"So you mean, he literally declared that he wants you? That you're his?" asked Cassie, her jaw on the floor.
"He didn't exactly say that."
"But this is what he meant with whatever he said. Even a kid can see through it!" she argued.
I threw the cards we were playing on the table and sat back against the couch, huffing. After the auction I got a call from her to meet at her place. With a feeble flu, she was getting bored out of her mind. So I came to give her company.
"God! I've seen people being crazy in love before. But this? This is insane!" She shook her head in disbelief. "Buying an entire company just to bring you closer to him, forcing you to attend the board meetings so that he can get to see you more and wasting a million over just a canvas?"
At the mention of the 'L' word, I sat up straight. "There's no love! It's- it just could be a want of possession or obsession of his. I don't kno
Clutching the t-shirt tight against my chest, I whirled around and my breath caught into my throat. There, he stood rigid beside the door, hand clenched around the knob as his darker than ever stormy grey gaze preyed on my almost half naked body. Even with the t-shirt before my chest, I felt naked under his scorching stare.Curse the moment I decided to go braless due to the thick cotton blouse!"W-what are you doing here? Get out!" I screeched, as he stood there immobile, staring at me shamelessly.My outburst seemed to pull him out of his trance. Closing his eyes for a moment, he took a deep breath. Once those grey pools opened again, instead of leaving, he closed the door behind him and stalked towards me.Eyes like saucers, I stepped back. "W-what are you doing? Get out of the room! Right now!"Only when he was inches away from me, then did he stop. Jaws clenched, his gaze went back to roam on m
I shook my head. Why did I care about what he was doing here?I should just go back to the terrace.Once back upstairs, I found the meeting was over and everyone was now enjoying their drinks, except Ace. He simply drank a glass of plain water.And… that witch was now in my seat!But his attention wasn't on her, instead those stormy eyes were searching around for something. Until they landed on me. Was that relief that flashed over them?He beckoned me to him with his head, but I turned around and went to Liza who was talking to two of the Arabs beside the railings. Matt wasn't here, he went to attend a phone call right after me when I left for the washroom."Hey, where did you go?" Liza queried."Washroom," I replied, standing next to her. Nodding her head, she returned to the conversation.One of the Arabs' eyes
Where did everyone disappear all of a sudden?I was looking around in confusion, until I felt a pair of scorching eyes on me. Turning to him, I found his gaze following every curve of mine and cuts of the dress, that exposed my sudden ultra sensitive skin to him.I bit my lip, not wanting to fidget under his stare. "Is it okay?"With a tight nod, he beckoned me to him. Confused, I glided near. Still his eyes on my body, he handed me a black dress."Try this."When I unfolded it, my eyes widened. It was even shorter than the one I was flaunting right now. And as a cherry on the top, it was off shoulder and backless. What the hell? He could just instead pick a bikini for her!"I'm not wearing it!"One of his eyebrows arched. "Why not? It's a classy branded gown. I think Tess will definitely love it.""But it's too short!" I argued.
A knock descended on my door."Coming!"Putting the lipstick down on the dressing table, I attended it. Judy, our house help stood there with a white box in her hand."Sorry to disturb you, dear. But this has come for you," she said, handing me the parcel.For me?"What's in it? And who sent it?" I glanced down at the box.Her shoulders lifted. "I've no idea, dear. A courier boy just gave me the parcel and left. Anyways, I'll leave you to this. A lot of chores are on the hand."Nodding, I flashed her a smile along a thank you and closed the door.I searched for a name on the box, but there wasn't any. Who could've sent it?Biting my lip, I unpacked it.A gasp slipped through my lips as my eyes landed on the red gown lying in it. Taking it out, I unfolded it. It was the same gown I saw him checking
"This is not a way to dance. No one dances like this," I complained, huffing."I'm not anyone, Rosebud. I'm Achilles Valencian. I don't follow rules, I make them," he said, pulling me deeper into his arms.Sighing, I gave up.While the others moved around the dance floor, he didn't let even an inch of distance between us. When his one hand should be in one of mine and the other on my waist, both of his strong arms were firmly wrapped around me, keeping me against his chest. And mine were locked around his neck. He wouldn't even move freely, just slow sways. As if no one in the world was watching us. But the glares of both single and taken women couldn't be ignored.When my neck started to hurt, craning to look at him all the time, I rested my cheek on his chest. Closing my eyes, I let him move us around in slow waves. His scent with every intake of breath lulled me to peace.I remained silent as he
Jumping in fright, I whirled around, with my heart at my throat.Dark eyes met mine as he stood right in front of me.I sighed in relief. "Oh, Arthur. It's you." My gaze flickered around, no one was nearby. The hallway lied eerie.What was he doing up here?A small smile tugged at his lips, expression tight. "You shouldn't be wandering here and there alone, dear. Especially in this wing. Achilles isn't very fond of it if someone enters here."My head titled. And why was that?"Uh, actually it's been years since I last visited here. So I thought to take a look around." I shrugged. "Whose room is that anyway?"Glancing at the door, something washed over his face. But he masked it soon enough, not letting me understand anything. But whatever it was, it was… dark."It was his mother's room," he said, attention back on me.Wa
The aroma of fresh spices and sauce wafted across the kitchen, proclaiming the deliciousness getting ready for the special Italian dinner. And the provoking sweet goods that baked inside the oven had me salivating.The hunger of my tummy spiked more at that. The result of not eating the whole day. And how could I when all my mind was spiraled with one suddenly vanished man's thoughts?"I'm happy that you came here, Em. In all the preparations of the marriage, we couldn't get enough time to spend," said Tess, adding some basils in the spaghetti.I nodded. "Yeah, but don't worry. I'm not going anywhere for sometime. So we've a lot of time to fix that."Something flickered over her eyes, but then she smiled. "Right. Anyway, how was your day?""It was good."Not good. At all. After last night I hadn't got any peace. What Caleb said, about their relationship, about her involvement with A
Turning to another turn, I took the car through an almost empty street, my gaze continued their connection with the GPS tracker of my phone. I'd never heard of that bar's name before, and after tracing Beth's phone, I found it was at Northern Avenue. The street infamous for old buildings, illegal casinos, small cafes and bars. And most importantly, hundreds of alleys.I'd no idea what the hell she was doing here at nine of the night!And seeing the eerie silence around, I felt people of this area called it a night much earlier than others.Once I was finally outside at the destination at the middle of a narrow road, I double checked the location and the bar's name. A big 'Dakota's Bar' was written on a white board, red fairy lights lit at the edges. And the wobbly two rugged men that stumbled out of the bar rose the scale of my discomfort higher.I'd just pick her up and flee out of this uncanny area.