7. Go Back

CAROLINE

We're pulling over once we get to the mansion and I step down. "Drop Susan back home safely," I tell my driver and my assistant looks at me with worry on her face while I smile back, my default setting as the car drives off.

I hear his footsteps before I turn to see him storming towards me. Once he gets closer, he grabs my shoulders and he looks concerned immediately.

"Are you alright? Did you get hurt?" Malcolm asks, searching my gaze with worry in his face. His expression is foreign to me and that concern in his voice but I can't lie, they do make him look very good.

Now all that's left is for him to drop on his knees crying and pleading for all-- ah, let's not get carried away. I hope my poker face is okay.

"I'm fine," I take a step back and his arms fall from my shoulders. I draw in a deep breath, it's hard to catch a break from his touchy hands.

"You didn't need to come all the way here," I tell him. "I already called the cops-"

"I got here faster," he points out with a slight frown. "You should be careful, Caroline. Has this happened before?"

"Thank you for your help but I really didn't need it. I still do not understand why you insisted on following me here-"

"Would you rather have those stalkers follow you home then?" He arches his brow in annoyance

Well excuse me but, "You could be stalking me yourself. What's the difference between you and them? I do not know either of you-"

He growls this time. A very strange sound that makes me shut my mouth and almost catches me off guard. His eyes are glaring so hard but it's nothing new to me. They simply remind me of my nightmares.

"What do you mean? You'd rather have complete strangers who clearly have bad intentions stalk you than-"

"Than... who?" I wonder, tilting my neck in question and blinking at him expectantly. "Who... are you, Mr. York?"

He stares at me in shock and after a moment of silence, I see the defeat in his eyes but it doesn't take long before he lifts his head and he's wearing his calm face like he didn't just get hit with the harsh truth.

If he's going to call out the stalker, then can I too call out the fact that his actions are creeping me out? A man who betrayed me suddenly acting so nice and caring-- I can't believe I'm about to say this while standing on my grandmother's well kept property but I smell a rat!

"If that'll be all, I guess we can say our goodbyes then," I turn around. "Thank you nonetheless now I wonder if this is something I should pay back."

"You're... too formal with me, Caroline," his hoarse voice jerks my brows and I turn to him. He looks pained and like his control is slipping. I don't think I've ever seen him this pissed before.

When he looks at me, I don't know when I stagger back. The air around him is telling me to run but I clench my fist behind me and stand firm on the ground.

What would he possibly do to me? His eyes are terrifying and I wonder what's going through his head.

"You can leave now, Mr. York," I say the words without stuttering and that's a relief on my part. "What are you waiting for?"

I cannot have Grandmother questioning me about this. Telling her he followed me home to keep me safe is the first truth but why did he stay longer? What would I say? He's going to put me in so much trouble-

I'm suddenly pulled out of my thoughts by the hand that yanked me on my wrist, pulling me closer. I catch a glimpse of Malcolms eyes and my heart leaps into my mouth as I see the mischief behind them.

His hand sneaks around my waist and the other on my face as his lips presses against mine.

I freeze, unable to break away from the spell of shock. My eyes are wide open in shock and my hands crushed between his body and mine.

He's swirling his tongue in my mouth and I can taste the whiskey on his lips. The realisation of what's happening suddenly hit me and I'm shoving him away with all my strength, glaring at the piece of trash.

He has stains of my lipstick on him and I wipe my fist over my mouth to get rid of his kiss. He's panting, wanting to reach for me again but I smack his hand away.

The nerve of this man- "H-H-How dare you!" I wish I could drill a hole into his head from just my glare.

"Now that's a more appreciated expression," he says, whipping the corner of his mouth in style. "I was wondering how long you'd keep that poker face on-"

"What the fuck?" The audacity he has to even say it to my face is shocking. I don't dare put my fist down from over my mouth. He could try that rubbish again.

"Now do you remember me?" He asks like he didn't just pull the biggest shittiest attitude in the history of shitty attitude!

I huff at his question and take a step forward-- You have some nerve, Malcolm. Who do you think you are? Do I remember you? The question is 'do you remember me?' because if you did you wouldn't be standing before me right now with all your cockiness and sass like the scum that you are-- is what I want to say but, the way he looks at me has me stopping.

He's desperate to peel off my mask and he wants to have fun doing so. Why should I give in? It's obvious my nonchalance has gotten to him and I intend to drill it in even further.

He thinks he can live rent free in my mind? Well he has another thing coming for him.

I puff out air and try to remain calm. "I don't know who sent you, Mr. York but I don't do married men. If this is a scheme to ruin my image, it's a shame that you let yourself be used as a puppet."

His expression is priceless. He doesn't know whether to be confused or to be mad.

"Regardless, please remember that your wife is my cousin. It should be in your best interest not to start a feud-"

"You were my wife first," he says but I glide over it.

"Please go back to your wife and leave me out of whatever mess your marriage is in. I do not wish to have an affair with a married man, much more a man who kicked me out all those years-"

His eyes widen at my mention of it and once again, he's desperate to explore it, to latch onto the memories and tug at it.

Why?

Why? Is there something he wants to say? Why bring up something that hurtful with that cocky attitude of yours? I hate his guts. I hate his attitude. I hate that he's right before me and I hate that I can still feel his lips on mine.

"Caroline, please listen to me-"

My heart skips a beat and I suddenly can't breathe. I turn away immediately before he catches on to my shock.

"Please leave at once-"

"Caroline wait," but I'm hurrying to the front door, stiff as a board and shutting the door behind me.