Page 53 of Strings
“Please don’t cry. Oh God, I am an asshole. That was not what I meant!”
I try to turn away from him and he pulls me back.
“You’re stunning, Talia. You’re fucking gorgeous even without this dress or the heels. And if I were an ordinary man on an ordinary date, I’d be the proudest guy in the fucking universe to be seen with someone like you. You’re way out of my league and I’ve known that from day one.”
“I don’t understand what you want from me.” I fight away the hurt and grit my teeth at him.
“I want what’s best for you. I swear. Please hear me out. Unfortunately, I’ve made a name for myself. When I go out in public, I often get photographed. My parents are… well, they’re well known on social media, and no matter how hard I try, I can’t avoid ending up on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or even in some magazine.”
I’m so angry right now I want to punch a wall, but I force myself not to. I can’t afford to damage my rental property.
“I know you’re trying to make a name for yourself at work. I know you don’t want to be my fake girlfriend and this whole thing has been awful for you. And even though it sounds like I’m being a complete fucker right now, I’m really trying to look out for you. I’m afraid pictures of you in this dress with me tonight would highly increase my stock and significantly lower yours.”
Blinking my eyes at him for a few seconds, I let his words permeate my brain. I gaze over at the window as I think, and I feel like Stella is nodding her leaves and agreeing with him.
Is he right? Would I look like a gold digger in this dress? No one knows me. Half the people at work are questioning how I got this job to begin with, and if pictures showed up with me looking like this, I’d confirm what people were already thinking—that I slept my way in and now I’m sleeping my way in deeper by fucking the principal concertmaster. I look up at him and he places his hand on my cheek.
“Please don’t be upset with me. I swear to you on everything I am and everything I have that I think you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.”
“Give me a minute.”
“Talia…” I can tell he’s searching for something to say. He’s upset with himself for upsetting me, and even though I barely know him, part of me recognizes he’s a got a decent heart.
“It’s fine. Just wait.”
I go back into my closet and search through my small wardrobe. I have a navy blue dress I wore to a funeral once. It’s long-sleeved and pretty enough. I decide to leave the heels since they make the dress look fancier, and I tone down my eye makeup a bit. Placing the red dress on a hanger, I push it all the way to the back of the closet. That dress was the old me. Next chance I get, I’m going to burn it. The old me needs to disappear.
“How’s this?” I ask as I re-enter my living space. Sebastian is paging throughPride and Prejudice, but he sets it down and smiles as I approach.
“You’d look beautiful in a garbage bag. I apologize if—”
“I get it, okay. Can we forget it? I don’t want to talk about it anymore.”
He nods and holds out his hand for me. I take it as I lift my purse and close my door.
He doesn’t speak as we take the elevator down, and I wonder what I should say to Michael and Bella about why I changed clothes. There’s really no way to make myself look better in this situation. I’m going to have to admit it was inappropriate.
Bella does a double-take at me as we exit the elevator. “I see you changed. I guess Sebastian and I were thinking the same thing.” She smiles as she gazes at Sebastian, and I fumble to come up with a story.
“It’s entirely my fault,” he begins. “I’m embarrassed to say I tore it when I was… well. You both saw her. I couldn’t keep my hands off of her.”
He places his arm around my waist and pulls me to him before he gently kisses my temple.
“Dude…” Michael says with a laugh. “We totally get it.”
Bella huffs in disgust as she walks out the main apartment doors and onto the street.
Michael chases after her and I mouth, “Thank you,” to Sebastian. He smiles as he places my arm in the crook of his. “Let’s get this over with. You ready?”
I offer no verbal response, but I say“ready”inside my head. I am ready. I’m ready to become Natalia Pearson in every way, shape, and form. Sebastian Corronov reminded me who I was and who I need to be. Natalia Pearson is back in control. I need to play the game. It will not play me.
One step forward, two steps back.
“Tell us more about yourself. I’d like to get to know the girl who finally stole Sebastian’s heart.” Michael smiles genuinely at me and I feel a little sick. The last thing I want to do is talk about myself.
I slowly sip my red wine as I try to figure out how to get out of answering the question. I notice a photographer snapping pictures from outside. Sebastian wasn’t kidding.
“There’s another one,” I say, motioning to Sebastian with my head.
