Mayor’s POV:She ran into my arms, wrapping her hands around me and tugging her face against my chest. I held my breath for a moment so I wouldn’t scare her. It was something I’d never felt before. As much as I have craved this day, the fear that it was a dream was making me worry.If it indeed was a dream, didn’t want to wake up from it. The scent of her hair was slowly intoxicating me. Her warm body in my embrace gave me chills down my spine. It was this moment when I felt like crashing my lips against hers, but I didn’t even hug her back for a moment. I was too scared to do that. I didn’t want to alarm her with my touch.It was like having a bird that flew away and sat down on a tea branch. One could see her, but making a move would alarm her into flying away. You want to touch her, but the situation is so fragile that all you can do is sit nearby and watch her. Phoenix was that bird for me. I didn’t want to scare her, but I had to get her closer, so I lightly pulled my arms around
Phoenix’s POV:I woke up on the door’s latch as a maid entered my room, giving me a smile. I yawned, stretching my body while shifting sides on the bed. Actually, it was Xavier’s room, and I’d been staying here for days, but he didn’t complain. The last night was unbelievable. The gift he gave me was the most precious thing to me.He helped me recover from the trauma so easily. I don’t know how he does all that, but he really is able to make my day."Morning sweetheart," the maid finally spoke when she realized I was too busy stretching."Morning," I replied, with a glimpse of a smile for her and also a sight of the breakfast. I stared at the fresh roses decorated decently on the tray."Mr. Mayor had picked them up himself from his garden," she said with a cheeky smile, and she closed the door before she walked out of the room.Why is he being so sweet to me?I mean, it wasn’t every day that Xavier would act so nice. Also, he was the first person after my mother to do so much for me.
I was annoyed with him for not telling me exactly what he had been doing to that poor boy.“Xavier,” I yelled in annoyance, making him let out a sigh and understand I wasn’t in a playful mood anymore.“Fine,” he rolled his eyes, getting up and placing the pen and the sandwich away at the same time, “he got what he deserved.” I heard him say.“Really? then I deserve the worst punishment too, from you.” I knew he would say that I’d already gotten my punishment. So I added the next two words for him.“You know I will never do that.” The beast in him showed up. I backed off a bit but then straightened my back again.“So you are not a good mayor who thinks everybody deserves the same punishment then,” I questioned him, not backing away and keep looking in his eyes.“Phoenix! You are asking something from me that I can never do. No matter how much you poke me around, I will never lay a finger on you,” he grunted, sounding sad that I was demanding that from him.“I’m telling Jace to set him
Although Jace has been nothing but a prick, his claims did alarm me. I have been through many struggles in my life which made me not believe anyone entirely.Even now, I badly wanted to believe I am not Felicity, nor Olivia to Xavier but somewhere inside my heart, the trust issues because of my experiences were itching me."You are saying this now because?" It was stupid of me to expect a straight answer from Jace. He was raging, and his motive was to convince me somehow."Talk to Felicity. Ask her what she went through; ask her how long Xavier and she had dated and how easy it was for him to toss her out of his life." The mention of them dating shocked me. That thought has never crossed my mind before. I remembered clearly the day Felicity was punished, and all I could hear was her wanting to marry some other guy. So, was that the reason for Xavier’s anger?She made it clear that day that she didn’t want to be with Xavier, so did she cheat on him, or did he throw her away?"Why now?
My chest tightened, and my breaths became increasingly louder. I couldn’t seem to shake that incident from my mind. I was watching the sight of the house get clear as I kept walking in its direction."Hey, Phoenix!" I was startled by the cheery greeting from one of the neighbors. They used to complain about me all the time, and now they are talking to me. However, they were not a part of that incident, and I know they have never liked me."Aww, you look so beautiful," the wife faked a sweet tone when watching me. She was obviously faking it now for some reason."How are you feeling now?" the lady continued to ask me, making me wonder what she was up to now."I am good," I mumbled, trying to avoid having eye contact with them. I wasn’t ashamed or guilty of anything, but just looking at them was a reminder of everything that happened the other night."I’m so glad you decided to come back." Her husband followed in her footsteps, acting all phony. I frowned, looking at their fake sweetnes
The arrival of Mr. Xavier was met with shock from everyone. Even I never thought he would come here to defend me."Mr. Mayor?" Derrell took a step back and quickly tied his hands behind his back, standing like an obedient student. I felt a tingling sensation just looking at him. I don’t know what to call those feelings because every time I see him, my heart jumps up and down in my chest. I would feel butterflies fly around and give me tingles."Oh! So you still remember you are not supposed to be rude to her?" Xavier shoved his hands in his coat and raised a brow. The clenching of his jaw when staring at Derrell should have been a hint for him not to call me again."Sir, she wanted to see my daughter and I don’t want her, aro---" I don’t know if Xavier noticed my frown or what, but he pointed out the exact thing that bugged me."I believe Phoenix is your daughter, too. Why are you such a bastard?" I noticed how calmly Xavier abused Derrell, and Derrell didn’t really dare utter a word
"You’ll join us at the dinner table tonight," he still didn’t answer me. In fact, he invited me for a dinner with everyone and walked away. I had no idea why he was dodging the question, but then again, sitting around a table with Miranda and Jace wasn’t a good idea at all. Xavier has to be planning something.Caring less about the people I was going to tolerate at the dinner table and more about my presence, I picked up a dress from the three dresses Xavier has sent me for the dinner.I walked down the staircase, looking at them as they stared back at me while already being seated.I could see the glow on Xavier’s face and the affection in Jaces’s smile. They both kept looking at me, making me trip one too many times."Here," Xavier cut off Jace’s words in the mid-way as Jace was about to offer me a seat with him. I was not going to sit with Jace, no matter what. He had been inappropriate with me, and I have not forgiven him for that. Xavier was sitting on the head chair while Jace w
"You were awake until now, and suddenly you are sleepy?" Xavier seemed to have noticed how upset I sounded now.. "Well, I’m sleepy now. What can we do about it?" I replied in a dejected tone, trying to walk away, but a hold against my arm halted my steps. "You really want to know why?" he asked in a whisper, making me gulp but keep my head lowered."Ignorance is not always bliss," I commented. "It’s because I---" he halted. He hadn’t even finished yet when my heart started pounding in my chest. "I don’t wanna lose you, Phoenix," and by the time he said that, my whole body felt goosebumps. He was standing behind me, holding me by my arm. I was facing away from him, but I felt the intensity in his words. I was too shocked to move a muscle. "Because I don’t know what you have done to me," his whisper in my ear gave me chills. He had come closer to my body; I could feel his warm body behind me. So close that I knew if I moved a muscle, our bodies would connect. "Why?" I asked again.