Touch Of A Burning Flame

Chapter 9

Old version

Penelope's pov

There's something weird here...

I winced when Pierre put more rice on my plate. He was sitting beside me, and he wouldn't let my plate alone.

"That's enough. I'm on a diet." I said.

He raised an eyebrow before he put some on his own plate. I cleared my throat because of the awkwardness that I was feeling. I looked at the others that were on the table, but they weren't eating. They were just watching me and their friend.

Ivan was smirking, while Stephen was smiling widely. The man named Rico was just blankly staring while Diana wasn't there.

"Uh... are you just all going to stare at me until I melt?"

Pierre raised his eyes at his friends.

Ivan scowled, but he's still smirking. It's just, we're happy that you're okay now, miss actress. You don't know how Pierre---"

"Ivan just eat." Pierre interrupted.

What about Pierre?

I want to know, but Pierre doesn't like to hear anything from them. He acted the whole breakfast time as if his friends weren't there. He would just watch me closely while eating.

And it's weird. Is he worried that I might run and escape again? but it would never happen again. I realized that it was a reckless move of mine, and if he didn't save me, I might really be dead right now. And that would be a disaster if it happened.

I still haven't fixed my name. I still have a lot of plans and goals for my career, so to die without doing all of those things would be meaningless.

And....I still haven't said my thank-yous to him.

"Uh, I'm done. Thank you for the breakfast."

I stood up from the table and left them. The boys were talking about business and things, and they seemed done eating too, so it would not be bad if I go. I could feel Pierre's eyes followed me.

I held on to my chest while walking down the hallway. I stopped in front of the terrace. I opened the slide and went there. The morning was so calm and sunny. There are no traces of how stormy and cold it was last night.

I thought it was the scariest thing that happened to me but...

My eyes dropped down on the bannister when big hands rested on it, both on my sides. I could feel his warm body behind me and his hot breath above my head.

My heart frantically raced again.

I thought dying in the water was the most scary thing, but it's not. This, between his arms, is the scariest.

"What are you doing?" I asked while staring at the crystal waters.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

I never visited the thought of loving someone. I'm always busy with my goals and my career, so I didn't think about it.

I may have had a lot of suitors, but I didn't entertain anyone. Unlike back then, when I was so clouded with the thought that I should enjoy my youth. And having a boyfriend was one of them.

I sighed.

"Did you like me before?" I asked.

I felt how he stiffened. My eyes looked down on his arms when he moved close as his grip on the bannister, tightened.

"Yeah..." he huskily replied.

I thought he would say no, at least for his ego, but he still said it.

I bit my lips. I couldn't believe it.

I'm aware of the kind of treatment I've given him before. I was...harsh and without filter when it came to my words, so how the hell did he still like me?

My eyes widened as realizations drawn to me.

So it's why...he always mentions how I left before our wedding day with another man.

I hurt his feelings.

My heart thudded. So he really liked me before? He's crazy.

"Aren't you going to ask...if I still like you right now?" he whispered into my ears, which made me freeze.

My mind went blank, and all I could hear was his voice and my crazy heartbeats.

"W-why would I ask that..." I replied nervously.

He chuckled before I felt his chin rest on my shoulders. I was statued more. I couldn't push him away or run. All the more, I was scared that he might hear my hyperventilated heartbeats.

What is he doing? Is this part of his plan to take revenge on me?

"I thought you're curious..." He trailed off.

I let out a sigh. "Why...why would i be curious?" I tried to harden my voice, but I failed. It became softer.

What the heck, Penelope? Wake up! Hes just trying to get you! Don't let him have his way! He's your kidnapper!

"Really? You're not curious about it?" His hot breath would tickle my ear every time he spoke. My hands grasped the banister, and just seconds later, his hand enveloped it.

Where did this man learn this thing?! I still remember, he didn't know anything before! He just knows how to read books and solve equations! So when did he become like this?!

"But I'm curious, Eris." He sensually mentioned my name. F*ck it.

"Didn't you like me before?"

I chuckled. That's the most crazy thing i heard from him.

My shoulders shaken while laughing. From the corner of my eyes, I saw how his jaw moved and tightened.

"Sorry to disappoint you, but I'm not." I was confident about it. But his next question made my lips press in line.

"Then how about right now? Don't you still like me?" I could hear his mocking and evilness. "I changed. I look better now. So tell me, don't you still feel attracted?"

What is he plotting about? Why he have to be so confident with those words?

"Let's see..." I licked my lips to hide my naughty smiles. "Well, you really changed a lot. You became handsome now and hot, unlike before, when you had your thick eyeglasses and a thin and short body. But..."

I chuckled and let my eyes roam the beach. He moved in more, not leaving any space.

"Hmm... But what?" he sexily asked.

I bit my lips. "I like your old version more."