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SETH RIVERA AND THE ULTIMATE BLACK CARD Beneath the viel
Phoebe was beginning to think she was disappearing. Each day the words that Christian said, his low, brooding anger chiseled on her heart. She could hardly see the man she had fallen in love with, the man who used to look at her with love and confidence now he looks at her with suspicion and aloofness. One evening, from Chroma Creative, she arrived home to meet Christian seated in the living room, with his back towards her, facing the floor. She paused, sensing the distance that has been between them slowly widening. “Christian?” She questioned softly, after a while. “Are we… are we okay?” He looked up, his face was pale, and he seemed as though he had slept for weeks. “I don’t know, Phoebe,” he said and his voice was different, icy, unfamiliar. “It’s like I am living with an unfamiliar person most days.” She blushed, and it was hard to maintain her calmness, but she didn’t want him to see her pain. “Christian, you are listening to Seth the man who only wants to be between us.
SETH RIVERA AND THE ULTIMATE BLACK CARD A Stranger to love
He looked her in the eye and his lips curled into a cynical grin. “Perhaps I have not learned how to see you any differently from what I used to see you.” And then after all that… after Seth… maybe it altered the way that I look at you.” Phoebe could feel the knot in her chest, growing tighter and tighter as a result of frustration and pain. She had wanted to be honest, to reveal all, but his scepticism remained and their passion turned into a venomous toxin. She didn’t know how much longer she could continue to resist the barrier he had put up in himself. It was so low that it was barely audible, “If you can’t see me as I am, then maybe you’re just not seeing me at all.” They looked at each other over the table and the air was charged with electricity that seemed to crackle and split them apart. Phoebe experienced the strong impulse to touch him, to hold his hand, to say that she still loved him even if all the bad things that happened. But there was an unconcern in his eyes which
SETH RIVERA AND THE ULTIMATE BLACK CARD Power of manipulation
Christian’s eyes were cold as he leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, a wall between them she couldn’t breach. Phoebe was opposite him, and she felt uncomfortable under the man’s intense look. “Well, Phoebe,” he started, his words icy, “how in the hell am I supposed to trust a single word that comes out of your mouth?” You always give me the impression that there is more about you that I do not know when in fact there is more about you that is still a mystery to me. She shook her head and her voice was barely audible. I’ve told you everything, Christian.” I don’t know what more you want.” He laughed, and then walked away, a sneer of disgust on his lips. You always say that don’t you? ‘I’ve told you everything.’ But there is always something more; there is something I did not see, and Seth knew it from the beginning. “Seth has told lies,” she said calmly, but there was a desperation in her tone. ‘He wanted to drive us apart, Christian.’ That’s all he wanted.” “Did he lie to me,
SETH RIVERA AND THE ULTIMATE BLACK CARD Behind the scene
A small voice within her wanted to shout, to shake him to make him understand what he was putting them through. However, she choked on her words and did not let anger show on her face. “So what now? Are you going to continue to punish me for a mistake that I can’t control? For a mistake I made years ago?” Christian’s jaw tightened. “Maybe I’m just beginning to know you.” A person who has something to say, but does not state it and is a person who cannot be trusted.” “You are not being fair,” she said, her voice trembling. I didn’t do anything wrong to you that I am trying to keep from you.” You just don’t want to see it.” “Don’t I?” he said, and his voice was cold. “Or maybe you’ve just become so good at masking that you are now in denial that there is nothing left to mask.” She inhaled deeply, trying hard not to scream with frustration. “Christian, I can’t keep going like this, I can’t go on living like this anymore.” It’s like every day you are waiting for me to fail, to show yo
SETH RIVERA AND THE ULTIMATE BLACK CARD Harder than he thought
Christian stepped closer then pulled back just enough so that Phoebe couldn’t quite touch him with her shaking hand. He could see the distance that was between them as a very large one and she was trying to contain herself from crying. A part of her wanted to call out, wanted to shake him and make him look at what they were losing, but the hatred in his stare froze her. Christian’s voice came into the silence, harsh, resentful. “It doesn’t matter how much you say you love me, Phoebe.” Because I’ve come to learn… words are useless if they are not backed up by truth.” She took a deep breath and choked down the bitter taste of his words before finding her voice. “Then give me a chance. Give us a chance, Christian. Whatever I kept from you… I was scared. I didn’t want you to look at me like this as if I was a stranger. That was the last thing I expected.” He looked at her, clearly appalled and offended. “Protecting us? By hiding who you really are? That is not protection, Phoebe that i
SETH RIVERA AND THE ULTIMATE BLACK CARD The Call
She gazed at him with the expression of disbelief and resentment. “Now? Now you’re concerned? How dare you after all that you have done, all the harm you have brought into my life now you want to call and make sure I am okay? Seth smiled, and approached me slightly. “I know you’re angry. You have every right to be. But I didn’t do this to hurt you, Phoebe. I thought he must be told the truth.” “The truth?” She laughed bitterly, raising her voice. Seth, you used the truth to turn him against me.” You did not respect what we had. You just wanted to tear us apart.” He turned his face to the side, and shame was written all over him. I did not expect things to get this far. I thought… maybe if he can hear all of it, he would comprehend. That it would make you both closer in some way.” The tears welled up in Phoebe’s eyes once more but she shook her head to hold them back. “You don’t get it. This wasn’t your decision to make. You stole the opportunity I could have explained it to him wh
SETH RIVERA AND THE ULTIMATE BLACK CARD Payback Time
Phoebe’s heart sank. She knew that Christian’s father was a problematic man in his life, a man who Christian despised. The man was rough and unkind, and his disposition seemed to worsen after Christian’s mother abandoned the family when he was still a child. He had never hidden his disdain for Christian and Phoebe’s love, seeing her as a nuisance, a threat to Christian’s dreams and goals. And, from the facial expression of Christian, she got the impression that something was amiss. “He’s in town unexpectedly,” Christian went on to say, “and he wants to meet… tonight.” Phoebe relaxed her hold on his hand and her thoughts were still spinning. She could feel a ball of fear rising in her throat, given that Christian’s father had never been a fan of her and his interference was sure to worsen things. She knew that he wanted to come clean with her and sort things out but he felt bounded by his father’s orders. “Christian,” she started hesitantly, attempting to hide her terror. “If he’s o
SETH RIVERA AND THE ULTIMATE BLACK CARD Sting of past Actions
But they kept coming, and coming, and coming, and each time it only filled her with this profound, impenetrable sorrow.She could recall the nights Seth had warded off sleep just to make sure he was with her when she studied, the mornings they made their plans. She had never thought about the fact that he had believed in them, that he had included her in his life as something natural and irreversible. To him it was love that was worth more than everything else, but to her it was… a phase. Dispensable. She was aware that if Seth could only see her now, he would understand that there was a lot of humor in the situation. He would see how the roles were reversed and she, the one feeling useless and left out by a loyalty that was never extended to her. She was gradually coming to appreciate that love, actual love, was not merely an act of companionship but it was about being ready to stand up for the person you loved and make them feel secure. She had not done that for Seth and now Chri
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