Chapter 4

Refusing to give him any more attention than I already have, I stuck my chin up and gave my attention back to the performance that started, rather than the handsome man beside me who turned out to be a cheater.

My arm that was laying on the armrest between us wasn’t big enough for two people. So, when he put his left hand on mine to rest on the armrest, I scowled at him. Snatching my hand away and instead of using the armrest on the left.

“Sorry,” he said in a sheepish tone. “I didn’t know it was there,” he said in a fake innocent tone.

“Yeah right,” I scoffed.

My hand has been sitting there for the past ten minutes buddy. I feel so bad for the woman sitting beside him. She doesn’t know that she’s dating a cheater, and if she did then her feeling of self-respect must be really low. I can see why she would be attracted to him, but no love is worth it if the man isn’t faithful to you.

He smirked and shrugged, saying nothing in reply. Giving his attention back to the performance on stage.

I took a peek at the woman beside him. My eyes widening when I saw her already watching me with a glare in her eyes. There is no way she didn’t see what just happened between him and me. I hope she doesn’t think that I was hitting on him. Seeing something like this was heartbreaking, but I didn’t do anything wrong.

I’m an innocent person. 

I quickly looked away from her, not in fear, but respect. I would be mad too if I thought someone was hitting on my man.

After a while of watching the show, I could see why people enjoyed it. The story the performers presented was heartwarming and a real tearjerker. When it finished, everyone in the crowd including myself, stood up from our seats and clapped. Cheering as the performers came out from behind the screen and to the front of the stage, taking a bow and waving before they exited the stage.

“That was amazing!” beamed Ava.

I laughed and nodded my head in agreement.

“I would love to come back here and watch them again someday,” I said out loud with a sigh, knowing that I wouldn’t be able to. The tickets alone were hard to get, so it would be a long time until that would happen. Plus, tickets for the front row were insanely expensive.

Ava laughed and grabbed my hand, pulling us towards the exit. Opposite of the mystery man. She must not have noticed him or refused to acknowledge him since he’s a cheater.

When we exited the doors and headed towards the lobby. We spotted Lucas at the help desk. We walk towards him to thank him for the tickets. As we got closer, I could see the hungry look in his eyes. My face started to feel pale.

He looked like he wanted to devour me. 

“Ava! I hope he doesn’t think that I’m going to thank him in a way that involves a bed.” I whispered fiercely in her ears as we got closer and closer to Lucas.

She cringed as she realized the look in his eyes. She stopped in her tracks and turned towards me. Looking sheepish, her eyes darting around thinking of an escape plan.

“Go wait outside by the pillar and call us an uber. I’ll tell him to thank you and quickly come out.” Said Ava, in an apologetic tone. “I’ll tell him you had to call someone back because it was an emergency or something.”

I nodded my head, satisfied with her escape plan. I wasn’t attracted to Lucas and barely knew the guy. I left without another word, ignoring the look of confusion Lucas gave as I walked away.

Exiting the lobby and finally outside of the building, I breathed a sigh of relief. Laying against the wall and calling an Uber. I looked towards my left and noticed the mystery man come out. I gasped and quickly walked towards a pillar nearby that was big enough to hide my body. If I walked fast, he wouldn’t see me.

“Where do you think you’re going?” a husky voice called out behind me.

I freeze in my steps. To think I could escape was silly. I cringed at being caught.

Woman up Cassie! Keep your composure. 

He steps closer to me, “If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you’re trying to hide from me.”

I threw my shoulders back, and turned around, giving him a dirty look. Putting my hands on my hip, leaning a bit on my right leg, “I don’t associate with cheaters,” I sneered.

He snapped back as if I slapped back and his eyes narrowed, “Cheater?” Then as if a light bulb hit him, he let out a burst of laughter.

I scowled, at him. Not finding this whole thing funny. “You heard me right.” I stuck my chin up, “I don’t deal with men who are married, currently dating, or engaged.”

When his laughter starts to die down, his eyes gleamed with something that looked like satisfaction. He put his hands in his pockets and took another step forward closer to me, “I don’t have a girlfriend.” Then took another step closer, “Nor do I have a fiancé or wife.”

I scoffed and rolled my eyes, “Sure.” Not buying his act one minute. “That’s was they all say.”

He watched me in observance and then his eyes lit up. He let out a chuckle, “I get it now.” He nodded as if something made sense. His eyebrows wiggled, “You got a crush on me huh?” He spoke like it was a fact.

I looked at him with disbelief. “What made you think in any part of that conversation, that I have a crush on you?” My eyes still wide, “I barely know you!”

He leaned forward, “I can see it in your eyes, Cassie.”

My spine tingles in pleasure from hearing him say my name, and I hate it.

I learned a bit back, not allowing him to come too close. My traitorous cheeks turning scarlet giving me away. Then stuck my hand out in a halting motion.

“You can think whatever you want.” I shrugged my shoulders in nonchalant, “I don’t care.”

He stared at me as if it would get me to admit how I’m feeling.

He smirked at me, then his eyes gleamed with amusement, “Yes you do.” He had a triumphant look on his face.

I clenched my jaw, refusing to admit how right he is. The fact that I do have a small crush on a man that I have no claim to is preposterous. I barely even know him, other than the fact that he is a majorly wealthy businessman that is working on the Old Maria and has beautiful friends. Also, the possibility of him being someone’s boyfriend, fiancé, or husband. I have yet to find out if that part is true.

“You may say you don’t but you do whether you admit it or not.” He replied, stepping back.

I rolled my eyes and turned to walk away.

He quickly grabbed my hand, and a surge of electricity passed between us. I gasped at the feeling, and I’m sure he felt it too. He looked down at our hands and something glowed in his eyes when he looked back at me. I glared at him and pulled my hand away as if the feeling of his hand against mine burned my skin.

“What do you think you’re doing?” I gasped.

He sighed and ruffled his hair in frustration, “I’m sorry.” Then shook his head, “I just don’t want you to think the worst of me.”

The thought of him caring what I think is ludicrous. He doesn’t even know me. I mean, I could secretly be crazy and am out to hurt this guy.

Which I’m not. 

I glanced around to see who had seen our reaction and thankfully no one had noticed. I stepped forward, poking a finger hard at his chest. “Listen here buddy,” I narrowed my eyes. “Whether I do or not, shouldn’t matter.” I looked at him seriously, “I don’t know if you were telling the truth about you being single, and I don’t intend to ever find out if that’s true. You could be lying.” 

He shook his head. “I’m telling the truth.”

“Sure,” I said unconvinced. Having enough of this conversation, I turned and walked away.

“Look me up on the internet.” He said in an arrogant tone.

I stopped, realizing that I was about to walk away again without finding out his name.

He watched me come to a halt and walked to me. “Do you not know who I am?” He looked at me in fascination and amusement. As if the fact that I didn’t know him was new to him.

I scoffed and turned around, in a mocking tone replied, “Why? Want to be friends on Facebook?” I was unconvinced and still think that he’s lying, “Not happening buddy.”

His mouth twitched as if he was fighting a smile, “No Cassie.” He groaned, “It will prove that what I’m saying is true.” He crossed his arms, showing the muscles that decked his body, “That I’m single.”

I looked down, biting my bottom lip, debating whether I should or shouldn’t. The thought of finding out that he is single after all is thought-provoking. If he is, then what? What happens next?

I glanced at him and saw him studying me with a hopeful look in his eyes. If I say yes, then I’d be giving him a chance to make this something more than just a one-time meeting between two people. I do not doubt that he’d come and find me. Constantly asking me to give him a chance and show me that he’s more than what he looks like.

That would be hard. 

We don’t even run in the same social circles. In food terms, I’m a dollar menu McDonald's burger and he’s a filet mignon from a five-star restaurant. 

“Will you do it?” he asked almost pleading.

I opened my mouth to say no. There was no way I was going to give in. I was going to stop all of this. That way I will never have to see him again.

Yet just like the definition of a traitor, what came out of my mouth instead was “Yes.”

You are such an idiot Cassie.