Chapter 18
Adelaide sat on the couch next to her sister, who was changing channels on the television.
"What's going on with you?" asked Adelaide.
Aurora shrugged, but it was evident that her response was a lie. "Nothing. I'm fine."
"I know you," said Adelaide. "You're usually very talkative, so when you get quiet and thoughtful like this, something has happened."
Aurora, in a slightly rude tone, replied, "I already said I'm fine." Then, she quickly regretted her attitude. "Sorry. It's just PMS."
Adelaide's expression softened as she smiled, believing that flimsy excuse. "Ah, I see. I'm heading to the restaurant for some overtime, and I don't know when I'll be back. If you decide to go to Seraphina's place, leave a note for me."
"Okay," nodded Aurora, watching her sister leave the apartment.
Now alone, Aurora stood up and went into the dark bedroom. She sat on a chair in front of a desk, gazing at several photos of Alex. She couldn't quite pinpoint how she felt. It wasn't necessarily sadness, but a sense of emptiness filled her from within.
Among all those pictures of Alexander, her eyes fixed on a different image. It wasn't Alexander; it was Tristan. Seeing that photograph of him smiling during a college lecture, she felt something strange.
Unknowingly, she stared at that photo for a long time.
Knowing that Alex was interested in another girl not only made her suffer for a possibly unattainable illusion but also cleared her mind. Thinking about Tristan now, she realized that, strange as it may seem, she liked his cheesy pick-up lines, his playful gestures... even the nonsense he whispered in her ear.
A surge of adrenaline rushed through her body.
When she finally snapped out of it, she was grabbing her purse and quickly leaving her apartment.
***
At Callahan's company, Aurora passed by the security guards calmly, as Tristan had made it clear last time that her entry was allowed. Both the guards and the employees had been informed about it. Some whispered, and others gave her fake smiles, but she didn't bother to return the gesture and headed straight for the elevator. Upon reaching the top floor, she walked up to the secretary's desk.
"Where's Tristan?" asked Aurora. The woman looked over her glasses and didn't seem pleased with her arrival.
"He's not available at the moment and won't be back to work for the rest of the day," replied Genevieve, the secretary.
"And where is he?" questioned Aurora.
"I'm just his secretary, and even if I knew where he was, I wouldn't tell you," retorted Genevieve.
Aurora rolled her eyes with anger but decided not to waste time arguing with Genevieve. She needed to find Tristan, but she didn't know how. She had to see him, wanted to see him.
With these thoughts in mind, she headed back to the elevator. She was determined to go to Tristan's house since she remembered the address. When the doors opened, she bumped into someone who was leaving. Looking at the person, she felt hopeful.
"Xavier!" exclaimed Aurora, smiling widely, which confused Xavier.
"Why do you look so happy to see me?" he asked.
"Because you're Tristan's best friend," she replied, approaching him, which made Xavier step back, starting to get nervous.
"And...?" said Xavier, looking puzzled.
"And so, you must know where he is!"
Xavier raised his hands as if he were innocent and said, "I don't know anything."
Aurora didn't believe that was true.
"Please, tell me. It's important," pleaded Aurora.
"I already said I don't know," Xavier replied, turning his back to her. Aurora narrowed her eyes and closed her expression.
"I tried to be polite!" she exclaimed, going after Xavier. She raised her hand and pulled his ear forcefully, making him wince in pain.
"Let go of me, you shorty!" Xavier retorted.
"Only when you tell me where Mr. Arrogant is," affirmed Aurora. Xavier remained silent, and she tightened her grip on his ear. He ended up chuckling weakly, finding it amusing.
"He went to that nightclub," Xavier revealed.
"Thank you for the information," Aurora said, releasing his ear and running towards the elevator, leaving Xavier behind with an expression of pain.
***
When she arrived in that neighborhood where she didn't usually go, Aurora received many looks from people on the street—superior looks, as only the filthy rich frequented that area.
The redhead spotted the nightclub where Tristan had taken her once and, without hesitation, headed towards the establishment. She hadn't been very sane since leaving her apartment; she was being led by desires that, until then, she had kept under control.
Unlike at Callahan's, the bouncers tried to stop her at the entrance.
"I've been here before. I know Tristan Callahan," Aurora asserted. The bouncers laughed at the girl, which irritated her.
"It's always the same story. Many girls have tried to get in claiming they know Mr. Tristan. We won't fall for your lie," the bouncers said.
"But I'm telling the truth! If you want, you can go and ask him," Aurora insisted.
"We won't interrupt one of our best customers," the other bouncer replied.
Aurora closed her eyes and counted to ten, gathering courage to execute the plan she had just come up with.
"Your shoes are untied," Aurora said.
The two bouncers fell for the lie and looked down at their own feet. Taking advantage of their distraction, Aurora rushed inside, pushing anyone in her way.
"Tristan Callahan!" Aurora shouted loudly, looking around, but she didn't see any sign of Mr. Arrogant.
She looked back and saw the bouncers almost catching up to her. Desperate, she ran through the place. Her legs stopped moving when her eyes caught Tristan talking to a prostitute.
"Tristan Callahan!" Aurora called.
He looked to the side, surprised, and saw her approaching. Countless bouncers were coming to throw her out.
"Aurora...?" Tristan said, without much time to question.
Without giving him time to respond, she grabbed the collar of his shirt and pulled him towards her, fiercely pressing their lips together. Tristan was surprised, immobile for a few seconds, but couldn't resist as he felt her tongue invading his mouth. With agile hands, he pulled her waist, bringing their bodies close, and returned the kiss with intensity. He sucked her lips with desire and gave light nibbles.
The lack of air became apparent, and they were forced to pull away, under the confused gaze of some people at the venue. Some random girl had burst in, screaming, and kissed one of the most coveted men in the area.
Still close and panting, he saw her blushing as if she were a teenager who had just had her first kiss, but her next words surprisingly shattered that image of an innocent girl.
"Is that sex offer still on the table?"
