The Jewelers

I fucking swear I knew it was a trap.

The moment we walked into the Jeweler's shop I stopped in my tracks. 

Riley had to pull me in just so I wouldn't stand frozen by the threshold. 

He was here. 

I couldn't believe he was here. No, I could. I expected this, at least partially. I just didn't think that any of them would resort to such petty tricks to get me to see him.

There was no way they hadn't plotted this.

"I hate you," I mumbled to my friends as the shop's door closed behind me.

There was no way that they didn't know he wouldn't be here. I was fairly certain that if he had been here without us the place would be empty, booked exclusively for the shop's biggest client.

"Miss Harris, Miss Choi," the jeweler greeted, his eyes glancing toward me, clearly wondering who I was.

Riley and Jade simply gave the man a nod, not caring to explain who I was. It wasn't like they owed him an explanation either.

"Cousin, what a coincidence!" Riley said, her tone a little too chirpy for my taste. 

"Riley," Alexander maintained his stoic expression as he walked over. 

Not wanting to look my fiancée in the eyes, I let my eyes wander, taking in the sparkling display of jewelry, I had not seen such opulence in the past three years and I missed it.

A hand suddenly gripped my waist, making me gasp in surprise as Alexander pulled me to his side.

"See anything you like, Lilith," his tone was softer, making me look at him and raise an eyebrow.

I turned to see that we had an audience, the jeweler's jaw had now dropped. He was either shocked by Alexander's intimate actions or by the realization that I was Lilith Durfort, Alexander's fiancée. 

"Lilith?" Alexander asked, drawing my attention back to him.

Grinning at Alexander, I recalled my plan to spend as much of my fiancée's money as possible. The goal was to make him flinch.

"Oh, you know how much I love jewelry," I said in such a sweet voice that it sickened me. 

Alexander raised an eyebrow at me, while from behind I heard either Jade or Riley cough to cover up a laugh. 

"Pick what you want, consider it a gift for the party," he told me, tilting his head at the display as he gripped my waist tighter, pulling me to him. 

"That looks pretty," I smiled as I pointed at a pair of diamond earrings.

I swear, the jeweler's eyes went wide when I pointed at them. I tried to play it down as if I didn't know exactly how expensive the pair was. 

Looking up at Alexander, I batted my eyes and gave him the most vomit-inducing sweet smile possible, "You wouldn't say no to me, would you?"

"He wouldn't," Riley said, a hint of amusement in her tone. "I'm sure you want to give your fiancée to have everything she wants, cousin."

"Of course," Alexander told his cousin, unfazed by my choice of jewelry.

I spot a gold, silver, and diamond piece and point at it.

"I want that one too," I told him confidently, waiting for him to deny me.

"Pack it up," he told the jeweler. 

I couldn't help but wonder how far I could push him, how much do I have to buy before he hesitates. 

"That bracelet would look good on you as well," he said, nodding toward a silver and black diamond piece. It seemed that Alexander had caught up to my plot and decided to lead rather than follow.

"I prefer it in gold," I pouted, choosing to change tactics.

"Have it reset in gold," Alexander said without any hesitation. 

The jeweler quickly packed each item and handed the necklace and earrings to me.

Alexander looked me in the eyes, his gaze intense as he reached over and tapped his card on the machine.

"Is that all, Lili?" he asked me.

I gulped and nodded slowly.

I knew I was beaten. I was well aware that I shouldn't push him too far, especially after I spent a small fortune throughout the day.

It seemed that Alexander Harris was determined to create the image of utter devotion to me, his fiancée.

"Yes, Alexander," I answered.

"Good," I thought he would lift his gaze from mine, instead he held it and said, "Everyone, leave, I'd like a word with my fiancée."

To my dismay, the jeweler and even my friends abandoned me, leaving me alone with Alexander.

He took a step closer, making my breath hitch. His chest was almost touching my breast while he kept a firm hand on my waist.

Suddenly he took a step to the right, standing directly in front of me, blocking me from the glass window. He bent down, his warm breath brushing against my ear, making me jolt.

"Hello Lili," he said in a deep voice. "I believe I owe you a ring."

I then feel him slip a cold ring on my left ring finger, and then hold my hand. 

"What do you think?" he asked.

I tilt my head, falling into his trap as my lips brush his for a moment. Jumping back, I bump my hip against the glass display, luckily, or rather unluckily Alexander is there to wrap his arm around me and pull me close.

"I don't want my fiancée to be bruised for the party," he said with a wink.

Rolling my eyes at him, I tug my hand away and raise it.

I couldn't help but gasp at the ring on my finger.

It was a split-shank set red diamond with smaller black diamonds set on the golden band. 

"Only the best for my fiancée," Alexander said as he lifted my hand to his lips and gave it a kiss.

My lips parted in surprise, but I quickly shut them. I wasn't an idiot, I knew he could take advantage of my reaction.

I quickly pushed him away, leaving Alexander too stunned to speak.

"I only agreed to marry you because it was part of the terms of my return, don't think I'm a fool to fall for you again, Alexander," I declared before marching out of the shop, not looking back despite my desire to do so.