Burning for you

“Fernandez, please, I beg, don’t do this to me” a woman’s whimpering voice resounded in the dimly lit alley, halting Lily, not just from her thoughts but her next step.

She was on her way home after a long day of attending to customers and endless spills of coffee on her blue shirt, but who would have guessed she would witness an intriguing moment in this alley where no one dared to stay longer than 10 minutes due to the crime rates here.

“I love you, please don’t do this to me” the woman pleaded again as tears streamed down her face without any care in the world.

“I beg your pardon?” Lily heard a cold, yet soothing voice which was laced with threats that sent chills down her spine even though the question wasn’t aimed at her. she hid behind a huge flowerpot so no one could see her and to get a better view of the whole situation.

“I’m in love with you” Lily heard the woman’s voice again, “I’m madly in love with you, I can’t get you out of my head no matter how hard I try!” the woman broke at the last word.

Lily tried to see their faces clearly but she couldn’t because the alley was dimly lit, so she could only listen carefully. While she was waiting for the next response, she unknowingly held her breath waiting to hear a response from either person. To her greatest displeasure, the silence was so loud.

“okay” was all that fell from his lips making Lily’s jaw drop in disbelief. ‘Who says okay to a love confession.’ That was cruel.

“Okay? What do you mean okay?” the woman asked like she was out of breath.

“what is it that you want, Lana”

“I want you Fernandez, I want you….”

“I’ve sent you three million dollars” he cut her off mid-sentence without any care traced in his voice. “you’ve become so comfortable that you forgot what was written in our contract”

‘A contract?’ Lily tried again to see their faces, although she saw their figures, she didn’t see their faces clearly. She saw the woman on the floor holding the hem of his perfectly tailored trousers as he lit up his cigarette

“Fernandez, I don’t want the money anymore, I want you…..Please” the woman said as she still held the tip of his trouser. Lily’s heart broke into two hearing the shattering voice. She couldn’t understand why she begged him so much for his love.

“we’re done” he said in a low, cold but smooth way. There was no warmth in his voice at all.

“please” the woman pleaded one last time as more tears dripped on her floral dress. The man signaled one of his men to take her way as he puffed at smoke from his lips.

When the woman left, it was just him and his men that were in the alley. The drama had stopped. She knew it was her cue to leave there without a trace. She quietly stood up, adjusted her shirt and hung her bag on her hand. Just one step and she hit a wall, or so she thought. She hit a bulky man, who wore all black, staring at her.

She swallowed, her breaths became shaky, her heart was pounding, and her face pale. She just got caught. Before she could process anything, the man lifted her up, without much difficulty on his shoulder. She tried to wiggle out of his grip but it was a futile effort.

The bulky man eventually stopped and dropped her in front him. Lily’s palm suddenly became sweaty, her face was still pale and her heart was still pounding.

‘you’re not in that situation anymore lily, calm down’ Lily said to herself as she tried to calm her nerves down.

As soon as their eyes met, Lily gaped. The man who held the cold yet soothing deep voice, looked so handsome, more than any celebrity or billionaire she’s ever seen. He was 6’4 tall, his brown hair fell loosely on his face. he had a jawline that was defined and masculine, he looked perfect for her.

Her heart skipped a beat, how can a human be so stunning? It made sense why that lady pleaded with him. but this man who stood in her front looked at her with indifference. His eyes weren’t hostile, but it made her really uncomfortable.

“who are you?” Lily was taken aback from the coldness in his voice. His eyes still glimmered with indifference. Suddenly the temperature became too cold for her to handle.

After swallowing her saliva, she finally found the courage to respond.

“Uhm...my...my name is Lily” she stuttered. The man’s eyes narrowed, he moved and walked around her, slowly and majestically, like the world was his. Every step he took oozed elegance wrapped with lethality. To her, every step felt like a bomb was about to explode, but she stood her ground, trying to hide the fear that creeped slowly in her heart.

The man stopped at her back, she couldn’t help but bite the insides of her cheek. She didn’t know what he was doing at her back. ‘is he going to kill me? I should’ve gone home instead of eavesdropping? What if I don’t get out of here alive?’ she thought to herself.

“did you listen to everything that was said here?” he asked, his voice still void of emotions. She could feel his gaze at the back of her neck.

“I’m really sorry, I was on my way home when I heard, I didn’t mean to” her muscles tensed as she quickly blurted out. he moved again and stopped at her front. The man suddenly raised his hand towards her neck. She flinched and swiftly closed her eyes, she thought the man was going to kill her by strangling her, but that didn’t happen. After seconds of waiting, she slowly opened one eye to see what was happening.

He didn’t say a word. He held her blue shirt at its collar, and blankly stared at it. this time it wasn’t indifference or coldness that was in his eyes, it was familiarity and calmness. She looked at her collar, where he held, and he started adjusting it for her. her heart didn’t beat anymore out of fear, no, her heart was beating because of another emotion, what emotion could that be?

“blue….” He muttered as he dropped his hand and then he looked at her with that same look of familiarity and calmness.

“you can go” he said as he turned to leave. His chauffeur hurriedly opened the car back door for him to enter his car. Lily should’ve gone the instant he said ‘you can go’ but she was still glued at that same spot he left her. she didn’t want to leave neither did she didn’t want him to go. She bit her inner cheeks till she felt the taste of copper on her tongue whilst clenching her fist tightly.

“Excuse me sir” her tender voice echoed in the alley. He was one step away from entering his car, when he looked over to her for her. he turned back and looked at her. his earlier cold expression returned to his face.

With all the boldness Lily could muster, she walked towards him, her heart still pounding. The adrenaline rush came in waves. Her fear had dispersed from her.

“sir” she began, “I saw what happened in the alley, and I heard everything. It’s obvious you’re not into love and I don’t know why, but I’m drawn to you. I want to know you….. if you let me” his brows furrowed and his eyes showed a glint of suspicion and then, interest.

He smirked.

Silence lingered between them for a while. He still stared at her with suspicion. He seemed really surprised by what she just said.

“why the sudden interest?” he asked, he voice cooler than ever but without hostility. His lips now slowly curved up in an amused smile.

“I don’t know…. attraction I guess” she said, her breath heavier than usual. His smile was still on his face as he slowly walked around her again and stopped at her back. Lily’s lips pressed her lips tight. What she got as a response was a low chuckle. His chuckle sounded like a melody to her ears, she wanted to turn back to face him. to see his face again but he stopped her.

“you should consider what you’re attracted to, brown” he said, still maintaining his smile as he adjusted her collar again, his fingers brushed her skin making her shiver a little bit.

“I should but…. I don’t back down easily” she said as she stood on her ground.

His hands paused at her collar, then he leaned closer to her ear, his breath brushing the skin of her ear.

“you really want to get burned?” he whispered, his minty breath and woody and citrus body scent filled her nostrils, clouding her senses.  Lily finally turned and looked at him, this time his hands were leisurely resting in his pockets, while he stared at her. Was it mockery? Curiosity? Or was it something darker? She couldn’t decipher which.

“I don’t think you know the severity of what you’re asking” he began, his smile slowly fading into his former emotionless expression. “my world isn’t filled with a bed of roses nor is it full of sunshine but one of risks, selfish desires, murderous intent, and betrayals lurking in the shadows waiting to attack its prey” goosebumps came on Lily’s skin and her heart started pounding as he spoke. The air suddenly became thick and suffocating.

“you have no idea about the beast that lives in this body” he said and started walking towards his car “you are only attracted to the façade, and that’s exactly how people get burned” he said and smiled, one that didn’t reach his eyes.

“Try me, I won’t get burned”

His laughter resounded again, she almost smiled due to the pleasant sound but she knew the severity of the situation.

“you are brave” he said “do you know who I am? what I do? Where I live? And where I come from?” he asked.

She shook her head in disapproval.

“and here you are, asking to know me……. what if I’m a serial killer? A psychopath? Or a shapeshifter? hmmm?” he asked

He moved closer to her, his hands on her collar again. “I’m going to tell you this” his scent filled her nostrils. “YOU. WILL. GET. BURNED” they finally locked eyes and his eyes held so much hostility it became crimson red. It was clearly a warning and she knew that this was real. She bit the insides of her cheek again till she could taste the metal like liquid on her tongue.  His intensity made her shiver. His warning was supposed to tick the alarm bells off in her head but instead of running she stayed. Although she had gone through a lot in the past, she had never been this brave to offer herself to danger. A thousand and one consequences flashed in her head, this terrified the hell out of her, but to compare her past with the present, she started feeling a sense of calmness. Why was she throwing herself out like this she didn’t know, it wasn’t like her to ask someone she just met out most especially when the said person rejected a love confession coldly and is warning her about the icks of knowing him.

as the silence lingered on, the man’s lips curled up in a triumphant smile and he tucked her hair gently behind her ear.

“I’m glad you understand” he finally turned to leave as though nothing happened.

“Then let me burn!” she said.