The Ruse ||Calum Hood

VI

Calum continued to spin and twirl me around the dance floor, under the gleaming chandeliers and the bright lights that would every once in a while shine on me like a spotlight. It was ironic considering it was my night, my final night at living luxuriously.

"You're quite the dancer, Mr Hood."

"I'm just so glad I was able to sweep you off your feet."

I knew what was to come next, his hands held my waist tightly as if I were a delicate China plate. I could feel his hot breath on my glossy lips, which showed how close we were. He was moving in and I wasn't stopping him.

"There's the happy couple." Michael remarked causing us both to jerk back briskly, his hand still remained on the small of my back as we turned to greet our friends.

"Everything alright?" Ashton questioned noticing my uncertainty.

"Yes, everything is fine." I grinned.

"Well Evelyn, this is my fiancée Crystal." Michael gestured to the petite redhead that was on his arm, her eyes widened once she set her gaze on me. She wasted no time, Crystal stepped forward wrapping her small arms around my tall frame.

"I've heard so much about you, I'm so happy I finally get to meet Evelyn Fitzgerald." She exclaimed releasing me from her grasp, for a smaller lady she sure did have a right grip.

"This is my lovely lady, Lindsay." Ashton stated, she was much taller than Bree. So tall I swore she modelled. She possessed hair dark as charcoal and her skin was tinted golden brown.

"Lovely to meet you."

"And this is my date." Luke remarked, he retrieved a flute of champagne from a waiter nearby and downed it in seconds.

The boys shook their heads in amusement. Luke had mentioned that he dating but nothing too serious.

"Let's head to our table."

"We'll be with you in a minute, we just have something to discuss." Michael said.

The girls and Calum headed towards our table at the front whilst the rest of us stayed back for a few minutes.

"How is everything?" Luke asked quietly.

"Terrible. He tried to kiss me, I don't think I can do this anymore. This has gone too far."

Ashton placed his hands on my shoulders stopping me from rambling on. "Relax. We're going to be with you for the rest of the evening. We'll have eyes on you at all times. Okay?"

I nodded as I exhaled deeply, exasperated about this whole situation. "Okay. Thank you."

"Let's have a fantastic evening." And we followed the others to the table they had occupied. I filled the free seat beside Calum, his swirling pools of chocolate met my gaze and again I was immediately drawn in.

For the rest of the evening, I occupied myself with the hors-d'oeuvre that had been laid out on the table, the bruschetta and deviled eggs were beyond amazing. I absolutely adored finger foods so they had won me over. I tried my best to avoid all conversation with Calum, one of the boys would change the subject whenever he tried to speak to me much to my dismay. I felt awful, getting to know him was amazing and Calum was such a great character but the less I interacted with him the less we became invested. I was to disappear tomorrow and the last thing he needed was to be hung up over a woman who he thought he knew.

A woman who had been lying to him.

The main meal was eventually served to everyone, trays full of all kinds of meat and vegetables were brought to each table. We were individually served and it all looked fantastic, I had to fight the urge to pick up the chicken with my hands. Usually, I wouldn't have cared but I was supposed to be Evelyn Fitzgerald, something told me she did not with her hands.