Q & A-E

Ace opened his room door, and both left his room. He locked his room door, casually tangled her hand with her and she trailed behind him. Astrid did not know why he likes the PDA too much. She did not deny but she liked the feeling of his warm hands over hers. Both exited the mansion and walked towards the gazebo.

Astrid saw Mr Lionel the butler and smiled at him. The butler did not miss his hand clasping hers and he smiled.

`The dinner is prepared as you instructed, sir. Enjoy'. Mr Lionel winked at Astrid.

Astrid who only managed to eat a few spoonfuls of pasta was grateful for Ace's plan for a decent dinner. She ate her meal in silence, amid the roses admiring them.

Astrid ate the last meal of the night; dessert and involuntarily a moan of satisfaction escaped her lips. Ace froze from eating his meal. Did she moan? God, help me, she is driving me crazy. I wonder if she will moan my name with the things I want to do to her. Ace cleared his throat and Astrid looked at him in question.

His index finger brushed the corner of her lips and swipe the cream off her. It was then, Astrid decided to tease him so she held his finger before lazily licking it off, all the while maintaining eye contact with him. Ace's eyes darken dangerously. `Do you know what you are doing?', he asked with a thick voice.

Astrid pretended to feign ignorance, shook her head, and released his finger. Ace exhaled. `It's getting late. Allow me to send you back. I promised you something earlier'. He walked to the end of the gazebo and presented her with a bouquet of colourful roses.

`I take it that you like them?'

Astrid nodded and inhaled the smell of the rose bouquet. A smile carved on her lips and Ace imagined kissing her then and there. He clenched his fist, to control his wild emotions. He held her hand again and walked to the side of his house to pick a BMW this time. Astrid noticed he was very chivalrous. Opening and closing the door for her, pulling a chair for her to sit and even extending his arm for her! She wanted to drill him with questions today.

`Are you always like this'? she asked out of curiosity.

`Like what?'

`A gentleman'?

`I give respect and expect respect in return'.

`Ok rapid-fire Q&A with Mr Ace Wagner. May I?', He sneered in reply.

` Favourite colour'?

`Anything that looks good on me'

`Hobbies?'

`Botany, driving and gym'

`Best car for you..?'

`Mercedes-Maybach and Rolls Royce. My turn now. First boyfriend?'

`Wasn't interested in getting one'

`Favourite colour?'

`Green. And my hobbies, I read, botany as well and I do archery'.

`Impressive.'

`First girlfriend? And First kiss?

`High school, she was my senior and it lasted for 3 months. First kiss with her'.

`I like rap, pop music and alternative. You?'

`No particular preference, less noise will do',

`Oh my god, you are so funny. That is a typical Englishmen answer' Astrid laughed hard and almost fell from her seat.

`Work? I'm working 2 jobs as you know.'

`I'm the CEO of Wagner Corp as you have seen.'

`Do you have like gorgeous chicks cum secretary hovering around you all the time?'

`No. I like to maintain business as purely work. I get my pleasure from elsewhere'

`Such as?'

`Talking to you now is pleasurable.'

`Jeez, you are flirty. How many girlfriends in your entire life span?

`3 or 4 I think. What do you mean by entire life span?'

`I mean how old are you?'

`Your guess is my guess'.

`Oh my god, don't tell me you are 80? Uncle Ace?'

Ace kept mum. She hit the nail with that one. Ace is almost 150. He usually lied about his age and his parents' age. Mr and Mrs Wagner aged 500 but they maintained records at their 200th year.

`I take it what I said is true?', Astrid smiled so broadly, it hurt her cheeks.

`Is that why no one dates you? Tell me about your latest date.'

`Had dinner with her. She was a beauty, a vampire socialite. I excused for a toilet break and overheard her saying to someone she caught a cash cow. I ordered the most expensive meal and left for a toilet break. But this time I ditched her'

`Did she realize?'

`I have no idea, but mom was livid and scolded me'. He chuckled.

Astrid wished she had a mother, someone whom she can share her innermost secrets and fears.

Ace noticed she kept quiet as if pondering over something.

`Hey, are you okay?'

`I wish my mom was with me.'

`Don't regret. Turn that pain into your focal point and make better use of it'

`Mmmmmmmmm. You are good with your words'

Ace wanted to change her mood and spoke `If I let out a truth that you are the first girl I brought to my mansion and showed my flower garden, would you believe me?'

`Really?' Astrid was sceptical

`Cross my heart and die', Ace made a cross on his chest and stuck his tongue out.

`Awwwwww. Flirty again. Why I am flattered, Mr Ace. But why?'

`You are different', his reply was simple.

`Describe differently?'

`Well for starters, you have not uttered cash cow yet.'

`Oh, God. Oh no! I will never' she squealed in joy.

`You know, you are not what you look like. All mushy inside but tough on the outside',

`Well, you are not snobbish like I assumed you to be. I can't believe I am here talking with you when just a few days ago we were bickering over food',

`Never judge a book by its covers I suppose',

`Ace, you speak with a heavy British accent, did you spend your childhood in the UK?',

`Sort of. I studied there and worked in our branch there for quite some time before moving back to Anubia. Its sexy isn't it?', he drawled in his accent.

`So full of yourself', Astrid chuckled.

`Honestly, over a scale of 1 to 10, where does my accent stand? 10 being the best', 

`I think it would be -1', Astrid jested playfully, earning a groan of disapproval from Ace.

`Damn, I got downgraded faster than an antivirus programme',

`In all honesty, it tipped to 11', she mumbled, looking at his handsome side profile. This night seems to be ending on a positive note.

`I was right on spot', Ace licked his lips, stopping the car at Route 3 bus stop. `Astrid…Look outside'

Astrid did not notice he drove the car to Route 3 and stopped right in front of the bus stop. Astrid's face drained of colour and she turned pale. She could feel cold sweat trickling down her neck. How did he know she lied about her house address? She remembered clearly telling him she stayed at Aires Street? Fuck I am busted.

`Why did you come here?' she stammered. `I told you I stayed at Aries Street', Astrid tangles her fingers together, nervous as hell.

`I know we had a bad start. I won't ask you to trust me. It's understandable. But I do know you are not staying there.'

`I'm…

`Please look at me', he gently lifted her chin to face him. He stared right into her eyes, seeing a look of disbelief and fear plastered on her face. Did she fear me?

`I won't pester you about your house. Don't worry. I am man enough to understand when a woman says no', Ace rubbed her cheek when his insides wanted to kiss those damn well-defined lips.

`Thank you for dining with us. I'm truly sorry Hadwin ruined your dress, allow me to make it up to you, please' his eyes pleaded with hers. `Please, don't say no. I rarely have to ask and yet I am with you'

`Why?', she asked meekly. 

`I don't know myself', he shrugged his shoulder at his mixed emotions about her.

`Okay', she whimpered.

`I have been waiting all night to ask you something',

Astrid arched both her brows and looked into his eyes. She sensed he was just as nervous as her.

`Can...can I hang out with you?'. He was not sure if he wanted to date her, so he chooses a safer option.

Astrid was stunned. She blinked several times and he held her hand, rubbing her knuckles. She figured giving chances to people was the right thing to do. Having zero experience in close relationships, she wanted to test the waters and let the flame of friendship or love flicker within her.

She recalled back her conversation with Matilda and wanted to test her theory, but she did not know if she could fall in love with a vampire.

Ace saw a turbulent of emotions flicker in her eyes.

`Yes,' Astrid finally answered to see him smile.

`Are you available tomorrow?'

`Maybe', she replied cheekily and winked at him. Finally, she felt at ease with him.

He opened the car door and helped her out.

`Ace, my home….'

`I won't ask ever and don't tell me either. If you are safe and content, I won't pry', he did not want to talk about it anymore detecting her spike in fear whenever the topic arises.

`Okay', her heartfelt heavy when she wanted to leave him. Why?

`Astrid'….he leaned close to her and she could smell his cologne and see his tattoo designs peeking out of his shirt. `May I kiss your cheek?' his eyes were on her lips and his face was so close to her, she could feel him breathing and exhaling on her lips. He did not wait for an answer and kissed her right at the corner of her lips.

Astrid's face turned crimson red and her heartbeat wildly. Both stared at each other, and he took her silence as a green light and scooped down to kiss her on her other cheek. This time his lips brush against her lips, ever so lightly, it almost felt like faint air grazing her skin. She felt a jolt of lightning coursing through her system.

He wanted more but kept his inner beast in control. God forbid, what he would do to have her by his arms.

`I…I..have work tomorrow….I need to sleep early' she stammered and backed away. What was that? Did his lips? Did she really felt it or was it a trick of the eyes?

She waved him goodbye. Ace drove away, after a good kilometre he checked his rear mirror and she was not there anymore. If she is safe, she should be okay, he thought and pressed the gas to accelerate faster. Why, am I going crazy over her? He looked down at his pants and shouted profanity at himself.