06- Falling for a total stranger

ELISSA’S POV

•••

“Unbelievable.” Ava bursts into a laughter, and I bite my lower lip. “In summary, you slept with FREAKING Thane?!” Her green eyes widen, and then she breaks into another fit of laughter.

My stomach rolls with embarrassment. I told Ava about what happened with Thane and me. “You know you shouldn't say that out loudly.” I mutter before sipping my drink.

“We are alone here.” She answers, her voice still laughing. “Besides, who cares?”

“Well, you should. You are actually the cause of it for putting that thing in your drink.” I remind her, and she shakes her head in disbelief while smiling.

“No, I am not.” She counters as she takes the cup from me. “I was going to put it next to you on the bar. But when you went over there, I thought you deserved something extra special, so I decided to put it near you instead.”

“What? Don’t blame me. I didn’t expect you to drink my wine.”

“You should have at least indicated.” I groan.

“I didn’t bother because we both know you are very careful with alcohol. I didn’t expect you to take mine along with yours.” She replies, giving me a playful slap on the arm.

“Well, you told me to have fun.” I return. “Alcohol was my best shot.”

“Exactly.” Ava puts on a smug smile before inching closer with a knowing look. “So tell me, how was the ‘fun?’ Is he good in bed just like he looks?”

A blush creeps up my neck instantly, and I can’t tame my mind from returning back to that night at his penthouse. The thoughts of it still make me wet occasionally.

“Wow, with that look on your face, it’s easy to tell.” Ava comments, studying my face closely.

“Yeah, he was. The best I have ever had in a long while.” I admit pathetically. “And worse…” my words trail off.

“And worse?” Ava nudges with a raised eyebrow.

I hold her gaze before slowly releasing a heavy breath. “I miss him, Ava.” I confess.

This makes her smile, and I can feel her hand on my knee as she moves even nearer to me.

I speak again before she does, “I fucking miss every bit of him. It's strange how I feel this way for a total stranger.” The words tumble out of my mouth quietly.

She stays quiet for a moment before responding. ““Well, correction for you, Lisa.” She says. “But after that night, he is…not so a total stranger.”

I sigh, not knowing what to say.

“So what are you going to do now, huh?”

“Forget about him and move on with my life of course.”

“Forget? Then what about your apartment keys you left at his place?” She folds her arms. “And your bra.”

My face burns at her last words. In a rush out of his place the previous morning, I have forgotten something so important like my apartment keys. I have crashed at Ava’s place for the night, but I know I have to return to my apartment very soon. Although her place is far more luxurious than mine, I still miss home. Besides, she also has a boyfriend (or friends with benefits) who comes to visit often, and I generally miss home.

I bury my face with my palms. “I don’t really know.” I groan. Seeing Thane again is like a really hard mission. I know what his bare presence can do to me. I am afraid of my walls crumbling again after meeting him. Like I already said, I am avoiding getting too deep with him, because it will be difficult to escape his charm.

Ava places a palm on my arm, interrupting my thoughts. “You know you can't avoid him if you need to retrieve your belongings. It's worse the two of you didn't share contacts. Well, at least you know where you can find him.” She shrugs.

I sigh.

“Let me get some cookies to make you feel…better.” Ava stands up and walks to the kitchen.

My phone rings and the call is unidentifiable. I pick it up regardless. “Hello?”

The person on the other end speaks formally, and the words she says make my lashes flutter repeatedly.

“Thank you very much…” I screech in excitement once the call was over.

“Did something happen?” Ava returns with the cookies, noticing my expression.

“You won't believe this, Ava!” I quickly rise up and grab her arms excitedly. She starts to smile even without understanding my source of joy. “Remember the job interview I went for two weeks ago?”

“Yes, yes, I do!” Her smile begins to grow bigger, her eyes enlarging with a wild guess of my next words.

“I got the job, Ava!” I grab her in a hug, and we begin to jump together in screams.

“Congratulations! Finally!” She squeezes me. “What do you call the company again?”

“Right. K empire.” I tell her with more excitement. It is a leading company in the industry, and its success and reputation are legendary.

However, Ava freezes. “K empire?” She repeats, her lashes fluttering repeatedly.

“Yeah.” I stop jumping slowly, noticing her shocked expression. “Is something wrong?” I squeeze my brows slightly.

She gasps, with her brows raising. “K empire. That belongs to the Kensington family.”

I remain puzzled, and then she shakes my arms to express her point.

“That's Thane’s family. He is the heir of the K empire; Thane Kensington.”

***