Chapter 52

I had officially decided to stay out of Layla's way. And I was serious about my resolution. That day I stayed up late at the office, then afterwards I went to this high-end night club and spent a few hours in the VIP lounge enjoying a bottle of bourbon while some girls danced a few feet away. I hadn't requested them and I guessed they were some sort of ' gift ' from the club manager who knew me quite well. One of the girls had attempted to come closer but I had stopped her immediately by putting my hand up and shaking my head. She seemed confused,maybe even hurt. But I really didn't care. And I suspected that I had fucked her sometime back but there was no way to be sure. 

I didn't even know what exactly I was doing there, but other than my penthouse, there was nowhere else for me to be in that godforsaken city. And my penthouse wasn't an option. Layla and Arden were probably helping each other grate cheese at the moment. I reached for the bottle and poured myself another glass. I wasn't trying to get drunk and I knew my limits, so that was the last drink I was going to be having. After which I'd go straight to bed. 

After I was done, I took out some bills from my pocket and placed them on the table, gesturing to them and asking the ladies to have themselves a wonderful evening. Then I drove back home and took the elevator up. I had hoped that I would find them fast asleep, what was it, like ten p.m? But the second I walked in I heard Layla's laughter. And knowing that I wasn't the source of it made me want to get back into that bloody elevator and leave once more. But I wasn't going to care. I walked past them in the living room without so much as a glance towards their direction and headed towards my room. Both of them kept quiet as I passed and Arden was about to tell me something but he cut himself off. 

 I went up to my room and took a shower before I got into bed, but then I caught hint of her scent and I groaned. Getting off and taking off the damn sheets, I walked into my closet and looked around. Not exactly sure where the extra ones were kept,but I eventually found them and went back to my room to remake my bed. And afterwards, I went and grabbed another duvet as well. Placing the previous ones in the laundry basket because all they did was remind me of the fact that I was so close to being doomed. Because each place I turned all I saw was Layla. She was like a witch of sorts, it didn't seem normal to think about another person as much as I thought about her. 

After twenty minutes of trying to force myself to sleep, I turned in my back and shook my head. Then I reached for the remote and switched in the TV. Flavor Island was on, but I immediately changed the channel. Not because it reminded me of her, but rather because it now felt wrong to watch the show without her. 

See? Witch!

I landed on the discovery channel and decided to just let it be. It was something science related and I didn't care at all about it but the noise helped me to drain out their voices in the living room. What could they even be talking about? And had they seriously spent the entire day conversing and laughing with each other? The thought made me want to gag.

I reduced the volume to confirm whether they were still talking, and when I heard Arden's voice,I raised it all the way up. It was too loud and I felt like smashing the bloody television but I let it be. 

I wondered whether she truly liked him. It wouldn't be hard to believe it if she did. But then I deleted those thoughts and got out of bed, I had a splitting headache and so after taking some painkillers and a sleeping pill. I got into bed again and closed my eyes. But she followed me in my dreams. I could feel her soft skin and listen to her sweet voice. She was ending me!

I think I dragged myself out of the torture and sat up. The clock read just a bit after midnight. I ran a hand over my face and wondered what could be happening to me and whether there was anything I could do to stop it. I hadn't signed up for any of that, all I had wanted was to get a taste of her, to know how she felt physically. I didn't require any of the added absurdities that came along with it. 

No longer able to sleep, I got off the bed and left the room. Not exactly sure why. But I couldn't help it, the same way I couldn't help wondering whether I ought to just go to her room and demand answers myself. I needed to make her understand that she was mine! Fisting my hands I paced the space in front of my door. I felt like growling out my pent up rage and frustration. She was rendering me insane and I could do nothing but let her. But I had to see her. 

It was something that was clawing at my insides and burning against my skin. I just had to see her. And I was a slave when it came to my mind's choices, there was no way I was going to make it through that night if I didn't get to do as my brain commanded. 

Yes, it was strictly my brain that wanted to see her again and not any other part of my anatomy. Well, perhaps my cock had a roll to play in the matter as well but that was all.

I tried to force myself to see reason but that was a new and unfamiliar vocabulary as far as I was concerned. With a final tug of my hair and shake of my head I made my way towards her room. Hell-bent on getting her to talk. The house was dark but I knew my way around. And when I got to her room I didn't bother to Knock, she hadn't locked it so I opened the door and got in. Then I switched on the lights and stood there,my hands on my waist and a million questions spiralling in my head. She was sleeping,and I didn't want to move closer to her because if I did then I doubt I'd have any control over what I chose to do next. I began my frantic pacing again. Convinced that I looked like a mad man. Hell! I felt like one as well, otherwise I wouldn't have even been in there to begin with. After a while I strode on over to the bed and tapped her awake. I couldn't stay still. She turned in her sleep and groaned her protest at being woken up,and I couldn't help but notice how adorable she looked. And I wanted to let her sleep but I needed to regain my sanity and she had snatched it from me. So I tapped her again, she attempted to open her eyes but the lights were bright and she ended up closing them again immediately after. 

So I looked up and commanded them to turn off before I switched on the bedside lamp. Then I talked her again since she had gone back to sleep. I was in edge and felt like a cocaine addict who needed his fix but she was peacefully sleeping. It didn't seem at all fair. 

" Wake up sweetheart, " I commanded and she opened her eyes slightly again,then she frowned and looked around. 

" Gabriel?" She called out and I attempted a smile.

" Oh good, you're up," I said and she gasped. Perhaps she had thought it was a dream. She looked around her and then sat up immediately. 

" What time is it?" She asked, then she yawned and reached for her phone underneath her pillow. On realizing just how late it was she asked me what I was doing there and whether everything was okay. I shook my head.

" No, I'm afraid not. "

She suddenly grew worried, sitting straighter up and asking me what was wrong. Genuine concern in her soft voice. She rubbed her eyes with the back of her fisted hands and I followed the innocent action, it only served to drive me more crazy.

She waited for my response but it never came, so she pulled her covers aside and sat on the side.

" Did something bad happen?" I sensed her dread and fear and I felt guilty for being the reason behind it. But in all honesty, something really was wrong. With me that is. I wasn't okay and so I wouldn't leave that room until I felt a bit more like myself.