FALLING FOR MY ENEMY

Julien

Having your blind date canceled at the last minute to your best friend's wedding was a curse from hell. Now, Wei wouldn't stop hovering around me and asking for his $5 million dollars. Apparently, we'd made a bet. He's forced me to get a date and told me if my blind date showed up, he'd give me $5 million. But if she doesn't, I'll be the one to pay.

Guess what? He was right. She didn't show up. She canceled at the last minute. Said she had a party to attend.

Wei got the money and I got the laughs. I wasn't surprised. After all, what woman on earth would want to be with a scarred monster who can't speak?

“Yo, check out that chick,” Wei nudged my shoulder. “Damn. What a woman.”

I turned in the direction he was looking at and my eyes narrowed.

Sydney Summers.

The woman was chaos bottled in perfume and designer silk. With wild ginger hair and those green eyes that looked too alive for a world this rotten. She smiled too easily, laughed too loud, like she didn’t know what kind of place she was in. Or maybe she did, and just didn’t care. Her freckles... she tried to hide them beneath layers of makeup, like they made her too soft, too real. But I’d seen them once, up close when I dropped off Megan at school a few years ago. They were spilled across her cheeks like constellations. I still think about them more than I should.

Sydney had the kind of beauty that made men forget themselves. Even I did, for a second but I don’t get to want people like Sydney. Not when I didn't have a soul. She’s sunlight and I’ve spent too long in the dark to believe I don't deserve it.

“That woman makes me question my sexuality.” Wei smiled.

“But you're Bi.” I said.

“Exactly.” he smirked.

“What are you boys doing here? Mom said we should mingle. This isn't mingling.” Megan came up in front of us, wearing a red silk gown that clung to her body with a Steinem 10 carat diamond necklace and ring to match. Despite not wearing makeup, she looked presentable. Courtesy of her mother's good genes.

Wei rolled his eyes. “Dude, we are mingling. Don't you see me mingling with Julien?”

She kicked at his foot. “I meant other people, not your brother.”

“No can do. I've exhausted my social battery. I need a break. Maybe a f**k later would be nice.” He smiled.

Megan wrinkled her nose. “Eww. Don't you have any filter?”

“Nope. I'm raw. The real thing.” He sipped his wine again. This time trailing forward. He was still looking at Sydney.

I put my hand in front of his eyes.

“Dude, don't block the view.” He hissed, pushing my hand away.

I shot him a glare and he pouted.

“What's he looking at?” Megan asked.

“He's eye-f*****g your friend from across the room.” I signed.

Megan looked and spotted the woman I was referring to. “Omg. Sydney. She's here and she didn't tell me?”

“Hey!” Wei called after her when she started running towards her friend.

He groaned loudly and rose to his feet.“Tin a, nī go néui jái wúih hoi séi ngóh.” God, this girl is going to be the death of me.

I followed Wei so I'd make sure he wouldn't get himself in trouble. Being the eldest child came with jobs you didn't want including people-watching (my siblings) and acting like the perfect role model. I was going to retire from this role soon.

We navigated our way to the lounge where Sydney was having a conversation with Greg and Sylvia. She didn't even notice us until our eyes finally locked.

Curly ginger hair, promising green eyes and full pink lips. I wondered how they'd taste if I had my mouth on them.

I immediately blinked away the thought and stared at her. She stared back this time with so much intensity as though she was trying to look into my soul. I was forced to raise an eyebrow and she looked away.

As if God wanted to break everyone apart Himself, her phone rang and she excused herself.

“God, I love that girl.” Dimitri said with a grin.

Wei clinked his glass with his. “You can say that again.”

“You love every woman.” I signed.

Wei winked. “And men. Don't forget to include the men.”

Megan heaved a sigh. “I wish she could stay a bit longer, you know. We rarely see eye to eye.”

She was talking about Sydney.

“Why don't you visit sometime?” I asked.

“She's rarely at home, you know. With all those ad shoots and movie stuff.” Megan pouted. Sydney's the only friend she's gotten in years.

“Why not kidnap her and make her live with us?” Wei chirped. “It'll be fun.”

Dimitri scoffed. “Kidnapping is a serious crime.”

“Says the dude who beat two bodyguards with a baseball bat.” Wei rolled his eyes.

“They were staring inappropriately at my mother!” Dimitri hissed.

“And how'd you know that?” Wei scoffed

“You could see the look in their eyes. It was basically rated 14.” Dimitri said.

“Okay. All this talk about step-moms is hitting the fan. I wanna bounce. I'm bored.” Megan said.

“It'd be rude to leave Irina's birthday early. Let's wait here a few hours then we'll leave. Understand?”

“Sāu dóu, sīn sāang.”

“Слушаюсь, капитан”

“Sure.”

I nodded quietly and turned to the direction Sydney walked into. It'd been 20 minutes and she still wasn't out. If she doesn't come out in ten more minutes, I'm going in.

Ten minutes later, she didn't come out, so I took it as my cue to go look for her.

“El Capitan, where are you going?” Wei asked.

“Upstairs,” I lied. “I'll be back soon. Behave. All of you. Megan, you're in charge.”

“Why her? She's not even responsible!” Dimitri rolled his eyes.

“That's because she's the oldest after me.” I replied.

“Yeah. By two months. You all realize she and I were born in the same year, right?” Wei said, staring.

“By two different women from two different countries. Phew! Dad's a legend.” Megan whooped.

“People are watching so try not to make a scene. Button up that shirt, Wei, if you don't want to incur my wrath. Get rid of that liquor bottle in your purse, Meg and don't even think about it, Dimitri. I mean it.”

“Fine.” The three of them chorused. Leaving them on their own was a disaster but I had other priorities first.

I exchanged nods, and brief waves with most of the guests. Most of whom gave me silent glares, whispered insults and threw their daughters at me. Apparently, Fortune 500 named me THE BACHELOR in their latest issue. Tough break.

After excusing myself for the umpteenth time that night, I made my way to the bathroom, hoping to God that she'd still be in there. I was about to make a move when strawberry perfume and bright blue eyes flooded my vision.

“Honey!”

Ugh! That voice!

“Te voilà, chéri. On t’a cherché partout.” There you are, darling. We've been looking all over for you.

I turned around only to meet the Feather’s, one of New York's affluent families and one of the people on my shitlist.

They swept into the room like peacocks on parade — loud, over-feathered, and painfully self-assured.

Mrs. Feather, as the name so obnoxiously fits, looked like a raven dressed for a funeral no one invited her to leave. Black lace, dripping jewels, and enough perfume to suffocate a small animal. She didn’t walk. She hovered, like her feet were too good for the ground the rest of us walked on. High society trash pretending to be royalty.

And then there was the daughter. Wings. In pink. So much pink I thought my eyes might bleed. Ruffles, bows, pearls. The works. She looked like a birthday cake come to life, and probably had the personality to match.

Mrs. Feather batted her lashes at me like I was too stupid to see the play—marry her daughter, join forces with their precious casino empire, and parade around like a happy little puppet groom.

I tightened my smile, not bothering to hide the distaste. If I wanted to gamble with my life, I’d rather face loaded dice than their desperation wrapped in silk.

“To what do I owe this relentless assault on my evening.” I signed.

Wings fluttered to my side, linking her arm with mine. "Allez, ne sois pas comme ça, chéri.”

I gently pushed her arm away. “Speak English.”

She chuckled. “You're being mean, love.”

“Yes,” Feather cut in with a wink. “Loosen up a bit. Your father's watching.”

That was it. The trump card they had over me.

I tilted my head and noticed father from the corner of my eyes. Indeed, he was watching.

Fuck them!

“I'm really busy at the moment. Make it quick.”

Mrs. Feather gave her daughter a gentle nudge and winked at me. “I'm afraid I'll leave you to be.”

I watched her walk away and turned to Wings. “Yes?”

She curled her dyed pink hair behind her ear and smiled. “I was thinking if we could have dinner tomorrow night at Armani Brothers. 9PM?”

I narrowed my eyes. “Why would I miss Josie's home cooked meals for a restaurant?”

Josie was my chef. She might be 65 years old but the woman makes one mean steak.

Wings took a step forward and stood on her toes. Apparently, I'm 6’3. She placed her hand on my shoulder and smirked. “What would you tell daddy dearest if you didn't attend the dinner he and mother planned for us? You wouldn't want to disappoint him, would you?”

Flashes of white and blood fill my vision and a loud screech echoed in my ears. I tightened my fists and controlled my breathing.

In.

Out.

You've got this, J.

I placed my hand on her waist and tightened my grip. She released a low wince when she tried to pull away. I didn't let her.

“Julien…” she hissed.

I let go of her and signed with a sly grin. “See you at dinner tomorrow, honey. Fix your face now. You wouldn't want people to think anything terrible happened here, would you?”

I didn't wait for a reply. I walked to the direction of the bathroom.

I had barely reached for the door when the door swung open and Sydney walked out with tears in eyes. What happened to her there?

As soon as she left the church hall, I whipped out my phone, my fingers exploding over the screen in a text I sent to my security.

“Check the security footage in the bathroom from 30 minutes ago. Sydney Summer went in and when she came out she was crying. Find out who is responsible.”