Entangled (Vice Games)

by Cooper, Alice

  Tristan left the room and I was allowed to be alone for the first time since my arrival at his house. I collapsed on the floor and stared at the closed door.

  ‘What the hell just happened?’

  Chapter 13 – Secrets and Truths

  I found it impossible to sleep that night. As I lay in the bed alone, I found myself staring at the blank dark ceiling while my mind struggled with what Tristan had revealed to me. His relationship with Lauren was not genuine but the bedroom scene he had with her, the images were still fresh and disturbing. I could not decide how I felt towards him or his plan. Although he said that it would only be two years, I doubted that it would be that simple. Karen and his father are after Tristan and Anna’s money. They would not let it go once Anna turns eighteen and it appears that they have power over Tristan through her. I was his solution and I felt as if I had unwittingly become entangled in something I did not suspect. Everything seemed unnecessary complicated and I just wanted to run away. But I couldn’t. Anna still needed me, or that is what I willed myself to believe. What exactly am I doing here? I know that my job is to take care of Anna, but to what extent? How far do I involve myself?

  I was allowed to sleep in and when I did wake, it was almost eight. I found Anna on her laptop happily flicking through wedding dresses when I came down. She beamed at me as she sat me down at the table.

  ‘Anna,’ I started. She needed to know the truth. I didn’t want to lie to her and it is one of the reasons she trusts me. I’ve always been honest with her. Tristan walked in with a cup of coffee in his left hand as he leaned against the frame of the door. I felt like swearing at him. His presence made me nervous and it felt as if he was watching me. In fact, he was watching me. I felt conscious of my appearance. I was in jeans and a t-shirt while he’s always in some sort of pristine crisp shirt and pressed iron pants. Tristan was always well dressed, no matter what the situation.

  ‘Let’s go to that shop next to Regio’s,’ Anna started, ‘we always walk past them but never go in because it’s a wedding dress store.’

  ‘Anna,’ I stopped her. I took up her hands and looked her straight in the eye. She frowned and noticed that something was wrong. ‘I’m not pregnant and I’m not getting married to your brother.’

  Her smile faded away. ‘What?’

  ‘It’s a lie, a ruse like how you pretend to take your pills.’

  Anna blinked for a few seconds. Tristan and I watched her reaction carefully. Anna’s eyes swirled with a disheartening sadness at the realization. She knew about her situation well enough to understand. Anna turned to confirm my announcement with her brother. Tristan gave a short small nod.

  ‘Oh,’ she said. ‘So what’s going to happen?’

  ‘We’re still getting married,’ said Tristan.

  ‘What? No,’ I said instantly.

  Tristan placed his lips on the rim of the mug and drank the coffee. Anna turned to me.

  ‘You have to marry him,’ she said. I blinked, unsure how to react to this.

  ‘Anna, you’re asking me do something I can’t.’

  ‘If you don’t marry him, Tristan can’t have custody over me and I’ll be forced to go back to the Main House,’ said Anna. ‘And you know what happens to me if I go back there. Please, you have to do this, for me.’

  I took a deep breath and stood up. I knew Anna’s fondness of me but she did not understand what act of getting married entailed, even if it’s just for show. My heart moved against the idea. I did not love Tristan and he’s only doing this for her. Or did I? What is love?

  I left the house without a word and decided to go for a walk. Anna started after me but Tristan stopped her with a glance.

  I walked down the street alone and without a mobile phone or any money in my pockets. My head was in a gobbled mess and I did not expect Anna to take her brother’s side so easily. In fact, I didn’t know how Anna would react at all. Why is it always about Anna? Well, I am here because of her. But what about me? How did I truly feel about all of this?

  I felt someone following and I turned my head over my shoulders to see Tristan. He still had his mug in his hand and walked casually after me. He raised his eyebrows and grinned at me. Since his breakup with Lauren and the false engagement announcement, Tristan had changed into a completely different person. He seemed warmer towards me and I wondered if it was all an act. I began to speculate how he truly felt about me. Perhaps I’m simply his pawn and it suited him that he is nicer to me, to strip away that icy demeanor he always held while in my presence. Yes, that must be it.

  Half way down the street, I stopped to turn and face him directly. He walked up to me and stood half a foot away. Tristan peered down in my eyes and it felt like he was trying to read me.

  ‘I will not marry someone I don’t love,’ I told him.

  ‘Then pretend to love me,’ he said. His face was so perfect and as his eyes stared into mine, I wondered if that was possible. Attraction and love are two very different things.

  ‘Do not lie,’ I started, ‘how do you really feel about me?’

  Tristan’s lips parted momentarily and I saw that he was choosing his next words carefully.

  ‘I feel that I can trust you,’ he said finally.

  ‘Is that it?’

  ‘Yes.’

  I took a deep breath in and held the air in my lungs. His scent mixed with the bitter smell of coffee beans. He leaned forward and our lips nearly touch once again but he moved his face to the side to whisper in my ear.

  ‘Come back,’ he said, his hot breath raising the hair on the back of neck. Tristan knew what he was doing and I was certain that he could hear my heart beating. ‘We’ve got invitations to make.’

  ‘You’re asking me to make the biggest lie in my life,’ I said.

  ‘I promise you that it’ll be worth it.’

  ‘This isn’t about money,’ I said to him. I wanted to take a step away from him but he had me mesmerized and I struggled against my feelings towards him. He turned his head slightly to the side and allowed his lips to slightly touch my cheek. ‘Don’t do this to me,’ I warned, ‘don’t mess with my head like this.’

  In one swift courageous move, I took a step back and straighten myself up. Tristan stood there in front of me like a young god. No. I don’t love him. Attraction is not love. I repeated this thought over and over in my head. It felt like a trap. It was then that I saw that he knew. My mouth dropped a little at the realization. Tristan knew! He knew that I was attracted to him and used this to his advantage. It was a selfish act to keep his sister safe. I felt used but he had his reasons. There was that face again.

  ‘Stop it,’ I told him. He smirked.

  ‘Stop what?’

  ‘That face, stop it.’

  Tristan laughed. ‘I can’t change the way I look. This is me and you know it.’

  ‘Using other people to your advantage? You’re as bad as them. I’m just a mere pawn in your messed up family game.’

  ‘Not a mere pawn, Phoebe,’ he said and stepped forward. I hated it when he is too close to me. His close proximity always made me weak. ‘I’m going to make you my queen.’

  I wanted to run away but I couldn’t. Tristan took hold of my hand and held it up against his chest. ‘Believe me,’ he said, his lips slightly parted as he paused.

  ‘Now you’re just being cruel,’ I replied.

  Somehow, in between all of this, I allowed myself to be led back to the house where Anna, Lorraine and Jace waited for instructions from Tristan. They understood the situation without the need for explaining. The housekeeper and the gardener glanced questioningly towards me and saw that I had relented to Tristan’s proposal. Although I have not officially agreed to it, I no longer protested against the arrangement.

  ‘And the child?’ asked Jace.

  ‘That is something to be dealt with in a few months’ time,’ answered Tristan. ‘First we need to get this wedding sorted.’

  ‘Let’s have a massive one,’ said Ann
a.

  ‘No,’ I said instantly. Anna frowned.

  ‘Why not?’ she asked. ‘It’s not like you’re going to marry Tristan more than once. You might as well make it a good one.’

  ‘Anna, you’re alright with all of this? I mean, my marriage to your brother is going to be as truthful as him marrying Lauren.’

  She shook her head. ‘No,’ she said. ‘When you’re married to Tristan, it means that he’ll be free from Karen’s manipulation and has more bargaining power when it comes to me. They won’t have a case against my sanity if you’re around.’

  ‘You know about their conservatorship plans?’ I found myself asking. It hadn’t occurred to me to realize that Anna had a better understanding about her situation that I thought.

  ‘Of course I do,’ she answered. ‘So does Lorraine and Jace. Why do you think I hated that bitch?’ Anna came forward and took my hand. She knew why her brother was willing to have a relationship with Lauren. I then realized that the panic attacks were caused by the fear of losing Tristan over to Karen’s bidding. Anna guided me upstairs and towards my room. ‘Come on, lets’ grab your things and plan this wedding. I’m almost free now.’

  A thought occurred in my head. She’s using me. She’s always been using me.

  ‘It’s always about you, isn’t it?’ I found myself saying without restraint. Anna stopped and turned to face me, a frown furrowed on her brow. Over the past few months, she’s grown to be like my sister.

  ‘That’s why you’re here, isn’t it?’ she asked.

  I opened my mouth to speak but could not bring myself to answer her truthfully. Her lips curled into a smile. She did not relay her thoughts to me but I could see that she saw right through into my heart. No, I told myself again and stopped my thoughts. It’s just attraction.

  Chapter 14 – A reluctant bride

  It had been a strange day for me. The only time I ever see Tristan Vice was in the morning before he left for work and at night when he returns home for dinner. Anna was bouncing throughout the day, despite the knowledge that none of what was occurring is real. But she convinced herself otherwise and allowed her mind to believe that I was truly going to marry her brother.

  Tristan dropped us off at a wedding studio and disappeared for nearly an hour while Anna forced me to try on different dresses. The shop assistant was bemused by my reluctance and could not understand why I seemed hesitant when the different white dresses were presented to me. Anna told her that it was just jitters and things like that but we both knew better. That, however, did not hamper her enthusiasm.

  ‘When’s the wedding?’ the shop assistant asked.

  I couldn’t give her an exact date simply because I didn’t know. Although I eventually relented to trying on a few dresses, I refused to buy any of them. I wasn’t mentally prepared for it yet. Anna took pictures of me in the white dresses so that she may consult with Lorraine about the decision since I refused to offer my opinion.

  Tristan took us out for lunch and I noticed how he managed, without even trying, to catch curious glimpses from women who clearly found him attractive. Some took double takes while others tried whispered to their friends. Tristan, however, kept his attention on me and Anna. We went around to the florist, the caterers, the cake shop and the printers. By the end of the day, Tristan and Anna had sorted out most of the necessities needed for a wedding. On the way home, Anna began to draw up an invitation list and when she showed it to me, I did not recognize any of the names.

  ‘Who are these people?’ I asked. Tristan took the list from me and glanced at it.

  ‘Necessary guests,’ he said. ‘I suggest that you add to the list as well, to make it more convincing.’

  After dinner, I excused myself to my room to gather my thoughts. I needed to be away from Anna. The wedding was all she could think and talk about. A knock came at my door and Tristan entered before I could protest. I sat up on the bed and swung my legs over the sides to face him. His mother’s ring sat in its box on the dresser. He walked to it and picked the heirloom up.

  ‘Why aren’t you wearing your ring?’ he asked.

  ‘I can’t,’ I told him. ‘It makes me feel like an imposter.’

  ‘But you’re my fiancée now.’

  ‘Only because I have no other choice,’ I told him. ‘Anna better not have any sort of mental breakdown once this is over.’

  Tristan smirked. I hated it when he did that. It was as if he was saying – who says anything about it being over?

  It made my heart quiver and melt like chocolate when exposed to heat. Tristan came over and sat down next to me. He reached out for my hand and held it in his. He then turned and faced me directly. My eyes felt drawn towards his lips.

  ‘You’re not an imposter.’

  Tristan took the ring out of the box and as he was about to slip it on my finger again, I pulled my hand out of his.

  ‘Don’t give me your mother’s ring,’ I said to him.

  ‘I’m trusting you to keep it safe,’ he said.

  I pushed his hand away from mine. ‘Please don’t do this,’ I begged. ‘It’s already bad enough that I’m lying about us.’

  Tristan held the ring and looked into my eyes. ‘Why?’ he asked.

  As I returned his gaze and remain locked in his stare, I found that he could not understand my constant rejection. He knew how I felt towards him and the way he had control over the electrifying sensations he caused. It was also clear that any other women would have accepted the shiny rock without hesitation. In his experiences with Lauren, she would have reveled with delight at being given a gem this size. But I could not bring myself to accept it or be like the women he knew. My thoughts must have played out upon my face and he read it without surprise. I was what he had anticipated – different from everyone else that he’s ever known. Every women that’s ever taken interest in him wanted him only for his money. I was different. I agreed to come along not for the money but for genuine care for his sister. Although it annoyed me to know that I was being used, there was something that kept me from going away and it didn’t have to do with money. He had given me his card and not a dime had been spent.

  Tristan leaned in and I felt his hot breath gently caress my skin. His lips were less than an inch from mine, slightly parted and edging closer towards mine. My brain ceased to work and time seemed frozen. He closed his eyes and I closed mine. I could almost feel his lips.

  The door burst open and my eyelids immediately flicked up. My face turned to find Anna at the door. She stood there for a split second before realizing that she had just caused an interruption. I pulled myself away from Tristan and my face turned red with embarrassment. Anna immediately closed the door.

  ‘Sorry!’ she said through the wall and the sound of her footsteps could be heard as she escaped downstairs.

  I crawled across the bed and rolled off to stand on the other side.

  ‘You should leave,’ I said to Tristan. The spell was broken and I became aware how just a moment ago, he was so close towards stealing a kiss from me. Tristan remained unmoved from his spot and followed me with his eyes. There was a frown on his brow and he observed me for a moment before standing up. Tristan did not say a word as he left, closing the door with a click behind him. I listened as he went into his room.

  Anna did not come near my room that night and did not even return to grab her things. She made do with what she had in her room and the house fell silent as Lorraine finished with the washing up. As the clock ticked its way to midnight, I found it impossible to sleep as the lingering feeling of Tristan’s lips so close to mine remained. There mere thought of it was driving me crazy.

  At just a little past one, unable to stand it anymore, I decided to leave my room and went down stairs. It was completely dark and I had to rely on memory to find my way around. I soon found myself fumbling around in the kitchen. A hand reached out and turned the tap for me and I jumped with fright.

  ‘Oh for goodness sake,’ I scolded, ‘don’t do that
.’

  My hands were clutching my heart as I realized that it was Tristan. He turned off the tap and handed me the glass. I took it from him and our fingers touched momentarily. It sent a strange shiver through my skin and quickly drank the water in one gulp. His presence was driving me mad and I wanted to get away from him as quickly as possible.

  Tristan did not say a word and the silence made my heart race. The moonlight sketched his dark silhouette and I could just see the outline of his face. His eyes seemed to glow in the dark as he moved closer towards me. I felt his body, his flat solid abs, pressed against mine and the kitchen counter against my back. He lifted one of his hands and pushed a strand of hair from my face.

  His hand softly cupped one side of my face and he tilted it up towards his. I was stuck, frozen by the spell of the night. I shouldn’t have left my room. I could hear my heart in my ears as my pulse raced through my body. The contact of his skin sent a jolt of electricity through my soul. Everything about him was perfect – his ivory smooth skin, his defined jawline, his high cheekbones and his deep blue eyes – shit. Was this another dream?

  Tristan lowered his face close to mine. He had been so close towards success before the interruption. I felt his lips close to mine. I closed my eyes. He lingered to tease my sanity. Tristan had me under his command. It wasn’t fair.

  ‘Don’t do this,’ I found myself whispering to him. He paused.

  ‘Why not?’ he uttered, his low soft voice was silky like velvet.

  ‘Don’t make me lie to myself, don’t make me believe that you truly care about me in that way.’

  ‘Who said I didn’t care?’ His lips passed over my left cheek and I felt a jolt of electricity down the side of my face. A panic rose from the depth of my stomach. This must be a dream. Tristan would never say anything like that in real life.

  I pushed him away. Tristan staggered backwards and the space created allowed me to escape. As I ran out of the kitchen, I kicked of the chairs and a sharp pain ran through my pinky toe. There was a loud clang and scraping of metal against wood as my ankle twisted and I quickly found myself on the ground. Why wasn’t I awake yet? Unless this isn’t a dream. No. This must be a dream.