For a brief moment everything is quiet. The music has stopped, and no one is speaking or laughing or chewing. Blood is pulsating in my ears, making me suddenly fall deaf and dumb.
I want to jump out of my own skin to avoid the silence pounding through my ears. Calvin's eyes find mine, and I know there's only one thing I can do.
Lie.
Lie lie lie!
"Calvin!" I gasp, reaching out to touch his arm. "It's so good to see you!"
"I've called and texted but haven't heard from you. I suppose this is why." Calvin moves his arm out of my reach and shoves his hands into the pockets of his slacks. If he's this hurt over finding William and I, I sorely misjudged his affection towards me.
"What, this?" I gawk, pointing between William and I as I try to look properly incredulous. "We were only discussing my fathers upcoming birthday next week."
Which is another task I will have to tackle, I now realize.
Will looks like he's about to pass out from holding his breath, but manages a curt nod in response to my quick but realistic lie.
"Yes, we're discussing renting out the country club he attends for drinks and Hors d'oeuvres." William offers, forcing a nonchalant sip of his wine.
These two don't get along on a good day, and this has proven itself to be a very bad one.
"And I thought what better place to keep out of prying eyes than an Indian restaurant. My father can't even stand the smell of curry or else he sneezes himself comatose." I force a laugh and playfully fidget like I normally do even though my spine feels stiff and achy.
"Not to mention I love this place," I add quietly to fill the sharp silence.
Calvin looks thoughtful before clicking his tongue, eyeing our proximity and choice of drink. His hands flex in his pockets, and I can see him struggling. He wants to believe me, and I want him to just as much - but not for the same reason he does.
"Then you should have asked me to take you. It would have been my pleasure," the words are gravelly, but Calvin somehow smiles after saying them.
Relieved, I offer him the seat next to me by patting the woven cloth upholstery with my limp wrist. I can feel William tense and strain against my offer, but I ignore him. I'm saving his ass, not mine. Though I am aware that this is entirely my own fault for wanting to go on a date.
"I actually have to go, my mates are waiting for me in the lift." Calvin says, bending slightly at the waist to place a chaste kiss on my burning cheek.
"But this weekend I'm having a party at mine and you will absolutely be there, Isabella, or I will come and whisk you away myself." Calvin stalks off but not before giving William a cocky wink.
I'm not convinced Calvin bought my lie, but there's nothing I can do about it now.
We sit in silence for minutes or hours, I can hardly tell. The date has been ruined, and I can feel the heat of jealousy as it radiates off of Williams skin.
"This isn't sustainable." He finally says, his knuckles white around his wine glass.
"Well obviously," I reply brashly.
"This isn't a joke, Isabella. He could still tell your father."
"Is that all you care about, William? What my damned father has to say?" I force myself out of my seat and slam my napkin on the table. William grimaces but doesn't speak and that's enough of a response to send me reeling. I head for the door as quickly as my heeled feet can carry me, stares from strangers be damned.
"Isabella, don't." William calls after me, but I know he can't follow because he can't walk out on the check.
"Do you need me to call you a taxi, ma'am?" The greeter asks as I exit the restaurant.
"No thanks, I'll walk." I grumble before setting off towards home. I'm angry and hurt, but most of all I'm tired. Holidays are supposed to be relaxing, but I've turned mine into a dumpster fire. I've hardly spent any time with my father, I've given my heart to a selfish prick, and I'm tangled up with some blue blood that doesn't know I'm using him as a cover up.
This isn't me, and I'm honestly ashamed at how I've been acting lately. It isn't natural or good to lie this much, and I know my mother would be horrified if she knew what I was up to.
"Isabella listen to me." William calls out a few meters behind me, and I flinch but keep walking. I round a corner and pick up my pace.
"Dammit, Bella." William groans, his voice laced with pain. He catches me in a few short strides and grabs my hand, turning me to face him with desperation in his glossy blue stare.
"Fine. Say it and be done with it already!" I demand, my own voice cracking with emotion.
"I care about you, darling. Very much." He rasps, placing a chaste kiss on my forehead before I can protest.
"And I care about you too William, but this isn't fun anymore. My heart hurts."
"Back at the restaurant, you had wanted to get to know me better." William swallows a knot in his throat and moves some wayward hair from my face.
"What does that have to do with -"
"I"m terrified of heights. In fact I've never been on a plane. I have an unhealthy obsession with matching my ties to my socks, and I haven't watched the news in three years because it makes me upset."
"William this is ridiculous." I pull myself away from him, my eyes burning.
"I know, darling." He agrees, his hands grasping for me again.
"But I don't know what else to do. I don't want to let you go until I have to."
"Stop worrying about my father. I'm an adult and can make my own decisions. I know he would understand."
"And if he doesn't? If he removes me from
his law-firm and blacklists me?"
"My father isn't that type of man and you know it." I spit back. My father isn't vindictive or cruel, and I would have assumed William already knew that about him.
"He could be when it comes to you."
"He's literally trying to marry me off to Calvin, I don't think he's worried about my virtue or anything."
"Isabella this is my life's work."
"And this is my life, William." I sigh, my heart thoroughly ruptured.
"You agreed to this. I warned you." He accuses.
"Yes, but apparently I was wrong. I guess I need more than a shag from my fathers law partner." I hiss, rolling my wet eyes and turning once again towards home. My back burns where William watches me leave, but this time he doesn't follow.
***
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YOU ARE READING
The Law of Attraction
Romance"He would never forgive me if he knew, Isabella." Williams voice is pained as he lingers just millimeters from my lips. "I won't tell him. You don't have to either. Please, just one kiss." I beg him. The torture on Williams face becomes unbearable...
