Lost in His Cold Eyes

Chapter 4: New Feelings II

Austin

I left the university theater covered by my security. We sneaked away and arrived at the parking lot. I was not in the mood to go. I knew it would be crammed with press, but since I was one of the greatest benefactors of the university and the director had invited me personally, I could not refuse.

Noah opened the car door, and as I got in, I heard voices. I turned and looked at Shane fighting with a guy. It was her. I would recognize her among a thousand people. My pulse quickened, and I had no idea why. The guy had a tight grip on her waist, and I had my fists clenched in fury that flooded me. I was about to go break his face when I saw Shane kick him in the bottom. The guy let go and squirmed on the floor.

I smiled instantly, she was rough and sexy. I approached and watched as she kicked the guy angrily.

"Don't touch me again, is that clear?" she said, kicking the man on the floor. I was still smiling, she was so wildly beautiful, but I was sure that i***t deserved it.

"I understand that hitting citizens is forbidden in this city," I said in a mocking tone. She turned and looked at me, stunned.

"You saw how she hit me," said the man, getting up from the floor. She rolled her eyes.

"You shut up," I said and signaled to Noah to get him out of my sight.

"But, me," the man stammered as Noah pulled him away from us.

"What do you want, Wells?" she said in a harsh voice.

"Why did you beat that poor man?" I asked, amused. She rolled her eyes, irritated.

"That 'poor man' is an imbecile," she said, and I was sure she was right.

"Nice speech," I said, smiling, lost in the brightness of her green eyes.

"I didn't know you were studying here," I said, and she nodded. I stared at her. I thought Jaime was right, her beautiful green eyes had captivated me more than I wanted to admit.

"I have to go," she said nervously because of my fixed gaze. I approached and took her by the waist, bringing her closer to my body. I didn't know why I did it. I just wanted to have her close.

"I'll invite you to lunch," I said, and she looked at me with a frown.

"Not me," she began, but I didn’t let her finish.

"Let's go," I said, pulling her into the car. Noah got back in and started the engine while she looked at me, dazed.

"I really don't understand you," she said, sitting next to me. I looked at her, confused.

"What don't you understand?" I asked, and she stared at me.

"That night at the club, you were so annoying. I thought you didn't like me, and now you're inviting me to eat. You're a bit bipolar," she said. I wanted to laugh but held back. This girl was crazy, but I liked it.

"I'm not bipolar. I'm just hungry, and I don't like eating alone," I said, and she raised an eyebrow.

"Sure, whatever you say, Mr. Wells," she replied sarcastically.

"Sarcasm doesn't suit a young lady," I said, and she rolled her eyes.

We sat in a restaurant, eating in silence while I stared at her. She was beautiful, no doubt about it, but she was rebellious and outspoken. I never liked being disobeyed, and she wasn’t very submissive. Not that I was interested, but a fling wouldn't be so bad. Maybe that way she'd get out of my head once and for all.

We finished eating, and I almost forced her to let me take her back to her apartment, as she didn’t want to. I went up with her, and she opened the door, looking at me intently and motioning for me to come in.

The place was small but cozy. I sat on the couch, and she went to the tiny kitchen, returning with a glass of water that she handed to me. I took it and looked at her closely.

"Thanks for the meal, I guess," she said, and I nodded.

"Do you live alone?" I asked, and she looked at me.

"Are you a cop or something?" she said, quoting what I had replied to her at the club when we first met. Was she naturally rebellious? I smiled, and she stared back at me.

“Very good, a point for you.” I said, and she smiled proudly.

“You’re quite a back-talker.” I said, and she looked at me, irritated.

“And you’re very bossy,” she said, and I tried to suppress a smile, but it was impossible.

“How old are you?” I asked, and she raised an amused eyebrow.

“Mr. Wells, if you want information, we’ll have to play,” she said, and I frowned. Play? What the hell is she talking about? She rolled her eyes when she saw my confusion.

“Are you a good drinker?” she asked, and I narrowed my eyes. What the hell is she planning? She went to the kitchen and came back with a bottle of what I believed was tequila. She placed two small glasses and sat on the floor in front of me.

“You have to guess. If you get it right, I will take a drink, if you don’t, you do,” she said with amusement.

Perfect. She wanted to play. We would play.

“Alright.” I said, staring at her intently. She smiled, and I sat on the floor to be at her level.

“Start. How old do you think I am?” she asked with amusement.

“Twenty.” I said, and she smiled wickedly. She poured a drink and handed it to me.

“I just turned twenty-one, Mr. Wells. Drink up,” she said, amused. Damn it. I took the glass and took a sip. She laughed, and my pulse quickened. She had a sweet and beautiful smile.

“Your turn. How old do you think I am?” I asked, and she looked at me closely, as if calculating my age.

“Twenty-eight,” she said, and I smiled smugly. I poured some tequila and handed it to her.

“Twenty-seven. Drink.” I said, and she huffed in annoyance before taking a sip. This game was fun. I couldn't believe I was sitting on the floor of a small apartment, drinking tequila with a kid. Damn it, I was losing my clarity.

“Why were you hitting that guy? Was he bothering you?” I asked, and she looked at me seriously. She took a sip of tequila and nodded.

“He wanted to kiss me,” she said, and I felt my blood boil. Damn bastard.

“Why are you so arrogant?” she asked, and I looked at her seriously. No one had ever dared to say that to me.

“Because you’re rich and powerful,” she said, and I nodded before drinking from my glass.

“What do you study? Literature?” I asked, and she shook her head.

“Medicine,” she said, and I looked at her, surprised. I had no idea she wanted to be a doctor. I drank, and she smiled.

I didn’t know how many shots of tequila I had drunk. We weren't even playing anymore, we were just answering questions and drinking between laughs. What the hell was happening to me? I had never done this. I had never cared to even chat with a woman. They were only objects of pleasure. But Shane was different. She was intelligent, she had dreams and goals. She was cheerful and fun but also rebellious and mouthy. I didn’t intimidate her, and she spoke her mind. She was perfect.

“So, your father died when you were seven,” I said, and she nodded, a bit sadly.

“Yes, since then, my mother has been looking for “love” like crazy, but I think love runs away from her,” she said and smiled.

“And do you have any siblings?” she asked, and I shook my head.

“No, I’m an only child.” I said curtly.

“And your father?” she asked, and I looked at her intently. His absence still hurt me.

"He died when I was 15," I said bluntly.

"And your mom?" she asked, looking at me with tenderness. Now she pitied me.

"My mother is fine, at her house. I must go," I said and stood up abruptly. She mimicked me and looked at me intently.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable," she said, looking at me with pity. How stupid I was. This silly girl looked at me with pity. Me, who was powerful and rich. I looked at her coldly, and she became nervous.

"Goodbye, Austin," she said softly. I said nothing and left her apartment.

What an i***t I was. It would be best to keep my distance. Being close to her made me feel vulnerable, and I couldn't afford that. I was one of the most successful businessmen in the country. I had to stop playing with rebellious girls.

...

Shane

Austin had left my apartment. I thought I had made him angry. I hadn't wanted him to react like that. I saw a lot of sadness in his eyes when he remembered his father. He's always so arrogant and proud, but when he talked about his dad, I saw a hint of tenderness in his piercing blue eyes. Maybe he had suffered a lot, and that's why he was always so unbearable. I didn't know. I just knew that every day, he got deeper into my heart.

A week had passed since I last saw Austin. I didn't think I would see him again. I was so stupid. I shouldn't have asked about his family. He's already like an ogre, and I'm sure he got furious. I just wanted to know if he was okay.

"Hey, cousin," Emily said at the door of my apartment.

"What are you doing here?" I asked irritably. She walked in and sat on the couch.

"I just came to say hi and invite you to a picnic," she said, and I looked at her with a frown.

"This weekend, Dan's family is having a lunch, and he invited me, but I don't want to go alone. Come with me," she said, and I looked at her, irritated.

"FORGET IT," I said, spelling out the word.

"Shane, please," my cousin pleaded, but I didn't intend to give in.

"Emily, I'm not going. If he invited you, it's because he wants you to meet his family. What on earth would I be doing there?" I said, exasperated.

"Just think about it. If you change your mind, let me know," Emily said, leaving my apartment. She could forget it. I wasn't changing my mind, not as long as my name was Shane Baker Moore.

...

Austin

I was sitting at my desk, thinking for the umpteenth time about Shane. I thought I was losing my mind. The phone rang and pulled me out of my thoughts. I answered, and Amelia spoke.

"Sir, Mrs. Wells is calling," Amelia said. Just what I needed, my mother.

"Tell her I'm in a meeting," I replied irritably.

"I already did, but she's insisting. She says if you don't answer, she'll come to the office," Amelia explained. Damn it.

"Put her through," I said, annoyed. I didn't want my mother bothering me here.

"Son," my mother said on the other end of the line.

"Amelia told you I'm in a meeting," I responded, irritated.

"Austin, I gave birth to you. I know perfectly well that you don't want to answer the phone. It's been almost two months since we talked. I, at least want to know that you're okay," my mother said, sounding irritated.

"I'm fine," I replied dryly, and my mother sighed in defeat.

"There will be a small gathering at your aunt's house this weekend. I want you to come," she said.

"I'm busy," I said bluntly.

"I know you're busy, and I don't care. I want you there on Saturday, Austin Wells, and I'm serious. You don't want me showing up at your office," she said, and I rolled my eyes in frustration. My mother drove me crazy.

"Fine. Can I get back to work now?" I asked, annoyed.

"Yes, see you Saturday. Take care, son," my mother said affectionately. I hung up, irritated. How the hell was I going to get out of that damn family gathering?

"Seems like someone isn't in the mood," Jaime said, standing at the door of my office.

"You can say that again. My mother wants me to go to a family lunch on Saturday," I said irritably.

"When was the last time you spoke to Mrs. Elizabeth?" Jaime asked, looking at me with a hint of reprimand.

"I've had a lot of work," I said defensively.

"Austin, you have to understand that your mother wasn't to blame for what happened with your father," Jaime said, and I looked at him coldly.

"I don't want to talk about that," I said sharply.

"Alright, then tell me how everything is going," he said, and I thought about Shane. I have to admit, I had a good time with her at her apartment, and I've had a strong urge to go find her, but I couldn't do it. She's just a foolish girl who feels sorry for me.

"Hey, are you here?" Jaime said, pulling me out of my thoughts.

"What?" I said, disoriented.

"Is it about that girl you told me about? Are you still thinking about her?" Jaime said. Damn, he is my best friend for a reason, he knows me too well.

"What? About Shane? You're crazy," I said sarcastically.

"So, her name is Shane. Nice name," Jaime said, smiling.

"She's a rebellious, mouthy, irritating, and stressful brat," I said, irritated. Jaime looked at me intently.

"Austin, are you in love with that girl?" Jaime asked, and I looked at him coldly.

"Of course not, Jaime. I just think she'd be a good lay," I said firmly. Jaime looked at me, unconvinced.

"You've never cared about a good lay before," he said suspiciously.

"That's what I want. Once I get it, it'll pass," I said, hoping that was the case. It's probably just an attraction to her rebelliousness, but once I get what I want, she'll stop haunting my thoughts.