Bound To Him

A waiter came and served them tea and a variety of different desserts. Tristan had been to Green Paradise before, and he knew which desserts were very good. 

"Let me serve you some desserts, you should try the coconut tart, it's very good," Tristan said as he placed a tart on her plate.

And before she could say anything, "Mr. Ambrosio, Ava does not like coconut tarts," Alaric volunteered smugly. 

Tristan narrowed his eyes at him. He did not as that Alaric knew her better than he did, what other things did he know about Ava?

It bothered him that Alaric had known Ava for a longer period and that she spent most of her childhood with him. But he vowed that from now on, she would spend the rest of her life with him. And he would make sure to know everything about her. 

"Is it true? That you do not like coconut tarts?" Tristan raised one of his eyebrows at Ava.

"No, it's okay," she lied because she did not want Tristan to feel bad, she felt flattered that he wanted to serve her himself.

"Remember, whenever we went to family parties, you'd always give me the food you didn't like to eat? I remember the coconut tart was one of them," Alaric said, provoking Tristan. He liked seeing Tristan's angry face, it just proved he has the upper hand. 

Alaric wanted to show him that he knew Ava more and they were closer, but he did not want to be too hasty in making him angry, he still didn't know what their relationship was, they might just be friends.

Alaric was about to take the coconut tart from Ava's plate, "Don't bother, Tristan said it was good so I want to try it," Ava said as she pulled her plate away from Alaric.

"I like to try new things," Ava took a bite of the coconut tart, but then she frowned, she could not eat it, even to save face.

Tristan saw her expression and learned that it was true, she did not like it, "Enough! No need to trouble yourself. You don't have to eat it," Tristan said in an angry tone.

"Tristan…," Ava started, she wanted to assuage his anger, but Alaric took another plate and served her other desserts.

Tristan was trying to hold onto his control, he did not like being humiliated, so he held his fist under the table.

"I am not hungry anymore," Ava said, pushing away the plate Alaric placed in front of her. Tristan was obviously not happy, and she did not want him to think that eating the dessert served by Alaric meant she was choosing him.

Alaric was miffed, Ava never said no to him, everything she did was to please him, but it seems like her focus has changed. It seemed like she was siding with Tristan and did not want him to lose face in front of everyone. He could not accept this. 

Tristan felt a little better when he heard her response.

"So, Mr. Ambrosio, how did you and Ava meet?" Alaric asked. Ava introduced him as her childhood friend, but she never said who Tristan was. He was curious to know how Ava and Tristan, who belonged to two different worlds, met each other.

Ava is an introverted college student whereas, Tristan is an aristocratic businessman. What did they have in common? What drew them together? Where did they meet?

"Oh, we met at a wedding and have become good friends since then," Tristan said.

He wanted the whole world to know that Ava was his, but he did not want to disclose their relationship before Ava agreed to his proposal.

"Friends? Are you serious Mr. Ambrosio, that doesn't seem possible, she's still in college," Alaric mocked him.

"Well, why can't Ava and I be friends the same way you are friends with her?" Tristan asked, not liking Alaric's tone.

"We have known each since we were children," Alaric boasted. He was trying to tell Tristan that his friendship with Ava had roots and that it was on a deeper level. He knew that both of them were fighting for Ava's affection.

"Well, that's why I'm trying to catch up, but then again it's not always whom we've known the longest but whom we like better," Tristan said even though deep inside he was jealous of Ava and Alaric's friendship.

Ava felt like the atmosphere was heating up so she decided to interrupt, "I think it's time for me to go home," Ava said.

"Get me the bill," Alaric said to the waiter.

"Sir, the bill was already taken care of," the waiter said.

"What,? I did not pay for it, go check who did and let me know," Alaric was confused.

The waiter came back after a few minutes and said, "The bill was paid by Mr. Ambrosio."

"Mr. Ambrosio, I don't appreciate your grand gesture," Alaric did not like him paying the bill, it made him feel like he owed Tristan something. It made him feel like Tristan and Ava came for a date, and he crashed it.

"No, it's not a grand gesture. I'm a member of the Green Paradise club and whenever I come here, I get anything at the cafe, the restaurant, and the gift shops paid for already because of my membership.

No need to thank me," Tristan said arrogantly, not letting Alaric speak.

Ava headed towards Alaric's car since she came with him. But Tristan had other plans.

"Ava, I would like to take you home," Tristan said.

"Oh you don't need to Mr. Ambrosio, Ava came with me, I'll take her home," Alaric said.

"I have some unfinished business with Ava. It cannot wait. I will take her home," Tristan said.

"Why don't we just ask Ava," Alaric said as they both looked at her.

Alaric was confident that Ava would choose him. It didn't look like they didn't get along.

"Thank you for the wonderful day Alaric. I will see you soon," Ava said as she headed towards Tristan's car.

Alaric stood gazing behind Ava's retreating back, and when Tristan closed Ava's door he gave Alaric a smug look that said he had won this round.

Seeing them together did not sit well with Alaric, "Dammit! Dammit! Dammit!" he said as he hit his steering wheel.