Chapter 29 Trouble in paradise
Ophelia’s POV
“Hey, Lia,” Ava called as we strolled through the school hallway after we both concluded our respective classes for the day.
“Yes, what?” I replied as I stared at her.
In response, she scrunched her nose towards the void behind me which made me frown in befuddlement, but I looked towards the direction she motioned anyway.
I scoffed and shook my head when I saw who it was.
He was Albert Perez, the most popular guy in college due to his handsomeness and kindness towards everyone, especially new students. He had helped me in quite a lot of ways when I first started college some years back.
He was tall and muscular, but in a lithe manner which suited his gentility. Albert also has blonde hair with freckles underneath his eyes coupled with a set of crystal-blue eyes.
All I could say was that during my first and second years of college, I used to have a huge crush on him due to the nice and affectionate he was and still is towards me, but now I wasn’t as crazy about him as I used to be.
Now I just saw him as nothing but a good friend. The only man to whom I was now very attracted to was none other Ryan Torres.
His back rested against his locker as he conversed with some guy who I presumed was his friend.
I turned back to Ava with a scoff as I muttered, “I’ve seen him. What do you want me to do now?”
“Nothing, babe. You don’t have to do anything because I’ll do it for you,” She smiled sardonically at me while her eyes gape in fright as I realized what she was about to do.
“Ava, don’t you dare do it. I’m warning you, I swear to God I will-” My empty threats were ignored by my best friend as she yelled, “Albert!”
I squeezed my eyes shut as a tide of embarrassment washed over me when several heads turned towards our direction.
I flickered my eyes open before I made to dart a murderous smile–that was more like an angry teeth clench at Ava. The smile fell off my face when I realized she wasn’t standing next to me anymore.
I roamed my eyes across the hallway to find her and my breath almost stopped when I saw her smiling with Albert as they both stared at me–Ava with a scoff and Albert with a warm smile.
Albert waved at me, to which I responded with an awkward smile and a languid hand wave. I still didn’t move an inch from where I was awkwardly standing in the middle of the hall.
“Ava, I swear to God. I’m unfriending you today,” I mouthed at Ava, and she just smiled back at me as she continued her discussion with Albert.
I shook my head in exasperation as I went to rest my back against a locker.
Some torturous moments later, I sensed the both of them walking towards me which made me gaze up at them.
I knew Ava had planned something by the silly smile and directed at me and the silly brows raised.
“Hi, Lia,” Albert beamed down at me.
“Hi, Lia,” Ava mimicked him as she smirked at me, to which I just snorted.
“Hey, Albert,” I greeted, clutching my satchel tightly against my chest.
“It’s been a while since we’ve hung out together. Ava said you both are done with your classes for today, is that true?” He asked me, and I nodded in affirmation which he mirrored with a smile.
“That’s cool. I’m also done with my classes. Truth is, I had no class today, you know final year students and all,” He elaborated, to which I nodded once more.
“So, I was thinking if you and Ava would like to check out the new coffee shop by the roadside with me if you don’t have other obligations for the day,” Albert uttered.
I mulled over his statement as I thought about whether I had important stuff to do at the mansion after school. When I couldn’t think of anything, I nodded.
“Sure, count me in. Let’s go,” I responded.
“Oh, Ava, Albert. I’m so sorry but I won’t be able to go with you both to the coffee shop,” Ava spoke, and I casted a perplexed stare at her.
“I have an emergency that I need to attend to right now,” Ava explained, feigning a saddened look but I knew that was all part of her ploy to make Albert and I spend time together.
“Have fun, babe. Albert, you too,” She squeezed my shoulder and beamed at Albert.
Afterwards, she skipped out of the hall and left Albert and I to wallow in the heavy silence.
“So, shall we?” Albert motioned, to which I shook my head and smiled at him.
A man clad in suit walked past us, and instantly I remembered something.
A vital part of the contract that I Ryan and I had signed.
I wasn’t supposed to go on dates with other men nor could I date anyone during the period of our contract.
And here I was about to do the former. A voice screamed inside my head.
Spontaneously, I halted in my steps as I thought of the next step to take. I couldn’t bail out on Albert at the last minute.
What sort of believable excuse would I even make? I thought as I nibbled harshly on my bottom lip.
Shit, I was doomed.
But then again, the chances of Ryan and I randomly crossing paths while I was in a coffee shop with another guy was zero, and honestly, I wasn’t actually going on a date with Albert, we were just friends and friends could go out on coffee dates every now and then. I convinced myself.
“Yeah, that’s it,” I spurted and tilted my head sideways to stare up at Albert.
“Are you alright, Lia? Did something happen?” He asked, leaning closer to me, and cupping my face with his hand.
I shimmied out of his hold with a smile, “Yeah, I’m fine. Thanks,”
“Cause you just stood there for some minutes and I didn’t want to bother you because you seemed deep in thoughts,” Albert uttered.
“I’m fine, I was just thinking about something random,” I lied.
Though I knew Albert didn’t seem to believe me, he didn’t say anything and just nodded to my response.
We got into his car, and he drove us to the coffee shop as we chatted amidst random bursts of laughter.
Momentarily, I forgot all about the terms of the contract as I really enjoyed talking with Albert.
We trekked into the shop together and I took a seat at a table behind the window.
I gazed towards the coffee bar and what I saw made my heart almost fly out of my chest.
Lo and behold, I saw Ryan and Albert shaking hands with each other with identical warm smiles on their faces, and a strange woman standing near Ryan.
My heart slammed painfully against my ribs as Ryan, Albert and the strange woman started walking towards mine and Albert’s table with Albert holding a to-go coffee box. My breathing became ragged and my palms became clammy as I prepared myself for the worst.
I lowered my gaze to the floor as I sensed Albert take his seat next to me and place the coffee on the table, with Ryan and the stranger taking their seats on the chairs opposite me.
“Lia, meet Ryan and Daphne. He used to be my boss and she is his secretary,” Albert took my hand into his which made me cringe inwardly before I slowly raised my head up and met Ryan’s gaze.
Ryan’s eyes doubled in shock when our eyes met but thankfully, he didn’t utter a word and just cleared his throat.
It was obvious he was enraged but he managed to compose himself and smile at me as he stretched a hand towards me, “It’s nice to meet you, Miss Lia,”
I shook with fear as I sweated in the well-ventilated shop and shook hands with him, “S-same here, Mister Ryan,”
He gripped my hand tightly as he smiled sardonically at me before letting go.
“Nice to meet you, Miss Lia,” The woman-Daphne smiled.
“N-nice go meet you too, Miss Daphne,” I croaked.
“I didn’t expect to meet you guys here while I was on a date with Lia. I’m glad I did though, it’s been a while,” Albert chuckled, unknowingly aggravating my punishment.
Ryan was going to take me to hell and back that night. I was very sure of it.
Fuck, why didn’t I listen to the inner voice inside me that advised me against going to the coffee shop with Albert? I thought as I shook with fright.
I could only hope Ryan would only force me to suck him off as my punishment. I hope he doesn’t make good of his threat to stuff four dildos inside me. I would die if that happened.
Just the thought of it made me shudder with fear.
“You said you are on a date with Miss Lia, right?” Ryan asked, to which Albert proudly nodded as he tenderly brushed my knuckles with his thumb, and placed out intertwined hands on the table.Copyright by Nôv/elDrama.Org.
Ryan locked his jaw as he glared menacingly at our hands. I thought he was going to flare up at me there and then.
But instead, he just nodded and feigned a cheerful smile.
“That’s great. You both look good together. Are you dating? Pardon me for being so forward, I’m just curious,” Ryan questioned.
I was about to fervently shake my head in negation when Albert said, “Not yet,”
I slouched on the chair as I hung my head downward, trying to suppress the bitter tears that pooled in my eyes, as a rueful thought crossed my mind.
Today is the day I might die.