Song: Waiting Game by Banks

Baby I'm thinking it over,
What if the way we started made it something cursed from the start,
What if it only gets colder ...

The next morning I texted Ally I was on my way. When I arrived outside her apartment, she was already waiting outside with her bag.

She was dressed in a white T-shirt, black shorts, and Nike shoes, like the plain Jane she already was. Her wavy hair was tied up into messy bun, making her appear younger than her actual years.

After I picked Ally up, we headed over  to her sister's place.

Eve.

She lived with her husband, Rick, and their two children, son Eason and daughter Alexis, in the Edgewater community, north of downtown Chicago.

They were the stereotypical American middle-class family.

Rick was a successful engineer for a large oil corporation based in the Middle East while Eve was a stay-at-home mom to their children.

Everything appeared to be happy and perfect on the outside, but the truth was the opposite. Underneath the surface, something darker lurked.

I wanted to see Eve's family sink lower than dirt.

I wanted to see them hurt—each and every one of them.

Emotionally.

Mentally.

Physically.

Rick opened the door after we knocked.

There was one flaw this man possessed, one weakness to exploit from—his addiction to illegal gambling in the black market. He  relinquished the unhealthy obsession after marrying Ally's sister, but deep down inside him the craving for that gambling high stilled burned.

Unknown to his wife, his gambling problem had returned in the last few weeks.

And from my inside sources, luck was on his side just as I wanted it to be. He made a few successful bets that unknown to him were the results of mere premeditated coincidences.

He didn't know he could only climb so high to lose it all very soon.

"Hello, Ally," Rick greeted. "It's good to see you." His eyes moved to me, the man standing behind his sister-in-law.

"Hey, Rick." Ally gestured to me. "This is Henry. Henry, this is my brother-in-law Rick."

I held out my hand to him. "Nice to meet you, Rick."

"Same to you, Henry," he responded, grabbing a hold of my hand.

"Auntie!" The two children ran up to Ally.

She dropped to her knees and embraced them on each side as if she was their mother. "Hey, you two."

In this moment, I saw the love and adoration she held for her only niece and nephew.

That was Ally's greatest weakness—she cares too much.

People with good hearts trust too much. They feel too much.

For everything, there is a price.

Because in the end, those who love too deeply are the ones who will get hurt and suffer the most.

"Who is this man, Ally?" Alexis peered innocently up at me from her short level. Her brother did the same.

"This is Henry, my friend. Say hi to him," Ally introduces me.

I smiled genially as they both said hello behind their little faces.

Ally turned to me. "Henry, this is Alexis and Eason."

"Hello, Eason and Alexis."

There was one thing about children—their innocence.

Their simplicity.

Their lack of knowledge.

Their purity not yet tarnished by life affairs.

It was a crime to do harm onto innocent young lives.

And in no way, I did not hold any grudge or ill will against neither of them.

But if my actions toward their mother were going to hurt them involuntary, I could not do anything to prevent the repercussions.

Eve, Ally's older sister, came into the hallway connected to the living room.

Even though they were blood sisters, a stranger would not be able to tell whether or not were even sisters at all. They looked so different from one another.

Eve was much taller with blonde hair and blue eyes. Her facial features were deeper and she dressed more feminine than her younger sister.

"You guys all ready. Extra shoes, socks, shin guards?" The kids nodded to their mom's question. She smiled at them until she noticed my presence. "Hey Ally. Who is this?" Her curiosity heightened.

"This is my friend, Henry," Ally replied. "Henry, this is Eve, my sister."

"It's a pleasure to meet you." I held out my hand with a smile.

Eve reciprocated the gesture. "Ally didn't tell us she had a friend named Henry."

"The right time never came up," Ally interjected.

This didn't seemed to be a usual occurrence of her bringing guys to meet her family, I presumed. The this meeting and the other day with Nancy, I had a vibe this was going to happen much more down the road.

"Anyways, thank you so much for taking them today." Eve's attention moved to the red cooler in the hallway by us. "I packed their lunches in the cooler with extra drinks when they have breaks."

"Okay, great!" Ally said, moving to grab the handle.

"I can get it." I reached for the handle before she could. Our fingers slightly brushed against each other.

"Thank you." Ally smiled as she yielded to me.

Ten minutes later, we were in the BMW driving to the tournament.

When we arrived at the soccer park around eleven, there were multiple people watching the games that had already started. We walked from one soccer field to the next in search of Eason's team, the Titans.

An elderly couple walked opposite us in our direction on the cement trail.

"Your two children are so adorable." The lady smiled at us, her wrinkles becoming more profound on her face.

I looked to Ally, wondering what her response would be to the idea of us being together.

She chuckled while smiling at the woman. "Thank you, but you misunderstand, ma'am. This is my niece and my nephew, and he is only a friend."

"Oh. I'm so sorry, honey, but you two look so much like a couple." She peered up at me, reminding me of my very own Nana. "Don't you let go of this woman, young man."

I nodded to her advice.

If only she knew the truth.

Ally wasn't the object of my desire,
but my revenge.

Like a delicate flower that needed sunlight, water, and nutrients from the soil to blossom and survive, I was going to shower her with what all women want in a relationship: love, happiness, protection, trust, attention.

And much, much more.

She was going to have it all—everything she ever dreamed of.

Everything that every Cavill woman should possess and deserves to have.

And when she was at her most vulnerable, that was the moment that living dream will come to an end.

Love is a useful and deceitful tactic, especially for a person like me.

I had no intention of keeping her.

Nor did I have any intention of loving her.

I would never love this woman.

How could I?

She was the sister of Jennifer's murderer.

She meant nothing to me.

We would never have a future together because love was forbidden between us.

She was just a pawn in my game, one to use, one to bend, and one to break.

When everything was over between us, I was going to let her go.

We located the Titan's purple tent a few feet ahead.

"Eason, go practice with your team,"
Ally said, setting up her camp chair underneath the shade we found next to a tree.

He nodded and ran to the other little Titans with his soccer bag over his shoulder.

Alexis finished setting up her chair on Ally's other side and then took out a book.

Ally placed her chair next to mine, watching her nephew interact with his little teammates. "They are so adorable running around with their little feet. I can remember when I was that age. Times were much simpler then. Wasn't it, Henry?"

"Yes, they were," I replied to her, sitting into the folding chair.

"Did you play soccer or any sports when you were younger?"

Ally's question made me reflect back on my years in boarding school. I hadn't thought much about it up until now.

My parents had sent me off to a private school in England, one of the best in the world. Each one of my ancestors had attended there, and that was the only option I was given.

My whole legacy was already written out for me even before my birth. I was to graduate from there, take over the family business, and settle down with a woman of my parents' choice.

Times were simpler back then, before my life took a turn for the worse. Before I lost my whole family.

"Yes, I played soccer for a while, but I wasn't as good as I thought." A soft chuckle came out from my lips.

"Me neither. I was always the last one picked when it came to sports," she said with humor in her tone. "Maybe because no one wanted to be stuck with me on their team."

We both chuckled.

"Did you want to kick a few goals?" I asked Ally.

"Oh...I'm not so sure..." she hesitated. Even now, she wasn't confident in herself.

"Can we, Henry?" Alexis asked as she placed her book down onto her lap. She turned her gaze to her aunt as if asking for permission. "Is it okay, Ally?"

"Uh, sure. If it's alright with Henry, that is." Ally glanced over to me.

"Of course, Alexis. Anything you'd like. Let's go to that empty net over there." I pointed to an unused goal net not far away from our location.

I grabbed a spare ball from the nearby tent after asking one of the coaches there while Alexis tied her soccer cleats on. When she was done, we walked over to the goal, passing the ball back to each other along the way.

Women fall for men who are good with children.

Correlations suggests women feel more attracted to men who have an affinity for children.

This was an opportunity in front of Ally I wasn't going to pass up.

A few moments later from the corner of my eyes, I noticed Ally coming over to join us. She probably didn't to miss out on the fun we were having without her.

"Alexis, look who's here," I said with a kind smirk.

Ally rolled my eyes playfully in return while crossing her arms.

"Auntie, you want to play with us?" Alexis asked, her eyes bright and hopeful for her aunt to affirm.

"Yes, I was getting bored sitting alone. And besides, I couldn't let you have all the fun and beat Henry on your own." She looked proud of her comeback.

"I'll be the goalie then." I walked back and stood in front of the goal.

Ally allowed her niece to kick first.

"Come on, Alexis. You can do it!" I yelled out. "Just remember. You're the one in control."

She kicked the soccer ball as hard as she could with her tiny legs.

And I knew just what to do.

I pretended to play my best defense before letting the ball pass through the goal line into the net.

Alexis smiled excitedly back to her aunt and they high fived each other.

Ally was up next.

My guard was up this time.

She kicked the ball my way, and it curved a little to my right. I went straight for  the ball, catching it into my hands with ease.

"Better luck next time, Ally!" A victorious smirk grew on my face.

"Nice save, Henry!" Alexis applauded.

Ally didn't look to happy about it. She whirled quickly back to Alexis. "Hey, we're supposed to be a team. He's the bad guy."

"Sorry, Ally." Alexis continued to giggled.

We kicked goals for a few minutes before Eason's game finally started. With Alexis' every kicks, I went easy on her. But with Ally, she was going to have to tried harder to make me fall for her tricks.

"Thank you," Ally muttered under her lips as we carried our chairs to the spectator sideline.

"For what?" I asked.

"Alexis. For giving her confidence. She looks like a completely different person." Her response was sincere.

I understood she was touched. "I didn't give it to her. She always had it. She just needed to find it in herself."

The tournament took the whole morning and afternoon. Eason's team made it all the way to the championship game, but they lost by one point in the final shootout. It was bittersweet end to a good run.

After the disappointing lost, we dropped off the kids at their home then head back to Ally's place.

"Thank you again for today. I hope it wasn't too boring for you." She fiddled with her bracelet.

"No, not at all. I had a wonderful time. It was beyond my expectations. Eason and Alexis are very bright kids." I smiled genuinely.

"Aren't they? Well, I'm glad you had a wonderful time." She beamed back. "I should go now. Bye Henry."

She got out of the car and shut the door behind her, walking away slowly from the vehicle parked beside the curb.

I rolled down the window. "Ally."

She whirled around. "Yes?"

I thought about it for a second, and changed my mind.

I had to be patient.

"Good night," I told her with a late grin.

"Good night, Henry," she replied.

By her tone, I could sense the disappointment.

She wanted something more.

But she had to wait for my next move.

I waved goodbye to her before driving off. In the rear view mirror, I could see her staring after the car as I neared the corner.

...

I didn't bothered getting in contact with Ally for the next few days. I knew her limits, and I didn't want to push that boundary until the time was right.

The important thing was that she was already falling for the bait.

It wasn't until one late midnight Tuesday when the opportunity arrived.

I was in San Francisco to meet a few clients.

Grabbing my iPhone from the dresser, I walked out of the room into the balcony, staring below at the lighted streets of downtown SF.

My suite was at the very top of the skyscraper. That had been the same all my life—always being at the top.

The view of the city and the body of water reminded so much of the Windy City, a place I have yet to call my home.

I swiped my phone on, and pulled Ally's contact onto the screen. I pressed her number and held the phone to my right ear.

"Hello?" she answered on the line.

"Hi, Ally. How are you?"

"I'm good. You?"

"Likewise ... I've been thinking. I have this banquet tomorrow night. I would like you to be my date. But if you're not available, I understand."

She didn't answered right away. "Umm, no—"

"No?" Was she truly rejecting my offer?

"No! I mean, I'm not busy. I would love to."

"Excellent. Thank you."

"For what?"

"For being my date."

This invitation was going to be a big step for Ally—and for me—inducting her into my life.

The upper society.

The world of the elite.

I knew she wouldn't be prepared for the stares and gossip headed our way. That was the norm when someone outside of the circle was spotted with another person higher than their status.

But this event wasn't for that purpose.

As the only heir to my family's corporation—Cavill Group, people knew it was time for me to marry and settle down. Even Nana had been asking me about it lately.

I had too many requests from my parents' friends to have dinners with their daughters.

I understood what they all desire to achieve out of a marriage into my family—not me, but my money, my reputation, my name.

The woman beside me tomorrow night was going to end their hopes and chances.

She was like a pebble, one that I was going to turn into a diamond for an evening—a diamond that will glow bright above all others.

In a way, Ally was pretty useful to me

"Don't go shopping for any dresses," I instructed her.

"Why not?" she asked.

"Don't worry about it. I'll have my driver pick you up at four."

"Okay, I'll be waiting."

"Good night then." I smiled.

"Night."

At four thirty the next afternoon, my private jet touched down on the runway at O'hare airport.

A black SUV was already waiting by to take me to my condo downtown.

My suit was hanging in the walk-in closet when I entered the flat.

I got ready and arrived at the banquet hall an hour later.

Waiting in the grand lobby, the sounds of heels echoed ahead of me, coming closer my way. When I looked up from my phone, there was a woman walking toward me.

I had to blink again to see her clearer.

"You look beautiful." The words fell off my lips genuinely more than I wanted, but I recovered myself quickly.

"Likewise," she responded until she caught on to what she had said. She must have been nervous.

I held out my arm to her to take a hold of as any gentleman would. She slipped her arm into mine.

I leaned into her ear and whispered, "Are you nervous?"

She glanced at me, shaking her head.

I knew she was lying. "Good. Just remember. You're the one in control. Just smile widely and nod and you'll be fine."

Once we entered the room, everyone's attention shifted in our direction. This was one of my first appearance in a long time. Everything—the stares, the gossip behind our ears—were still the same.

With my right hand rested at Ally's lower back, I guided her to our table at the front, saying 'hello' to many people on our way there.

I introduced Ally as my friend, although the term didn't exactly define our relationship.

She was in fact, my enemy.

I reached out first to pull her chair back for her.

She smiled elegantly before sitting down. "Thank you."

"The pleasure is mine."

The evening dragged by as with these kinds of events.

But that wasn't the reason for my presence here.

The sole purpose was the woman next to me.

Ally remained quiet for most of dinner—it wasn't a surprise to me. I knew she felt out of place.

She grew up in a totally different world than the people in this room.

She looked down at her hand, looking bored. I slipped my hand into hers, grabbing onto it as I engaged in a conversation with another woman at our table.

When the banquet was over, we walked out of the ballroom.

"Ally, wait here for me. I have to bid farewell to an old friend. I promise I won't be long."

"Okay, take your time."

I went back inside the ballroom to find John Sinclair, an old family friend of my parents.

"There you are, Henry." John stood up to greet me as I approached the round table in the middle the room. "I thought you left already without saying goodbye."

"Good evening, Mr. Sinclair. How could I leave without talking with you?" I joked with him.

John laughed. "It's been like forever since the last time I saw you. How have you been doing, son? I hoped life's been treating you better."

I smiled. "I've been doing okay. It's been busy with work and traveling. I hope you are doing well yourself."

"Never better."

"Good to hear. Well, Victoria told me you been wanting to talk with me about some business matter."

John nodded. "Oh yes, I have been. It's regarding investments I wanted you to look at with me. Maybe we could talk it out over dinner sometimes?"

"Yes, of course. Your secretary can contact my secretary and we can set up a time in my schedule for it."

"Thank you."

"It's not a problem. Anyways, I have to run. My date is waiting for me. Good night, John."

"Until later, Henry."

When I came back out of the room, I saw Ally talking to a familiar face in the hallway. A person of my past. A person who had betrayed me. "Were you talking to Nick?"

Ally whipped around, caught surprised by my voice. "Yes, he came over and introduced himself."

"What did he say to you?" I didn't want to come off as cold but it expelled out involuntary. If he was saying something to Ally behind my back, I needed to know every detail of it.

"Nothing much, just asked me how I was and how I knew you," she replied. From her expression, I knew she learned more about me than what she needed to know. Nick was a small setback in my plan that could be rectified. "Are we leaving now?"

"Yes but no. The night's not over yet."

I grabbed her hand in mine and we walked into the back patio of the building, displaying a glistening Lake Michigan under the moonlight.

Pulling her along with me on the wooden deck that ran into the lake, only the sounds of our footsteps echoed in the quiet air.

I let go of her hand and walked ahead to the edge of the patio, thinking of what to say to her. I needed to fix what just happened before when I walked away, leaving her alone.

"Whatever anyone says about me," I began, "don't believe them. It might not be reliable information."

"Henry, why are you telling me this?"

"Because I don't want them to confuse you."

"Them? Henry, you're kind of scaring me." She stepped closer to me. "What is it?"

"I like you, Ally." Her eyes remained intent on me as she swallowed my confession. "I like you. Very much so."

I moved in to her territory, keeping my gaze locked on hers.

Inches from her face, I whispered, "Say something."

"I...I..."

What was she waiting for? I leaned in, my hands moving up to caress her cheek. I wanted to kiss her, show her I was for real.

That this was for real.

"No," she uttered.

Her answer caught me by surprise.

"I'm sorry." She took a step back from me.

"No, Ally, I'm sorry."

"No, don't be. I'm the one at fault. I'm just a little shocked. I think I should go home now."

Ally took a last look at me before turning around and walking away.

I watched as her figure grew smaller and smaller from my view until she disappeared out of sight.

From her words, she knew I was a man to fear. A man who could hurt her. A man who she should stay far away from.

But her brown eyes revealed something deeper within.

She wants me.

She feels for me.

Her heart says yes.

But her mind tells her no.

I reminded myself to be patient. Like a lion stalking its prey during a hunt, I had to wait for the right moment to pounce.

She was already in my den, walking on very dangerous grounds.

There were no escaping this trap.

The only way out ... was death.