Chapter 4
1906 Words
VENNA
The scene that greeted me was nothing I expected. Anthony, my ex-boyfriend, was right there, throwing punches at my security guard in the parking lot. It was just the two of them, aside from me who had just arrived. I rushed out of my car. He was raining blow after blow on my guard, who didn’t even have a chance to fight back. Anthony isn’t a big man, but he’s strong — and worse right now, he was drunk and aggressive. I shouted for him to stop, and finally, he looked over at me.
“Who gave you the right to lay a hand on my security?” I crossed my arms over my chest and stared at him sharply.
“Babe, it was a mistake. I don’t even know why I came there.” He pulled me into a tight hug and tried to kiss me. “I missed you.”
I pushed him away, but he wouldn’t let go. So I kicked him straight between the legs. He immediately let go, clutching his crotch, and I gave him a hard slap across the face.
“I’ve told you before, and I won’t say it again — once was enough.” I wiped my lips roughly, trying to get the feeling of his dirt off my skin.
I was about to run over to the guard lying on the ground, but I lost my balance when Anthony suddenly grabbed my left knee. I thought I was going to fall, but someone caught me, pulling me right against their chest.
Then I heard the sound of impact.
He took the slap that was meant for me. Austen’s right cheek turned bright red instantly, and a cut formed — from the ring Anthony was wearing, the same ring I had given him years ago.
“Don’t you know that hurting a woman is illegal? And it makes you nothing but a coward.” Austen’s voice was cold and low. He punched Anthony hard, sending him stumbling back. “Get out of here. And never come back.”
Anthony looked terrified, finally realizing what he’d done. “I’m sorry, babe—”
“I don’t accept apologies as payment. I will sue you.”
He tried to step closer to me, but Austen stepped in front of me, shielding me completely, and pulled a gun from his waistband.
“Go now… before I lose control.”
Anthony didn’t wait another second. He ran off.
We were now inside my office, sitting on the couch. I was cleaning the cut on his tanned face, and despite everything, I couldn’t help but notice how well-defined his features were.
“Why did you even bother coming here?” I asked. “You could’ve just sent your secretary, or asked mine to come to you.”
“Who is that guy?” He completely ignored my question.
I pressed the cotton bud soaked in Betadine a little harder against his wound on purpose.
“f**k! Is this how you repay me?” He winced, groaning in pain.
I laughed quietly to myself. “Answer my question. He’s my ex.”
“Good thing I showed up.” He pointed to the mark on his face, looking at me seriously. “If I wasn’t here? This mark would be on your face right now. Or something far worse.”
“…Thank you, then.”
“Those words aren’t enough.”
I held his jaw steady and kissed the scar softly, without thinking twice. He froze. So did I. I looked down, too afraid to meet his eyes, but he lifted my face up — and damn it, he kissed me on the lips. Not just a quick peck. A real kiss.
I don’t know what came over me, but I kissed him back. A few moments passed before we finally pulled apart, breathless.
“So… this is how good your lips taste?” He licked the corners of his mouth slowly. “Can we do that again?”
“f**k off.”
He laughed, teasing and confident. “I’m looking forward to it soon, then.”
“There is no ‘soon,’ Mr. Brake.” I glared daggers at him, but he didn’t even flinch.
“You responded, Ms. Venna. And I’ll make sure it happens again. Even if I have to fight anyone just to get what I’m owed.”
“Let me make sure this never happens again. Next time you get hurt… I’ll leave you alone for good.”
“Then I’ll just have to kidnap you. Or threaten you. You choose, Ms. Venna.”
“I don’t choose options I never created. Besides — you can go now.” I stood up and walked him toward the door.
“We’re meeting tomorrow at 2 PM to go over the files together with Mr. Gurd. I left them on your desk.”
He left me standing there frozen, but not before he kissed my cheek one last time.
I reviewed every document again, then called my secret contact just to confirm to make sure all the information Austen gave me was solid and real. You can’t blame me. It’s better to be safe than sorry. I couldn’t trust him fully yet… not in this industry.
It was already 8 PM when I finally stepped out of my office. I saw Anna and some other employees huddled together, talking excitedly.
“Good evening, Ms. Venna. Would you like to come with us?” she asked shyly.
“Why? Where are you going?”
“It’s my birthday! We’re going out for a night out. It’s my treat, and everyone else is coming too.” Her face lit up, eyes sparkling.
“Happy birthday. Where are you going? I’ll be there — just send me the location. I just need to go home and change first.”
Anna was loyal to me and always kind. I wasn’t going to say no to her special night.
“Yes! Thank you so much, Ms. Venna! Drive safe!”
I arrived at the venue Anna sent me, wearing a sleek black dress with a high neck and a high slit on the side.
“Ms. Venna! Up here!” She waved from the upper floor.
I made my way over, and the moment I saw who was there, I froze. Austen was sitting on the couch, with two guys beside him.
I looked at Anna, confused, trying to figure out what was going on. “I invited him too,” she explained quickly. “As a thank you… for what he did for you. And… I figured you two are getting a bit more comfortable around each other anyway.”
“Okay… and who are those two men?”
“They’re friends of mine from college. Come on, Ms. Venna — I’ll introduce you.”
She pulled me closer. First, to a guy with curly black hair, warm brown skin, and striking gray eyes.
“Ms. Venna, this is Mr. Simon Vasturb. Simon, this is Venna.”
We shook hands. “Nice to meet you.”
“Finally… I’ve heard a lot about you,” he said. I just nodded politely.
“Ms. Venna, this is Mr. Acilian Tord. Tord, this is Ms. Venna.”
I offered my hand to him — he had dark skin, deep ocean-blue eyes, and thick, bold eyebrows. Instead of shaking it, he kissed the back of my hand gently.
“The absolute pleasure is mine,” he said, smiling warmly at me.
He moved to the side and offered me his seat right next to Austen. What a gentleman. It would’ve been rude to refuse.
Tord handed me a glass of wine, and I thanked him. He was sweet, charming, and really easy to talk to.
Then, I felt it. Austen’s hand resting heavily on my waist. I looked sharply at him.
“Care to keep your hands to yourself?” I whispered, low enough that no one else could hear.
“But don’t you know… you belong to me.”
“Says who? Since when?”
“Since the moment you kissed me back.”
“Nice try. But I know exactly how to handle men like you.”
I smirked, took my glass of wine right from my hand, drank from it, and then looked at Tord. I ask him to dance with me
“I’m a lucky man, then. The Queen herself is being asked to dance with me.” Tord smiled and led the way, my hand resting lightly on his arm.
We danced until the music stopped. It was fun — even though I could feel Austen’s eyes burning into me from the upper level the whole time. I didn’t care. He was nothing to me. Just a partner on a legal case. That’s all.
I excused myself from Tord to go to the restroom. I needed to freshen up and retouch my makeup.
Suddenly, Austen pulled me into a small side hallway near the exit and crashed his lips onto mine. He took advantage of my gasp of shock and pushed his tongue inside my mouth. And there I was again… kissing him back like I had no control.
He pulled my body flush against his, my right leg resting along his waist, the slit in my dress exposing my skin completely. Then, his hand moved down two fingers slipping past the waistband of my underwear, touching what was underneath, playing with me.
He kissed his way down to my neck, and then his finger slid inside me.
“Ah! f**k…” His fingers were really skilled, moving expertly.
“Is this what you wanted? It feels so hot inside here…” He groaned, his eyes dark and fixed on me, looking like he wanted to kill anyone who came near.
“Faster… Ah, faster…”
I was right on the edge, about to come undone but he stopped. Just like that.
I looked at him, confused and frustrated, eyes asking why.
“Think of this as your punishment,” he said, voice rough and low. “For holding onto another man’s arm and laughing with him. For asking him to dance. For giving him attention that should only be mine.”
With that, he walked away, leaving me completely breathless, shocked, and speechless — still throbbing from what he’d just done to me right there in that room.
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