11

CLEOPATRA

"Cleopatra!??” She kissed her teeth and charged towards me. Valentine pulled me to his side and stood between us.

His deadly glare marched hers.

"She could be better than you,” He retorted and mumbled something in Italian.

He extended his hand to me. I took his hands and casted one long look at Adelina who was dying in rage.

He took my bag and began to leave the room. Warmth coursed through the point where our hands met.

I admired his short jet black hair as they bobbed against his shoulders with each step he took away from the room and Adelina.

We walked together to the car lounge. He opened the back seat and threw my bag in.

“Get in," He barked an order and opened the driver's seat.

I froze at a spot. My chest racing. My eyebrows rose.

He looked at me, "What are you waiting for? Get in,” He barked again, annoyance perking up in his voice.

I avoided his gaze and hugged myself. He opened the car and strode to me.

He grabbed my shoulders and shook me, “You have to get in."

I looked up to him, my brows snapping in askance. My lips pursed, “Where are you taking me?"

He exhaled and tapped my shoulders, “Somewhere safe."

His gaze burned with pure sincerity.

“Please, You have to believe me," he asked.

“Fine," I hit his hands off, opened the passenger's door and sat down.

He pinched his temples and looked around subtly before walking back into the car. He started the engine and drove out of the mansion.

VALENTINE

I muster every ounce of self control to stop my eyes from staring at her. I tightened my grip around the steering wheels.

Adrenaline shot up in me as I recalled Rosetti’s conversation with Adelina. I can't believe he had to make Adelina to eliminate Cleopatra even after I had provided evidence of her innocence.

"Where are you taking me?” I recognized the note of fear in her quivering voice. I felt her gaze on me.

“Somewhere safe."

Her nose flared up, “Not that again. I need to get a name at least.”

"Stop bickering, Cleo..” I said through my teeth and swerved sharply around a bend.

She jerked from her seat, bumped her forehead on the car. She let out a painful groan and rubbed her forehead where a bump was slowly rising.

"A simple warning would have stopped that, you know?” Her tone was biting and hostile as she rolled her eyes.

My lips cracked in a sneer. I took a peek at her annoyed face. She looks cute… like always.

"What? Why are you smiling?”

"Put on your seat belt,” I simply ordered and broke my gaze.

I pressed down on the accelerator, kicking the car forward down the road. She held onto the car like her life depended on it. Her eyes widened in fear as her throat bobbed.

I got to the gigantic gates. The gates opened up and I rolled in. I heard her release an exhale.

"Wow!!!” She exclaimed, her eyes glittered in awe.

"What is this place?” Her face lit up like she had never seen such a mansion before.

I walked out of the car and held the car's door open for her. I stretched my hands to her. She placed her small, soft hands in mine. My heart flustered.

"Come on,” I slammed the door shut and led her into the mansion.

The emerald and pink mansion was my personal penthouse where I come to lay my head just to avoid Rosetti and the family's affairs.

"Is this heaven?” She mumbled, her eyes roamed about the axis of the wide penthouse.

My lips curled in a smirk.

I looked up her history. Her parents were wealthy people. She wasn't new to luxury so why is she acting like all these are new?

I studied her, fantasy reeled in her eyes. Crazy, wild thoughts roamed freely in my head space. She leaned into my body.

WHOOF!! WHOOF!!

She jumped with a loud scream. I held her tightly. Her chest rose and fell heavily, her eyes skipped terrifyingly.

“You are funny Cleopatra. It was only a puppy," I tapped her forehead. I moved away from her and scuttled low.

Willowy ran out from underneath the table when I clicked my tongue. He jumped into my arms and wagged his tail.

“Oh!" She muttered.

I looked at her over my shoulders. She looked flabbergasted. A red warmth was heating up on her cheek.

“Come on," I walked further into the massive living area.

She strutted behind me. She sat on the couch. I let willowy down and he skipped away.

“Were you scared?" I asked and leaned on the wall.

Her round eyes looked up to me filled with embarrassment. She played with her fingers and looked away.

"Is this your house?”

"Yes..” I replied and pushed myself off the wall.

"I'll be right back,” I turned into the kitchen.

I rolled my sleeves and washed my hands. I took out the chop board and knife. Once my finger tips wrapped around the knife, thoughts of my Mom flew in.

Mom was a great chef. We always hung out in the kitchen whenever father was occupied with the family's business. I learnt lots of things from her.

An acrid copper taste hit my tongue. My fingers were curling tightly around the knife's handle.

After my mother's death, I tried all I could to stay away from the kitchen. It always brings her back to my thoughts.

"Valentine…” I heard my name. Her voice was gentle and easily carried by the wind. It stirred my chest and made butterflies flutter at the pit of my stomach.

She moved around and stood next to me. I inhaled softly and the warm scent of her body wash flitted into my nostrils.

She smiled, it crossed into her eyes, “Let me."

She wrapped her hands around mine. Her touch was soft. It made all the hair on my body stand on its ends.

I obliged.

She took control of the knife and began to chop slowly.

“Why did you bring me here?" She asked.

My gaze drifted from her hands to her face. She was focused on the chop board but I could feel the tumour in her eyes.

"To save you…"

She stopped chopping.

“Why?" She raised her face.

Her eyes welled up. They were glossy.

My face creased up in anger.

“You asked for it, Cleopatra."

A lone tear slipped from her eyes.

“I asked for it??" Her voice quivered.

“I don't want it anymore. I don't want your protection anymore," She sniffled, her eyes bored into mine.

Her words, like the sharp edges of the knife sliced every bit of my heart. My blood boiled. Not in rage or fury but worry.

“I can't let you go,” My eyes wandered to the gleaming red bell pepper on the board waiting to be chopped.