Vlora's face turned red. Andreas' sharp words brought an indescribable sense of shame. She wanted to curse and swear, but how could she inadvertently mention Andreas' name? To make matters worse, was she swayed by that kiss?
A crooked grin still lingered on Andreas' handsome face. His eyes sparkled with an intensified charm. It seemed he took pride in the fog he successfully created in Vlora's eyes.
Andreas shifted his focus. Now it was directed at Vlora's glossy and slightly swollen lips.
There was no need to ask. Surely, that was the result of his actions.
A sense of joy spread through Andreas' mind, contrasting with what Vlora was feeling.
Ding!
Vlora and Andreas both looked towards the source of the sound. Specifically, the slowly opening elevator doors. One signal elicited two different responses from the pair of human beings.
Vlora took a deep breath, while Andreas smirked.
Unfortunately, the smirk did not last long. A moment later, Vlora pushed Andreas and quickly ran out.
Andreas stood there momentarily stunned. His thumb gently pressed against his lower lip.
A trace of red clung there. Andreas stared at the mark with meaning, and a decision was made. He ran and caught up with Vlora, who was heading towards the designated parking area.
With a short distance separating them, Andreas saw Vlora hastily approaching her black car. She took out the car keys from her bag, and Andreas only needed five large steps to reach her.
Andreas took action. His hand moved. He held the door just as its owner intended to open it.
Vlora flinched. She turned with surprise and shock upon seeing Andreas.
“Calm down. I won't kiss you again,” Andreas quickly said before Vlora could retort. “At least not for now and not in a place like this.”
Should Vlora be thankful for Andreas' honesty? Oh, it seemed not. Andreas' honesty was not in the right place. His honesty had proven to embarrass and anger her at the same time.
Vlora clenched the car door handle. She tried to contain her emotions, which became increasingly difficult to control.
“I chased after you just to tell you something. I never play around with what I say. That includes what I'm going to do.”
Vlora lost control. A scornful snort escaped uncontrollably. Andreas raised one eyebrow teasingly in response to the condescending remark.
“You? Serious?”
A wrinkle appeared on Andreas' forehead. He clearly noticed the different tone in Vlora's voice.
“Perhaps you could say the same thing to all the women who have been your lovers. If, of course, you were serious.”
Ah! Andreas was not offended at all. On the contrary, he was thinking of something else. Something that compelled him to silence Vlora with two questions.
“Tell me, Vlo. Do you know about my life all this time? Have you been finding out about me?”
Vlora fell silent. She took a deep breath, and the oxygen cleared her momentarily disarrayed mind. A smile spread across her face, and she spoke.
“I don't think that's unusual. Who doesn't know you? Especially because you often spend time with my boss. Didn't you mention several names of women who have been your lovers?”
Perhaps oxygen was not enough to unravel Vlora. It was evident. She could regain control. Unfortunately, it did not come with the decorum she should have maintained.
Strangely, Andreas felt pleased without that decorum. It felt more familiar, did not it?
Andreas grinned. “Ah! So, you overheard our conversation?”
“Just because I happened to be delivering coffee.”
“Okay, okay,” Andreas chuckled briefly. He would not ignite Vlora for something insignificant. “It's up to how you perceive it, but apparently, you were quite curious about my life. That's somewhat flattering.”
“You—”
Andreas cut off Vlora's words at the right moment. “Listen to me first. I won't be hypocritical or lie to you. As you said, yes, I have had a string of lovers.”
Vlora's face hardened. It was a signal for Andreas not to waste a single second.
“However, you need to know something. I never told them I would marry them.”
Vlora's eyes rolled lazily. She abandoned the desire to open the door now. Both hands rose in front of her chest, and she crossed them.
“So now you're trying to convince me that you're not at fault here?”
“I never thought having lovers was a mistake,” Andreas replied casually. His facial expression seemed innocent, as if he had no faults. “Listen, Vlo. It's one of my ways to enjoy life. So, where's the problem? I never forced anyone. Just like you, they knew about my life with other women. So, am I wrong?”
Lovers. Enjoying life. Not forcing anyone. Vlora could only let out a long breath.
“You…”
Vlora forced herself to smile. She also provided the conclusion Andreas wanted.
“...clearly aren't wrong.”
Andreas smirked. “I'm glad we agree.”
“Unfortunately, you're clearly wrong about something else.”
Andreas' eye movement conveyed the unspoken words. He was curious and awaited the continuation of Vlora's statement.
“You're wrong to assume that I want to be your next lover.”
Andreas's smirk slowly disappeared. That confident demeanor was replaced by a meaningful smile.
“Sorry, but I never intended to fulfill the checklist made by a man's ego. I'm too valuable to be part of your collection.”
Andreas stared at Vlora without blinking. He stood straight, unaffected.
“Besides, I hope you remember this,” Vlora continued, reaching for the car door handle again. “I never eat my own words. So, feel free to be disappointed.”
Andreas grabbed Vlora's hand. Ignoring Vlora's surprise, he leaned closer to her. Positioning himself close to Vlora's ear, he whispered softly.
“I'm not asking you to be my lover, but to be my wife. Those are clearly two different things, and I hope you understand the difference. For that reason, I also hope you remember this. I don't want to see you eating your own words.”
Andreas looked at Vlora. He could see every bit of tension in her face.
“I want to see you eat mine.”
*
Andreas opened the door to an apartment unit he had occupied for almost six months. It was a luxurious dwelling, but sadly, it was not one of his many personal assets.It belonged to Lucas, his friend who gladly provided a place for him to hide from his own family's eyes.Andreas walked in with a casual stride. He took off his jacket and tossed it carelessly onto a passing sofa.A minimalist bar filled with various bottles of alcoholic beverages was Andreas' destination. He chose a bottle of brandy to accompany him through the night.Crystal glasses were available, with three ice cubes inside. The brandy joined them, and Andreas took a seat on a round chair.For a moment, Andreas swirled the glass. He let the coldness blend with the distinct taste of brandy. Only then did he take a sip, savoring the richness of the sensation.Not just a gulp, but a brief taste. It was like a first greeting for his tongue. Then Andreas truly took a deep sip.A throaty sigh reverberated through Andreas'
The air caught in Vlora's chest. It seemed that welcoming Lucas was the first trial she encountered that morning.The elevator doors opened. Vlora put on a polite demeanor and prepared herself. Lucas stepped out, and the presence of someone accompanying him wiped the smile off Vlora's face instantly.Vlora quickly regained her composure. She took Lucas' briefcase and greeted them, “Good morning, sir.”Lucas replied with a short nod. He walked next to Andreas, indirectly giving Vlora a moment to catch her breath before they continued.It really was not a pleasant start to the morning for Vlora. How could fate test her patience so early?Because it was Andreas. His attitude and actions, whether intended or not, were sure to wear down her patience. Vlora was sure of it.Vlora opened the door and invited her in. While she went to Lucas' desk to put the briefcase away, her boss and Andreas decided to take a seat on the sofa.“Do you mind if I ask your secretary to make us some coffee?”And
Vlora resumed her work after serving coffee to Lucas and Andreas. She was immersed in a sea of data and words, completely focused. So serious that she almost did not notice Andreas leaving Lucas' office and approaching her desk.Andreas pulled out a chair and sat down. He observed how serious Vlora was, taking him a couple of seconds to realize that a pair of eyes were staring at him.“Sir,” Vlora said.A ticklish feeling fluttered in Andreas' stomach as he caught the surprise in Vlora's eyes. It brought a certain sensation that was enticing to him.“It seems my hunch was right,” Andreas said, exhaling. He nodded with a teasing expression. “You only call my name when I kiss you, don't you?”Vlora froze. Her beautiful face turned red. Reluctantly, she tried to suppress the flicker in her chest that threatened to explode in the near future.“I apologize, Sir. I just thought it was inappropriate for us to discuss such matters here. As you can see, we're in the office.”Andreas fixed his
The evening had approached when Vlora unconsciously looked at the back of her hand that received a kiss from Andreas earlier that morning. She was momentarily stunned, her face hardened and heated. Then she took a tissue and wiped it off.Useless, indeed. There were no traces left by Andreas. But Vlora felt the need to do it anyway.Lucas's office door opened, and Vlora immediately stood up from her seat.“I'm going home. Tomorrow, let's meet directly at Granduta.”Vlora nodded once. “Alright, Sir.”Without saying anything else, Lucas left. He walked leisurely, taking out his phone from his pants pocket. Just before he entered the elevator, his voice echoed faintly.“Ve, I just got out.”After the elevator door closed, Vlora sat back down. She finished some work, occasionally glancing at the clock on the computer monitor. It was clear, without needing to ask, that she was waiting for Andreas, with a thought crossing her mind.Maybe this is truly the best decision.The descending eleva
It was not a fancy restaurant that Andreas had in mind. Vlora's assumptions were slightly off when Andreas actually took her to a renowned mall.Located on Oregon 99, Prime Avenue Mall was their destination. It was a solid and classy building known for its variety of original imported brands.“Did you know that dinner is usually at seven?” Andreas asked casually as he unbuckled his seat belt. “Right now, it's only half past six.”Vlora unbuckled her belt as well. “So?”“So, I've booked two tickets. First, we'll watch the movie and then we'll eat,” Andreas continued, giving her a teasing look. “What do you think? A good idea, isn't it?”Watching wasn't a good idea. They would be sitting side by side in dim light for quite some time. During that time, Andreas might test Vlora's patience to the limit.Oh, Lord. It would be very exhausting.Unfortunately, there was nothing Vlora could do about it. The tickets were already booked and they had arrived.So, Vlora did not say anything. Instea
"So, everything's taken care of, right?"Dinner was just finished. Andreas had just closed his fork and knife next to his plate. However, it seemed that Vlora's statement did not refer to the end of the meal.Andreas lifted his face when Vlora cleared her throat with a few sips of water. Then he took a tissue to wipe away the faint moisture that remained on her red lips."Our date is over, and I can already tell that we shouldn't get married," Vlora continued without hesitation. She looked at Andreas with a calm gaze. "I decline your proposal of marriage. We're not compatible."Andreas took a deep breath and finished his drink. Then he looked at Vlora."It's not time to draw conclusions yet, Vlora, my dear."The term of endearment made Vlora fall silent. Maybe she was feeling insecure or preparing herself for the possible consequences. It could be both.After putting his empty plate aside, Andreas settled into a more comfortable position. A mischievous smile appeared on his face, alon
For a category of men like Andreas—for Vlora, he was a man who tended to be rough and mischievous—the choice of Westlife as their companion on the ride home was quite surprising for Vlora. It contradicted Andreas' outward appearance.Andreas glanced over, his often-teasing gaze sharp enough to catch even the slightest difference in Vlora's expression.“Why?” Andreas opened the conversation. “Don't you like the song? If not, you can change it. What song would you like to hear? Taylor Swift?”Vlora shook her head. “I like Taylor Swift's songs, but it doesn't mean I dislike Westlife. I was just surprised by the fact that you're playing Westlife.”Andreas burst into laughter. He genuinely laughed heartily at Vlora's honesty.“So, you thought I'd play what, Metallica?”Vlora did not answer. Of course, she had not guessed Metallica. But at least not Westlife.“Actually, I wanted to play Metallica, but I was afraid our dinner would come back up through our mouths.”Forty minutes passed. Andr
Vlora had just come out of the bathroom. She had shampooed and cleaned herself with warm water. The tiredness and aches that had plagued her in various places vanished.A satin nightgown wrapped around Vlora's body a moment later. She sat at the dressing table and dried her hair. Her gaze fixed on her reflection in the mirror.Vlora fell into contemplation. She pondered every word that Andreas had said. And then something crossed her mind. It sounded like Andreas' voice, but perhaps it was her own inner voice.Opportunities never come twice.Vlora let out a long breath. The hairdryer landed on the dressing table, and she switched to combing her hair. She tidied her wavy locks for a moment before preparing to sleep.In another part of the apartment, a man hummed cheerfully as he entered. He casually took off his jacket and threw it in any direction. His destination, of course, was the bar.Crystal glasses emerged. Several ice cubes filled them, followed by alcohol.Andreas sipped his d