Paris II

The soft glow of dawn filtered through the curtains, casting a gentle light over the room. I slowly opened my eyes, disoriented by the unfamiliar warmth against my forehead. A piece of cloth lay there, making me feel uncomfortable. Attempting to lift my hand to remove it, I found it held firmly by someone else.

Turning to my side, I discovered Carmela, her delicate frame seated on the floor, head nestled against the bed, her hand clasping mine even in her slumber. A rush of conflicting emotions swept through me—irritation at the intrusion yet a warmth at her presence.

"Carmela," I whispered softly, trying to rouse her, but she merely shifted, a faint smile gracing her lips in sleep. "How are you feeling?" she murmured, her voice filled with sleep before drifting away.

I smiled, to myself, before checking the time to find it was just a few minutes past five in the morning. Slowly extracting my hand from hers, I gently helped her settle back, ensuring her comfort before rising from the bed.

My head, which had throbbed with pain the day before, now felt surprisingly better. "They actually tried drugging me," I muttered with a scoff, remembering the needle sting I felt as I stepped out of my car in the basement.

Initially, I thought I could manage, but my vision had begun to fade. I staggered back to my car, only to be met with an accident before reaching home. The drugs' effects lingered for long, and the pain it caused was a relentless reminder.

Leaning against the bathroom wall, I sighed, the weight of the situation pressing down. Wrapping myself in a nearby robe, I glanced at my reflection in the mirror, my skin marred with intricate, terrifying drawings. "Would she be scared of these?" I wondered, resigned to wearing long sleeves.

As I dressed, the phone beside the bed vibrated, jolting me from my thoughts. "Hello?" I answered, greeted by ominous silence.

"Return it, or I won't just come after you," a voice hissed, sending a shiver down my spine, "but everything you care about."

I scoffed, defiance burning within me. "Go for it, then, if you dare," I challenged, the weight of the threat only fueling my determination. They had awakened a slumbering lion , and now they would have to deal with him.

But for now, there was only one priority. Turning to Carmela, serene in her sleep, I climbed back into bed, pulling the blanket around us. She stirred, instinctively snuggling into my arms.

"I'll send you to Paris by any means," I whispered, pressing a soft kiss to her lips, feeling her smile against my own.

"Nix," she murmured, eyes still closed,but with a contented smile on her lips. I brushed her hair back gently, curiosity piqued by her request.

"Do it again," she implored, her pout playful.

"You mean this?" I teased, leaning in for another kiss, her response a smile that hinted at hidden depths beneath her calm exterior. "Go back to sleep, my love," I murmured, feeling the weight of exhaustion settle over me.

As I drifted into slumber,with her warmth beside me, I knew that as long as she was safe, nothing else mattered. The world could fall into chaos, but I would protect her with everything I had.

...

A persistent knocking roused me from my sleep, and I groaned, slipping out of bed with care not to disturb Carmela. Opening the door, I found Ken

"You're still asleep?" he exclaimed, and I couldn't help but roll my eyes.

"Why didn't you leave after dropping me off?" I questioned, taking a seat on the couch.

"I did, but I came back early to update you on the meeting details," he explained, a torrent of words spilling forth.

"Shh," I hushed him, nodding towards Carmela, still lost in peaceful slumber. "She's resting."

He suddenly kaunched into the day's plans not playing his usual tricks, but I interrupted,since my mind had already been made up about this same information her was giving to me. "Postpone the local investors' meeting," I instructed firmly, "and the flight.. I won't leave until Carmela is on her way to Paris."

Ken stared at me, incredulous, questions swirling in his eyes. "What do you mean, postpone? This project is crucial! And why stay until Carmela leaves? She hasn't even signed—"

I cut him off with a wave of my hand, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. Picking up a pen, I clicked it open and tossed it towards him, the glass shattering as it hit the floor.

"I wish I did hit you" I muttered, standing up decisively. "As for her passport and arrangements, it's all taken care of. Book the earliest flight to Paris."

A moment of silence hung between us before Ken finally nodded, understanding dawning in his eyes. "So, you're her mysterious sponsor?" he ventured, and I met his gaze evenly.

"Please, close the door on your way out," I said, exhaustion tugging at me once more. As he left, I sank back onto the couch wondering what was truly ahead of her.

...

Waking to the familiar scent enveloping me, I instinctively knew it was him beside me—Mr. Dean. Despite my inner turmoil, there was an undeniable allure in our closeness, a tension that lingered between us like an unspoken secret.

Though our words were few, our silent exchanges spoke volumes, weaving a tapestry of longing and desire that neither of us dared to acknowledge. In the quiet moments, his presence was both comforting and suffocating, a paradox I couldn't unravel.

No matter how much I tried to convince myself otherwise, our paths were destined to diverge, leading to separate destinies that never seemed to align. With a heavy heart, I attempted to slip away from his grasp, unwilling to disturb his peaceful slumber. But his voice shattered the tranquility, sending a shiver down my spine.

"Where do you think you're going?" His inquiry hung in the air, laden with an intensity that rendered me motionless, his eyes boring into mine with unwavering scrutiny.

"I... I..." I stammered, feeling a rush of warmth as he sat up, his gaze locking onto mine with an intensity that made my heart race.

"You?" His voice was a gentle coaxing, pulling me closer until I found myself nestled in his arms, seated on his lap.

"When were you planning to tell me about your trip to Paris?" His fingers lifted my chin, guiding my gaze to meet his, but I couldn't hold his gaze for long, feeling a blush creeping up my cheeks.

Trying to avoid his playful eyes, I was met with a knowing smile that sent a shiver down my spine. With a deft movement, he opened the bedside drawer, retrieving a small box. Without waiting for my response, he turned me around, guiding my back against his chest.

My breath hitched as I felt the warmth of his body enveloping me, sending tingles down my spine. I could hardly form a coherent thought as his fingers delicately grazed my skin, sending electric waves of anticipation through me.

As I sat on the edge of the bed, Mr. Dean knelt before me, taking my left leg in his hand. I closed my eyes, bracing myself for his next move, but my eyes flew open at the sensation of something cold against my skin. His fingers traced the delicate chain, the diamond pendant shimmering in the soft light of the room.

A mischievous grin played on Mr. Dean's lips as he continued to explore the curve of my leg with his fingertips, leaving a trail of goosebumps in his wake. Leaning in, he pressed a gentle kiss against my skin, just above the chain, causing my heart to flutter erratically.

A soft gasp escaped my lips as I felt myself melting under his touch, my pulse racing with anticipation of what was to come. Lost in the moment, I couldn't help but close my eyes, savoring the warmth of his lips against my skin.

"This is my gift to you," his voice was a whisper against my ear, sending a shiver down my spine. "For being such a wonderful investment."

He brought my attention to his hand, revealing an identical chain to the one now adorning my leg. My eyes widened in surprise and delight, feeling a rush of warmth at his thoughtful gesture.

"Your flight to Paris leaves tomorrow," he murmured, his breath warm against my skin. "I'll have Luna help you pack. But for now, why don't you come down from cloud nine and join me for breakfast when you're back on Earth?"

A playful glint danced in his eyes as he pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead, leaving me breathless and wondering if he was indeed playing games with my heart.

Pressing my teeth against my lips, I threw my head backwards as my mind flew back to those reports

"If they are truly yours then I wouldn't argue if they say you crazy" I said to myself before standing to my feet.