I tried to avoid parties if I could but Kayla was one of my friends and if I missed one of her parties I would never hear the end of it. In my head the class reunion and the tournament were enough to make me stress. I didn't want to look like I was skipping out on purpose but I had to get this in my schedule too now as I sighed. I felt him take my hand and I looked at him.
"You seem stressed." Atem said
"Sometimes that's all this place is to me." I admitted
"Is that why you ran?" Atem asked
"Sort of." I said
Kayla came over hugging me and I did my best to be calm as she let me go and smiled. She noticed someone was holding my hand and I hesitated to let his hand go but then he let mine go. We were not official or anything but then she didn't know that.
"So you have a boyfriend?" Kayla asked
"Sort of.." I said
"Sort of?" Kayla asked
"Well kinda, but kinda not." I said
"Yet you socialize with him and he held your hand." Kayla said
"She's playing hard to get which only makes me want her more." Atem said and he smiled "I'm Atem, Britt is living in my guest mansion back in Japan."
Kayla's eyes widened and then she took me aside and pulled me where we were alone. I knew he'd done it now as I waited for her questions to start and when she started I had to answer. I took a deep breath before she started.
"Is he rich?" Kayla asked
"Yes." I said
"Well I mean he owns a mansion. Do you get to spend money?" Kayla asked
"I had a card that he let me have for expenses." I said
"had?" Kayla asked
"I left it back at the mansion when I escaped the maids and servants to go to the air port to come with Mrs. Knight and Tanya." I said
"Whoa whoa whoa, you are living rent free in a mansion and you don't have to pay for anything yet you just escaped like it was a prison?" Kayla asked
"Kayla, he looks innocent but he's dangerous." I said
"Oh come on Britt." Kayla said
"Kayla, he's the damn Mafia leader of Japan but he was born here in Egypt." I said
That caught her off guard when I said the truth but she knew he wasn't in Egypt. He was here with me in Egypt and she wondered what that was all about. I knew more questions were coming and I waited for her to start cause I knew she would.
"What does he want?" Kayla ask
"A wife." I said
"You?" Kayla asked
"Yes, but I am not a prize." I said
"Oh Britt, anyone who isn't the school sluts are a prize and any man who desires you is getting one hell of a prize. One of the Heiresses to her grandfather's fortune and Tournament champion." Kayla said
I just shook my head knowing that it wasn't going to be like that with me. I seen her point though because unlike Laila and Atiyah we didn't actually throw ourselves at men to get their attention. In fact I never even threw myself at Atem once unlike those girls he had in his office.
"I don't want a man thinking he owns me." I said
"Then keep your terms, but he's hot and if you let him pass through your fingers you know Laila will be all over him." Kayla said
I hated that she was right even when I didn't want to admit such things. My conflicted feelings were there and I needed to resolve them. I knew that there was no getting around that even when I was resisting he just wanted me more.
When I came back to the table we sat and talked for a bit about a few things and things were going good. The tournament was soon and I had nothing to worry about. When we left though Atem grabbed my hand.
"Why don't we get away from the public eye." Atem said
"Uh sure." I said
As we got on the horses I lead the way telling the girls I'd be going with him for a bit. They seemed interested but concerned as I promised nothing was to worry. He followed on the horse as I led to a small area that was in the shade and got down. Atem got down and noticed the area was secluded.
"You came here?" Atem asked
"I like the peace and quiet away from the nosy people." I said
I got in Heb's satchel and pulled out a blanket as I walked to the edge of the shade and sat it down. I sat there and looked out at the view as Atem walked over and sat with me. He was surprised at the amazing view and I could tell.
"Wow, this view is pretty good. Is that Valley of the Kings?" Atem asked
"Yeah, it is. My parents work down there sometimes." I said "and when I am in town I send Heb through to scare the archeologists cause some are disrespectful."
"You have respect for the old ancestors." Atem said
"You seem surprised, almost like you didn't expect it." Britt said
"Can you blame me?" Atem asked as he looked at me then made me look at him "You don't really open up to anyone Britt."
I knew he was right even when I didn't want to but I had to make a decision. Sometimes when I thought I decided I change my mind but somehow I keep becoming undecided with him. I noticed he was leaning in and I remembered our first kiss together that I panicked a little.
Can I really just go and be with him or will my stubbornness cost me everything? I thought
I leaned in and our lips met as we kissed on our own terms. I knew I wasn't going to give in and things were coming up but right now I felt like I could do anything with this Mafia leader by my side.
