A Wolf in the City

14. Hot chocolate mixed with peanuts.

Raven.

My shock and anger mixture on realizing that the psychopath is in the same room with me again is nothing short of high. I drum my fingertips on my table and fight the urge to storm out of the security building, heck, even the palace altogether. Just seeing him there, taking charge of something in the same work environment that I have dreamt of all my life irritates me to no end.

“Welcome to the Sascavania palace security team, darling. I hope you enjoy your time here, I am so glad to have a new woman on the bodyguard team, you’re on the bodyguard’s team, right?” A beautiful lady dressed very corporately yet beautifully says as she extends a manicured hands out to me while I take it gleefully.

“Yes, I am. Thank you so much for the warm welcome, you have no idea how excited I am to be here. I have wanted this since forever, you have no idea.” I say, letting the excitement that had been suppressed by the face of the psychopath seep back out.

“Oh, trust me, I understand, I was in this same shoes two months ago. I am Ara by the way, Ara Jin.” The lady says again, and I am immediately sure that I am going to be good friends with her, she is just so friendly than the other women who have been staring at me like I took their men or something.

“I am Raven, Raven Martinez. It is so very nice to meet you.” I reciprocate with a wide smile.

“Alright, I have to go now though, while you have two weeks for your newbie training, I on the other hand have people to guard. I hope that you have a good first day.” She says dismissively and then disappears.

I turn my gaze back at the psychopath’s direction and then glare at him, hating the cool confident air he exudes as he listens to a man before him, the lazy way he seems to lean back against the chair, handsome face expressionless, the jacket of the deep blue suit emphasizing his impossibly wide shoulders. My eyes travels up to his hair and even from my place across the table, I can see it's smooth glossy texture that makes me want to reach out and run my fingers through that thick mane, feeling the strands slide through my fingers as our mouths tangles in the sweetest of kisses, warm naked bodies moving together in a rhythm...

‘Whoa! Where had that come from?’

I feel my face heat up in embarrassment and then shake my head in confusion, suddenly aware of how warm the room had become. Or is it just me? A quick glance around confirms that I am probably the only person feeling warm in the air conditioned room.

I reach for an unopened bottle of water and drink deeply, grateful for the cool liquid pouring down my throat, my temperature returning to normal. I dismiss the brief fantasy as the manifestations of an empty stomach and nothing more. As I lower the bottle, I catch the psychopath looking at me with an intensity that sets my blood on fire again.

A drop of water escapes my lips and runs down my chin and my tongue darts out to lick it up. His eyes follows the action, darkening in blazing heat that burns into my skin, and ignites fires I have not experienced in a long time. I tear my gaze away and focus my attention on the pile of papers in front of me, unwilling to let my mind dwell on what had just happened.

After many more work stuffs which I did not pay much attention to because it involved me getting introduced to various workmates and the likes and more of me sitting around in a spot doing nothing, I rush out of the palace to check on my father in the hospital.

The most prominent name that sticks out of all the introductions is his. The psychopath. He’s got his name in everyone’s mouths after all, male and female. Dante it is. Dante Barlowe.

I sigh for the umpteenth time that day as I walk out of dad’s room, and wrinkle my nose at the strong smell of disinfectant. Lord! I hate hospitals. The smells, the illness, the anxiety that seem to envelop anyone who walks through the front doors.

My stomach rumbles, reminding me that the last meal I had was a sandwich last night. I groan, running a hand through my already disheveled hair, grimacing at the grease that stuck to my fingers.

Right. First things first. Find something to eat, talk to dad and the doctor, go home, wash hair and have a nice, steaming bath, then try to talk to Jackie about his ongoing wedding plans. Oh! And listen to Winter talk nonstop about her day at school today of course.

I wander down the long corridor in search of a vending machine and finally spot one next to the bank of elevators. My purse is in my dad's room so I retrace my steps. My father lay asleep, propped up on pillows and the sight of his pale face wrenches at my heart strings.

To me, this man lying there is just so different from the hale and hearty man I'd known all my life. Seeing him so ill and weak brings tears to my eyes and I dash them away, cursing that drunk driver for doing this to him. My sister seats by his bedside also fast asleep, one hand entwined with his, even in slumber.

I tiptoe in and retrieve my purse lying on the breakfast table and leave, shutting the door carefully. Back in the corridor, I dig in the bag for some change and approach the machine. The door of an elevator swishes open just as I reach it, expelling a tall dark skinned man in light blue scrubs.

I pause in the act of inserting a note into the slot and look at him, receiving a polite smile and a nod. "Good evening." His voice is a rich baritone, bringing to mind a cup of hot chocolate mixed with peanuts.

He steps out of the elevator and comes towards me, his gaze assessing me, from the top of her disheveled head, the ridiculous bright pink two piece suit and finally, down to my three inch shoes. I can feel my cheeks heat up in embarrassment as I wonder what he must think of my random choice of outfit. I clear my throat and finally manage a reply. "Hello." I say meekly.

I then turn back to the machine, though I study him from the corner of my eye. He is just so good looking in rumpled 'haven't been to bed in days' kind of way, with a nice, five 'o' clock shadow darkening his upper lip and jaw, that gives him an air of intrigue and even I can’t point my finger at that familiarity that I seem to have towards him.

He walks past my line of vision and I turn my attention to the vending machine, slipping the note into the slot and selecting a Bounty bar. Nothing happened. I frown at the offending gadget and press the button again. The evil thing remains silent. "Darn it! Come on!" I mutter in frustration, slapping my palm against its metallic sides.

"Work, you little -"

"It just needs a good kick," the baritone voice is back, startling me. He grins and delivers a good hard kick to the base and my bar pops out. He picks it and hands it to me.

"Shitty hospital equipment, nothing works the way it's supposed to." He says as I take the bar, briefly looking up to meet the stranger's warm brown gaze.

"Thanks, but that's hardly reassuring, especially coming from someone I see around here." I reply.

He laughs, a deep, toe curling sound that sends flutters off in my belly. "Don't worry, it's just the unimportant things that don't work right. My uncle’s patients are in good hands, it’s his hospital."

"Good to know." I say as I can not help the smile that crosses my lips.

"No problem." He leans against the machine and studies me for a moment, the scrutiny setting off another wave of heat over my cheeks. "You visiting a patient?"

I nod, giving my attention to unwrapping the chocolate. I wonder why he is even still hanging around talking to her, considering the way I look today. I peek at him from beneath my lashes, taking in the bulge of his biceps beneath his shirt, suggesting at a strict workout regimen, and handsome features topped by warm chocolate brown eyes.

“I am very surprised that you do not remember me though?” He suddenly throws, taking me off guard. I look up at him instantly, confused, “Uh? We know each other?” I ask.

“Of course, and even though you do not remember me because I am maybe not remarkable enough to be stored in your memory, I remember you, always have, always will. Raven Martinez.” He says, confirming that he knows me by saying my name.

“Honestly, I had this familiar feeling since you got around me but I just can’t... will you just tell me please so my memory can get juggled up?” I ask, politely as I rack my brain.

“It’s Kai. Kai Huan from college. I was a year above you, remember?” He says and that was all that was needed before I immediately remembered all about him.

He was one of the guys who used to crush on me back then but I simply friend zoned him, and now that I am staring at him, I notice how much changes four years can do to a man as he’s now more muscular, fashionable and absolutely more handsome.

Wow, just wow!

“Uh... I don’t have much time right now, Raven, but I really really, reaaally wish that we can catch up on old times and maybe do that over a date, what do you think?” He says and I nod.

“Okay then, uh... enter your number in here and I will text you more about the details, okay?” He says as he places his phone in my right palm and I do as he says.

As he walks away from me, I can’t help but stare because I just find it so hard that Kai has changed into such a chocolate like that.

A yummy chocolate.