Chapter 7 BEWITCHED

ZYAIR'S POINT OF VIEW

People often said that love is the most beautiful emotion that any sane person can feel. If that's the case, I'm insane I guess. For me, love is nothing but a series of chemical reactions inside the brain. It was only a product of human's stupid imagination to fill the gaps in their lives.

It's four in the afternoon, I'm currently reviewing the sales and profit of our company when I heard a thump on the door.

"Come in," I said, eyes are still fixated on the computer monitor.

The door opens and Heaven, my secretary, comes in. "Mr. Dashiel is outside, Sir. He said that he wants to talk to you."

I stop my perusal. "Let him in."

She nods her head. Not so long after, someone dashed inside my office, it was Dashiel, grinning from ear to ear while looking at me.

"What's up, Mr. CEO!"

I leaned on my swivel chair. "What do you need, shit face?"

He chuckled and sit comfortably on the couch in front of me. "Ajax invited us to April's birthday celebration."

The latter is Ajax's sister.

I arched a brow. "Where is the venue?"

"Stag Nite Bar."

I heard about that famous bar from my employees but I don't exactly know where that place is.

"What time?" I asked him.

"Eight PM."

I nod my head. "I'll come."

He smiled widely. "Nice. Do you want me to pick you up?"

I feigned a disgusted look. "What are you, my girlfriend?"

He chuckled and throw a crumpled paper at me. "Fuck you, Sarmiego. I'll go now," he said and went out of the office.

I shook my head and continue my work. I stretched my arms when I finished reviewing the stocks and signing all the important documents.

When I look at the wall clock, my eyes widened. It's quarter to seven already. I didn't notice the time because I was too focused on my work.

I stand up from my seat and walk towards the glass wall. My office is situated on the peak of the building. I'm fond of watching the city lights from the distance, it's kind of tranquilizing. I averted my gaze from below and look above. The stars and the moon seem to be the patron saint of the gloom. The night's aroma pervades the air, woven into a soft net, covering the entire city.

After fixing all my belongings, I went out of the building. I already searched the location of the Stag Nite Bar where April's party will be held. The drive lasted for almost half an hour.

I saw the familiar cars of my friends when I arrived at the said place, so I guess they're already here.

When I enter the place, I was greeted with the upbeat atmosphere and the wild crowd. They are dancing on the floor while holding liquors. I look around to search for Dashiel.

"Storm!"

I squinted my eyes on the person who called my name. I smiled when I finally recognized her.

"April."

She welcomed me with a tight hug. "I thought you're not coming."

I chuckled. "I don't want to have a dose of your sulking," I teased her.

She rolled her eyes. "Whatever. Let's go, the others are waiting for you."

I nod my head and followed her.

"The hottest bachelor had arrived!"

I grinned upon hearing Akihiro's words. Some of our colleagues on the near tables also greeted me as well. April went to her friends' table.

"You didn't rent a VIP room? That would be better," I asked and took a sip of margarita.

Ajax turned to Garren. "Ask this bastard."

The latter laugh. "I just want to have a glimpse of that infamous crimson amber."

My curiosity was piqued. "Who's that?"

Garren just wink at me. I shrugged my shoulders and gulped down the liquor, its burning sensation caresses my throat.

The upbeat song suddenly stops.

"And now, the most awaited moment of everyone. She's now ready to raise the heat! Crimson Amber!" the hostess announced.

It was the name that Garren mentioned earlier. My forehead creased when the crowd became wilder. Who the hell is that person?

A woman wearing a red dress and a gold mask started dancing along with the song. My eyes bored into her. The way her body moves with the rhythm looks so sensual, and for some strange reasons, I can't take my eyes off of her.

She slowly removes the blazer, exposing her shoulder blades and a portion of her chest. My throat went dry when she bends over and caresses her legs seductively.

What the fuck, Zyair?! You've seen numerous women wearing nothing and even fucked them! Stop acting like a surprised bastard!

I averted my eyes from her for a moment. But when I raised my head, our gazes meet. Right there and then, my mind went black. I can't hear anything aside from the fast beating of my heart. I felt uneasiness coursing through my body. The room looks so empty, and all I can see is her.

My forehead creased when she suddenly walks down the stage. And the erratic beating of my heart doubles when she stops in front of me. My friends are teasing me but I stayed still and plastered a stern expression.

In a normal day, I'm probably starting to think of making this woman screams in pleasure. But right now, I'm too nervous to even move a muscle.

When I thought that I couldn't be more surprise, she suddenly leaned down and kiss me. I was caught off guard that I stayed motionless.

She slowly detached herself from me. "I-I'm sorry," she whispered.

She turned her back. But before she could even walk away, I grab her arms. Without saying anything, I started kissing her delictable lips- and that's probably the best decision that I made in my entire life. Her parted lips made it easier for me to invade her mouth.

She tried to push me away, but I caught her arms and continue to ravage her lips. My expert tongue travels down and bites the skin of her neck, sucking and nibbling it. She smells so fucking good.

She was gasping for breath when I pulled away. I stared directly at her. "Stop playing with fire, woman. You don't have any idea what game you just entered."

I chuckled when she tried to slap me. "Go now, before I lose my sanity and fuck you here."

My friends didn't stop teasing me until we left the place because of what happened.

When the party ended, I immediately went to my condo.

The cold shower inside the bathroom didn't help to alleviate the strange fervor coursing through every veins of my body. How the fuck does a kiss from that woman could make me feel giddy?!

I shook my head and sighed. "This is just a spur of the moment," I convinced myself.

But I'm wrong, because that woman occupied my mind for the entire week. The sensation that her lips made me feel lingers on me. And it's fucking frustrating. I can't name the emotions troubling my entire system, this is too unfamiliar and overwhelming. It's as if that woman casted a spell on me.

I felt my phone vibrated. I answered the call from Garren.

"Make sure that this is important. You're disturbing my work," I said sternly.

He chuckled. "Why so sour? Anyway, we're going to Stag Nite. Wanna come?"

I stared at the thick stacks of paper on the table. I need to finish this as soon as possible. But when I heard the familiar name of that place again, the insane part of my brain is telling me to just drop my work and go there for a certain someone.

I close my eyes for a brief moment. Just this once. I only want to answer the confusion stirring inside me.

I breathed deep. "Count me in."

"Good. See you there, Zyair," Garren said.

The familiar elusive atmosphere of the place greeted us as we enter Stag Nite Bar.

While Dashiel is talking to the manager of the bar to rent for a VIP room, I roam my eyes around- trying to search for a specific person.

I muttered few expletives when I realized what kind of insanity I was doing. Really, Storm? You're going crazy over a freaking woman that you barely know?

"I thought that Crimson Amber performs everyday. It turns out that she only shows every Friday."

I scoffed when I heard that name again from Garren.

I stared at him. "Are you interested on her?" I asked nonchalantly.

Garren looks at me. "Crimson Amber? Hell yeah! That woman is irresistible!"

My jaw clenched when I heard his answer. I badly want to punch Garren right now. Fuck this. Fuck the erratic beating of my heart after hearing that someone is fantasizing over her.

I reclined on the head rest to calm myself down. This strange emotion feels like a ticking bomb waiting to explode. And I hate it.

The four of them went out for a while. I didn't bother asking why, mind is too preoccupied with something- or rather someone.

I was pulled out of my trance when the door suddenly opens. I raised my head- only to see the woman who's been causing the maelstrom of thoughts inside my mind for weeks.

She looks different from the woman who dared to kiss me weeks ago. If I'm dumb, I'll probably think that they are different persons. She looks too far from the daring and fierce Crimson Amber.

However, my mind seemed to memorize those familiar set of misty eyes. And those heart shaped lips that took away my sanity.

I stayed emotionless while she was serving our orders despite the nervous ness I'm feeling. No matter how much she tried to hide it, the shaking of her hands can assert that she's also anxious.

"You look familiar," I said before she could even open the door.

She turned her attention at me "I'm sorry but this is the first time that we meet. You must have mistaken me for someone."

The corner of my lips tugged upward. "Is that so?"

She nods my head. "If you may excuse, I still need to assist other customers," she replied dismissively.

But no. I won't let her off that easy. So I say something that I will probably regret later on.

"Tell the woman behind the name Crimson Red that I can't wait to see her again."

I let out of a long, heavy sigh when she went out of the room. Those minutes with her almost made me lose my sanity.

What are these perplexing emotions that I always feel whenever she's around?! I can't be possibly smitten by someone I just met. This is fucking the shit out of my guts.