Katerina The delivery is also quite quick. Everything arrives just a few days later, surprising me pleasantly, especially as my mood has been declining ever since that day at the pool. A few days in which I keep my promise and refrain from wandering off and being on my best behaviour. Well, almost, but that’s not the point. I’ve barely seen Alejandro and the few time that I did, it happened accidentally and the moment he realised I was in his space, every time, every damn time, he grunted a half-ass excuse and left the room, not even making eye-contact. Way to pass a message I guess.Well, I think, as I fluff my new cushions over the dark sofa, message well received. It’s not like I am angry about it or anything, nothing really happened, someone might even say it could’ve all been a misunderstanding above all. Plus, I am not someone to get salty about being rejected, so I naturally get pissed at myself for being in a mood. And I am in a mood. Even Eva noted it and trie
Katerina I am shaking. I don’t know what got into me earlier or why I acted the way I did at the pool, but the moment I saw Alejandro staring at me with that fire in his eyes, the charcoals hidden in his soul turning into molten lava and I was lost. Enthralled in a dream I could not escape. He was so close to me, not moving, not saying a word, just waiting for me… God, my hands are shaking. My entire being is shaking and damn him but even without touching him, or letting him touch me, not really, I feel on fire and there is wetness between my legs that’s got nothing to do with my earlier swimming. I should be embarrassed about the way I handled the entire situation from the start, but I sure as hell am not. “Now, aren’t you looking splendid,” Juan’s voice coming behind me startles me and I jump, scared, heat I hate with the bottom of my heart creeping up my face. “Kate? Are you ok?”His dark eyes narrow at me, and there’s concern there whi
“Well, good,” Katerina says with a smile. “Did you deal with our problem?”“It’s being handled.”“So, you are taking the day off too?”“I don’t take days off…”“Yet, I don’t see you working at the moment, señor,” she winks at me. She fucking winks and, god, I am so screwed. My eyes linger on her face, drinking in the way she lits up from within, how that smile of hers only spreads, my heart beating like crazy in my chest.And because I finally realise what I am doing, just sitting here with her on a random weekday, completely confused for no goddamn reason, I try and lift all the guards I have available. I am a damn fool. I should not be here, I should go back to the darkness of my own room and sleep it all off because what the fuck am I even doing? This woman is not for me, she’s my enemy and just because she’s beautiful and smart, and damn fearless, it doesn’t mean anything has changed between us.“I just wanted to inform you that the guard will be arriving some time next week. Unti
By the time we are back at the mansion, I already have a plan in my head, one I am sure Katerina won’t like, but at this point I don’t give a shit. It’s time for me to get my head out of my ass and be as effective as my father taught me.The second she’s out of my sight, I head toward Pedro’s study, looking for the phone number of the private investigator who helped us some time ago when Sandoval had decided to try something like this again a few years ago. Fernando Martin picks up on the second ring, a greeting for my late father on his lips which quickly turns into condolences I don’t need anymore. I brief him about the problem and hand and ask him to send some private protection detail, because I can’t see how Katerina is going to fight with her noble causes with doom hanging above her head. I might be getting overprotective and really paranoid, but I can’t risk it. The entire time as I make the needed arrangements, I don’t even stop to think that I am working against myself now. I
Katerina“So you didn’t notice the guy following us ever since we arrived?”“W-what?” I startle, loosing my gate, but Alejandro only holds me tighter, dragging me along.“Pretend you don’t know,” he says under his breath. “Nothing’s changed. You were going to meet your friend, right?”He’s correct, of course he is. And my ego might be bruised, but I do know when to admit defeat and regroup. I gather my composure quickly but I am ashamed of myself because I do so only because he’s here with me to keep me safe like I am some kind of a damsel in distress, or even more pathetic for the fact that I rely on someone who hates me to do so.We get to the church rather quickly and with no incidents, Alejandro closing the door behind us firmly as Manuel rushes to greet us. He looks different, I realise, taking him in with his dark priest clothes. There’s a sense of purpose around him, one that makes him look more mature, more confident. He’s still the same confused kid I met a few days ago, but
KaterinaI blink like a fool at him. “I am sorry, what?”“This place belongs to a friend of Sandoval. And bastards like me are not well received here.”“Because you are a… bastard?” I repeat like a fool, because what the hell is this supposed to mean? Who even cares about things like that?He doesn’t say anything else to explain as a waitress comes to take our orders. I order for him too because it’s obvious he’s not going to do it on his own, and soon we are left alone with a pitcher of cold water and two pristine glasses.I toss the menu to the side and lean into my chair, my eyes glued to the man in front of me. I take in his unruly dark hair, which is long enough that wary strands fall into his eyes, and his white shirt, barely buttoned at his chest, the contrast with his dark tanned skin too damn good to miss. white suits him, it makes his eyes even more glimmering, two charcoals on fire I just can’t ignore no matter what. They spark draws me and I am like a damn moth to a flame