v. in exercitatus

[ the confrontation ]

Had she known this would be happening, she would've jumped out of bed and fled to her best friend's house. Without a doubt, Isabelle would've welcomed her with wide open arms.

But no. Jenessa didn't have the gift of foresight and hence, was unable to avoid this.

This referring to the man who was pacing anxiously in front of her.

To be honest, she'd thought that Henry had accepted defeated and slunk off with his tail tucked between his legs, hence the lack of confrontation of her recent engagement.

In truth, he'd been abroad for the past month and hadn't heard about it until he'd arrived back home last night.

And that brought them back here.

"How is this happening?" he muttered under his breath, hands running through his hair as he paced the length of the drawing room.

Jenessa watched him warily with a resigned look on her face, shifting her position on the antique sofa every few seconds.

Maybe, she should have told the maids that she wasn't accepting visitors before sneaking out the backdoor. Then, she would hurry over to Victor's home which was thirty minutes away.

Surely, Henry wouldn't follow her there. Not when there was a century old feud between his and her fiancé's family.

Eyeing his pacing form, she exhaled heavily. Perhaps, it was just as well they talked. She couldn't avoid the fair haired man forever.

But that didn't mean she even wanted to have this conversation.

"Look, Henry," she began hesitantly. "It wasn't planned and it did take me by surprise-"

"I am too," he retorted hotly. "What the ruddy hell is this? Can't you break it? And why aren't you fighting it?"

She blinked. She'd explained it all already. Hadn't he been listening?

"No, I can't," she forced out a congenial smile. "Our fathers signed a contract and neither of them are budging. Besides, it's been a month since and I've accepted it."

"But-" He looked bewildered, eyebrows furrowing. "You don't even like him. And he's a nasty piece of work! Jen! Haven't you heard what they've said about that rotten family?"

She pressed her lips into a thin line, resisting the urge to roll her eyes and rub her temples.

"Victor is not that bad," she replied irritably.

It was true. After the somewhat prickly start they had, things were alright between them. Sure, Victor was a little rough around the edges with his quips and glares, but she had to admit these qualities of his were starting to grow on her.

"Oh, so it's Victor now?" Henry snapped and she frowned.

"Is there anything else you want to say?" she asked coolly, rising to her feet, crossing her arms over chest. "Or do you still intend to stomp and shout like an ill-bred cretin?"

She was trying. Really, she was trying not to flare up, but Henry always had his way of pissing her off with his attitude and childish mindset. Not to mention, his judgemental behaviour.

One would think a man his age of thirty would grow up, but apparently not.

Unlike Victor, her mind supplied.

"Jen!" Henry widened his eyes. "Are you even listening to yourself? The Ashfords are nothing but bad news! They are liars and arrogant-"

"I'm sure they would say the exact same thing about you," she retorted frostily, shifting her weight from one foot to the other.

"Jen, I-" Henry stopped, visibly calming as he took a step closer. "I'm sorry for yelling, you didn't deserve that-but it's Victor Ashford!"

"Yes, we established that about thirty minutes ago when you came," she huffed, narrowing her eyes.

"It's just-," he paused, his brows creasing. "I wanted to marry you," he said softly, eyes almost pleading with her.

She swallowed, irritation and annoyance fading at the look on her friend's face.

Pausing, she licked her lips and ducked her gaze to the ground before lifting her eyes to his. "You know I don't feel the same way about you, Henry. Marrying me would be a mistake. We would both be awfully miserable together."

She took a step closer towards him. "You deserve to be with someone who is crazy about you as you are about her," she murmured softly, taking his hands into hers. "I'm sorry that I can't be that person for you."

Henry frowned, green eyes hurting and he opened his mouth, grabbing onto her hands with his fingers. "But I can make you happy. We've been friends all these while, surely you feel something for me?"

She didn't. At least not in the way he wanted.

"Henry," she began quietly, solemnly.

Whatever her counterpart was about to respond with was stopped when his hand froze upon touching the engagement ring Victor had given her two weeks prior.

Her heart sank.

An ugly look crossed his face as he sneered down at the ring.

"What the hell does he have that I don't, Jen?" Henry demanded, green eyes flashing as he stepped closer towards her, grip tightening around her wrists.

"I told you it was all arranged and there's nothing I can do about it!" she snapped, attempting to take a step back but unable to do so due to his unyielding hold on her.

"I can make you happy! He can't!"

"Henry!" she gritted through her teeth, heart racing when he wouldn't just let go.

She knew he had a temper, but the way he was looking at her-frenzied and utterly furious-scared her.

As if her guardian angel had woken up and decided to its damn job, the door to the drawing room opened and that snapped Henry out of his haze, causing him to take a step back hastily, fingers releasing her wrists.

She sucked in a huge breath and turned towards the door just as her family butler stepped in. Never had she been so glad to see the haughty man in her life.

"What is it, Warrington?" Jenessa asked, thankful that her voice didn't betray her earlier panic.

"You have another guest," he said smoothly, eyeing her and the fair haired man with well-concealed interest. "The Lord Ashford, my Lady."

If it was possible, her heart dropped to her gut. No, she didn't need this now. Not when Henry was still present. She resisted turning around to sneak a glance at her current companion. She didn't even want to know what was Henry's reaction.

A set of slow calculated footsteps echoed and there he was, in her drawing room. She blinked at the cold contemptuous expression on his face.

Never had she seen such a look full of disgust and disdain on Victor's face before.

"Victor," she greeted nervously, twirling her engagement ring around her finger absentmindedly. "I didn't know you were coming today."

Her fiancé arched his brow superciliously. "I thought it was time we shopped for wedding bands."

She scowled at him. She was definitely not imagining the smugness in his eyes or the aloof pride that he wore like a badge of honour.

She wasn't an idiot. They hadn't planned for an outing, him coming by was coincidental but she knew he was mentioning said trip to rile up the blond behind her.

Speaking of...

"Ashford," Henry spat, barging pass her to get closer to the other man. "The gall you have to-"

"Knight?" Victor interrupted, lips curling. "Fancy seeing you here."

She huffed inwardly, narrowing her eyes at both men. The posturing both were doing was starting to piss her off.

Victor gave a shark-like smile, a look predators would give their prey just before they pounced. Slowly and leisurely, he made his way further into the room until he was just a scant few inches away from the blond.

Warrington, the family butler had left silently, she noticed with irritation.

Honestly, where was an intervention when she needed one?

"Knight," her fiancé greeted, staring him down as he tilted his head arrogantly, fingers slipping into his front pockets casually. "How have you been? It's been long, but unfortunately, not long enough."

Jenessa blinked, taken aback by the mere ease and grace Victor had used to sling an insult. It was so natural that if she wasn't paying attention, she would have missed it. Her head began to pound.

Henry blustered, opening his mouth to respond but the dark haired man cut in, barely giving him time to do so.

"I wonder..." he paused, a cruel smirk forming on his lips. "After all these years, how does it feel to lose to me once more?"

Wide eyed, she watched as Henry sputtered inelegantly before turning to glower at Victor, displeased with the way he was treating her like a prize to be won-not that he seemed to notice, considering the way he was silently gloating at the fair haired man.

Men, she pursed her lips, crossing her arms.

"The bloody gall you have to speak to me that-"

"Ah ah ah, language," Victor taunted and somehow that seemed to infuriate Henry even more.

Henry, she knew was close to snapping and her vindictive fiancé was not helping. But it was only now that she realised that her fiancé was taller and broader than his adversary. That fact alone shouldn't surprise her considering he was a whole foot taller than her...

"Enough," she interjected hastily, before Henry could respond. "Victor, why don't you wait in the car and I'll join you in a minute or so?"

"That wouldn't be right," he smiled, feigning geniality. "Ladies first."

With her jaw dropping, she watched as he summoned her family butler back into the drawing room from the doorway. "Warrington, would you be so kind as to see Jenessa's guest out? We have an urgent appointment to attend to."

She noted that it was an order, not a request.

"Certainly, my Lord," her butler replied, turning to Henry.

If she thought this was the end, she was wrong.

"You don't even deserve her!" Henry protested angrily, shouldering pass her butler towards them.

Victor shrugged, moving to stand behind her and involuntarily, she tensed. There was a certain kind of vulnerability one had when someone was standing behind you. Right now, every nerve in her body was so very aware of him-of the mere centimetres separating them.

"And you do?" He arched a brow.

"More so than you!"

"Yet, here we are," her fiancé replied, using a tone that one used to describe the weather or something equally mundane.

Having had enough, she turned towards him. "Victor," Jenessa gritted, looping her arm through his. "Let's go."

It was a warning and an order all at once. She would be damned if a fistfight broke out in the drawing room. Never mind the fact she knew who the winner would be.

To his credit, Victor nodded agreeably, but not before placing a hand on the small of her back.

Immediately, Jenessa inhaled sharply, eyes widening as he began guiding her out of the room. The heat of his hand seared through the chiffon material of her blouse and God, how could she possibly pretend she was not aware of him? How could she act as though nothing was out of place?

This, she realised, was the first time he'd actually initiated the kind of contact that couples used.

Her cheeks flamed.

If she weren't so distracted with her thoughts, Jenessa would have noticed the smug smirk that Victor had tossed over his shoulder as they left.

It isn't till they were seated in his car that she spotted a hint of a smirk playing on his lips.

"Victor," she began, irritation surfacing once more. "What was that back there?"

"What are you referring to?"

She huffed, crossing her legs, fingers drumming on her jean-clad thighs. "That display with Henry."

"Mmm," he took a glance at her, arching his brows. "What about it?"

"What about-" she cut herself off, and closed her eyes as she took deep breaths to compose her thoughts.

There wasn't any point in lecturing or yelling, not when Victor didn't seem one bit repentant.

"If I didn't know better, I would've sworn you two were male peacocks, puffing your chests and fanning your tails," she answered.

"Funny," he said dryly.

She bit her lip. "I wish you didn't provoke him," she chided, narrowing her eyes. "He's still my friend."

"Well, in that case, you need better friends."

"Victor!"

He huffed out a short laugh before switching the indicators for the car to turn left.

She rolled her eyes and began playing with the ring. "It was difficult enough for me to deal with him and you certainly didn't make it easier when you dropped by."

"In my defence, I had no idea Knight was at your home. I really did have the intention to take you out to shop for the rings considering the wedding would be in six months. It was just my luck that he was there."

She sighed, slouching inelegantly back into the leather seat. "I know that," she murmured in resignation.

After a moment of hesitation on her part, once she remembered the words he'd flung at Henry, she slowly turned towards him, chewing on her bottom lip. "Do you really think I'm nothing but a trophy?"

"A what?"

Jenessa lowered her gaze, and shifted her body to face front. She didn't think she could bear it if she saw what she feared she would see on his face.

"Nothing," she replied in a small voice before forcing out a smile.

Victor was staring at her. She could feel the weight of his eyes on her-scrutinising, puzzling out whatever she had meant.

It had been a mistake to ask him that.

Already, she felt foolish for letting that question leave her lips.

The answer he would surely give would crush her. She didn't think she could bear the patronising glances or the well minced words.

Hence, she remained silent, hands folded neatly across her lap as she absentmindedly looked out of the window, watching the world go by while trying to ignore the tight fist around her gut.

* * * * *

"You're awfully quiet," Victor remarked, stealing a look in her direction.

She grimaced before resting her chin on her palm, taking in the various wedding bands in their black velvet trays.

"Gold is more traditional," she offered after a moment of silence.

"Yes, but we're not exactly having a traditional marriage, are we?" he murmured under his breath so that the attendant wouldn't hear him.

She bit her lip. Like she needed a reminder about that.

"Fine, silver then," she sighed and tucked her hair behind her ear.

His eyes roamed over her features.

The next thing she knew, the attendant was dismissed and they were left alone in the private show room.

"Wha-"

"I'm not going to repeat myself," he said, leaning closer. "We will not be leaving this room until you resolve whatever problems you're having."

She narrowed her eyes. "Whatever will the papers say when they find out we're unchaperoned for far too long?"

"They won't have a chance. Anyone who dares write anything about us would find themselves without a job for the rest of their miserable insignificant lives," Victor stated casually. "Now," he paused, shifting his jaw. "What's the problem?"

She licked her lips, glancing away from him, unable to deal with being the focus of his blue eyes.

"Jenessa," he growled warningly.

Clearly, he was losing his patience with her.

"I..." she began haltingly.

At the prompting look sent her way, she swallowed hard. "I don't think I can bear spending the rest of my life with a man who thinks I'm nothing but a prize."

Victor watched her impassively.

"I...I'm not a toy to be fought over. I'm a person with thoughts and-I have feelings-my own emotions. It's bad enough that Henry thinks I'm some unattainable prize and won't accept my refusals or pleas to stay friends-it's like my opinion doesn't even matter to him. Or what about the fact my parents think it's okay to sell me off to the highest bidder? They don't even think-don't even care about what I wanted," she said.

Jenessa has no idea where these words are coming from. But she refused-absolutely refused to turn to look at him. She hadn't meant to bare her true thoughts and emotions out but there they were, hanging in the air, an intangible wall between them.

The vulnerability that came with baring her actual thoughts clung to her tight, unwilling to let go and she knew, oh, she knew that if she looked at her fiancé, she would burst into tears.

And that is something that she will not allow.

Silence ensued and Jenessa was five seconds away from excusing herself and heading home to cry when Victor cleared his throat, the sounds echoing around the room.

"I don't," he said slowly, haltingly. "I don't see you like that."

"You don't?"

He clenched his jaw, a muscle ticking away in the slightly hollow planes of his cheek before he finally spoke. "I don't," he said firmly. "Knight having...affections for you was just a bonus in my books. Our families go a long way back."

Was Victor actually trying to explain and make her feel better? Was he trying to-dare she say it-comfort her in his own manner?

She gawked at him, eyes wide as he ran a hair through his hair before loosening the knot of his tie.

"Let's get the gold rings."

"Gold?" she repeated, leaning closer, attempting to make sure she was hearing him properly.

"It's more traditional, didn't you mention that?"

"B-but-We're not having a traditional marriage." She furrowed her brows.

Victor paused, eyes darting to her. "We aren't. But regardless, you deserve one at the very least."

She stared at him, stunned beyond words, her heart thrumming wildly in her chest while her mind was drawing on a blank.

"Choose," he muttered, pushing the two trays containing gold wedding bands down the glass counter towards her before he turned away, a hint of red dashing across his pale cheeks.

Whereas her mind had been a blank space earlier, it was now vastly different with the way her thoughts rushed around in dizzying speeds. Hence, without further questioning, she focused on the numerous rings in the trays, but not without stealing one last look at him, a hint of a smile on her lips.

* * * * *

A/N: another update for you loves! tysm for reading and i do look forward to reading your comments! <3

P18/3/19