Chapter 08

ALEXA

Levi had to be a total jackass for wanting to lift me out of the car like I weighed nothing—

As soon as he had pulled out of his side of the car and yanked the door on my side open, I’d hopped out of the car.

I had already been humiliated enough by the incident and the manner at which he was screaming at me and didn't want that to happen anymore.

In a way I just wanted to forget about it and put it behind me. But I couldn’t do that, not with the manner in which he was looking at me.

If anything could change, if I had it in me to stand up to him at the moment I lost definitely would.

As it turned out to be at the end there would always be charred remains of myself —and possibly a part —reminding me that he was the only wrong person to that with.

Sure, as it turned out he was a disgusting creep, but as it turned out to be I was enslaved to him and there wasn't much I could do.

"Levi."

It was the first time I was saying names and I wondered what guts I had to do so.

At the same time as it turned out I would rather do anything than go into what looked to be a party.

He gave me his “I’m listening” expression for the first time in a long time. “What is wrong?" He rolled his eyes. "You are not going to start arguing with me again are you?"

I crossed my arms, saying simply, “I am not comfortable joining the party." I gave him my most pitiful look as I turned to face away from him.

At that moment, my back tingled in awareness, as I could feel his warm presence and his gaze coasted above my head. Apparently, he was right behind me and I could feel his warmness.

All that ran through my mind was what he was going to do.

The look on his eyes clearly whispered how angered he was about the entire situation.

He stopped right behind me…leaning in to whisper Into my ears with a strong grip on my wrist.

I swallowed.

Something amused and dangerous played in Levi’s gaze.

My heartbeats collided with a crash. "You are hurting me."

He stiffened beside me, and I knew why he did: he thought I’d done something inappropriate speaking against what he wanted.

Heat rushed to my cheeks, as my heart heaved heavily.

 This man had found out my weakness and was playing with me.

Frustration clawed at my chest. The last thing I wanted was to make this situation 

 worse by disagreeing with him. And so, I forced my voice into the lightest tone I

could muster. 

“I—"

I swallowed as I felt his warm air on the nape of my neck.

"You?"He questioned whatever I wanted to say.

His voice was as though daring me to speak.

I sighed and closed my eyes saying nothing.

"Thought as much." 

He pulled a hand out of his pocket and ran a thumb across his bottom lip, as he took two steps back.

 He looked impressed I had played along

but I was almost disappointed that I had argued with him at first.

I did not like this man—not at all.

A cold whisper ran through my blood as he whispered.

"Get moving."

******

I walked as slowly as I could cautious about my short dress as I kept pulling at it as I made my way in.

At that moment the only thing that ran through my mind was the fact that I looked more or less a whore .

As it looked, he didn't seem to care that other men had their eyes on me. As a matter of fact it looked as though he was enjoying whatever he was up to.

The click of my heels echoed off the wooden floorboards of the hallway as we made our way into wherever he was going to, each echo that came from my heartbeat replayed each of its vibrations against my breastbone.

It had only been days since I arrived here with him yet he had made me do whatever he wanted at this moment, I could tell he had a task waiting for me.

A part of me wanted to believe he wasn't all that bad, yet the uncertainty I felt was the same, this time it was as though something had shifted right in my chest 

 The feeling left an ache in my lower stomach that bloomed to fill every available space in my body.

Soon, we arrived at what looked to be a bigger suite than the first we saw, this time he let his palm trail the small of my back as he led us to a seat.

It was merely a touch yet I could feel it—him—everywhere, it was the first physical touch that came so calmly and deep down in my heart I wondered perhaps there was a part of him I needed to dig in to find out.

As it turned out the touch didn't really last for long as we were soon seated.

Looking around at what looked to be executively – class, a part of me felt a bit inferior.

"Look up, you are looking dead." Levi leaned in and whispered.

I adjusted myself, making sure I looked more comfortable.

It was easy to see that I got everyone's attention at the table and one would say it was because I was beautiful minus the nudity unfortunately, and a certain male’s attention.

A light breeze blew through the yard, as classical music played from the harmonica quietly.

 As I leaned back on the chair enjoying the cool wind, I looked around and saw that I had the attention of a woman —Athena.

It was hard not to notice her as I had seen her face many times in the news. She was beautiful and in a way had everything a woman would want .

Soon as our gazes met, I averted mine and looked the other way not before I saw the smirk that crawled over her face.

Soon I realized she was walking toward my direction . What I was doing could have been innocent enough, but it had most definitely gotten her attention.

I wondered why she was walking toward me.

I looked around for Levi wondering where he was and why he had left me at the table, he was at the other end with two other men at another table with paperwork before them.

"You are Levi's new girl right?" She asked. 

I looked up at her keeping the gaze, deep down in my mind I didn't know the right way to answer whatever she was asking.

"Athena, didn't expect to see you here."

I sighed in relief as I saw him walking toward us.

It was timely as I couldn't help breathing in relief.

He pressed his lips to the side of my cheeks as soon as he reached where I was and I was surprised to see him acting all sweet.

"Sorry for keeping you here for so long."

Athena smile's but waves as she walks back. "I Will catch you both later." 

She sat with her back to me, the man he had been talking with at the end of the table, and Levi facing me. The latter’s gaze was warm and pretentious each time it touched my skin— I could do that easily because he acted that way only when she knew Athena was looking.

He leaned back in his chair and tapped his pen on the paperwork he had been busy with, his eyes coasting to me every once in a while.

Without being told, I knew that it was Best for me to act along.

Truly, I wasn’t acting on rational thought.

I was running on some kind of feeling that came right from deep in my thoughts 

and manipulated my actions.

Occasionally, Athena would glance my way, though it was more detached, as if she was jealous or some sort.

Soon, they were shaking hands …it turned out that Levi hadn't actually come where for a party as I had supposed but for whatever meeting— 

I was wondering to myself who in his right senses would pick a noisy club for a meeting when he soon reached my side.

"Get up, we are leaving." 

He seemed obviously pissed at something, and I was certain it wasn't me

Together we Walked out into the driveway with Athena prying eyes behind us.

Soon, as we got into the car he unknotted his tie taking a deep breath.

We drove in silence, neither of us saying a word.

Apparently, with the way he was acting up it looked as though whatever he wanted had not turned out well.

I could tell that it was going to be a hell of night for me as I was going to be at the receiving end of whatever this is.

When he instructed the driver to take another turn, it didn't even utter a word in protest .

I merely looked around the tall trees that graced the surrounding area as we made our way through.

Finally, we were arriving at what looked to be a penthouse.

He gave instructions to the driver who drove away.

We both stood in silence.

"So now what, Why this place?" I asked, as I dug the earth with the edge of my shoe.

"We will stay here tonight." He answered as soon as he started walking again.

Levi typed something into the security system as I slipped off my heels.

Stopping before the stairs, he glanced at me. His gaze was dark, as I could see it 

shimmering, with a depth into my soul.

“You good?” He asked soon as we were in.

A part of me was wondering why he asked—

“Good,” I breathed, though I felt a bit weird answering.

He nodded once before he took the stairs leaving me trailing behind him as I stood there at a spot burning.

 I stood there for a moment, with nothing but the sounds of the house and the quietness it came with.

Padding into the kitchen, I filled a glass from the faucet and set it on the table.

Walking to the window,I looked out of it at the trees as I sipped slowly.

I grasped the edge of the window and closed my eyes, taking a fresh breath in while letting the pressure that was building up in my chest out slowly.

I decided to look around, and the first place that came to my mind was the room. The stairs creaked beneath my bare feet, as I made my way up the room.

Prickling my ear I heard the shower running from one of the bathrooms and for a minute I thought about walking in, it was as though I had gotten so used to his touch that it was all I craved.

Indecision ate at me. It would be so easy to let my dress fall to the ground and get into the shower with him, yet I didn't know if he wanted me that way.

Definitely not tonight.

A part of me was certain he wouldn’t turn me away, though that was never the reason for the feeling inside of me.

Deep in my mind I had just one, one name that was popping up each time I tried to put it away.

As I was about to walk away, he walked out.

He walks out In nothing but a towel, as I paused mid way of the room with indecision strong enough it vibrated in my heart.

"Need something?" He asked.

As he did he walked toward me, I took steps back eager to get away from him.

It kept crossing my mind that perhaps it was a mistake coming down here.

"I said, do you want something?"

"Yeah—" I stuttered.  

"Who is Athena?" I asked, leaving him puzzled.

The name fell off my lips before I could stop myself. A part of me blamed it on reflex, a deeper part really wanted to know.