Entangled (Vice Games) by Alice Cooper

is real. But she convinced herself otherwise and allowed her mind to believe that I was truly going to marry her brother.
    Tristan dropped us off at a wedding studio and disappeared for nearly an hour while Anna forced me to try on different dresses. The shop assistant was bemused by my reluctance and could not understand why I seemed hesitant when the different white dresses were presented to me. Anna told her that it was just jitters and things like that but we both knew better. That, however, did not hamper her enthusiasm.
    ‘When’s the wedding?’ the shop assistant asked.
    I couldn’t give her an exact date simply because I didn’t know. Although I eventually relented to trying on a few dresses, I refused to buy any of them. I wasn’t mentally prepared for it yet. Anna took pictures of me in the white dresses so that she may consult with Lorraine about the decision since I refused to offer my opinion.
    Tristan took us out for lunch and I noticed how he managed, without even trying, to catch curious glimpses from women who clearly found him attractive. Some took double takes while others tried whispered to their friends. Tristan, however, kept his attention on me and Anna. We went around to the florist, the caterers, the cake shop and the printers. By the end of the day, Tristan and Anna had sorted out most of the necessities needed for a wedding. On the way home, Anna began to draw up an invitation list and when she showed it to me, I did not recognize any of the names.
    ‘Who are these people?’ I asked. Tristan took the list from me and glanced at it.
    ‘Necessary guests,’ he said. ‘I suggest that you add to the list as well, to make it more convincing.’
    After dinner, I excused myself to my room to gather my thoughts. I needed to be away from Anna. The wedding was all she could think and talk about. A knock came at my door and Tristan entered before I could protest. I sat up on the bed and swung my legs over the sides to face him. His mother’s ring sat in its box on the dresser. He walked to it and picked the heirloom up.
    ‘Why aren’t you wearing your ring?’ he asked.
    ‘I can’t,’ I told him. ‘It makes me feel like an imposter.’
    ‘But you’re my fiancée now.’
    ‘Only because I have no other choice,’ I told him. ‘Anna better not have any sort of mental breakdown once this is over.’
    Tristan smirked. I hated it when he did that. It was as if he was saying – who says anything about it being over?
    It made my heart quiver and melt like chocolate when exposed to heat. Tristan came over and sat down next to me. He reached out for my hand and held it in his. He then turned and faced me directly. My eyes felt drawn towards his lips.
    ‘ You’re not an imposter.’
    Tristan took the ring out of the box and as he was about to slip it on my finger again, I pulled my hand out of his.
    ‘Don’t give me your mother’s ring,’ I said to him.
    ‘I’m trusting you to keep it safe,’ he said.
    I pushed his hand away from mine. ‘Please don’t do this,’ I begged. ‘It’s already bad enough that I’m lying about us.’
    Tristan held the ring and looked into my eyes. ‘Why?’ he asked.
    As I returned his gaze and remain locked in his stare, I found that he could not understand my constant rejection. He knew how I felt towards him and the way he had control over the electrifying sensations he caused. It was also clear that any other women would have accepted the shiny rock without hesitation. In his experiences with Lauren, she would have reveled with delight at being given a gem this size. But I could not bring myself to accept it or be like the women he knew. My thoughts must have played out upon my face and he read it without surprise. I was what he had anticipated – different from everyone else that he’s ever known. Every women that’s ever taken interest in him wanted him only for his money. I was different. I agreed to come along not for the money but for genuine