If only things were different..." He thought as he cautiously entered her room, pecking a kiss on her forehead. Tristan looked down at her face, which was glowing in the moonlight. Once he felt the exhaustion cover his senses and body, he left her room, closing the door and retreating to his own room to get some rest.

***********************

Each and every member in the Maddox family all had their own suspicion about the sudden family dinner which would be held.

Alina's mother was at tears when she received the phone call from Alina. Malinda never really gave much attention to Alina, but she did very much love her. Alina was the smartest and the most kindness girl you'd ever meet, if you were to compare her with her three siblings.

In Malinda's eyes, Bryson was the business tycoon and heir of George. Victoria was the famous supermodel and actress, as well as eye candy. Ashley was the intelligent and smart doctor, taking up after her. But mostly out of all her kids, there was Alina. She was everything anyone would ever want. Smart, kind, innocent, beautiful, intelligent, rich, a rose gold heart and a hypnotizing sparkle in her eyes which attracted anyone who looked into them, drowning them to the point they can't find themselves.

When George died, Alina disconnected from the world and everyone in it, including herself. She stayed away from reality and drowned into the darkness which only inflicted misery on her innocent soul.

Many times, she tried reaching out but never gotten any respond until then. Two pieces of her heart were lost when she lost the two most important people in her world. George and Alina. No doubt those two were inseparable.

She did wrong with Alina, leaving her to grow up without much motherly love, care, and attention. But this time, she was going to try her hardest to mend things with her daughter.

It took very much effort to set up a family dinner. Both Victoria and Bryson were both had very busy lives which didn't include visiting family, especially Alina. Out of all of her children, the only one who actually was excited to see Alina and make time for her, was Ashley. Even she was very busy in the medical field, but it didn't stop her from taking the opportunity to see her sister and family.

After a lot of convincing and demanding, Malinda got everyone to come to the family dinner. It was only two days away and both Ashley and Malinda couldn't keep their happy tears at bay.

"Mom, do you realize how suspicious and weird this is? After 5 goddamn years she wants to come see us? Alina didn't have time for us or cared then, so why should we now." Victoria spoke, clearly annoyed.

"Oh come on, be happy for Ally for once in your life, Vicki. She's finally coming see us, don't ruin this for everyone with your bitterness and venom towards her." Ashley snapped at her older sister.

Malinda had gotten Victoria and Ashley to spend a week at the Madox mansion. Bryce was to show up at the dinner but couldn't stay a week. The entire family bumped heads more and more as the day of Alina's arrival was getting closer.

"Yes, Vick...be happy that your other sister is coming. This should be special for us all, not a nightmare." Malinda told Victoria, in which she just rolled her eyes.

"Whatever, guys. Something isn't right about this at all but no one but me really realizes that, obviously. Alina will not just show up here up after she broke contact. I dont know what will go down and happen, but I do know that this so called family dinner will not end well. Just wait and see...." Victoria told them both and stormed off to her old room.

Well after all, she wasn't wrong. Something definitely wasn't right about the upcoming family dinner. It would surely go downwards and harden a lot of hearts. No one believed Victoria when she said so, but they quickly realized how right she was when Alina walked in.....different than she was 5 years ago, playing her entire family and betraying their love and trust towards her.

TO BE CONTINUED......