So, here's Chapter Six. Not giving anything about this one away. Thanks so much for reading and for all the lovely feedback so far :)
Tempted
Chapter Six
A few days after dinner with Belle, Gold was sitting on the roof with his guitar and a pad and pencil at hand. A melody and snatches of lyrics had been floating around his head for a while and he thought it was time he got them down on paper.
He was interrupted by the sound of his phone ringing and he put down the guitar and pulled it from his pocket.
'Gold?'
'Hello, Tristan, it's Midas.'
'Oh, Mr Midas: how are you?'
'Very well, Tristan: very well. I have some good news for you.'
'Oh?'
'I've just been given confirmation that the album's gone platinum.'
Gold nearly choked. 'You're kidding, right?'
Midas chuckled. 'I assure you I'm not. I knew I was on to something when I signed you guys. You know, this is the fastest selling debut album I've ever had.'
'Oh, my God,' Gold breathed.
Midas laughed. 'You sound surprised.'
'I am,' Gold agreed.
'Well, you deserve it. Go ahead and tell Jeff and Victor. Throw a party and send the bills to me. I'll stop by later and say hello.'
'Ok,' Gold said, stunned.
Midas laughed again. 'Breathe, Tristan: I'll see you later, ok?'
'Yeah: thanks.'
0
Jefferson saw the stunned look on his face and was immediately alarmed.
'Trist?' He jumped out of his seat and went to his friend. 'Hey: you ok?'
'I just got a call from Richard Midas,' Gold said.
'Oh?'
'Yeah: he said the album's gone platinum.'
There was a beat of silence and then all hell broke loose.
'What?!' 'Fuck off!'
Gold looked from Jefferson to Victor, and started to smile at the looks on their faces.
'Yeah,' he said simply. 'Fastest selling debut he's ever had, apparently.'
'Jesus,' Jefferson breathed, sinking into a chair.
'I don't fucking believe it,' Victor added, leaning against the wall for support.
There was silence for a long moment and then Gold started to laugh. He didn't know where it came from, but he couldn't stop it.
The boys stared at him for a moment and then joined in.
It was several minutes before they pulled themselves together and then Gold rallied them into action.
'We're having a party. Midas said to bill everything to him and he'll be around later. Let's not make it too big, though: just the important people.'
Jefferson and Victor nodded and got their phones out.
0
Belle smiled at the caller ID.
'Hey, Tristan.'
'Hey: are you busy?'
'I'm cataloguing some new books,' she told him.
'Do you think you could close up early and come by my place?'
She frowned at the tone of his voice and the request.
'Why: what's wrong?'
He laughed. 'Nothing's wrong, b- – Belle: everything's great.' He'd been about to call her babe, but stopped himself just in time.
Belle had caught on to his odd mood.
'Tristan, what's going on?' she asked, worried that something was wrong and he was trying to spare her.
'Belle, our album's gone platinum.'
She was silent for a short beat.
'That's good…right?' she asked.
He laughed again. 'Sorry: it means we've sold a million copies, so yeah, it's good.'
Belle sucked in a breath. 'A million copies in a month? But that's amazing! Oh, s- – Tristan, I'm so happy for you, and the boys.'
'Thank you, Belle,' he said contentedly. 'We're having a party: that's why I asked if you could close early and come by.'
'You really want me there?' she asked, surprised and touched.
'Of course I do,' he told her. 'I always want you here, Belle,' he added. He wasn't sure he should say that: it was getting very close to how he truly felt about her, but perhaps it wouldn't be a bad idea to put a few statements like that out there if it meant she might get the hint that he was open to more than friendship.
Belle's heart beat fast. 'Then I would love to join you. Give me your address and I'll see you soon.'
0
The door was open when Belle arrived and she heard the sounds of jovial voices. She entered the loft apartment and looked around for the boys.
'Belle!'
She turned at the sound of Ariel's voice and held her arms out for a hug.
'Hey, Ariel,' she greeted. 'Hey, Eric,' she added, as Ariel's husband came over.
'You look wonderful, Belle,' Ariel observed, looking her friend over: 'divorce definitely agrees with you, sweetie.'
Belle laughed softly. 'Well, it's not official yet, but I am very happy.' And she smiled as she saw Tristan coming towards them.
Gold smiled and swept her into a hug.
Ariel smiled at the pair of them and shot a triumphant look at her husband, who only smiled and nodded, conceding the point.
'You made it,' Gold murmured.
'Of course,' she said, looking up at him: 'I wouldn't miss this. Congratulations, Tristan: I'm so happy for you and the boys.'
He pulled her into another hug, squeezing her a little.
'Thank you, Belle.' He so wanted to hold her and never let go, or take her hand and take her away somewhere they could talk and tell her how he really felt about her, but he kept having to remind himself to follow her lead.
She smiled up at him and then pulled away as Jefferson and Victor came over.
'Hey, Belle: thanks for coming,' Jefferson greeted, hugging her.
'Yeah: it's great to see you,' Victor added, hugging her as well.
Belle smiled at the boys, touched that they were happy to see her.
'I hear the tour went very well,' she said, making conversation.
'It was great,' Jefferson told her.
'A hit,' Victor agreed.
Belle smiled. 'Well, congratulations on the album sales: it's really wonderful.'
The boys grinned. They got distracted then, as a few of their friends arrived, and they went off to play host.
'I'd better keep an eye on them,' Gold said, touching Belle's arm. 'See you later?'
'I'll be here,' she promised.
'Good.'
'Eric, can you get us some drinks, please?' Ariel asked her husband.
Eric looked between his wife and her friend.
'Sure thing,' he said with a smile and ambled away, apparently in no hurry to get drinks: he knew that was just his wife's code for 'go away and let me talk to Belle'.
'You really do look great, Belle,' Ariel observed: 'relaxed, happier.'
Belle took her friend's hand and pulled her over to the corner.
'What is it?' Ariel asked, smiling at the look on her face. Belle was lit up from inside: she looked radiant.
Belle shook her head, smiling. 'I don't know: I just… I feel good, you know? I feel like I could do anything. I've been spending some time with Tristan and… I just think maybe I was meant to meet him. He's…'
'You have feelings for him,' Ariel guessed.
Belle nodded, her eyes flicking around to be sure no one was listening.
'I do. I nearly called him sweetheart on the phone earlier.' She blushed and Ariel smiled. 'I just don't know if he would think of me like that.'
'What does your heart tell you?'
'Twenty things at once: that's the problem. What should I do, Ariel?'
Ariel squeezed her hand. 'Tell him.'
'You really think I should?' Belle asked.
'Belle, you told me a while ago that you didn't want to go another twenty years as you were: this is your chance to avoid that.'
Belle nodded. 'You're right.' She squeezed her friend's hand.
Ariel smiled at the confident look on Belle's face.
'Ah, Ariel.'
'Oh, hello, Richard,' Ariel greeted the head of the recording studio. 'How are you? Wonderful news about the album.'
'Indeed, and I'm very well, thank you. How are you and that husband of yours?'
'Oh, fine, fine: thanks for asking. I'd like to introduce my best friend, Belle French: Belle, this is Richard Midas, the founder and CEO of Midas Records.'
'Well, it's a pleasure, Ms French,' Midas said, holding out his hand.
Belle shook it, smiling.
'By any chance, would you be related to Abigail Midas?' she asked.
'Ah, you know my daughter?' he asked.
'She helped me out with my divorce,' Belle said.
Gold noticed Belle and Midas chatting from where he stood across the room. Midas was holding Belle's hand and they looked like they were getting on like a house on fire.
Figures, Gold thought: of course Midas would like Belle. He must be about ten years older than her: probably a better fit for her than he could ever be.
'I'm gonna get some air,' he said to Victor, and headed out the fire escape and up to the roof for some peace.
Belle saw him go, though, and thought that now was as good a time as any to be brave and reveal her feelings to him.
She excused herself, saying she needed some air, and followed Tristan.
As soon as she reached the fire escape, she could hear him strumming on a guitar. She paused, listening to the music.
The melody was more soulful than rocky, and, like all of his music, it touched her in a way that nothing ever had before. It was like his music expressed her attraction to him, somehow: it was soul deep, mesmerising, and utterly inexplicable.
She hadn't realised that she was moving until she was stepping onto the roof. She figured that, now that she'd come this far, she could go the rest of the way, and walked towards him.
He paused in his playing to note something down on the pad beside him, and he must have heard her footsteps, because he looked up.
'Hey,' he breathed, surprised.
'Hey,' she returned. 'I'm sorry: I didn't mean to startle you.'
'It's ok. Are you alright?'
She nodded. 'I saw you leave and thought we could talk, if you wanted.'
'Course,' he said, making room for her on the make shift bench he was sitting on.
'That was beautiful,' she said, gesturing to his guitar: 'is it new? I haven't heard it before.'
'Thanks,' he said. 'Yeah: it's been floating around my head for a while, so I figured that means it's ready to be written down.'
'Do you always compose alone?' she asked.
He nodded. 'The boys just drive me mad. I don't show them anything or let them hear anything until I'm happy with it. Then we start working on the arrangement. It's a system that works pretty well for us.'
She smiled. 'Well, I think that's going to be a beautiful song.'
There was a strange look in his eyes as he looked back at her.
'Thanks: hopefully you'll hear it one day.' He packed the guitar and notepad away.
'So, I see you met Mr Midas,' he said.
'Oh, yes,' she agreed: 'he's actually my divorce lawyer's father.'
'Oh, right,' he said, his mood lifting a little. Maybe that was why she'd been so chatty with Midas, then.
'Tristan, I–'
'Hey, Trist! Get your ass down here: we need you!'
Gold rolled his eyes at the sound of Jefferson's yell.
'Jesus Christ: I can't get a moment's peace with those two,' he complained.
'You'd better go see what he wants,' Belle said.
He sighed. 'I suppose you're right.' He stood and so did she.
She followed him back into the apartment, hoping that her courage would keep for a while.
'Ok, attention please!' Victor called over the noise, as he saw Tristan come back in. 'Oi!' he yelled, when the gathered crowd didn't shush quickly enough for him. 'Thank you,' he said, when he'd finally got silence. 'Jeff and I wanted to say something.'
'Yeah,' Jefferson agreed. 'Tristan, get over here,' he called.
Belle smiled as Tristan went and joined them.
'What are you two up to?' he demanded.
'Shut up,' Victor commanded.
Tristan stared at him and then shook his head, rolling his eyes.
'Everyone, Jeff and I know full well that neither of us would be here without this man right here, so we would like you all to raise your glasses to Mr Tristan Gold, the best fucking friend a guy could ask for and the genius behind Desperate Souls.'
'Ah, Victor,' Tristan protested.
'Shut up,' Victor commanded again.
'To Tristan,' Jefferson added: 'our fearless leader.'
Belle raised her glass and smiled as she caught Tristan's eye.
'To Tristan,' she echoed, as the rest of the crowd followed suit.
'Jesus Christ,' Gold said, overwhelmed. He looked between Victor and Jefferson, smiling. 'I don't have a lot of family, not blood family anyway,' he said, 'but you two are my brothers in every way that matters. I fucking hate you sometimes, but I love you all the time. Ugh, come here.' And he pulled both men towards him and kissed them both on the cheek.
Belle teared up at seeing them: three brothers sharing their success. She was so happy for them: it couldn't happen to three nicer people.
'Long may it last,' she murmured.
0
As the evening wore into night, more friends started to arrive and the mood got more and more festive as the alcohol flowed.
Belle smiled as she watched Tristan and his friends interact with their friends. She was hoping for a chance to talk to Tristan alone. She didn't want this day to end without her telling him how she felt, because if it did, she didn't know when she would feel brave enough again.
That was why she declined Ariel and Eric's offer of a lift home when they came and told her they were leaving.
'I'm going to stay,' Belle told her friend, looking into her eyes.
Ariel smiled and hugged her. 'Good luck, sweetie: I know it will be fine.'
'How do you know that?' Belle asked, amused because she already knew the answer.
'I'm an optimist.'
Belle laughed. 'Good night, darling: thank you for the pep talk.'
'You're welcome, sweetie.'
Belle bade her friends good night and then smiled as Jefferson came over to her.
'You staying for a while, Belle?' he asked.
She nodded. 'I thought I would, yes,' she replied.
'Cool,' he said: 'you want another drink?'
'Sure,' she said easily, following him into the kitchen area. 'You know, I think that was very nice what you and Victor said about Tristan earlier: I'm sure he appreciates it.'
He smiled as he handed her a glass of wine.
'Yeah, he drives us mad sometimes, but we love him.'
She laughed. 'He says the same about you two.'
He laughed. 'I know. We piss each other off, but if we didn't, I don't think we could work together, you know? We don't hold anything in: when we're pissed, we let it out, and then we're cool again, and the anger makes for great collaboration.'
She smiled. 'I can understand that. You're really very talented, all of you.'
'Thanks, but it's true what we said: he's the genius.' And he looked towards Tristan, but his eye was caught by the blonde making her way towards him as he sat on the couch talking to Victor and Ruby and a couple of friends.
'Oh, crap: that's not good,' he muttered.
'What is it?' Belle asked.
She turned and saw a woman sitting in Tristan's lap. She had strawberry blonde curls and had plastered herself to him. He was staring up at her, mouth open.
Belle shivered. Of course she knew that that must be his type, but his hands on the woman's waist was not something she wanted to see.
'Actually, I think it's time for me to call it a night,' she said quietly. 'Thank you so much for your company, Jeff.'
'Hey, Belle,' he began, but she was already heading out the door.
0
'Hey, why don't you and I have a little fun?' Zelena purred into his ear, pressing against him.
She worked for the record company and Gold had found her forward to say the least. She was an airhead, and only interested in him for the fame and the lifestyle. Right now, she reeked of alcohol, and then she started cackling like some kind of witch.
'Thanks, Zelena, but I'm not interested,' he stated categorically. 'Do you mind?' And he put his hands on her waist, intending to push her off him.
He managed it and she did not look happy, but he didn't care.
'Hey, Trist.'
He turned and saw Jefferson looking a bit tense.
'What is it?'
'Belle saw that,' he said, coming towards him.
'What?' Gold asked, his heart plummeting. 'Where is she?'
'She left.'
'Shit!' Gold hurried after her.
He raced down the stairs instead of waiting for the damn elevator, and, gaining the street, he looked frantically up and down for a petite woman with long brown curls.
He saw her, walking fast, even in her heels, and he hurried after her.
'Belle!'
She didn't hear, or didn't stop even if she did. He shouted her name again.
She faltered, but kept walking. He caught up to her and grabbed her hand.
'Let me go, please,' she requested, keeping her back to him.
He dropped her hand like he'd been burned. 'I'm sorry,' he breathed: 'I just wanted you to know that I've got absolutely no interest in that bimbo. She works for the record company, but I–'
'You don't owe me any explanations, Tristan. You can go on back to your party.'
'Belle, don't go,' he begged.
'I think I should: it's late.'
'I'm asking you to stay.'
'Why does it matter so much to you?' she asked, genuinely confused. And he saw that confusion on her face as she turned to face him finally.
He went to reach for her hand again and stopped himself.
'It matters because you're my… No, you know what: I can't do this any more. I thought I could handle this, but I can't: I can't be your friend.'
Hurt flashed across her face and she took a step back from him. Immediately he saw his mistake and reached out.
'No, no: I didn't mean it like that. I didn't mean that I don't care for you.'
'Then what did you mean?' she asked, hurt and wary.
'Ah, Belle, I'm so…' He stepped closer and reached up, his fingertips tracing her cheek, making her catch her breath, both at his touch and at the aching look in his eyes. 'Belle, I want you, so fucking badly I can hardly breathe. You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen, and I–'
He stopped talking abruptly because her lips were pressed to his, all of her inhibitions surmounted at last. He moaned, wrapping his arm around her waist, burying the fingers of his other hand in her hair.
'Yes,' he breathed, feeling her lips part: 'oh, God, yes.' He slipped his tongue into her mouth and explored its caverns.
She whimpered, shaking, and he pulled her closer and closer, his hand caressing her arse over the fabric of her dress.
'You're a goddess,' he sighed out.
Her kisses were desperate and needy, and full of want, but so were his. God, he wanted to kiss her everywhere and all at once.
At this moment, Belle felt like she'd separated into two people in her head: one, the reckless, impulsive woman who wanted him right here and right now, and the other, the fearful woman who'd been married to Greg for twenty years and who was terrified of getting her heart broken again.
Tristan wouldn't do that, though, she reasoned with her doubtful side: he never said or did anything he didn't mean, and when she looked into his eyes, she saw no artifice or lies.
But what if you're wrong? That fearful voice was suddenly loud in her head, and her heart started hammering as she began to panic.
He was pulling her tight against him, his hand squeezing her arse, but all she felt was rising hysteria.
Suddenly it was all too much, and she pushed against him, scrambling to get away.
Realising that she didn't want to be held, he let her go immediately.
'You alright?' he asked, frowning.
'I have to go,' she said.
'What?' He was sure he'd heard her wrong.
'I have to go,' she said, more harshly. 'Please, don't come by the library and don't call me: I don't want to see you.'
'I don't understand,' he said, his heart dropping into his stomach.
'I don't know how to make it plainer: I don't want to see you again.'
'What's this about, Belle? You kiss me and then tell me you don't want to see me again: what sense does that make?'
'I'm done talking,' she said, her body starting to tremble. She needed to get out of there, fast.
'You…' But he had no idea how to finish that sentence, and she clearly didn't want to hear it, judging by the look on her face. Suddenly he felt angry.
'Fine,' he growled: 'go, then.' But he left first, turning to go back to the party. Maybe he'd drink until he forgot he knew her.
When he was gone, Belle wrapped her arms around herself and shook for a long moment.
See? That frightened voice was back. See? He hurt you, just like you knew he would.
Tears trickled down her cheeks and she turned and walked away.