SOUNDING LIKE A JEALOUS HUSBAND

Nova grinned broadly while concentrating on her laptop. She closed her laptop and let out an enthusiastic shout as her lips curled into a heart-shaped smile. She stretched her arms while glancing at the wall clock. It was Saturday and it was about six in the morning.

She stood up from her study table and grabbed her jogging outfit from her walk-in closet. She quickly changed into it and looked in the mirror to pack her long brown hair into a ponytail. She was a natural beauty but it took so long for her beauty to come to light. She was grateful not to depend on facial surgery for her revenge because as she grew every year her beauty became flawless. 

She walked to the kitchen and grabbed her water bottle before heading towards the main door and out of the house. 

" So refreshing…" She gasped as the cold air outside brushed through her cheeks. It was still a bit dark, and the sun was starting to come out, but yet to rise and sprinkle its morning rays. There were still the sounds of birds chirping their early tune in the morning as she jogged out of the compound.

This has been her usual routine ever since they relocated to London and moved into this neighbourhood. Jog on a Saturday at this time in the morning and then afterwards have a cup of hot piping coffee in her favourite cafe in the neighbourhood.

She was sweating profusely after some running, and watched the sun rising in the sky. " Such a beautiful scene and beautiful woman. " Nova heard a man's voice comment. He also sat down on the same bench and even offered bottled water to her.

" No thanks. I have mine. " Nova simply replied, not sparing him a glance as she continued to enjoy the beautiful view. 

" I haven't seen your face around here before. Do you jog here often? " The man asked and Nova nodded, not even bothering herself to look at the man talking beside her.

" It's the first time I've seen your face. Do you mind if I ask for your name? " She heard the man speak once more. 

Nova turned her head to look at the man, only to be greeted by his sea colour eyes. The man was not bad at all. Not even close to bad. He's wearing a muscle tank that fits him like a glove and exposes all his muscles and biceps. 

With a blank stare Nova asked, " Why do you need my name? "

The man smiled, a smile that could lure you into his trap, a deceptive but alluring smile. " I like to know the names of the women I'm interested in so consider yourself among them. So what's your name? " 

" Sorry but I'm not interested in you MR? " Nova said, dragging the word 'mr' before standing up from the bench, gulping down the water in her bottle and starting to jog towards the direction of the cafe. 

When she got there, she greeted the staff she met who were already used to her coming here and got her usual order.

She was drinking her coffee when she received an email from Grey Enterprise congratulating them on their completed project and how their client was satisfied and would like to invite every staff member to his birthday party tonight at 7:30 pm.

A week had passed since Ambrose's warnings and she had noticed him trying to avoid her, also making sure that she was not in the same room with him. He is avoiding her but she wasn't that desperate. She had left him with many chilling memories that would be so hard for him to get her away from his head so easily. Especially her scent!

Her eyebrows arched when she felt a shadow approaching her and sat down beside her. 

Nova heaved a long sigh and looked at the man from before with a stern expression.

" Wow, we meet again. Do you mind if I take this seat beside you? " The man said with a seductive smile.

Nova's eyebrows arched as she scorned, " Why bother to ask when you're already sitting? By the way, I do mind you sitting here. I do like to sit alone. " She rolled her eyes at him at the end of her statement.  She knows men like him won't stop till they get what they want but she isn't interested. She hates when her privacy is being invaded by some strange man.

" I'm Raymond. " The man introduced himself and then offered his hand for a handshake. 

" You're absolutely crazy. What don't you understand by 'I'm not interested'? " She stood up and walked out of the cafe after paying for what she ordered. 

The man watched her leave as he continued smiling at her back. He was reluctant to just give up on such a beauty.

***

In a bandage, strapless, and backless gown that clings her curvy figure in all the right places and accentuates her curves, Nova stepped out of the car.

The dress accentuates her kissable shoulders and her exquisite collarbones and neck before descending into a graceful "sweetheart" neckline that draws attention to her breasts without being messy. The gown's length ends just above her knees, revealing her magnificent legs.

Such a breathtaking dress, showcasing her alluring figure. She entered the house smiling, and both men and women's gazes immediately shifted to her.

The house was decorated in gold and white colour. The chandeliers dangling from the ceiling glistened from one end of the room to the other, creating the expression that you were in a starry night sky. Different groups of people were inside the hall, each dressed in a million-dollar apparel and accessories. Some were seated and while the others were standing.

Her eyes wandered around the hall for a particular group of people and when she saw them, she walked towards their table with a smile.

She could see Ambrose and Adriana seated together. Ambrose was dressed in a black suit, looking mature and stable. His handsome and cold face furrowed slightly as he raised up his head and his eyes met with hers. 

" Miss Clifford, you look beautiful. " One of the staff in Grey Enterprise commented as she joined them at the table.

" Thank you. " She replied with a smile. 

" Mr Gavin said his son was also satisfied with our decorations. " Another staff member said with a smile.

Ambrose remained quiet as he just stared at Nova who didn't even bother to spare him a glance and that infuriated him. He couldn't understand why because he was the one who told her to stop whatever she was trying to do with him but now he's angry that she couldn't even spare him a glance. He sat still as he watched her converse with his employees. She looked so beautiful, almost putting him into trance as he watched her. 

The moment she turned her neck to the side, showcasing the crook of her neck, his eyes went dark with lust and were locked on them. She grabbed a glass of champagne from a waiter and as she gulped it down her throat.

Ambrose's blood started to boil as his eyes trailed down her throat and watched the champagne pass through it. Ambrose gave a light cough, his veins popping out and his knuckles tightening. His body stiffened as he allowed his eyes to rest on the top of her breast. 

He gulped thickly, his throat running dry, a trail of sweat running down the side of his face. The sight before him was beyond any temptation he had ever encountered but yet she isn't making any move. She's just sitting down and talking with others. Before his restraints collapsed, he turned to look at Adriana.

" Darling, are you okay? " Adriana asked him in a whisper as she placed her hand on his, giving him an affectionate smile that in the eyes of others, they looked like a perfect couple but no one knows what was going on in Ambrose's head and behind closed doors.

" What a small world! " A voice spoke and all eyes on their table turned to look at who had the voice. 

" You! " Nova exclaimed with eyes fixed on the man who winked at her. " Are you stalking me again? " She asked, shocking everyone at the table. Doesn't she know this was their client's son? Not too long ago before she arrived, their client had made an announcement and so did his son.

" You two know each other? " Adriana asked with a creased forehead. 

" No. " Nova suddenly answered.

" Yes, we do. " Raymond said with a smile.

" Huh? " Adriana mumbled, confused, looking between Nova and Raymond.

" He has been stalking me… " Nova explained.

" Are you aware that he's the son of one of our regular clients? " Adriana asked and Nova pretended to look surprised.

" Client's son? Or one of your secret lovers? "Nova thought as she stared at Adriana.

Who would have known that all this while she had known who this man was but pretended not to be interested because he was going to be useful to her 'tonight'?

Raymond's eyes were fixed on Nova's beautiful face and though he wanted to say a lot of words, everything just got stuck in his throat. He was also bewitched by her beauty.

 " Do you mind if I talk to you in private? " He asked with pleading eyes and Nova hesitated before nodding her head then followed him but after she excused herself from the table.

" Huh? How did they even know each other? Is she also throwing herself at our client's son? Gosh, she is so unbelievable. " Adriana muttered under her breath, as she watched Nova follow Raymond. 

Her words cut deep through Ambrose like a knife as his gaze was drawn to Nova and he saw Raymond putting his hands on Nova's naked back as she chuckled.

Is she trying to seduce and sleep with every man she set her eyes on? How shameless! She was willing to sell her body to any man for money or what? 

His anger was as hot as a boiling water as he watched Raymond lower his right hand down to grab Nova's buttocks and that's just when his anger reached its limits. 

" Darling, I would go and ask Mr Gavin some questions. " Adriana told him and pecked him on the cheeks before standing up from the table and walked up to their client.

Ambrose couldn't stand it any longer so he stood up from his seat and walked towards them.

" I would like to have an important conversation with Miss Clifford. " Ambrose said in a stern tone, as he pulled Nova to his side.

" But I'm not done talking…" Raymond was half way through his sentence as Ambrose pulled Nova away from him and into a corner after he made sure no one was looking at them.

" Are you that shameless? Relying on your seductive ways wasn't enough, now you had to use your body by allowing him touch you. Are you a whore? Why are you trying to sleep with every man you set your eyes on? Huh? Why did you let him touch you? " Ambrose yelled, not understanding what was happening to him but he was letting his rage consume him as he threw question upon question at her. 

His body pressed against hers as his hand went to her hip, holding her steady.

Nova blinked her eyes as she looked back at him. For a moment, she looked at him deeply and silently causing Ambrose's heart to sink with a 'thump'. In that period of time, her pupils had become bottomless, the depths of which seemed to hide many things so deep that he could not understand them. He couldn't understand the meaning behind that expression. Everything about her screamed of mystery and strangely, he finds it thrilling.

" I don't understand what you're saying. " Her face was expressionless and calm, but it was as if there was something hidden in her eyes as she looked up to stare at him.

" Some seconds ago, you were behaving like a whore and…" he couldn't finish his sentence as he saw Nova's right hand raised up to slap him but he quickly used his other hand to grab it and pinned her two hands over her head against the wall, as his body loomed over hers. He could feel the heat radiating from their close proximity.

" You don't have any right to question what I do or do not do with my body. You're nothing important to me so why does it bother you who I allow to touch me? It's my body and my personal life is none of your business. " Nova retorted. " You sound like a jealous husband. " Nova scoffed, rolling her eyes as she watched his face go scarlet.

She was right. Why was he acting this way? Like a jealous husband, really? Why was he suddenly angry because another man touched her? Why was he feeling this way?

He was about to say something when his eyes immediately snapped over to the direction of her neck and halfly exposed breast. She didn't need him to tell her anything. His eyes alone told her he had fallen deeply into her seduction.

To be continued...