The Icarus To Your Certainty

chapter four

Elaine stood with her arms crossed, completely still, as the crowd roared around her. Only her eyes moved, following the movement of vegas' arm as it came down in a swift motion against a helda fighter's face.

Vega fought as if she were putting on a show. She interacted with the audience, taunting her rival. She laughed and posed, clearly the star of the spectacle. And indeed, she was.

Elaine couldn't take her eyes off her. It was like watching a painting being created, and the blood was the paint.

She could feel Teddy moving up and down beside her, screaming with his arms raised, and Eloise on the other side, equally excited. They raised their hands in the air, holding each other's. The crowd mirrored their enthusiasm, but Elaine remained still, watching the fight.

Vega leapt from side to side after landing a solid punch on her opponents nose. As she jumped, Elaine observed her well-defined muscles, recalling how her biceps flexed beneath her shirt sleeve when she scared Eleanor and Smith away, how her mere presence was enough to keep them at bay, to send them away from Elanie.

The grey eyes were illuminated by the red light flashing through the basement, and Vega looked directly at Elaine. Barely noticeable, but she could see how the taller one used the corner of her eye to watch her.

The sound of fists meeting flesh echoed loudly and brutally through the room, followed by grunts and heavy breathing. The audience roared even louder, if possible, as Vega landed a kick to Dirk Cresswell's chest, sending him flying across the mat. Vega, with a look of fierce determination, kept now her focus on her adversary, deftly dodging a retaliatory kick before countering with a swift uppercut that left Creswell reeling.

Vega turned her head back to look at Elaine, almost as if asking her if she had seen that.

And she did. She had seen exactly what she needed. And she needed her.

She needed Vega Ashford to date her.

Eleanor was impulsive, but not stupid.

Elaine imagined that the influence of the Ashford surname affected how Eleanor and Smith reacted to Vega. In the business world, one doesn't cross a powerful name, and Harold Ashford was one of those names. Having been CEO of a major company for years and, according to gossip, an exceptionally well-liked one, he had earned a sterling reputation and invaluable contacts - his cousin knew this all too well. Thus, Eleanor would always tread lightly around Vega. And, the way Vega carried herself as if she owned the world, added to the intimidation factor. And Elaine needed that factor. Refusing phone calls and hiding out in her brother's flat was a short-lived, temporary solution. Now, she needed another strategy to keep Eleanor and smith at bay while she was still grappling with the fact that her parents were dead, and she was now the heir, not the spare.

And the way Vegas' mere presence sent Eleanor and Smith scurrying. She needed the protection that the Ashford surname would afford her. While marrying vega might be a step too far, she could date her.

In her mind, she quickly compiled a list of pros and cons. Even though the cons included her older brother likely having a meltdown, the pros were well worth the headache. Now, she just had to put the plan into action.

"Finish him off quick and easy," Eloise was saying to her twin.

"No bloody way," Merida interrupted. "This isn't the knockout stage. Put on a show for the crowd! You're already the Trinity favourite, but the more bets on you, the better."

Evan cracked his neck to release the tension, with Merida's hands on his face, watching him intently. Elaine had no idea what was really going on between them, but she had never seen Merida like that with anyone... except her.