Between Perfect Strangers

Chapter 14 - I can't stop me - Cecilia

May 14 8:00 p.m.

It meant something more to me.

It was a sentence that stirred so much in me and I hated that he made me feel that way. In seconds, Ayden Carrington had admitted that our night had meant something more and it was more rewarding than the end result of every con I had ever done.

It was something genuine and sweet coming from him and as the tears poured bitterly from my cheeks while driving, I wanted to just disappear. If he knew who I really was, he’d run away from me. He could whisper sweet nothings and I’d do anything and I hated that. I didn’t have control over my heart and for once, I found myself… falling for him.

He was everything I had promised to destroy. Men weren’t loyal. But he was the exact opposite. He was loyal to his friends, to his family, and even to me. I knew I hadn’t suffered Vanessa’s wrath yet because he kept faking that he didn’t know me. But I was that sweet poison that kept bringing him back to me and it felt like a wave, pushing him towards and away from me. As I drove and dried my tears, a new round started.

I had never felt so bad in my entire life over a lie. He was falling for Lisette, not for Cecilia. I had lied to someone and the remorse filling me inside made me wish that I had just said my real name. 

But then he’d find out everything. He’d find out I was a con artist who conned men for a living. He’d find out that I was escaping from becoming the heiress to a mafia boss. He’d find out that I was running away from a father who had tried to hurt me in so many ways and he’d never want to be involved with the daughter of an Italian crime boss.

My phone rang and when I saw Viki’s caller ID, I ignored her and kept driving. Ever since I had caught her with Sierra, I had quit Walls’, telling Helen that I had to take care of my grandma and that I’d be stepping away for a while. More like forever. Since then, I had rented a hotel suite at Nobu and once I got there, I dried my tears and bumped into a girl with purple hair who smiled at me.

“Hi! You’re the new girl, right? The one who just came to the university?” I nodded and she peered at me, her eyes widening in recognition.

“Are you Lisette?” I nodded and she beamed up at me.

“Pleasure to meet you! I’m Kat Zhao, a friend of Ayden’s. He told me about you,” she said nicely and as she wrapped her arm around me, her friendliness was refreshing after everything I had been through. When was the last time I had met a girl my age that could be my friend?

“He did?” she nodded and as she launched into a long history of the hotel and her famous uncle, we walked up to my hotel suite and she smiled at me.

“If you ever need anything, let me know okay?”

“A-Actually, why don’t you come in?” she looked at me surprised and we entered the suite room as she beamed at the rooms and sat at one of the sofas.

“Have you rented an apartment yet? You could do campus housing instead of renting one of these. They’re nice, but it can get a bit expensive,” she explained thoughtfully and I shook my head.

“Money isn’t a problem. It just… gets lonely here sometimes and I thought it’d be nice to have some company for the evening.” she visibly brightened and she ordered room service as we enjoyed shrimp tempura by the balcony and she passed me a napkin.

“I’ve never actually been in any of these rooms before,” she admitted quietly.

“Why not? Your uncle is famous, right? You should get the royal treatment too,” I told her and the tears slipped from her cheeks.