Chapter 4 Chapter 4:

Scarlett:

I am convinced Malakai Lorenzo is actually crazy because why would he tell me to actually kiss in front of rich as hell, influential people? Wait, are we on live television? Because that makes it much worse.

“What are you talking about? I can't kiss you.” I hiss but deliberately keep my voice low, he doesn't reply and instead takes a step closer. Damn, he's so tall and broad-shouldered, he tips my chin so that I have no choice but to look into his forest green eyes. 

“It's only going to take a second, blue. If you don't want this, say it right now.” He starts to lean forward, and my whole body freezes. He is about to kiss me in a few seconds. Our lips are only a fraction apart when someone says from behind.

“Kai, we didn't actually believe you would show up,” the voice that comes from behind immediately tears up apart, and my frozen heart resumes its thumping, even though it's barely audible.

I dust my sweaty palm against my dress and look at the woman in question. She has long dark raven hair and sharp eyes. She's a bit older, maybe in her early fifties. The look she shares with Malakai is almost hostile, like they have some shared history between them.

“Why wouldn't I show up?” Malakai counters. “I couldn't pass up an opportunity to show off my girlfriend….or, should I say my fiancée.” I freeze….fiancée? When did we agree to that? I thought we just kept it to dating. I look into his eyes, but it gives nothing away. He still has that blank expression he always wears.

“Fiancée?” The woman says, a little more loudly. Heads start to turn, camera starts to flash and all I can think of is how I am screwed over. I don't want my face to appear in the New York Times tomorrow! I can't even imagine the headlines, something like ‘Malakai Lorenzo shows up with a mysterious woman at the West gala.’ that would be horrific.

“Yes, fiancée.” Malakai says, almost as if he's bored. “If you’ll excuse me, dear aunt. I have to show my fiancée around.” Immediately, his hand snakes around my waist as he pulls me closer. 

“I am guessing she's related to you?” Though I don't know anything about the West Media, but Lila, my younger sister and Sadie watch their movies. They make the best romance, horror, thriller movies in the world, and I can't imagine the hostility the family all live in.

“Don't go near her,” Malakai warns, totally ignoring my first question. Well, that ended up good. Everyone is having a failed attempt in pretending that they aren't looking at us when in fact, their eyes are on us like hawks. 

Am I nervous? Yes, this is my first time in a gathering with people that have billions of dollars, and suddenly, I feel ordinary, like I cheated to be in here, my mind is racing through different things that I don't even notice when Malakai's hand presses into the side of my hips.

“Breathe, blue.” I look into his eyes and it's blank as usual. “We're going to leave soon.”

“I am not nervous.” I attack, he's not even looking at me anymore, his eyes are locked on a couple that's far away. I recognize them as the chairman and chairwoman of West Media. If I am right, they should be his grandparents. Evelyn West, his grandmother, is a pure icon.

I look at Malakai and damn, he's not smiling, maybe he doesn't have a good relationship with them?

What do I know? Sadie says that I like to pry into other business, but it's not my fault to assume his relationship with his grandparents if he's actually looking at them like that.

“I think I am going to go over there and get us some drinks, is that okay?” I don't even want a drink, I just want to escape his presence. I doubt if he heard me because his gaze is still locked on the faraway couple who are busy mingling and smiling. Ever since we got there, they haven't even spared him a glance which makes me think that their relationship might not be as good as it seems on the internet.

When Kai doesn't respond to me, I subtly walk away from his presence and towards the table of food. I can't believe that rich people get to eat this every single day. As I am appreciating the aroma of the food, the woman from earlier, who was talking to Kai, walks towards me.

“Kai’s new fiancée. I believe we didn't properly introduce ourselves. I am his aunt, Beatrice.” She says, all white teeth in view. She arches back her head and laughs. “That's Eleanor, and she's my sister, while that's Camilla." She points at a woman in the corner with caramel hair.

I stare at her, unsure of what is even happening. We should have gone over his family introductions! Now I am left biting my lips at this woman who's looking at me with suspicion.

"Be careful of Malakai," she passes me her glass of wine. I don't like the way she's looking at me, like I am a prey in her game.

“Alright.” I watch her walk away with an air of confidence that only belongs to people actually born into wealth. I take the glass of wine and go join Kai in where he's standing. “Hey.”

He looks at the glass of wine in my hand, his face hardening. “Who gave you that?”

“Your aunt did, she's actually pretty nice.” I laugh hoarsely. “God, I don't think I have ever seen wine looking this good.”

What Kai does next surprises me. He takes the wine straight out of my hand and passes it to a nearby waiter, before he starts walking towards the exit. Now, I want to try to be subtle around it but what the heck? Why is he walking away? Thankfully, no one's eyes are on us but still, I follow him carefully out of the mansion and into the parking lot.

“Hey!” I yell, but he ignores me, still walking forward. “What the hell is wrong with you–?” I manage to grab his elbow but he stops so fast that I almost crash into him.

He doesn't turn. His back is tight and rigid with tension, what's going on? He finally turns to look at me slowly, eyes blazing.

“Who told you to take that from her?” He asks, his voice surprisingly low and devoid of any emotions. 

“What?” I laugh sharply. “You mean the glass of wine, come on….it was no big deal, besides she gave it to me..I thought–”

“You thought what, Scarlett?” His voice is infuriatingly lower.

“I didn't know it was a crime to accept a damn glass of wine–” I snap but he cut me off.

“It wasn't wine.” 

The way he says it makes a shiver crawl up my skin. What does he mean?

“What?”

“You don't accept anything from them. You aren't allowed to talk to them. I don't want you standing too close to them, except when I am there.”

I stare at him, disbelief curling in the pit of my stomach. “Then maybe you should have told me what this is about before dragging me into it.”

He doesn't speak for a while, the night wind blows his dark curls, making it fall over his face. He doesn't even bother pushing it away. “You don't belong in my world,” he shakes his head and I scoff.

“Oh, that's funny.” I laugh, despite the warning signs exploding in my head not to continue. “No really, it's funny. You are the one that asked me to fake date you. You are the one who shoved me into a room full of people I am not familiar with. Now you are trying to punish me for not understanding the rules!”

"Scarlett." His voice is quiet. “They are bad. Worse than you can imagine. The West doesn't just control the media. They destroy anyone who threatens their empire. They’ve ruined careers, families... people have disappeared for less than what I’m doing tonight by bringing you here.”

I laugh bitterly, but it came out shaky. “And you thought parading me as your fiancée was smart? News flash — I’m already targeted now, aren’t I? Because of you.”

“Yes. You’re marked the moment they saw you with me. That’s why you need to stick close. Very close. No more walking out alone. No more accepting anything from them. If you want to protect your sister and father, you play by my rules until this is over. They won’t hesitate to use you to get to me.” Kai explains, running his hand through his dark curls.

"I don't trust you." I blurt out.

We stare at each other, my chest heaving. He looks calm, which infuriates me the most. “This was a mistake.”

My entire body flushes cold, is he literally joking right now? I wrap my hand around my body as the night air kisses my bare skin. “I am so done with you.” I begin walking forward.

“Where are you going? Aren't I supposed to take you home?” His calm voice pulls me to a halt. I count my breaths, pressing down on my tongue so that I don't say a word that will cost me my sanity but you know what? He can go to hell.

I face him. “I can't trust you, why? Because you literally ooze danger, you can take your money and go to hell. Again.” I can't even see his expression because of the dark but I am sure that he's unfazed by my outburst. I don't even wait for him to say anything before I start walking away from his presence.

He thinks he can pull me into the world and yell at me because I accepted a glass of wine from his aunt, then he's joking.

I don't have time for this. Since I am too broke to afford the subway, I walk all the way home at night. It takes forty-five minutes to reach home. When I open the door, I am exhausted and tired. All I just want is to flop on the bed and forget everything that literally happened today.

As I walk the dark streets, my phone buzzes. A news alert from Lila's favorite media outlet: “West Media Associate Found Brutally Beaten Outside Gala Venue – Police Call It ‘Random Mugging’.” 

The photo shows a man I vaguely remembered speaking to Beatrice earlier. His face was unrecognizable. I remember Kai's words, are they really going to use me to get to him? I mask it with bravery and continue walking home.

“Lila?” I am shocked to find my younger sister on the couch, staring at the dark TV. “What's going on? Why are you still up?”

"I saw the news, I know the date you went on is with Malakai Lorenzo, don't play coy, even though the news was blurred, I recognize the dress," she shrugs as though she's not affected. “Oh, right. The landlord sent an email, Scar. We are past due on rent.” 

I pause, my brain freezing. Damn it, I totally forgot about the rent while I was making calculations on our expenses. How could I have forgotten? If we don't pay up, we are one step from getting evicted.

I am too tired to speak so I just nod hoarsely. Lila is standing there, watching me with brows knitted.

“What are we going to do about the rent?” She asks nervously.

“How's dad?” I divert the situation.

“He's sleeping upstairs, but about the–”

“Lila, it's enough.” My voice is dismissive, she frowns, but doesn't say a word. “You have school tomorrow, go to bed, and don't worry about the rent. I’ll handle it. You know I always do.”

“That's the problem,” she fires back, completely prepared. “You always handle it, and you're stressing yourself out too much. I can take on a few part time jobs too.”

“No,” my voice is sharp. “The SATs are around the corner and you are meant to be studying. Just please….go to bed, and we'll talk tomorrow.” She looks at me hard for a brief second, before stomping off to the bedroom. I sigh, sometimes teenagers are a headache. I take my now empty glass of water to the living room and sit on the couch.

I stare at the blank T.V, my mind racing through different thoughts. I shouldn't have snapped that hard at Kai, and who am I even kidding? I need his money, hell my family needs that money, and is this how I am going to throw it away just because he behaves like an idiot? It can't be that hard…I just have to be his fake fiancée for ninety days. We would probably go on more events but it will be all worth it in the end when he lets go of my father's debt and still gives me cash.

It's embarrassing, it's worth my sanity–but I need not to be selfish right now, and the only way to do that is to swallow my pride and go back to him.