Prince of Ruin

Chapter Five: Coco

My plans for the evening had been simple, Baz and I were going to go have a couple of drinks, and do a little dancing- I was going to find some hot guy to dance with and pretend like my whole world hadn't been turned completely upside down.

But that was all ruined when Theodore showed up and demanded I go with him like the pig he is.

I wouldn't have done it if not for Baz. Because now I was spending my evening sitting at a table full of Theodore's friends, with no Theodore. I had watched him run off to the bathroom and also saw Daphne try to sneak off behind him as if we weren't all sitting at the world's smallest table. I glanced at my brother's watch before picking up the menu to decide what I wanted.

After five minutes I was tired of it.

"Excuse me," I said in my sweetest voice, scooting my chair back. Baz caught my wrist.

"Coco. Be good." He warned. I smiled and pulled my wrist free.

"Of course," I responded, grabbing my clutch and heading for the bathrooms. The restaurant was one I'd only been to a few times, but it was nice and I knew the food was great. Good enough that I was near tempted to just- let whatever was happening happen so that I could eat but I knew if I didn't nip this in the bud then I would be dealing with Daphne Greengrass for the rest of this farce of an engagement.

I headed for the men's room and went to carefully pull the door- but it was locked. I tested the door to the lady's room and it opened with no problem.

Oh hell no. I quietly muttered the unlocking spell- the one that got me in this trouble in the first place- and cracked the door just a tiny bit.

"We could get married," Daphne said. I paused- I waited. I was capable of thinking before I acted- I just usually didn't go for it.

"Daphne-"

"No just- hear me out- we can go now- we can get married and- people will recognize the romance in marrying in a fit of passion. Everyone thought we would- and no one would blame you for wanting out of this- situation with her."

Yeah, I was done. I pushed the door open, letting it close behind me. Daphne jumped, at least having the decency to look ashamed of being caught trying to run off with Theodore.

"You're right, I mean once everyone realizes you've made it seven months without having a baby they will know it was some sort of stupidity that some might label as love and passion but more than that they'll see it as the Nott's inability to keep their word and Greengrasses as the snakes they've always been." I leaned against the door, not bothering with the lock.

"Shut the hell up, Coco," Theodore ordered. "The Greengrass family are not snakes."

"Maybe not, but think of how easy it would be to run with that narrative."

"You don't even want this marriage."

"No, but I'll be damned before I let you and yours embarrass my family."

"Your family is a joke." Daphne snapped.

"A joke that your man is marrying into." I rolled my eyes. "Look I don't want this anymore than you do, Theodore but I am not going to be a laughing stock- I am not my mother and I am not going to be the dutiful wife who is at home with the screaming brats while her husband is out banging whoever he can get." I pushed away from the door, moving closer to Theodore. "This- whatever you two have been doing- it's done. Got it?"

Daphne looked away, her eyes on Theodore, who was brushing at his sleeves, smoothing them down over his arms.

"Do not." Theodore stepped up closer to me, "presume that you can tell me what to do." He continued, his journey forward continuing until we were nearly chest to chest. "If I am unlucky enough to actually have to marry you- I'm not under your thumb."