Avoidance

Rhea's eyes locked unto Justin's broad back as he walked out of the conference room. She couldn't help but feel a flutter in her chest whenever he was near. It was infuriating, really. She had always been the on in control, never letting her emotions get the better of her.

But Justin Morano was different. He was cold, calculating, and seemingly impervious to her charms. It only made her want him more.

Rhea sighed, shaking her head. She needed to focus now, knowing he would always be indifferent.

Justin on the other hand, was well aware of Rhea's gaze on him. He could feel it, like a burning sensation on the back of his neck. He quickened his pace, eager to put some distance between them.

He had been trying to avoid Rhea for weeks now, ever since their last encounter had left him feeling.... unsettled. He couldn't afford to let his guard down, not even for a moment.

As he turned a corner, Justin caught a glimpse of Rhea's determined expression. He knew that look. It was the look of a woman who wouldn't take no for an answer.

Justin's jaw clenched. He would have to be more careful.

As the days went by, Justin found it more increasingly difficult to avoid Rhea. She seemed to be everywhere he went, her presence a constant reminder of the attraction he was trying to deny.

One evening, Justin arrived at his family restaurant, looking forward to a quiet dinner. But as he walked in, he spotted Rhea sitting at the bar, sipping a glass of wine.

Justin's eyes narrowed. What was she doing here?

Rhea caught his eyes and smiled, her lips curling up in a sly, seductive smile. 

Justin's jaw clenched. He knew he needed to get out of there, fast. But as he turned to leave, Rhea's hand reached out and caught his arm.

As Rhea touched his arm, a sudden chill ran down her spine. She glanced around, her eyes scanning the crowded restaurant. That's when she saw him - a tall, menacing figure lurking in the crowd.

She knew that face. It was Victor, a ruthless man from her past who had vowed a destroy her.

Justin's eyes narrowed. "What's wrong?"he asked, his voice low and even, but with a hint of annoyance.

Rhea's grip on his arm tightened. " I need you help," she whispered. "Now."

Justin's expression didn't change, but he quickly scanned the area, his eyes locking onto Victor. With a swift movement, he pulled Rhea off the stool and ushered her towards the back door.

As they emerged into the cool night air, Rhea felt a sense of relief wash over her. But she knew it was temporary. Victor would stop at nothing to find her.

Justin eyes locked onto hers, his gaze cold and detached. "Who is he?" He demanded.

Rhea hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. But Justin expression told her to trust him - o at lest, trust him enough to tell him part of the truth.

"He's from my past," she said quietly. "A man who wants me dead."

Justin raised an eyebrow. "Why?" he asked, his voice cold.

Rhea took a deep breath. "I used to work for him," she said. "I did some..... things I'm not proud of. And then I left.

"And now he's after you."he said.

Rhea nodded. " Yes."

"I'll take you somewhere safe," he said curtly. "But don't think this means I'm getting involved in your problems."

Rhea felt a sting from his words, but she knew she had no right to expect anything from him. She nodded, and followed him, and followed him to his car.

As they drove through the city, Rhea couldn't help but steal glances at Justin. He was so cold, and yet, he was helping her.

Why?

She didn't know, but she was determined to find out.

As they drove, Rhea couldn't help but wonder, where Justin was taking her, or what his motives were. But she had no choice but to trust him.

After a few minutes to driving, Justin pulled up to a nondescript building on the outskirts of the city. He got out of the car and motioned for Rhea to follow him.

Rhea hesitated for a moment, but then got out of the car and followed Justin into the building. They walked up a few flights of stairs and arrived at a door with a keypad lock.

Justin punched in a code and the door swung open, revealing a cozy apartment with a living room, kitchen, and bedroom.

"This is where youll be staying," Justin said. "You'll be safe here."

As Rhea turned to thank Justin, she saw that he was already heading for the door.

"Wait," she said, feeling disappointed. "You're leaving?"

Justin turned back to her, his eyes cold. "I have business to attend to," he said. "You'll be fine here."

And with that, he turned and walked out the door, leaving Rhea alone in the apartment.

Rhea sighed and walked over to the window. She looked out at the city below, feeling a sense of unease.

She didn't know what Justin motives were. She didn't know why he had helped her.

And she didn't know what he wanted from her.

As she stood there, lost n thought, Rhea heard a noise behind her. She turned to see Justin standing in the door way, a look of hesitation on his face.

"I forgot something," he said,his voice low.

Rhea raised an eyebrow. "What?"

Justin walked over to the kitchen and pulled out a small bag. "Food," he said. "I didn't think you'd have anything to eat."

Rhea saw surprised. She hadn't expected Justin to be thoughtful.

"Thank you," she said, taking the bag from him.

Justin nodded and left.

As she explored the apartment, Rhea stumbled upon a small notebook hidden in the nightstand drawer. She opened it, expecting to find something mundane, but instead, she found a series of cryptic notes and sketches.

One sketches caught her eyes - a rough drawing of a woman with a striking resemblance of herself. Rhea's heart skipped a beat as she wondered if Justin had drawn this.

Suddenly, she heard the sound of the door opening. Rhea quickly hid the notebook and pretended to b asleep on the couch.

Justin walked in, his eyes scanning the room before landing on Rhea. For a moment, they just stared at each other, the tension between them palpable.

Then, without a word, Justin turned and walked into the bedroom, closing the door behind him.

Rhea let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. What was going on with Justin? And why did she feel like she was getting pulled into his mysterious world?