Torn between emotions

~CHAPTER TWO~

•••••Just a one night stand•••••

Gwen walked out of her room all dressed up. So did Mel. Their eyes locked as they both sank into the sofa at the same time, still holding gazes.

"Mel, do I have to wear this? It's tacky," Gwen asked, looking down on her outfit. She was dressed in a short pitch colored gown, stopped right above her knee.

"I've told her about you," Mel evaded the question, causing Gwen to heave a sigh. "Either ways I am still a little nervous," she confessed.

"You don't have to be. Ma'am Thea is a nice person, I can assure you, but your problem working there is going to be that her over demanding teenager of a daughter. She's so rude!"

"She's married?"

"No, I can't say. I read just little about them from the internet."

"Them?" Gwen raised her brows, wondering how much in number they were.

"I didn't mention. Ever heard of a Marco Gerald? They're siblings. He just got back from the states- I've been dying to meet him for months since I started working there. He's a star you know," Mel shrieked excitedly in anticipation.

Gwen just shook her head.

"Sigh all you want Gwen, later you'll be drooling when you set your eyes on him," Mel eyed her and suddenly a smile curved her lips again as she was drawn back to reverie. "He's so cute!"

"Whatever!" Gwen stood up and Mel followed behind her, grabbing her hand bag.

***

Marco stared down at the huge but faint scar on his left rib through the mirror while he was shirtless. Someone knocked and calmly walked in after a minute.

"Sir Marco, Ma'am Thea asked me to give you the company documents you asked for."

"Drop it," he simply said and turned back to the mirror in front of him.

The maid gently tossed it on the glass table below his king sized bed.

Marco unexpectedly met her gaze through the mirror and turned surprisingly to still see her standing there. For real! and gazing at him!!

"Is there anything else?" He flicked a brow skeptically.

The maid opened her mouth but words failed her. "Sorry," she quickly excused herself out of his room.

Some minutes later Marco went downstairs after freshening up only to find his sister and niece focused on the television.

Thea turned to his direction. "Hey, where are you going?"

"To Khalil's," he answered, buttoning his navy blue shirt, but the first five buttons were apart, flaunting a generous amount of his toned chest.

"He already knows you're back?"

"Come on, Khalil is my guy- man should be the first person to know about my return."

"Why don't he just come around? Marco you just got back," Thea whined.

A lipped up smile curved his full masculine lips and he mutters, "sorry..."

Allie stood up and went over to him. "You promised to spend time with me before you resume work," she said, her voice barely a whisper.

Marco pulled her closer, squatting. "Sorry munchkin, maybe some other time. Uncle Khalil would be waiting. Now give uncle Marco a big smile...."

Allie was hesitant for a while before smiling back at him.

"That's my girl!" He grinned, standing up while she went back to sit close to her mother.

"Okay Marco, so when will you be back?" Thea asked.

"I'll just sleep over at Khalil's."

"You would never have told me if I didn't ask," Thea scowled at him.

Marco scoffed smilingly. "Don't do that Thea. It's just for tonight."

She sighed and rolled her eyes.

Marco went outside and saw the chauffeur standing beside the car. He stretched his hand out towards the driver who mopped at him in confusion. Then Marco said; "Thank you Jake. I'll drive myself." He collected the keys and entered into the car, driving out of the mansion.

▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫

Few minutes later, Mel walked into the mansion with Gwen, whose mouth was agape in amazement of how beautiful the interior decor was, like a glass house with priceless paintings and furnitures.

"Good day Ma'am Thea," Mel slightly bowed gracefully as she sighted Thea coming down the stairs majestically.

Gwen quickly swallowed a lump on seeing the woman. She was so pretty, looking a bit over thirty-three. She was dressed in a gown that cascaded like liquid silk, flowing with every step as if the fabric breathed. Her silver coloured slippers must cost a fortune too. "Good day ma." Gwen waved spontaneously, smiling awkwardly.

Thea glanced at Mel with questionable brows.

"She's the one I told you about ma. My sister."

"Oh! Remind me her name again..."

"Gwen," Mel answered again and Thea smiled unexpectedly at Gwen, leaving Mel with a satisfied grin, "Gwen... Gwen of Camelot? Arthur's fiancée?" She joked.

"Ma?" Gwen was so stiff that her breath stuck in her throat because she didn't want to mess up her opportunity but then again she could not tell what the woman was driving at! Words formed in her mouth but she found it hard to say anything-

"You look so tensed. I don't bite." Thea chuckled in the most sophisticated way Gwen has ever imagined- "it was a bland joke. Pardon my humour. I like hiring beautiful women like myself." A smile spread across her chin slowly as she maintained the eye contact.

"Thank you ma." Gwen smiled back after picking up the compliment in her words.

"Call me Ma'am Thea-" she pointed to Mel "-like she does."

"What?"

"You're hired..." Thea simply stated. "Your friend will show you round the house."

You mean mansion!

"Let's go..." Mel grabbed Gwen's hand gently as she lead her out of Thea's presence who kept smiling at her.

***

After work hours, Mel and Gwen were both seated at the train station. "Girl you're lucky. Ma'am Thea's nice but not that nice!" Mel broke the silence. Gwen just smiled. "Let's go and party small na! the bill's on me."

"Really?" Gwen grinned.

"Yes, at the last bar..." Gwen's expression twitched, remembering what happened the last time. "No Mel. I'm good," she declined.

"Fine we're not going to the last bar so you don't have to see Handsome again?"

"No, I said I was good," she declined again.

"Please... Just to celebrate?"

Gwen growled and glanced at her in sheer frustration. "My answer remains no!" she said firmly.

"Okay, there's a bar upfront."

Gwen furrowed her brows in confusion. "What's the difference?"

"It's here on the island and it's not like we're far from it- moreover we can still catch the train..." Mel was trying so hard to sound convincing as she yanked Gwen's hand playfully.

"Fine! But we have to get home on time."

***

The music boomed loudly as they made their way through the crowd of mixed genders dancing recklessly. There were so many people dancing like it was their last day on earth. Second time being to a place like this, where the lights were dim, changing dull colors and a lot of crazy people in sight. Recalling what happened earlier at the entrance, Gwen was somehow glad Mel had suggested that they go to a nearby boutique to get dresses, as one lady was denied entry because of her Mary-amaka gown as one of the bouncers called it. "Mel this is definitely not my scene!" Gwen voiced out loud, holding her ears. Mel laughed at her. "It's okay-" Forever by Psquare started playing. Mel forgot what she was about to say and started swinging her waist to the beat of the music.

Gwen joined in, allowing the beat control her movements too.

"That's more like it!" Mel encouraged.

▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫

Marco continuously stared at the stripper expressionlessly who kept trying to seduce him with the way she was sliding down the pole along with the rhythm of the music and gazing at him cynically.

"Marco?"

"What?" He turned to look at his friend seated beside him, finally taking his eyes off the almost naked stripper. Or maybe he was not looking at her, he was just staring into space.

"I can pay for a private dance you know," Khalil stylishly offered and nudged his side. Marco smirked and gulped his shot in a pigswill.

"You know me better than that Khalil. I'm trying to keep a low profile."

Khalil stared at him in awe for a moment. "Who are you and what have you done with Marco?"

"What do you mean?" A smile curved Marco's lips and they both started chuckling. That was when he sighted her from across the room. Marco instantly went immobile, focusing on the way she moved her hips to the rhythm of the music, he drifted his eyes to her face. She had this tempting smile, making it harder for him to take his eyes off her.

"Marco?" Khalil noticed the dark expression on his face but Marco was still dazed to reply so he lightly smacked his neck and that called him back to reality. "You good?" Khalil asked again and looked in the direction of the girl.

"Hey!" Marco called out to a waitress nearby and she hurried over to him.

"Yes sir, what's your order?" The lady asked politely.

"The lady over there, do you know her?" He asked and the waitress looked in her direction but made a confused expression.

"Sorry sir, but I don't think she's a regular," the waitress answered truthfully and he nodded before she excused herself.

Marco gulped another shot and declared in the most unwavering tone Khalil has ever heard. "She's the one I want." Khalil tilted his head, squinting his eyes conspicuously at Marco, unsure of what to say. Marco burst into laughter after rummaging his friend's expression.

Khalil widened his eyes in slight surprise. It was unlike Marco to act like this but he repeated the statement of wanting one woman.

▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫

They have only been dancing for some minutes that seemed like over an hour and Gwen looks like she's getting the hang of it after taking two shots of tequila that was sent by some secret admirer.

Mel tried to take one step away from her but Gwen held her back. "Where are you going?!" She asked, her head spinning a little.

"Nature's calling." Mel patted her shoulder before walking away.

Marco, from across the room, noticed that the girl's friend had excused herself.

Gwen was now seated at the bar, her vision becoming blurry by every passing second. God, what did I take? Her thoughts echoed loudly in her head.

"Hey..."

Gwen turned her head to the direction accented male voice was heard but ignored him. It must have taken a lot of discipline to ignore him cuz' he looked like one of the men straight out of her imaginations. Chiselled jaw, hazel eyes, well carved brows- He could be another douchebag like the last guy. "Don't you think it's rude to snub people?" The stranger asked carefully, trying to hold a conversation but she threw him a malicious glare this time.

"Look mister, I admit that you're handsome-" her eyes caught the Versace watch on his wrist- "and prolly rich too but I don't want to talk to you so please kindly leave me alone," Gwen stated backhandedly. Marco's eyes followed her all through her rant. "I see." For someone who had never had a woman speak to him like that before, he was amused, so he asked, "so what do you think I want Gwen?"

Gwen turned to glare at him in shock. "How do you know my name?" Terror washed over her face and it just seemed like he was enjoying this.

Marco chuckled lowly. "You assumed I was rich. Don't you think influential people get what they want?" He asked, looking closely at her face, knowing how uncomfortable it was making her. "It's okay to be nervous, Gwen..."

"Stop saying my name, you haven't earned that!" She retorted, trying to be composed. She was starting to freak out deep down.

"I'm not here to pester you, it's not my thing. I know you're nervous-"

"I'm not nervous!" Gwen snapped, clutching the counter in a way that contradicted her words.

I'm begining to enjoy this, he thought, still searching her face carefully. "Okay. Just a one night stand and I'll be off your back. Your account will be of huge comfort."

Gwen widened her eyes in disbelief, furrowing her brows at him. "What?"

"You're an attractive woman, but not my type so let's not make this what it's not," Marco explained more plainly.

Gwen could not express the amount of disgust that she felt just looking at him. She stood up.

"How much?" His guts baffled her the more as she turned back to him. "Excuse you?"

"I know what women like you are made of. Stop playing hard to get."

Now he's asking for s**t! Gwen looked down on the bar counter and picked up his freshly served cocktail, splashing it on his handsome face. She c****d her head at him with an angry lipped up smile. "This is what men like you deserve!" She walked away furiously.

It all happened so fast leaving him in shock. Thank God the bar was an enclosed space. No one saw that it was him. The Marco Gerald.

Gwen was almost in tears when she bumped into Mel and sighed in relief, wiping her eyes.

"Gwen are you okay?" Mel asked in concern on seeing that her makeup has smeared.

"I want to go home."

"At least tell me what's wrong with you."

"I met a jerk worse than Handsome..."

"That arrogant Marco Gerald!" Mel fumed.

Gwen scoffed in disbelief. "It was you?"