Note from the translator: all things Twilight belong to Stephenie Meyer, and Collisions belongs to the lovely and well renowned French author Drinou. I'm sorry it took me so long to update, but I was on vacations and my mind was elsewhere. If it's any consolation, chapter 13 is in the hands of my beta, and I'm already working on chapter 14...
Thank you for all your reviews, and good reading.
Chapter 12: Provocations
"I'm delighted. See you tonight at 9 then. Alice will give you the details," he replied with a smile.
Apparently he hadn't wasted any time.
I returned to my post with the firm resolution to never, ever let Edward Cullen play with me again.
oo
Standing with my glass of mojito in hand, I was swaying leisurely to the rhythm of the music while greeting the people introduced by Jasper.
Alice and I had arrived at 9 p.m. sharp. She'd been fidgeting all the way to get here, but now that she was near the handsome architect, she suddenly looked like a shy little girl. I'd rather see her like this than in the state of excitement she was earlier, which might have given her a heart attack before the evening was over. This girl was like the Energizer bunny under normal circumstances, but right now she was just on the verge of a short-circuit, from being so overexcited.
A new person entered the room and I felt relieved all of a sudden. I was glad to finally see someone I knew, other than Alice and Jasper who, incidentally, were currently flirting not far away from me.
"Hey, Bella! I didn't know you'd be here too," Emmett said as he joined me.
"Well, Alice and I got invited by Jasper."
"Me too. We go out sometimes after his daily workout. He told me earlier about this little party, so here I am! And speaking of workout, I saw the treadmill being mean with you today," he giggled.
I felt my cheeks redden as I remembered my monumental fall in the middle of the crowded gym.
And in front of Cullen!
I mentally slapped myself for thinking about him. Couldn't I spend an evening without my mind rambling toward the one who was driving me crazy in every sense of the term? After what he had done to me earlier in the day, I felt an inexhaustible urge to murder him. I needed to brush him out my mind at all costs. This man was harmful, detrimental. I had to stop the massacre right now and keep away from him as much as possible.
Yeah, yeah, keep talking!
"Another mojito?" Emmett asked me as I was swallowing the last drop of my favorite cocktail.
What a slippery slope! Who's going to have a headache tomorrow?
Emmett reappeared a few minutes later with our drinks, followed closely by the electric battery on legs.
"Alice? Why are you no longer with Jasper?" I asked.
She cast me a hangdog look and clung to my arm.
"He had to excuse himself for a few minutes, and I miss him!"
I couldn't help but laugh.
"He'll come back."
My poor little Alice who was already addicted to her cute little architect!
She, at least, is managing pretty well, unlike some...
And a second one for the road! Clearly, I was unable to contain my saucy mind and stop thinking about the bastard who was my boss, this despicable, heartless and manipulative man full of himself...
And handsome as a god...
Argh! Why on earth couldn't I simply stop thinking about him? I hated myself for my lack of control. Fortunately, at that moment Emmett started to relate one of his incredible stories and I focused on his narrative rather than on my internal conflict.
We spent the next two hours talking while periodically moving to the music coming from the huge speakers. Jasper had joined us barely ten minutes later, to Alice's delight, and we were laughing together ever since, having a good time among friends.
And more of course for our two lovebirds, should they have affinities...
"Is that true Bella? You really fell of your treadmill?" Alice laughed.
I glared at Emmett who'd just revealed my misfortune to everyone.
"Traitor!" I replied, half amused, half mortified, and he burst into laughter.
I hit his shoulder with my purse, which made him laugh even more. Goddamn Emmett, always radiating cheerfulness and spreading it all around him. He grabbed his cell phone in the pocket of his jeans while holding his sides, laughing non-stop.
"Hey! ... I just got attacked by a purse," he said to the person on the phone, looking at me straight in the eyes. "I'm at a little party with some friends... Really? ... Now? ... Okay. We're on our way."
We?
"How about moving the party to another place? I have a good plan to end the evening," he said while hanging up.
"Why not?" Jasper answered enthusiastically as I shrugged, willing to follow the others if they decided to change location. "Are you in, Alice?"
That's all it took for the Energizer bunny who was my work partner to start out straight off.
"All right then, we're headed to the Zanzibar!" Emmett cried out, jumping up, followed by Jazz and Alice.
W-What?
"The Zanzibar?" I panicked.
Images of the previous night pervaded my brain, followed by the scene that occurred earlier in the day.
"Hey! Isn't that where you spent last night?" Alice asked. "If anything, the charming young man you've met there will still be lingering around tonight," she added, winking at me to emphasize her words.
Precisely, this is where it gets sticky, Sherlock!
A wave of panic swept over me. I didn't want to risk running into my worst nightmare again and having to face him. I was in no mood or shape to counter his attacks.
"Go ahead and have fun. I'm going home; I'm too tired to follow you guys," I lied.
But that was without taking Alice and her hangdog eyes into account. For the first time since Jasper had joined us, she pulled away from him and stood in front of me, sinking her pleading eyes into mine.
"I beg you, Bella, don't let me down!" she whispered. "I need you. You must stay, please."
"You're doing very well all by yourself, believe me."
"No, not at all. Come on, Bella, just one little hour and then we'll go home if you want to. Have mercy on me!" she besought.
One hour... that wouldn't risk a lot, and besides, why would he still be there? What could happen in only one little hour?
Hmmm... Lots of things!
"Okay," I sighed. "One hour, and that's it. I'll show up, I'll have a drink, and then I'll go to bed."
"Great!" she suddenly squealed, gripping my arm and pulling me with all her strength to get me up.
Things might finally get interesting...
Willy-nilly I followed suit. We took a cab and arrived far too quickly for my liking in that latest fashionable club which left me with a bitter aftertaste in the mouth.
What was I doing here? I was decidedly asking myself this question a little too often lately.
The jazzy atmosphere of the main room reminded me of the evening I'd spent between these walls with Jake, which had nothing to do with the one I'd spent the night before in the VIP area where everything was much more... tribal.
Yeah, it was kind of warm, wasn't it? Let's call a spade a spade. It was boiling hot last night, and not only in your panties.
I sighed. Obsessed and uncontrollable dirty little voice! Couldn't it shut up for just five minutes? I mentally slapped myself for the umpteenth time of the evening. If only doing so could muzzle it.
I spotted a small round table unoccupied at the back of the room and hastened showing it to the others.
"Don't bother, we're not staying here," Emmett said in a loud voice to cover the music.
I raised an inquisitive eyebrow. What game was he playing? We'd just gotten in the place and he was the one who'd dragged us here.
"Yes, because uncle Emmett found you a table in the VIP section. Isn't it great?" he boasted while my brain was absorbing one by one each of the words he'd just uttered.
Table. Reserved. VIP. Section.
I swallowed painfully. That didn't mean I would come across him. After all, he didn't own this club and he most certainly had better things to do than being here again tonight, right?
If you say so!
Alice started bouncing with joy – traitor! – and we left the main room to enter the one that had haunted my dreams all night. The same bouncer was waiting at the door, yet this time he didn't ask for IDs but opened it instantly when he saw Emmett. Was Mr. McCarty a regular of the place? It seemed to be the case…
I was startled by the ambience prevailing here tonight, completely opposite of the outrageous wild one still fresh in my memory. Where African masks once sat the night before, there were now white curtains nicely draped, thus isolating the private booths from the rest of the room. The branches and vines had been replaced by large cushions in the same shade. Candles put here and there in the room enhanced the soft lighting of the place with their dancing flames. The floor strewn with feathers was not outdone and added a fluffy touch to this Eden setting.
Everything looked like paradise here tonight.
The crowd was moving lasciviously to the slow tempo of the ambient music. Couples were gradually forming, some of which reached the large white cushions laid in the recesses of the huge room, while groups of people discussed and laughed about their day at the tables.
Emmett led us through the dancing crowd up to a private box near the bar, hidden behind one of the large white drapes. I scanned the scene in search of likely emerald irises as we sat around the table. No super sexy bastard in sight, thank God.
Pfff!
The men offered to fetch our drinks and Alice took the opportunity to ask my opinion on Jazz's attitude tonight and on her possible chance to get her way with him. Was she so blind when the cute little architect was in the equation? I giggled when I saw her face after I told her she could certainly jump on him without restraint in the second and he wouldn't protest in the slightest as he seemed totally addicted to her. The men chose to return with our drinks at that exact moment. Alice glared at me and I couldn't contain my laugh any longer.
"What's so funny?" Jasper asked, causing Alice to collapse on the seat at the same time.
I curbed my uncontrollable urge to laugh even more and took a deep breath to clear my thoughts.
"Girl stuff that you, guys, don't need to know about!" I answered, still smiling.
"Edward!" Emmett blurted out, rising swiftly from the booth.
Edward? Oh oh…
What remained of my smile disappeared instantly from my face as a dark figure approached us nonchalantly with a live Barbie doll in each of his arms.
What had I done to deserve this?
My eyes traveled back and forth between the two girls who looked like models. They were tall with endless slender legs, a perfect body, a cleavage that made me green with envy, satin blond hair, a carefully tanned skin… In short they were two bimbos, and they were clinging to his arms.
Look at their outfits! Can we even call that a skirt? Where is the missing piece?
"Good evening," Edward said with a velvety voice slightly covered by the sweet melody coming out of the speakers.
Alice and Jazz quit their mutual contemplation for one split second to greet the newcomer without even noticing who he was.
Ah, love!
"I see that you made good use of my invitation, Emmett. I didn't know you'd bring some guests, but regardless, enjoy this private booth and the benefits allocated to it."
"You're the best, Ed," Emmett said, rising his glass toward him.
His reply had the merit of making me stop staring intently at bimbo number two. Such chumminess! No doubt, Emmett and my dear boss had to be friends for him to be able to afford that kind of familiarity without risking to get fired right away.
If you say so… although right now I've got the feeling he's going to gut him rather than holding him in his arm, thy dear boss…
The tightened jaw and black stare that Edward threw at his hypothetical friend contrasted sharply with the hearty laugh of the latter.
"Relax, dude, you've got to enjoy the moment, man," Emmett added, looking successively at Barbie number one and Barbie number two.
Argh guys! All the same…
The piercing gaze my boss cast on me made me blush instinctively. Why did I suddenly have the feeling of liquefying on the spot?
I have my own idea. Lack of sex, maybe? Just saying…
I gave myself a masterly mental slap and swallowed a huge gulp of my cocktail just to keep a clear head. I laid my eyes on an imaginary point in front of me, preferring avoiding rather than sustaining one more minute the two emeralds staring at me insistently. Attempt that could have been successful had the object of all my fantasies not decided to stand right before me, both bimbos still hanging at his arms.
"You're right, Emmett," he said, leaning slightly on the booth in front of which he was standing.
His following words were much more subdued as they were only meant for the two giraffes on stilettos rubbing against him as he gestured to the adjoining booth with his head, his eyes never getting off me, not even for a second. One of the two girls whispered something in his ear before seizing his lobe and sensually nibbling it.
Oh fuck! Who wants some Barbie mush?
I could have sworn that a growl of protest had escaped my throat. And if I could thank the music for concealing that noise, I also had to thank the slight dimness of the place. Without it, my knuckles, whitened by the pressure of my fingers around my glass, would be visible to the eyes of everyone and especially of the one sustaining my stare with that smirk, revealing in me these sudden murderous thoughts I had all too often in his presence.
"Enjoy your night," he said to no one in particular, all the while winking inconspicuously at me before turning back to join his two girlfriends of the moment, now seated on a bench in the next stall.
And what about me? Can't I join in?
What game was he playing yet again? With no answer to this question, I returned my attention on my drink and took another sip of it. What the hell was I thinking when I decided to set foot here again tonight?
Perhaps you want me to refresh your memory?
Edward Cullen walked nonchalantly along one of the veils draped to the wall and undid the satin ribbon holding it in an effortless motion. The sheer fabric swirled lightly in the air before falling between the two booths. From then on, it was only in shadows and to the rhythm of the lights in the room that I saw him reach the bench and settle between his two conquests.
"He's a friend of yours?" I asked Emmett, my eyes still riveted on the silhouettes behind the veil.
"Eddy? I've always known him."
I turned to him, stunned.
"What?" he said in surprise. "You look astonished."
I couldn't help but nod. He'd always known him? Wow! How could someone endure this jerk for so many years and be as friendly as Emmett?
"Yet it's true. We've known each other ever since we were kids. We lived recklessly back then," he added with a hint of nostalgia.
"Really? You and Cullen?"
"Yep, gorgeous. We were young and we liked joking around… But why all those questions about Ed and I?" he asked suspiciously.
Because this guy takes a wicked pleasure in driving me crazy and because he's beautiful as a god, he exudes sex and I want him! ...Oops, I'm raving!
"Uh… nothing… It's just that you two are so different. I was wondering how you could get along so well, actually."
"We're not so different, you know."
Wooow! Our dear Emmett must have fallen on his head!
"Is that so?" I said in amazement.
"You don't know him as I do."
Well, obviously not…
"Yeah, I guess you're right," I sighed.
It went without saying that aside from the few close contacts we had had, I didn't know Edward Cullen. Yet I could draw a fairly detailed picture of him, and mostly very unflattering, containing all kind of birds names.
I'd rather have said: full lips, skillful fingers, striking muscles…
"Who are you talking about?"
Alice interrupted the ravings of my inner voice.
"Ah, you two are back among us!" Emmett called out. "We really thought we were going to have to pour shots of cocktail on you so that you'd remember you're not alone in the world."
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Alice took offense. "Oh, I love this song!"
Poor Jasper suddenly found himself drawn toward the dance floor.
"Those two are going to make a baby before the end of the night at this rate," Emmett joked. "Come on, the dance floor is awaiting us."
"Uh, no thanks. I'm not comfortable on a dance floor."
"Don't worry, I don't know how to dance either and that's not going to prevent me from having fun."
"Okay," I sighed. "But just one dance, then."
I grabbed the hand Emmett was offering me and let him guide me to the dancing crowd.
This is great, really… It would be nice if you avoided breaking a leg.
I had to agree that just this once wouldn't hurt. Then again, put me on a dance floor, and you had the perfect recipe for disaster. But strangely, intoxicated by the many cocktails I'd already drunk, I just let myself being carried away by the music, guided by Emmett. Jasper and Alice, entwined, were shimmying sensually to the rhythm of the notes. Emmett wasn't wrong; those two were going to make a baby on the dance floor if they continued like this, and they hadn't even kissed yet!
My favorite coach grabbed my hips and pulled me into a choreography of his own. I let the music carry me, moving in rhythm with him and giggling every time I nearly face-planted on the floor. Thankfully Emmett watched me carefully and caught me at the last moment every time I was going to slip.
I felt so good that I had almost forgotten Edward Cullen. Almost…
Our dancing had made us move among the crowd. We had left its reassuring center without me realizing it to find ourselves at one end of it. Twirling slowly in Emmett's arms, I suddenly found myself facing his booth. I froze at the view its three occupants were offering me as Emmett continued to swirl around me.
Edward Cullen sat with a drink in his hand, watching the crowd intently while the two Barbie dolls were taking very good care of him. The one to his right was sensually bent on his neck, trailing myriads of kisses while her hand caressed his stomach under his shirt. The silicone doll sitting left to him was sipping her cocktail while one of her hand was navigating dangerously on his thigh, from his knee up to nearly reaching a certain part of his anatomy.
Go up a little further and I disfigure you, bitch!
"Your friend doesn't look bored one tiny bit," I told Emmett.
He followed my gaze and realized whom I was alluding to.
"Damn Eddy! Always in good company!" he laughed. "But what else to expect? He's handsome, wealthy, and renowned. No one can resist him."
That was the moment Mister seducer chose to catch my stare in the crowd. As usual, his perfect little crooked smile spread on his face.
Ahhh! I want him but he's so irritating!
With his free hand he grabbed the face of Barbie number one and, looking at me deeply, he pressed his lips on hers, kissing her passionately.
Bastard! I hate him. I want him but I hate him. Argh!
Of course Barbie bitch saw it as an invitation to go further. She clung to his neck, ran her hand through his hair and glued herself to him outrageously while her tongue danced in rhythm with his. After seconds that seemed endless, he finally put an end to that kiss, leaving his partner breathless and panting, to go right to the other, conquering her as well. Following the same ritual, he grabbed her golden hair and brought the girl's face against his, kissing her without restraint.
Tell me, do I have the right to take one and use her to hit the other?
My blood was boiling with rage in my veins. I was angry because he was able to affect me once more with his attitude of perfect cad and bastard archetype. Why did I always react like this in front of him? Couldn't I just pass by without even reacting? Instead, I stood frozen, staring at him, completely unable to look away.
You're right, it's wrong to stare at people. Maybe you could take part of the action, no? After all, one more or one less won't make any difference…
"Bella!"
I jumped at the sound of my name. At least it made me look elsewhere than toward that dreaded stall. I saw a man approaching me with a big smile, the very same guy who had openly flirted with me the previous night before my dear boss made his move upon me.
"What a pleasure to see you again tonight!" he shouted, hugging me as if we'd always known each other.
Uh… just let me go!
I cast a quick glance around me, slightly distraught by 'the assault' of this man whose name I didn't even remember. Yet I had used him as an alibi earlier in the day with Alice. In the corner of my eye I saw Emmett wiggle a little further away. He hadn't noticed anything. In other words, I was all by myself…
I pulled away from the annoying guy enough to recover a safe distance and watched him suspiciously. Perhaps he would understand by himself that he wasn't welcome.
"Uh… Hi," I grumbled.
"Eric Yorkie, don't you remember me?"
"Yes, yes… Sorry, but I'm with someone."
I turned to Emmett, but to my utter dismay he had simply vanished.
Shit!
"It seems that your dancing partner has abandoned you. Maybe you'll grant me a little dance tonight."
Help me!
I looked for a loophole all around me, without finding the shadow of one. Where the hell was Emmett? And Alice and Jasper? As last resort, I even glanced at the dreaded booth. And what a surprise it was for me to meet the glower of an Edward Cullen apparently angry. What was going on with him?
Was it possible that…?
Hello jealousy!
"Okay for one dance," I said to Eric without taking my eyes off my boss.
I started to follow my new dancing partner who wasted no time and immediately clung to me, rubbing his body against mine whenever he had the chance to do so.
Yuck! Don't touch! Gosh, what a girl's gotta do…
To my alarm, the music became more languid and Eric Yorkie took advantage of it to embrace me. One of his wandering hands traveled from my shoulders to the small of my back, attempting an aborted approach to go further south. I couldn't deny that he was a talented dancer, but good God, what was I doing here? I found him neither handsome, nor charming, and not interesting in the slightest…
But just to see once again the exasperated face of the one who spent his time trifling with me gave me the courage to keep on with that masquerade. On my own initiative I tightened my arms around his neck, going as far as pressing my cheek against his. He must have taken it as an invitation because the next second his hand, which was resting obediently on the small of my back, migrated on my buttocks, to my outright consternation.
Help!
Mentally I repeated like a mantra to stay calm and not make a scene. With clenched jaw, I let him take his ease on my rear while a part of me rejoiced to be able to make Cullen jealous. Well, if it was indeed jealousy I had read on his face, that is.
Better be that, or else Mister clingy is going to get off real quick!
If I wanted this to work, I had to strike a blow. So it's with this in mind that I launched my last offensive.
"How about we leave this place and go elsewhere?" I whispered sensually to my partner's ear. He was a poor victim of this sick little game between Cullen and me.
I placed a kiss on the corner of his lips for a little more incentive to follow me, brushing my body against his at the same time. Better put all the odds on my side!
Please, come help me, she's lost her mind!
Eric, more than willing, was seemingly happy with the turn of events. I motioned to Emmett, who had just reappeared from God knows where, to let him know that I was leaving, and cast one last glance toward the famous booth. Edward hadn't moved; his face was tense, his jaw was clenched, and he was no longer paying attention to his two escorts who were sipping their cocktails each on their side. As for me, I was gloating. The roles could also be reversed! I then locked my gaze into his, winked at him like he did earlier in the evening, and turned around.
It's with a triumphant smile on my face that I left the room, holding the arm of my pseudo one-night lover.
Huge thanks to my beta Lizzard43. I would be lost without you.
Until next time (soon, I promise)
Milk