THE UNPLANNED HEAT

CHAPTER 3

A gentle-looking middle-aged woman who looked well-maintained, walked in casually, she was wearing a classy long-sleeved white dress, that made her decent curves appear more enthralling under the flickering blue lights in the hotel room.

The lady moved around the room leisurely with her corporate heels clicking on the marble floor with every graceful step she took.

The VIP room was spacious and lavishly decorated and the neat and clean marble floor reflected light.

The lady feigned ignorance, pretending not to see the two persons who were frantically dressing up on the gigantic bed.

She picked up items in the room one after another, studying their details meticulously, her shoulder-length chestnut hair slightly dangling behind her back.

She paused her movements momentarily and suddenly looked up, wondering why they were both glaring at her.

With her firm lips curving into a sarcastic smile, she said, “Oh dear, Austin! You have a guest! Did I interrupt something? My heart would bleed to death if I did ah, and you Austin you should have told me you had a guest, and I would have made plans for a proper dinner.”

Without sparing the agitated Austin a glance Christina continued with a smile, she was surely enjoying the chaos she was about to incite.

She turned towards Ella and with a scrutinizing look, she stared at her from head to toe, not satisfied with how demure and timid she was looking, she however forced out a smile and spoke enthusiastically to Ella, “Young lady what is your name?” Oh, my Austin never mentioned he was coming with a guest, uhm I still suggest you have dinner with us before leaving, you should be comfortable with the idea right?”

Christina's eyes blinked in anticipation as she stared at Ella expectantly.

The half-amused Ella stood there, her almond-shaped eyes almost drooping, wondering who the lady was and why she was warming up to her without sparing her a chance to explain herself. In her confused state, Ella could only mutter a quiet, “I don't mind.”

Austin: "…”

The enraged Austin looked at Ella, his hands clenched into fists as he glared at her, gesturing for her to refuse the offer, but Ella's almond-shaped eyes were still drooping, she barely paid Austin any attention, she just stood there lazily as though she had just finished a thorough exercise. Well, yes, she just did. As the thoughts formed in Austin's head, he couldn't help but blush.

“Mom, please, what are you even talking about? She isn't the one and you won't invite her for dinner can you stop being delusional already? I told you I am not interested in dating or getting married, so don't bring it up next time. She is just a roadside bump…” Bang! The crisp sound of a slap echoed across the room, interrupting Austin's sentence.

Christina frowned.

Ella stared intently at Austin, glaring at him, her almond-shaped eyes were no longer drooping, and her facial features appeared even more exquisite under the room's bright lights. She raised her eyebrows slowly and said to Austin “You call me a roadside bump after you’ve used me?”

Her eyes were red at this point, and even her hands were fidgeting from anxiety, without sparing much thought she suddenly dashed to the exit door, wearing her rumpled purple sleek dress that revealed her decent curves.

Ella's movements were as lazy as ever, she walked casually as if she were counting her steps even her eyes could not stop drooping.

Before Ella could leave the room a voice came from behind her,

“stop!”

Without sparing a second thought Ella stopped in her tracks. For a moment, she thought she might never walk again as cold chills suddenly ran down her spine making her lose her balance. Was he going to lock her up for slapping him? she thought to herself, unable to process the fact that he might decide to take legal action against her for assault, sigh.

Austin's expression was cold at this point, and his eyes were void of emotion. He strolled toward Ella and held her arm.

Christina stood there, waiting for an explosion to happen between the two.

The look Austin gave Ella almost made her choke on her breath, at once she said “I am sorry; please don't punish me, I wasn't thinking… please” Ella fell to her knees, holding onto Austin's pajamas.

Austin quietly broke free from her grip and turned toward his spacious closet, retrieving a clean, well-folded jacket from his belongings. He walked back toward Ella, whose knees were still on the floor, shivering with fear.

Austin's eyes suddenly changed from their usual cold demeanor and softened at Ella's swollen face. He bent down slightly and covered her arms with the jacket, whispering slowly into her ear, “I won't punish you. Stop crying, okay? I can't bear to see you like this. Take this jacket and get ready; the driver will take you back to your apartment, and… you don't have to worry about how you going to pay rent, it has been settled.”

Ella stared at Austin incredulously. Somehow, his eyes seemed to be the most remarkable shade of blue, shining brighter when he was kind. Despite Austin exuding an icy aura that kept people at a distance, he was a kind man.

Christina stood still, unable to grasp the sudden turn of events. She had never seen Austin this polite to any lady. Due to his exquisite looks and accomplished status, women always made countless advances at him, but he never once showed them courtesy.

A few years back, when he had just turned 22, Christina had made exclusive arrangements for the young ladies from prominent families in New York City to attend Austin's birthday party. Seeing how much effort she put into selecting only the most beautiful and clever young ladies, she sincerely hoped Austin would take a fancy to at least one of them. But to her greatest surprise, he not only declined their advances but went as far as slamming the door and shutting them all out of his birthday party!

Christina stood there with her face contorting from anger.

At first, she could not believe it when Austin's assistant told her he had come back the previous night with a lady. She however decided to confirm the authenticity of the news and immediately barged into his room. She had imagined that for Austin to have rejected all the beautiful and clever ladies she suggested for him, then his spec must be outstanding.

She could not contain her excitement as she wanted to see who Austin's type of woman was! Never had she expected Austin to fall for a low-class country bumpkin! She stared down at the two of them, the look in her eyes becoming frosty as she screamed at the top of her voice, “Austin!” she let out a low scoff and continued “Under what foreign sun did you become so polite? That's enough, Let the poor miss leave already; I bet she feels uncomfortable because she knows she doesn't belong here!”

Ella flinched at Christina’s words, which made her fidget, but Austin’s cold voice cut through the tension before she could react.

“Mother, please leave.”

Christina blinked, caught off guard. “What did you just say?”

“I said, leave. You shouldn't be here in the first place, I won't stand still and watch you insult my guest, she belongs to me, and I alone have the rights over her, not you, or anybody!

For the first time, Christina saw something she had never seen before a fierce protectiveness in Austin's eyes. She stared hard at him and opened her mouth to protest, but shut her mouth up the moment she met his cold and menacing look.

Christina felt as if her cheeks were stinging and burning hot from being slapped in the face. Without another word, she turned and stormed out of the room, her white leathered heels clicking sharply against the marble floor.

Austin walked up to Ella and helped her to her feet. Ella’s breath seized as she met Austin’s gaze. His wide-open eyes no longer had that warmness in them, instead, they looked scary almost as if he was transitioning into a monster.

He took a few steps further toward Ella covering the small space between them, with a force he grabbed her blond hair, Ella instinctively pushed him away, so she could set herself free from his grip, but he was too strong for her, Austin, however, bent towards Ella's neck and he saw a familiar birthmark that was barely visible, at the sight of the birthmark Austin immediately froze at the spot, he could not control his breathing as his heart pounded so fast and loud that one could hear its echo in the vast room.

Without sparing himself a blank thought Austin immediately pushed Ella down, causing her to hit her head on the study desk in the VIP room, he lifted his fingers and gestured to Ella with a cold voice ‘“GET OUT!”