(Margo POV)
The first game of the elimination stage was about to begin and I was for some fucking reason way more nervous than Tristan was. It was me who had to basically kick him out of the hotel room because he forgot about the time. It was his damn game!
"Would you relax. It'll be fine," was a line that I should have been saying to him not the other way around.
I was sitting in a VIP lounge, staring at my phone and responding to e-mails, which did distract me right up until we had to stand up for the national anthems.
They were playing Iran and I had to say that their anthem was great. I wasn't a big fan of ours, to be honest. Believe it or not, not every American creams their pants every time they hear it. Ok, I am not technically an American, but it still counts.
The game began and I was really regretting not getting something to nibble on while watching since my hands had absolutely nothing to do and it showed. The habit I had in my younger years, of chewing my nails, was threatening to return. If there is one thing I did not resent my mother for is stopping me from doing that. But she wasn't here now, so the only thing between me and my destroyed manicure was my power of self-restraint. And I don't think that was enough.
So a bag of crisps would have been helpful. But since I am most definitely not moving from this sit until after the first set, I'll just have to deal.
As much as I wanted to say I was this jittery just because of the game, I couldn't deny that I was mostly nervous for Tristan. I wanted him to play well, so he wouldn't kick himself after. Right now that didn't seem like an issue. He didn't get a lot of balls but when he did, they usually ended with a point.
We took the first set, so I could finally stand up and get something to eat. But first, the bathroom. As I locked myself in one of the stools, I heard another couple of feet come in. I didn't think any of it until they started talking.
"No, I'm telling you, he's totally easy."
I rolled my eyes.
"They can't have sex right before a game. It's some sort of rule. Because of the hormones or something."
"If they lose this one, there will be no other game and if they do win, their next game is in like two days. There is no way he won't be for it at the celebratory party."
She sounded like some barely legal American bimbo. I hope she is out of school at least. That makes me sound so fucking old.
"They have to win first."
"They will."
"And how are you planning to seduce him exactly?"
"I heard he is a fan of long island ice teas."
"So you want to get him drunk?"
"NO! Just relaxed."
I almost laughed. A foolproof plan indeed. Tristan likes those too. Maybe it's a sportsman thin- Wait.
Oh.
Ok, so this was awkward. I went out to wash my hands. The two women looked at me and then at each other in surprise.
"Did you hear..." started the one who allegedly wanted to get into Tristan's pants.
"Yeah. Don't worry about it. I don't judge."
"Hey, I saw you in that VIP box..."
"Yes?"
"I mean we're VIP, but not that much."
I chuckled. She was charming.
"I am a big financer of the team."
"Oh, cool. I'm Kelli. With an i."
"Margo."
"Dope name."
I was this close to laughing. I'm 24 years old and she made me feel 40. But her friend seemed to have recognized me.
"Holy shit, you're Morgana Spencer."
I inwardly cringed at the use of my full name.
"Yep."
Kelli with an i looked confused and mouthed to her friend ˝who?˝.
"I-I came to a lecture you had like a year ago at my university. It was awesome."
I didn't expect that.
"Oh, you're that businesswoman."
"Mhm, listen, the break is about to be over and..."
"Yeah, totally, I just don't want you to think that I'm some kind of a slut or anything. I just think Tristan is really hot."
You and me both. Her friend couldn't quite believe what Kelli was saying. She didn't hide the second-hand embarrassment well.
This was the first time I actually looked Kelli over. First of all, who in the living fuck of all fucks names their child Kelly with an i. And that is saying something coming from me, a Morgana.
But who cares about the name when she was pretty. Very pretty. With long wavy dark brown hair and caramel skin, she must be someone men and women drooled over. And one bat of those eyelashes above her doe-y chocolate brown eyes can almost certainly make people do her bidding. An uncomfortable feeling of jealousy started to appear in my stomach, but I squashed it before I could think more about it.
"Look I don't know you, so I don't care what or who you do. Now, if you excuse me."
I exited the bathroom.
X
I was waiting for him outside the arena. we agreed beforehand on a meeting point, knowing how hard is it to find someone with so many people around. It ended with three-nil. Tristan wasn't the main scorer, but he was still fantastic.
I needn't wait for long. He obviously showered and dressed quite quickly since not even half an hour after he left for the dressing room, he was already walking toward me.
"Sup' ice queen. Enjoyed yourself?"
"I did. Congrats. You played...well enough."
He grinned: "Aww, you're getting soft on me."
I glowered to try and counter that.
"What? No hug?"
He parted his arms and stepped closer. I swatted his arms away and he snickered.
"You are dreaming."
"Oh, I do dream. But about doing a lot more exciting things with you than hugging."
"Kak debil si ti."
(You are such a moron.)
"Do you always use that insult with me because you know it's like the only word I understand?"
"Of course. I don't want anything to be lost in translation."
"How thoughtful."
I couldn't stop myself from smiling. It always was like this. He always had a response at the ready, which made it just a lot of fun battling him. With most guys that do manage to keep up, I like to maintain a strictly platonic relationship. I don't want to lose the people that don't feel intimidated by me for the sake of sex.
With Tristan, however, it was different. I haven't figured how or why yet, but it will no doubt come to me.
"Before your head becomes disproportionate to your body, I'll add that your serving still blows."
A wolfish grin on his face was an indicator that whatever he'll say next will most definitely be total idiocy. He stepped closer and brushed my hip lightly with his fingers. His breath tickled my ear as he whispered: "I've got an idea what else could be blown."
Like I said. Idiocy. I pushed him away, while he was cackling, seemingly very proud of himself.
"For fuck's sakes, how old are you?!"
I wanted to sound appalled, but I knew that he could hear the amusement that crept into my voice.
"Oh come on, I was kidding. Kind of."
I rolled my eyes: "We'll talk about it."
"You coming to the after-party with me?"
"Sure."
I suddenly remembered my peculiar conversation in the VIP restroom.
"I should tell you that there is this girl who will probably want to get you drunk so you would sleep with her."
He seemed confused. I couldn't blame him.
"I had a conversation with this barley legal cheerleader type woman whose plan was to get you drunk on those ice teas you like, so you would be easier. Apparently, she thinks you are hot. Can't imagine why."
"Ok?"
"Just be careful. You don't want a sex scandal. Save that for when your career is ending not beginning."
To my surprise, he started laughing.
"How stupid do you think I am?"
"You underestimate how pretty she was."
"Don't worry," he caressed my arm "You are the only one I want to spend my night with anyway."
As soon as he said those words, my stomach plummeted and my heart definitely wasn't beating at a healthy speed. I haven't been nervous in a long time. This reminded me of those meetings when I just became a CEO and no one took me seriously. When I still had so much to prove to everybody.
But this wasn't a bunch of executives or hotshot wannabe investors. This was just Tristan. I gulped. When I looked into his eyes, in those golden specks illuminated by the street light wasn't even a hint of a joke. He was completely sincere. His warm smile was like a furnace, making me feel all warm inside as well.
That scared the shit out of me. I couldn't deal with it right now.
I stepped back and put on the best neutral face I could which must have been pretty impressive judging by Tristan's reaction.
"What?" his voice sounded so bewildered, losing all of the humorous undertones.
"I just remembered I can't go."
"Why?"
"I have an emergency. At home. At the company. I have to fly out today."
"Can't you take care of this from here? Don't you have like an army of people working for you?"
"This requires my immediate attention."
"And two minutes ago, when I asked you to come, it didn't?"
"I-" damn it, that was a good point "I don't need to answer myself to you. I have work to do. Some of us can't afford to waste our time with meaningless parties."
Insulting him usually worked to divert his attention.
"What did I say wrong?"
Not this time I guess.
"Nothing. It's not about you."
"Kind of feels like it is."
"I don't actually care enough about what you say to have that any impact on me."
He laughed again. It almost caused goosebumps on my arms, hearing his usually boyish, bright laugh, turn cynical, full of frustration and...hurt? That can't be right.
"You know what Morgana. Fuck you. Have a nice flight."
He turned away and left. I stood there, watching his silhouette disappear in the night, feeling absolutely defeated. I could still feel the tingling of his fingers on my skin and for a second I wanted to run after him, just to stop this uncomfortable pounding in my head and tightness in my chest.
But I restrained myself. It was for the best.
X
(Aron's POV)
I was tiping on my computer which would be a lot easier if Lukas didn't switch from sitting to walking up and down our office, back to sitting every two minutes. And then when he did sit, he had his long legs on the desk, crossing the imaginary line that divided it. Honestly, it was ridiculous that we still had to share it, but our office was quite small, so we didn't have much choice. I tried talking him into making a request for a bigger one, preferably one with a window, but he vetoed the idea. He naturally didn't seem keen on explaining why, so I didn't push since I knew we will get a better one eventually.
He was in a pretty good mood today, so I didn't understand what the nervousness was about. He also kept looking at the door. Who was he waiting for?
"Who are you waiting for?" I figured asking him was easier than wondering.
"Victoria."
I raised my eyebrows.
"Your sister?"
He normally avoided her as best as he could.
"No, queen Victoria of England. She wants to talk about our slave trade."
I closed my eyes and sighed.
"Ok, fine, stupid question. Sorry. Why are you waiting for her?"
He bit his lip, which gave me an excuse to stare at his lips for a few seconds.
"It's about a case."
"Which one?"
"An important one."
"You don't want to tell me."
"I can't. I mean, I don't really know what it is about."
"Then...How do you know it's this important? Do they have a special scent or..."
He snorted.
"Because my dad is being all secretive. It's huge and it's gonna be ours."
His emerald eyes lit up with such intensity I almost forgot how to breathe for a second. He was...well when his voice got low and determinant I always seem to lose the ability to speak properly. Or just to form words really. So I just nodded. It also wasn't lost on me that he said ours. Not his. It made me feel...I don't know...warm? Was that the expression? I just liked hearing it. I had to get away before he notices I'm blushing for no reason.
"Ok, cool, I'm going to make myself some coffee. Want a cup?"
He shook his head.
"Thanks, but I don't drink coffee."
Huh?
"Kaj? You have a coffee cup with you almost every morning!"
(What?...)
"No, I have a cup form a coffee shop. Doesn't mean it's coffee."
"What is it then?"
"Vodka."
He laughed at my unimpressed face.
"Ok, yeah it's usually tea or hot chocolate. If I want to treat myself."
"How can you not drink coffee? Do you know where you work?"
"I just can't stand the taste, to be honest."
He truly was a surprising man.
"Well, I need one. Find me when Victoria comes. If I'm not back by then."
"Ok."
I left for our break room. When I opened the doors the faint smell of freshly made coffee was already present. I poured myself a cup and leaned back against the wall, feeling relaxed and enjoying the quiet. I should probably call Margo at some point to see how she and Tristan were doing. I will humour her and pretend to not know about them. If it works out, she'll have to tell me eventually and if it doesn't...well then it would be no point for me to know anyway.
I brought the cup to my lips when the doors flew open. I twitched so hard I almost spilt the piping hot drink on myself. Lukas was now staring at me with rage in his eyes. I knew I didn't do anything to make him mad, so he was probably here to rant about someone. My first guess was his sister.
Instead, he stayed quiet. His eyes were now looking around and he was once again biting his lip.
"Are you ok?"
My question disturbed his furious thinking. His eyes locked with mine and he seemed like he got an idea.
"What?"
He, again, didn't answer. He walked toward me with such determination I didn't even blink or move when he took the cup out of my hand and put it on the table next to us. I gulped. He had to feel it too, right? The tension. It was fucking with my head.
He brushed his knuckles over my cheek and I involuntarily closed my eyes. His hand gently cupped the back of my neck and he leaned so I could feel his breath on my lips.
I had to summon all the concentration I had left just to ask: "What are you doing?"
It sounded shaky, but I could barely control my breathing so it was to be expected.
"Something really stupid."
With that, he leaned in and captured my lips with his
I didn't quite understand what was happening. It was bizarre. Lukas was kissing me. What the fuck?
My lips caught up faster than my brain because I was kissing him right back. It was dumb, stupid like he said, but I couldn't stop myself. It was Lukas.
I should have probably stopped because I knew, god I knew he had an ulterior motive, he didn't just decide that he liked me in ten minutes we were apart. But that didn't matter. Because his lips felt so god damn good, there wasn't any tongue and the kiss was soft, much more gentle than I imagined ever being. Not that I...Who was I kidding, I imagined this a lot. Especially in the shower after a particularly exhausting day. My imagination underestimated him.
His hand was still behind my neck, while the other rested on my hip. I had mine tangled in his hair. He pulled himself closer and I had to restrict the moan threatening to escape my lips when his toned body made contact with mine.
At some point, I thought I heard the doors opening and closing, but you couldn't blame me for not really paying attention. I wanted to bite his bottom lip like he always does when he broke the kiss. He stepped back and ran his fingers through his incredibly messy hair.
We were both panting and for a few seconds, I didn't dare to look at him, even though he was the one who kissed me. Quite thoroughly I might add.
"Alright," his hoarse voice made me look up, "Let's not mention this to anyone."
I just blinked at him. I wanted to ask him "what that was about?" and "why the hell did he just do that" and as soon as I will be able to put together a coherent sentence I will, but for now the only thing I managed to do was stand there and dumbly stare at him.
"Well," he clasped his hands together "See you downstairs. Your coffee is gonna get cold."
I didn't respond and he left. I picked up the cup, but unsurprisingly I felt quite awake without it.