Orange drink

CHAPTER NINE

DAHLIA

My gaze remained longingly at the Negroni the bar man took back as I sipped the orange drink begrudgingly.

"You look like someone who just lost a dear puppy." Giveon noted.

" You shouldn't have taken my drink away from me." I said, then the bar man came back. " Can I have my Negroni back?"

Suddenly I felt cold fingers move my face slowly, till I was staring at hard, menacing blue eyes.

"Don't test me." Giveon growled as he narrowed his eyes, then he leaned in, to my ear. "I could kiss you here in front of everyone. Make them all talk and carry the news, and give you the embarrassment you have been running away from. Is that what you want?"

I shook my head quite fast. "That wasn't my intention. I ju..just wanted my drink."

He carefully let go of me, his fingers brushing lightly against my cheek bones and sending tingly sensations skittering all over my body.

"Get her an Americano." Giveon said to the barman who nodded and walked off.

I frowned at Giveon. "You know .. last I checked, I was the one in control of my choices ...my life. How I no longer have that power befuddles me."

Giveon chuckled. " I am not controlling you Dahly. I am preventing you from getting drunk. It's obvious you need help right about now."

"Name's Dahlia."

" Dahly suits me better. Rhymes with baby"

I rolled my eyes and sighed. But if I was being honest, I felt my cheeks heat when those two words escaped his mouth.

My facial reaction was just to tone down on the crazy internal reaction I was having.

The last thing I wanted was to get wet for this guy inside a fucking bar.

Well for now, rolling eyes worked.

"I think I can manage myself."

"Naah. You lacked the discipline to avoid this place in the first place."

I swallowed more orange juice in that moment than I had since i accepted the glass of juice. "That's not true."

"Yeah?" He raised a brow, and leaned in again. " You bolted from my room, and the next place you thought to be in, was at a bar? Such tendencies are enough to get you disqualified from being my PR specialist."

" Then I am very glad I declined."

" You didn't decline. You just ran away because you were embarrassed. And if I am being honest I want to fuck you so badly, over and over till you feel less embarrassment and more gratification."

I gasped and stepped away from him" Giveon!"

His pretty face looked sinister as he emitted a dark chuckle. "What? Embarrassed again?"

"You--" I looked around the bar. Thankfully everyone was busy. "You can't be saying that at a bar. Get a grip on yourself."

The bar man came back with the drink, a strawberry striped straw sinking into the ruby red drink.

"I'll like another glass please." Giveon said to the bar man.

" Coming right away." He said and went off.

He came back shortly after with the drink.

Giveon took it and then said.

" I'll tell you what. Let's play a game. We're going to be doing a drinking competition. You can have as much Americano as you want. But it means you have to beat me. And if you end up doing so, I won't bug you anymore and you can work for whoever you want, but if you don't, you'll have to comply and come work for me."

I shook my head. " I don't think I like that idea. It's possible you are a good drinker."

" You'll be shocked to know I seldom drink. If anything, this will be my first doing this game."

I raised a brow. " You are kidding me."

"I am a hockey player for goodness sake. The captain for that matter. I have to stay fit. I could take a sip from time to time, but not always. Besides it's been a while. Guess I want to take another sip now."

" This is unbelievable."

He took my hand and led me to a small round oak table, with corresponding wooden chairs around it.

When we sat, he asked. "You'd be surprised you might win. Though I am determined to not let you."

I made to speak, then paused, then spoke." How drunk are we getting exactly?"

"We are not getting drunk. Just first to finish."

" Oh, I could definitely do that."

He nodded. " Hold your cup and lift it close to your mouth."

We both did then he said. " Ready?"

I nodded.

But before he could say anything more, the glass door to the pub opened and someone we didn't expect to see at all, walked in.