24. Delilah
Chapter twenty-four
Delilah
“ S o we’re going to a nightclub?” I asked Kimiko, confused as she ranted on about how Sterling “appeared out of thin air” and “ruined her entire trip.” We had finally landed in Paris and were now in an SUV, on our way to our hotel.
“Unfortunately. He made me look like a fool in front of the dean and tried to make me the bad guy!” she exclaimed.
I glanced at Avery for a split second to see him giving me a look that told me she was exaggerating.
“Kimi, I think you’re just tired. Let’s get settled, and you can let all that anger out after we finally get some rest… how does that sound?”
“Fine. I’ll relax. I still can’t believe the presidential suite is being occupied... oh please. Did Uncle Killian not offer a higher price for the room?” she asked, referring to the room she and I were supposed to share. By the time my father had stopped acting like a child, someone had already occupied it.
He did offer to buy it out, but the person was persistent and was willing to pay more than anything my father provided. It was a penthouse suite and would have been perfect for me, Kimiko, Nathan, and Avery to be in.
“He did, but whoever’s staying there clearly doesn’t care who my father is. But it doesn’t matter. What matters is that we have the next best thing, even though it’s for you and me only,” I replied, and Kimiko shrugged. Avery would be getting his room as well as Nathan, so it worked out in the end.
“I guess so—not the worst thing I had to hear in the last few hours. I can’t believe the dean actually liked his idea! He may even ask the idiot to work with me when we return to the States!” Kimiko started up again, and Avery sighed as he tried to make her relax, but his efforts were barely effective.
We reached our building, and as we stepped out, we were greeted by the students in our group and our chaperone for the trip. Kimiko and Avery went into the building for preparations, and I stood with Nathan as we listened to the woman speak about our agenda for the next few days and other important details.
“...And I know the word has gone around about a nightclub rented out for the students, and although you all are allowed to go, I expect you to arrive back in our meeting spot tomorrow morning at eight thirty sharp. Now, get some rest and unpack. Dinner will be served in the main hall down the street. Keep your tags on you for the entire trip, and check in every morning, afternoon, and evening on your cellphones. Remember, this is the last time you will hear English. Brush up on your French before tomorrow. You are dismissed!” she finished, and I squealed happily as I practically dragged Nathan into the building.
“Aren’t you excited, Nathan?! We’re in Paris!” I said with an accent, and he chuckled.
“In actuality, Delilah, you are in Paris. I am in your shadow.”
I sighed. “You’re allowed to have fun, eat, drink. You’re even allowed to breathe, Nathan!”
“Ask your father if I’m allowed to do that, and he’ll have a different opinion,” Nathan retorted, and I rolled my eyes as we made our way to me and Kimi’s room. After I opened the door, he placed my bags in the corner. “Now get unpacked. Once I give your father my daily report, he won’t want to hear that you were in a nightclub. If I go, it is your choice. I won’t be far, but I can let you enjoy yourself and not breathe down your neck.”
I blew him a kiss. “Stay in, do as you please. Thank you for my freedom tonight.”
He chuckled. “If I don’t give it to you, you will probably kill me in my sleep.”
I gasped and rolled my eyes. “How else should I do it? Make you suffer?”
He nodded. “That’s my cue to leave. Keep your location on and answer my phone calls.”
He moved towards his room, and Kimiko stormed inside. “I wish I could get drunk tonight, because I do not feel like being sober right now with all that is going on.”
I grabbed her shoulders and smiled as she was still steaming with anger.
“Kimi. We made it to Paris! You did it! Even if you have to babysit all of us. Regardless, you’re our president, and we love you for being there for us. And we’re big kids. One drink won’t hurt.”
She sighed dramatically. “I guess one drink wouldn’t hurt,” she compromised, and we both laughed it out as we prepared for the rest of the day.
After unpacking, I ate dinner and sat in my room as I curled my hair. Kimi walked in from the living room and sat on my bed, watching me in the mirror.
“We’re leaving in about twenty minutes,” she said, and I nodded, but I could tell she wanted to say more.
She continued as I expected. “What happened between you and Archer at the airport?”
I rolled my eyes. “He was a total ass, is what happened. One minute he’s making my heart flutter, and the next, he’s fucking crushing it and blaming me all at the same time when he’s the one who told me he wanted to go on the trip for me. Now he’s punishing me for making it possible for me to actually go?! Yeah, okay, buddy,” I said, rolling my eyes.
Kimi frowned slightly. “I could tell you seemed a bit excited to go out and let go...”
“And what’s that supposed to mean?” I asked.
She shrugged. “You’re hurt. You want to drown your sorrows.”
“Of course I’m hurt, but I can’t just go have fun? The one guy who I take an interest in can’t be with me because of my family and because he’s a total jackass. I’m allowed to have fun, Kimiko.” I looked at her in the mirror, and she nodded, still seeming unconvinced.
“If you say so.”
I stood up after finishing my hair and walked into my closet to get dressed in a cute little black dress and heels. Soon enough, we were in the car on the way to the club, arriving a little after nine. I noticed many of the students were already inside living it up.
Kimiko said, “I guess we have the building tonight.”
“You can thank Sterling for that.” I winked, and she gave me a look as we went inside.
The music was loud, there was a lot of dancing, and I did my best to ignore the… other things going on with a few of the students.
“You know, I didn’t really expect much less. We’re all stressed at school and have insanely high expectations from the faculty and parents. The one time we go to a club… the students dance like they’re insane, get drunk, and dry hump in the corner like there’s no tomorrow,” Kimiko muttered, and she wasn’t wrong.
With all the pressure we feel growing up, it’s good to let loose and live because God knows how long it will be before we can do it again.
We eventually found the bar, and Avery met up with us as he sat beside Kimi. Being the semi-third wheel in the group now, I was lost in my thoughts and didn’t notice the rather handsome bartender placing a drink in front of me.
I looked up at him and smiled. “ Is this for me?” I asked him in French, and he bit his lip with a slight chuckle.
“On the house... mon chéri, ” he responded.
I gave him a look. “You know, you’re not supposed to speak English to me. If you do, I’m not supposed to respond; words of my chaperone...”
“Well, excuse me for learning the language of the drunken American tourists who frequently end up needing a ride home.”
“But I’m not drunk right now.”
“No, but you’re adorable.”
I smiled. “Is that so?” I asked, and he winked before walking over to the other side of the bar.
Kimiko turned her head over towards me. “You’re awfully friendly tonight.”
Throwing back my shot, I sighed before speaking. “I’m not always a bitch, Kim-Kim.”
“That’s true, but you’re also not always so moody, vulgar, and flirtatious.”
“I have a lot on my mind,” I said, downing her drink too while her face held a disapproving look.
“I bet you do.”
I glared at her, and she tilted her head sarcastically. “I can have a pity party if I want to, Kimiko. I’m dealing with about four insane billionaires... If I want to be upset, I think I’m allowed,” I responded.
Kimiko sighed as she pulled me into her embrace and kissed the top of my forehead. “I’ll be with Avery for a moment. I’ll give you some space.”
She walked away, and I sighed as the bartender came back.
“That looked intense,” he commented, and I shrugged.
“It’s my fault, really,” I said softly, and he nodded.
“No need to explain. And for a gentle-hearted soul like you, drinks are on me.”
“Looks can be deceiving,” I retorted, and he shrugged.
“I’ll take my chances.”
Reaching into my bag, I pulled out a hundred and slid it over to him. “And this tip is for a gentle-hearted soul like you. Now show me what you got.”
He smiled and whipped something else up and slid it my way. One drink turned into three, which turned into six. And soon enough, I found myself behind the bar, holding a bottle as I danced to the music I could barely hear anymore.
“ Chéri, I think you’ve had a little too much,” the bartender said, slowly trying to pry the bottle of tequila from my hand. But drunken me was successful at hiding it behind my back before I let out a tiny burp as I looked up at him and shrugged.
“Maybe…” was all I said.
He chuckled. “Go on and find a trashcan or toilet. I’ll send your friend to come and get you. You look like you’re about to throw up.”
Just as he said that, I felt something come up slowly, but I ignored it.
“I’ll be fine. I’m a big girl! Don’t let her find me pleaseee,” I whispered for some reason, and he chuckled again as he went back to his work. Meanwhile, the bile in my throat was still aching to come out, so I dashed towards the bathroom and threw up in the nearest toilet.
My throat burned slightly as my head began to spin, but I felt ten times better. Afterward, I wiped my face and walked over to the wall, sliding down it as I listened to the music pound in my head, and I stared at the tile of the empty bathroom.
I took another sip and bobbed my head as I whispered, nodding as I could vividly hear the drums beating of a classic Cheetah Girls anthem.
“Delilah.” I flinched as I heard a voice and looked around.
“Hello? Who’s there?” I asked, and that’s when I noticed my phone had somehow ended up under my thigh, and I must have butt-dialed someone. I pulled it out.
“Delilah, why did you call me?”
“Archer? Oh, I didn’t mean... Call didn’t mean... butt dial,” I tried to put the words together.
He paused for a minute. “Right...”
“Oh, hey! Are you here at the party??” I asked, my eyes opening slightly as I sat up excited, and he sighed.
“No, I’m not. Delilah, where’s Kimiko?”
“Shhh! I’m *hiccup* trying to hide from her… I think I’m drunk!!” I said.
He paused before I could hear him moving around through the phone.
“Really, Princess?” he asked, and I nodded even though he couldn’t see me.
“Mhmmm…”
“And how did that happen?”
“The bartender said I was cute!” I smiled, and he hummed.
“He did?”
I nodded. “He told me I was adorable.”
“Well, he wasn’t lying, sweetheart.”
I giggled, and slowly, my laughs turned into sobs.
“ Delilah, what’s wrong?”
“Y-you’re s-so mean to m-me,” I cried, and he didn’t say anything. “You torment me, you push me around, you bully me, and I just sit there and take it because two seconds later, you threaten me if I talk to any guy! And your excuse? You, for some reason, think I belong to you!”
“ Delilah—” he began, but I cut him off.
“You make me feel things just to act like a different person the next day. You want me to feel the same for you? Start acting like it!” I screamed into the phone, and he sighed.
“Delilah, you’re intoxicated. We can’t—”
“Whatever. I don’t care anymore.”
I ended the phone call. I leaned my head against the wall as my eyes slowly started to close.
The door opened, and I heard footsteps approach me.
“God, Delilah.” I heard his voice, and I looked up at him. He leaned down and picked me up, his arm under my knees and my torso as my head laid on his shoulder.
I whispered as he walked towards the exit, “I’m blaming this on you.”
He sighed. “No need. I already blame myself.”
My eyes slowly started to open, but I closed them just in time before the light blinded me.
Why do I feel so terrible?
I couldn’t even remember anything from yesterday night.
I sat up slowly and rubbed my eyes. So we went to the bar. Obviously I drank too much. After that…?
“Good morning.”
I heard Archer, and slowly, memories began to resurface. I looked up to see him standing by the edge of the bed I had been lying in.
He stared at me for a moment before looking away. “You were quite the truth-spiller last night,” he muttered, and I rolled my eyes, trying to hide the fact that I was starting to blush.
“I’d rather not be reminded of last night’s events, if you don’t mind.”
I looked around the room slowly and noticed that I was most likely in his suite. However, it looked completely different from the room I shared with Kimi.
Oh God, Kimiko.
“I need to call Kimiko—” I started in a panic, and he cut me off.
“Kimiko is well aware of where you are.”
I calmed down slightly, though I had no clue what to say.
We stayed in silence for a moment, and I spoke up.
“…Why didn’t you just take me back to my room? I’ve already made a complete fool out of myself.”
“You said a few things that made me think. I’ve been taking my anger out on you recently, and that shouldn’t be the case…You know I want to be with you, Delilah.”
My breath got caught in my throat, and my mouth went dry.
“Archer, I don’t know that. I don’t even think you know what you’re saying—”
“I know exactly what I’m saying. You said it yourself: I’ve been possessive over you ever since we were young, and I have yet to take action. If I say that you’re mine, I should start acting like it, so I’ll say it again: I want to be with you.”
“Archer, we can’t—” I started, and he cut me off for the hundredth time.
“Spend the day with me.”
I tilted my head at his words. “Was that a question or a demand?” I asked him.
He shrugged. “Depends on how quickly you say yes.”
I stared at him for a moment before I couldn’t help but smile. “And what will our advisor say? We need to meet with our group soon...”
Slowly, he stood before walking over to me as my breath hitched in my throat. My face went red as he leaned in and spoke, pushing a piece of hair behind my ear.
“I don’t care, frankly, what she has to say. And besides, Princess… when have I ever been one to follow the rules?”
Omniscient
“Archer? What are you doing here?” Kimiko asked as Archer stormed into the club. She knew he wouldn’t be one to come to the party even if his friend did manage to organize it.
He looked over to her furiously. “Where the hell is Delilah, Kimiko?”
“She’s over—” Kimiko turned around, and her heart dropped. “Avery, where is Delilah!” she yelled.
He glanced over to her. “In the bathroom...” he responded, and Archer walked past them and spoke over his shoulder.
“Apparently, she’s hiding from you with a bottle of tequila in her hand.”
Walking farther into the club, he entered the women’s bathroom, and he could hear Delilah singing in Spanish before switching to English to sing about… cheetahs?
“God, Delilah,” he muttered before he picked her up in his arms and carried her out of the bathroom.
Meanwhile, Luca sat in the corner of the club, watching the events of the night unfold, from Delilah becoming intoxicated to Archer miraculously appearing and coming to her rescue.
It’s a cycle ... he thought to himself. Delilah, the damsel in distress. Archer, her once tormentor, now turned savior. Luca watched him carry her out of the club, and he sighed, deciding he should leave as well.
Once Luca exited the building, he called his chauffeur and headed to the airport. He’d had enough. This entire trip wouldn’t benefit him at all—if anything, it would be completely about Delilah and Archer.
Sitting in the car, he contemplated for a short while and picked up his phone to make a call. It rang for a moment before it was answered.
“Crawford. Can I help you with something?”
“Stephan... I think we can help each other in a sense,” Luca said.
Stephan replied, “What the hell are you even going on about?”
“You and I both know that you’re the one who should be inheriting LCWD Co...” Stephan hesitated for a second as Luca continued, “Archer is clearly in over his head and isn’t as focused as you are when it comes to running your father’s business.”
Stephan pondered for a moment. “ I’m listening.”
“Obviously you’re the most eligible candidate for the position, but I believe your father may be just using Archer for another goal. This isn’t about his capabilities but more about what he can do for the company.... which is why he has such an unfair advantage.”
“What unfair advantage?”
“Russel’s daughter.”
“And what does she have to do with any of this?”
“She and Calvin talk... Isn’t it strange how your father speaks to her regularly? To top it all off, anyone with eyes can see Archer is falling for her.”
“It was only a small crush. He can’t possibly still be interested in Killian’s daughter.”
“Talk to your father, and when you have your answers, call me,” Luca suggested before he abruptly ended the call. He needed to come up with a plan, and soon.
Getting Stephan on his side was crucial, to begin with. Especially when he would want to seek revenge for being used by Calvin and not having a fair chance at inheriting their family business.
Exposing the truth of their growing relationship could be done in a heartbeat. But that wouldn’t be enough. No… that would be too easy.
Although Luca was slightly upset about the events that had occurred that night, he couldn’t hide the plastered smile on his face... planning for the chaos as he was more than excited to see it unfold.