Fake Boyfriend (30 page)

"It's not
about giving up, Ruxin."

"I think
it has everything to do with it. You've giving up on me, but I'll
never give up on you. I admit I've been an idiot, but you can't
just get rid of me and toss me aside."

"Actually, I can. it's called a break up, it's what you've
done to countless women. Call off the dogs." I cringe as soon as I
say the word 'dogs 'and mouth, 'sorry' to both of the guys. They
look amused, but Ronan actually leans back like he's getting
comfortable.

"I'm not
letting you get harnessed by the media. Especially, if I'm not
there to protect you." He states, not at all bothered by what I
said.

"They
won't harass me if we've broken up." As soon as I say it, I know
I'm wrong.

"Are you
dense? Of course they will. They'll be even more blood
thirsty."

"Then
I'll move back to Michigan." I counter, mad he called me
dense.

"Stop
being difficult." He sighs, tiredly. "I'll be home in two
days."

"And what
happens in two days?" I question.

"I start
begging for your forgiveness. Kissing your feet and clinging to
your thighs begging."

"If you
never made it to your knees to ask me to marry you, I highly doubt
you'd do it for forgiveness." I say, completely serious and end the
call. He's right about the press it'll be worse, I'll let the men
do their jobs.

"Fine. I
know Ruxin won't change his order, you can leave."

They
quietly get up and walk to the door. "Thanks for the
ride."

"Don't
thank us. It was another order." Dave points out. I nod and they
close the door behind them. Ronan's head comes back in seconds
later. "Lock the door, please."

"Yes,
sir." I say, smiling. He shuts the door again and I lock it. Ruxin
in for a rude awakening if he thinks I'll forgive him that easily.
I doubt he's told his mother to stop planning the wedding. The
insensitive jerk. He's such a guy. I'm not an idiot. I get why he
played off his feelings for me. Big bad Ruxin doesn't like showing
his heart to anyone, including his friends. He wants to keep his
image in front of everyone. Yet, more then half the people I've met
said was changing him.

I sit on
the couch and my phone rings again. I look at the screen and see
Ruxin's name. I answer reluctantly. "Yes."

"Don't
hang up. I just want to talk." He says quickly.

"You
never talk to me any other time." I huff.

"Well,
now we have a lot to clear up. I'm sorry about what I said in the
cigar room, I was being stupid. I just didn't like the teasing, I
know it's unacceptable."

"Why
don't you tell me something I don't know?" I respond,
sarcastically. Closing my eyes and leaning my head back. "What were
you thinking planning our wedding behind my back?" I ask, getting
to the crux of the problem.

"I-That's
more difficult to explain."

"Try." I
snap back.

"I just
want to marry you." He states uncomfortably. "I keep thinking
you're going to see a part of me you don't like and leave
me."

"Why
would you think that?" I ask. Thinking about my own insecurities
about him leaving me like the other women he's cast
aside.

"Because
I don't deserve you. You're better then me and when you expected
more of an explanation about you not leaving my side, I could tell
you didn't like it. I'm possessive and controlling and you hate
that about me. It's just so hard to control it. I don't want to be
that way, but I am." He states, sounding relieved to say it out
loud.

"Well,
You've explained yourself. Thank you for that. However, if I can't
trust you to tell me the truth or clue me in on our life together,
I can't be with you. It's not your possessive behavior that's
driving me away. It's your high handedness, you lied to my face
about our wedding. You went behind my back, you can't do that
Ruxin. You have to respect my wishes when it comes to things, not
disregard them."

"I
know."

"Listen,
I'm tired and I need a shower."

"Alright,
can I call you later?"

"No, I
need time Ruxin."

"You'll
call me? When you're ready?" He questions slowly, like he's trying
to wrap his head around the thought of having to wait.

"Yes." I
reply, walking to the bathroom and starting the shower.

He
groans. "What are you taking off right now?" I pause at the zipper
of my dress.

"Nothing,
goodbye." I say a little breathless. That asshole is too good at
making me want him.

"Bye,
Angel." He replies, roughly. I hang up with a smile on my
face.

I undress
and get under the warm spray. I need to find work, with Ruxin gone
it should be easier. I need to find a privately owned place, I have
a place in mind I thought might be worth checking out. It's
Esmeralda's Books, it's near my apartment and would be perfect. I
wouldn't need to have a car or take a taxi.

After the
flight and time zone switch I'm exhausted. It's around 11:30 a.m.
here, making it and 4:30 p.m. in London. I finish showering and dry
off. Dragging myself to my room, I fall into bed and burrow under
the covers. I fall asleep instantly. My phone rings waking me up. I
look at my bedside clock it's already 4:07 pm. I groan but get out
of bed and walk to the bathroom. I answer the phone on the fourth
ring. "Hello?"

"Eva,
it's Andrea."

Awkward
... "Hi." I reply walking to
the living room sofa.

"I just
got off the phone with Ruxin, but he's being particularly curt. I
was hoping you could shed some light on the situation."

"Oh,
sure." I reply, wanting to scream, no! I sink into the
sofa.

"Great,
thank you. He told me the wedding was cancelled, but that's all he
would say." She says, wanting to know more.

"Yeah,
that's true. I-we broke up."

Her loud
gasp make me wince. "No." She says in disbelief.

"I'm
sorry." I add quickly.

"Why?"

I tell
her about the cigar room and his lie about our wedding. She says
nothing and just listens quietly. "I left England last night and
came straight home." I finish.

"Has he
explained himself?"

"He did.
I'm just not ready to forgive him."

"You're
the best thing to happen to Ruxin. I can't see him doing something
so stupid, but he's always been this way. He is very driven when it
comes to his goals. It's like he has tunnel vision and doesn't
think about the ramifications of his actions."

"I know.
I get that. honestly, I'm starting to see it. I just need him to
realize I won't take it, that it's unacceptable."

"As you
should." She agrees, happily. "Finally, someone to put Ruxin in his
place. God knows Conrad and I've tried. When he called I could tell
something in him shifted. He's sad and angry at himself. You've
become so close to him, he's never had that. Not even with his
family."

I don't
know what to say. I can only hope she's right and that Ruxin is
really seeing the error of his ways. There's a knock on my door.
"It was great to talk to you Andrea, but there's someone at the
door."

"Okay,
call me tomorrow we'll have lunch."

"Sounds
great." I reply.

"Bye,
bye." She says hanging up. I look through the peep hole and see
Xavier standing with a box of pizza and a six pack of
beer.

"Hold on
I have to get dressed." I tell him through the door.

"Don't
dress on my account." I ignore him and go to my bedroom. I put on
baggy sweat pants and a large tee shirt. Going back to the front
door I open it.

"What are
you doing here?" I question. I don't want to let him in. I can only
assume he's here because I left Ruxin. I don't want to lead him on
about us. I really am only interested in friendship. Although, the
boy is a really good kisser.

"I came
to see you." He replies smirking.

"All the
way from London?"

"Well,
some men know what's really important. Ruxin didn't come after you.
Why is that?"

I shrug.
"You'll have to ask him." I know Xavier is trying to stir the pit,
but where not high school girlfriend's taking about our horrible
ex-boyfriend's.

"I think
I already know the answer."

"Xavier,
he has a business to run. He employs a lot of people. If they start
to lose money, people lose jobs. I'm not a needy bimboo looking for
attention. I told him I need time away from him, so don't start
throwing mud. Keep you hands clean."

"You're
right. Hungry?" He asks, lifting up the pizza box.

"Yes, but
you shouldn't be here. Ruxin and I have enough problems to work
through."

"And I
would add to your problems?" He questions. I give him the, 'Don't
be stupid look'. "I get it, I do. I just can't help myself. I miss
you and I don't want to lose you."

"You
probably should've thought about that before you told me you loved
me and kissed me."

"I know,
I jumped the gun on the that." He says, shifting
nervously.

"It was
never like that between us. You admitted it. You knew I would
reject you, yet you did it anyway."

"I was
desperate. I don't like thinking about the two of you together.
Like I said jealousy got the best of me. It won't happen again." He
replies, earnestly.

"I'm not
blaming you for what happened between Ruxin and I. we might not be
together right now, but that doesn't mean he's gone." I
clarify.

"I
understand."

"Then you
understand why I can't let you in?"

"I don't
like it, but yes I understand. Call me if you need anything?" He
asks, putting down the beer and holding out his business
card.

"Sure." I
say, taking the card.

"I'll see
you around?" He asks, sadly.

"Of
course. We run in the same elite circles." I joke.

He smiles
but I can tell he's hurt. I feel awful. "If Ruxin doesn't fix
this-" He starts, but I cut him off.

"I still
wouldn't want to hurt him, by going out with you." I interrupt.
"I'm sorry, but you deserve the truth."

"It's one
of the things I love most about you. Your honesty." He replies,
looking at the floor.

"Xavier-"

He holds
up his hand, "I know." He holds out the pizza to me and I have to
choice but to take it.

"I'm
keeping these though." He says, holding up the six pack. "I think I
need them more then you." I don't have time to respond as he turns
and leave. I'll miss him, I care for him. I think we could have
been more but Ruxin the butthead has me heart and soul.

I shut
the door and carry the pizza to the table. Seconds later there's
another knock. I walk to the door and look though the peep hole to
see Julia standing there. I open the door knowing she was sent by
Ruxin.

"Yes?"

"Mr.
Novak wanted me to give you this." She says, holding out a
box.

"I don't
need anything from your boss. Tell him I refused to take it." I
start shutting the door and she stops it with her hand.

"I'm his
assistant for a reason. I always get the job done. It's from
London, I'm assuming it already belongs to you." She shoves the box
at me and I take it. "You're good for him. A word of advice, make
your point and move on."

"Make my
point and move on? That's your advice?" I question
stunned.

"He's not
the smartest man when he's desperate. He'll only do something even
worse. He can't control himself, he has no impulse control." She
smiles at the end.

"You love
him?" I ask.

"No, but
I care about him. The happiest I've ever seen him was with you."
She replies seriously and turns to walk away.

I stand
in the doorway, thinking about what she told me. I snap out of it
when I hear a door close, shutting my door I take the jewelry box
to the table and set it next to the pizza. I open the pizza box and
take out a slice. I take a bite and set it down.

Too distracted by the box I put it in front of me. Lifting the
lid of the jewelry box I see the locket Ruxin bought me at
tiffany's. I take it out, noticing the back has been engraved.
'
I may be leading the way, but you'll
always be my light. -R.
' It's beautiful,
but he'll still have to show me he's truly sorry. I open the
locket, his picture is the first one I see, then myself on the
other side.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I
officially hate waking up alone. No, one is holding a cup of coffee
for me or giving me a massage. I want Ruxin back. "Agh!" I hate
mornings. I tossed and turned all night, my bed is too big or
something. Who am I kidding the "Or something" is the fact Ruxin
wasn't in the bed. A girl gets used to that type of treatment and
to go cold turkey it cruel. Never mind the fact that I'm
the one asking for time apart. Which, incidentally is his fault.
Oh, and don't forget the cuddling at night. I need to feel the
weight of his arm around my waist, its comforting. I blow the hair
out of my face as I punch the pillow.