Chapter 12 - Fight or flight
1358 Words
A knock at Kate’s bedroom door snapped her out from the abstraction in the book she seemed to be reading. She had gone over the same line again and again without remembering a single word.
“Come in,” she said sitting upright and flipping the book face down on the bed.
The door opened, Von entered first carrying several large boxes followed by two other people, who seemed to be the housekeepers on duty struggling with more boxes stacked up to their chin.
Kate scooted closer to the edge of the bed. “What on earth is all that?”
Von gave a mirthless smile as he set the boxes in orderly stacks on the floor. “These are for you ma’am.”
“For me?” She asked, her voice laced with astonishment as she climbed off the bed and approached them cautiously. She examined the boxes with her eyes and turned towards Von with a questioning look.
“The boss asked me to deliver this to you.”
Her eyebrows rose, she took an envelope attached to the largest box and opened it carefully. Inside was a short, neatly handwritten note. ‘For the Onyx gala.’
“Oh, the gala,” she said with a strike of realization and turned slightly to Von. “Can I open them?”
“Of course.”
Kate’s fingers worked the ribbon loose on the box. The moment she lifted the lid, air stalled in her lungs.
“Holy…”
Nestled inside was a midnight-violet stunning dress. The fabric was embedded with rhinestones that shimmered like radiant stars across a dark sky. Absolutely breathtaking.
She couldn’t stop staring, it had to be the most beautiful gown she had ever seen.
“It’s so beautiful.”
Excitement bubbled inside her as she immediately opened the remaining boxes. One contained an elegant diamond jewelry set.
Another held dark-violet shoes of pure luxury. Cinderella fairy godmother’s magic could never!
“This must have cost a fortune.” She said, exhilarated.
“The boss selected them carefully by himself..oops.” Von put a hand over his mouth as he accidentally spilled that.
“He did?” Kate asked amused.
“No, no forget I ever said that.” Von said as he lowered his gaze trying to avoid eye contact with her, as if that would erase the part of her memory that got that information. “I’d take my leave now, uh they’d help arrange the items for you.” He said cueing to the housekeepers as he hurriedly left the room.
Kate kept admiring the luxurious items as she directed the housekeepers where to cautiously place them.
Avan got these himself, how does he know where to shop for these things that even she as a lady isn’t aware of. Guess she isn’t really current with the latest fashion brands. And judging from the label, it had to be a top fashion brand abroad.
Might as well be a place he frequents…for a particular person. She felt a slight tightening in her chest as she thought of that.
When the housekeepers were done with the arrangements, she got back again to the wardrobe and took a sneak peek at the dress to soak it all in one more time, It looked so divine.
She squealed, jumped onto the bed and lay on her back trying to make her fluttering heart calm down. She touched the ring on her finger and raised it to her eyes. Avan instructed her to always wear it around him after they got married.
She smiled cowardly. He must really have a thing for diamonds.
After having dinner, she drifted into a short nap and woke up an hour to midnight. She headed downstairs. The mansion was really quiet. As she got to the dining area, she saw the food she had kept for Avan. It remained untouched.
Her brows furrowed, he doesn’t skip meals. Well at least not entirely, these days he’s been eating her meals more frequently.
Had he returned from work? Or was he still at his branch office, working late again?
She headed towards the part of the penthouse she rarely visited. The private wing that solely belonged to Avan. The moment she got to the wing, a lump pressed in her throat and made it hard for her to swallow. Avan’s domineering aura could be felt overwhelming her deep down to her bone marrow even though she hadn’t set eyes on him. She found herself tiptoeing like she was walking on eggshells.
She paused.
Why was she tiptoeing, It’s not like she’s doing anything wrong or going to steal something. Yet her heart kept slamming against her chest as if she was.
When she reached the door, she knocked softly.
No response.
“Mr West?”
Still silence. She knocked again, no response. She frowned slightly. Maybe he wasn’t back yet. It’s just her in this big penthouse and the security at the gate, if that even counts.
A sudden sound of shattering glass broke through the silence. Kate whimpered. The sound came from few rooms before his bedroom. Her stomach dropped. Now was the time to tiptoe.
She traced the sound to his study. The door was slightly opened. Panic immediately gripped her. She pushed it open and froze.
Documents covered every available surface of his work table. A laptop glowed on table. Then she saw him in the midst of the jumble. He lay tiredly on the leather chair.
Kate stepped closer. A shattered bottle was nearby the chair. Amber liquid stained the floor. His tie hung loosely around his neck. Several buttons of his shirt were undone which revealed a glimpse of the tattoo on his chest. One of his arm rested against the leather chair while the other hung carelessly on his side.
Kate found herself staring. The sight tugged at something deep inside her chest. For the first time, he looked exhausted, vulnerable. How long had he been working?
Yet regardless of the stress, he still looked hot and attractive.
“Mr. West.”
No response.
She leaned in closer. The closer she got the more exhausted he appeared.
“Avan,” she called again.
Kate hesitated then gently touched his shoulder.
“Hey.”
A low sound escaped him. Her lips twitched.
“Mr. Iceberg.”
Slowly he opened his eyes, looking confused, disoriented. For several seconds, he calmly stared at her. Kate became aware of how close they were.
“Uhh, you fell asleep. You should get a proper rest in the bedroom, don’t you think?”
His eyelids closed back and he continued sleeping. Kate groaned.
“Alright, that’s it.” She snapped as she grabbed his arm and tried to pull him upright. But her muscles gave out.
Shit! he’s heavier than a truckload. After several failed attempts, she finally succeeded to pull him onto his feet. His sleepy self cooperated but it didn’t make much of a difference.
She dragged him to his bed and he collapsed into it.
“Phew, that was some damn exercise.”
She pulled the blanket over him and stared at him before finally turning to leave.
A hand suddenly grabbed hers. Kate froze and slowly to him.
“Stay..”
Her heart skipped.
“Stay with me..”
The way he said it made her heart misbehave.
Kate swallowed hard. Was he sleep talking?
She carefully tried to remove his hand, but his grip around her was tight, as she continued struggling, he suddenly pulled her. A startled squeal escaped her. She landed directly on top of him.
Her eyes widened as if her eyeballs were going to pop out. Heat instantly rushed her face.
The glimpse of the tattoo on his chest became more visible, it seemed like a tat drawing of a Greek god.
Kate attempted to escape, this man possessed the strength grip of a bear.
Then suddenly Avan shifted before she could react, he rolled directly onto her. Placing her beneath him. Her pulse spiked, her eyeballs were certainly going to pop out this time. Adrenaline flooded her veins, fight or flight?
- Writer
