Then, We Shall

 “That man…”

After the devastating loss that I had to deal with a while ago, I went to excuse myself to avoid embarrassment from the people in the room. Even though this marble mask is the only thing that could hide me from the crowd of “lusting bidders”, anyone would know who that lady is with the pearly white sleek dress and a marble mask on. It’s because…

“I’m Natalie Yoon and no one has ever tried to cross paths with me in bidding for rare auctioned antiques.”

I took off my mask and looked at the mirror.

I slowly scanned my face to check my dissatisfaction but instead, I saw someone beautiful…

“My eyes…” I looked at the reflection of my eyes in the mirror and said, “These are the ones that made me succeed.” Indeed, these are the very own eyes that can see aesthetically pleasing jewelry; that can sense beauty.

These lips… I proceeded to touch my supple, red, sultry lips.

“These are the ones that saved me from further embarrassment a while ago.” Indeed, if I weren’t too soon excused myself, I could have been laughed at. But wait… these are also the ones who made me slip the chance of having a new acquaintance out of Harold Kang. He was quite interesting. Well, I had only been interested after he proclaimed to be a North Korean defector.

“My thoughts are running wild again.” It’s not unusual for my mind to focus on different topics at once. I have been aware of this tendency hence I cannot accept the fact that I lost today’s rare item!

Mr. Kim had already promised me the necklace! He's a businessman indeed...

“Ahhh!”

I stumped my foot repeatedly not even caring of the ladies fixing their makeup beside me. The ladies were surprised by my sudden reaction. 

“I’m sane.” I have to reassure them, of course.

I never cared less about these ladies’ reactions to my outburst but right now, I just need to stand up straight and just leave from this misery. I walked out of the comfort room and waked with my chin up high. No matter what happens, I shall have all the rare ones in auction events in South Korea. In fact, I can’t even wait for what rare jewelry I’d find next in another auction. By then, I will be sure to keep that man at bay; away from stealing what is mine.

As I walked through the hallway, slowly getting away from the crowd, I smelled a strong familiar scent coming from behind. 

I paused for a moment to remember where I had smelled the exact scent just now. It smelled of an exotic perfume rich with light citrus fragrance mixed with earthy and sensual after-rain dewy scent. It’s a smell that would linger on someone that would still offer them good odor even after a long day. It’s the kind of smell that would want you to stay on the bed next to them until you drown in sleep. A scent that would leave you as well a very nice sultry smell after a sensual night in haven.

“Hmmm…” I breathed in heavily the scent went from my nostrils and to the very ends of my cilia. My eyes close as it follows the flow of the smell of this magnificent par fume. 

Isn’t this…

I immediately turned to look back and see who might be the source of the smell and there I saw Harold Kang.

“Harold?”

I sniffed him yet he doesn’t smell like the scent just a while ago.

“Natalie, there’s something I’d like to tell you.”

“Be quick, my service is almost here.” As much as I want to chit-chat with Harold, I am already tired and not in the mood for some fun or teasing about my loss.

“Can we discuss it privately? I really need to- “

“Doctor, it’s good to see you here. I saw how it went for you right there.” The lady who was wearing a velvet black gown smiled behind her annoying glowing mask.

“Who might you be?”

“Reporter Han. It’s a pleasure to meet you, doctor.” 

Ah… SBS Media Holding’s daughter, Jessica Han. She was back then a girl who drank my spoilt milk but now I guess, she’s currently milking her parents.

“Jessica Han, what a pleasure to see you again.” Tsk. The last thing I would want to encounter for this night is Jessica Han. She has always been a brat to me.

“Indeed. As someone who isn’t even addicted to auctions, I came here just to see a great friend who happened to be one. Isn’t it frustrating to have your first loss?”

It was indeed my first loss. 

“It is none of your business, princess.”

“Oh well, would you care to introduce me to the man you’re with? I don’t see him with you, are you perhaps divorced?”

I saw her smirk under the glass of wine before she made a sip from it. I clutched my handbag tight when she pulled a trigger on me. This woman has got to have the longest obsession over me. Well, she has been living under my shadow for so long after all. 

"Wine, madame?" A waiter got in between us and offered me a glass of wine. I took one and sipped a little from it. Hmmm... It tasted of Romanée-Conti. Impressively delicious, indeed. 

I composed myself and did not mind the irritation that is almost building up.

"If you keep that facade, you'll eventually become my tail. Like a part of me, that always follows my every step, yet always behind me. If you don't want to end up like that, then you better mind your own business, princess." I said it straight to her face reminding her that I'm not someone to be messed with especially someone who has known me for a long time. I smiled at her and sipped my wine. I looked at her reaction and saw a priceless irritation plastered on her pretty face. Jackpot!

"I'm sorry Harold, but now is not the perfect time. " I said to Harold without removing eye contact with Jessica. Nevertheless, I tried to sound sincerely apologetic. I'm tired and needed to get home soon. 

"I see... Then I'll give you my contact." I stopped the eye contact and looked at Harold. He was surprisingly devastated. What could have been something so important to talk about with someone you just met? 

Harold handed me his business card and bowed at us making his exit. 

"I guess, he'll be the new one to tag along," Jessica commented. She's on it again. This will just tire me out, I must take my leave now. 

I looked at Jessica for the last time and made my leave. 

"And the last thing, you don't know anything about this game, Ms. Han. I hope to not cross paths with you again especially in auction events. Didn't your dad told you that it's not for innocent princesses like you?" Jessica held her glass hard causing it to break making everyone's attention on us. 

"Well then, au revoir, Reporter Han." I walked away from her and slowly made my exit towards the entrance. The crowd's whisper slowly becoming a deafening silence as I marveled through the hallway. I went out from the room and made my way to the garden, just enough to for me to check my service. 

I opened my phone and called my driver. 

The person you are calling cannot be reached. 

"Come out," I said when I smelled the familiar scent in the room a while back. 

A man then stepped out from where he was hiding. He was wearing a green velvet suit with a black shirt underneath. He was wearing a black mask carved perfectly for his face to become the highlight of his outside appearance. His curly hair was combed neatly yet a single curl of his hair wasn't cooperative hence, he just kept it hanging on his forehead despite the amount of gel he might have worn. "You have noticed.” he smiled cockily at me. 

That cocky smile... He was the man who stole the Red Scarlet from me. 

I walked in his direction. As I walked, the familiar scent was getting stronger making my knees almost give up and bow down to this man. It makes anyone have a taste of aphrodisiac and just succumbed their selves with pleasure and sensuality. 

"You have been following me. Take off that mask and show yourself." I stopped just a few steps away from him and said this earnestly. 

"If I take it off, would you come home with me tonight?"

"I won't." I definitely won't. This man is dangerous. Too dangerous for my being. 

He touched his mask with his right hand. It slowly went to the back of his head and touched the cloth that holds the mask in its place, but then-

"Then I won't take it off," he said as his hands retreated. He's playing the game, again.

"Tell me, why did you partake in the bidding event?" 

"I have reasons."

He removed one of his leather gloves and slowly made his way to touch my chin. His hands lifted my face and there I saw his fiery eyes looking intensely at me. It was as if he is trying to possess me with lust, passion, and hate. I stared at his face with the same intensity. 

"Can you give me one reason?" One of his fingers touched my lips. It made me feel a tingling sensation that caused my eyes to close themselves feeling the burn in every touch of my lower lip. 

"I'll tell you one reason you know." The breeze of cold weather passed through us. It was as if the wind was telling me to stay alert or I'll drown in this man's touch. This time, he cupped my face with both of his hands and slowly reached for the strand of hair that has blocked my vision and placed it behind my ear. 

“Do tell…” He let go of both of my cheeks and made his way to whisper into my ear. I then felt myself shiver caused by a cold sensation coming from what seems to be a brass of an object. I then heard a light click of a sound behind. 

"My wife…She has a fascination for rare jewelry.", he whispered. I then felt one of his hands making its way from the outline of my neck to the place where the object has settled. It made me thirsty. He then placed a small peck on the lines of my neck. 

"I see, she knows how to play the game well. What is the name of this lady?" I said. 

"Everyone knows her. I assume you also know." He says as he licks. What seems to be a small peck turned into something else. 

"I am aware." He trailed kisses onto my skin, from the lines of my neck coming up to my face, and paused. 

"Then you know my identity."

 I had known from the start. 

"I do." 

I know entirely who you are. 

He gave a small peck on my lips. He was teasing me. I know what he's planning and he knows that I wanted more. 

"Then, shall we settle this elsewhere?", he suggested. I cupped his face with one of my hands. My hands combed his curly hair and went their way to touch the cloth of his mask. I slowly pulled the strings and uncovered his identity, unveiling my husband's godly features. 

“And then we shall, Marcus Lee.”

And on that very night, I kissed my husband passionately.

I've never been this thirsty for so long...