“Go home, Beatrix. You know what you’re asking for is impossible!” said Alexander, his eyes cold and spiteful. Beatrix shook her head and slipped past him into his apartment, refusing to listen to him this time.
“Why? Which era are you living in, Alexander? We’re engaged and will marry one another in four months. I won’t stay away from claiming what’s mine. You’re mine!” she said, her eyes flashing with defiance. Her little speech stunned Alexander, and he looked desperately for a way to throw her out. He couldn’t even think of having se* with Beatrix, not even in his worst nightmares. In fact, kissing her made him nauseous, let alone anything else.
“No, I don’t believe in se* before marriage. You might think me old-fashioned, but that’s how I am,” he lied through his teeth, as it was the only option to save himself from her clutches. He didn’t want her to take a step forward, or she’d know that Eva lived here with him!
“Fine, still, I’ll spend the night with you. We can at least cuddle up and sleep. Can’t we Alexander? Why do you hate me so much?” she whined. Alexander closed the main door and turned to face her. What could he say to that? He couldn’t deny her that! She was his fiancee, after all! Beatrix grinned at him, hopefully at seeing him accept her demands. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him on his lips. Alexander didn’t kiss her back and waited for the torture to end. He felt used, corrupted, and nauseated, completely different from the way he felt with Eva.
“What’s wrong with you? Can’t you kiss me back?” whined Beatrix, releasing him and glaring at him.
“I’m exhausted, Beatrix, and I don’t have time for your tantrums tonight. I’m going off to bed. Are you seeing yourself out?” He didn’t wait for her answer and strode towards his bedroom. Beatrix followed him instead of leaving.
“I’m sleeping with you, Alex. If you can’t sleep with me tonight, then it’s best to call off our engagement,” threatened Beatrix. Alexander sighed and went straight to his closet to get his clothes. He was worried that Eva would be upset to see Beatrix here when she came in the next morning from duty. How would he explain Beatrix’s presence to her? Picking up a pair of sweatpants and a tee shirt, he went towards the washroom to change. However, his eyes popped out at seeing Beatrix, stripped to her lingerie, changing into a flimsy camisole right in his bedroom! Was she crazy? Didn’t she have any shame?
“Can’t you use a washroom?” he said with an eye roll. Did she seriously think he would get aroused by seeing her bare body?
“Why would I want to hide? We will eventually see one another. So why not now?” said Beatrix, unclasping her bra. Alexander turned away with disgust and headed straight to his washroom to change without casting her a second look. He banged the door shut and took out his phone with a sigh. Although he didn’t want to warn Eva, now it seemed he had no choice. He typed a message to Eva.
Beatrix has come over to spend the night here. Please return a little later. I’ll convince her to leave after breakfast.Alexander.
He freshened up, changed, and waited for Beatrix to settle down. He didn’t have any wish to repeat the kiss with her. She had kissed so many others with those same lips that it made him want to throw up. After wasting half an hour in the washroom, playing games on his mobile phone, he felt relieved when Stefan called him. Accepting his call, he opened the door and walked out. He saw Beatrix lying in bed, waiting for him, wearing flimsy nightwear, but he didn’t stop for a minute. Heading straight towards the door, he was eager to escape.
“Alex, where are you off to? I’m waiting for you,” she whined again.
“I need to take this call!” he gritted out, annoyed by her whining all the time. Couldn’t she take the hint and leave? He didn’t at all feel aroused by her nudity!
“Where are you lost, bro? Am I disturbing something? I’ll call later if you want me to,” said Stefan at the other end.
“No, nothing at all. I want you to talk to me all night.” Alexander went to the living room sofa to lie down and have a moment of peace. He couldn’t sleep in his bedroom tonight.
“Why? Did Beatrix come over?” said Stefan with a chuckle. Alexander groaned in agony.
“Yes, who else? I’m tired of this shit! She joined hands with my parents and fixed up a date for the wedding. I feel like leaving everything and going away to some faraway island.”
“With Eva!” prompted Stefan with a chuckle. “So why don’t you do just that? I’m sure uncle Daniel’s health won’t be affected much. He’s improving!”
“I would lose Rotterdams forever if I break off with her. I don’t think I can live without it, bro,” said Alexander, his throat choking with emotions even at the thought of it.
“But you always knew that Rotterdams wasn’t yours, didn’t you? It belongs to Beatrix and her dad. You’re just a paid employee doing his job. If you think that way, you’ll never feel so bad about leaving it.”
“I can’t think of it that way. Rotterdams is in my blood. I’ve given my everything to the company for the last four years, Stefan. No one knows it better than you,” said Alexander, getting up to pour himself some whiskey. This topic always made him weak and emotional. He couldn’t imagine what he would be without Rotterdams!
“This is an unhealthy obsession, Alex. Rotterdams doesn’t belong to you. Even if you marry Beatrix, she would remain the proprietor and you’ll be under her control. I’m sure she’ll give you a divorce in a few months when her needs remain unfulfilled. So decide now,” advised Stefan.
“Without Rotterdams I’ll lose my fame, money, everything. It’ll take me ages to build an empire equivalent to Rotterdams and earn the same fame. I’ll be just an ordinary man. What if Eva rejects me?” These were the insecurities he never admitted to anyone before. They ate him up, preventing him from deciding he knew he should have taken it long ago. However, Beatrix’s demands tonight had opened his eyes to what lay ahead of him. He knew he couldn’t stay engaged to her much longer!
“No, Alex. You’re wrong. Love doesn’t see fame, money, and status. I’m sure if Eva truly loves you, she’ll accept you just the way you are, with none of those.”
“What if she doesn’t? How will I know if she truly loves me and not the life I can give her?” asked Alexander with a sigh. He downed his drink and refilled his glass.
“I’m afraid there’s only one way to find out, my friend.” Alexander sighed and left the topic alone. They discussed what Stefan was going through in his life, talking till late in the night. Drunk and exhausted, Alexander fell asleep on the sofa in the wee hours of the morning.
When he woke up, it was already 9 o’clock, and he was late for work. He rushed to his bedroom, dreading Beatrix’s tantrums, but to his surprise, she had already left. Smiling with relief, he went to the washroom to take a quick shower and get ready to go to work. He didn’t have the time to arrange the apartment and was about to leave when his glance fell upon a note left on the nightstand. Curious, he picked up the note and his eyes widened, realizing that Beatrix had left it for him before she left.
Alexander
Get rid of the bitch living with you right away! No wonder you didn’t want me last night. How can you even preach when you’re the one who had been betraying me all the time? Don’t come to the office if you’re still with Eva. I’ll destroy both your careers forever if you mess with me and my feelings!
Beatrix
Alexander’s jaws dropped with shock. What the hell! How did Beatrix know Eva was staying with him? Did she snoop around while he was fast asleep? Or did she listen to his conversation with Stefan last night? What would he do now?
The front door clicked open, and he realized that Eva had returned home from her duty. His heart ached for Eva and he remained hidden in his bedroom, not ready to face her yet. He knew she would be upset by his message, but he didn’t have a choice. Now his worst nightmare had come true. He wondered what Beatrix would do now. Would she really stoop so low and destroy Eva’s career? Anything was possible for her, though.
The door to his bedroom opened and Eva peered in. Her jaws dropped at seeing the messed up bed and Beatrix’s flimsy nightwear lying on it. Then she looked up at him, standing with the note in his hand. Tears pooled in her eyes and she closed the door, without a word, totally misunderstanding him.
Beatrix’s arrival brought Eva out of her happy bubble, making her realize the mistake she had made. Coming here was a mistake. She couldn’t come between him and his fiancee. She wasn’t a home wrecker.