Chapter 4

Devil Baxter

Ava

Yesterday turned out to be a disaster. 

After Mr Wolf and Dad had successful separated mom and Caroline, we went home. My family and Baxter’s has never got along, this is such a bad idea.

I pace back and forth in my corridor, my mind in turmoil as I try to come up with a way out of this mess, it’s just not fair.

With a heavy heart, I decide to confide in my closest friend, Lily. I pick up my phone and dial her number, my hands shaking with nervousness. After a few rings, she picks up.

“Hey, girl, what's up?" she says cheerfully.

"Lily, I need to talk to you. Can you come over?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Of course, I'll be there in a few minutes. Hang in there, okay?" she replies with concern in her voice.

Helpless tears stung at the corner of my eyes, I sniffle. 

“Oh gawd, Ava.” Lily says, “I’m driving to you now.”

I nod while swiping the tears off my face and hang up the phone.

I decided to make pancakes while I waited for Lily to arrive. It was almost passed 12 pm, but I didn’t care, Pancakes and honey was my comfort food. And right now, I needed all the comfort I could get.

The cooking doesn’t distract me, as mind is racing with thoughts and fears. 

Lily has been my friend since University, and she's always been there for me. I know I could trust her.

Soon, my doorbell rings and I know it’s Lily. 

“Mmmm…smells good.” Lily comments as steals one of the pancake. “I shouldn’t be eating pastries right now, I’m trying to lose weight.” she says as she collects another piece. “but this is good, so good.”

I can’t help but let out a genuine laugh. 

She sits beside me on the dining table. “What’s going on, hun?”

“I’m getting married.” I drop the bomb.

She stills and raised her brows. “What? Congratulations are in other. I didn’t know you were seeing someone or is Lev back?”

“Lev? I haven’t seen him since last year. It’s not like that, it’s an arranged marriage.” I’m a little ashamed to add that. Like in this time and age, who does arranged marriages?

“Seriously?” Lily says, as though waiting for me to start laughing and saying I pranked her or something, but I remain dead serious.

“Like a corpse. I feel so trapped and unhappy,” I continue, “a new competition is driving out my parents out of business so they have to join their pharmaceutical company with the Wolfs, and I’m just collateral damage.”

“The Wolfs?” she asks.

I nod. 

She pauses. “Wait. Are you talking about The Wolf? AKA Baxter Wolf?” 

There we go again.

“The one and only.”

“Well, I’d marry him for free.” Lily says and I glare at her. 

“You are supposed to be on my side, Lily.” 

Lily heaves. “True. But Baxter is a legend and he’s decent. Even though he owns a collection of supercars, he rides the bus and give stuff to beggars.”

I almost throw up. “Why don’t he go on ahead and cure world hunger. Decent? Please Baxter and decent can’t go in one sentence. He’s an opportunist, trust me, I would know. He comes like a wolf in sheep’s clothing to befriend you and let you lose your guard before he pounces on you like the wolf that he is.”

Lily is stunned. “You too have history. I didn’t know this.”

It’s not something I’m opened about.

“What happened?” Lily gently asks.

My mind goes back to that frightful day that everything changed. “He broke my heart, betrayed my trust, that’s all you need to know.”

Lily remains quiet. “He cheated on you?”

I shake my head. “What? No. We never dated. We were best friends even though our parents tried everything to separate us, even making sure that we went to different schools. See, it’s not something I want to dig into, okay?”

Lily takes my hand. “I see he really hurt you, whatever he did, I’m on your side. From now henceforth, Baxter is my enemy too for hurting my girl.”

Lily smiles mischievously and takes my hand and pulls me into my sitting room where the news channel is playing in the background.

She picks up a throw pillow. “Imagine this to be Baxter’s face.” She punches the pillow. “Baxter Jerk.”

I giggle and follow suit. I pick up another throw pillow and punch it with all the frustration streaming in my blood. 

“Traitor Baxter.” Punch.

“Liar Baxter.” Punch. 

“Devil Baxter.” Punch, punch, punch, punch.

This Angel is as Vengeful as Karma

Baxter

I arrive at the restaurant early, going straight for my reserved table. I feel nervous as I wait for Ava, my soon-to-be-bride, to arrive. We have a complicated history, to say the least. Ava hates me, and I’m to be blamed for it. When I was seventeen, I was a fool trying to impress daddy and I hurt our friendship as a result. Still can’t forgive myself. 

Over the years, I have tried to make things right, tried apologizing but if I have learnt anything about Ava is that she’s as vengeful as Karma. 

Seeing that we are going to get married and live under a roof, I figured it was best we reached an understanding, get to smooth things out… if she would honor my invitation it this.

After waiting for an hour, and drinking alone in the fancy restaurant, I realize she wasn’t coming. I bat away the sadness that clogged my throat. Years ago, Ava would have jumped and danced around and wore her best dress when we snuck behind our parents back to hangout. She wouldn’t have stood me up, even if it meant pranking Zayn to get to me. And I always did the same for her.

Our bound was sacred. We weren’t meant to be, but we were. Ever since I found her lost in Disney’s WonderLand, sitting by herself in the rollercoaster booth, I knew I wanted to ride with her. We were inseparable ever since. Like the yin to my yang. Until I became senseless.

She’s right to hate me.

I can never make up for what I did. 

I’m no longer Bax to her, but traitor. Judas. Liar.

How will we work out as a couple? The couple thought has me cringing.

I would get her out of this situation in a heartbeat if I wasn’t as trapped as she was.

When Ava arrives, I'm relieved to see she's dressed beautifully, and I can't help but think that she looks stunning. 

We make our orders.

“How was your day?” I ask to lighten the mood.

She shrugs. “Why do you care?”

“I don’t, just trying to be civil.” I respond, internally giving myself a knock. You see, the thing about Ava’s hatred for me is that it is contagious. I don’t mean to be rude or mean but when she gives me her princess attitude, it stirs something in me.

“I thought as much. One dinner with your family is enough. I can’t believe I drove myself here to suffer through your company when I can be looking at Kit Harrington on my TV screen.”

“I thought I was your type.” I ask, just to pull her leg.

She rolls her eyes. “Cocky much?”

Silence falls on us.

Then I peer her, as if staring into her soul. “What would it take for you to forgive me, Avie-Bear? Tell me what I need to do?”

She stiffens. “Don’t. Don’t call me that, as if I meant something to you.”

“I know you don’t trust me, but I promise to earn your trust. We are in this situation together and I want us to come to a place where we can at least tolerate each other. This is the last thing I wanted but I do what’s best for my family, so if you are going to be my wife, I want to know you won’t smother me in my sleep.”

“That’s if you don’t smother me first,” she retorts, “nothing you do…nothing…will ever make me let my guard down around you again. Nothing, Wolf. So, save your breath.”

My fist clenches around my glass as her words hurts more than I hoped it would. 

When she keeps staring at me with steel chestnuts eyes, I gradually come to a realization that things can’t be fixed between us. 

“Fine,” I resign through clenched teeth. “If you so desperately want me to be your villain, Avie-bear, brace yourself because Thanos’s got nothing on me.”

“Then prepare to face a emancipated Harley Quinn.” 

We glare daggers at each other.

Suddenly, our glaring contest is interrupted by a commotion at the entrance. I turn to see Kendra, my ex-girlfriend, standing there with the security, looking like she's on a mission.

How the hell did she find me? I groan.

Ava's eyes dart to Kendra.

“Baxter! Tell them you know me!” Kendra yells, pushing away the security guard. “Baxter!!!”

It’s embarrassing having everyone in the intimate setting staring at my table and then at Kendra. Some are even recording with their phones.

Ava signs and stands up. “I shouldn’t have come.”

I feel like a complete idiot. How do I tell her Kendra is my crazy ex who’s obsessed with me. I can’t even stop Ava as she saunters away.

Damn you, Kendra.

“Baxter honey, I’m pregnant!” Kendra yells, still struggling against the security. Our onlookers gasp.

I freeze.

Ava who was three feet away, stops at her heels, still also.

Pregnant?

Then, Ava turns to me as if in slow motion and 10x my shock when she smirked, a sly smile on her face.

“Boom.” She mouthed, mimicking a pistol with her fingers as she flipped her hair and gallanted away with her head held high.

It clicked that moment. 

If Kendra was indeed pregnant, they’ll be no wedding.

“Baxter!!!” Kendra hollers. 

I can’t curtail my anger as I flip the table upside down. 

Damn you, Kendra. Damn you.