LINA
After I've finished getting ready for my meeting with Miles, I emerge from my room to find Sophie in the same spot I left her, on the kitchen counter.
Miles had wanted to talk over dinner at a posh restaurant later in the evening but I'd quickly vetoed that idea and insisted we meet here at home. I'm not cruel enough to break Mile's heart with romance and gaiety swirling around us. I'm more considerate than that.
I've also followed Sophie's advice about my clothes. Right now, I'm wearing my least favorite summer dress and some pretty old white sneakers. I don't have any makeup on and my chestnut hair Is in a tight bun. I'd thought I'd suitably downplayed my looks but one look at the mirror had me groaning in disappointment. Instead of plain and unattractive, I somehow looked pretty and elegant. How the hell did that happen?
Fuming with rage, I turn away from the mirror and make my way out of the room. It was a silly idea anyway, I tell myself. No matter how I look, a man's romantic dreams will be crushed today.
Sophie turns her head when I enter and gives me a once-over. Smiling, she says, "Wow, you are terrible at this. You still look glorious."
I blush slightly. I've never learnt to take a compliment
" It was a silly plan," I say to her like I hadn't been trying my level best to look hideous. It's messed up, I know, but looking bad would make me feel better about what I'm about to do. Sophie gives me a sad smile as if she knows what's going on in my head. She then gets up from her stool and says," Well, I guess I should go since it's almost time. "
I glance at the watch on my wrist and see that she's right. Miles should be here any minute. I inhale deeply and chew on the inside of my lips. Not letting my anxiety show I turn my attention to Sophie and say " Come on, I'll walk you out,". We start walking towards the door. After I yank it open, she says, "Lina, I want you to keep me posted on everything, alright? I meant what I said when I told you I'd help you figure this out.''
I throw my arms around her, squeezing tightly. ''I will and thanks for everything, Soph" I say, my voice hoarse with emotion. I pause and take a breath. "I don't know what I would do without you."
"I'm here for you Lina, always. We'll find a way to get you out of this," she tells me firmly.
I nod against her shoulder but the truth is that I'm not convinced that there's a way out of this. The Bruno I knew always got what he wanted. The guy I met yesterday didn't seem to be used to anything else.
Letting her go, I say, " Okay, woman. You need to go. Mile's should be here any second, Ciao."
"Bye,' she says and reluctantly leaves. I watch her go with a guilty conscience. I'm grateful she's with me during this confusing time but It's unfair to burden her with my problems like this. But what am I supposed to do, I needed to talk to someone close about this. My parents were out of the question so that left only Sophie.
Sighing in resignation, I go sit on the couch and think about what I'm going to say to Miles. My hands start to sweat. Just thinking about it makes me nervous. Getting up, I start pacing around the house, rubbing my hands together restlessly. I tell myself to calm the fuck down, it's not the first time I'm breaking up with someone. I've done it before and survived. This isn't any different. Except that it is, my mind tells me.
Bruno Rossini is involved.
And people might die.
It's a mess, one that'll alter life as I knew it a few days before. How can I expect anything in my life to be simple, much less a break-up Miles?
I'm jolted out of my thoughts by the sound of a car pulling into my driveway. Oh boy, I think, it's happening. I blow out a long, shaky breath.
Damn it, Lina. Get a grip, my brain tells me. It's important that you do this for both of you.
Yes it is, I agree, making my way to the door, but this isn't how I wanted to do it; forced into it by a dangerous man who I still find utterly captivating.
When did my life get this complicated? I ask myself.
Five years ago after a jet accident, the little voice in my head tells me.
I tell it to shut up. I'm not thinking about that right now. Not when I hear Miles getting out of the car outside. I'm almost to the door when the vibration of my phone stops me in my tracks. Irritated, I fish it out of my pocket. What now? I'm in the middle of something important.
It's a text from an unknown number, a blissfully short one. But it is clearly, unfortunately from Bruno. It read;
I'd be careful of the things I do if I were you, precious.
Whoa, what the hell?
It's like he knows I'm meeting with Miles. Maybe he does. I have been feeling like I'm under surveillance and he did admit to surveying my movements me the day of the wedding. Damn it, he is having me watched, isn't he? It's been him all along.
That asshole.
That bastard.
To think he's been stalking me. I'm gonna kill him for this, I think, while trying to dismiss the thrumming between my legs.
However aside from that insignificant heat flowing in my body, I also feel scared. However, it's not me I'm scared for, It's Miles. Poor Miles, getting caught up in this mess that didn't have to involve him.
I suddenly feel a surge of anger towards the psychopath of the man. I can't believe he did the whole unspoken threat on me. He may win this one but if he thinks that I'm going to just roll over and do another he's bidding then he clearly doesn't remember me as well as he claimed he did. The past few years may have made me meek but I still have that spark of fire in me. I'm still more than a match for him.
That's what I'm thinking when I yank open the door and find Miles on my porch. It takes me a second to get Bruno out of my mind and come back to the present.
"Ah...Miles, you're here."
He gives me that charming smile that should've made me melt. "Yep," he says," and I'm here to spend time with my sweetheart." With that, he leans in and captures my lips in a surprise kiss that immediately that has me pulling away. I give him a small, nervous, and placating smile. "L-L-Let's g-go inside."
With a mischievous smile, he follows me in, probably thinking that I want privacy. And I do, only not from the neighbors.
"S-so how've you been?" I ask turning to look at Miles's handsome, freshly shaven face.
At that, the smile falls from his face. "Worried," he answers. "You never called me after you got home last night and you didn't even answer any of my calls," he finishes grumpily.
Urggh, forgive me, Miles baby, I didn't find the time to answer your important calls while I was busy trying to find a way to save your life, I think as a response. However, I actually respond by saying," I'm sorry. I was tired and my phone was on silent."
He nods grumpily and sighs." It's okay," he says reaching out to me and hugging me. "How are you feeling now?" he inquires.
"Not great," I respond a little uncomfortable in his embrace. I feel him start to play with my hair. "Maybe I can make you feel a little better," he says.
I silently gulp. " Uhm Miles, it's better that we just talk."
"But I miss you," he whispers, his voice slightly thick with building lust. When I feel him run his nose along the length of my neck, I firmly decide that enough is enough. Using a slight amount of force, I push him away.
When Miles looks at me, his face is a mask of shock. Guilt and shame build up inside me.
"What was that Lina?" he asks, clearly surprised
I open my mouth to say something but I can't make any words come out.
"What's wrong with you Lina? Why are you acting like this and why the hell did you push me away like I was some kind of slimy pervert instead of your fiancé?"
I raise my arms up in an attempt to placate him. "Miles, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have reacted like that but we need to talk about something important."
His forehead and nose scrunch up in confusion.
"Please sit down," I tell him.
He looks at me with a new fear in his expression. Walking over to me he says, "I am not sitting down Lina. Tell me what's going on."
It's now or never I guess.
"I'm ending our relationship"
There's really no point beating around the bush.
Miles freezes in his tracks and stops moving altogether. His face becomes expressionless.
'What was that?"
I say nothing, biting the inside of my lips nervously. I sensed that a bomb was about to explode.
After a moment Miles says, "You're joking."
The little flicker of hope in his eyes just kills me.
"Miles..."I begin in a tone of clear regret when his distressed voice interrupts me.
"Tell me you're joking! Lina," he says anguished.
"I'm sorry," I say, tears filling my eyes.
He shifts where he is restlessly before finally looking at me, but not the kind of adoring look he usually gives. Instead, it's one a person gives another person who kicks a puppy and enjoys it.
"Why Lina, why end our marriage before it even begins?"
" I-I just don't love y-you."
It's really not just that but I'm saying this lie for his own good.
"That's bullshit, I don't believe it."
"It's true. Think about it, I've never uttered the words to you."
I watch as he stops and considers my painful words. It's true, I've never once said those words to him or the others for that matter. Not that they demanded it, they never seemed to notice that I didn't return their earnest words. I've only uttered the words to only one man and it's best not to think about him right now.
"You've agreed to marry me," he says as if that is the equivalent of a confession of love.
"I did and I'm sorry. I thought I could go with it but I just can't"
"And why can you suddenly not?" he asks, his blue eyes shooting daggers at me and his mouth, angry.
"I-I t-told you, I real-li-lized that I don't feel t-the same as you do."
His eyes narrow. I know it's because of my suspicious stammer, something I told him I only do when I'm lying or nervous.
He folds his arms, purses his angry lips, and regards me with a suspicious expression. I watch as the gears in his mind turn and a new understanding begins to form.
"So," he begins, "Is there another guy?"