Chapter 2: Betrayal II
*** Back at Andrew's apartment ***
He didn't expect her to remain calm; her expression was so composed that he felt guilty, but he decided to push the feeling to the back of his mind.
He was no longer in the mood to do anything. Just as he was about to get up from the bed, he heard Penelope's silent sobs. He turned slowly to face her.
"Don't cry," he said, while wiping her tears away, trying to console her, but it only made her wail louder.
"She would forgive me, right? I never wanted her to know like this. I wanted to tell her myself," she said, bawling her eyes out.
"Don't worry, she will. After she has calmed down, you can go meet her," he said. He was sure she wouldn't even want to see their faces after this.
To him, Penelope was the nicest person; she had been there for him every single time, while Elizabeth had always been busy and whatnot.
He knew Penelope valued her friendship with Elizabeth, even though he liked her; he also liked her family, who treated him well.
Penelope nodded in between sobs. His genuine feelings were of little consequence to her; all that mattered was that she had successfully driven a wedge between him and Elizabeth.
A few hours after she was sure he had fallen asleep, she quietly left the bed, took her phone and wrapped herself in one of the blankets.
Tiptoeing to the door, she opened it gently, ensuring no sound would wake Andrew. In the living room, she shut the door quietly behind her and called her dad, knowing he would still be at the office.
After several rings, the call connected. Ensuring her voice was as low as possible,she said,
"Hi Dad, how's work?"
"Hello, my princess. Work is stressful as always, dear. How are you doing?" her dad replied.
"I'm fine, Dad. I did it. I finally separated them; the plan worked. Elizabeth came over today and saw us together; they've finally broken up," she said, smiling.
"That's good, my dear. This calls for celebration," her dad said, looking at the city from the glass door at the top floor of the company.
"But, Dad, Lizzy's expression was weird today; she wasn't angry. Her expression was so calm, it was frightening. And she even seemed happy about the breakup. I got scared because I thought she found out about the plan."
Mr. Garcia frowned.
He had never liked Elizabeth's influence over Penelope.
'This girl doesn't seem to be someone who should be underestimated.'
"Okay, dear, don't be scared. Daddy's got your back. Just be careful around her princess. Make sure you have Andrew wrapped around your finger," he said.
"And also, don't underestimate Elizabeth. She shouldn't be trifled with," he added.
"Okay, then. Take good care of yourself and bring Andrew home this weekend, okay?" he asked.
"Love you,". he said.
"Okay, Dad, love you too," she said, giggling like a kid.
After the call disconnected, she tiptoed back into the room, getting under the sheets and making sure Andrew was still sleeping.
She wouldn't be able to explain what she was doing at that time.
*************
Two hours later, Andrew's eyes flew open.
He stared at the ceiling. Sleep refused to come. Beside him, Penelope slept peacefully.
He closed his eyes.
Instead of seeing Penelope… he kept seeing Elizabeth's face.
"...Happy birthday, Andrew Agresta." His chest tightened.
☆"Back to the bar ☆"
Elizabeth swirled the liquid in her glass, glaring at it as if it had personally betrayed her, too.
"People who say alcohol takes the pain away are terrible liars," she whispered, her voice trembling despite her efforts to hold it together.
Elizabeth had heard from her colleagues that this bar had the most handsome male escorts.
Drinking shots while wiping away tears, she turned her head and saw the colorful drink the person beside her ordered. Due to her drunken state and the loud music, she couldn't quite hear what it was called, so she decided to order the same thing, unaware of what was in it. She had actually ordered a drink called "One-night stand".
Though it was her first time drinking alcohol, she wasn't knocked out yet, even after taking several shots.
Uncertain about what she drank, she went to the dance floor, hoping to dance away her sorrows.
She swayed her hips, drawing a lust-filled gaze from the men and jealousy from the women.
While dancing, Elizabeth started feeling hot and uncomfortable.
A tall, handsome man caught her eye; his dark blue suit accentuated his muscular upper body and long legs. She was drawn to him, despite her drunken state.
Kaius had felt her gaze since he entered; she was the first person to stare at him for so long.
As he slid into the booth, his scowl was so fierce it could have intimidated the Grim Reaper himself.
AOne of his business partners had persuaded him to hold their meeting at this dubious establishment, but now, surrounded by the bar's gaudy decor, he regretted it.
He was ready to walk out, but then she appeared, her ice-blue eyes sparkling like diamonds in the dim light. As sharp as a broken glass left in the snow.
With a flirtatious smile, she grasped his hand and asked in a voice that was slightly husky.
Despite being drunk, she looked surprisingly normal, apart from her feet, which seemed to be losing direction; it would have been hard to tell otherwise.
"How much for the night? I'm paying," she said with a sly smile, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
He was caught off guard by her boldness, his gaze snagging on hers like a fish on a hook. He was transfixed by the sultry glint in her eyes, the way they seemed to gleam with a knowing secret.
She looked both adorable and dangerously attractive, making him feel weird.
He never minded attention, but her eyes seemed to see through him. He could see himself clearly in her eyes as they sparkled.
He never liked physical contact, especially with women. And till now he couldn't understand why he hasn't forcefully removed himself from her grasp.
His secretary, Aaron wanted to drag her away, but he stopped him, though he could not understand his own actions.
Realizing she had held his hand for a while without triggering his illness, he felt intrigued. Curiosity took the best of him and the words that came out of his mouth shocked himself and his secretary.
" I'm very expensive" he said.
" I don't think you can afford me."
A small smile tugged at his lips, a teasing glint dancing in his gaze.
Elizabeth felt bad, lowering her head to think made her look so cute but she planned to offer him all her savings even if it wasn't enough.
The drug from the drink started acting up, but she held back; biting her lips as drops of sweat trickled down her face. She was rational enough to understand the fire that burned within her.
Seeing how adorable she looked, he was about speaking when her fingers found its way to his collar with such force, bringing him to her height until—
Until their lips met.
And Kaius's world turned upside down. He was stunned in place, with all sorts of thoughts running amok in his mind.
This was not how kaius had imagined his first kiss— not that he had spent much time on such thoughts due to his condition.
But he had almost never thought that one day, he would be able to do such; never pictured anything of that sort. He had it in the middle of a complicated situation and curiosity—
Not that he was complaining , after all the taste of her lips coupled with the scent of alcohol was irresistible.
But then, his very being and instinct screamed restraint, stop.
—
For someone who had never kissed anyone before, he was flabbergasted and was left wanting more.
He thought of how nice it felt when she kissed him and how good she tasted.
Shaking his head, he questioned his own thoughts and decided to move away, but she wouldn't let go.
Kaius then asked his secretary to book a room, leaving Mr. Aaron Moreau, his secretary stunned beyond words.
Aaron knew about his boss's illness, he wondered if his boss was healed. Right after that incident, even Madam and Old madam couldn't come close.
His boss's words brought him back
"Ah , okay Boss" Aaron booked a room as his boss requested.
"Boss , the room is ready" Aaron said whilst keeping his thoughts on his boss to himself.
"Hmm" Kaius responded.
♡♡♡♡♡♡
As the night wore on and the wine flowed. Elizabeth's rationality began to fade. She found herself lost in Kaius's piercing eyes, his gaze burning with an intensity that made her skin prickle.
He lifted her drunken self into his arms effortlessly while walking through the crowded room, laughter and music swirling around them, until they got to his suite.
As she wrapped her arms around him, he momentarily released his grip, settling her down to retrieve his room card, which had slipped from his hand. Her laughter and the warmth of her body against his sent a shiver down his spine as he quickly steadied himself, preventing their fall.
Without a word, Elizabeth's lips crashed down on his, the touch sending shivers down her spine, threatening to consume them.
She chased his lips again to continue, deepening the kiss, clumsy and desperate.
( AN; She definitely has been hungry. What do you mean she swooned in?!!)
Prying his barely responsive lips, nibbling slightly to tease, slipping her small tongue inside the gaps, taking all the control in this act.
Then she made a sound— small, needy, provoking– and his rationality flew out the window.
—-
She felt herself melt into the kiss, her senses overwhelmed coupled with the drug in her system and his intoxicating scent. It was as if she was wrapped in a soft leather-bound cloak filled with the sweet scent of vanilla and the subtle tang of tobacco.
The kiss was messy and passionate, full of pent-up longing and desire.
As they broke apart for air, Elizabeth's heart raced with excitement, she felt vulnerable, exposed , intoxicated yet simultaneously alive.
She had never felt such emotions before but decided to blame the drinks.
As much as everything was spinning in a direction he never expected, he used the last bit of rationality in him to open the door to his suite and steadying her in his arms, stopping himself.
Walking into the room, he placed her on her feet to switch on the light in the room, at that moment he felt like he had made a big mistake turning on the light.
The beauty in front of him, though disheveled, looked more stunning. Her beauty was beyond words.
His eyes blazed with unsaid emotions, his face inching closer with their noses almost touching. His warm breath danced across her skin making her lips tremble.
Kaius left traces of kisses and hickeys on her neck and with each breath, the ache deep within her resonated with his.
Elizabeth's world tilted as Kaius's lips reclaimed hers, their tongues entwining in a sensual dance. The room spun around her, colours blurring, as she surrendered to the intensity of his kiss. His dominance was unmistakable, yet she couldn't help but respond, her desire rising to meet his.
Kaius's hands cradled her face, his thumbs tracing her jawline. Elizabeth's fingers gripped his shoulders, her nails digging into his skin as she wrapped her legs around his waist.
She tasted the smoky whiskey on his breath, the sweetness of his lips, and the hint of something more, something wild and untamed.
He laid her down on the bed, his eyes never leaving hers as his hands wandered up her thigh. The kiss deepened, and their passion erupted like a wildfire, consuming everything in its path. And yet, she couldn't help but crave more of Kaius's touch, more of his taste, more of the raw emotion which she've never felt before that pulsed between them.
With all the emotions crashing between them—raw, tangled, and far too intense—Elizabeth's body finally gave in. She slumped forward, unconscious, her breaths evening out as she drifted into a soft, oblivious sleep.
Kaius let out a slow, irritated groan.
"Of course," he muttered under his breath.
His eyes stayed locked on her. The woman who had walked into his night like a storm—loud, reckless, beautiful—and somehow managed to unravel something deep inside him without even trying. Now she lay there, peaceful and unbothered, as if she hadn't just torn open every boundary he'd ever set.
Her soft, rhythmic snores filled the room. And Kaius… felt like he'd been hit square in the chest.
Frustration curled in his gut.
Desire burned right beneath it.
And beneath that, the one emotion he hated most—an unfamiliar, unsettling pull he couldn't name.
Damn it.
He dragged a hand through his hair, jaw clenched.
I need to get out of here before I do something stupid.
A cold shower. That was the only thing standing between him and a mistake that would haunt him. He pushed himself to his feet, tearing his gaze away from her sleeping form.
But even as he walked toward the bathroom, he could still feel her—like a warmth pressed against his skin, refusing to let go.