Page 49 of The Russian's Forced Bride
And in wars, there could only ever be one victor.
Chapter 16 – Arlette
Days had passed since I had asked Rafael to meet with Brandon. He promised me he would, but ever since then, I hardly ever saw him as much as I usually did. I missed everything about him. His scent, his voice, and the way he made me feel while burying himself in me. I missed his touch. I missed his comfort. Yet I hated how he never actually told me anything.
The snap of fingers in front of my face brought me back to my present reality. I was seated across from Brandon at a five-star restaurant that Brandon never stopped bugging me about. It was some blocks from his apartment, and though not overly fancy, its rustic and woodsy nature reminded me of the coffee shop where we had first met.
The sound of jazz playing in the background seemed to now ease into my ears as I paid attention. Voices of adults and teenagers alike hovered around the restaurant, along with the clinking sound of plates and glasses. It was my first time at a restaurant that wasn’t all too fancy and solemn. I had grown accustomed to visiting restaurants that only accepted reservations costing thousands of dollars. The restaurants were usually empty, and Father only took me when he needed me to help convince an investor or strike a deal.
But now, here I was seated by my half-brother with different dishes gracing the table. In front of me was a plate of grilled asparagus with garlic aioli and a bottle of my favorite sangria, while Brandon had ordered a sizzling pork entrée on a bed of butter mashed potatoes. The pork glistened underneath the warm hue of the restaurant’s lighting, making the food look a whole lot more appetizing than I bet it tasted.
I grabbed my fork, smiling at Brandon, who rolled his eyes at me, tugging at the ropes of the brown beanie he usually had on, which made him look younger than he actually was.
“You zone out way too much,” Brandon claimed, and I gave him an apologetic look, which faltered when he then asked, “Trouble in paradise?”
I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. Brandon still didn’t know much about Rafael or the truth behind Father’s death. I felt like I owed him some sort of explanation, but I couldn’t tell him much. Ignorance was bliss, and I figured it was better off he didn’t know a lot of shit.
“He’s just really busy these days,” I admitted to Brandon, who began picking at his food while I stabbed into my grilled asparagus, chewing hard at its mushy texture.
But Brandon didn’t seem content with my reply. “And I guess he doesn’t know you’re out here with me either, with how busy he is.”
I agreed with a nod. If Rafael knew I spent my weekends and most of my time with Brandon, I was sure he’d throw a fit. In turn, while Rafael was spending his time working away from me, I used that time to catch up with Brandon.
Eleanor had flown back to Los Angeles, so I really had no one left here aside from Brandon. He hummed in response to my explanation, chewing the contents in his mouth while I dug into mine, making a face of surprise when the food didn’t taste too bad.
“Told ya,” Brandon remarked with a smirk. “They make the best food.”
They certainly did. But the more I ate, the more my stomach began to churn in a familiar, uncomfortable way. It wasn’t like a period pain where it felt like my ovaries were being ripped out. This one made my intestines curl in disgust, almost like they were repulsed by the food I was eating.
I tried to wave the feeling away. As long as I could push the food in, it didn’t matter. Besides, I didn’t want Brandon to think I lied about liking the food.
But then a wave of nausea rushed through my system, causing me to stand abruptly. I was washed all over by a flood of dizziness, and I could feel the food I had just eaten rising in my throat and trying to claw its way out. I quickly rushed out, my hands clapped over my mouth amidst the sound of Brandon calling out my name in the background.
The feeling of eyes watching me in surprise and disgust pierced through the side of my head as I sprinted all the way to the restroom. Once in, I made for the sink, spilling the contents of the food I had eaten into it.
It was an unsightly scene that further added to the irritation I felt within me. And worse, my body shook intensely. Had I been poisoned? I couldn’t tell, but my vision blurred as I leaned against the cold, sludgy tiles of the restroom, the lights flickering overhead. My head spun.
And then there was a gentle knocking against the door of the restroom. “You okay in there, sis?”
I didn’t give a reply. I didn’t feel like it. One moment, I was completely fine, and in another, it felt like my insides were crumbling hard.
The knock came again, this time, urgent. “If you don’t answer, I’m gonna have to knock this door down, Ari.”
“I’m fine,” I croaked out, not wanting anyone to see me look so disoriented. “Just give me a minute.”
Brandon’s presence lingered at the door before I heard him sigh and walk away.
I picked myself off the wall and made for the sink, tainted with green vomit. Turning on the water, I cleaned it all up as well as splashed water onto my face.
Through the cracked mirrors of the stall, I looked tired. My ginger hair had lost the intensity of its hue and appeared more of a strawberry-blonde, tied up into a ponytail. My skinwas washed and pale with bags underneath my usual intense green eyes that were now devoid of life.
Whatever was happening was sucking the life out of me slowly. And even though it seemed like I had gained a bit more weight, I looked sickly.
With a sharp breath, and after I was sure I looked somewhat okay, I exited the restroom, my eyes skimming over the restaurant in search of Brandon, but he wasn’t there. Ignoring the curious gazes thrown in my direction, I grabbed my purse off our table, which had now been cleared, and stepped out of the restaurant, only to find Brandon leaning against its brick walls, his arms folded.
Upon seeing me, he pushed himself off the wall, covering the distance between us in a stride and holding my shoulders firmly. His eyes were filled with concern as they studied my face while I struggled to keep standing.
“We need to go to a hospital, Ari. You don’t look good.”
