004

Rosalie POV

My ears rang for a minute with those words. 

I blinked once. Twice. No. No, no, no. This couldn't be happening.

Emily had to be joking. But the way she looked between us, completely oblivious, told me everything I needed to know.

This wasn't some sick prank. This breathtakingly handsome man...whom I'd spent the entire night with. The man whose kisses still lingered on my lips. The man whose voice had haunted every thought since I'd woken up...This Greek god was... her actual father? Emily's father? 

"Oh."

Emily frowned. "Rosa?"

I realized I'd said that out loud. My knees suddenly felt weak.

"Are... are you okay?" she asked, her concern replacing the irritation she'd worn moments ago.

"I..."

Nothing. Absolutely nothing came out. My tongue had apparently packed its bags and left my body.

Caleb—Mr. Kingston—cleared his throat. His face had returned to that unreadable expression I'd first seen downstairs. There were only three words I could use to explain it. Calm. Controlled. Cold.

If I hadn't spent the entire night with him, I would've believed he wasn't affected in the slightest But I had.

I'd seen the hunger in those midnight-blue eyes. He wasn't as composed as he wanted everyone to believe.

"Rosalie?" Emily stepped closer and placed a hand against my forehead.

"You've gone completely pale."

"I'm fine." My voice sounded far less convincing than I'd intended.

"I just..."

Think, Rosa.

Think!

"...didn't realize your dad was... home."

It was smooth. Like real smooth.

Emily sighed dramatically. "I know! I'm so sorry."

She shot Caleb a playful glare. "He never tells anyone when he's changing his schedule."

"I had a meeting in London that finished earlier than expected," Caleb replied evenly.

His voice brushed over my skin like a feather. I hated that I recognized it instantly. Hated it even more that my body remembered exactly what it had sounded like whispering against my ear only hours ago.

Stop.

Stop thinking about that.

Emily folded her arms. "You could've at least texted me."

"I did." 

The ripples ran through my body again. 

She pulled out her phone "Oh. She stared at the screen. "...You actually did."

Caleb merely lifted an eyebrow.

I almost laughed. Almost. If my life hadn't been actively falling apart. 

Emily turned back to me. "I'm really sorry, Rosa."

She linked our arms together. "If I'd known Dad was coming back last night, I would've sent you somewhere else."

Please stop talking. Please. Every apology only made me feel worse.

"It's okay," I managed. "I should probably head back anyway."

"What?" Emily looked disappointed. "So soon?"

"I've got a few things to sort out before classes."

Technically true. Mostly, I needed to throw myself into the Thames.

Anything sounded preferable to standing another second in the same room as Caleb Kingston.

Emily studied me for a moment before nodding "Fair enough." She smiled brightly. "At least have breakfast first." 

Before I could protest, she'd already disappeared toward the kitchen, leaving me. Alone. With him.

Silence immediately swallowed the room. The loudest sound was awkwardness. I could feel the tension rising up above the ceiling while I just stared aimlessly at the polished marble floor.

Anything but him.

"You woke up just in time." His deep voice shattered the silence.

Heat rushed to my cheeks. "I..." My mouth went dry. "I'm really glad I did. It's best this way."

"For whom?"

I looked up before I could stop myself.

Big mistake. Those impossible blue eyes were already on me. The gaze was steady, intense, and peering into my soul. 

"I don't know what happened last night," I blurted "The alcohol—the aphrodisiac."

I blinked.

"So you remember." A muscle ticked in his jaw.

"I remember everything."

Oh God. Someone should just bury me. Right now.

"I'm sorry." The words escaped before I could stop them.

His brows drew together. "For what?"

"I shouldn't have..." I couldn't finish.

His gaze lingered on me for one long second before he spoke. "You have nothing to apologize for."

My heart betrayed me with one hard thump. 

"It happened." His voice was calm. "It can't be changed."

No. It couldn't and somehow that made everything worse. Because how can I even forget all of these? Changed was an understatement. I could never forget. 

Emily returned carrying three mugs of coffee. "There you two are."

She laughed. "I was starting to think Dad had scared you away already."

If only you knew.

“Come on, guys,” she said as she dropped the tray on the dining table. 

I dragged my legs to the table and sat. Mr Kingston followed a heartbeat later. This was going to be the longest breakfast ever. 

Emily could care less as she ignorantly chatted about school. Her first start was about a lecturer who'd nearly bored everyone to sleep last week.

Then she moved on to an assignment she'd forgotten to submit. She laughed at her own jokes while I smiled whenever I remembered to.

Caleb spoke only when necessary. Yet every now and then...I'd catch him looking at me.

And every single time...My heart forgot how to function.

The moment breakfast ended, I stood. "I should really get going."

Emily hugged me. "Wait for me. I'm driving you, remember?” 

"You don't have to." 

"I know.” She grinned. "But you'd get lost if I let you."

She rushed in to grab whatever it was, and we were halfway to the front door when her father's voice stopped us.

"Emily."

She turned. "Yes?"

"I got that bag you wanted. It's upstairs. Consider that my apology."

Emily snapped her fingers, like she just remembered. "Oh!” 

“Thank you so much, Dad.” She blew him a kiss. I'll just collect them on Friday."

He frowned slightly. "Friday?"

She laughed. "Well... you'll already be at Westfield for the guest lecture anyway."

My feet stopped moving. Every muscle in my body locked shut. Slowly...very slowly...I turned around. "He's... coming to Westfield?"

Emily looked puzzled. "Yeah." She shrugged casually. "The Business Administration department invited Dad as a guest lecturer this Friday."

She beamed with pride. "They've been trying to convince him for months. I swear Rosa, I'm officially doomed.”

I wasn't listening anymore. My pulse thundered in my ears.

Friday.

Westfield.

Caleb Kingston.

Now, there was no escaping him. 

Emily slipped her hand through mine. "Come on." She tugged me gently toward the door. "We're going to be late."

I let her pull me outside. Unable to resist, I glanced back one last time. He was still standing exactly where we'd left him—by the dining table. 

He was watching me but his expression gave nothing away. Somehow, that was even more terrifying.

‘We'd never be in the same room again.’ I swore silently.