Entangled (Vice Games) (9 page)

The smell of Lauren was still in Tristan’s car and I could not help but be reminded of her naked ass on the leather. And that’s not including the juices she was leaking.
The thought repulsed me and Tristan noticed my discomfort. It was not what he intended when he drove us back and we sat in silence in the traffic. I returned his card and had not spent any of his money. It felt wrong and I could not bring myself to do it.

It was awkward, strange and heart racing at the same time.
I had to convince myself that he was just being kind. Perhaps he took pity in the embarrassment I felt for walking in on him yesterday. But there was also the matter of him breaking up with Lauren. Something told me that it would not be that simple.

Anna was surprised to see me return with her brother and gave me curios looks throughout the rest of the night.
She presented us with what remained of my cupcakes and Lorraine served up the dinner. Halfway through the meal, the phone rang and Jace entered with a grave look upon his face.

‘It’s from the
Main House,’ he said.

Tristan wiped his lips and stood up. He left with the
phone pressed against his ears. Anna strained to listen and got out of her seat to creep down the hallway towards where her brother stood. As hard as Anna tried, she could not make out a coherent conversation as Tristan kept moving. He returned shortly after and was not at all surprised to see his sister waiting with anticipation for the report.

‘They were just made aware,’ he said as he sat back down.

‘Of what?’ Anna asked with fear in her eyes. ‘It’s not the pills, is it?’

‘No,’ he replied and Anna was
quickly relieved by his reply.

‘Then what?’ she pressed.

‘Of my cancelled engagement.’

Anna’s surprise was quickly mirrored by Lorraine and Jace who were close enough to hear the announcement.
Tristan picked up his utensils and continued to eat his dinner as if nothing had happened.

‘You mean you’re not getting married to her?’ Anna asked. She needed to confirm as an elated smile spread across her face.

‘That is correct.’

Anna’s mouth dropped but the happiness was short lived when Tristan continued.

‘And it is the reason why we are required to dine at the Main House tomorrow evening.’

‘I’m not going,’ Anna announced.

‘Phoebe will also be required to attend.’

‘What? Why?’ I frowned.

Tristan did not answer. He finished his dinner and left without another word to neither of us. Anna was as confused as I am and could not phantom how Tristan’s called off engagement concerned us. Anna followed his brother upstairs and continued to pester him about the details but none was given. Tristan remained silent and out of sight for the rest of the night.

The next morning came quicker than any of us had anticipated and Tristan was not at the table.

‘He left half an hour ago,’ Lorraine informed us as Anna and I sat down together. ‘He also says that you both should be ready when he returns at five.’

Anna was reluctant and I was not enthusiastic about going to the
Main House. The teachers came and went and before we knew it, Lorraine ushered us to get dressed. I went for a demure black dress.

‘Goodness child,’ said Lorraine, ‘you are going to a dinner and not a funeral.’

‘It feels like it though,’ I told her. Anna came out of the bathroom dressed in a similar fashion. Lorraine shook her head.

‘No, no, the master had strict instructions that you dress appropriately.’

‘This is appropriate,’ Anna protested. ‘It’s called the little black dress.’

‘Very well,
’ Lorraine relented, ‘put on some lipstick, do your hair up and make yourselves look at least a little bit lively.’

Anna pulled a force comical smile. It made me laugh and forget momentarily about the imminent dinner at the
Main House. Time passed quickly and Tristan arrived exactly at five. I noted that he was driving a different car, a red sports BMW this time.

‘Did you just buy a new car?’
I heard Jace ask as Tristan entered the house. He had left with the silver one this morning.

‘Yes. Are they ready?’

Anna was in my room with me when Tristan knocked softly against my door. I opened it for him and I held my breath as my eyes gazed into his.

‘Anna,’ he
started, ‘go and wait downstairs. I want a private word with Phoebe.’

The seriousness of his voice made Anna blink and comply with confusion. Her brother was never this intense towards her and she moved off the bed and out of the room without a word of protest or question. I could see it on her face that she would ask me about it later.

Tristan stepped inside and closed the door. We were alone and I took a step back to create space between us. He saw my discomfort and chose to ignore it. There was not a hint of nervousness or second thoughts as he reached into his suit jacket’s inner pocket and produced a small red box. My eyes were instantly drawn towards it and saw that it was in fact, a ring box. I did not dare think why he would have it out.

‘Give me your hand
,’ he commanded.

‘What?’

I did not move and was half in shock when he flicked it open with his thumb.
Without hesitation, he took up my left hand. Inside was a princess cut diamond ring. He slipped it on my ring finger without asking. I attempted to pull my hand away but his grip around my wrist was too tight.

‘From this night onwards, we are engaged, is that understood?’

‘What? No,’ I found myself saying with bafflement painted all over my face.

‘My breakup with Lauren will be questioned and Karen will not accept the news lightly.’

‘So I’m to be your excuse?’

‘Yes.
Everything has been arranged and you are to follow my lead.’

‘What you’re asking me to do is lie to your father and stepmother,’ I said.

‘My family is already full of lies; one more will not hurt any of us. Besides, this was your idea.’

‘
How, exactly, is pretending to be your fiancée my idea?’ My heart raced as I spoke. His fingers were still wrapped around my wrist and the touch made it hard for me to breathe. Then I remembered our little conversation back at the restaurant yesterday. When he said he needed to pick someone that would not offend Anna, I did not realize that he meant me. ‘No. I can’t do this. Lying to them is one thing but to Anna? No.’

‘What you choose to disclose to my sister is up to you.
But I would advise that you do that after the dinner. Her reaction is vital in convincing them of our ruse. I will discuss the arrangement with you later.’

‘We could have
discussed about this during the day,’ I pointed out, ‘or early in the morning before you left for work.’

‘I had other businesses to attend to.’

‘Like buying a new car?’

‘You looked uncomfortable in the old one,’ he said without pointing to the fact why it made me feel that way. He knew and there was no need to talk about it any further.

‘How long am I supposed to stay engaged to you?’ I asked.

‘Until it is necessary to terminate.’ Tristan released my wrist and looked at his watch. ‘We need to go.’

He opened the door and stepped aside for me. I frowned as I made my way down the stairs where Anna waited. Her eyes immediately caught the rock on my finger. Lorraine was next to her and their mouths dropped instantly.

‘Is that mom’s ring?’ Anna asked as she came forward and took up my hand to observe it. ‘It is mom’s ring.
’

I turned to Tristan who descended the stairs with elegance. He nodded for me to keep walking and did not answer my enquiring look. On my finger was a family heirloom and it made me feel like an imposter to be wearing it.
Everything seemed to be happening so quickly that I did not have time to comprehend it at all.

‘To the car, Anna,’ said Tristan.

‘Did you just propose to Phoebe? I didn’t know you two were…when did this happen?’

‘
Anna, I’ll explain later but for now, well, come on, let’s just get this over and done with.’

Tristan opened the car door for me
and Anna bounced into her seat. She pestered us with questions but Tristan did not answer any of them. I remembered what Tristan had said to me earlier and held my tongue to prevent it from bursting Anna’s elated bubble. I dreaded how she would take it when she finds out that it is only a lie.

It was dark when we arrived at the mansion and it was slightly over six. The traffic had not been kind and it took an extra half an hour to reach the
Main House.

‘Anna, compose yourself,’ Tristan said as he moved to stand beside me. Anna pulled a face at her brother but did as she was told.

I felt nervous as we walked together up the front steps and guided us through the house by one of the waiting butlers. The place was illuminated with a harsh white glow and every inch felt cold. The dining room was large and the table big enough to seat at least fifty table. Seated at the head of the table was Elliot Vice and to his left was his wife Karen. I was surprised to see Lauren seated next to her. She wore a bright low cut dress that placed her pair of melons on display. Her hair was set in the same perfect curls as Karen and I thought that it made them look almost like twins. The similarity made me think that these two are somehow related, or perhaps it was just Karen’s surgical modifications. Their perfumes were strong and it felt as they had showered in it.

The two women’s eyes immediately glanced towards the ring on my finger. With their taste in money, a rock of this quality and size was not hard to miss. I saw Elliot Vice’s eyes moved in the same direction and it deduced a flicker of emotion through his stone face.

‘Sit,’ he said.

Tristan led the way and sat on the opposite side from Karen and Lauren. Anna and I followed. I noticed that Anna remained unusually calm i
n the presence of these two women and I quickly realized that it was probably due to the false fact that I am engaged to her brother. It prevented her from having a panic attack as a different sort of thoughts moved through her mind.

‘Explain yourself,’ Elliot Vice demanded.

‘What would you like to know?’ Tristan asked. He turned to face his father directly and I noted how his tone changed with a hint of mockery.

‘Why is that ring on her finger?’ Karen asked.

‘Oh,’ said Tristan as he picked up my hand and observed the stone under the chandelier light. As he ran his fingers to straighten out mine, a wave of electricity moved through my body. ‘You mean this?’ Tristan placed my hand down on the table and held it in place for all to see. ‘We are engaged,’ he announced.

I held my breath
as my eyes observed the two women opposite me.

‘Engaged?’
Karen repeated. The surprise must have been so strong that it managed to show itself. Incredulity covered her normally plastic and unchangeable face.

‘Yes,’ Tristan confirmed.

Lauren seemed to be in shock but quickly found her voice. ‘Is she the reason why you broke it off with me?’

‘Yes.’

Her eyes widened and it looked as if she was about to scream. Her chest heaved furiously as she glared at me with murder in her eyes. Karen placed her hand against Lauren’s arm and kept her from lashing out. It was a good thing the food was not served yet. I was certain that she would most likely throw her knife at me.

‘I see you have chosen to have Annabelle return here,’ she said.

Anna immediately looked past me to question her brother with her eyes. She opened her mouth to speak but I quickly took up her hand. I sensed that Tristan has some sort of plan. He would never let Anna back here, especially when she’s doing so well since being away from this place.

‘That won’t be necessary,’ he said calmly.

‘But that is part of the agreement. You marry Lauren and she will take care of your troublesome sister while you work.’

‘Yes, that is prior to Phoebe’s employment. Father, did we not come to another agreement concerning Annabelle? You said that she may stay with me under the circumstance that I am able to hire someone who has control over her behavior.
I am aware that the teachers that come to my house are also employed to witness her taking her pills. The doctors you have assigned to her also confirmed in their reports to you that Annabelle’s behavior and mental stability has also positively increased since Phoebe’s arrival. As you can see now, Annabelle is also not experiencing any signs of a panic attack which often occurs when she is here in this house.’

Elliot Vice could not deny these facts.
I have been in every class that Anna took with the teachers that her father had hired, with the exception of yesterday’s math lesson. I also went with her for her doctor appointments. Although we continued our lies to them as well, it was clear that not taking the pills had a dramatic positive impact on Anna’s sanity. But her father didn’t need to know that and Tristan did not speak a word about it. The only other souls that knew about the ruse were Lorraine and Jace.