CHAPTER NINE
1143 Words
Something felt off the moment I walked in.
Too quiet.
Too...deliberate.
I paused just inside the entrance, my eyes scanning the room.
Same kind of event.
Same kind of people.
But this time,
something was different.
“Lena.”
His voice.
I turned.
And for a second,
I forgot how to breathe.
Adrian stood across the room.
Perfect as always.
Untouchable.
And next to him,
Victoria.
Not across the table.
Not at a distance.
Close.
Too close.
Her hand rested lightly on his arm.
Like it belonged there.
Like it always had.
My stomach dropped.
No.
No, he didn’t,
This wasn’t part of the arrangement.
Right?
“Stay calm.”
My own voice echoed in my head.
Don’t react.
Don’t show it.
Don’t give them that.
So I moved.
Step by step.
Until I reached them.
“Lena,” Adrian said.
Polite.
Neutral.
Like nothing was wrong.
Like everything was normal.
“Adrian,” I replied.
Same tone.
Same distance.
Then I looked at her.
Victoria smiled.
Sweet.
Satisfied.
“I was hoping you’d come,” she said.
Of course she was.
“Wouldn’t miss it,” I replied.
Lie.
“This is a business arrangement,” Adrian said suddenly.
My eyes snapped to him.
“I’m aware,” I said slowly.
But something in his tone,
it wasn’t for me.
It was for her.
Clarifying.
Explaining.
Positioning.
And that, hurt more than it should have.
Victoria’s fingers tightened slightly around his arm.
Subtle.
But intentional.
“I’m helping Adrian with a few things,” she said lightly. “It just made sense for us to appear together.”
Of course it did.
“Of course,” I echoed.
My voice steady.
Even though everything inside me wasn’t.
“Lena.”
Another voice.
Daniel.
Perfect timing.
Or terrible.
I didn’t know anymore.
He stepped beside me, his presence easy, relaxed.
Completely opposite of the tension in front of me.
"Good to see you again,” he said, his gaze lingering just long enough.
“Daniel,” I replied.
And then,
I felt it.
Adrian’s attention shift instantly.
Sharp.
Focused.
Dangerous.
“You didn’t tell me you’d be here,” Daniel added casually.
“I didn’t know I had to,” I said.
He smiled.
“I like that answer.”
Victoria watched everything.
Carefully.
Calculating.
And then,
“Oh,” she said softly, glancing between us, “this is interesting.”
No.
No, it wasn’t.
It was a disaster.
“Shall we?” Daniel asked, extending his hand slightly.
An invitation.
Clear.
Obvious.
Dangerous.
I hesitated.
Just for a second.
Because I could feel it,
Adrian’s gaze.
Waiting.
Watching.
But nothing.
No reaction.
No objection.
No “don’t.”
Just silence.
Cold, empty silence.
And that,
that was the real answer.
So I took Daniel’s hand.
“Sure.”
I didn’t care.
Not anymore.
The music started again.
Slow.
Close.
Daniel’s hand settled at my waist.
Gentle.
Respectful.
Nothing like,
No.
Stop.
Don’t compare.
“You okay?” he asked quietly.
“Perfect,” I replied.
Another lie.
“Interesting move,” he added.
“What?”
He nodded subtly behind me.
I didn’t need to look.
I knew.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said.
“Yeah,” he murmured. “You do.”
“He’s watching.”
My breath caught.
I shouldn’t.
But I did.
I looked.
Adrian stood exactly where I left him.
But now,
his expression was different.
Not cold.
Not controlled.
Not distant.
Worse.
Much worse.
His jaw was tight.
His gaze locked on me,
on us,
like he was holding himself back.
Like something was about to snap.
“Wow,” Daniel whispered. “Yeah...that’s definitely not fake.”
“Stop,” I said under my breath.
But my heart,
my stupid heart,
reacted anyway.
Faster.
Louder.
The song ended.
Too soon.
Or not soon enough.
I pulled back.
Quickly.
“Thank you,” I said.
Daniel nodded, studying me.
“Careful,” he said quietly. “You’re playing with fire.”
So was he.
So was everyone.
I turned.
And walked straight back to Adrian.
Not thinking.
Not stopping.
Just,
reacting.
“Enjoying yourself?” he asked.
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
“Yes.”
Lie.
“Good.”
One word.
Flat.
Cold.
I stared at him.
Waiting.
For something.
Anything.
But nothing came.
And that,
that hurt more than anger ever could.
“Excuse me,” I said quietly.
And walked away.
Outside.
Cold air.
Sharp.
Real.
Finally.
I took a deep breath.
Then another.
Trying to steady myself.
Trying to understand what just happened.
But before I could,
the door opened behind me.
“Running away?”
His voice.
Again.
Of course.
I didn’t turn.
“I needed air.”
Footsteps.
Closer.
“You seemed fine inside.”
I let out a short laugh.
“Yeah? You should’ve told my face that.”
Silence.
“You made your point.”
I turned sharply.
“My point?”
“Yes.”
His gaze locked onto mine.
“You don’t like being replaced.”
The words hit like a slap.
“Replaced?” I repeated.
“You chose to dance with him,” he said. “Right in front of me.”
“And you brought her,” I shot back. “Right next to you.”
Silence.
Explosive.
“That was business,” he said.
"So was mine.”
Lie.
We both knew it.
“You don’t understand,” he added.
“Then explain it!”
My voice broke slightly.
Damn it.
I stepped closer.
“Explain why she’s suddenly back. Explain why you let her stand there like she still belongs to you.”
His expression hardened.
“She doesn’t.”
“Really?” I laughed bitterly. “Because it didn’t look like that.”
“She knows how to play the role.”
The words were quiet.
But brutal.
My chest tightened painfully.
“And I don’t?”
His gaze didn’t soften.
“You’re forgetting what this is.”
That did it.
Something inside me snapped.
“No,” I said quietly. “You are.”
“I’m not the one pretending this doesn’t mean anything.”
His eyes darkened.
“Because it doesn’t.”
Lie.
Again.
I held his gaze.
“Then say it like you believe it.”
Silence.
He couldn’t.
And we both knew why.
“Go back inside, Adrian,” I said finally.
My voice calm again.
Too calm.
“We both know you’re better at pretending than I am.”
I turned.
Started walking away.
“Lena.”
I stopped.
Didn’t turn.
“This ends if you keep pushing.”
There it was.
The threat.
The line.
The final warning.
I closed my eyes for a second.
Then opened them.
And kept walking.
Because this time,
I wasn’t the one afraid of losing.
- Writer
