Vicious Bet: Don't fall in love! (Sinners and Saints Book 1)

by Alice Ann Wonder

  I'm ready.

  B.

  I closed my eyes and sucked in a deep breath of air.

  I would actually do it. The meanest, most reprehensible, worst thing I'd ever been ready to do.

  The idea came from Benji, of course. But that couldn't hide the fact that he was a fellow inmate.

  Besides, I would be a significant part of Chloe Clarice Bell's destruction. I would push the all-important button and let the world know what kind of person she was.

  That would also make me one of the lesser good guys. I'd have to live with that.

  I sighed again and pulled my hair up.

  Edwards was not wearing a wedding ring.

  That was my good fortune.

  A thin layer of righteousness had settled over my conscience.

  as fragile as hand-blown crystal glass.

  Less than two minutes later, my display lit up.

  At last!

  Can't wait.

  Friday after graduation...

  here we go.

  Dress warmly,

  little B.

  Morning.

  Every time I thought about that literature seminar, I got sick.

  And warm. And hot.

  ***

  That night I dreamt for the first time of Logan Edwards.

  He was standing on a long white sandy beach a few meters away from me; behind him the sea was rushing steadily. His captivating gaze held mine captive and he reached out his hand to me.

  Even in the dream I was aware that the situation was not real and I had to wake up, but I couldn't, no, I didn't want to.

  My radio alarm clock showed four o'clock when I finally opened my eyes completely sweaty.

  It had been a long time since I had last had a dream of this kind.

  It used to happen almost every night. Until one day it got less.

  But one thing had always been the same: I saw my father disappearing on the horizon.

  I stayed behind, and as much as I tried to reach him, as much as I wanted to move towards him, it did not work. I was petrified, unable to move.

  I wiped the sweat from my neck and sat up.

  It took me a few minutes to calm down.

  Edwards had been the main actor in my dream and the situation had been completely different - but the feeling was the same. I could not explain why.

  On tiptoe I crept downstairs and got a glass of orange juice from the fridge. When I was satisfied with my dry throat, I went back up to my room. Once upstairs, I pulled out a box from under my bed that I hadn't touched in years.

  In the dim light of my bedside lamp I looked at the rusty lid, on which a blue wave could be seen. The paint was already peeling off in various places. No wonder, the box was older than me.

  Dad had given it to me for my fifth birthday. He said: "In here I kept my greatest treasures as a child. Now it's yours."

  Then he stroked the back of my head and put a kiss on my forehead.

  The latch made a squeaky sound when I pushed the lid up.

  I took the first letter I could get my hands on and slowly unfolded it.

  A dull feeling came over me when I saw the colorful writing of my ten-year-old self.

  Dear Dad,

  remember that story about the Little Mermaid that you used to read to me?

  I wish it had a different ending.

  Like one where the mermaid didn't have to trade her voice for one. Then she could have told the prince that she was the one who saved him. And then he would have fallen in love with her instead of marrying someone else and leaving her.

  They could have had a wedding and the mermaid would not have had to die and maybe she could have visited her sea family from time to time.

  Although I'm not sure she would have been able to breathe again underwater. Because she was human now.

  But I'm sure they could have met on the beach.

  I wish you were here and told me what you thought.

  I miss you terribly. And Lu, too.

  I hope you come back soon.

  I love you so much.

  Your Blaire

  PS.: I still wish I were a mermaid too.

  PPS.: But I trade that wish for you to come back.

  I swallowed and let the letter sink. As the first tear ran down my cheek, I closed the box again.

  Why had I even brought it out?

  I stood up, crumpled the remaining letter in my hand and threw it into the trash can.

  Silly little Blaire, I thought in silence.

  ***

  Professor Edwards ignored me for the rest of the week.

  I was annoyed about it and Benji's comments about me getting on with it didn't make things any better.

  I was usually confident when it came to the opposite sex.

  I was the one who ended relationships, broke hearts, set the tone.

  I couldn't let what happened with Liam be the reason I lost my mojo.

  I wouldn't let that happen!

  On Friday, after the doorbell rang, I gathered up all my courage and went to Edwards.

  He was just about to put our chores in his pocket.

  "Professor Edwards," I began, after clearing my throat twice.

  "Ms Spencer," he replied, locking the leather straps at the narrowest point.

  I tweaked the outer seam of my skinny jeans.

  "Could you spare five minutes?"

  Why did my voice sound so high?

  I cautiously looked around. Most of the students had already left the lecture hall.

  Rash had just passed me, and a mischievous grin came over my face, which emphasized his distinctive features all too well.

  The women were queuing up with him.

  Unlike Benji, however, they dared to show their advances openly with the tall, tanned Arab, who had the body of a stripper. And so it was a miracle that Rashid Noel Stone spent a night alone.

  I pretended not to notice, so Edward wouldn't think he knew.

  Because he didn't - at least as far as the oral exam was concerned.

  I hadn't told anybody about it. Not even Sky.

  You, Benji and Rash had believed my explanation that we had merely arrived at flirting.

  I didn't know myself why I hadn't at least talked to Sky about it.

  Was it the shame because for the first time in a romantic relationship I felt like I wasn't the one controlling it?

  Did I secretly assume that after the thing with Liam, things would always go like this or similar?

  Blaire Ella Spencer - victim of circumstance.

  No!

  "It's urgent," I added emphatically.

  Professor Edwards looked at me.

  His fascinating eyes widened and grew darker.

  "It is not convenient at the moment. I have work to do."

  His voice was cold and distant.

  I pressed my lips together and shouldered my satchel

  "I see," I replied without avoiding his gaze.

  Then I turned with a sweeping movement and left.

  My fingers nervously drummed on the loop of my bag as I walked alone down the hall.

  I lowered my eyes and took a deep breath.

  It is inconvenient at the moment, I imitated him in my thoughts.

  What was it about this man?

  Did he enjoy playing hot and cold with me?

  But I was supposed to be the one who held the reins!

  He was so incredibly attractive and arrogant. It was unbearable.

  "Look out!" I heard a deep, familiar male voice.

  I had bumped into someone again.

  I said, "I'm sorry," and looked into James' green eyes.

  "It's all right," he said, helping me pick up the book I'd dropped in the collision.

  He reached for it and I did the same.

  Our hands touched.

  "Sorry," I said quickly and pulled mine away again.

  Suddenly I felt my pulse all over my body.

  "Nothing happened', he returned smiling and handed me m
y book.

  Only now did I notice the Taylor Swift blonde standing behind him, obviously waiting for him.

  "Well, then," I began, after giving her a quick glance.

  She had grey eyes, which seemed quite large in contrast to the rest of her face, and a delicate physique.

  And her feet were stuck in rather flashy cowboy boots, as before.

  I had to get away from here as quickly as possible.

  "Have you met Mackenzie?" James asked as I was about to turn around and leave.

  My pair of eyes rushed to his company once more.

  Please don't! Don't tell me she's your new girlfriend, it flashed through my mind.

  "Hey", I said faintly.

  She reached out her hand and said a friendly "Hi!".

  Reluctantly, I took her slim fingers.

  "Nice to meet you," she said.

  I nodded.

  "Mackenzie just moved here. We have a few classes together," James explained.

  Relief spread through me.

  "Cool," I noticed and pressed the book to my chest. "Welcome to Vancouver."

  "Thank you!" she replied, beaming up at the top of her lungs.

  It was hard not to like her, as warm as she seemed.

  "Then ... I'm sure we'll see a lot of each other," I added and could not help but look at James one last time before I turned and left.

  ***

  For the rest of the afternoon Edwards rarely came to my mind.

  When the weekend was over, I would think about how I could make this game between us mine again.

  Because for now, I had to concentrate on something else.

  And that something was nothing less than the destruction of Chloe Clarice Bell.

  And as an added bonus, I would get the much coveted internship!

  I was ready to go into battle for what I wanted.

  For today's occasion, I had laid out a tight black dress that went right over my knees. It had a low back neckline, which had been described several times as irresistible.

  I could just as well have chosen something simpler, less conspicuous. After all, I was not the center of attention during today's action.

  Nevertheless, it did me good to dress up and feel desirable.

  After tying my hair together to a high bun, tucking my eyelashes and putting on bright pink lipstick, I was ready to go.

  I heard Benji's Jaguar driving up our driveway from my room.

  "Wow", Lu was amazed when she saw me scurrying across the hall. "You look hot, sis."

  She nodded approvingly.

  "Thanks", I replied with a smile. "Can I pick you up some jelly beans at the gas station later?"

  Lu tucked her horse-printed pajama top into her sweatpants.

  I smiled. My little sister was beautiful, but she didn't care much for going out, parties or making out with boys. Instead, she watched movies on the weekends, read or practiced songs on her guitar.

  She was a good girl through and through - and that's what I loved about her.

  "Mhm ... not a bad idea", she returned with a grin and twirled one of her brown curls around her finger.

  My heart made a sentence, because the image of Edwards stroking my face and twirling my hair suddenly pushed itself into my consciousness.

  "Are you all right?", Lu asked with a frown.

  "Yes, of course," I replied much too hastily and immediately scared away all thoughts of the professor.

  He had no business in my head at the moment!

  And even if he did, I shouldn't think of him that way.

  He was the subject of a bet. No more, no less.

  "I'll bring him to you," I said, winking at Lu.

  "Is he cute?", she wanted to know, when I had already half turned around and taken the first step down

  I waved.

  "It's just Benji. We're going for a drink."

  She crossed her arms in front of her chest and raised her brows.

  "What?" I asked indignantly.

  "He likes you, you know that, don't you?"

  She smiled slyly.

  I pulled a face.

  "Nonsense! What makes you think that?"

  I shook my head. "It'd be like having a relationship with my evil stepbrother."

  Lu made a face.

  "I'm just saying," she insisted.

  I sighed.

  "You don't know him," I said. "Benji has a heart of stone. He's not into anyone. Trust me."

  My sister wrinkled her nose. Then she leaned her head against the door frame and waved at me like the queen.

  "See you later," I said and ran downstairs.

  When I got to the last step, I could hear her mumbling extra loudly from above: "Except for diiiiiiiii me."

  I laughed.

  "You've seen too many crooner movies!" I shouted before I put on my shoes and left the house.

  ***

  "Well, little B. - Ready for an adventure?" Benji greeted me.

  He wore a tailor-made suit, as always, today dark blue, and looked like a real character.

  I dropped onto the black leather-covered seat of his car and fastened my seatbelt.

  "I'm not the one who has to tow someone away," I teased him.

  Benji looked at me and pursed his lips.

  Then he revved up the engine.

  "You may watch," he replied in a deep voice and an impertinent grin on his lips.

  I gave him a light slap on the back of the head as he was about to race at full speed towards our electric gate.

  "You should reconsider Rash's offer to box," he remarked. "I'd be much obliged if you'd refrain from doing so in the future."

  "Hold your tongue and we'll talk some more," I returned in a saucy mood, pushing the clutch lying in my lap closer to my upper body.

  That's the way it was between Benji and me. We were friends, but still there was a certain tension every now and then. Nothing sexual, I thought.

  He had trouble dealing with pretty much everyone decently because he couldn't stand anyone.

  Every now and then I just upset him - and he upset me.

  I had got used to his brusque, sometimes cheeky and arrogant manner.

  Benji, like Madox and Rash, had a lot of asshole qualities. He was by far the worst of the three. Nevertheless, I knew, just like the others, that under the granite hard shell he surrounded himself with, a good core was slumbering.

  All you needed was a sledgehammer to get at it.

  The Strokes was one of the finest bars in Vancouver. The interior was modern, chic and upscale. It was where the city's overpaid managers met after a busy week to pay for their work with outrageously expensive drinks and it-girls.

  Oh yes - and of course we, the P-Fiends.

  Since Benjamin King's father was the ruler of the city, we could come and go as we wanted, despite the age limit (entrance only from 25).

  The Vin Diesel guy at the entrance nodded at Benji as he saw him and me heading towards him and held the door open for us.

  Inside, everything was purple, white and black. The lighting was dimmed, the music soft and intoxicating.

  I was looking for Diane Kingsley. She was our ticket to Xantec.

  Since she used to have a thing with the executive floor - apparently everyone there fucked around as they pleased - she was obviously able to gain permanent access to the noble bar as well.

  So there hadn't been a Friday in the last year where one of us P-Fiends had been at Strokes and Diane hadn't.

  But today of all days I could not discover her red hair anywhere.

  "Do you see her?" I asked Benji quietly.

  "Always follow the laughter," he replied, pointing to the back right corner, which belonged to the VIP area.

  In fact, one woman's loud laughter drowned out the general noise level by at least a decibel.

  "Break a leg," I whispered, looking conspiratorially at Benji.

  He unbuttoned his jacket a little and replied with a devilish grin, "One hour."

  That was the time Be
njamin King planned to spend with the secretary to the head of the environmental department at Xantec.

  Why he helped me?

  One, the Privileged Fiends stuck together.

  Two, she was hot.

  Her breasts were the size of honeydew melons; she had wide hips, a narrow waist, and just enough Botox in her lips to be acceptable to other women and to men like the perfect blowjob machines.

  As always at this time the bar was well filled.

  But not so crowded that you had to push each other to get a drink.

  I sat down on one of the few free stools and raised my hand.

  Only a few seconds later a young man, with flaxen blond hair and snow white teeth, smiled at me.

  "What'll it be, Ms Spencer?"

  I ordered champagne.

  I discreetly turned my head to one side and brushed my hair back.

  It had taken Benji less than two minutes to isolate Diane Kingsley from her previous conversation partners and engage her in a lively conversation.

  His attitude was that of a winner; if he wanted, he could make women succumb mercilessly to his charm.

  Unless, of course, one could see through him and his tactics.

  But that was hard for someone who knew him less well than Sky or me.

  And that was true of pretty much the entire female population of Vancouver and the surrounding area.

  This was his hunting ground.

  Mothers hide your daughters!

  "Enjoy your meal," the blond bartender recommended with a wink and handed me the glass.

  I thanked him and pretended for a short moment to respond to his flirtation.

  Suddenly I felt a warm hand on my lower back.

  "That's a bold outfit, Ms Spencer."

  I turned around and looked straight into Professor Edward's bright blue eyes.

  "What are you doing here?" I pointed out.

  He was wearing a plain white shirt that clung to his well-trained body like a second skin.

  In all probability he was a rower himself, instead of just the coach of our team.

  The dark stubble on his chin provided a delightful contrast to his light eyes and gave him a daring look.