Chapter-11🌜 Why is he calling?
William's POV
Zane?? Why is he calling me now? How did he even get my number?? Oh yuh-his criminal reputation is too big for him to be unable to find my number.
Moreover, maybe he didn't even do anything dirty-at least in this case-and it's my dad who willingly gave him my every information...
There's an awkward silence, neither of us says anything. Finally, Zane clears his throat.
"Are you still there?" He asks me.
I don't reply, Ryan taps my back and mouths, 'Who is it?'
I put the call on hold, without excusing myself. 'Cus why should I?
"It's that asshole. Zane Fucking Valentino Belladonna!" I tell him. UGHHHHHH-I hate this guy! So-so much!
"Why does he have to ruin my life 24/7? I am just having a single breather and he will come and ruin it.
Selfish Asshole Belladonna. That's his new name." I scream.
"Oh? Why the fuck is he calling you?" Ryan asks.
"Mujhe kya pata!" I say with disgust and dramatics. Hindi, my mother tongue-quite literally, because in my house, only she speaks it, apart from me-makes an appearance.
"Urm, usually I would ask for a translation, but I will take it as-you don't know." He says, hesitantly.
And I do a 'hmph'.
Then his brows furrow and he asks, "But you are not talking-did you decline it?"
"No I didn't. I just put it on hold." I tell him.
"On hold? So are you gonna talk to him then?" He asks.
"Again...MUJHE KYA PATA?!" Ugh! Why is everyone being so annoying?
Okay, Ryan is definitely not being annoying, but it's just that cunt who brings out the worst in me.
"Hey, calm down." Ryan puts hand around my shoulder. "Talk to him if you are comfortable, otherwise just decline it." He says gently.
"Hmm..." I think about our previous meeting and SAB's Oscar winning performance-he was kind-good in pretending he was kind.
So, it's not like he can hurt me on the phone, plus I don't want him to think I am scared of him. Hell no!
I put my phone back up, see if the call is still going-or did the egoistic bastard decline it.
It is.
I unhold the call, but don't put it back near my ear-in fact I put it on speaker-because otherwise I would have to explain whatever he says, back to Ryan.
Moreover, it's not like we are an actual couple who need privacy.
I do a universal gesture of 'stay quiet' to Ryan, by putting a finger on my lips for a sec.
And he nods.
"Hello." I say to SAB. My voice is completely uninterested, as if he's bothering me-because he is!
"Hey..." He says. Contrastingly, his is still calm-and ugh deep!-why can't I have such a deep voice?
"Did I disturb you?" He asks.
"Yes!" I snap. And, Ryan puts his head in his hand, as if saying, 'I am done'.
"Oh, Sorry. I'll call late-" He says, but I interrupt.
"No, talk." I tell him, "You have already wasted my time. Now talk."
He doesn't comment on my rude behaviour, in fact asks, "How are you?" How is he still so calm??
"First of all, it's not a casual conversation, and we are not friends." I bark every word out. "So you can spare the formalities, and come straight to the topic."
This time-there's a pause.
Oh so is his calm exterior finally breaking? Is he finally losing his perfect balance?
Is Mr. SBA finally coming into his natural form?
"Yeah...so" He says, "It's just-I wanted to ask you, would you like to go out with me tomorrow?" His voice is hesitant.
"You can say no," he adds.
WHAT THE FUCK? Tomorrow? As in on Christmas?
And the fuck is 'go out'? Like what?-A date??
Even Ryan makes a face beside me.
"The fuck you mean by 'Go Out'?" I ask him.
"Go out, as in hang out with me." He says, and then adds, "Like we can go anywhere you want, but I was thinking of a restaurant-if you are okay with it, of course."
And that makes me pause, "Like what? A date?" I ask him, with no shame.
"I- urm...well..." He clears his throat.
"Not that I guess..."
"You guess??" I ask him.
"Okay, look it's not a date, because I know you would most definitely not want it." He says.
Oh...so he is still keeping the I-am-considerate act huh?
Well, two can play this game. If he is gonna continue with the whole I-am-so-kind-I am also determined to bring out his true SAB-self.
Game fucking on.
And the fuck he mean by, 'I would most definitely not want it' I mean I won't.
But does that mean-he will??
"Hello?" He asks, because apparently I forgot if the line is still going on or not.
"I am." I tell him. "And if it's not a date-then what is it?" I ask him suspiciously.
Because what the fuck will it be then?!
"See...it was mom's idea." He says, still unbothered to my dislike.
And wait, it's Bianca's idea? Who knows maybe he is lying-again.
"It was her idea?" I ask him.
"Yeah. It's not a date, and she just said-we should hang out together." He says, and then "just to get to know each other."
"Get to know each other??" I scream. "We don't need to know each other." The fuck he mean by this? "We are and always will be-strangers."
I remind him, if he has forgotten.
Again, he doesn't say anything for a second and then, "I remember that."
His voice is quiet now.
And I almost. Almost. Feel bad. But then I remember what he took away from me...
No, he doesn't deserve my kindness or my respect.
He is the devil himself.
"So, I guess it's a no." I am just about to spat back, but he says,
"I will tell mom your answer. Sorry, again." He says.
And most probably, just about to cut the call but the I-
"No wait!" I ask him.
Because if it was actually Bianca's idea...I don't want to upset her.
She was kind to me.
She even appreciated my passion, my degree.
Which no one apart from Ryan, my mom...and Romie-has ever done.
"I'll text you my answer by evening." I tell him.
There's another pause, but this time, "Remember, I promised you-we will never do something you are uncomfortable with." He says.
Ugh, he and his fake promises-
"And we will not. You can tell me you have plans, or are just uncomfortable. Just a word, and we will not do it." He says.
"I am sure she will understand."
Will we actually not?
Will he actually take my no and follow it?
Will he actually consider my discomfort?
Somehow, there's a really small part in me which is telling me, 'yes he will'.
Has to be a stupid intrusive thought!
But that part is overshadowed by my brain and instincts, which tell me to run far away from him.
But then why do I say, "I'll text you."?
And he says, "I'll wait." His voice is just too soothing to be true...
And I cut the call myself.
Because what the fuck was that?
"Holly fuck!!" Ryan goes.
"Why the fuck Zane Belladonna wants to hang out with you?"
"SBA- I mean...didn't you hear what he said?" I almost fumble.
"Hmm, I did, what's up with his mom? Why is trying to set you both up?" He asks with suspicion.
I don't know what to say to that, like you can't tell if someone's actually kind from just a meeting, but somehow with Bianca-I can tell.
"Oh? Bianca...Well, I don't know, she was kind to me, that day, so maybe," I shrug.
"Oh yeah? She was? I didn't know Belladonnas can be kind..." He says.
"Urm, at least she was..." I trail, and then, "She looks like the only sane person there. I think I should stay in her good books." I say.
"Because otherwise, I won't have a single person there who won't be a pain in my ass."
"Hmm..." He says with uncertainty.
"Do you think meeting alone will be safe-after what he has done...?"
"I haven't said 'yes' yet." I remind him.
"But you didn't say 'no' either-which means you are considering it." He says.
"I am."
Because, I actually am.
"Like, let's be real, he needs me for this marriage, so he won't hurt me." I say.
"Additionally, I can prevent this meeting, but what about after marriage? We will have to live together for-god knows how long. I can't say no to that..."
"Yeah... and if you think it will be safe..." he says, "it can actually help us in revenge."
"Hmm? It can? How...?" I ask him.
"Like get to know him-his weaknesses, his pleasures, his business. You might actually find some help-even the reason."
The reason.
The reason why he killed her.
And why is he planning the marriage?
"Yeah... It can help me find out why he wants to marry me." I say.
"Like what the fuck does he need from me?!" I say with frustration.
"Like he has billions, so it can't be money. Because we are rich? Sure, but I don't have money of my own." I say. "Then what?!"
Oh God! He's giving me a headache.
"I guess, you might get an idea on this 'not a date' meeting." He says.
"I wish so..." I say.
So it's decided.
I am going to the meeting.