Chapter 6-Oil And Water

Rosette’s Point of View~~

The soft hum of the elevator filled the silence, but inside me, there was nothing soft about this moment.

I had just told him it wasn’t nice seeing him—good thing he wasn’t dead—and turned my back on him. I meant it.

I could feel his gaze like a physical weight on me, and it made my chest tighten.

Why now?

In my past life, after he left the country right after college, he never came back. Never reached out, not even to Blake, his then best friend.

He might as well have been erased from existence.

I had completely forgotten about him—until this timeline decided to throw him in my face.

Was it because I had changed things? Altered fate with my choices? Did shifting one event drag him back into my world?

I shook my head. It didn’t matter.

I bet we wouldn’t meet after this. He’d disappear again.

My mind flashed back to college. To the kind of toxic game we used to play, where the only rule was that there were no rules.

~~~~~~

Flashback to College days.

“Move, Llewellyn.” I warned, but he completely ignored me like he didn't hear me. He blocked the library aisle with that broad frame of his.

“You really should say ‘please,’ Rose,” he said lazily, leaning one shoulder against the shelf. His stupidly perfect hair fell into his eyes.

I gritted my teeth. “What do you mean ‘please’? You’re in the fucking way.”

“You’re the one in my business,” he replied smoothly. “But here you are, acting like you aren't stealing my thesis reference.”

I held up the book. “This is public property, not yours.”

Cesare’s gaze swept over me, irritatingly amused. “You’re really going to risk flunking just to spite me, aren’t you?”

“Maybe I just want to see you fail for once.”

“Sweetheart, the only way I’d ever fail is if you distracted me. Which…” His eyes flicked to my lips, “…you’re very good at.”

My cheeks heated, but I didn’t back down. “In your dreams.”

I shoved past him but suddenly felt a grip on my shirt then I heard the unmistakable sound of it tearing.

I gasped and looked back to see my bra straps exposed. People glanced and whispered while some idiots brought their phones out.

I darted my eyes between my exposed back and the asshole smirking at me.

Then he raised his hands in defence, “Don’t give me that look. It's not my fault you buy cheap clothes.”

I hate him. I hate Cesare Llewellyn so much that I wish he'd just drop dead.

“Besides, you should have just dropped the book. You're too stubborn for a poor person.”

My jaw tightened. I shoved the book into his chest hard enough to make him stumble. “Choke on it.”

He caught it easily, laughing under his breath. “Don’t tempt me, Rose. I might just choke on you instead.”

“Go to hell.”

He winked. “I live there.”

I stomped out with every eye I walked past, turning to look at me again and either staring or laughing at me.

~~~~~~

The memory faded, and I exhaled sharply, snapping back to the present.

That was us—every day, every damn time we crossed paths. He’d provoke; I’d bite back. And then he’d push further. He knew exactly which buttons to press until I snapped.

We were oil and water. Never mixing.

I hated that I remembered any of those stupid stunts he pulled on me and how bad he always got me.

Now, just standing next to me, Cesare Llewellyn made my skin itch.

I wanted to leave right now. Maybe even throw him a very clear fuck you sign as I walked off.

But I stayed composed, nails digging into my palm.

“You’re no longer a kid,” I reminded myself silently. “Have it together, Rosette.”

I stared straight ahead, refusing to give him the satisfaction of my attention—until I felt him move.

The air shifted and I felt a faint warmth at my side. He came closer and closer.

I turned to find that infuriating smirk on his face, the same one from college.

Which meant he was about to do something stupid.

Instinctively, I stepped back—only to feel the cold elevator wall press against my spine.

Damn it.

“Llewellyn, if you fucking try anything stupid, I swear I’ll have an assassin creep up on you at night and bring me your head.”

His chuckle was deep, rich, and maddeningly amused.

“What the hell is funny?” I snapped.

His eyes glinted. “Now that’s the Rose I remember.”

I growled under my breath and shoved him back, but to my shock, he didn’t budge. Not even a step.

He was stronger than I remembered.

And I—well, I wasn’t who I used to be either. I’d buried that reckless side of me under layers of composure and control forged from betrayal and pain.

But here he was, peeling it back effortlessly.

“Move,” I hissed.

“No,” he said simply, amusement dancing in his eyes.

“You’re testing me.”

“I always have.”

His gaze dropped down my body, lingering just a second too long on my breasts. Then I realised that from his view, he could literally see it all.

My jaw tightened. This asshole.

Without thinking, my knee shot up, connecting with his groin.

He doubled over, wincing as a strangled sound left his throat.

“Should’ve done that the moment you had me cornered,” I said flatly.

But to my disbelief, even through the pain, he laughed.

“Still violent as ever,” he muttered, straightening slowly. “Oh, don’t tell me you think I find you attractive? You? Rose Jenner?”

“It’s Rosette, you idiot,” I snapped, “and I’d rather be liked by the devil himself than you.”

He tilted his head, that devilish smirk returning. “But I am the devil. What a way of flirting, Rose. But no, I’m not interested.”

My fist curled. He was doing it again. Poking at my buttons and he was doing just fine because my temper was rising.

“Interested or not, I swear I’ll—”

“Do what? Hit me again? I appreciate your sudden interest in my dick but I think I'd rather have those red lips of yours on it.”

That was it.

I raised my fist, ready to punch that smug face of his.

And then—

Ping!

The elevator doors slid open.

I froze mid-swing, my fist still hovering in the air.

Standing outside were two men in suits and a woman with her hair pulled back.

One of the men I instantly recognized—the London-based billionaire I was supposed to meet here.

“Ms. Jenner?” he said, brows lifting as his eyes darted between me and Cesare.

I lowered my fist immediately, straightening my dress and forcing a calm smile.

“Mr. Blakewood,” I said smoothly, as if nothing had just happened.

But the look on their faces told me they had definitely seen something.

Inside, I winced. Damn it, Cesare.