6: The present as we know

We lie in each other's arms eyes shut and fingers open and all the colors of the world pass through our bodies like strings of fire.

Marge Piercy

I'm still stuck in bed and unwilling to move when my alarm does off at 6:30 and it is three minutes to my workout time. I normally workout three days out of seven, to keep in shape and though it used to be six days, I know it's better than nothing. But today, unlike most workout days, I am not in the mood in the very least.

I stayed up late, just thinking about Rogue and what to do to him, I Googled and found incomplete information about him. He's a Playboy, notorious for having brief flings with different women and going through his dating profile I know he has a thing for tall, but curvy girls and though I don't fit in those criteria, I don't let it bother me or deter me from my set goal. Today I will approach him with a business proposal and he better accept or I will burn him to the stake. And by burning him to the stake, I mean tell Caleb Mickelson that he was the one fucking his wife a week ago.

What better way to get into the mood for what you have decided to do?

I sigh and sit up on my bed, rubbing my eyes to further open and brighten them up, I decided to take a quick run first and so I change into my running clothes, put on my sneakers and pick my white towel before going downstairs.

I am however surprised to see Zander already awake and I am unable to stop staring at him. I take notice that there are bags under his eyes and he looks like he hasn't slept for ten days. His hair though still in a bun is a complete mess and he's in his white singlet and blue boxers.

"What are you doing up?"

"Rough night," comes his inaudible response before looking up fully at me and asking, "what are you doing?"

"Going for a run," I reply, gripping the towel around my neck for emphasis as I move past his seat to the kitchen to get a bottle of water I can take with me.

"Safe running then, The Good Doctor just premiered and I'm trying to catch up with the episodes I missed in ten minutes..."

"Enjoy!" I say before running off.

I ran for the next seven minutes without stopping and when I do, I'm breathing heavily and wildly. I need a clear head and a light heart. I made a deal with Caleb to bring him the man who was with his wife in exchange for his company, so doing anything contrary would be breaking a promise, unless of course, Rogue has something better to offer than the company I got.

I do a quick run again for another four minutes before turning back and jogging home which takes me fifteen minutes to get back home.

I hit my gym and do thirty sit-ups and twenty squats before moving over to the punching bag. I don't punch as hard as I used to, maybe because I'm no longer as angry and violent as I used to be, but learning self-defence was and still is needful especially since I deal with either angry or horny males a the time. When I trained for six out of seven days, I had an instructor and though I no longer do, I can always hear his voice every time in my head when I train, telling me what to do and go and even how to hit and by his voice in my head I mean I have a recording of his instruction on my headphone.

I already have a lot of punishment lined for Rogue up in my head such as spanking, wiping, chaining and tying up. Yes, all my punishment constitutes of sexual dominance because I do want him to feel as powerless as I felt in his hand a week ago. I don't know why but I badly want that god on his knees and at my mercy, pleading for pardon as I starve and deprive him of sexual fulfilment. I clench my legs together and I know my pant are damp already as I think about it.

Look what just the thought of him does to you. What will happen when you finally meet him?

I groan heavily and I choose to push the thought aside as I take off my gloves and decided to hit the shower from there.

I step out of the house all dressed and ready for work in my red pencil mouth skirt and my white silk top. My hair is in a ponytail and my makeup as moderate as possible and before stepping into my black Porsche, I dial my Havana's number and at the first ring she picks up, the quickness she always possesses in regards to my answer my calls makes me smile for the first time today.

"Morning boss."

I chuckle, "Good morning, Ana I thought I told you you don't have to call me boss, Alex is just fine."

"I know, love boss though." Comes her sassy response, "what do you want me to do for you today?"

"What appointment do I have this morning."

"Nothing after nine O'clock."

I look at my wristwatch which the time on it says eight-thirty before inquiring, "What's at nine?"

"Umm. It is the empower a girl's march? You said you will join them this month. And then nothing else till four."

I nod even though she can't see me, "Okay also remind me what's at four?"

"The meeting you said was with Patrick Adeyemi, it's today."

My skin instantly crawls at the mention of his name and I sigh softly, knowing how important what Patrick brings to the table with this deal is. "Okay thank you, Ava. I'll head to the location now and set the reminder for the meeting on my phone."

"You're welcome, boss." She replied.

I'm almost about to end my call when I realise I've got zero knowledge with the man I hope to meet today and I've got a psychic in my corner that can get me whatever information I need if I ever ask.

"Can you do me a favour and promise to keep it between us?" I request, sounding a little unsure.

"When have I not ever?" She asks, her tone question probably because her ego has been bruised by me.

The answer is never, she one of the few loyal ones I've got and I can always bet my life on that. "I want you to look up the name Rogue Von Quaint and tell me everything you find out about him."

"Okay."

I knew I could count on her, "Thanks."

"Sure thing boss." She replies before the call ends.

The march was a success as many people (girls mostly) turned up for the march and we made the rally round, walking for more than 2 hours and though impressed with everything, my feet were sore, from the walking and the heels and I knew I had to take a break, rest and leave as I have an important place to be soon.

"I'm so glad you joined us," Agatha Zain, wife Felix Zain my business partner said as she comes to me with all smiles on her face.

"I'm honoured to have been part of the march Agatha, I'll send in my support and funding tomorrow," I promised, "send my love to the girls and tell them I had to leave for an urgent meeting with someone."

She nods and I'm sure it's all good, "I will and once again, thank you."

The man who had driven my car to its parking spot 2 hours ago drives it back and stepping out he hands me the key which I take and enter the car. I start the car and drive off.

I stare at my wristwatch, it says ten minutes past eleven o'clock and I've got five more hours before I meet with Patrick and I dial Havana's number again.

"Hey boss, how was the march? I saw you on a live stream."

"Great, I'm leaving now. What have you got for me?"

"Well not much, when it came down to him, almost everyone knows nothing other than his name, age, sexuality and favourite food, but I got a little more than that."

I breath out in relief, "What is it?"

"He is a massive playboy and changes girls as fast as the chameleon change colours, but for the moment, he's single the past two weeks though."

I groan, feeling sad that my day isn't going to go the way I planned. "If those were the information I wanted, don't you think I would have done the checking myself?"

"I was pretty sure you'd say that, well he has not always been in Vincent's life, two years ago there was a shake in the Von Quaint HQ and it was because Rogue wanted to take over. Many people say that he knew all the while that Vincent was his biological father but that was. Well, that still didn't stop him cause he still went ahead and took over thirty-nine per cent of all Vincent shares."

"Vincent decided it was best if he steps down for him instead and the agreement was announced to the board who supported and a month ago Rogue took over the Von Quaint businesses worldwide. And he hasn't stopped there, he's managed to take down every opposition in his way and crushed down under feet his opponents."

"He's ruthless and always gets his way in the end and the best advice for anyone is to not get on his bad side."

"That's a lot to take in."

"I know boss," she agrees, "why are you asking for all this information? Do you have an issue with him? If you do tell me what else I can so because I do not plan on Rogue being my boss any time soon."

I shake my head even though she can't see me, because I know that would never happen, "You've done enough Ava, I'll take it from here. Thank you once again, Ava"

"Sure thing boss." Comes her reply before the line ends.

I bring my car to a stop in front of the massive Von Quaint's company building and get down before handing my car keys to the security guard at the entrance of the building. I've been here before, but then the company was under different management then and though it feels like it's the same, I know it isn't.

My yesterday research about Rouge didn't yield much, but at least I know his office is on the ninth floor which is completely different from Vincent who had his office at the third.

Maybe he's got his office so high so no one would bug him. Or maybe he hates socialization as much as the name goes.

Once at the ninth floor, I walk over to the secretary on the seat with the name Chizara and I smile at her before speaking, "I'm here to see Mr Von Quaint, is he in?"

"Yes, but I need to know who you are?"

After a moment of pausing, "Alexander Black." I say, using Black instead of Paige.

"Okay Ma'am, do you have an appointment with him?"

"No, but I'm pretty sure he'll recognise me once he sees me."

"I can't do that, Mr Von Quaint won't be happy with-"

I walk away from her presence and make my way into the room that has Von Quaint on the door and once inside, I realise that I came unprepared because the sight of him literally knocked the air out my lungs.

He seems to have been writing something and as he sees me he drops the pen in his hand down on the file of papers in front of him. He looks relaxed, too relaxed if you asked me, but then again, it's his office and he has the right to look however he likes.

"Leave us, Chizara." He tells the lady walking in to lay her protest and nodding, she obeys. 

His eyes lock in mine and we don't speak for the next few moments that pass. Yes, now I see the resemblance between Vincent and Rogue because this past week for me, the blue eyes has just been blue eyes, but having been told he's Vincent's son, I know it not a coincident that they both have deep blue eyes. There are short beards on his face which were not there last week nor on the TV when I saw him yesterday, but it makes him even more matured in a sense. 

He looks hot and neat and manly in every way possible.

His hair is a few inches longer than it was last week which I'm not complaining about either and before I can help it, my eyes drop to his lips, to his slightly parted, full lips and I don't know if it's to punish me, but he licks it and I shudder.

I want him, more than I've ever wanted anything in my life, I do and I am beginning to think that coming here was a big mistake. I thought I was ready to meet him, but as it turns out, I'm not even close to mentally being okay.

I briefly close my eyes when I hear him speak, "When I heard Alexander Black, I thought it was a man, I have forgotten your name is Alexander. But isn't it Paige though and while we are on the subject of names, what kind of a mother names her girl child Alexander?"

"Your mother named you Rogue" I find my voice and composure to fire back. "And it's very nice to know you speak English," I say and take my seat, but not even thinking of getting comfortable.

He smiles and I know there is more maliciousness in his smile than there is happiness. "I'm a man of mystery mi gatita. To be frank I expected this confrontation the second day we met and when I didn't see you I thought well she's either dumb or not as smart as she makes herself out to be."

Did he just call me dumb? And what does he mean by he knew me when he saw me?! "Excuse me?"

"I'm going to take you're not completely stupid if you can make out what I just said without asking me to explain myself over and over again like you're some little kid."

"Fuck you! I didn't come here to be insulted by you or called name," I snap, losing my cool more than I should.

His blue eyes go rigid as they take a full scan of my whole body and makes me feel like what I have on isn't enough covering and my anger died away. "Then why are you here? Cause your I'm sex starve and need some good fucking doesn't cut it mi gatita."

My legs grow week at his words and I can't deny a part of his words are true. I've missed the closeness of a man, the touch, soft caresses, quiet whisper and a good hard fuck!

I scoff in disbelief and silently hiss both at myself and him, apparently, he's just another male who is full of himself and I am giving in too easy. But what did I expect? "You ruined my phone, didn't give a formal apology for your uncultured act and you cost me millions of dollars with the stunt you pulled on me Mr Quaint, you owe me."

He smirks darkly as he gets up from his seat and makes his way over to my side, taking his steps carefully, but possessively and the closer he gets, the higher my heartbeat goes. "Which are you most upset about? That you lost both your phone and the contract or that I left you undone, horny and desperately needing my big cock in you? The one so impossibly big, you couldn't stop staring at it." He says with an uncensored sexiness that sends shivers down my spine and I clamp my legs together in control but fail horribly because his blue eyes do not waver from mine and his gaze drinks in every little reaction my body makes.

No one needs to tell me that I am fucked and also that he knows it and is going to exploit it either.

I've never been at the mercy of a male in a long time and the thought of it would have irked my skin, but here I am is having my walls torn down by this perfect stranger and I can't fight it.

"You're so full of yourself aren't you?" I finally ask, with a sardonic smile.

"I am and soon you'd be full of me too mi gatita," he assures with so much certainty I feel like he just violated me.

I get up, outraged and turned on by the show he's put up since I stepped into his office ten minutes ago and what the hell is mi gatita?!

"You know what? Forget I came here. I'll just go and tell Caleb you were the guy he caught fucking his wife a week ago. Did I tell you he's been looking for you ever since then? Good luck fucking your way out of that."

I walk to the door and I'm about to open it when he speaks up, "Wait." and there's a defeat in his tone which takes my day to a whole level of better.

I smirk and pause, but in no rush to turn around I ask. "What?"

"I'm willing to hear what you have to say."

I turn around and fold my arms over my chest stubbornly, "Why? Scared that Caleb would make your whole existence a living hell for what you."

He chuckles looking less threatened at my words, "No tengo miedo de nadie, I'm not afraid of anybody Alex," he says confidently in English as well.

My brow quirks at him, "Really why did you run from the hotel last week?"

"I didn't run," he says in a matter of fact tone of voice.

I roll my eyes, "Yeah right."

"I left because I knew staying will bring more harm than good to the man in question and you got caught in the crossfire because you had your eyes and attention where there weren't supposed to be. Plus I tend to lose focus around beautiful women, mi gatita hermoso." He concludes sending a wink at me.

I know he said a lot of words, but what my memory clings to is that of him calling me beautiful and I wish I can shake the words and its effects away but there's nothing to do about it anymore.

"Is being a home breaker something you're proud of?"

It's not judgement, I am no better but I don't take pride in it. It needs to be done, but I don't gloat about it.

"Is that what you think that I ruined a perfect marriage made in heaven?" He asks in a small and mocking tone of voice.

"Yes!" Now even I sound stupid with that reply, "He's her husband she shouldn't have done that to him."

His brow raises, "Did he tell you he was also gay? And not just gay but has a much younger lover?" I open my mouth to speak, but slams it shut when nothing comes out.

"I'll take that as a yes! Their marriage was never meant to be and he entered into it with lies."

"Why are you defending her?" I demand, feeling frustrated at him.

"Because you aren't." He answers, "gatita you know the truth, but you're choosing to ignore it. In your opinion, it's okay for him to cheat on her multiple times, but not okay if she does it once? Because she's what a woman? She's been trapped in a marriage with a man, who doesn't want her and doesn't care breaking their marriage vows and cheating on her over and over again all because she signed a prenup bonding her to him for 25 years, but guess what? It ends next year and I'm making sure Maria gets everything she deserves and that's everything he owns."

My heart does a double beat when he calls her name, "So you're her lover then?" 

"Mi gatita, are you Jealous?"

Do I even have the right to say yes? I am jealous that he speaks so fondly and nicely about a woman who in my mind was caught in the act therefore is guilty as sin. Yet hearing him argue and bring out her side makes me feel wrong for everything.

"No, just glad she's got you on her side. It's not easy being all alone especially at the top." I say the last part to myself before getting up. "I got to go."

"Aren't you going to tell me what I owe you?" He voice is heavy with curiosity as he asks.

"You belong to someone else."

His brows pull together and his forehead folds as a deep frown settles on his broad face, "And when was it I said that mi gatita hermoso?"

I open my mouth to speak again but close it. The truth is he never did, everything he said about Maria, he never for once said she was his lover or girlfriend, I can conclude that they've got an understanding.

His eyes drop down to my lips and stay there. "Tell me then, I want to know what I owe you and know if I can payback."

"One year," I say, feeling more confident as I move back towards him and this time he backs up. "One year is what I want in return."

"One year of what gatita?" He asks, his voice shuddering and his eyes squinting.

"I read up a few things about your personal life, you hardly commit to one woman and no matter how hard you work or how successful you are, people will only think of how successful you are at a relationship and not just flings. So I'm offering you one year of you telling the world you're matured enough to commit to one woman, one year of sex the best way you want it. One year of me." By th e time I finish, his back is already against the way and my chest dangerously close to him. I smirk and asks, "if you say yes, I'll have the contract send to you as early as possible tomorrow morning so what do you say mi gatita?"

.