Chapter 2
Elena
I never liked frat parties back in college, and I still don’t like parties. The loud music is always way too much for me and gives me a headache after only half an hour maximum and don’t even get me started on the light at the disco because those are blinding. I am not even sure they are alright for the human eyes but whatever helps people have fun, I am not judging.
Those aren’t the only reasons I hate parties. I hate being lost, and parties are like a maze. Monaco can be a strange place.
A scream erupts around the club and a body rams into the guy next to us, leaving us in shock as they both just lay there on the ground, Zanders - who got rammed - groans in pain and the other is screaming in success on top of him and gets up soon after.
“What the fuck.” Reneè curses as she laughs at the situation. “Zanders, you okay?” She asks our friend as he gets up, the other running away - who was wearing a cape with a ghost face mask. Someone watched one too many movies and since when is it Halloween?
Our friend gets back on his feet, swings his arm around Reneè and she keeps rubbing his back, as he massages his temple.
“Do you think he is okay?” She asks me as she holds on to our best friend Zanders and tries to keep him from passing out.
“He is a Gemini,” I tell her one last time, and she just agrees with me. My statement is to say that because he is a Gemini and has experienced worse, he will be okay so we don’t need to worry about Zanders. He has gotten into worse situations than this. He got kidnapped once when he was younger, but that is a completely different story and frankly a traumatising one to listen to.
“Makes sense.” She nods at me before she turns her head back to him, his arms around her shoulder as she holds his hand. “You will survive, buddy.” She taps him on his chest and lightly shoves him away and sits him down on the empty seat.
“As I was saying, it’s madness if he thinks that I will still sleep with him after he fucked that bitch Jessica.”
“Wait, who is Jessica again? The blond?”
“If you are thinking of the one with huge tits then no, the one with the small ones.”
“There is another blond?” I question her again, wondering why I am even questioning this and why I am even listening because Reneé’s life is pure chaos. A fun chaos.
If I could describe Reneé in a few words it would be determined, fierce with an attitude problem no man can handle because they are weak as hell.
She nods at my question. “Got it,” I tell her once again, chugging down the last of my drink as she keeps on saying that she won’t go back to her ex Charles after all the rumours speculating about him.
I try not to believe them since Charles was obsessed with her, but due to Reneé’s stupidity and commitment issues, she broke his heart when she said no to his proposal, but if they are true and if I had an opinion on this drama, I would say fuck you Charlie and damn Reneè is one hell of a stalker to know everything so fast.
“This whole talking is making my throat dry up, I am going to the bar, you want something?”
“No thank you. One is enough and I still need to drive.” I joke around as I swirl around the ice in my glass. I only ever drink mocktails. I have never been a big fan of alcohol and even if I were to drink tonight – which I would not, I would not be driving because we did come on the train.
“Right. Don’t drink. My life depends on you girl and I am not ready to die. I still haven’t met my prince charming.” She does a dramatic act at the Prince Charming part. Drama queen right here but I love my best friend. Even if she is the polar opposite of me, she is my soul. I might not have known her as long as Zanders but we three are a powerful trio. Mostly Zanders is third wheeling.
“Says your commitment phobe heart or are you just drunk as hell.”
She exhales as she thinks for a moment. “Both.”
I laugh at her answer and before I know it, she sprints away to the bar. The music of the disco gets on my nerves as it hits the last of my eardrum.
“You okay, Zanders?” I ask him again, laughing between my words as he is still sitting in his seat and groans in pain. He did fall on his head so I don’t blame him for taking a long recovery rest.
I met Zanders at a college frat party in my freshmen year when Reneè introduced me to him as the playboy of the campus, he used to be the hockey captain but due to an injury in his foot he had to stop, now he pursues a career in modelling and is currently the highest paid male model in the industry. He also is kind of our bodyguard.
He and Reneè are family friends and I am a friend-friend, if you can say it like that. Normally he is our chauffeur too but he is with his friends here tonight so no Zanders ride.
That sounds so wrong. I am never saying that again.
Zanders points his thumb up and then points a middle finger at me. I laugh at him and turn my attention back to the DJ who is playing in the distance.
“Hey sweetheart,” And there it is, that nagging voice at the back of my head that never leaves and hunts me in my worst nightmares. It is like a piece of gum stuck in my hair that I can’t get out and it is getting annoying hearing his voice everywhere I go. So, I have started to ignore it, but he keeps repeating the same words. I throw my head back in frustration, my heart starts to burn when I see his face and my nerves start working harder because every time I see him, my nervous system is on high alert.
A bitter taste appears on my tongue to the fact that I haven’t seen him since the break-up and his presence isn’t making it easier. “What do you want?.”
“Don’t be like that, baby.” I fake gag when I turn my head away from him. Ben stands next to me and has been getting on my last nerve with his text messages and calls and now his presence is the last thing I need.
He is the kind of ex who needs attention 24/7 but doesn’t give any back and treats me like garbage. I was smart enough - but a little late to realize what a dick he is - and I left him after four years of dating and after I found out he cheated. I took way too long to stop gaslighting myself into thinking he was a good guy.
“So, you went from toxic ex to stalker ex but technically both are psychotic and toxic.”
“Stalker, yes. toxic? Baby, I was true to you.” He steps closer as he tries to wrap his arms around me.
Liar, liar, pants on fire. His pants will be on fire soon if he steps any closer. I don’t mind putting on a fire. After all, I did put his clothes on flames a week before we got here. Out of pettiness.
I take a step back, holding my hand in front of me to keep him away. He is crazy if he thinks I want anything to do with him. He is a degrading a-hole who made me lose all hope in me of ever doing something. I lost my artistic pleasure because of him. I used to love to sketch, mostly portraits but he used to tell me I spend way too much time on it and am not ‘prioritizing’ him enough.
“Don’t be like that Lena. You know me,”
“You’re right I do,” I start talking, disgust dancing on the tip of my tongue, but at the same time, I still feel something for him. I guess I haven't moved on as I hoped. “You are an asshole.” The cursing leaves a bitter aftertaste on my tongue. I hate to curse.
“Is that so?”
“We both know that.” I take a step back when he takes one forward. “Ben, it’s over. Get it.” He takes another step closer. My breath hitches as he won’t budge at my commands and only steps closer and I hit my back against someone else. “My boyfriend wouldn’t like seeing you trying to flirt with me.” I lie, praying that it will help get away from him. Truth is I hate lying, especially for things I know are wrong to lie about but this is a life-or-death situation so I have to lie.
Right?
“In another relationship so fast?”
“You are one to talk, didn’t you get in another relationship during our relationship? And frankly, it doesn’t matter, it’s been two months. That is an average timeline to get into a new relationship or at least in the talking phase.”
He shrugs his shoulders.
I mock him with his shrug. “What? You don’t care that I am with someone else or what?”
“No.” He doesn’t even care. Wow, he seems like a loyal guy and is keeping the bro code.
A shiver travels up my spine and I leave without another word, squeezing myself through the crowds of people, trying to find the way to the bar to Reneè.
I turn my head to him and see that he is following me around the club. I walk faster through the crowd, hearing the clicking of glasses, knowing that I am close.
I hate clubs here in Monaco.
Always crowded and full of cameras because a lot of celebrities are here. Mostly racing drivers. Sadly, enough we have to leave Monaco soon.
Our spring holidays are over and we have to go back to London on Monday because I have a new job as an assistant and I can't make a bad impression by not showing up on the first day. And Reneé’s bakery needs their manager and owner back.
I finally make it to the bar and walk straight to the bartender. “Hey excuse me. Have you seen a brunette with blue eyes? Kind of drunk and out of the world, who probably ordered a vodka Red Bull because she has no regard for her health.” I describe Reneè to him in French and he chuckles, his dimples showing as he finishes polishing a glass. Dimples… my deepest weakness in guys.
Good thing not every guy has them.
“Sadly, not sweetheart.” He answers back to me with one of the sexiest French accents I have heard.
“Shit,” I mumble under my breath and thank the bartender for his not-so-useful help.
“Where is your boyfriend?” He asks me as he comes out of nowhere, scaring the shit out of me. What is he? Some kind of vampire with super speed?
“Jesus,” I mumble under my breath as I jump up from his sudden appearance. I look around, trying to find my god-damn best friend. “Somewhere,” I answer and walk away. He never seems to give up and follows my footsteps around the whole bar.
Plan B, Elena. Think.
Fast.
Something clicks in my head and I look around the bar and my eyes land on a guy who looks like he is in his late twenties, a suitable bachelorette.
Perfect.
I walk up to him, trying to increase my pace. I tap him on his shoulder, and he turns to me, a poker face plastered on him and his grey eyes shine under the disco lights. His jawline is sharp enough to cut glass and he is wearing a pair of dark blue jeans with a white shirt that is paired with black leather jacket. His broad shoulders are pushed back and are perfectly captured by his suit. “Hey, I don’t know you, you don’t know me but I need you to act like my boyfriend for a minute.”
“Excuse me?”
“You are excused, now can you please help me.” I babble, not realising that I may come out as rude, but that is the least of my worry. I never come out this rude, because I believe in treating people with kindness, even if they are cruel to you.
Who am I kidding? I will never see this guy again anyway.
“What?”
“Act like we are dating whoever you are.”
“You do know I am a stranger?” He questions me again.
Duh, obviously I do.
I look back and see him watching me from his little corner. I turn back to the front. “I don’t care at the moment. I just need your help.” I tell him in a low voice, panic slowly rising in me as he never keeps his eyes from me and I need to somehow convince him that the guy in front of me is my boyfriend.
I bite the inside of my lip, trying to think and in a moment of panic and my first thought, I reach for the guy and wrap my hand around his neck before I pull him down and press my lips to his.