Roses and Guns

Chapter4

CHAPTER IV

“No more books!” Amsel stormed into the office, her fist clenched tightly, her fingers digging into her palm. “I swear, if I have to read one more book, I'll lose it,” she continued.

Instead of wallowing in sorrow, she decided to find happiness and see the silver lining, even though she couldn't see any lining, let alone a silver one. How could she see one when her sole source of entertainment, was books, attempting to read, she often found herself giving up after just a chapter or two.

Kenshi glanced up from his book, unfazed. “You don’t like books?” he asked, returning to his reading.

Her gaze lingered on him for a moment before she replied, “I’m not you.”

“What do you want to do?” he asked,flipping the page of his book.

She settled into a seat across from him and sighed, “ I want to go out. I'm tired of staying indoors all day.”

“That's not happening,” he replied flatly.

“I'm not Rapunzel, don't keep me locked here,” she frowned.

He met her gaze with a blank stare and said, “Ever heard of a prisoner leaving their prison?”

She clicked her tongue and fell back into the chair. She began tapping her fingers on his desk, intentionally provoking him. He responded with a stern gaze, causing her to click her tongue again as she turned her face away.

He closed his books and stood up, ready to leave.

“Leaving already ?” she asked, a mischievous smile on her face, reveling in her ability to provoke him.

“I have things to attend to,” he replied, making his way towards the door.

She swiftly blocked the office exit with her body.

“What are you doing?” he questioned.

“Preventing the warden from abandoning the prisoner,” she quipped, placing her hands on the door frame.

“Move,” he commanded, his tone soft yet firm.

“Make me,” she challenged, planting her feet firmly on the ground.

Without delay, his hands encircled her slender waist, effortlessly lifting her.

Cursing her petite stature, she wished she were bigger.

“What… what are you doing?” she stammered, audibly gasping. A wave of warmth surged through her body as she felt his strong arms around her as if the sun had been placed inside of her.

“Moving you,” he responded.

“Hey, look under there!” she suddenly shouted, pointing her finger to the other side of the room, distracting him.

“Look under where?” he asked, releasing her and turning towards the direction she was pointing.

“I made you say 'underwear'!” she burst into giggles, like a child who had just pulled a prank, “Did you get the joke?” she asked, between peals of laughter, clutching her stomach.

“I did,” he said, pressing his lips together.

“You're the most boring person I've ever met,” she sighed, gently brushing a tiny tear that had trickled down her cheek.

"I can tell that boredom is really getting to you," he remarked.

"Of course ! I feel like I'm going crazy!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with frenzy. She widened her eyes and pulled at her hair with her slender fingers.

“A bit dramatic,” Kenshi thought to himself. “Get ready, Aiko will accompany you,” he said aloud.

“Thank you,” she responded hastily, swiftly darting out of his presence.

********

He made his way down the stairs, adjusting his sleek black suit. His gaze landed on Aiko, who stood at the bottom, her eyes fixed on the white marble tiles, almost as if she sought permission to speak.

“What is it?” he inquired as he completed his descent.

“The doctor is expected any moment now,” Aiko responded in a gentle tone.

Realization hits him. “I forgot about that. I intended for you to accompany Amsel outside today,” he declared, contemplating his decision. “Then, she’ll be coming with me,” he concluded firmly.

“I'm ready,” Amsel chimed in, appearing on the stairs.

He looked at her faded gray shorts and slightly faded black shirt.

“You can’t go out with me in those clothes,” he asserted.

“You ?” she exclaimed. “I thought I was going out with Aiko!” She turned and shot a fierce glare at the woman who had betrayed her.

Aiko responded with a kind smile.

“Change of plans, Aiko is busy,” he explained.

“Well, as the great host that you are, you didn't provide me with anything to wear. I've been stuck with the clothes I found in my room's wardrobe,” she retorted.“ I’m not staying back,” she said with a firm voice, noticing Kenshi’s wavering.

“ What do we do?” Kenshi asked her.

Taking a thoughtful moment, she assessed Aiko, realizing none of Aiko’s clothes would fit her. Aiko’s slender frame contrasted sharply with her shorter, fuller figure and wider hips. Aiko was, if not, slimmer than the runway models.

“ We can stop at a boutique,” she replied.

“ You are not leaving this house with me in those clothes” he restated, as if she hadn’t understood his earlier statement.

“ And I’m not staying back” she asserted, folding her hands.

They both exchanged sinister stares, forcing Aiko to intervene.

“ Kenshi Sama, Why don’t you give her a shirt?” Aiko suggested diplomatically. “ It should be large enough to conceal the faded shorts” she added.

“That's not a bad idea,” Amsel said out. “ But wait!, I have to wear his clothes” she pondered to herself, “I would rather wear his clothes than spend one more day here reading another psychological book”. Lost in her thoughts, she felt Kenshi’s grip, pulling her up the steps.

As she trailed behind him, her eyes wandered across different art pieces that adorned the otherwise plain, white hallway.

After a few minutes, the door swung open, disclosing an enormous room that dwarfed her own. While the rest of the house was all white, his room was engulfed in darkness. The walls were painted in a deep black hue. The bedspread, sleek pieces of furniture, and accents were predominantly black, accentuated with touches of gold. The large windows were the only source of light, allowing natural light to filter into the room.

“ For someone who loves books, it’s quite surprising, you don’t have any books in here,” she remarked, her gaze still drawn to the room’s aesthetics.

“ I prefer not to read in my room” He replied, opening his closet.

“ You know, there are other colors except black and white,” she commented as she noticed even his closet was dominated with black clothes, with just a few neutrals mixed in.

He stared at her in silence for a moment before pulling out a black T-shirt.

“I’ll be waiting outside” he hands over the shirt and exits the room.

She slipped into his shirt, swaying left and right, assessing herself in the mirror. The shirt was pretty big on her, almost engulfing her fingers, but it did cover her faded shorts. She fixed her hair before joining Kenshi, who was already sitting in the car.

**********

“ It’s beautiful, but it is expensive,”Amsel remarked, admiring the gown, she loved how it flattered her figure. “ Are all your clothes this expensive?” she inquired.

“ Yes, but not to worry, Mr. Gravano can afford it,” the sales associate said, handing her more clothes to try on.

She was aware of his affluence, but she wasn’t ready to be indebted to him. In her experience, nothing in this life came without a cost.

She came out of the dressing room

“What price do I have to pay for these clothes?” She asked, placing her hands on her hips.

Kenshi’s gaze lifted, he couldn’t help but admire how good she looked in the gown, how its green shade accentuated her light amber eyes.

“ Nothing, consider it my gesture as a good host,” he finally replied.

“ You are not adding it to my brother’s debt?” She tightened her face.

“Do you want me to?”

She smiled before turning 180 degrees and went back into the dressing room.

She slipped into more clothes, carefully selecting which she would like to take.

“ Is that all?” The sales associate asked her.

“I also need a bag and shoes,” she requested.

“Alright,” the sales associate replied, before leaving.

Staring at the mirror,“ Finally a silver lining,” she said to herself, with a wide grin on her face.

Whilst admiring herself, she suddenly heard a scream, she dashed out. Her face turned pale, every muscle tightening as she saw a gun pointed at Kenshi's head.

“Bold enough to walk in daylight without a bodyguard?” The male figure jeered, pushing the gun against Kenshi’s head.

Kenshi’s usual unemotional demeanor was replaced with a wide grin.

“You are not scared of death,” the man remarked. “ But you would be, When it’s a loved one” he redirected the gun towards Amsel.

“No I’m not a loved one, please don’t shoot me, I mean nothing to him,” her legs trembling, her stomach as hard rock, she pleaded.

But it was to no avail, the man smiled before pulling the trigger.