Arranged Marriage

Chapter 18

"Eliza?" Patrick pocked his head through, as I continued to pace the length of my bedroom.

I shook my head, anger ripping through me. I knew what he was doing. He had come to apologise now that he wasn't so wound up and was actually seeing sense. See, I was beginning to know him.

"No, don't you dare," I warned him, "don't you come and apologise because now you feel like a right ass. Let me guess, Garrick talked to you. Or was it Nickola or Piero."

He sighed, stepping into the room and shutting the door behind him.
"They didn't need to. Not this time anyway," he muttered under his breath.

"Well, I'm glad someone can get through to you because I clearly can't. Why didn't you back off?" I demanded.

He frowned, "Last time I checked, he was the one that had me. I didn't even touch the guy."

"No, just called him a coward when he's been the only family I've had since I can remember," I snapped.

Patrick's shoulders sunk as he begun to look guilty, "And for that I am sorry. Only, for your sake. Not for his."

I scoffed and shook my head. Typical. The moment I had reached my hatred for him limitation he did something sweet, I guess.

"Why are you pacing?" he asked, confused.

"Because I'm frustrated!" I yelled, "I'm pissed off, I'm angry. I'm surprised my face isn't filled with pimples."

He snorted, making me stop and look at him, "Sorry."

I groaned, pacing again.

"I actually know a way to help," he stated, making me stop.

"Patrick, I'm not sleeping with you," I told him, as clear as I could.

He snickered and shook his head, "No, though that would work too."

I narrowed my eyes at him, hoping he would get to the point.

"Do you have any workout clothes?" he asked.

I frowned and looked down at myself, "What, you think I was born with this body?"

He licked his lips and smirked, his eyes looking my body up and down again.

"I'll take that as a yes. Meet me at the stairs in ten minutes," he told me, turning for the door.

I frowned, "What for?"

"Just come," he said, shutting the door behind him.

I blinked. What the hell?

Getting over my shock, I did as Patrick asked. I changed out of my other clothes and found my Athletic tights, black sports bra and fitness tank top that's arm holes reached my hips. My dried hair went up and Nike runners covered my feet. I was good to go for whatever Patrick had planned.
My jaw dropped when I found Patrick, leaning on the railing, looking out to the void. All he wore were shorts, a singlet and runners, but damn, he looked good. Life wasn't fair sometimes. He heard me coming and smiled when he saw me.

"Ready?" he asked, pushing off the railing.

"I'm dressed, it's a little different from ready. Especially when I don't know what we're doing," I said, raising an eyebrow.

He snickered, nodding towards the right corridor, "Come on."

"Wait," I said, halting, "You said I couldn't go down there."

Now that I knew the guys' backstories, I understood their need for privacy even more. I didn't want to get caught snooping even if Patrick was with me.