Chapter 3: New rival.

Nadia's POV.

"Do you really expect me to repeat myself?" he jeered as he walked closer, and they let go of my arm.

The smell of citrus filled the air, forcing its way into my nostrils, and I found my body heating up with his piercing gaze.

"Mr. Jeremy, she... she just barged in.

I couldn't let her disrupt the orderliness and peace of our customers." The rude lady who had grabbed my arm gawked, her eyes rolling around my body.

"Enough!" Jeremy snapped, his voice stern.

"I know her, so get back to your duties and stop being a nuisance."

I swallowed hard as the lady and both men walked away, leaving me with the man who made my body itch.

"Thank you," I coughed with a forced smile, averting his gaze.

"This is the second time I'm saving you, Peach. You owe me."

Peach?

Why the hell was he calling me that?

And owe?

"I... I have to go," I gulped and walked away, my legs staggering as I headed for the counter.

I made my order, paid, received my package, and turned to leave but flinched as I came face to face with him again.

"Why are you running away from me?"

He asked, his voice low as I continued to walk.

"I already know your secret, what else is there to hide?" He followed me, his footsteps matching mine.

Oh Lord, fucking get him off my back.

"Hey... I'm talking to you. Stop... Hey..." I didn't stop.

Oh no!

I continued walking, my steps brisky and intentional as I only wished to be away from him.

I passed the exit, hoping my new stalker would give up, but oh no.

He didn't.

He kept calling after me, and soon, I felt his hand on my arm.

"I'm talking to you, so stop," he grabbed my arm and pulled me back, causing me to fall into his chest, the bag of drugs slipping from my hands and falling on the ground.

What the fuck!

"Let me go," I snapped, pulling away as I felt his impulsiveness scratch my throat.

"What do you want?

Huh?

Why do you keep following me?" I barked, but his eyes were on the drugs on the ground.

I quickly bent down and carried them, packed them back in their package, and hid them behind me.

"Whose drug..." He paused. "Following you? What made you think I'm following you?" He tilted his head as he brought his eyes to mine.

Those damn eyes, they gleamed as if they read my soul.

"Aren't you?

Leave me the fuck alone then." I spat, my breath hitched, my chest raising and falling.

He grabbed my wrist. "You're very bitchy for someone who's supposed to be on her knees begging for mercy." He groaned, pulling me closer.

"I know your secret, and what the hell makes you think I won't share it to the coach and hockey team and get your ass kicked out?" I gasped at his words, my wrist hurting from his grip.

"I..." I shrieked, and he let go.

"Please don't tell anyone, I'm begging... Please.

I will do anything, please..." My eyes became watery as we stood in the middle of the street, his tall figure hovering above mine.

"Anything?" he asked, taking a step closer, and I nodded, desperate.

A devious smirk curled his lips, his eyes laboring an evil glint. "Good girl."

He opened his mouth to say more, but a heavy flash of light fell on us, causing us both to hiss, covering our faces with our arms.

Click!

Click... click, click.

Light from different cameras shone as we were surrounded by paparazzi.

Where the hell did they come from?

"Jeremy Deluca... Jeremy!" they yelled out.

Wait, Jeremy Deluca?

The son of Albert Deluca, multibillionaire and the number one sponsor of the Cheetahs.

No way!

He grabbed onto my hand and made away, with me struggling to keep up.

The paparazzi followed us, but with one quick turn, he shoved me into a taxi and slammed the door shut.

The taxi moved and sped away from the paparazzi, away from Jeremy Deluca.

***

Practice began and I wore my ice skates.

Strode into the ice rink and pushed the puck like the others, trying everything and anything to stay away from Jeremy Deluca.

Woah!

I got a heavy brush by the shoulder, so hard that I stumbled back, almost losing my balance.

"Sorry, pretty boy. Got no stamina?" the offender jeered, his action appearing deliberate.

I didn't give a reply, only remained mute and moved away, stretching my aching shoulder.

But he wasn't done. He came behind me and with a kick, sent me crashing on the cold ice, my face bruising harshly on the icy surface.

Ouch!

I winced as I felt my body ache, the fall causing me to sprain my ankle.

He bent to my level. "I see you aren't so tough when the audience aren't watching."

The rest of the players laughed, but then... a larger figure came and pushed him away, causing him to fall on the ground.

"Get the fuck away from him, Ruben," Jeremy's voice echoed as he stepped between me and the attacker.

Ruben was quick to rise to his feet.

"What the heck, Jeremy? We're just having a little bit of fun," he said, his shoulder broad.

"Stay away from him, Ruben," Jeremy dismissed, and turned to leave, but Ruben wasn't done.

"Why are you siding with the rookie? Huh?

You got a thing for his pretty ass?

We all know you have a thing for weak, pretty-looking men," Ruben mocked, and the rest of the teammates chuckled at his remark.

In a blink of an eye, Jeremy's fist landed on Ruben's face, sending him to the ground.

Gasps and whispers echoed, as Jeremy's retaliation got the coach to jump in.

"Boys, practice is over. Get your asses out of my rink!" the coach snapped. "Noah, get your ass off the ground." He walked away, and the crowd dispersed, everyone returning to the locker room.

I struggled to stand on my feet, as a stinging pain landed on my ankle, causing me to sigh as I tried to walk away.

"This isn't over..." Ruben snapped as he walked past me, his heavy breathing and gritted teeth causing a shiver to run down my spine.

I staggered out of the rink to the corner of the hall and sat my ass on the nearest chair.

Why did he defend me?

What the hell was he planning?

Although my mind rippled with questions, I sat still, waiting for the dude to leave so as to have the locker room to myself.

Minutes passed and the hall seemed quiet.

I struggled up and staggered to the locker room where I found no one.

Whew!

I walked in and took my skates off, my hands aching to take off my wig and chest wrap.

"Hey pretty boy..." I flinched at the voice as my insides twisted.

I turned to Ruben, who was leaning by the door, a cigarette in between his lips.

I swallowed hard, spreading out my sore shoulders, my fists clenched as I tried too hard to look tough.

Pressing my tongue to the roof of my mouth, I deepened my voice. "I don't want any trouble."

He only chuckled as he looked at me with disdain.

"Tell me, Noah, what's up with you and the captain?

I always knew Jeremy was strange.

A weird, spoiled brat, but the way he looks at you..." he hissed as he took his lit cigarette out of his mouth and threw it into the trash can.

I didn't say a word as my whole blood had run cold, my heart beating sharp and rigid against my chest, my breath heavy as I feared for the worst.

I couldn't even stand straight, my ankle was aching and my whole body sore.

"How did you even get into this team anyway? You look so scrawny. Tell me, did Jeremy's dad use his influence to get you a spot on the team?" he asked as he took steps towards me, and I staggered back, wincing at the pain hammering from my ankle.

"Please, stay, stay away. Alright? I don't want any more trouble," I breathed, as my back hit one of the lockers.

He didn't listen as he closed the distance between us, grabbed onto my chin, and pressed hard on it.

I suppressed a whimper as I bit hard on my lower lip, my body clearly vibrating from his closeness and hard grip on my jaw.

"Who are you?" he groaned into my face, his eyebrows furrowed.

"Let me go!" my voice came out, almost inaudible, but he obliged.

Stepping away, he walked back and through the door, but turned to me.

"Let's see how tough you really are now, rookie."

He jammed the door locked, causing me to flinch with widened eyes.

I ran to the door, my hand slamming it.

"Open the door... Please... Open the door."

"Please... let me out of here!" I yelled, my chest tightening as the walls began to close in, each breath shallow and sharp, kicking against my lungs.

"No... no! No!"

"Help me!"

There was still silence.

I felt it claw at my throat, making my mind foggy in resonance with the deafening pound of my own heartbeat.

I stumbled back, the stinging pain descending in my head as I perceived the smell of smoke.

"Fire... fi... re," I mumbled to myself as my eyes ran to the trash can.

It was on fire, the red flames throwing thick clouds of suffocating smoke.