Italian Ego (Under Editing)

Chapter 1

"So let me get this straight. You got an internship at the biggest hotel in town? That's not good news, it's incredible! It's not big, it's huge!" Sandy said as she jumped up and down.

Xavier nodded his head in agreement. "We have to go out to celebrate, y'all. It’s a must."

Seychelles grinned and shook her head. "That's all you two ever think of! No wonder I got myself a job while y'all are just sitting home all day on your lazy asses. And just so we're clear, tonight you're treating me."

They laughed good-humouredly. Seychelles Welts had a pretty good life. The average family; her parents had been blessed with three children, twin boys and a girl. As the last born she had to put up with a lot of bullying from a young age. Her brothers, Damien and Derrick were, for lack of a better term; pigs. It didn't help her situation seeing as they were both jocks in high school and six feet two inches tall by the time they were eighteen. She had no qualms with her height. She was five feet five inches, and she was perfectly fine with it. Although it was the perfect ammo her brothers needed to make her life a living hell.

Fortunately, they had matured by the time they had graduated college. Both realising how awkward and immature it would look for two twenty-two year olds to constantly prank an eighteen year old freshman. They still had their moments, but she was okay with it. After all, no one wanted a boring sibling.

Her parents were typical middle-aged folk. Her mother, Rabbeca was Jamaican while her father was of Irish decent. Needless to say interracial marriages were frowned upon during their time, but they managed to take it all in stride. Plus people find it hard to frown upon an oil plant founder. That's right, she was rich. Well technically her parents were. Filthy rich. They were also the most down-to-earth people she knew. Usually rich meant stuck-up, snobby and in-your-face. But they weren't like that.

They both agreed when her brothers had been born to give them the lives of any normal kids and not of one of Seattle’s most successful oil barons. They all went to public school and had the fairy-tale childhood that you read of in books.

And then there were her best friends. Sandy Adams and Xavier Beaumont. The best friends any girl could ask for. She knew everyone said that, but it was true. They were seriously full of shit, but she loved them anyway. She and Sandy had been BFFs since elementary school, inseparable to this day. They met Xavier in their freshman year during French class. They both sucked at it and were completely outraged when their bitch of a teacher gave them a class exercise. They had to do it in pairs, but since Xavier was new he had no partner. Imagine their stroke of luck! A heaven sent French dude to help them in their time of need. From then on it had been smooth sailing for the trio.

They went on together to Seattle U where she majored in marketing communications. Xavier and Sandy both majored in engineering. Now that they'd all graduated they were rooming together in a nice three-bedroom apartment, much to her father's disappointment. He'd get over it, he always did.

***

"One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, four...!"

Those were the words that greeted Elle as she walked into the bar. She hated this part of time, but she always risked coming here. Well not anymore. She spotted him in a group of people around the dance floor. They looked like they were having a good time. A tall long-legged blonde was grinding against him. Normally she wouldn't have a problem with it; it was just dancing, but there was also a heavy amount of petting and lip locking going on. Her eyes hardened. If she had any reserves about her choice they were all gone now.

She was dumping this loser. At the moment she really couldn't remember what she'd seen in him in the first place. He was one of those guys who loved to use people, and even though she'd been warned, by Sandy and Xavier of course, she ignored it. It was the first and last time that she'd ever ignore their advice.

Elle strode forward slowly and wrenched his face from the kiss he was engrossed in.

"Hey Carlos!" she said with a bright smile. "Remember me? Your girlfriend?"

He looked confused for a second, then embarrassed and finally guilt flashed in his eyes. He pushed off the blonde from his arm and faced Elle. He smiled brightly as if everything was normal. The gull!

He leaned forward to place a kiss on her cheek, but she side-stepped. "Come sit down with me at the bar, Carlos. We need to talk. I have good news."

They walked over to the bar and sat down next to each other.

"What's the good news, babe?" he asked as he ordered them their usuals.

She eyed her drink, but didn't pick it up. "I'm leaving you."

After a moment of silence he burst out in laughter and wiped an imaginary tear from his eye. "That's a good one, but really, what's the good news?"

Seychelles stood up to her full height, which wasn't much, and glared at him. "I'm serious. I'm leaving you. We're done. Over. Kaput. Finished."

She turned to walk away when he grabbed her wrist in a vice-like grip. "Where the hell is this coming from? What did I even do wrong?"

"You know what? The fact that you actually asked me that question proves how selfish you really are. You don't think of anyone but yourself."

"Elle, I-"

"Are you going to deny kissing that girl? I saw you. Actually, I'm the one that pulled you away from it, and you want to act like nothing's up? I'm not going to stick around waiting for you to get your shit straight because that obviously isn't going to happen."

She turned around to walk out. This time he didn't even try to stop her