Chapter 4

Misfortune \mis-ˈfȯr-chən\

Noun. an event or conjunction of events that causes an unfortunate or distressing result.

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CELINE WESTWOOD POV.

I groaned in agony, at the misfortune that I had just allowed myself to be put into. Dropping my head onto my desk. Like a rabbit being taunted by a tasty carrot under a box, I had unknowingly let my guard down and put myself in a position to be trapped.

I pulled my head up and threw Althea a glare. “You tricked me,” I said in accusation.

She put her hands up in defense, “I just want to say that it wasn’t my idea but I had no choice.”

Giving her an unconvinced look, “What do you mean it wasn’t your choice to trick me into attending?”

“Well- “she began to answer.

Looking at her, “Did someone hold a gun to your head, and threatened you in order to make me go?”

“No,” she pouted.

She already knew where I was going with this.

“Then you have no good reason to trick me into going,” I scolded. Looking at her with betrayal.

“Why would you make me pinky promise to go when you know that he and I don’t get along!?” I look at her feeling both betrayed and annoyed. “Putting him and me in the same room is like putting a cat and dog in a small cage.”    

Anyone that really knows me, knows how much I despise Lucian Donatello.

She gave me a genuinely apologetic look, “I know how much you don’t like him and I didn’t want to trick you into coming because of it.” She put her hands up in defense, “My original idea was for you, Armando, and I to have a night out to celebrate his birthday; just the three of us, but Armando shut down that immediately when I brought up the idea.”

I raised my eyebrow. Armando knows how much I don’t like Lucian, so I don’t understand why he would do this to me. Then again, he is mischievous just like his cousin Althea, so that man must be up to something.

“I’m sorry C, but he begged me to,” Althea began to explain.

“Begged?” I interrupted her.

She nodded her head. “Yup! Begged,” she emphasized the word.

This day is getting worse by the second, and it was going to get worse on the day of the party. I rub the temple at my forehead from the oncoming headache.

“Why would he do this to me?” I mumble to myself, not expecting a reply.

“Maybe Lucian put him up to this,” Althea pondered out loud.

Judging by the cruelty that man has shown me in the past, I shouldn’t be surprised.

“I should guess that being the reason.” I scowled. “Lucian is known to get a kick out of pissing me off,” I grumbled.

I immediately stood up and slammed my hands down on the desk, fuming at the conniving devil. As well as startling Althea in the process.

“Oh my gosh,” Althea said, holding her hand over her fast-beating heart. “You scared me.”

Ignoring her comment, I walk to the window behind my desk. I had a great view that overlooked the garden in my backyard; which was filled with a wide variety of flowers and a fountain in the middle of the garden. At night it looks even beautiful because of the fairy lights I have tactically scattered around it. I wanted to feel like I’m stepping into a fantasy land filled with pixies surrounding me, whenever I’m in there.

On any other day, I would be enjoying the view, but right now my stance mirrors the stance of a furious general preparing to go to war. I’m going to have to be on my guard at the party because I refuse to look like a fool. I don’t know what Lucian is planning, but it is never good.

Never.

“Other than this whole party thing…” Althea began to say. She then sighed with distaste, “What do you think about coming on a date with me?”

I turned around to face her. My head snapping back so quickly I almost got whiplash. “You’re going on a date?” A wide grin forming on my face. “It’s about damn time you starting dating again!”

My bad mood suddenly disappearing. This was definitely good news and cheered me up. Althea hasn’t dated anyone for a long time after her breakup. The last relationship she was in didn’t end badly. It was a mutual breakup because both of them fell out of love.

I’ve tried to play matchmaker with Althea before, and whenever she realized that I was throwing guys at her to fall in love with, she would shut it down quickly.

She always says that she is an independent woman and loves her independent lifestyle. So, hearing this is almost as shocking as finding out that Lucian is going to be at Armando’s birthday party.

She put her hand up in a halting motion, “I’m not doing this willingly.” Looking off to the side with distaste, “I’m only doing this because my dramatic mother is guilt-tripping me into doing this.” Althea scoffed, “She went as far as to say that it’s selfish of me not to marry a man and give her grandkids.”

The grin on my face was still visible.

She turned her head to me and scowled even more. “Drop that happy expression on your face C. It’s making me mad.”

She knew how badly I’ve wanted to play matchmaker for her.

Even though Althea is an independent woman, I know my best friend, and I know that deep down she would love to be in love.

It’s just that she wants to have it happen naturally. For example, bumping into a handsome man in a coffee shop or the guy next door type of situation.  

I scoffed and rolled my eyes, “Let’s call this even Al. Since you did trick me into going to the party.”

Althea pouted, “I did say I was sorry.”

Waving my hand in a dismissive action, “Moving on.” I gestured for her to continue explaining, “Now where, when, and who is this date with?”

“Tonight, at Bonita, and it’s a blind date,” answered Althea. “I want you to be there with me at Bonita’s but sitting at another table and wait for my signal for when I need an escape in case, this date goes south.” Althea shuddered, “The last thing I want, is to be stuck with a creeper.”

I nodded in agreement at how it’s good to be careful with who you’re spending your time with if you’re on a blind date. There’s no question as to what my answer is going to be. Of course, I’ll go with her tonight.

Then again, if I say yes to going tonight, why do I have a bad feeling about this?