The Bond

CHAPTER FOUR- TRIALS AND TEMPTATIONS

LILY

I roll over on my bed and turn off my alarm clock. I had stayed up all night working and all I want to do right now is stay in bed all day even though I know that is impossible, not with my upcoming exhibition. It has been exactly three weeks since my meeting with Steve Ray and things have progressed so quickly, I feel like I’ve been working for over a year. Sometimes I ask myself if I’m being pushed too far out of my safe zone. As much as this has been my dream for the longest time, I wonder if I’m prepared enough for this.

I still shudder when I reminisce on my recent encounter with Anna, an internationally acclaimed painter. Steve Ray had helped her in her early years and wanted me to discuss my exhibition with her. To put it simply, it was a disaster. I stuttered throughout the meeting and ended up spilling coffee on my pants. I have learned composure since then but I still find it difficult to stand up to those rude and uppity artists I have to deal with every time I visit Grand East gallery or Steve’s office. The only person keeping me sane at this point is Alex. My plan to kill my feelings for him is not going the way I want but really, what’s the hurry? We might live in two entirely different worlds but who says two worlds cannot coexist? Who says they cannot blend perfectly? I sit up on my bed contemplating whether to go out for a cup of coffee or just brew a pot myself when Taylor Swift’s I knew you were trouble blares from my phone indicating that I’m getting a call from Alex. “Hey. How did you know I was awake?”

“I figured.” His voice sounds strangled, as if he had not gotten any sleep last night. “How are you? You don’t sound so good.” “Look, I don’t know how to say this but– wait, are you outside right now?” From how breathless he sounds, I imagine that he is pacing the length of his room right now. “No, but I was thinking of going out to grab a cup of morning coffee at–” “No! Don’t do that!” “Is something wrong?” I’ve never heard him sound so agitated before. He is always so calm and collected even in dire situations, so his eagerness this time fills me with dread. “There are articles up on tabloids about me and it involves you in a way.” “What?” “It’s just all speculation for now but I think it’s best you stay indoors while I work to make this blow over.”

"What? I don’t understand.” Even though I’m yet to fully comprehend what he’s saying, one thing keeps ringing in my head: I knew this would happen. “I’ll talk to you later, but for now, just focus on finishing your paintings and try not to draw unnecessary attention to yourself.” When the line disconnects, I sit on the floor just trying to make sense of everything he said until I can take it no more and decide to check out the articles. The first one I stumble across has the headline: Rags to riches: Who is tech billionaire, Alexander Cullen’s new lover? The writer then goes on to describe me as a gold digger who tricked Alex into dating me for my personal gain.

“At least he had the decency not to mention my name.” I mutter as I scroll through several others. Another one catches my eye. A fairytale story: Who is this mystery girl? followed by a photo of Alex and a shadow figure with a huge question mark on it’s face to represent me presumably. To my greatest consternation, this reporter kept hinting that Alex was engaged and I came in to ruin his relationship.

“That’s absurd.” But more articles surface blatantly calling me a slut and homewrecker. Apparently, Alex was engaged to a certain Kris Leverkusen but broke off the engagement without any valid reason. I don’t want to believe it but there are picture evidences floating all around of them in couple outfits, looking intimate. I want to call Alex but I can’t bring myself to. Instead, I sit with my laptop and against my better judgement, start to look up Kris on social media. She is the perfect human being– flowing auburn hair, bright blue eyes, extremely sexy and obviously wealthy. Her bio reads: European American, 5’7” and 28y/o. I deserve all the good things in life. There are a few pictures of her and Alex on her i********: but they are from two years ago. Is it possible they dated for a while and broke up? I want to trust Alex, I know I should. But fear creeps in at the back of my mind and my faith in him keeps shaking.

Kris is perfect, too perfect for anyone to let go off. Many men would kill to have her and Alex dated a girl like that? I pick myself up from the floor and head to the refrigerator. I might need some booze to start the day instead. The next time Alex calls me, it’s 9pm and I’ve ruined two of my most promising paintings already. “I’m outside your house” he says simply. “What?” I’m sure he’s joking until I peep out the window and catch sight of his back Mercedes below. I nearly teleport down the stairs as I rush to meet him. “Come up. What if someone sees you?” “I was worried about you.” My heart softens a bit at his words, despite how terrible I’ve been feeling all day.

.“Let’s go in first.” Immediately we cross the threshold into my apartment and I’ve shut the door behind us, he pulls me into a hug. “Alex.” “Let’s just stay like this for a while.” He holds me tighter and strokes my hair and I forget all the resentment and jealousy of earlier in the day. All I know is that he is standing here with me right now and he doesn’t have to explain anything because I believe him already. “I’m sorry I’m late.” He whispers into my hair and my toes curl at the electricity that runs down my spine at his words. “I read the articles.” “s**t. They are all lies, Lily.” He pulls out of the embrace to look me in the eyes.

“I dated Kris a long time ago and we broke up without ever getting engaged. She started texting me recently asking for us to get back together and when I refused, she got angry. She must have put a tail on me. But don’t worry, I’ll deal with that. All I care about is that you believe me.” “I believe you.” Maybe it’s the desperate and sincere look in his green eyes that enthrall me but I want to trust this man. I know I can trust this man. “Thank you.” And before I know it, he’s grabbing my waist and pulling me in and then his lips are covering mine. Butterflies burst in my belly and it’s the best feeling I’ve ever felt in my entire life.