Counterpoints Book 3 Read online

  Christopher went quiet again, as Mr. Jenkins’ deep voice bounced off the living room walls again.

  “Just promise me you’ll give it a thought. Don’t be stupid, Christopher. Think about it”

  “I’ll think about it” he agreed and within a few minutes, Alfred let himself out, not turning back.

  Walking to the club, Isabella had a déjà-vu.

  Suddenly, she was dragged out of adulthood, back to high school and it was that terrible moment of the year again. The moment she dreaded all year long- picture time for the school yearbook.

  I just hate having my picture taken.

  True, she wasn’t wearing braces this time. No weird looking clothes – that once were considered trendy and nowadays looked like something you’d pick up in the garbage.

  This time Isabella was wearing a designer dress and she was pulling it off like a diva.

  Divas don’t trip over, Isabella. Divas don’t count the seconds till they’ll get their heels off. Isabella looked down at her black, silky sandals and smiled to herself.

  No, she wasn’t a diva. She wasn’t someone to follow around like the hottest, jet setting top model and she didn’t care.

  Isabella caught Christopher looking at her as they approached the club – a long queue was already forming at the left-hand side of it- and acknowledged that that look, the one he was giving her, was what mattered to her and nothing else.

  He couldn’t keep his eyes off her. It wasn’t just the way she looked that night, it wasn’t just how Isabella strutted in that short, light pink dress she had chosen for the evening.

  It was the worry and excitement of being in the spotlight, her body seemed to vibrate every time his hand moved on her body, on her hips and over her shoulder.

  Isabella was an open book, her feelings so strong and so hard to cover up made Christopher smile content.

  She kept her head down as much as she could, Christopher’s arm firm around her waist, while the photographers followed them almost to the door.

  The flashes went on and off over their faces and she couldn’t help but nervously pull down at her dress a little. It suddenly seemed too short, too flashy, too revealing.

  “You look absolutely fantastic” Christopher leaned into her and whispered in her ear.

  His lips wandered around her lob for a few instants, brushing slightly against her skin.

  Isabella smiled and pushed her hair back a little, tilting her head up.

  She looked at Christopher and mouthed the words ‘thank you’, as someone shouted in the crowd, just when they were about to get through the door.

  “Christopher, Isabella. Just one more”

  They turned in the man’s direction and Christopher waved.

  “Ha, they are onto you. They got my name right this time” Isabella said and they turned to look at each other, smiling.

  More flashes lit their skins in the dark side street.

  “Maybe I should kiss you, give them something nice to put on those magazines of theirs”

  “Don’t you dare” Isabella giggled and pulled him towards the entrance.

  He walked slowly, his usual cool stance, totally at ease with a photographer walking backwards, in front of him to get one last shot.

  This is not just a club opening, this is a top event. Isabella thought and lowered her head again, hoping to avoid that last picture.

  “Wow this is really a grand opening. So many people and the press…” Isabella looked around, as they made their way in.

  She had already spotted a few models – male and female- some TV producers and British actors.

  “My friend is popular around here” Christopher told her and he smiled and waved to someone to the front of the queue.

  “Who is your friend?”

  “Harry Craven”

  “Harry Craven???”

  Christopher nodded and watched Isabella’s face change, as she realized who they were talking about.

  “You mean that Harry Craven, the most popular DJ and music producer in the last ten years?”

  “The one and only”

  Isabella turned ahead, registering the beauty of the club, as the music pounded in her chest.

  “Now I get what the commotion is about” she murmured more to herself than to Christopher.

  It was impossible to hear anything but the loud, funky house music in the room. Christopher slapped hands with a couple of people- who eyed Isabella and nudged her- as they passed by and went deeper inside the club.

  “This way” Christopher said, leaning into Isabella and breathing in her scent.

  It was light, sweet and flirty. She smelled of lavender and fruit. Christopher looked at her flushed cheeks from all the attention they had received outside a moment before, and went down to her neck, planting a slow but intense kiss on her shoulder.

  He watched her body shake a little, as he raised his head and took her hand, locking eyes with Isabella.

  She bit her lip then and smiled, Christopher’s stomach tightened.

  “What’s the matter? Want to follow me to the bathroom for old times’ sakes?” Isabella shouted over the music, leaning forward, her hand wrapped around his nape. She moved closer, her hip against his, her eyes not hiding the pulsing desire to be touched.

  Those lips, he thought, as he rubbed his thumb over them.

  “Did you do what I asked you before?”

  No underwear, Isabella recalled his last words to her back home.

  She nodded and bashed her eyelids a little, enjoying Christopher’s aroused expression on his face.

  “Not that I don’t believe you, but I’d like to check that out” he said and planted a kiss on her lips, while his hand moved to her hips.

  Isabella gasped against his mouth, as he smoothed down her skirt looking for the seam of her panties.

  There wasn’t any.

  He kept his eyes on her, the unaware crowd of people dancing around them, as Christopher’s hand went down to her thigh.

  “Chris” she sucked in a breath and took hold of his wrist.

  He smiled then, his crooked sexy smile and placed his hand around her waist again.

  “Good girl” he said. “Let’s go” and guided her to the back of the room, where his friends were sitting. They had a table and they had already spotted him and Isabella.

  “Chris, over here” a tall man with blonde hair and bright blue eyes shouted. He waved at them and Christopher waved back.

  Harry Craven.

  Isabella did her best to dodge the people on the dance floor, while she eyed the table they were directed to.

  Four men and two women, she registered.

  They were all smiling and talking amongst themselves. A brunette was dancing a little with a short man that had his back to Isabella.

  “Hey, it’s good to see you mate” Christopher grasped Harry Craven’s hand and shook it hard.

  He patted his friend’s shoulder and then placed his hand behind Isabella’s back.

  “Harry, this is my girlfriend Isabella”

  “Nice to meet you” Isabella said and smiled, as Christopher’s words sparked a fire in her chest.

  Girlfriend.

  “My pleasure, Isabella. And welcome to my club” he took her hand and kissed it gently, his piercing blue eyes smiling more than his lips.

  Chapter 11

  Harry Craven stared at her from across the table, like Isabella was some sort of a rare animal that risked extinction.

  While Isabella had indulged in small talk with his girlfriend Cecilia, she had noticed him staring and it had made her cheeks flush red.

  Damn cheeks.

  And Harry was still staring, even after Christopher had gotten up to get them a drink.

  “I am sorry” he shouted over the music.

  Isabella shook her head and leaned forward.

  “I said I am sorry”

  “About what?” Isabella shouted and shrugged.

  “I am staring at you and it’s making yo
u uncomfortable”

  Yeah, it is. Now stop.

  “It’s okay” she lied and thanked the loud music for once, for not giving her voice away.

  Harry moved closer and looked around before going on.

  “It’s just that I have never seen him on a date before” he said, referring to Christopher.

  Isabella’s eyes widened for a moment but then she shrugged.

  “Surely, Christopher has had dates before” she grinned, as Harry chuckled and sipped his drink before pressing on. “Quite a few, actually”

  “True. But it’s the first time I hear him introduce anyone as his girlfriend. Christopher is very reserved about his personal life, so it’s a pleasant surprise meeting you” he smiled warmly, before handing her another glass of Long Island Ice Tea.

  “Oh, not for me thanks. I’ve had one too many already” Isabella politely declined the offer and smiled back. “But thanks for your kind words. And congratulations this place is amazing”

  Isabella looked around the room, the club packed with people, the music so good she couldn’t refrain herself from swaying to the music a little, even if sitting on the small couch.

  Her eyes wandered on the dancefloor a moment longer, until she spotted Christopher at the bar, waiting to place their orders, speaking to a couple of women, phone in hand.

  Maybe the phone was ringing, Isabella couldn’t know for sure, but she could tell he wasn’t listening to the two gorgeous women that had come up to speak to him.

  Christopher eyes kept going down to the screen, his face tense like he was contemplating answering or not.

  “Thank you. It’s a pleasure to have you here tonight. It’s a pleasure meeting the charming woman that stole my friend’s heart” Harry said and shook her hand.

  Isabella turned to face him again and smiled, this time though it didn’t reach her eyes.

  Harry’s words echoed in her mind, as her eyes took another glimpse at Christopher standing at the bar.

  Maybe I’ve earned his heart, but what about his trust? Isabella thought and her mind went back to the conversation she had overheard between him and Mr. Jenkins again.

  She was still in the dark, she still had no idea what was really going on, who was blackmailing him and what was worrying Christopher so much.

  “I’ll be doing a DJ set soon, it’s better if I get going. Drinks are on me at this table. Order anything you like” and just like that Harry stood.

  He towered the small table and couches, shaking hands with everyone there and taking his girlfriend Cecilia with him through the VIP area.

  Isabella stared at them, as they made their way through the tables, thanking people for being there and making sure they were all having a blast.

  Her attention was back on the bar a moment later, only Christopher was gone.

  He wasn’t there, nor walking back to the table with drinks. He was nowhere to be seen and it was getting harder to recognize anyone in the room, as people kept walking in the club.

  As Harry stepped on the DJ control station, the lights dimmed and the crowd cheered. He welcomed everyone and someone in the room shouted his name.

  Everyone was standing up now, as they clapped their hands and screamed, waiting for Harry’s first track.

  Isabella joined in the cheering at the table and nodded to Chloe, who was telling her what an incredible DJ Harry was- always in the first top ten with his hits, always keeping up with the trends.

  It wasn’t until they had sat down again, more Long Island Ice Tea going around at the table, that Isabella noticed someone was standing near her.

  “May I?” Giselle shouted over the music to Chloe, who simply shrugged and nodded, too surprised to say anything.

  Even if the lights were dim, Isabella recognized her perfect, slender silhouette instantly.

  And for the first time Giselle recognized her too.

  This is what it means to be in the spotlight, on those damn magazines. Isabella thought as Giselle stared at her in silence for a moment.

  This time Isabella wasn’t invisible, not like that night in Berlin when she had stood behind Giselle, as she had made her move on Christopher.

  “So, it’s you” Giselle said the words, like they needed to be spoken out loud, for how absurd it all was. She looked at Isabella from top to toe and smiled, the fakest of smiles.

  “Isabella. My name is Isabella” Isabella shouted back over the music, keeping her face neutral, while her heart thumped in her throat.

  “I know your name and you know mine” Giselle said and took a seat on a small stool near her. “He is always on the phone, isn’t he?” she added, an understanding expression perfectly plastered on her beautiful face.

  She knew what that was like, hearing Christopher’s phone ring- messages from girls, phone calls from lovers picked up here and there, all hoping to see him.

  “Why are you here exactly?” Isabella asked, shaking her head.

  Get to the point if you want to say something, so I can just walk away.

  “I can stand the other women. I’ve played this game for a long time with Christopher. It’s always like that. He goes from one interest to another. He just can’t sit still. But I can stand that. I can stand the other women” Giselle paused and tilted her head to the side, pursing her lips. “Can you?”

  Isabella shook her head.

  “It’s not like that between us, not that it’s any of your business”

  “Of course it is. You just need someone to open your eyes a little. Enjoy your little moment of fame. Enjoy the wonderful view from his studio flat, until it lasts. I’ll be here, waiting for him to get tired and come back to me” a ray of white light shone on her face then, as the music changed in the background and Isabella leaned forward, making sure Giselle could hear every single word she was going to say next.

  “That’s just the difference between you and me. I don’t wait around for him and he knows. He knows I would never take him back” Isabella shook her head, seeing Giselle laugh a little, but pressed on ever the same. “I don’t settle for a quick fuck, for a great view in his studio and for pretty presents. I want it all, I want all of him. Everything or nothing. Now if you’ll excuse me…” Isabella stood, her clutch tight in her shaky hand and moved to the side of the table.

  Giselle stood too, her eyes cold on Isabella, the fake smile nowhere to be seen this time.

  “He always comes back to me” she told her. “We fight, we fuck other people but then we get tired and go back to being us. It’s been like this for over a year” her voice trailed off, like only she knew what she was talking about.

  As if Giselle knew the real Christopher, what he really wanted and what he really needed- no intimacy, no strings. He needed to come and go as he pleased, no stress, no distractions from the races. He had told Giselle so many times, she knew it by heart.

  “We are not just fucking. I am going home with him” Isabella’s eyes dug into Giselle’s light blue ones.

  And to that Isabella moved away from the table, down the stairs, back into the multitude of bodies, swaying to the music.

  She crossed the room, heading to the bar where Christopher was last seen, hoping to spot him again. She was heading outside anyway, Christopher or no Christopher. And maybe she was just going to leave the club.

  She swallowed hard, realizing he was nowhere to be seen.

  “Shit”, she cursed under her breath.

  What the hell am I doing here? What the hell am I doing with him? She thought, feeling like a fool, standing there alone, in the room not knowing where he was, who was calling him all the time and what was going on behind the wall he kept up between them.

  I’m such a fool, her last thought was, before she felt a hand touch her shoulder and she turned.

  Christopher smiled down at her, his perfect crooked smile, but it lasted only an instant.

  “What’s wrong?” he leaned forward, both hands on her bare shoulders.

  “What the hell am I doing here, Ch
ris?” Isabella shouted over the music. “I must be out of my mind”

  She shook her head and breathed in deep.

  “What happened?” he looked at her clueless.

  “What am I doing here with you? I have no idea what is going on in your life. You keep me away from it. Your manager thinks he can jerk me around and treat me like shit” she said and watched him cringe a little, mentioning Mr. Jenkins.

  “I told him I won’t tolerate him being disrespectful towards you again”

  “You are always on the phone, someone is blackmailing you and you won’t trust me enough to tell me what’s going on. Your ex just told me how much time we have left together, before you go running back to her…”

  “What did she say?” Christopher turned towards the table where they had been sitting and saw Giselle staring down at them.

  Isabella searched his face, her head shaking slowly.

  “It’s not what she said, Chris. It’s what you are not telling me. It’s what you are not saying, what you don’t trust me to know”

  “I do trust you” he cut in, his hands tightened around her shoulders.

  “No, you don’t. I am not going to stand here, not knowing what’s happening with you. I am not. I am sorry, I am not the kind of woman to settle for anything but the whole deal” Isabella shook her head and looked down at her hands.

  Her stomach tensed, just as she was going to tell him it was now or never. That was the moment, the only moment left for him to show her if he trusted her or not.

  “You are right” he nodded, his deep green eyes on her the whole time. “Let’s go” and Christopher cautiously wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

  “Where?” Isabella let him guide her through the dancefloor, to the cloakroom.

  “Home. We need to talk”

  They crossed the living room hand in hand and in silence, until they faced the soft beige couches.

  “Take a seat” he said and gently guided her on one of the pillows.

  Isabella swallowed hard, Christopher’s voice so serious just then, she suddenly felt cold.

  He turned and walked to a drawer on the far back of the room, near one of the large bay windows and returned to the couch, carrying a dark brown envelope under his arm.