Chapter 17
17
‘Noah looks great in a kilt, right?’ Chloe crooned into my ear. ‘He was quite insecure about wearing it but I’m glad Abeo convinced him. Thank you for escorting me, by the way. It feels right to do this with you.’
My left hand was in hers and the other rested on her bare back. In the centre of the hall, we danced as though floating – poised, fluid, perfectly synchronized, the result of years of attending elitist galas and celebratory balls. We’d been trained and polished to play the part, to gain the approval of high society.
There were many other dancers, but none who were being watched and recorded like us. I knew Chloe’s personal photographer was currently capturing footage for her socials. Mr Ex would certainly be pleased, thinking he’d caused this little Chlarim reunion; he was probably staring at us this very moment. The thought made my skin crawl.
‘You’re the smoothest dance partner I’ve ever had,’ she continued. ‘Let’s promise to always save each other at least one dance at whatever ball we attend, OK?’
I didn’t bother to respond – I wasn’t in the mood to feign happiness.
She moved back a little and gave me a warm smile. ‘This makes things feel a bit more normal, right?’
‘We have to be dancing for things to be normal between us?’
She laughed softly. Usually I cherished that sound; today I didn’t. I’d noticed the way she’d looked at Sanjay, and the way he had looked back.
‘Not dancing necessarily. Just doing the things we did when we were friends.’
It was strange that even though she was in my arms, my skin touching hers, I felt distant from her. Disconnected.
‘Do you really think we can be friends?’
Chloe’s eyes widened in surprise. ‘Of course. Don’t you?’
I looked away and focused on the dance – twirling her here, waltzing around once, lifting her, coming together again. Her eyes met mine and I noticed her face had fallen. I didn’t want to deal with this.
‘Would you please excuse me?’ I walked off before she could respond.
It would be better for both of us if we gave each other space. I grabbed a lemonade and took a sip.
This was a rather scandalous move: to leave your partner stranded on the dance floor. I could feel the whispers gathering in volume around me. It made me want to start a scene wild enough to really give them something to talk about.
Sanjay broke off his own dance with his debutante and went over to Chloe. They couldn’t make it more obvious that something was going on between them. Abeo was still dancing with Felicity, but his eyes were trying to catch mine, to check whether I was OK. I turned away, wanting to be left alone.
The music began to fade out, and the host gushed, ‘Such elegant dancing from our debutantes and their partners!’ She paused for the clapping to settle. ‘May I please have all the debutantes join me on stage? We shall now reveal the Deb of the Year.’
As the girls made their way forward, Abeo came to stand by me. ‘What happened between you two? Is the Mr Ex plan still on?’
I noticed that Sanjay still stood exactly where Chloe had left him, choosing not to join me and Abeo like he usually would have done.
‘Nothing.’ I shook my head. ‘And yes, of course it is.’
‘I don’t think anything’s happening between them,’ Abeo said, eyeing Sanjay pointedly. ‘He’s just helping her get through this difficult time as a friend.’
The host cleared her throat before saying, ‘The Deb of the Year award goes to … Chloe Clark.’
More applause broke out.
Chloe’s expression held the perfect amount of surprise and joy. Picture-perfect and deeply likeable, despite all the controversy that was surrounding her right now. She smiled prettily as the mic was passed to her.
‘Thank you so much. As a token of gratitude to everyone who put this incredible event together, I would like to sing a song I was inspired to write by my charity work. The bulk of this song was written in the Poets’ Corner in Westminster Abbey.’
She began to sing with chilling beauty, and the anger inside me started to fade. Chloe Clark felt most real when she was singing, and I could tell everyone else was savouring the moment just as much as I was.
I’d been there when she’d first started writing songs; we’d been thirteen-year-olds stuck in her bedroom for hours on end, working on lyrics and tunes. I’d played the piano while she sang at the top of her lungs …
The truth was that I still loved her, I always would. But if I wanted to see her flourish, I had to let her go. Our on-and-off relationship had been toxic and unhealthy for both of us. And perhaps Abeo was right: maybe I’d misinterpreted what was happening between her and Sanjay.
I had to handle my emotions with Chloe better. If I kept on pulling stunts like this, it could damage our friendship irreversibly.
‘Maybe we should let the others in on the plan,’ I whispered to Abeo.
‘No. Don’t back out now,’ he replied, his expression stern. ‘We need to do this. Mr Ex never takes a day off, and we can’t afford to either.’
The applause was roaring when Chloe’s song came to an end. With guidance from the host, she cut the luxurious six-tiered pink cake. Felicity and Chloe then joined Sanjay in the centre of the hall. Abeo moved towards them, and I followed suit.
‘That song was the highlight of the evening,’ Sanjay complimented.
‘Thank you,’ Chloe beamed.
Abeo widened his eyes a fraction as he looked at me. And I knew it was time.
A staged fight, sparked by Abeo. That was the plan to prise out Mr Ex.
He would want to be as close as possible, to hang on to every single word that passed between us. Abeo had a personal videographer in place to capture every moment involving him tonight; if anyone was lingering particularly close, trying to capture anything, we’d be able to see it in the footage.
‘So, how are things going between you two?’ Abeo said, looking between Sanjay and Chloe, his tone confrontational. ‘It seems Chloe’s moving on much quicker than Karim. Right, Sanjay?’
It hurt – even though I was the one who’d concocted the plan, who’d chosen the exact words that were coming from Abeo’s mouth.
Colour rose high on Chloe’s cheeks and her mouth quivered. ‘Have you been drinking, Abeo?’
‘Nope,’ he responded, freestyling now. ‘I’m just saying what the world is thinking. You certainly know how to move on from someone you claimed to have loved for years. Oh, you didn’t answer my question, Sanjay. Don’t you think it was quick?’
Sanjay clenched his jaw.
‘I’m sure you don’t mean that, Abeo,’ Felicity murmured, eyes wide.
‘I most certainly do,’ snapped Abeo. ‘While Chloe’s busy making eyes at Sanjay and trying to get a reaction from Karim, our content creation is stalling. Maybe she’s done with our group content and wants to use these scandals for clout just in time for the release of her big single?’
Chloe’s eyes filled. She wasn’t used to hearing Abeo be so harsh. Certainly not towards her anyway. Her mouth opened as though she was about to say something, but then she closed it again and rushed away.
‘Screw you,’ Sanjay growled at Abeo before going after her.
‘What is wrong with you?’ Felicity raged.
Some people approached Felicity to ask for selfies, and she used it as an excuse to get away too, throwing Abeo a filthy look.
‘I’ll check the footage tonight,’ Abeo told me. ‘Hopefully something’s been captured.’
‘Mate, I think she’s really hurt,’ I said. ‘I don’t want her thinking you’re the bad guy. I’m going to find her and explain.’
‘I’d apologize personally, but I don’t think she’ll want me anywhere near her right now. I hope she understands.’
I headed swiftly down the stairs, my chest tight with discomfort. I could make out Chloe’s voice from a room on the right.
‘No one ever says anything to him ,’ she complained loudly between sobs. ‘All the hate comments are directed towards me. Karim gets nothing . And I’m the reckless, shameless slut.’
‘It’s OK,’ Sanjay said soothingly. ‘It’s all going to blow over soon.’
‘If a man chooses his career, he’s smart and ambitious. But if a girl does, she’s a selfish, evil bitch.’ She cried deeply and it stung. Perhaps we’d gone a touch too far. ‘Why do I feel like I’m losing everyone?’
‘Chlo, you’re not. Things will go back to normal soon. And you’ll never lose me. I’m right here. I’ll always be here for you.’
‘Thanks, Sanjay. Nobody gets me like you do.’
That stung too. I decided to ignore it. She was upset.
‘Karim embarrassed me on the dance floor tonight,’ she said tearfully. ‘I’m trying, but I just don’t see things getting better.’
‘It’s not just you – these days, he’s pushing everyone away.’ Sanjay paused. ‘Maybe he’s figured out about us.’
My head pounded.
‘I thought we were being subtle.’
‘Subtlety isn’t your strong suit,’ he quipped, and she gave a watery giggle.
I’d had enough. I barged in.
Chloe’s lips wrenched apart from Sanjay’s as they jumped away from each other.
Seeing them together was like a fist slamming straight into my heart.
‘Oh, Karim,’ Chloe said desperately. ‘It’s not what you think.’
Hurt became fury. ‘What?’ I spat venomously. ‘That you got with one of our best friends mere weeks after we broke up, after having an abortion you didn’t even tell me about.’
She choked on a deep sob. I couldn’t care less. Not any more.
‘It was traumatic for you too, right?’ I posed as a genuine question. ‘Or maybe you didn’t really care about that either?’
Sanjay stepped towards me with a hand raised, as though trying to tame a wild animal. ‘Please, Karim –’
‘Don’t say my fucking name,’ I shouted. ‘You knew how I felt about her. Eye-opening to see what kind of a brother you really are.’
Sanjay could no longer meet my eyes and I faced Chloe again. ‘We were together for years . We’ve been in love since we were kids.’ My voice suddenly got louder. ‘It’s like the most important relationship of my life meant nothing .’
They both flinched.
It felt as though the ground was shaking, but I realized every part of me was quivering – with disgust, anger, humiliation.
I took deep breaths to steady myself, and I knew when I next spoke it needed to be calmly. ‘I can’t have people in my life that I don’t trust, and I don’t trust either of you. I’m done with you both.’
‘Karim, please,’ Chloe begged, mascara dripping down her face. ‘I’m so, so sorry. Please don’t do this. What about The Exes?’
‘Don’t let this ruin our years of friendship, bro,’ Sanjay murmured, looking close to tears himself.
‘I don’t hate either of you,’ I said, surprising myself with the emotion breaking out in my own voice. ‘I just don’t want anything to do with you. Be together, if that’s what you want. Just stay the hell away from me.’