013

~REGINA~

"Whatever you do, don't stand under the mistletoe." I made sure that Karina's advice registered in my subconscious, even though I had no clue what usually happened under the mistletoe. 

Why would I? When I had no time to attend events on Christmas because I was busy working my ass off for my fees.

"Would another game ensue?" I couldn't help asking myself as I slipped into the red evening dress— another one of Karina's hand-me-downs.

Those few hand-me-downs— that she practically had to force or beg me to accept— were usually kept for occasions like this.

Karina and I were pretty close as roommates before our friendship developed, but it took her years to get me to accept things from her. I knew I had little or nothing when it came to finances, but that didn't mean I wasn't content with the little things I could afford.

Well... Karina couldn't hear of it. She always made sure to buy me stuff or give me her footwear and dresses. At first, I had politely refused, but she practically begged me to. Requesting that I see her as a sister. I did, and I had never regretted it.

I gave myself a nod of approval as I assessed myself through the mirror. Karina had drummed it into my ears to look the part this evening or she would send me back.

I chuckled at the stern look she had feigned as she sounded the warning to me before she disappeared into her room to prepare for the evening event.

The red dress was velvety with spaghetti straps and the length stopped above the knee, hugging my curves tightly in a way that made me uncomfortable. But I shrugged it off. 

At least, I was looking the part. If not for anything to shove it to Remy's face that I was better off without him. I thought I wouldn't be, but surprisingly, I had never felt more liberated in my entire life.

My face was the next thing I attended to. I dabbed a little bit of powder on my already smooth face and applied lipgloss to compliment it. I wasn't a makeup kinda girl, so I was good to go.

I had barely slipped my feet into the Swede high heels—another of Karina's hand-me-downs— when I heard a firm knock on the door. 

My gaze fell on my cheap gold wristwatch that I had worn earlier with my gold bracelet. It wasn't 7:00 yet. That was the time Brandon said he would be coming to pick me up. It was still 6:45 pm. Maybe the time of the event had been shifted closer and he decided to show up earlier.

I picked up my purse and hurriedly headed towards the door but not before giving myself another glance at the mirror. I admitted I was becoming more conscious of how I looked since I arrived here.

Was it because of a certain someone? Someone whose gaze still tingled my insides even though he was no longer within eyesight? He would soon be and disappointedly, his gaze wouldn't be on me this time. 

Holding a little smile in place I opened the door, but the smile vanished immediately I noticed it wasn't Brandon, but him. Him!

What was he doing here!! My mind screamed at me. But that didn't stop my gaze from traveling through every part of his body. God! How that white dress shirt hugged his gorgeous, muscled, broad shoulders and those delicious-looking broad chest of his. Or the way the well-tailored black trousers made known his long legs and astounding height.

Suddenly, I couldn't breathe anymore. The air left my lungs and got caught somewhere in my chest. I shamelessly opened my mouth to suck in air. That was when my gaze fell on his face.

And I noticed that his was just traveling up and down my body. Now I knew why I couldn't breathe anymore. His raking gaze was hell-bent on sapping the air in my system.

I knew—with all my certainty— that if I didn't cut short this gaze, I would go totally breathless and fall into his arms, begging him to take me right there and now.

Because how would he be assaulting me with his sensuous physique and his raking green eyes? The tingling sensation had returned in double fold. The more reason I should end this assault now.

Stretching my back and lifting my chin, I cleared my throat loudly, forcing his gaze to jump to my face in a split second.

My cheeks heated as his gaze locked with mine. 

"I'm sorry for invading your privacy again. I just..." He abruptly paused again. Just like the last time. But the difference was that he wasn't running his hand through his hair in that torturous way of his now. But what's with him and stopping mid sentence? 

Was there a chance he was affected by me the way I was with him?

"It's fine. You are not invading though." I decided to help him out like the last time, and I could see the glint of relief that danced around his green irises. For some reason, that gladdened my heart.

"That's good to know, Gina."

My heart did a double take. Wait... Did he just call me Gina? That was a first. The thumping of my heart increased and I couldn't help gulping as I willed myself to give him a quizzical look.

 Despite being affected by him and didn't mind him standing there all night, I had an event to get to— him as well. That thought reminded me of that fianceé of his whom I didn't want her trouble tonight.

"Why are you here, though?" Then I casually tossed my hair to the sides. I had decided to let it down this evening. 

"I wouldn't want your fianceé to find you here." 

I deliberately emphasized the fianceé term to remind him that he shouldn't be here.

He scratched his head with an uncertain look. He got the message.

"I kind of feel you are still angry at me." He began softly and my eyebrows furrowed.

"That connection between us when we first met wasn't there. It's like—"

"To what do we owe this visit?" The sound of Brandon's voice made me flinch slightly. 

I was so engrossed in what Kristen was saying— the softness of his voice, the uncertain look on his face, which I found cute— that I didn't hear Brandon's footsteps.

Kristen turned sharply, just as Brandon sidestepped him and stopped beside me, giving him a quizzical look. 

His gaze hardened as they rested on Brandon and I could feel the heat radiating off his body.

"I was just leaving." He muttered through clenched teeth before his gaze diverted to me. The shivers returned. "I will see you around, Gina."

Without waiting for my response, he turned and started walking away, and for some reason, the way his shoulders dropped made my heart constrict.

 “You shouldn't have dismissed him that way.” I heard myself mutter to Brandon's hearing.