Chapter 31

Emma plopped down beside Juliette. They exchanged satisfied gestures. It’s been one week and six days since the bone chilling incident of Luke’s true face was revealed. No one even brought it up, it was as if it hadn’t happened and Mary was engaged to Matt all along.

Juliette still saw Blaze’s pain every time he saw Mary, for the bruises were slightly visible; nothing some makeup wouldn’t hide for the big day but it was a constant reminder to him and everyone else of a day they realised they hadn’t protected someone valuable to them.

Now; there was a wave of accomplishment. The wedding was tomorrow and all the preparations were made to perfection. There would be no surprises.

“Emma can you come with me I need you to help Harold with some minor decorative finishes.” Joanna entered into the room; she turned her attention to Juliette after Emma left the room hurriedly. “Juliette dear, if it’s not too much to ask can you please summon Diane?”

Her eyes silently asking if Juliette would be able to stomach the company of such a woman. Juliette honestly wasn’t looking forward to it, however she was a mature woman and there was no reason why she couldn’t be civilized, even if the Diane despised her and had no trouble expressing it.

Juliette plastered a smile she didn’t feel and replied, “No problem at all.” She rose from her seat and proceeded upstairs. Diane’s room was in the opposite direction from Juliette’s.

After finding the door with little difficulty, Juliette hesitantly paused, she inhaled deeply. She didn’t know why but she felt uneasy. She finally decided, but before she let her knuckles connect with the door it opened slightly. Juliette tensed; she applied pressure to her jaw and used the pain to seem unaffected.

“Juliette?”

She paused to maintain her posture; she raised her head high and exhaled her next word, “Blaze.”

“Oh Juliette! Why this is awkward!” Juliette turned her gaze upon Diane as she pushed the door fully open; she grabbed hold of Blaze’s arm, the most ridiculous of smiles covering her features.

Juliette felt sick; she swallowed back the acidity that began to rise. She smiled her eyes only on Diane, she was aware of Blaze trying to catch her attention but she didn’t have the stomach right now. She couldn’t compete with Diane, she wouldn’t.

“They need you downstairs.” Her tone neutral, her smile professional; her work façade. She slowly turned and watched off to her room. She couldn’t think, she needed deep breaths, her heart raced she felt so weak.

She sat on their bed and felt disgusted. How could even stay in this room knowing what happened? She knew she shouldn’t trust him, she knew it! She felt herself on the brink of hysteria. She was in love with Blaze, and he had no intentions of keeping her.

She heard the door handle rattle and instantly shot up from the bed. She saw Blaze walk in, his gaze questioning. How dare him!

“Juliette, is everything alright?” Blaze questioned carefully.

Juliette raised her eye brows, “What are you referring to?”

He was quiet, his eyes relating that he meant the episode with Diane.

“I think the question is if everything’s alright with you?” She countered.

“Me?”

“Yes.” She paused, keeping her professionalism, as if they hadn’t shared such intimate moments.

Blaze paused. It was obvious what Juliette thought and he should’ve said something else but what came out was. “I don’t understand where you’re going with this Juliette?”

She frowned, she felt as if she was out of her depth. He was reacting as if he was clueless! She’s not the one in the wrong!

“What were you doing with me?” she asked monotony.

His eyes darkened, “What?” his voice like gravel and she felt the sting, yet her features revealed nothing.

“What were you doing with me when you clearly want other people?” She clarified.

“Juliette, weren’t we just having fun? I thought you understood that this was not serious.”

The words were sharp and she felt the pain in her chest, the knives dug in deeper and deeper.

“Were we?”

“Yes.” He walked closer. “You knew that didn’t you?”

“I did.” She lied. She’d never worn her heart on her sleeve and she wasn’t about to begin now.

“Good. So are we alright?” He asked and Juliette felt as if she didn’t know this Blaze, where was the man who’d held her so tenderly? Where was the man who wanted to protect her against the rude comments made by Danny and Diane?

“We fine.” She was convincing. “I need to shower.” She faked a smile and went into the bath room.

Juliette turned on the shower and as soon as the water fell over her, the tears came rushing forth. She sank to the floor; she brought her knees to her chest and let it all go. Why would Blaze do such a thing? She knew he was never serious, but she started to believe, she hated herself for being deceived. It wasn’t Blaze’s fault but her own, she should have kept her walls, shouldn’t have fallen in love with him but she did and she would do her best to conceal it. She was made a fool enough.

She would have to accept where she was considered to be in Blaze’s life. She was just another one of his conquests and it was alright. It’s better to have love for a short time than to never have it at all, no matter how unrequited.

Blaze sat in the garden, his mind far off. What happened today shouldn’t have happened. It seemed that the fates were playing a cruel joke with him. He hadn’t meant to say or act the way he did with Juliette. He was about to tell her what really happened but what came out was him being an ass. It was for the best. He couldn’t offer anything other than physical. Love was pain and he would not allow himself such discomfort.

The important thing was that Juliette understood where their relationship was going; no where.