Heir of Deception | (for mature audience)

*Chapter 16: Alexandria

Alexandria

—

After what happened earlier today, I refused to go back outside. I locked myself in the room, drowning my frustration in a seemingly endless supply of drinks while binge-watching The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. I had successfully given my friends the silent treatment for laughing at me when Christian playfully pushed me into the pool after I emphatically told him I didn’t want to get in.

To him, it was all in good fun; he thought it was hilarious to see me flailing and sputtering in the water. The laughter from Alyssa and Clinton only fueled my anger. They didn’t understand how humiliating it felt to be the butt of the joke, and I was mad—not just at Christian, but at them for not taking my feelings seriously. So, I decided to avoid them altogether, knowing they would eventually let me cool down on my own.

Just as I settled into my solitary misery, Christian’s head peeked through the door. “I brought you ice cream. It’s vanilla. Alyssa said it’s your favorite.”

“I already ate ice cream,” I replied, my tone nonchalant but my heart racing slightly at the sight of him.

“You can consume ice cream in many ways; you don’t just have to eat it, princess,” he said with a playful smile, setting the container down on the bedside table.

“What kind of kinky fuckery are you into?” I shot back, scowling at him.

“What?!” He laughed, clearly taken aback. “I didn’t mean it like that! I meant you can let it melt and drink it as a smoothie.”

My cheeks burned with embarrassment. I had immediately jumped to conclusions, letting my mind wander to scenarios more fitting for Fifty Shades of Grey. “Oh.”

“What did you think I meant, princess?” He asked, sitting down on the edge of the bed, his expression a mix of amusement and curiosity.

“Nothing. Just… leave me alone again,” I said, trying to sound more dismissive than I felt.

“No,” he replied firmly.

Instead of leaving as I wished, he made himself comfortable on the bed beside me. “You can be mad at me while we watch—” he paused, glancing at the screen. “What are you watching?”

“Don’t you know how to listen to what people ask you to do?” I retorted, trying to keep my irritation alive.

“Come on, don’t be a big baby about it,” he said, his tone teasing. “It was just water! I didn’t push you into scalding hot water.”

“You don’t get it, do you?” I shot back.

“No, I don’t. Instead of explaining yourself, you’ve given us all the silent treatment over a silly joke,” he countered, crossing his arms.

“It wasn’t a silly joke! You did exactly what I told you not to do!” I raised my voice, frustration bubbling over.

“Really?” he asked, incredulous. “Are you going to be like this every time something doesn’t go your way? You are a real princess.”

“Go fuck yourself,” I snapped, refocusing my attention on the screen in front of me.

“You’re being childish over something small,” he remarked, shaking his head.

“Stop minimizing the situation! To me, it wasn’t that small!” I shouted, my voice rising in anger.

“Please enlighten me on how it’s not as small as I’m making it,” he challenged, shutting my laptop with a decisive thud.