Temporary Fix | 18+

8

I was a pussy. It was a shame, but I was fine with it. I'd come to the conclusion after realizing that it was appearing to be the hardest thing in the world to tell Antony my plans.

Maybe everything was happening too fast. My brain didn't have enough time to process everything taking place and so I had no time to recite my lies.

Initially, I was planning to tell him over the phone but I decided I had enough respect for him to tell him in person. Not only that but I never got the chance to confront him about our night out. After getting caught up with my parents and the Chekovs' endless partners, the anger I was holding dissipated easily.

"You were saying, krasivaya?" He wiped his mouth before giving me his full attention. [Beautiful]

Looking at him, all relaxed and unbothered, brought back the anger I'd put on hold.

"You remember me talking about a photographer, Cathy?" He nodded his head as he brought his drink to his lips waiting for me to continue.

It was much harder than I expected; lying to him even if he was lying to me. But to pass up an opportunity to meet Cathy Sullivan? I would be a fool and if he could keep secrets, so could I.

Was I being irrational though? Taking up an offer from a man I barely knew to travel to another country just because he'd sugarcoated an offer. That wasn't me.

It is now.

"Well, she's hosting a photography workshop and I'm one of the lucky few who get to attend." My glass met my lips again to calm my nerves, "so I'll be accepting the offer and be gone for a few days."

His face lit up at my news before he was full on grinning, "well, shit. That's amazing Quinn! We'll have to celebrate. I'm sure everyone will be happy to hear the news." He didn't know that was my problem.

It wasn't that I didn't want to seem excited, because without all the context, I really was meeting one of my idols and I was brimming with excitement. My only issue was if everyone found out - if Valentin found out - he'd go to extreme measures to protect 'his bride'.

"That's the thing, Antony. I'm asking you not to tell anyone until I'm gone." His confused expression urged me to continue, "I don't need security detail hovering over my shoulder. There'll be enough protection with such an influential person there." That was good, Quinn.

"Quinn..." I knew what his tone of voice meant but I was having none of it. Antony could act like he was the meanest man alive but when he was out in front of Valentin, everything changed.

"Seriously, Ant?" I couldn't hide my incredulous tone. I'd kept secret after secret for him, being his best-friend of course - so the fact that it was hard for him to reciprocate was easily pissing me off. "You're keeping secrets from me so I don't see why it's so hard to add another to your pile."

He heaved a sigh, already knowing where I was leading the conversation - as I'd done countless times before. Because I was right, and I had every intention of making it known. "You're still upset?"

"Still upset?" My brows creased together unable to keep the surprise from the audacity of the man. "Do you not see the problem here?"

His hand reached to grab mine over the table and I quickly slipped it to my lap. "Quinn, you know the business I'm in. Yeah, I picked up on some new skills and you might have known if you haven't been treating me like the villain in your life!"

His whispered yell makes the woman at the table next to us glance over and he clears his throat before leaning back in his seat.

Was I treating him like the villain? I couldn't flat out deny it because a small part of me felt like he was the villain. Him just accept in the situation, not even trying to stop the marriage made him the villain in my story. I was a hypocrite, sue me.