Controlled By The Billionaire

After running into Mel before her show, literally, Tristan had already made a choice. He stood in stunned silence for the rest of her performance, keeping his features neutral. The last note sounded and the lights rose. His eyes went to Mel’s face and he watched a single tear fall down and splash against her guitar. Her expressive face gave it all away. Her uncertainty, her anguish and above all her love for him. Tristan’s chest clenched with what he had to do. It was only right.

Mel set her guitar down, turning her back to the crowd for a moment and pretending to fiddle with it in the new case. Tristan knew she was collecting herself. When she turned back the emotion from earlier had vanished. Spending time with him had helped her learn how to control her expressions better he figured. Tristan wasn’t so sure that was a good thing. His eyes followed her as she stepped from the stage and headed towards the bar where her friend Blake stood. The women embraced and Tristan hung back for a moment longer before making his way through the crowd to where she stood. When he reached her, Mel’s eyes widened with uncertainty.

“We need to talk for a moment.” Tristan leaned forward and whispered in her ear.

Mel nodded. She turned to Blake, whispering something he couldn’t hear. The other woman nodded and turned to leave, but not before shooting Tristan an evil look.

“What was that about?” He asked, inclining his head towards Blake’s retreating back.

“Sister thing,” Mel answered.

Tristan’s eyebrows rose with surprise. “I didn’t realize you two were sisters.”

Mel nodded but didn’t say anything else. She was shutting herself away from him, like he did to her those weeks they were together. Tristan wondered if Mel thought she had an idea about what he may say. She would be wrong though.

*****

Mel waited as patiently as she could for Tristan to reject her again. She could see that he was as closed off and cold as ever, his eyes never giving away what he was thinking. That was a bad sign. Sighing, Mel resisted the urge to explain more about the relationship between her and Blake. What did it matter now that he was going to turn her away for good?

“Tristan, can we do this later? There are people here waiting to speak to me.” Mel was tired of his games and just wanted to get away from him before she broke down in tears.

She started to walk away, not even giving him a chance to answer. He was so used to having the control, having the upper hand when it came to her and Mel was tired of it.

“Wait,” His voice was strained as he reached out and grabbed her bicep. “Is there some place we can talk in private?”

Mel shook her head. “I don’t want to do this here…”

Tristan cut off her words by hauling her against his body and capturing her mouth with a kiss. Caught completely off guard, Mel tried to push him away at first before sinking against his chest. After a moment he released her, her head spinning.

“What the hell!” Mel yelled, backing away from him.

Tristan grabbed her by the bicep again, pulling her behind him to the area by the restrooms. Mel suddenly had a flashback to their first time together and her body began to heat.

Dammit! How did he always do this to her?

“Mel, just listen to me…”

“No, Tristan you listen to me. You can’t keep doing this to me. I need all or nothing. Didn’t you get it? Didn’t you listen to what I was singing about?” Mel snapped at him, her hands perched on her hips.

“I don’t think you get it, Mel. I heard your song. I heard you. That’s what I came to tell you. I get it now. I didn’t want to feel anything, not for a long time. But you made me feel. You pushed past my walls and got into my heart. I fought it for so long. I’m done fighting. I want to be with you, for real. If you’ll have me.”

Mel’s hand went to her mouth and she gasped. Was he serious? For the first time Tristan’s emotions were showing on his face and he wasn’t trying to hide them from her.

“How do I know…” Mel began.

“I love you, Mel.” Mel’s eyes began to water with unshed tears. Tristan continued. “I haven’t said those words to anyone in over fifteen years. The last people I said those words to abandoned me like an unwanted puppy. I was dead inside until I met you and I don’t want to ever feel that way again.”

Mel smiled, tears streaming down her face. She leapt at Tristan, throwing her arms around his neck. “I love you too, Tristan.” For the first time in over ten years Mel felt like she wasn’t alone.

*****

“Here it comes!” Mel yelled, flopping on the bed.

She had moved into Tristan’s house, fitting right into the large mansion and making it feel like home. Tristan ran out of the bathroom, toothbrush in his mouth.

“Now? It wasn’t supposed to start for another twenty minutes.”

Mel shrugged as Tristan disappeared into the bathroom again, reappearing without the toothbrush. He sat on the couch next to her, pulling her into his side. They were waiting to watch Mel’s interview on a poplar network prime time show. After her interview they were going to premiere her latest video for her first single. Snuggled against Tristan and watching herself talk about her life and her music made Mel feel like she was in an alternate universe.

For a long time she was so alone, just going through the motions to get through the day. The day she met Tristan was the day she began to really live, and despite all the bad they went through to get where they were, Mel knew that it all happened to bring her to this very point.

“I love you, Tristan.” Mel said.

“I love you too, Mel.” Tristan answered.

The end.