CHAPTER 16 — COLD WAR

“Shayetta is here, V.” It was Cherry who tugged me back to the present, dragging at the material of my tights.

“What? Shaye is…” Startled, I whirled around and came face to face with him, the word that had been on the tip of my tongue dying out. Since the last time we kissed, this was the first time I was seeing the less than charming man.

He stood rigid, dressed as usual in his immaculate black suit, darker than midnight hair messy with unruly curls framing his gorgeous face. He appeared bored, electric blue eyes glittering ice cold as he stared me down. The room became small, his presence easily filling it up with that intimidating aura he effortlessly exuded.

But I wasn’t about to be outdone or come undone, so I regarded him through narrowed eyes. If he wanted a stare down, I would gladly give one to him. Even though my heart pounded rapidly, the blood rushing through my veins, the deafening music escalating things, memories from that dreadful night fueling the heat tingling down my core, we would play this game.

For the next few seconds, our gazes remained locked. His, emotionless. Mine, equally without an iota of warmth. Everything and everyone else disappeared, the music in the background, now a dull sound. It was just him and I and a million memories of him pulling me into an intoxicating kiss. I trained my eyes not to display what I felt at the moment. Fury. Sadness. Ire. Uncertainty. Desire.

“Good afternoon, Miss Verity,” a small voice uttered, shattering the tense air hanging in the room. Reluctant to, I pulled my gaze away from Lennox and fixed it on Shaye. She stood by his side, her hands behind her back. For a slight moment, I felt weird, knowing what I’d done with her father “Good afternoon, Miss Verity.” She repeated. Miss? Did she just say miss? Well, if she was aiming at playing nice, I would humor her.

“Afternoon, Shayetta,” I replied, calling her by her full name. Something I never did. “You’re late.” I crossed my arms and glanced at the clock mounted on the wall then returned my gaze, choosing to ignore the man besides her.

“Because of me. Work and traffic,” he finally spoke up, tone aloof.

I still refused to acknowledge his presence. I directed my voice to Shaye. “Anyway, it’s nice that you’re finally here. Now, would you come in? I was just teaching them a new set of dance moves.”

“Actually, Miss Verity, I have something I want to say before you begin the lessons.” Shaye peered at me, contrition shining in her blue eyes. Eyes that were so much like her Dad’s.

Examining her droopy posture, I made an observation I hadn’t realized before. Shaye appeared withdrawn, her pretty face was without that sneer that she usually had for everyone—me, most especially. She looked small for the first time, without her never ending fire. Something was up, but what?

“Put off the music, Addie. Let’s hear what Shaye has to say,” I called out. Addie switched off the sound system, the rest of the children staying silent and looking on.

Shaye pulled out a huge box behind her back. She walked closer. The box was wrapped up in gold lining. “This is chocolate for everyone.” She placed the box in my hands then returned her stare to the children.

“Now, all of you might be wondering why I just got Miss Verity a big box of chocolate.” Again with the Miss. I hid my surprise well and listened to the rest of what she was saying.

She sighed, her chest heaving. “First of all, I want to start by apologizing to everyone. Noah,” She walked right in front of him. “I’m sorry for making you cry last week. I was being very mean to you. Please, forgive me.”

She brought out a hand, offering it to him. Noah just peered at her palm, looking on as if it was a foreign object and just when we thought he wouldn’t accept the olive branch that Shaye was offering, he did.

“I forgive you, Shaye,” he said quietly, a solemn look on his face.

Shaye gave him a trembling smile. “Thank you, Noah.”

I was clearly not the only one stunned to see this. Everyone in the hall looked on, like they were all staring at an alien. Briefly, my eyes flickered to Lennox. His form impassive as expected. Had he actually listened to what I’d told him about his daughter? Clearly, he had a hand in this new development. While a part of my heart quickly filled up with warmth at those thoughts, a different part of me couldn’t help bringing back to my memory how he’d fled after our kiss, ghosted me and was now acting completely cold. What an asshole.

Next was the twins. “Cherry, Charlie, I’m sorry for playing that cruel prank on you. It was uncalled for. Please, can you find it in your hearts to forgive me?”

The twins readily agreed, nodding their heads eagerly. “Yes, Shaye. We forgive you so long as you brought chocolate!”

Shaye acknowledged their response and advanced towards Addie, who had a slight frown on her face. I had a hunch that she was going to be tough.

“Hey, Addie.” Shaye started. “I’m sorry, Addie, for snubbing you. Can you forgive me?”

Addie just looked on, shrugging, her face blank. Shaye tried again, but her head hung. “I know it’s hard to do so. I was wrong for being a snob and I hope that we can be friends again. You really are cool.”

Finally, there was a hint of emotion on Addie’s shuttered expression, a corner of her mouth lifting into a tiny smile. “Alright, Shaye. Friends it is.”

Shaye lifted her head, gratitude glittering in her shiny eyes. “Thank you!”

Then it was me. She twisted her fingers around each other, a sign of nervousness, as she spoke, “Of all the people I hurt, you’re the person I was rude to the most and I am very sorry, Miss Verity. I am sorry for my words. I didn’t mean that when I said I was fed up with the dances and songs. Also, for when I called you a failure. I was just being a big meanie and I apologize for that. Could you please forgive me?” She pleaded.

“Yes, Shayetta, I forgive you. After all we all make mistakes.” I let my eyes flicker to Lennox’s silent form. If his daughter could apologize, he too could do the needful. His eyes met mine for a second, a glimmer of something I couldn’t quite read depicted in them. Then, it disappeared. He resumed his stoic and unfeeling persona. Alright then, my chest inflamed with the heat of fury.

Shaye hugged me in a flash, muttering in a relieved tone, “Thank you so much and you can call me Shaye.”

I grinned, letting her warm body be enveloped in my arms, still gripping the chocolate box. “And you can stop with the miss. Just call me V.” Signaling with a swift motion of head, I called, “Alright, everyone, come over for a group hug. The prodigal daughter is returned.”

There were giggles and an additional number of arms around my waist. We stayed like that, content to absorb each other’s warmth, until a deep voice cut in, “I’ll be leaving now. Goodbye, Shaye.”

The hug was disbanded as Shaye left our arms and went into her father’s embrace. “Thanks, Dad,” the little girl murmured.

“You’re welcome, baby girl.” As he talked, he fixed that piercing gaze of his on me and I glared at him, making sure my displeasure was known.

With a gentle pat on his daughter’s dark hair and one final cold stare at me, he left. Again.