"Marry me"
I froze
"Will you marry me?"
What was he doing?
"My lovely Michelle, will you marry me?"
This man was going crazy.
"Kord?" I walked up to meet him in the garden, wiping my hands after washing dishes.
Kord let out a startled gasp and placed his hand on his chest dramatically.
"Jesus! Eva, don't startle me like that, you have to stop creeping around the house like a shadow", he chided me with wide eyes.
I smiled and picked up the prune shears for gardening.
"No one wants to see my face around, I would rather blend in with the shadows". I looked at the ring box he was trying to hide.
"What's that?" I nudged towards the soft pink box behind him as I fixed some gloves.
"What?" Kord feigned and that made me smile.
"I saw your attempt at proposing. Who is it?" I asked, but Kord looked away.
"No one" he dismissed, and it was my turn to gasp dramatically.
"Are you keeping secrets from me?" I accused my best friend, and he raised his head in alarm.
"I would never…"
"Then who is it?" I pushed.
"It's not mine" Kord whined, a sign that I was getting closer to breaking him.
"Spill"
"It's Vince" he finally said, but my face dropped, and the shears fell from my hands.
"What? My voice was weak and shock clouded me.
"Vince? Sterling?!" I spoke more slowly now, wanting to verify what I just heard.
"The one and only. I didn't want to tell you Eva, but he's proposing to his girlfriend" Kord looked really sympathetic at me, only he understood my current suffering.
"What?" I squeaked
"Today" he confirmed, and that only hurt me more.
"Oh God", I breathed and took off the gloves before finding a bench to sit on.
I was trying to calm my loud heartbeat when Kord spoke up again.
"I knew you'd be upset and heartbroken"
"I am". I let out in a rush.
"He's been your crush and one true love since when…?" Kord thought aloud.
"Since I was 15! He never noticed the pathetic girl, and now he's marrying someone else," I said. The reality of the fact that I was losing Vince dawned on me.
The one man I loved in hiding didn't even know of my existence.
He was the rich, handsome, nice and down-to-earth best friend of my step-brother.
And I was just…. Me. The odd adopted child of the family.
"Don't be sad" Kord's hand rested on my shoulder and I blinked my tears away.
"But I am sad, how can't I be?" I said in a soft, weak voice and Kord engulfed me in a hug.
"I'll take you on a date then," he said.
"Where?" I tried to think of the feeling going on a date with Kord would give, but I could think of nothing but my current sadness.
"West Green but Vince will be there" he added, and I turned to him sharply.
"That's where he's proposing?"
"Yes…"
"I'm not going to go" I shook my head and crumpled into sadness again.
"You will". Kord took my hand and I shook my head again.
"I'll just see whoever the lucky girl is and start crying" I paused. "Who's he getting married to?"
"Michelle Kennedy", Kord replied, and that only increased my sorrow.
Michelle Kennedy was the only daughter of the governor. A hot blonde who thrived on her parents' money and the praise from the public clamoring for her.
"Michelle Kennedy?! Isn't that Kingsley's crush?" I asked Kord.
This was going to be a big blow to our brother, whom the family knew about his obsession with the Governor's daughter.
"Yeah, have you seen him all day? He's been sad and sulking all day in his room. Imagine your best friend getting married to the woman you love. He's devastated and crumbling in despair", Kord said with a smile. It was no surprise, he didn't like our brother.
Kingsley Van Cleve was a nasty human.
"But Michelle doesn't know, right? Is she aware of his attraction to her?" My voice dropped to a whisper.
Kord scoffed, his tone laced with mockery.
"Kingsley, who's unfortunately my brother, is a big coward, just in case you don't know. He's loved her since he and Vince were in college. He secretly hates Michelle's relationship with Vince," he said, and I gasped in disbelief.
"But Vince is his best friend" I pointed out.
Kord shrugged. "Hmm". His throat swelled with something he wanted to say.
He was the last child and the gossip of the house, I knew he'd be spilling in no time.
Kord's voice dropped to a whisper too. "He feels he doesn't have the kind of money Vince has, so Michelle won't choose him. He's scared of being rejected. That's why he didn't make a move for her. Now look, Vince is going to make love to Michelle for a very long time, as his wife" he laid heavy emphasis on the last word.
Knowing I was losing Vince to a woman who was ten times better than me, and who wasn't a house-help to her family didn't make me feel better.
I sighed "That's terrible". I stared to pick at my fingers, sadness still clouded me.
"You know Kingsley hates Vince" He suddenly blurted.
"What?! They're best friends", I tried to defend my older nasty step-brother, but Kord grinned slowly.
"I'm telling you, Kingsley hates Vince, and it's not just because of Michelle", he repeated, and that had me working the wheels in my head.
I thought about it for a millisecond, he was always invited to all of our family events. Vince Sterling is basically part of the Van Cleve family now.
Kingsley and Vince were almost inseparable, so I didn't believe it when Kord said our brother hated his friend.
But before I could pick up an argument with him, Kord beat me to it.
"It's almost time. We have to go. I'm delivering the ring to Kingsley before Michelle gets there. He didn't want her to suspect a thing, so he left the ring in my care." Kord fixed his hair in a sassy way and stood up.
I was jealous. Vince trusted Kord more than me.
But he never really knew of my existence.
"Can I see the ring?" I sighed after accepting defeat.
"Sure, it's a 24-carat pink diamond, princess cut. It's lovely. I'll grab our coats, and we'll leave". Kord passed me the soft velvet pink box.
When Kord disappeared, I opened the box and gasped.
It was heavenly beautiful.
The heavy diamond welcomed me with its shinning allure.
I wished it was mine and the lucky girl was me.
But I slammed the box shut and fixed my face when Kord reappeared with his keys, our coats and my always ready-to-go handbag.
"Cheer up baby, you'll meet your Prince Charming soon" he said and pulled me up while we walked outside the house.
"Will I?" I muttered sadly.
"Hell, you might even meet him today. Come on, I'll get us a bottle of wine before Vince arrives", he said, and smiled proudly.
"Are Kingsley and Kaitlyn coming?" I asked and his smile dropped.
Kord talked about our siblings like he had bile in his throat.
"No, Kingsley is heartbroken and so is Kaitlyn. Remember she was into Vince too. I believe she'll spend the day whoring around town, and Kingsley won't stop drinking till he blacks out", he said and unlocked the car.
The drive to West Green wasn't that bad. Kord entertained me with music and his regular bouts of gossip and I chipped in occasionally.
We soon arrived and sat sipping wine when Kord's phone lit up with a notification
"Behold, my lover just texted", he announced, and stood up.
"I need to meet Eric downstairs quickly. It'll take a while before Vince comes. Give the ring to the waitress if you want to leave. Everything needs to go perfectly."
"Right", I nodded when he gave me the ring box.
"Protect this with your life", Kord warned, and I smiled, "I will."
"I won't be long baby", he kissed my cheek and hurried away.
Only after Kord had gone did I feel the buzz from the alcohol in my system. My body was calm and my nerves relaxed.
I opened the box once again and dared to touch the ring. My fingers grazed the fine treasure. I was hooked and in less than a second I took it out of the box.
Eva? Don't do it!
I refused to listen to the other voice in my head when I slipped the ring on my finger.
I sighed softly and imagined myself being the woman Vince Sterling was in love with.
The door opened and someone entered. I could see them from where I was sitting upstairs.
He was here, my heart skipped a beat the way it did every time I saw him.
A sweet little smile on his face as he walked by and accepted greetings warmly, Vince was almost too… perfect.
I didn't want to see him when he got on one knee and confessed his love for another woman,
And besides, I needed to pee. I'd been drinking wine for a while now, so I hurriedly stood up, passed the ring box to a waitress and gave her the instructions for Vince's engagement,
Once I was safely inside the toilet, I let my head drop into my hands and cried a little.
My little moment of calm was ruined when the doors burst open some minutes later, two girls engaged in hot gossip.
"Michelle invited the press"
"I wonder what the big news is about"
"Did you see her boyfriend?"
"The hot one?"
"Yes, he's here"
"Oh my God, what's the surprise? an engagement?"
"Maybe"
"Do I look okay? I need to look pretty, the cameras might pan to me."
"You look good"
"Alright, let's go"
"Michelle is here. Oh my goodness! Cupid's Favorite is performing", one squealed.
"Oh my gosh! Let's go"
They hurried out while I waited inside the toilet in shame and sadness, my head in my hands.
"If it's an engagement, I wonder what the ring will look like?"
Oh, God! No!
"Me too" I heard before the door slammed shut.
My hands dropped from my head slowly and dread filled my veins.
I cursed the day I was born.
Vince's ring was still on my finger.
My jeans were not properly worn on my waist before I ran out of the toilet, but alas!
When I reached my seat and looked downstairs, it was too late.
The cameras were rolling, the arena quiet with love-themed air, romantic lights and eager faces, with Vince on one knee in front of Michelle professing his love.
He opened the box and I stopped breathing,
"Will you be my wife, Michelle? Till forever"
But Michelle's face dropped into that of pure horror.
"Vince?" Her eyes looked around wearily aware of the cameras capturing this embarrassing moment.
"Yes baby?" Vince still held his smile.
"Where is the ring?" Michelle finally asked with a sour expression.
Vince's brows furrowed in confusion and when he looked into the empty box, he understood the reason for Michelle's new-found anger.
"I… fuck! I misplaced it, just give me a moment…" Vince stutters in confusion and hurriedly stood up.
"How dare you humiliate me like this?!" Michelle looked like she was about to cry.
"It's just a misunderstanding Michelle baby, give me some minutes…" Vince tried to hold her amid the gasps and shocking screams from the crowd, but she pulled away from him harshly.
"No! I've had enough of you! The press and people are watching, and you choose to embarrass me like this."
"Michelle…" he reached for her again.
"No! Don't come near me, stay away" She picked up her bag.
"Don't be like that sweetie..."
"I'm done!" She screamed and the crowd gasped collectively.
"Let me get the ring, I promise you'll love it", Vince tried to plead with her, but Michelle hurried away in tears.
"Oh my God! Eva?!" I heard from behind me and when I turned, Kord was staring at me in horror.
"I swear, it was a mistake. I didn't mean to…"
"Cut the fucking cameras!!" The crowd started to scatter at his loud voice. "Kord? Care to explain this mess?" Vince yelled when he saw us.
His eyes widened in surprise for a while before they contorted back into fury after a waitress pointed to me and whispered to him.
"Eva!!!!" He yelled, and I could almost hear my bones rattle.
"Uh oh, we're fucked" Kord said in alarm as Vince bounded up the stairs.
"I'll take the blame", I pulled the ring off my finger in a hurry.
"No, you can't… but Vince was already in our faces.
"Come here, you tiny little brat!" Vince grabbed my hand harshly and pulled me away from Kord towards an empty hallway that led downstairs.
"When did you get the audacity to start coming out of the shadows?" His grip on my arm tightened as he spat in my face.
He knew about me!
"Vince…"
"Start explaining!"
"I… I don't…," I missed my words and he stopped walking.
"That's it...", Vince bit his plump lips as he stared at me, stuttering, clearly irritated by the mess I was. "Cat got your tongue honey?"
"I'm sorry" I blurted out.
"That apology isn't going to undo this mess, you will come with me and get my fiancée back" He said and continued pulling me away.
"What? How?" I asked, panic washing over me.
"You'll find out after you tell her how sorry you are for almost making her lose me and for trying to ruin the lovely relationship we have."
"I…"
He opened the door to an empty office when we went downstairs and pushed me inside.
"Sit", Vince pointed to a chair.
"Vince, I…"
"Down.Now"
My body dropped into the next empty chair.
Vince groaned, kicked a chair angrily, wiped his face with his hands and turned to face me.
"Are you fucking dumb? What were you thinking? That was humiliating!" he yelled with a raised finger.
I could not hold my tears anymore. I tried to stifle a sob but failed horribly at that. Vince made me feel like a criminal right now.
But isn't that what I was?
A thief of joy and a destroyer of love
He turned to me in horror.
"What are you… Crying? I can't believe you're crying. I'm about to lose the woman I love. Your tears don't mean anything to me right now, get up" He ordered and came closer to me.
"I'm sorry", I sobbed. My eyes met his and Vince leaned in closer to me.
"I know baby, I know" he gently tucked my hair between my ears.
"I didn't mean to…"
"Stop apologizing and get your pretty little ass up" I didn't move. "Now!"" He was back grabbing my arm and pulling out of the office and the building of West Green, towards a car parked at the back of the restaurant. I guess it was an escape route from the press.
"Get in the car". Vince pushed me in and wasted no time in entering the car too.
"Put on your seatbelt, it's going to be a pretty rough ride" he cranked the engine was as soon as my seatbelt clicked the lock, he peeled out of the restaurant and sped to the destination in his mind.
"Get out" Vince opened the door for me and wasted no time in pulling me out of the car.
"How do you know where she is?" I asked.
"Her car's here", he pointed to a baby blue Bentley.
We hurried inside. "When you apologize, go down on your knees and say how sorry you are," he said.
"If everything goes well, I might even compensate you" he said, and I nodded silently.
"Now I just need to find out where she is and…."
"Carl!" We heard a sweet feminine voice not too far ahead of us.
"Baby!" The man greeted her with a cheerful smile and opened arms waiting for when Michelle ran into them. "I missed you", she looped her arms around the stranger's neck while they kissed passionately.
Vince was frozen beside me as I was beside him.
Michelle, the woman he was about to propose to about thirty minutes ago, was kissing someone else.
"Did you get rid of him?" The man asked and Michelle nodded vigorously after they broke the kiss.
"Yes! I was going to do it in public, but I guess luck was on my side. It was a mess", she laughed lightly, but I sounded evil and sick to my ears.
"Tell me about it when we get to my room" this new man said, and they exchanged a deep kiss again.
"And we'll talk about our vacation plans" she squealed and swung her legs in the air as the man carried her away in his arms, oblivious to the breathing statues who had just watched the escapade.
We stood frozen in time for what felt like hours.
My trance broke first, and I turned to Vince, ready to offer comfort and support with even as much as a touch,
"Vince?"
"Get the fuck away from me!" He pushed my hand away and moved away from me like I was a plague.
"Fuck this" he cursed and hurried out of the hotel.
Now I felt bad for him.
He was heartbroken and devastated.
I needed to return his ring.
But when I got out of the door and caught his figure walking away in hastened steps, Vince was already in the middle of the road.
A bus was coming and Vince wasn't looking. Fear and horror washed over me.
"Vince, watch out!"
A loud screech
A crash
A mangled body
And blood.
"Nooooooo!!!"