Here is chapter 11, I hope you all enjoy and don't forget to let me know how you feel about this story in the comments and if you have any questions about this story! I'm also going to try and come up with an update, so until then, bear with me. Ps: I believe that this is kinda the first or second time that I've did a POV change, so beware of that and this took so long because this is a really big update.
Chapter 11
Fall flew by with dark colors and mugs of steaming hot coffee and we got hit with a force by Winter, bringing hot chocolate, holiday spirit, and empty wallets along with it. Christina got bigger, work got less stressful, my dreams got wetter, and I got more frustrated by the minute. Anything seems to piss me the hell off and I really want to ring up Tobias and give him a piece my mind for an hour or two and then beg him to pound me into oblivion. Yet, I couldn't call him because I was told that he was flying in early not only for the Holidays but for Christina's gender reveal party. . . and that's not the bad part about it, we're supposed to all meet together tomorrow to go out for dinner with Tobias.
"Tris! What are you going to wear tomorrow for dinner?!" She squealed with happiness, the beginning stages of her pregnancy was actually pretty simple for her. She wasn't whiny, in fact, she actually stopped whining and was more quiet and tired. Soon, we all pissed her off because I commented that I wish that she would have gotten pregnant sooner and she didn't talk to me for 3 whole days, "Your man is coming into town! Damn, we should have went to get waxed together. Who knows what might go down between you two."
I roll my eyes as I shovel a spoonful of cereal into my mouth and push my huge bun of hair out of my face, "Christina," I start after I finish chewing, "First of all, that is not "my man" second of all, I honestly don't want to go nor do I want to see him so I'm not going to go ham-slam for a damn outfit and third of all, I keep up with my appointments to get waxed and I keep up with myself. Thanks for worrying about me. Where are we supposed to be going again?" I ask as I go place my bowl in the sink. Sugar for dinner is one of my things now that I am busying myself with more work so I can keep my mind off of that idiot in Russia.
"I don't know, some place Will swears up and down is delicious. He say's it's a waterfront restaurant and it's really pretty to be looking at the city across the water, wait-" She stops talking and I hear Will in the background but it's pretty muffled, "Will didn't say pretty, sorry, it's really nice to look at the city across the water. I think it's called Piccolo Songno." I chuckle at the couple, wishing for myself to have a relationship with someone that makes me happy like he makes Christina.
"Well, whatever it is, I hope I have enough money for it." I joke, changing the subject. Christina and I talk for a little bit before I hang up the phone and go to sleep. It was a pretty restless night once again. Yet, the butterflies in my stomach said otherwise. I woke up and put on my burgundy knee length dress with long sleeves, it was pretty simple and I put on my nude jacket and proceeded with my makeup which was pretty plain like my outfit but burgundy lipstick and nude shoes and jewelry. I pulled my hair back into a sleek ponytail and left the back in it's curly form. I went to work and as soon as I got seated at my desk I got a page from Peter telling me to come to his office as soon as possible, "Yes?" I question, standing in front of him with my arms clasped in front of me.
He smiles, his green eyes piercing into my body as he rearranges his pens on his desk, "Beatrice," Unpleasant shivers slide down my side as I fold my arms over my chest and he gives me a smile, "I need you to stay an hour after and help me place these orders in for our new shipments. I know that you are so well in that department that I need your help." Mentally, my jaw drops and I don't know rather to be happy or frowning with anger at him.
"Sure." I nod my head and walk out of the office, wiping my sweaty palms on the front of my dress. . . that went better than expected.
"What! No! What in the hell, Peter! Don't make me come up there right now and demand for you to come home!" Christina screams on the other line as I watch people file out of the office. I had to call Christina that I might be a few minutes late and just save a seat for me, "Tris, that means you will only have 30 minutes to get dressed and finessed!"
I shake my head with a sigh as I pull up the order forums on my laptop and start making my way down to Peter's office, "Christina, I'll be fine. I don't take a long time to get dressed like you," I joke, hoping to lighten the situation. I know she has to be seething that all that she's planned for might not come out right if I don't try my best to leave here in less than 45 minutes, "Don't make this baby come early with you being pissed, I'll be there for you." Of course I'm trying to get there on time for her and not Tobias.
"Okay, I'm counting on you."
With that I hang up the phone and start walking towards Peter's office to get this done. Of course Peter is cruel and sensing my uneasiness and looking at the clock every 5 minutes or so he tries to be an asshole and take longer. Instead, I get all that he needs to get done and dash out there as soon as possible, heading towards my apartment.
[Christina]
I sip my water with lemon, my red lipstick staining the crystal clean wine glass. I glance down at my phone as Tobias, Uriah, and Zeke hold a conversation about all the stuff they are going to do in the states while he's here. Will's hand clasp down on my thigh and my senses seem to comprehend his great feeling touch and I relax and look at him with a reassuring smile. When Tobias first arrived here his face screamed, 'where in the hell is Tris' and once Shauna told him that she's running late because of work he instantly relaxed but still had a tense reaction. Their relationship is so confusing but cute at the same time, watching them endlessly flirt is the most cutest thing I have ever seen because the blush that forms on Tris' cheeks while she yells at him or talks to him is absolutely adorable because we all know how they feel for each other, yet they don't.
"So, do you have a place to stay?" Marlene questions, sitting beside Uriah who actually cleaned up and has a decent suit on. But, we could never take the regular Uriah out of him, because he is consuming that caprese salad and chickpea flour fries like he may never eat again. I look around the restaurant again as Tobias begins talking. It's a nice fancy restaurant and Will was right about it being beautiful as we sit inside the building from the harsh cold, night air and looked at the city skyline. It's a well known place judging by the crowd coming in and intricate carpet was in the floor with creme walls and red table cloths, it was a fancy restaurant to the point people came in formal clothing but weren't too hushed.
"Yes, I'm staying in the Langham Chicago hotel in downtown."
"Ooh, fancy." Lynn childishly purses her lips as she takes a gulp of her champagne down.
I shake my head at my friends as I rub my hand over my swollen bump where the baby just kicked at and butterflies make their way up into my chest as I smile and reminisce over the time when I first felt his or her soft kick and now Will can't wait until it's strong enough for him to feel them. A loud bang is heard and we turn our heads to the opening where Tris stumbles inside, cursing at someone with her eyebrows furrowed. Our whole table seems to brighten up as she walks towards us and the closer she gets to us makes my jaw drop. Tris looks so hot and stunning with a silk black dress that comes down to her knees and spaghetti straps and a blazer shrugged over her shoulders. Silver diamond earrings hang from her ear, matching the choker around her neck and the nose ring in her nose along with the rings on her finger, we all get hit with the subtle scent of her perfume as she places her clutch in the chair beside me and Shauna, "What?" She mutters as we continue to stare at her.
"You look very nice." Zeke nods his head as Tris rolls her eyes and sits down in the chair. Her eyes connect with Tobias and she gives him a smile and wave that doesn't quite meet her eyes, instead of looking pissed or happy she look like she might throw up.
"Sorry for me being late." She shrugs her now straightened hair off of her shoulder that is tucked neatly behind her ears and cascading down her back. Red stains her lips like mine and she turns to me and gives me a smile while the others return back to their conversation, "Did you guys order yet?" she asks as the waiter places a glass of champagne in front of her and I envy her for once as she takes a sip and tucks her hair behind her ear.
"No, not yet. We were waiting for you." I tell her, and obviously Zeke seems to hear me and gets the attention of the waiter and I shake my head at him.
[Tobias]
Alluring that I can't seem to tear my eyes away from such a stunning light. When she left Russia I wanted to jump on the back of the jet like I'm Ethan Hunt from Mission Impossible and hold on until we got here in Chicago. It was a rough time when she left and I wanted to shoot myself for letting her slip through my fingers so easily and not trying hard enough for her to get here. So, when my friend called me telling me that Christina is expecting and they want me to come down to the states, I couldn't feel more happier to see this rose golden, haired beauty and try again.
I knew when I walked into the high school building that she was the one, and I was going to fight my hardest to get her to be mine. Years later, I'm still fighting for that same girl. Now, it's just harder because she has her own thoughts about me and keeps in mind my previous intentions with other girls―which all I did was for her attention. Once she left Russia I felt empty, not knowing that I was waking up to those same fiery eyes and inked skin was something that I longed for and hope to get once again.
It's all because of Victoria. But, I'm not one to point fingers, it was also myself. I should have fought a little bit more to get Victoria off of my case and out of the picture so Tris knew that I wasn't playing. Instead, I was too lax and didn't try to show Tris my full potential with her. Now, Victoria is out of my place and somewhere in Russia, being a gold digger for someone else.
Flashback:
We get back into the large, black, SUV. Sadness swarms my chest as the jet blends in with the gray clouds― it's almost as if the earth could sense my sadness and blended in with my feelings. I place my seat belt on and Victoria climbs in, Anastasia in the front, feeling her own sadness. She clears her throat and places her hand on my thigh, scooting closer to me but I brush her off of me, "Not now Victoria." I tell her. She sighs and pouts, crossing her arms as we watch the scenery unfold as we travel through the city back to the now large, empty house. If only I had someone who I loved there with me, someone like Tris.
My mother lives in Bari, Italy. Away from my father who stays in London, England but spends more time in Moscow than there. My mother left my father when I was at the age of 15, after he started beating her. He beat her for false accusations. Stupid and foolish ones like messing up their money, cheating behind his back, or trying toe escape him. And while my mother found sanity in the old barn at our older home, he would beat me for her absence. I didn't deserve that. I don't deserve the faint scars on my back from the peeling, leather, belt. I prayed that my family would let me go stay in Ukraine with my grandparents, but when they let me go to the states for my education, I couldn't be happier. But, when I returned from schooling they had gotten a divorce and left me with nothing but a letter and an address where I would be staying, how much money would be in my account, the help I would be getting, and where to contact my family.
Marcus had a lot of money, he worked for a mining company in Russia. One of the biggest ones in fact. In order to keep Evelyn's mouth shut about him beating her in the court house, he flooded her with paper and let her move where ever the hell she wanted for more than a million dollars a year. Evelyn called everyday but I declined while my guest were here, I didn't want to hear her lie about how much she loves me over the phone and how she wants me to visit sometime in 'Sunny Bari'. I had my own life. I finished college with a degree in business and would soon take over the company of my grandfather, on my mother's side, of a gas company that he built up from the ground with his knowledge and connections. I guess it's in my blood to be a high C.E.O of trading businesses.
Anyways, I have that huge mansion to myself. Now that all of my true friends are gone, Anastasia will go back home with her family, and I don't know where the hell Victoria is going. But, she has to get the hell out of my sight.
We arrive home in less than an hour and I go straight to my room but Victoria stops me in the secluded hallway, "So, now you are going to ignore me because of some American girl isn't here anymore?" She spits, folding her arms over her silicone chest.
"Victoria, it's time for you to go home. I invited you because I thought you would like to meet my true friends, obviously not." I shake my head, furrowing my eyebrows. There is such an anger and hatred for her that I can't even stand to look at her too long, "Get your stuff and get out of my house before I call some people to get you out. Because, you ruined something I had planning. They aren't just 'American friends' if you will. They treat me better than you and I don't want to see you ever again. You seem to not know your place. Don't call me for your little sleepovers and don't call me for advice."
I walk away. And that's how our relationship I thought we had, ended.
End of Flashback:
Nothing really went down that day. She didn't say much but just a simple f-ck you and got her stuff and left my life. I couldn't feel more free than then.
Now that was out of the way, I had more things to repair with this diamond in front of me.
The food came quickly, I ordered the Rosemary Gnocchi with Rosemary and potato dumplings, oven dried tomatoes, braised chicken, mushroom, leeks and parmesan. I glanced up at Tris and she looked different as she picked over her crusted salmon. She had a longing look in her eyes that needed to be filled, and not really meeting anyone in the eyes. I clear my throat and take a sip of my red, Tris looks up and meets my eyes. We seem to travel into our own world of communication as everyone and everything around us seem to turn into nothing but a disoriented blur, I give her a small smile.
'Can I talk to you, later on?' seems to scream from my eyes. Tris lets out a small sigh and takes a sip of her champagne, 'Why?' rolls off of her facial expression. 'Because I need to talk to you.' I raise my eyebrows at her. Tris just gives the tiniest nod that if you weren't paying close attention, you wouldn't catch it. I take a deep breath and nod my head, all of my nerves leaving my body.
"So, Tobias, how long are you planning to stay in Chicago?" Christina perks up, dismissing our foggy atmosphere.
"As long as I can manage." I tell her, "I don't have much to do back at home, and staying here isn't too much trouble. Possibly until the baby is born." Tris chokes on her drink, her eyes watering up as Lynn pats her back with a smirk on her face. Obviously, enjoying her uneasiness.
Uriah bats his eyelashes at Tris, "Is that a problem, deary?" I bet everyone in here is thinking we are psycho's. Tris and I are talking through facial expressions, Uriah is chomping down on the food like it's his last meal, Marlene is threatening him, Lynn has an evil glint in her eyes, Christina is pregnant, and now Tris is dying.
"No." Tris bites.
The rest of the dinner goes well, of course Christina was the happiest of all when I said that Tris was giving me a ride back to the hotel since the aromatics and aphrodisiacs of the dark chocolate souffle and cardamom creme was getting everyone all antsy to get home and get it on, even Christina. So, Tris offered to take me home. . . well, talk. We go our separate ways and I leave from Zeke who is giving me sex tips that I will doubt I have to use tonight. I have to regain my trust back with her before I have sex with her, even if it stings.
"And make sure buddy, wrap it up, or don't." He shrugs his shoulders as I roll my eyes and go to Tris' silver, sleek, 2016 Sedan, "Just. . .have fun."
I stick my middle finger up to him and run my hands up and down my bomber jacket, pulling open Tris' door and getting inside. She is sitting there with a jacket draped over her on her phone, some soft music plays in the background. When I shut the door she turns to me with a hard look on her face, "Welcome back." She gives a tight smile before putting the car in reverse, "What hotel are you staying at?"
"Langram." I answer.
Tris purses her lips and raises her eyebrows briefly with a nod of her head, one hand on the steering wheel. I watch as she easily glides through the city of Chicago with no hesitation, "Fancy." She mutters as we come to a stop light that is on red. She sighs and glances at me, "You didn't want to bring Victoria?" Honestly, I knew that it was coming sooner or later. Tris is royally pissed at me and really couldn't take her anger out on me and I know that she is a few minutes away from blowing up on me.
"Tris," I start, taking a deep breath, "I kicked Victoria out of my house as soon as you guys hit that sky when you left. I told her to not come around anymore. Honestly, I only wanted her there so that you can meet her, instead it turned into something out. I put an end to whatever was brewing." I confess.
A small smirk forms on her face and I don't know if it's because she's happy or some hateful remark she's about to say, "Oh, so it was so hard for you to do that while I was there?" Silence is heard throughout the car and I hit her with a question that nearly makes her slam on breaks.
"Do you like me, Tris?"
I watch as her face goes through so many emotions, it's like trying to find a black t-shirt in a dark closet―hard to decipher. She bites her lips and glances at me, she shrugs her shoulders and it feels like a bullet goes through my chest, "Tobias. . ." She starts and my heart hammers in m chest, "We're here." She pulls into the front of the building.
"What is this? A to be continued?" I question, a combination of sadness and anger brewing deep inside me and I want nothing more than to to just run in my room and go into one of those little cabinets and drown all of that complementary alcohol the hotel has given me then find some good dope and get high to numb all of my pain. I just simply take a deep breath and look down at my hands before I take off my seat belt, "I guess it is." I murmur as I open my door, "You know my number and if you want to come see me I'll be on the 7th floor, room number 39."
The sadness in her eyes is the last thing I see as I exit her car. The smell of her embedded in me, along with her face.
"Oh, Christina!" I throw my head back with a sigh as I place the barbells back on the metal rack, "I ruined it! He asked me if I like him and I shrugged my shoulders."
Christina follows suit with the 10 pound weighs, "Well, at least he told you where he would be staying. So, he at least expects you to visit him." She bites her lips, "This is really confusing!"
I invited Christina to go to the gym with me to blow off some steam this Saturday, totally oblivious to the fact that she is in fact 4 1/2 months pregnant. But, when I tried to back out she had already made up her mind of walking the treadmill on low speed and doing some lightweight lifting. She claims that she still wants to stay in shape and not go overboard. I explained what happened yesterday, Friday, with Tobias and she gave me a pitiful look. I got dressed in my Gymshark clothing and pulled my hair into a messy bun and gave that punching bag a piece of my mind, "I want to fight him."
Christina nearly chokes on my statement as I start to do my squats with the weights on my shoulders, "Tris! You fit in a damn extra small and small, why in the hell would you think it's okay for someone as tiny as you to get into a fight with the hulk?" She caresses her belly, "But then again you can have amazing angry sex afterwards. I mean, you might be sore but you'll still feel satisfied and won't have those dreams." She speaks in a low voice for once, pregnancy obviously giving her some damn common sense.
"No." I shake my head. I do want to get into a fight with Tobias and just beat the hell out of him for good measure, just smack all of my anger out on him for putting me through so many emotions since he's stole that kiss from me back in high school, and then re-igniting that fire that I thought had died down.
"Honestly, I think you should visit him and just sit down with him having an open mind conversation and then have sex."
I throw my head back with a groan, putting the weighs back on the holder, totally fed up. I shake my head at her as I use my towel to wipe the seat off of my collard bone and neck, "Does sex always have to pop up in this day in time?" I roll my eyes, "I having murderous thoughts about this man and here you go saying that sex is going to be great! That's my last concern right now."
"Okay," Christina draws off as we start to make our way down to the front, going to the parking lot. I let the cold winter air hit my heated skin and before I catch a cold or hypothermia I put on my jacket, "Has he met your parents before?"
I nod my head, "A long time ago when we were still in high school." I chuckle at the memory of him meeting my family before going upstairs and Caleb helping him with some homework, "My mom laid it on thick with her accent and it was so funny seeing him try to understand what she was saying." I giggle.
"Aw! Your blushing! It's obvious that you like him and you need to go up to his room and tell him how you really feel. You're 25 now and you have no time to waste before you get married and start a life with the one you love," Christina says as we start to make our way back to the residence of her's, "All jokes aside, you have to grow up and stop putting your emotions on the back burner because this isn't high school or college, this is life."
I remember I told myself that I love and hate Christina for telling the truth. As of right now I don't know how to feel about it, "Your right." I look out the window, watching the trees move fast as Christina drives, "This is just hard."
Christina drops me off at home after we eat a quick lunch at her house, I go up to my room and start to strip out of my clothes. I walk to the bathroom and turn on the faucet and wait for it to warm up as I start to detangle my hair with my wide tooth comb. I stare at myself in the mirror and furrow my eyebrows as I look at myself with deep concentration. Am I fit to be a wife? Am I the type that Tobias will take me on business dinners? I look at the tattoos on my arms and my unique but subtle hair color, is this what Tobias wants for the rest of his life?
I step into the shower and let the hot water flow down my body as my brain goes a mile a minute. Is this what I want for the rest of my life? I seem to never put my own needs up front, instead I am worried about what others will think. I take a deep breath and start to lather shampoo in my hair, do I want to be with Tobias and come home to him? Do I want to kiss him goodnight? When I am out of the shower I wrap my hair up in a t-shirt and start to put on some scented lotion and I put on a pair of black leggings with a matching sweater with socks. I take off my 'towel' and put some moisturizer on it before I go to the living room and cuddle on my blanket with a movie playing and the heat on.
Hi :) - Tobias
Lights up on my screen as I am halfway through 'No Escape'. My heart starts clamoring to a newer height as I look at his message and I start to feel even more dizzy at the fact that I actually read it and now he know's! I take a deep breath and twirl my curl pattern around my finger. He hasn't even been here for a whole 72 hours yet and I'm already melting into his tough and he hasn't even touched me yet!
hello - Tris
No emoji' no smiley faces, not even an uppercase letter. Then I take it a step further because I'm stubborn, pissed off and have Christina as my best friend.
Good to know that you know how to text a person- Tris
Maybe you have to be in America only to talk to me- Tris
It was a low blow that I did not only send 1 but 2 text where I was cutting him through both. I can't contradict myself because less than 10 hours ago, I was confessing to Christina that I wanted to punch him in the face. Now, I'd rather let him have a piece of my mind whether it's between text or in person.
2 minutes later I see that he has left me on read and keeps typing and deleting his messages, watching this movie is long out of the window as I start to nibble on my nails.
Well when you left me you were kind of pissed off and I really didn't know what to tell you- Tobias
Oh, totally- Tris
It's funny how sarcasm is traveling through phones now-a-days- Tobias
I know right- Tris
You had my number for a while and we could have talked- Tris
Yet when I invite you to come to my room to talk or even now to my room in this hotel you would decline- Tobias
How would you know, you haven't even tried yet- Tris
Do you want to come over and talk some things out? - Tobias
I let out a sigh and fall against my couch with my eyebrows furrowed. For some odd reason I can't bring myself up to go and talk to this man who is confusing me with my emotions. I'm not ready to do what Christina tells me to do, put on my big girl panties.
My phone things again and I look at the text with one eye open like I'm watching a horror film.
Didn't think so- Tobias