Page 49 of Scoreless Nights

After a minute, he grabbed my hand and gently escorted me to our seat at the table for dinner. He ran a finger across my back, casually taking his seat beside me, sending chills through me. It was a complete contrast to his mood, and I had to remind myself that it was confusing because it was fake.

When dinner ended, I decided I needed air, but I also needed some space from Cruz for a minute, so I excused myself and headed to the large balcony. No one else was out there, but I moved to the corner where I couldn’t be seen from the big windows of the ballroom. I took several deep breaths and twisted my fingers around one another as I looked out over the city.

“Miss Harris?” The deep, familiar voice behind me made me jump but I pasted on a smile before I turned around. Mr. Archer had his hands in his pockets, casually walking towards me in the corner. “Is everything all right?”

Trying not to ruin our ruse by hiding, I gave him an awkward smile and quickly tried to think of some reason I was out there alone. By the time he was right in front of me, I still didn’t have anything to say so I shrugged.

“Events like these can be overwhelming,” he winked. “That’s why I came out here.”

“Yeah.” Good point.Why didn’t I think of that?“I just needed a breather.”

“And Cruz is quite social. A charmer. It’s probably pretty exhausting trying to keep up with him.”

“I’ll be supportive in any way I can be,” I told him truthfully. “He’s worth a few conversations with strangers.”

Mr. Archer’s eyes twinkled a little, and he pulled one of his hands from his pocket and pointed it at me. “You sound like a keeper.”

“Technically Cruz is a keeper,” I laughed, then realized how lame that sounded. “You know, like a goalie?”Fuck, that made it worse.“Thank you.”

Despite the fact that I was incredibly awkward, Mr. Archer smirked at me as he eyed me with questions swirling in his eyes. It felt like a pivotal moment for Cruz, and I didn’t want to screw up his contract because his “girlfriend” was an idiot. So I rerouted and decided flattery was a better idea.

“You are very smart, Mr. Archer. This new line of athletic gear focused on soccer that your company is doing is unbelievable. Congratulations. You really have an eye and a heart for athletes.”

There was a moment that I thought I went too far. That my flattery was overdone and sounded incredibly fake. But then he leaned closer to me with a wicked smile on his face, seemingly buying everything I was selling.

“You must be very smart as well. Can I tell you a secret?”

I leaned in and nodded. “Of course.”

“I know you’re not really Cruz’s girlfriend.” He couldn’t see my face because his lips were so close to my ear but my eyes widened and my heart picked up its pace.

“Wha–?” I started to ask before I felt his lips below my ear, creating a trail towards my mouth. I tried to pull back, but there was nothing behind me except for a wall, and I was trapped as he continued running his lips to mine.

In an attempt to push him away, I took my hands to his chest, but he was too formidable. A laugh escaped his mouth and before his lips covered mine, he said, “It's okay. Remember? I told you I know it’s not real.”

“It’s not,” I pushed him again.

His mouth smothered my words and he slipped his tongue between my teeth as I started to scream. But all the noises I made were muffled by the wind on the balcony and the way he was using his strength to push his lips against mine.

Tears began running down my cheeks as I continued to push his chest. I was so close to the edge of the balcony and it seemed like my only way out was to just go over. But we were too high up and I didn’t have a death wish.

His tongue was circling my mouth, tasting my teeth, and then truly, I started to gag. His hand found my chin, and I prepared for him to hold me tighter. But before he could get a grip, he was gone.

My eyes were so blurry from the tears that I couldn’t see where he had gone, but when I wiped my eyes, I saw Cruz. He had Mr. Archer pinned against the balcony rail with his hand around his throat. It looked like Cruz had punched him based on the blood I saw trickling down Mr. Archer’s face.

“Who the fuck do you think you are?” Cruz yelled.

“Oh please,” Mr. Archer laughed despite being dominated and in a precarious position. “I knew she was only here as arm candy for you. Women who are that fake only care about one thing.”

Cruz pulled him away from the edge of the balcony and landed another punch to the side of his face, making him fall down. Then he hovered over the top of him as a crowd started to come out from the commotion.

“There’s nothing fake about my relationship with Lily. Touch my girl again and I won’t settle for a punch to your face. I’ll throw you over the side of that balcony.”

Cruz looked up where I was still huddled in the corner then lifted his hand up. “Come here, baby,” he said to me with a calm look in his eye. As a few people started tending to Mr. Archer, I pushed from the wall and ran into Cruz’s arms. A few people were yelling that security needed to be called, but Cruz’s only attention was on me.

“I’m so sorry,” he whispered as he guided me toward the door.

“I hope this was worth losing your contract,” Mr. Archer yelled. He was on his feet, flanked by two other people that worked with him.

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