God of Temptation

Chapter 8

~Ariella~

"And then he even got me chocolates, candies, and made me a banana shake." Allison pauses, taking a deep, dramatic breath. "Isn't he just the best boyfriend?" Looks like Allison is on a roll, recounting her boyfriend's sweet gestures while I'm in my own world, pondering over Remi's potential reaction to our scandalous actions from yesterday.

For those who don't know about Allison, she is from my English literature class. After my meeting with Remi, I saw her again with Kaitlyn and Vivian. The three of them were laughing and talking. Turns out they know each other from when they were babies. Allison is the daughter of Uncle Knox's partner at Weaver and Shaw. 

But this time, I'm not letting him get away with it. Remington Astor, the master of avoiding commitment, Every time things get too close, he brushes it off, always turning our moments into mistakes or spur-of-the-moment errors. Lies, all of it, yet they sting. I know the game he plays-Remington Astor only turns to me when he's losing control. Only seeks me out in moments of chaos. When he isn't what he portrays himself to be.

"Are you even listening?" Allison snaps her fingers in front of Kaitlyn.

"Oh, yeah, absolutely." Kaitlyn says who is scrolling through her phone.

"No, you're not. What was I saying then?" Allison shoots me a skeptical glance.

"You were telling us about the chocolate and candy adventure your new boyfriend took you on." she shoots her a half-hearted smile.

"He's not new, we've been together for five months. And that's not even what I was talking about!" Allison corrects me.

Before I can recover, Vivian butts in, "Yeah, you were detailing your bedroom adventures, something we definitely didn't need to know. Frankly, he's a bit vanilla."

Allison's flushed defense of her "vanilla" boyfriend sparks an internal chuckle, According to Vivian and Kaitlyn, Mr. Shaw has rollercoaster reactions to her dating life. Mr. Shaw passes out every time Allison brings a new guy home, followed by seven consecutive parties after they break up.

But this time, this relationship has legs, lasting longer than her usual week-long affairs. It's different, smoother and oddly stable. Could this be the real deal for her? Maybe they're actually an endgame. It's Allison's first serious relationship, and it seems to be going well, at least for now. And apparently, it's also her first time dipping her toes into the realm of intimacy.

Allison's phone interrupts our banter about her boyfriend, and we all sneak a peek at her caller ID, confirming it's her new boyfriend - sorry I mean, Mason. A radiant smile spreads across her face like sunshine breaking through clouds. She clears her throat and we all smile knowingly. Blushing she quickly announces she'll catch up with us later, jumping up from her seat and making a swift beeline toward the cafeteria exit. Vivian also gets up from her seat, sashaying towards the coffee machine.

As I see Allison exiting, the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end, signaling the imminent arrival of Remington Astor. Oh, that man! He always has this effect on me, this uncanny ability to make my senses tingle. But does he have a clue? I know when he's close, and I know when he's not. But does he know? Does he even realize that the reason behind my quietness is that he's commandeered every room of my mind, living there rent-free? Does he know that every time I catch sight of him, my heart races so intensely that it feels like it might shatter into a thousand pieces because his heart never skips a beat for me?

Part of me will always resent him for the pain he's caused, for the turmoil he's put me through, but darn it, my love for him will always overshadow that tiny grain of hate.