Chapter 5 When Nothing Works
"Hey, what's wrong?" Blake's voice softened as he approached, pulling a handkerchief from his pocket. "You've been crying."
I turned slightly away, not wanting him to see. "It's nothing. Just feeling homesick, I guess. Plus all the school pressure..."
Blake reached for my hand, his warm fingers wrapping around mine with gentleness. "Don't overthink things, Olivia. Just enjoy the moment." His thumb traced small circles on my palm. "Didn't you like the party I arranged for you?"
I shook my head. "No, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to worry you."
He reached up and stroked my hair, smiling. "No apologies. You're not allowed to be formal with me anymore."
I nodded silently, having nothing more to say.
"Come on," he said, maintaining his grip on my hand as he led me back toward the party. "Everyone's waiting."
---
Back at the party, we moved to the Spago restaurant section for dinner. As Blake pulled out my chair, I slid my hand from his on the pretense of sweaty palms.
I didn't like Blake, and had only agreed to date him as a stalling tactic. Since I didn't like him, I needed to find a way to make him lose interest—even make him want to break up with me. It was my only way out.
When the first course arrived, I deliberately picked up the wrong fork and began shoveling food into my mouth at an alarming rate. I chewed with my mouth partially open, speaking loudly between bites.
"This is really good!" I exclaimed, bits of food nearly flying out. I reached across the table for the bread basket, knocking over my water glass in the process.
Emma and Grace stared at me like I'd grown a second head.
"Are you okay?" Emma whispered, concern etched across her face. "Did something happen?"
I looked up with bulging cheeks, mumbling through my food: "Nothing's wrong."
"Then why are you eating like you're competing in some kind of speed contest?" Emma pressed.
I swallowed dramatically and waved my fork. "Actually, this is how I always eat. I was just pretending to be ladylike before to get Blake's attention. Now that we're together, I don't need to fake it anymore."
I glanced at Blake, then continued piling food onto my plate.
Blake's friends exchanged looks, barely containing their snickers as they watched for his reaction. This was the moment he should be embarrassed, maybe even repulsed. This was when my plan would work.
But instead of disgust, Blake's eyes lit with amusement.
"You know what I like most about you, Olivia?" he said loudly enough for everyone to hear. "You break through all the fake bullshit in this circle. It's refreshing."
He took my hand to his lips and kissed it, his eyes never leaving mine. "Please, eat however makes you happy."
My jaw nearly dropped. This wasn't how it was supposed to go.
"I'm... full," I muttered, suddenly having lost my appetite.
---
It was finals week, and I'd managed to avoid him for several days by using studying as an excuse. When my phone rang with his number for the third time that day, I reluctantly answered.
"You're avoiding me," Blake said, his voice colder than usual.
"I'm not avoiding you," I lied. "I'm studying. Finals are brutal."
"You're playing me, aren't you?" The edge in his voice made my stomach clench.
I knew he was genuinely angry now. I quickly softened my tone. "How could I play you? I wouldn't dare. There's just so much material to study, and I don't want to fail any classes."
"Fine," he said after a pause. "After finals, I'm taking you on vacation."
My heart sank. "I can't. I need to work this summer, and I should visit my family—"
"If you want to continue at UCLA or any decent school," he interrupted, his voice dropping to that dangerous register that reminded me who I was dealing with, "you'll cooperate. I don't take kindly to people who play with my feelings."
He mentioned the board of directors and the scholarship committee in the same breath, the threat unmistakable.
I felt rage building inside me. "Fine! I'll go with you! But don't say I didn't warn you, Blake. I have so many bad habits you don't know about. I'm lazy, I eat too much, I'm messy. I snore and grind my teeth when I sleep. The person you've seen is all an act! If you can tolerate the real me, I don't mind staying with you. But don't you dare abandon me halfway through. If you do, I'll cry and scream outside your house and call you a heartless bastard to ruin your reputation!"
There was silence, then Blake's laughter erupted through the phone. "Olivia, you just get more interesting by the day."
I stared at my phone in disbelief. "Fuck you," I whispered after hanging up.
This entitled, stubborn, impossible man. Nothing worked on him.
---
On the day of my last final exam, a sleek Bentley was parked outside my dorm building. Blake leaned against it, drawing stares from everyone passing by.
Before I could react, he strode over and kissed my cheek, catching me off-guard. I immediately wiped my face with the back of my hand, glaring at him.
"Let's get your things," he said, ignoring my annoyance.
After loading my luggage into his ridiculously expensive car, Blake slid into the driver's seat and turned to me with that cocky smile. "We're going to my family's estate today, then to my place tomorrow."
I frowned. "What? Your family estate? You never mentioned that."
Blake explained casually, "It's where my extended family gathers. My grandfather and grandmother usually live there with my great-grandfather, but they're away right now. My grandfather is traveling for business, and my grandmother is with my great-grandfather in San Diego for the summer. My uncles and aunt rarely visit, so the estate is empty. My cousins are back for vacation and invited me over. The estate has three separate houses—we can stay in one by ourselves without being disturbed."
"What if your uncles come back unexpectedly?" I asked after a moment.
Blake waved dismissively. "They won't. My uncle Mason is a director shooting on location, and he won't be back anytime soon. My uncle Ethan is the only one in Los Angeles, but he rarely comes to the estate. Besides, he broke his leg two weeks ago and is recovering at his place in Malibu. There's no chance he'll show up."
I didn't say more. I was already in Blake's car, headed to the Bennett estate. All I could do was hope nothing would happen.