Temptations

44. ADDING NEW CLAUSES

NATHAN

Currently, Alicia and I were sitting in our favorite restaurant from our highschool days. It was a cheap Chinese restaurant in an alley behind our school Liberty High and we used to come here every Friday. It was like a ritual for us. Drake used to tag along sometimes but more often than not, we were alone.

"To old times." We clicked our glasses filled with cheap beer.

"To old times." I reciprocated her smile.

I tried my best to enjoy my evening and not think about Ellie. Ever since I heard about her going to dinner with Drake, I had been anxious. I don't know why but the thought of her being with other men in a cozy dinner setting made my stomach churn. It wasn't fair to her as I was also having dinner with a female friend but I still couldn't control feeling so pathetic.

"So, what's the tea?" Alicia asked all of a sudden, breaking my chain of thoughts. I lifted my head and found her staring at me with a strange expression.

"What tea?" I asked in confusion.

"You and your wife. How come I didn't know about her?" She asked, giving me her signature penetrating look. Back in middle school, I used to have a huge crush on her due to her big blue eyes. But as I grew up, I understood we were better off as friends and she was right to decline my offer to date. We were too similar and it was hardly a good formula in a successful relationship.

"It was all so quick." I said. It wasn't completely a lie. It all happened so quickly that I forgot to inform Alicia until after the wedding on our honeymoon.

"It doesn't sound like you. " She eyed me suspiciously.

"It's been ages since you moved. I've changed." I said, filling my mouth with the noodles.

"I've kept a close eye on you through the tabloids and she doesn't seem like the girls you date." She said.

"I didn't marry any of those girls so there must be something lacking in them." I stressed.

She nodded but it looked like she still had some reservations.

We went back to eating quietly and afterwards, I drove us back to the mansion.

The first thing I asked about when I entered was Ellie's whereabouts. Apparently, she still had not returned from her lunch.

Damn you, Drake. If only you weren't my best friend.

I could feel my blood boil inside the vessels and I decided to retreat to my room before the anger gets best of me and I lash out at the wrong person.

"Hey Nats, let's have coffee in my room." Alicia asked while I was entering my room.

"Sorry I'm not feeling well right now." I apologized. She looked disappointed but I wasn't really in the mood to talk anymore.

My thoughts were converged on one particular person.

Once inside my room, I took a quick bath and changed into some comfortable clothes. I was drying my hair with a towel when I heard the sound of a car in the lawn outside. I hopped towards the windows and looked outside.

In the parking lot, Drake and Ellie were sitting inside Drake's car. The garden lights were illuminating the parking lot and I could see clearly inside. Both of them were laughing at something and it made me irritated. How come she never laughs like that when she is with me?

I watched in annoyance as before leaving, Drake held Ellie's hand and spoke something softly to her. Drake was my friend but right now, I wanted to punch him as hard as I could. I remembered I was the one who initially gave him the green signal that Ellie was allowed to date whoever she wanted but I didn't know he was serious about pursuing him.

I didn't know how badly I had tightened my hands into a fist until my nails scratched my palm. They both were still sitting together, talking about God knows what.

Finally, it was time for her to leave the car. I was about to sigh in relief when he walked over to her side of the car and opened the door for her. They stood face to face for a while, once again engrossed in talking. They were standing a little too close for my liking and my hands itched to go and remind him that she was married to me.

Before they could mess with my sanity anymore, I closed the blinds and slumped on the sofa. I didn't want to witness in case he decided to say her goodbye through a kiss.

After a long, torturous wait, the door to the room opened and Ellie walked in. As her eyes met mine, they flickered nervously and then she whispered, "Hi."

Without waiting for a reply, she walked over to her side of the cupboard. Standing up straight, I walked over to her and stopped behind her. As she sensed my presence, she slowly turned around and her eyes widened when she found me towering over her.

"What are you doing?" She asked, lifting her head to look into my eyes.

"The question is, what were you doing?" I raised my eyebrows, leaning my right arm across the cupboard, blocking her path.

"Nothing you should be concerned about." She said and slid away from underneath my arm.

"You are forgetting something. We signed a contract." I called her out.

"So what? We signed a contract. We can break it." She walked forwards, ignoring me. "You are still getting a wife for the show."

"What is that supposed to mean?" I asked. I was not in control of my feelings right now and it scared me how much she affected me.

She turned around and looked deep into my eyes. I flinched as she stood closer to me with full confidence. "I want us to date other people."

"Other people such as..." I took a brief pause.
"Drake?"

"Maybe." She put her arms on her hips.

"It will destroy our facade." I reasoned although our facade was the last thing on my mind.

"We'll be discreet." She said.

"Ugh." I groaned, controlling the urge to punch the wall behind her. Her jaw was clenched and she looked determined. "Why do you even want to date him?"

"Because he is nice to me." She said.

"Oh, so you're settling for bare minimum." I frowned.

"I don't care what you think. Some people can't even do the bare minimum." She said and from her tone, it felt like it was a diss for me. "Besides, you will also be free to date other girls. Isn't that what you wanted?"

No. Absolutely not.

I wanted to negate but that would mean admitting that I was pathetic and jealous and that I didn't have any option in front of me. I didn't want to give her the upper hand in this marriage or whatever it is. So I lied.

"Yes." I said and something flickered inside her eyes at this. Was it hurt? Disappointment? It doesn't make sense. Didn't she just admit she wanted to date other people?

"So it's finalised. We're removing that clause from our contract by mutual agreement." She said with clenched jaw.

"Fine by me." I chewed those words.

"Great." She said. Our eye contact continued for a long moment and although no words were exchanged, a lot was said in those moments.

Afterwards, she went to the bathroom while I went to the bed. I kept scrolling my phone while she made her way out of the bathroom and then to the bed.