Chapter 9: It's my first night out, sister.

Kara's POV

“Seems like your date is here, so what do you say?”

“Kara, what're you guys talking about? Why're you here?” Serena asked with a low tone not wanting to cause a scene,confusion and anger battling on her face while trying to force a smile.

I was about to speak but Pierce beat me to it.

“Miss Serena, I believe you're well mannered enough to not interrupt when you see two people discussing. Especially when you're late.”

He adjusted his tie and looked up to meet her dumbfounded gaze.

“I apologize for being late but Pierce, I'm your date!” She said, her tone rising a tad bit too high.

“Manners, Miss Serena. We're in a public place, you have no right whatsoever to raise your voice at me and I expect you to respect yourself.” The iciness in his face and tone had returned now although he maintained his calm look.

I just sat quietly, watching both of them.

“Kara! I'm reporting you to mom right now!” She struggled with her purse trying to fish out her phone.

“Miss Kara, do you mind us continuing our conversation somewhere a bit more…private? I'm occupying a suite in this hotel. If you don't mind.”

He dipped his hand into his inner pocket and brought out a key card which he slid towards me.

Not like I had any intentions of going to a room with him but the reasonable part of me enjoyed Serena's anger and decided to add fuel to the flames.

I flashed a gentle sweet smile at him.

“Sure. Let's go.”

“No no. What'd you mean by that? It's just going to be the both of you?? alone in the suite?? Two full grown adults of opposite genders? What're you guys going to do alone? it's an hour to midnight!”

“C'mon sister, you should be happy for me. shouldn't you be telling me to have fun? Afterall, it my first time staying out at night. who knows what'll happen” I smirked.

She kept pouring questions like different reporters interviewing a celebrity at once.

I flashed her a knowing smile while actively ignoring the questions, letting her think whatever she wanted to.

Pierce walked over to my side of the table and offered me his hand.

I took it and linked our arms as we walked out, neither of us paying attention to Serena.

“Mom, why's Kara with Pierce? What's going on? How'd she_”

Her voice became more faint as we walked farther although I can tell she's in the brink of tears if she's not crying yet.

By the time we got to the suite’s door, I was already thinking about making up some kind of excuse.

I've never actually been alone with a guy. Every time I met up with Aiden, Serena was always there. Somehow, she always tagged along.

I don't even know how to act or what to say if we're left alone.

“Having second thoughts already? Not feeling so confident anymore huh?”

He looked down to meet my eyes, my guess is he's easily a 6 '2 and the intensity swarming in those beautiful green eyes of his, was drowning.

I swallowed hard and put on a defiance look.

“What makes you think I'm having second thoughts? Last I recall, you're the one who looked uninterested in my offer a few minutes ago.”

He smiled, the left corner of his lip titling upward.

“May I ask what you find so amusing, Mr Pierce? You've been giving me this amused look since I brought up my offer.”

“It's not like I find your offer funny, I just find you intriguing. Now you can either turn back or open the door, the ball is in your court and I'm just a bystander watching darlin.”

I took one look at his drop dead gorgeous face, bit my lower lip and opened the door.

A subtle earthy fragrance hit me almost immediately, the suite was…different and definitely not what I'd been expecting.

It looked like an office, a tidy one. Piles of papers arranged neatly with pens and a laptop on both sides of the table.

A wine cellar at the far end of the “office” and then a mini staircase leading to the room,I suppose. The suite had blue curtains with red ribbons

He kept his eyes on me, a small smile playing on his face as I took in and appreciated the decor with my eyes.

When I was finally done, I turned to him.

“So why're we here?” I asked nervously.

“Did I tell you you lovely you look in this dress?” He said without actually answering my question.

The intensity in his eyes was back with something else I couldn't decipher. I looked away from him, refusing to get lost in his eyes again.

He smiled and walked towards the caller, pulled out two glasses, a bottle of red wine and filled the glasses to half.

He walked over to where I stood and handed me a glass without taking his eyes off mine and I refused to look away this time, matching his gaze and almost everything in his eyes.

I took the glass and downed everything at once without breaking eye contact. He wants a staring contest? He's gonna get one.

He took slow deliberate steps toward me and I instinctively stepped back because I was expecting him to suddenly start walking towards me plus his intentions for bringing me here are still not clear.

After a few steps there was nowhere left for me to run. He put both hands on each side successfully trapping me between himself and the wall behind me.

I took one big gulp.

“W–what are you doing?” I stuttered, looking at him wearily instinctively trying to cover my chest.

“I've decided to take your offer, princess. Let's get married.” He said with a smirk, bringing his face closer to mine leaving just an inch between our faces.

My eyes darted between his thin lips and deep eyes. I could feel the heat from his minty breath, he smelled like sandalwood and a mixture of smoke and after rain.

Our eyes met and my breath hitched in my throat, I couldn't form words no matter how I tried.

His eyes lingered on my lips before traveling back up to my face.