Entangled (Vice Games) (15 page)

‘So you try to force yourself on me? Now surely, that should fix everything.’

‘I’m sorry I frightened you.’

‘You should trust me to have a level head,’ I said to him.
‘What happened to her? Why did it take you an extra two hours to get home?’

‘I had to take her to the hospital.
One of her implants burst.’

‘What?’ I frowned. ‘That escalated quickly. How did hitting her head on the table lead to a busted breast?’

‘I don’t know. Maybe it was the way she fell. Karen wasn’t too thrilled when I informed her.’

‘And that’s why you’re home late?’

‘Yes.’

‘You could have called.’

‘Do you know how strange this situation would sound on the phone?’

I laughed an
d reached up to touch his face. As unlikely as the tale seemed, Tristan was not lying. I could see it on his face and it explained his strange behavior. He had anticipated that I would react differently and would not listen to his entire story. But I had surprised him with my usual calmness. It told him that he could always talk to me.

‘Well,’ I started, ‘the main point of today’s event is that you didn’t kill her and she didn’t succeed in seducing you.’

Tristan lowered his face towards mine and kissed me. ‘No one but you can seduce me.’

Tristan’s story held up when Karen demanded his presence at the
Main House. She also demanded that I come along as well. Anna was not needed. We all raised our eyebrows when Tristan informed us of the call.

‘Why do you have to go?’ Anna asked. ‘I mean, it’s not like they have control over me anymore. I’m almost eighteen and I passed last week’s psychiatrics with flying colors.’

‘You still have a year and a half more to go,’ I reminded her.

‘Maybe they want compensation for the busted melon,’ said Lorraine.

‘How much do they cost?’ Jace asked.

‘That’s enough,’ I said. ‘I know
everyone doesn’t like her but let us have little compassion. I’m sure it was extremely traumatic for her. I mean, come on, these things are not supposed to burst.’

Anna snorted.
‘Serves her right for what she did.’

I shortly left the house with Tristan.
Jace and Lorraine was instructed not to sleep until we returned. I suspected Tristan did not trust Anna to be on her own when neither of he or I are there. As he drove the car, I began to suspect that it was not just about what happened to Lauren. When we arrived, it was already dark and a butler waited for us. As usual, Tristan refused to give up his car keys and left it parked in front of the house. Karen Vice sat with her husband at the dining table. Tristan pulled out the chair for me.

Karen wore a bandage black dress that tightly pushed her voluminous breasts up towards her pointed chin.
She must have had a recent botox top up as her lips were poutier than usual. There was a long of displeasure on her face but I couldn’t tell properly as the skin was pulled back to her temples. It made her eyes slant with an upwards slope and I could not understand how Elliot Vice could be attracted to this woman. Tristan’s father sat like a puppet at the head of the table. His wife was his voice box and did all the talking.

‘It is strange
,’ started Karen, ‘that it’s been more than a month since your announcement and there’s not even a hint of a bump on you, my dear Phoebe,’ She spoke with a contrived tone and there was something strange in the way she called me
dear Phoebe
. It was clear to Tristan and I where this conversation was about to go.

‘It’s only been a month,’ I said.

‘Yes,’ replied Karen as she turned her head to face me directly, ‘a month plus three more, which makes you four months pregnant.’

I frowned and had almost forgotten about how pregnant I should be. Tristan had been preoccupied with work to keep up with these details.
Besides, the Main House had been so silent for so long that we had almost forgotten about them. Karen took up something from her lap. It was a small oblong box wrapped in black paper. She slid it across the table towards me.

‘Open it dear,’ she said.

I turned to Tristan who looked as curious as I was. Although it looked harmless, I knew that it was meant to be a game changer. Karen continued to smile and reluctantly I placed my fingers on the paper and slowly tore it away. It was a pregnancy test.

‘What is the meaning of this?’ I asked.

‘The bathroom is across the hallway, I’m sure you won’t miss it.’

‘There is no need,’ said Tristan instantly, ‘the doctor’s result stated clearly that Phoebe is pregnant.’

‘Doctor’s results can be faked,’ said Karen sternly. She was on to us. It must have been Lauren who reported it to her. I should have known when she pointed it out in the shop. ‘Or perhaps you would like the men to go and pick your sister up?’

Tristan muscles tensed.

‘Your move,’ said Karen.

I picked up the pregnancy test box in my hands and turned it over. I had my phone in my dress pocket. I could warn Jace and Lorraine. But Tristan would not let them manipulate him anymore.

‘You are aware that by removing her from my house, you risk upsetting her again. She’s been stable since her time there and if she has a mental breakdown, it would have been caused by your decision. I’m sure the courts would take that into consideration.’

‘Well, I’m certain they will also take into consideration your unprofessional relationship with her handler,’ said Karen as she looked towards me, ‘along with the fact that she only has a high school diploma and is not fit to take care of a
person who is clinically diagnosed as mentally unstable and prone to suicidal attempts.’

‘It should be noted that this mentally unstable person you speak of has not once attempted to take her life since her removal from your care.
You don’t have a case against me.’

‘But I do,’ said Karen, ‘there is the matter of Lauren’s injury and the false document you presented concerning a pregnancy.’

‘Her injury was caused by her own actions to pursue me,’ said Tristan coldly, ‘as for Phoebe’s pregnancy, it’s not false.’

‘Prove it,’ said Karen.

‘Phoebe is not required to prove anything,’ said Tristan. Karen’s move had trapped him. She had him cornered and one more move could be the end of Anna’s sanity streak. Karen placed her phone on the table and swiped her red painted fingers across the screen.

‘Fine,’ I said, ‘I’ll do it.’

Tristan touched my hand and looked at me. I was not to move but I returned his gaze with the same sort of intensity. I ran his hand over the side of my thigh so that he may feel the solid object in my pocket.

‘Very well,’ said Karen. ‘Go on. It shouldn’t take you long.’

I released Tristan’s hand and stood up. I could feel her eyes watching me as I walked away. The bathroom was exactly where she said it would be. I closed the door behind me and quickly pulled out my phone. I dialed the home number and Jace answered it.

‘Hello?’ he spoke through the receiver.

‘Get Anna out of there,’ I whispered, ‘take her somewhere safe.’

‘What? What’s going on? Is everything alright?’

‘Just do it. I’ll call you again when it’s safe.’

‘Alright,’ said Jace. He understood that something must have been found out.
‘Stay close to the master.’

And that was the end of our conversation.
I stood in front of the sink and stared at the pregnancy test box. It must have been a good five minutes before a knock came at the door.

‘Phoebe?’

It was Karen. I saw two other shadows behind the door. It must belong to Tristan and his father. I felt trapped and knew that there was no escape out of this now.

‘I’m reading the instructions,’ I said.

‘You should be familiar with these sorts of things by now,’ said Karen. I swore quietly to myself.

‘It looks different from the one I used,’ I lied.
‘Just give me a moment.’

‘Well, don’t take too long,’ said Karen.

I took a deep breath and pulled the test strip out of the box. I knew I wasn’t pregnant; besides, Tristan hadn’t entered me once since our first night together. There was no way I could be carrying a baby inside me.

I forced myself to take the test anyway.
As expected, it was negative. Only one red line appeared across the strip. Maybe I could stall it a little further and give Anna time to escape. We should have known that Karen would pull such a move. I stared at the test strip and frowned. My heart began to sink as a faint second red line began to appear. I blinked several times, surprised and filled with mixed emotions. I wasn’t sure how to feel. The second line grew in intensity and soon it was as bright as the first.

‘Shit,’ I found myself saying.
My head suddenly felt light and I was unable to breath. It was impossible but Tristan did shoot an entire load inside me. Maybe the test is wrong, which would work to our advantage, but what if it’s not? Shit. When was the last time I had my period? In all this craziness, I haven’t been keeping track. I can’t be pregnant. Or am I?

‘What’s going on in there?’ Karen called through the door.
‘Should I call for Annabelle’s removal?’

‘No,’ I said and forced myself to breath.

‘Then open up and show me the test.’

I turned the doorknob and unclicked the press lock.
Tristan stood in the middle of the hallway with his father next to him. I had the test result in my hand. He saw my pale face and was confused by it.

‘Two lines,’ I uttered, ‘I’m pregnant.’

The world must have frozen for Tristan. I saw it in his stunned reaction. I’m pregnant, which meant Anna is safe. But it also meant that I’m pregnant and he’s going to be a father. Karen snatched the test strip from my hand and I walked passed her towards Tristan. She was stunned into the same silence.

Tristan took up my hand and held it in his.

‘Come on, I’m taking you home,’ he said.

I nodded and walked out in a sort of daze. It left Karen speechless and Elliot Vice did not say a word.
Tristan opened to passenger door for me and I slipped in. He drove out of the Main House grounds and we sat in silence as he moved through the traffic.

‘Stop at a drugstore,’ I found myself sa
ying when we were halfway towards home. Tristan did not ask why. He understood. He wanted to make sure as much as I did.

‘I’ll get it,’ he said as he pulled up to park the car. I was still in shock and could not move. Tristan disappeared momentarily and returned with a package.
I held it on my lap and stared through the windscreen with glassy confused eyes. I can’t be pregnant. I’m not ready to be a mother. Shit.

The house was emp
ty. Lorraine had gone with Jace and Anna. I disappeared into the bathroom and Tristan waited outside. He was as nervous as I am. I felt him pace and forth as I took the test a second time.

Shit.

It’s positive again.

I sat on the bathroom floor and remained there for quite some time. It made Tristan concern and when I did not reply when he knocked, he turned the doorknob and came in.

I was crying as a strange fear filled me. I didn’t know why. The realization that I’m going to be a mother overwhelmed every part of me. Tristan sat down next to me and around his strong reassuring arms around my shoulders. He was not prepared for it either but he remained calm and composed. It was what I needed as he pulled my head against his strong chest. He kissed the top of my head.

‘Everything’s going to be alright,’
he whispered.

For a moment I believed him. Tristan slipped his arm beneath my legs and lifted me off the ground. I wrapped my
arms around his neck as he carried me to the bed. He kissed me on the lips and the touch of his hand against my face made me trust his words. I peered into his blue eyes and he reassured me with a nod as he cupped his hands on my face. His lips then curved into a delighted smile.

‘We’re going to have a baby.’

At first I was reluctant but delighted realization on Tristan’s face made me change my mind. It drove all doubt away from me and my hand reached down and rested itself against my womb. I’m going to be a mother.

‘You better call Jace,’ I said to Tristan. We had lay in the bed, side by side, for almost an hour as we came to terms with my pregnancy. Tristan sat up and kissed my forehead.
It was reassuring and I felt calm by the soft touch of his lips. He reached into his pocket and produced his phone. Lorraine answered the call.

‘Where are you now?’ Tristan asked and I could hear Lorraine voice reply indistinctively.
‘Everything’s alright. Yes, it’s safe to come back. The Main House won’t bother us.’