Free Beautiful Disaster (The Bet) by Francette Phal

journal the first time she'd seen Charmant's " Void " and the damn bastard had more than likely found it, read it, and was using it now to appear sensitive? How stupid did he think she was?
    Wordlessly , she spun on her heel and found the nearest exit, sure that if she'd remained a second longer , she would've resorted to violence. "Ellie!" Ignoring his calls she lengthened her strides, dodging through obstacle s of human bodies, she was out of the building in record time. She lifted her hand to hail a cab , but the grip on her arm prevented her from doing so. Nicholas spun her around, the hold on her arm remained gentle but firm even in the face of her scowl .
    "Let go!" She attempted to pull her arm away, Nicholas's hold remained firm.
    "Mind telling me what I did first?"
    "God! I can't believe I actually allowed myself to fall for your bullshit! And to think, I even believed you were somewhat of a decent human being. Well , you know what, Nicholas, you can go to hell." She wrenched her arm from his grasp and walked away from him, stomping in the opposite direction of where he'd parked his bike. She didn't know where she was going, didn't much care at the present moment, all that mattered was that she get as far away from him as she could.
    "Ellie!" He was at her side and even with his longer strides he had to double his efforts to catch up to her. "Ellie...will you stop a sec..."
    "Fuck off, Nicholas."
    "Look , I'm sorry , Ok?" he stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and cried , "Ellie Holbrook, I'm sorry! I was a dick and I'm sorry!"
    Ellie stopped short, turned around and found him on his knees a distance away. Having gained an audience, he interlaced his hands in front of him in the semblance of prayer. "I was only trying to impress you. It seemed like a good idea at the time. I really wasn't trying to piss you off and I'm sorry if I did."
    "You’re making a scene, Nicholas, get up!"
    "Not until you forgive me!"
    She blew out an exasperated breath. "Fine, I forgive you, now get up!" she said through gritted teeth.
    He remained on his knees, much to the gathering crowd's amusement. "You don't mean it." He intoned, putting on display that stupid grin of his.
    She folded her arms across her chest and glowered at him, "I forgive you for being an asshole, now please, get up."
    He was before her in a blink of an eye, then leaned close and brushed a kiss against her cheek. "I know I seem to be saying this a lot, but I am sorry." He said, his smile, genuine in its entire effect, enhanced already perfect features and Ellie found her irritation vanishing. When his hand searched hers out and entwined their fingers, she blamed the fluttering of her heart on indigestion.
    The crowd, seemingly satisfied at their happy reunion, clapped and aww-ed before continuing on their way. Ellie and Nicholas walked among them, the silence between the two, impregnable. They were not too far now from where he’d parked the bike and before they could go any further, Ellie stopped walking and turned to him.
    "I don't let too many people get close to me, Nicholas. Don't make me regret befriending you," she glanced up at him, "Don't hurt me, OK?" Hazel eyes held sterling grey as her words hung suspended between them.
    For the briefest of moments neither said anything, and then Nicholas leaned down and brushed her cheek with cool fingers, "I wouldn’t dream of it."
     

 
    He was at it again. Like a creeping fog he could feel the depression setting in again, blanketing every inch of his being with a debilitating chill.
    Nicholas dragged in a lung full of noxious smoke from his cigarette and breathed out on a deep, wearied sigh. He hunched forward, inadvertently causing his overgrown fringe to curtain his vision, he rested his arms on his knees and stared mindlessly at his naked feet.
    "...in entertainment news today, renowned actress and socialite Sonja Grayson was seen at last night's Academy Awards with a new man on her arm, looking absolutely