Her mystery man

Ava's POV

Immediately the opportunity presented itself, Amira dragged me into the kitchen where she quickly dismissed the maids.

“What do you think you are doing, Ava? Why are you with my boyfriend?” She queried with an angry tone.

“Your ex boyfriend,” I quickly corrected. “And I am here with him because we… we are dating,” I said in the most convincing voice I could muster.

Amira laughed bitterly. “Yeah, you wish! I always knew you had your eyes on him like a wolf stalking its prey. I barely left him for a few months and you throw yourself all over him, trying to take advantage of his vulnerable state.” She said spitefully.

I held myself together, trying not to get mad. Imagine her audacity, she left him for his cousin who won a lottery, and yet she has the guts to be possessive of him.

“What do you care if I take advantage of him?” I asked boldly with a smirk. “You are the one who broke up with him.”

I was a lot of things but quiet and meek was not one of them, I could hold my own against a bully.

“Ughh!! You bitch!” Amira growled, clenching her fist. “Listen, I don't know what game you are playing, but you better stay away from Liam. There is no way he would like a boring girl like you, he is just confused right now, when he is done with you, he will toss you back where you belong.” She spat and then stormed out of the kitchen.

My face fell. I couldn't deny that her words hurt me. Maybe she was right; Liam would never love me. We have known each other for almost ten years, and yet he remains blind to my feelings for him.

With my head down, I headed out of the kitchen, but just as I tried to walk out of the entranceway, I bumped into a hard wall and staggered back.

Looking up, I realized it was not a wall…

The first thing my eyes met was his piercing stare, he had intimidating gray eyes with a little scar above his left brow, his stern demeanor helped frame his square face, a chiselled jawline with a slight stubble.

He was towering over six feet with broad shoulders. Wearing a black long sleeve open collar shirt, a tattoo peeked out from under his neck and I imagined it ran down his body.

There was a pipe stuck between his lips and the scent of the smoke was heavenly, like cedar and cloves.

He took the pipe out of his mouth and just then I noticed about three heavy gold rings on his right fingers.

Whoever this man was, he had a mysterious aura around him; he was giving off Mafia Boss, and standing in his presence left my heart racing.

“Who are you?” He finally spoke, his husky voice vibrating through my core.

“I… I… I…”

Okay, I think I forgot to breathe for too long and now my voice was lost.

“Ava… Ava Taylor,” I finally blurted out. “I am Liam's girlfriend,” I was able to get that out right.

His face changed when I said that, almost as if he was surprised, then he frowned again.

“Well, Miss Taylor… watch where you are going,” he said in a cold voice with a low groan before walking past me into the kitchen.

OMG! How rude.

I quickly looked back to catch a view of his backside in that Jean pants, I also noticed the cowboy hat and boot on him.

Who the hell was this man? I was eager to know.

However I didn't wait for him to turn around and meet me there again, I quickly left the kitchen, my heart racing at the encounter.

Later that day, Liam's sister showed me around the house. I barely had time to explore the entire estate, but I saw a woodland behind the mansion and an exotic natural pool in the forest.

My exploration was cut short when Liam invited me to go out for the evening with him. I was excited that he was asking me out, even if it was just to put on an act for his family.

“Where are we going?”

“It is Friday night, North Crowley high school is playing against Westlake High school.” He replied, sounding very hyped.

“Oh, football?” I asked, my excitement dimming as I had expected something more romantic.

“Yes, My former high school North Crowley are current champions, I am thrilled to watch them play again.” He announced.

I nodded, pretending to share his emotions. Liam was a footballer, so I understand why this is a big deal to him and I didn't want to disappoint him.

He drove me to the stadium in his dodge Challenger and I hoped we could at least spend quality time in the car but he was on his phone the whole fifteen minutes drive, totally forgetting that I was there.

Sometimes I wonder if he even truly saw me as a best friend, because why does he never have time for me when I am so obsessed with him?

Arriving at the stadium, I was wowed by how massive it was.

“Wow, that's a lot of crowd for a high school game and this stadium is crazy!” I yelled through the piping noise.

“Ah!” Liam chuckled. “You know what they say, everything is bigger in Texas!”

We found ourselves good seats and Liam handed me a can of soda. “In case you get thirsty.”

I found myself smiling at such a little gesture. I guess what they say is true: when you love someone, everything they do becomes a big deal to you.

The match soon started and the crowd went crazy. American football always confused me but I could tell that North Crowley was giving the opposition a 21:7 lead.

As the stadium buzzed with excitement, I looked to the left and my eyes met someone familiar… 

I had to check again to be sure. It was him! The guy from the kitchen earlier today.

Now in a red striped flannel shirt, he was sitting on the second row below us to the left, his eyes stuck on the field, yet there was no smile on his face.

Perhaps he was supporting the losing team, but either way he intrigued me.

I quickly called Liam's attention. “Hey, who is that man?” I tried to keep my voice low, yet loud enough for Liam to hear me.

“I know right? They are good!” Liam replied loudly.

Huh? He clearly didn't hear me.

“No, I mean that man, I saw him at your house!” I yelled closer to his ears this time.

“Yes, the ones in black are my team!” He yelled back.

“Ugh!” I groaned and gave up. I have no idea where he was hearing whatever he was replying to.

For the rest of the game, I was distracted by the mysterious man, glancing towards him more times than I could count. If the stadium wasn't so full, he might have noticed I was staring at him for half of the game. I don't know why but his aura was just so magnetic.

By the time the game ended, I looked in his direction but he was gone.

“That was a beautiful game!” Liam cheered as he took my hand.

“Yeah, beautiful game,” I muttered.

That was two hours of my life I was never getting back. If I had at least come out with my camera, I would have captured some beautiful moments.

We returned back to the West Mansion and Liam took me to his room. I didn't know how to feel about spending the night on the same bed as him.

I mean, I had always fantasized sex between us, imagining his hands running wild on my body, but now the possibility of it happening terrified me.

I asked why we had to stay in the same room and he said to sell the act. He didn't want Amira to guess that we were not really together. He admitted the effect seeing us together had on her and I didn't know how to feel about that.

He was excited that we made his ex jealous, I know that was the whole plan but why does he care how she feels? Why can he not just forget about her?

Liam took a shower and came out in sweatpants and no shirt. I swallowed hard, staring at the water trail down his abs.

“Okay, your turn,” he said, tossing a towel at me.

I looked around and there was no hidden corner in the room where I could change. I was wearing a jumpsuit outfit, so I wouldn't be able to change without getting exposed.

“Um, could you please go outside for a few minutes so that I can change?” I asked nervously, biting my lips.

“What?” Liam laughed, sitting on the bed. “Why? I am not going to look, and even if I saw you naked, you could never turn me on.” He chuckled.

My face turned sour immediately and I picked offense. Did he mean I was not attractive enough to turn him on?

“Yeah, whatever. You can sleep alone then, I will sleep in your sister's room.” I huffed and picked up my night gown.

“Wait, what did I do?” He asked as I turned to the door.

“Ava!” He called but I didn't spare him a glance, I stormed out of his bedroom angrily.

I was soliloquizing through the hallway.

“The fuck he means that I cannot turn him on? Selfish arrogant jerk!” I cursed.

Of all the people to fall in love with, I chose Liam West, so maybe I deserved it.

I was still muttering to myself when I bumped into a hard surface. I looked up and my jaw dropped.

Oh fuck! Not again!

“I am so sorry, I didn't see you coming.” I apologized.

He stood there in the dim light of the hallway, his eyes moved away from my face and rested on my braless breasts inside the jumpsuit.

As a 32ddd, I was used to men getting distracted by my boobs. A slender frame and large breasts was always an attraction to the eyes.

And yet that dumb crush of mine says I cannot turn him on.

“Are you always this clumsy Miss Taylor or do you enjoy running into me?” He asked coldly.

I wanted to retort by asking if he was always this grumpy or had a problem with me, but I knew it was unwise to pick a fight with a strange man in a lonely hallway at night.

“I am sorry, I was just… finding my way to the room,” I lied.

“Well, your boyfriend's room is the other way, Miss,” he said in a whisper, pointing to the direction I had come from, then he walked away.

I watched him disappear down the hallway. For real, who the hell is this guy?

I made my way to Maria's room, she was very welcoming and I was glad for the company. But shortly after I showered, Maria fell asleep.

I lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling while thinking about my mystery man. His unique brooding expression stuck in my head, those burning eyes.

Fuck!

**