The Villain and The Hero in Her Eyes

Noah found Clara on the floor, only thin silk bathrobe on her lush body, her long brown hair shielded her face.

"Miss. What's wrong?" Noah set down the tray on the table and approached her.

At first, he thought Clara was searching something on the floor. But both of her hands were fisted on the floor, her body rigid.

"Clara?"

Clara gazed up at the man that called her name and found Noah's worried face. He almost crouched down to her side, when Clara offering a little smile.

Her face was unreadable, only smooth blank expression there.

"Noah. I'm fine. I'm waiting you to deliver my meal, you see I nearly die from starvation. Where's my food?" Clara asked absent-mindedly.

"Sorry miss for the delay. Here you go. That's your favourite meal — french toast with blueberries and a bowl of smoothie." He said.

"If there's anything you want, just say it. I will inform the chef to prepare what you like." Noah added with soft voice.

Clara couldn't help herself, after Xander's heartless treatment, she just needed comfort from someone else. She hugged Noah.

Her hand clenching on his shirt, his big and sturdy posture almost fell in surprise. It felt good to have his warmness seeping through Clara. She cried there.

Awkwardly, Noah placed a hand on Clara's small shoulder. Patting her shook body from the cry. He knew it was wrong.

"There there miss. Everything will be alright after you had your meal. I'm sorry I'm late for your food. You must be starving."

Xander would kill Noah if he knew Clara hugged him. Noah was torn inside when he saw her emotionless face, her tears on that beautiful face.

Noah was not blind or immune to her beauty, eventhough she was his employer's. Noah also knew, Xander had slept with Clara last night. He found Xander walked out of this room in the morning with dark look on his face.

After a while, Clara's tears spent and she felt an overwhelming need to apologize.

"I'm sorry Noah. I'm just sad and missing my father. Please forgive me."

Noah, with her hand still on her shoulder, smiled tenderly at Clara.

"Come, miss. Feed that empty belly of yours with this delicious meal."

She laughed. "Noah, there's no need to call me miss, you said my name before. Clara, please call me Clara."

The big man's face turned red.

"Ok Miss.. Ehmm I mean, Clara." He said.

Clara sat at the small table, ready to devour her brunch when she saw a white pill in the small transparent box.

She glanced at Noah, "What is this Noah? I'm not sick."

"It is… Mr. X ordered you to consume it right now. That is emergency contraception, miss." He stammered.

It was Clara's turn to blush.

She wanted to throw away the morning-after pill, just to spite Xander. But last night..

Oh God!

He didn't use protection and came inside her.

With Noah in front of her, Clara gulped the pill.

***

Clara was walking in the garden, one afternoon, basking in the sunlight with Noah by her side or behind her. Noah was her constant companion. He was there to cheer her up.

Xander was gone for nearly a week now, without notice, and she never ask Noah. It was better this way if Clara didn't saw her kidnapper's face.

Noah was careful not to mention Xander in front of her face. One time, when his employer suddenly called him, Clara had turned her back and walk away.

She couldn't bear to hear his voice through the telephone.

"Yes, Mr. X?" Noah answered.

"You make sure Clara swallowed the pill?" Xander asked.

"Yes Sir, no problem at all. We're strolling at the garden right now. She's doing well." Noah informed his boss.

Xander just grunted, ending the call. "Ok then."

TUT TUT TUT

Noah exhaled, his boss could be a jerk sometimes. His cold treatment towards Clara made her suffer.

"Look Noah! There are so many butterflies this day. I love their colorful wings and their freedom in this open air." Clara said.

The happiness in her tone didn't reach her hazel eyes.

"Noah, can I call my dad? Just to ask how his days going. Please?" Clara pleaded with sorrow.

"I'm sorry but Mr. X forbid you to call your dad." Noah answered.

She insisted, "But he is not here! He won't know. Just a couple of minute then."

"Sorry Clara. That's his order. He could kill me if somehow he know about it."

"Noah. How long do you think he will keep me here?" Clara asked suddenly.

"That's not my place to tell you, sorry. But you have to ask him." Noah answered.

Clara gazed this young man, "But you knew, right? You knew his plan for me? Just like Jessica knew everything."

Looking at her dejected face, her hair blown by the wind in this fine garden, made Clara looks like a lost fae.

"Clara, you don't need to worry. I'm here to protect you."

Clara stared at his clear blue eyes, perplexed, his words shoothing.

"He would release you eventually, that I could promise." Noah added.

His brain screamed that it was wrong to cross the line, she was Xander's woman. But his heart nearly bursting from love to this gorgeous innocent woman.

Noah shook his head, he was loyal to Xander!

How could he think such forbidden thoughts?

Clara smiled, a genuine smile to him. "Thank you, Noah. It means so much to me."

They walked back inside when the sun was set, disappears bellow the horizon.

***

"Have a good walk?"

Clara was just opened her bedroom door, her heart nearly fell out when she heard his deep voice.

His back was to her, looking at the window, then Clara realized, below the big window was the garden.

THUMP THUMP THUMP

Did Xander heard their conversation?

Silly, of course he couldn't unless he had supernatural power.

"Yes, I had a good walk with Noah. What do you want, Xander?"

Clara straighten her chest, suddenly gained courage. It was not as if she commit adultery, she was nothing to him.

He turned to face her and Clara's heart stopped. He was a striking man, the black office suit only added his masculinity, several days of stubble made his already sharp jawline more defined and attractive.

"What I want, little mouse?" He approached with menacing steps.

Clara refused to cower, she raised her chin and stare straight into his eyes.

They were different.

While Noah was a white knight in a shining armour,

Xander was a monster, the dark villain.

Cold smile playing on his lips and he said that one word,

"Strip."

*** End of Chapter 12 ***