Nine

I pulled up short when I got out of the building. I rested my palms on my knees to catch my breath as my vision became clear. My hand went up my chest to steady my uneven breathing, the man beside Sheldon and Mr. Arnold had been smoking a tobacco as fat as two of my fingers fused together, and I was very sensitive to smell.

I stood, straightening my back and hoping my actions spiked Arnold's doubt for Sheldon. My plan was to get Lola's dad to not sign Sheldon's contract, but I disgraced myself instead. He was going to pay for calling me puppy love.

"Vanessa." A familiar voice seethed, tugging onto the strings of my attention.

"What was that stunt you pulled in there?" Sheldon walked to me and pulled up short when he was a few inches away from my body.

"What stunt?" I asked, playing dumb.

Sheldon knitted his eyebrows into a frown and glared at me. "What. Was. The. Meaning. Of. What. You. Did?"

"I'm sorry, I thought you weren't aware of who I am, so why are you speaking to me?" I fired, clenching my jaw and not feeling the least intimidated by his icy stare.

"Don't fucking play games with me," he said through gritted teeth and veins could be seen mapping his forehead. "What the hell was that?"

"You played games with me and now that it's my turn you're barking like a dog?" I cocked up my eyebrows and a low chuckle rumbled from the back of my throat. "The fucking irony."

"You do not want to get entangled in my web because-"

"Because what, you fucking cheat?" I snarled, shoving his chest with my palms but he didn't move. He was a lot stronger than I was. "What?"

"Do not mess with me," he gripped my wrist when I tried to shove him for the second time and my heart skipped a beat when he gnashed his teeth. "Even if I still want to pipe into that cunt of yours, I wouldn't hesitate to-"

"Get your hands off her." Cole ordered from behind us and Sheldon glanced over his shoulder, letting go of my hand.

Cole made it to me and gently took my hand in his, inspecting my wrist for wounds. "Are you hurt?"

I shook my head, trying to steady my heart beat. Was Sheldon going to threaten me?

He gave me a look of scrutiny and I nodded, clearing my throat and saying, "Yes, I just couldn't breathe with all the tobacco."

Cole spun and I willed my legs to stand beside him so I could see the shameless face of Sheldon.

Sheldon's mouth was slightly open as he looked from Cole and I. He shut his mouth and adjusted his tie with dead eyes.

"I was just making sure she was alright, she had ran out of the building almost in tears," Sheldon explained and Cole spared me a glance of scrutiny.

"You should focus on Lola and not my girl." Cole retorted, sounding displeased.

"If she's your girl then why did she kiss me in there?" Sheldon folded his arms against his chest and I darted out my tongue to wet my bottom lip.

Cole directed his gaze to my face and for a minute, I thought I saw a foreign emotion in his eyes.

"Baby, I've been searching for you..." Lola drawled, walking out of the building and getting wrapped in Sheldon's arms.

I felt irritated at the sight and I couldn't hide it. My nose wrinkled and my lips fell into a flat line. I disliked the both of them with every drop of my blood.

"What are you doing here?" She asked, shuffling her gaze between three of us.

"Just saying hi to the CEO, I didn't know a man with such power can be puppy love." He chuckled and she joined him.

"I still don't believe he's the CEO." Lola stood with her hands akimbo.

"You should dread men with power, you don't want to mess with them," Cole said, resting his hand on the small of my back. He looked down at me and pulled me to his side, saying, "Shall we?"

I nodded and we walked away from the duo.

"Want to check that place out now?" Lola's voice could be heard from a distance.

"Vanessa," Cole called softly and my waist tingled at the way his palm rested on it. "Are you okay?"

The cool breeze fanned at my face, causing a feeling of relief to wash over me.

"Yes, I just couldn't breathe with all the tobacco," I responded.

He opened the door to his Mercedes and I strode in, fastening my seat belt while he got into the driver's seat and turned the ignition.

"Did you kiss Sheldon?" The engine roared to life and stared at my fingers which were resting on my thighs.

"Yes, I wanted to ruin his relationship with Lola's dad." I looked out of the window as he reversed back and we hit the road.

"Why?" Cole asked, fastening his seat belt and controlling the steering wheel.

"He told me he was with Lola because he wanted her father to sign a contract and I wanted revenge, I still do." I stated, feeling bile rise up my throat.

"How about we talk about it over fine Italian dishes?" Cole inquired and I agreed.

When we got to the restaurant, we were told the last reservation had been made for the night.

"But we can cancel it if you insist," The man with an ample stomach said.

"No, whoever they are should enjoy the night." Cole waved dismissively at the man.

Just when we were about to leave, Lola and Sheldon waltzed into the room.

"Wait, are they ones that made the last reservation?" Cole inquired.

"Yes, sire." The Italian man responded.

"What table is it?" Cole asked.

"Table fifteen."

"Cancel it and have them thrown out of this place," Cole instructed and his voice was edged with anger.

***

I stabbed my chicken parmesan with a fork and stuck it into my mouth as I watched Cole twist his fork in a plate of spaghetti carbonara.

Cole picked up his glass of whine and a foxy smile danced on the corners of his lips as he said, "To revenge."

I picked mine up, saying, "To revenge."

We clanged our glasses together and took a sip.

When the security had thrown Sheldon and Lola out of the restaurant, I had derived joy in watching their angry faces.

But I wondered how Cole had that much power, who was he?