Chapter 8: The Tattoo.

ELENA.

Chapter 7: The tattoo.

The hospital doors slid shut behind me.

I walked inside with my wet scrubs clinging on my skin with Brandon’s jacket on my shoulders.

Everyone stared at me.

I forced a smile on my face as I walked quickly toward the lobby.

“Elena?” Violet’s voice cut through the lobby noise.

She hurried toward me.

Her eyes scanning my wet scrubs and the black suit jacket on my shoulder.

“What happened?” she asked, stopping right in front of me.

I sat on the iron bench, pulling Brandon’s jacket off my shoulder.

“Why are you all wet? Whose suit is that?” she stared at me in confusion. “Dr. Rex has been looking for you, he’s been screaming like a loud monkey the whole morning. Elena what happened?”

I stared at her for a few seconds. “I don’t know how to say this, violet. It’s a long story.”

“Well good thing we are alone. Now tell me, who is the asshole that did this to you?” violet asked, narrowing her eyes.

“It’s Rita” I mutter.

“What? That bitch is beginning to get on my nerve. Why didn’t you tell me? I could have smashed her face on her car tires.”

“And Bandon-”

“Brandon what?” violet cuts in.

“He saved me in front of Rita” I say, trying to process the whole scene. “He gave me his jacket.”

Violet narrowed her eyes. “Why would he do that? Rita is going to suspect something. She’s not stupid.”

She was right.

I couldn’t let Rita find out about that night.

But I couldn’t figure out why Brandon defended me instead of her.

“There’s something wrong between them” I say quietly.

“What do you mean?”

“I really don’t know, violet. I need to return his jacket. And I need answers about those pictures.”

Violet eyes widened. “You think he took those photos? You think he sent them?”

“That’s the confusing part. We still don’t know who sent them.”

“I don’t think Mr. Brandon did it” She replies. “He wouldn’t want to ruin his reputation. And he definitely wouldn’t want Rita to find out he was having a one night stand with a girl.”

“That’s why I need to find out.” I mutter.

Violet wavered for a moment, then sighed. “Elena, you’ve to stay away from him. Mr. Brandon is a powerful man. He can destroy anyone easily without even trying.”

I stood up from the iron bench and started pacing, Brandon’s jacket clutched tight in my hands.

Something about him didn’t feel right.

Violet watched me closely as I reached into my bag and pulled out his card.

“I thought you trashed that card out?”

“No. not yet” I said, staring down at the card.

I quickly pulled my phone out of my bag.

“Elena, what are you doing?”

“Sending a message” I said with my fingers already typing.

“That’s insane,” violet’s voice was sharp. “You’re just going to make things worse. You can’t just text him like that. “

It was already too late.

I already typed the message.

‘Can we meet tonight?’

I pressed send and waited.

My heart thudded painfully.

“What if he doesn’t reply? You would seem desperate” violet said.

“I’m desperate. This whole thing is fucking with my mind and-” then finally a message popped on my screen.

[Mr. Brandon Donovan: meet me at the gym by 7pm]

“He replied,” I whispered. “This is my chance to ask him about the pictures.”

“I don’t like this idea, Elena. He said it himself right?” She sighs. “Nothing happened between you two.”

“I know, but Rita wouldn’t think of it that way.”

“Elena.” Violet mutters. “Be careful. Brandon is dangerous.”

Violet has always cared for me. I didn’t want her to get involved in this mess. “Don’t worry, violet. I’ll be careful.”

*****

A few hours after my shift, I hurried out of the hospital and grabbed a cab.

It was past 7pm when I arrived at the gym. It looked locked, dark and empty.

I looked around and checked my phone for the tenth time.

Five minutes passed and my impatience began to boil up.

Where was he? Why isn’t he here?

I couldn’t wait any longer, maybe this was his plan to humiliate me.

Just when I was about to leave, I bumped into a tall figure.

I glared up and I froze.

It was him.

Brandon.

His grey eyes swept over me, slow, possessive, like he had been memorizing every second I wasted here while waiting for him.

Like he had been watching me.

“I didn’t think you had the guts to show up,” he murmured, his voice was low. Dangerous.

It slid down my spine and made my knees weak.

“You’re late.” I said with my breathe shaking.

His gaze darkened.

“Late?” he stepped closer. Close enough to the point that I couldn’t breathe.

“I was never late, El. You were just early.”

Early?

Fuck yes, I was early,

That meant he’d been watching me. Every second. Every breathe I wasted waiting for him.

He made me look stupid and he had the nerve to call me ‘El’ like we were close enough. Like he had the right to call me silly nicknames.

But for some reasons.

My mouth couldn’t move.

My knees wouldn’t stop shaking.

Because his grey eyes were still on me. Dragging my skin like he already owned it. Like I was trespassing into his territory.

But I guess it’s my fault. I wanted us to meet, so I have to endure his shitty attitude.

Then finally I find my voice.

“We need to talk.”

His gaze doesn’t change, like nothing I say can shake him.

He turns his head slightly. “Follow me, El.”

This wasn’t a request. It was an order.

I hesitate for a second. Because I know I shouldn’t follow him, but then I look at him again. He’s too controlled and too composed. Too…attractive for any woman to ignore.

I force myself to look down.

No Elena this is your step sister’s fiancé. Just go straight to the point and get it over with.

I straightened my legs and follow him.

I watch as he opens the gym doors smoothly, and walks inside like he owned the whole building.

“I thought this place was locked.” I murmur, stepping inside.

“It is.” He replies without looking at me,

Of course he always had to be ironic. Why would anything about him be normal?

The gym is empty and quiet. The lights reflect off the polish floors and high-end equipment. The interior designs are stunning like this place was more than just a gym, it felt like something more private and exclusive. More like him.

I look around slightly before setting my gaze on him.

“You’re making it obvious to Rita that something happened between us.” I say quickly.

He leans against the cable crossover machine, his arms crossed his eyebrow raised slowly. That one single movement alone makes my chest tightened.

“That’s not what I meant...” I correct myself immediately. “I meant the night at the hotel.”

“Hotel?” he repeats.

I hate how he feels like this is some kind of a joke.

I exhale sharply, frustration bubbling in my chest.

“You didn’t have to save me in front of Rita. She’s going to suspect and I don’t want to hurt her.”

“Too late. El.” His head tilt slowly, studying me with those dead killer grey eyes.

Suddenly I recall that night, how I begged him to touch me and how he left me in the hotel with a lot of unanswered questions. Till now I don’t know why I can’t resist him. He pulls me closer without even laying a finger on my skin.

I take a breath. “You’ve to stop.” There’s no reaction from him, he doesn’t answer. “I’d never fall for my step sister’s fiancé.” I murmur slightly.

There’s a silence and then he steps closer, like I had said something to draw his attention, like he knew that I wasn’t sure of what I was saying.

His steps are slow and calculated. My heart starts pounding again.

Each step closing the space between us until I couldn’t breathe.

I try to move my legs but I’m too terrified to step back.

A low groan and smirk appears on his lips. “Then why are you looking at me like you already have? “

Fuck. He is trying to get into my head but I won’t give him the pleasure of doing so.

“I’m not.” I say sharply.

I could hear the uncertainty in my voice, because he was too close, his presence was too intense and the worst part-

He knows.

He knows what I am feeling.

My gaze flicks to his lips without permission,

Then his grey eyes. His jaw.

The tattoos above his neck.

Everything about him pulls me closer and I hate that I feel it.

“You’re shaking.” He says suddenly.

I look down slowly, my hands are trembling and I quickly clench them into a tight fist. “I’m not.” I repeat my words again.

I don’t like how he makes me feel like I’m losing control of myself.

I step back quickly, trying to stable my feet.

His expression doesn’t change.

Then his gaze fall on the black suit jacket draped over my arm.

He stares at it for a moment before he glares at me.

“I…I came to return this.” I walk forward a little and hold it out too him.

He doesn’t react,

He doesn’t rush.

He simply takes it from like it meant nothing.

My eyes drift up closely to his neck.

His tattoos are much clearer now. Stronger and more defined.

Something about those tattoos feel more different. I stare at the closely. They looked like symbols, like it had a dangerous meaning.

He observes my eyes and how I stared at his tattoos then-

His expression changes. Suddenly colder and more intimidating.

He became a different person within seconds.

“You should leave.” His voice is flat.

I blink. “What?”

“Go home. Now.”

My jaw tightens.

Why did he shut down the second I saw his tattoo? My heart begins to pound against my ribs.

Suddenly I didn’t feel safe anymore.