UNTAMED HUNGER (The forbidden desire series)

Chapter 15

CHAPTER 15

Alena POV

I’m busy packing in the new stock at the fantasy book section when I get a text from Patrick.

Patrick: *Hi Pumpkin, we’re going out tonight! Would be great if you made dinner a bit earlier. Thanx”*

Me:*Ok. Good luck with the rest of your day.*

Patrick:*Thanks, love you!!*

Me: *Love you too.*

I always wonder if other couples do this. They fight and act like it didn't happen. I realised when Patrick knows he’s in the wrong, he gets defensive. I try to understand the situation, but I struggle to forgive though. I know I have faults. I have so many I can't even count them, but I try not to be oblivious of them. When he lied to me about how many people he slept with, I brought it up a lot, but he would always get mad and it really hurt. I walked into the relationship thinking this was the real thing. He’s a good, honest guy. If Patrick had been honest with me from the beginning, I know I would have been OK with it. It's the idea that I gave him my virginity thinking I knew him. I don’t understand how he could have lied to me after I told him what happened to me and I wondered if he would have ever told me if I hadn't found out on my own. One of the girls he slept with was in my sorority house. I remember her coming into my room and asking me about my relationship. How awkward she was when she told me that she and Patrick had slept together in high school and she didn’t want it to impact our relationship in the sorority. I just stood there and told her that it was OK. She then started talking about how lucky I was that I tamed the player. I went to Patrick and I brought it up and that's how everything unravelled. You don’t know someone after two years. It's strange really. You always keep learning new things about them. I loved him and that's why I stayed. I didn’t want to start over with anyone else. I felt safe. Comfortable.

The bell rang and I quickly jumped up. I peek and I don’t hide my surprise when I see Garrett.

“Hi! What are you doing here?” I ask and a smile splits his face when he spots me.

“My afternoon meetings were cancelled and Dewei told me you worked here. I didn’t believe her, but here you are.”

“Here I am.” He walks towards me and I’m surprised when he hands me a small package and a letter with a rose.

“Hm?”

I looked at the rose and back at him. “This is going to be dead when she gets back.”

“It's for you.”

My eyes widen and he looks at his shoes.

“She told me to tell you that she didn’t forget.”

My heartbeat spikes and I look at the date. It was still a week away.

“Are you OK?”

“Yes.” I say immediately and grab my phone to quickly text Dewei. Garrett clears his throat.

“Open the gift,” Garret says. I swallow and smile at him. I rip the paper and immediately press it against my chest.

“Oh my gosh, please tell me you don’t know what’s in here!”

I’m absolutely horrified right now. He laughs and shakes his head.

“My cousin instructed me that under no circumstances am I allowed to open the package. Can I ask what it is?”

“No,” I say and he raises his eyebrow at me. “That, bad huh?’

“It’s Dewei, what do you think!” I say and we both laugh. He pulls his phone out and we quickly send Dewei a selfie. She immediately sends one back of her drinking an iced coffee in a dance studio.

“She cares a lot about you and she sounds so worried about you. Are you ok?”

I should never have told her, because people caring like this destroyed me. I shake my head. “Nothing I can’t handle.”

“How are you and your boyfriend?” he asks and I nod. “We’re good.”

“So this has nothing to do with your relationship?”

“No it doesn’t.” I smiled sadly at him.

“Well, do you want to go get lunch?”

Before I can answer him, the bell rings and Evander is walking into the store. Garret's eyes widened the moment when he sees who it is.

“Sorry I can't, I have to look after the shop,” I tell Garret as Evander looks between the two of us.

“Hello Garret, this is a surprise,” Evander says and shakes Garret's outstretched hand.

“Indeed, what brings you to a book shop?”

“I was in the neighbourhood and I wanted to see if my friend Alena here,” he gave me a pointed look, “Would like to join me for lunch?”

I can’t even hide my shock.

“Well, she’s my cousin's best friend, so I have first dibs,” Garret jokes, but Evander doesn’t laugh, making it so awkward. There was this strange tension between them.

The oblivious Miss Penny comes walking in and almost trips when she sees Evander and Garret. They were both ridiculously handsome wearing suits. I must look ridiculous wearing my favourite baggy blue jean jumper and messy bun with yellow sandals.

“Well, hello you hunks! What do you want with my innocent Alena?” she asks as she walks towards us. I’m about to explain, but then the worst thing possible happens. I let the gift fall out of my hand and the package of course!! Fell out of the wrapping paper revealing the mini pink bullet vibrator Dewei bought me.

Kill me now.

Miss Penny doesn’t even try to hide her delight. She bursts out laughing.

“Oh well, maybe not that innocent!”

I grabbed the vibrator and darted to the back of the shop and threw it into my backpack. I then darted back knowing my face was burning.

“I have so much work I don’t think I can join you for lunch.” I give Miss Penny a pleading look. Hoping she would catch my drift.

“Bull!! You two can take her across the street! Just bring me a piece of cheesecake.” I glared at Miss Penny, but she just winked at me. I think this woman is trying to kill me.

#####

8 MINUTES LATER.

I’m seated between the two of them at the bar and not one of them has said anything about the vibrator yet.

Maybe we’re just going to get something to eat and go our separate ways. Make some good small talk and there you go.

“So why did you buy out all your investors and fire more than 85 people?” Garret asks Evander, and I try to focus on my menu to hide my shock. This was about to get very awkward.

“I’m here to eat lunch,” Evander says, not even looking at Garret.

“Hm, I hear you are going to use the building for an Orthopaedics and Prosthetic company. Is that true?”

“Why do you ask questions you already know the answer to?” Evander's voice was laced with irritation and I automatically hit his knee under the table with mine trying to calm him down.

“Because your motive is unclear, financially it just doesn’t make sense!” Garret says, and I then give him a pointed look.

“I came to eat and have small talk, can we please not talk about this now,” I say, but Garret ignores me and goes on.

“I was the CEO of one of those companies. I feel like I have the right to know.”

“It's personal.” Evander tried to signal the waiter, but Garret wasn’t having any of it.

“Business can’t be personal!”

Evander turns and looks at Garret in a way and I know exactly what type of fighter he is. He is one of those silent broody ones. He would just study his opponent until he saw the opportunity to strike. He had to get this look in the ring as well.

I tap his knee with mine again and shook my head in apology.

“ OK, I’m going,” I say and jump off my stool. Garret tried to call me back but I knew they had to figure whatever this was out between them and it had nothing to do with me. I have too many things going on in my life already. I won’t let anyone add more to my plate.