What are we?

3rd P.O.V.

"I can't believe you would do this to me, Apollo," Beatrix said, her voice shaking with emotion.

Apollo didn't respond. He just continued to comfort his crying fuck buddy, ignoring Beatrix completely.

Beatrix couldn't take it anymore. She turned around and started to walk away, tears streaming down her face. Apollo's father, who had been watching the whole thing, followed her.

"Beatrix, wait," he called after her.

Beatrix stopped and turned to face him, wiping the tears from her eyes.

"Please, Dad, I just want to go home," Beatrix said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Beatrix, I'm sorry for what happened tonight. I didn't know that she was going to do that," Mr. Cartier said, looking genuinely apologetic.

"It's not just that, Dad. Apollo has been acting strange towards me lately, and I don't know why," Beatrix said, feeling a lump in her throat.

"I know, Beatrix. That's why I set up this date for you two. I wanted you to reconnect and work things out," Mr. Cartier, looking at her with concern.

"Well, it didn't work," Beatrix said bitterly. "I think it's best if Apollo and I just go our separate ways."

Mr. Cartier looked at her for a moment before nodding his head. "I understand. But please, give him a chance to explain himself."

Beatrix sighed, feeling defeated. "I'll try," she said, before turning and walking away.

As she walked through the empty streets, Beatrix couldn't help but feel a sense of sadness and disappointment. She had started to care for Apollo, and now it felt like everything was falling apart. She didn't know what the future held, but she knew that it wasn't going to be easy.

—

Beatrix was lost in the street.

She had decided to sit and rest.

She's been tired from all of the commotions that had happened.

As Beatrix was wiping her tears, she heard someone calling her name. She looked up and saw Harold and Harley coming towards her. They immediately knew something was wrong.

"What happened?" asked Harold, concern etched on his face.

Beatrix shook her head, not wanting to talk about it. She didn't want to burden them with her problems. Harley, however, could see the pain in her eyes and knew something was off.

"Come on, let's go somewhere else," Harley said, taking her hand and leading her outside. They walked to a nearby park where they could sit and talk.

"Talk to me, Beatrix," Harley said, his voice full of concern.

"It's nothing, really," Beatrix said, trying to put on a brave face.

"It doesn't look like nothing," Harold said, handing her a tissue.

Beatrix took the tissue and wiped her tears. She told them everything that had happened at the restaurant, how Apollo's fuck buddy had thrown a cake at her, and how Apollo had protected her instead of Beatrix.

"I don't know what to do anymore," Beatrix said, her voice breaking. "I thought things were going well between us, but he's been acting so strange lately."

Harley and Harold listened attentively, letting her vent her frustrations.

"I think you need to talk to him," Harley said. "You need to find out what's really going on between you two."

Beatrix nodded, knowing that Harley was right. She needed to confront Apollo and find out where they stood. She couldn't keep on pretending that everything was okay when it wasn't.

"Thanks, guys," Beatrix said, feeling a bit better. "I think I'll go and talk to him now."

Harold and Harley wished her luck, knowing that she needed to sort things out with Apollo before things got worse. As Beatrix walked away, they both hoped that everything would work out for her.

—

Beatrix arrived at the club, feeling empty and hollow. She had started accepting extra jobs again, hoping that the distraction would ease her mind. But it only made her feel worse.

As she walked in, Charis noticed that something was off about her friend. She tried to convince Beatrix to stop and go to the hospital to look after Andrei, but Beatrix wouldn't listen. They ended up fighting verbally, with Beatrix insisting that she needed the money to support her brother.

Charis couldn't stand seeing her friend like this. She decided to call Apollo, even though she knew he was busy. To her surprise, Apollo answered.

"Charis, what's going on?" Apollo asked.

"It's Beatrix," Charis said. "She's been working nonstop and she won't listen to me when I tell her to go to the hospital to see Andrei. Can you come and talk to her? Maybe she'll listen to you."

"I'll be there," Apollo said and hung up.

A few minutes later, Apollo walked into the club, looking as serious and cold as ever. He walked straight to Beatrix and pulled her aside, away from the other dancers and customers.

"What's going on, Beatrix?" he asked, his voice low and intense.

Beatrix hesitated for a moment but then decided to tell him everything. She told him about Andrei's condition, and how she needed the money to pay for his medical bills. She also told him about how she was feeling empty and lost, despite all the work she was doing.

Apollo listened silently, his face unreadable. When Beatrix finished, he simply said, "Stop working. I'll take care of the bills."

Beatrix was shocked. "What? You'll pay for everything?"

Apollo nodded. "Yes. And you're going to take a break and go see your brother. Right now."

Beatrix couldn't believe what she was hearing. She looked at Apollo with tears in her eyes, feeling grateful and overwhelmed all at once. "Thank you," she whispered.

Apollo nodded and then turned to leave. But before he did, he turned back to Beatrix and said, "Don't ever forget that you're important to me, Beatrix."

Beatrix laughed devilishly.

"Do you really think I cared about your money right now? You've been paying me my service of being your contracted wife. You don't really have to pay my brother's bills because it's me who will do that. Do you really think I'm thankful and I still care about your expression telling me that I'm important to you?"

Apollo was bewildered.

Beatrix knew he would.

This is the least that he will expect from her, and this is the least that she could give to him.

"I already told you right?" Beatrix started to tear up. "I can't afford to feel any more assumptions from you! All you have to do is stop giving me the signs and mixed signals. But you’re always acting like you don't know anything.”

Apollo pulled Beatrix away from the club and decided to talk inside his car ‘cause there were a lot of people that could overhear their conversation and it could cause a bomb.

Beatrix can’t stop crying. But Apollo can't do anything yet. He has to make sure that this conversation was in private.

Beatrix was struggling to disentangle from Apollo's grip on her arms.

"I said to stop doing this to me! Why do you only care for yourself?!"

Apollo finally let go of his grip

She had never been good at reading people, but Apollo's words had stirred something within her. As she caught up to him, she asked, "You told me before that I’m important to you. But why are acting like this? What was that all about?!”

Apollo remained silent, his face stoic and unreadable. Beatrix's frustration grew, but she refused to let it show. "There's this other girl," she continued, "Who seems to be getting in the way. I don't understand why you keep coming to me."

Finally, Apollo spoke, "You're important to me because you're necessary. You fulfill a role in my life, just like that other girl does."

Beatrix's heart sank at his words, and her confusion only deepened. "I'm just a role to you?" she asked, her voice tinged with sadness.

Beatrix asked again, “What are we, Apollo?”

Apollo pulled her inside the club and rented a VIP room. As soon as the door closed, he pressed her against the wall and kissed her fiercely. Beatrix responded eagerly, but even in the heat of the moment, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of disappointment.

After a few moments, Apollo pulled away, his eyes smoldering. "That's what we are, Beatrix," he said, his voice low and husky. "Fuck buddies. Nothing more, nothing less."

Beatrix's heart sank even further at his words, but she refused to let it show. Instead, she pulled him back in for another kiss, determined to enjoy the moment for what it was.

—

Beatrix sat alone at the bar, swirling her drink absentmindedly. She had been sitting there for hours, trying to forget the conversation she had with Apollo earlier that night. He had said some things that made her heart flutter, but then he had walked away, leaving her confused and frustrated.

Harley noticed Beatrix from across the room and walked over to her. "Hey, Rix, what's going on? You look like you could use a friend."

Beatrix looked up at Harley and smiled weakly. "Hey, Harley. Yeah, I could use a friend right now."

Harley sat down beside her and ordered a drink. "What happened with Apollo? Did something go wrong?"

Beatrix sighed and took a sip of her drink. "I don't know, Harley. He said some things to me that made me feel like maybe he was starting to feel something for me, but then he just walked away."

Harley frowned. "That's not fair to you, Rix. You deserve someone who will be honest with you and not play these games."

Beatrix nodded. "I know, but I can't help how I feel about him."

Harley put his hand on hers. "Rix, I know I've said this before, but I care about you. I want to be more than just friends. I want to be with you."

Beatrix looked at him, surprised. "Harley, I don't know what to say. I appreciate your honesty, but I don't think I'm ready for anything like that right now."

Harley nodded, disappointed. "I understand. Just know that I'm here for you, no matter what."

Charis joined them at the bar and ordered a round of shots. "What's going on, guys? Why do you look so serious?"

Beatrix shrugged. "Just dealing with some personal stuff. Nothing important."

Charis raised an eyebrow. "Well, it must be pretty serious if you're still here at closing time. Let's lighten the mood with some shots!"

As they drank together, Beatrix started to act differently. She became more animated and flirty, which surprised both Harley and Charis.

Harley noticed the change in her behavior and leaned in to whisper in her ear. "Are you okay, Rix? You're acting kind of strange."

Beatrix giggled and leaned into him. "I'm just having fun, Harley. Why don't you loosen up and have some fun too?"

Harley blushed, feeling uncomfortable. "I don't think that's a good idea, Bea. Maybe you should slow down on the drinking."

Charis watched them with interest, a mischievous smile on her face. "Oh, come on, Harley. Let loose a little. You only live once!"

Harley looked at Beatrix, who was now leaning against him with her eyes closed, and sighed. "Okay, one drink. But that's it."

Charis cheered and ordered another round of shots. As they drank, Harley started to confess his feelings to Beatrix again. "Rix, I know I've said this before, but I can't help how I feel about you. I want to be with you."

Beatrix smiled at him, feeling flattered. "Harley, you're sweet, but I don't think I'm ready for anything like that right now."

Harley nodded, disappointed but understanding. "Okay, I get it. Just know that I'll always be here for you, no matter what."

Charis watched them with interest, sipping her drink. She had a feeling that things were about to get even more complicated for Beatrix.

Suddenly, Beatrix noticed that there was someone who stormed back to the club.

It was Apollo.

He pulled Beatrix, grip on her arm, and was planning to pull her.

Madam Glo heard the commotion that had been happening in the middle of the crowd, and she started fuming.

But when she noticed that the creator of the chaos wasn't just a normal customer but a VIP one, she couldn't do anything. But then she tried to ask Apollo to talk to Beatrix outside.

But Apollo won’t listen.

Beatrix can't stop crying.

"I just don't care about myself. I've been telling myself this non-stop but you keep on ignoring me. You're important to me. You really are! But when will you accept that?” said Apollo.

Apollo was feeling mixed emotions that he can't react after what he said.

The only choice to see is to go and walk away.

Beatrix followed Apollo as he was going inside his car.

Before Apollo gets in, Beatrix had already approached him.

Apollo didn't talk instead he assisted Beatrix to go inside his car.

Beatrix wiped her tears as Apollo drove his Lamborghini down the busy street. She couldn't believe she was in Apollo's car.

Apollo came back to persuade her to stop doing the extra jobs. And Beatrix took the hint.

She had always seen him as this cold and unfeeling person, but here he was, being so gentle and caring towards her.

Right now, Apollo had already subsided his emotions.

"Are you okay?" Apollo asked, taking his eyes off the road for a second to glance at her.

At first, Beatrix finds it hard to open up again because Apollo had been hurting her continuously. But she decided to open up because that what is her feelings are.

Beatrix shook her head, tears still streaming down her face. "I don't know, Apollo. I feel so empty. I thought this was what I wanted, but now I don't know anymore."

"What do you want, Beatrix?" Apollo asked softly, his eyes fixed on the road.

"I don't know," Beatrix replied, shaking her head. "I just feel so lost right now. I thought I could handle this, but I can't. It's just too much. The way you hurt me…”

Apollo pulled over to the side of the road and turned to face her. "You don't have to do this, Beatrix. You don't have to keep taking on these extra jobs. You can stop, you know that right?"

Beatrix looked at him incredulously. "What do you mean I can stop? Even if I wanted to, I have bills to pay, Apollo. I have a brother in the hospital. I have responsibilities. and I don't want to give you under all the pressure. I don't want to expect the bills to pay from the money you've been given to me as your contracted wife."

"I know that, Beatrix," Apollo said gently. "But you don't have to do this alone. You have me, you have Charis, you have your friends. We're all here for you. You don't have to carry this burden all by yourself."

Beatrix looked at him, her eyes wide with disbelief. She had never heard Apollo speak like this before. It was like he was a completely different person.

"Why are you doing this, Apollo?" she asked softly.

Apollo sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I know I've been acting like a jerk lately, Beatrix. I'm sorry. It's just that...I've never felt this way before. I like you, Beatrix. I really do. And I thought if I acted all grouchy and cold, you wouldn't like my clingy side."

Beatrix looked at him, feeling a flicker of hope in her heart. "You like me?" she asked, unable to keep the surprise out of her voice.

Apollo nodded, looking at her intently. "Yes, Beatrix. I like you. And I want to be there for you. I want to help you through this."

Beatrix felt a wave of emotion wash over her. She couldn't believe this was happening. She had always secretly liked Apollo, but she had never thought he felt the same way.

"I don't know what to say," she whispered, feeling overwhelmed.

Apollo reached over and took her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "You don't have to say anything, Beatrix. Just know that I'm here for you, okay?"

Beatrix nodded, feeling a sense of peace wash over her. For the first time in a long time, she felt like she wasn't alone. And it was all thanks to Apollo.