CHAPTER 25

Bumping into his muscular wall like chest knocked April back and she staggered before Dean caught her in his powerful arms. She retracted herself from his arms and gave him a fake smile.

"Thanks," April answered politely as she stepped back and walked towards the lift she wanted to run.

Dean was overjoyed at literally bumping into April but she was acting so strange. She had dodged him and looked like a scared kitten, not his like usual wild cat. What had happened for her to avoid him? He followed her into the now waiting lift. He swore, he heard her sigh as he entered the lift with her.

April saw Dean enter the small lift with her and she let out a small sigh. He was exactly what she wanted to avoid today. In the small lift his large frame touched her shoulder, his leather-like smelling cologne surrounded her. The short journey felt like forever in this small space.

Dean stared at April out of the corner of his eyes trying to decipher her new attitude. Her clothing all looked the same as usual then he looked at her face. Although she had tried to hide them under makeup, he couldn't miss her red tired eyes. She was flawless except for a small bit of black paint. When and what did she paint? Is that why she is so tired?

Dean reached out his elegant hand to rub the paint from her cheek. He didn't want her to walk around with paint on her cheek.

April saw Dean's hand come up to reach for her cheek and she avoided it.

Bing

The lift door opened and she ran like a wild animal set free from its cage. This cage was the lift and she ran from her feelings of butterflies and bliss. She wasn't broken she just needed to learn how to accept her feelings and to love again. After all, it was her own fault to think James would be true to her.

Deans hand was left suspended in the air as he then watched April rush to her car to escape him. It was okay he thought to himself. He could be patient with her, she had been so hurt and was still recovering. Like a Phoenix rising from the ashes, she had to completely burn to ash before she would rise. He watched her drive off before getting in his own car and sending a text to Micheal.

(Hey Dude, look out for April today she seems a bit off. Dean)

He knew Micheal would look after her today and he had no doubt she just needed a friend and

April had driven again on autopilot getting to work within half an hour. After her long night, she decided to a coffee before work so she parked up at Walker interiors and walked to the same cafe sh youe had visited the day before with Sophie and Aarna.

She walked the short distance and entered the cafe, she ordered a cappuccino and poured in brown sugar. She ignored the sweet treats she loved still not hungry leaving the cafe and bumping into another chest.

She quickly apologised, "I am so sorry. Did I get coffee on you?"

"No no, you're fine, hey April how have you been?" The masculine voice asked.

Hearing the voice she knew so well she looked up and saw James. He looked so handsome in his blue suit and hair slicked back. He was the last person she had thought she would bump into but then wasn't fate cruel.

James was overjoyed to see April, he realised that once she wasn't around and he had let her go in favour of Lucy what he had had and what he was missing in life.

"Hi James, sorry I have to go to work. I don't want to be late." April gave a short reply and walked around James towards her work.

James caught up with April, he was going to Walker interiors also.

"I will come with you, I would like your artistic eye to help me with the villa I just bought," James responded as he walked side by side with her.

Great April thought, at least it would be a short walk. Picking up the pace she walked quickly to Walker Interiors.

James made small talk the whole walk and April responded only when needed after all she still needed to be polite to a client.

April then got in the lift with James in tow and headed for her floor. She was once again trapped in a lift trying to ignore her feelings. She fake smiled and responded and before she knew it the lift door opened.

Emily saw James and approached him and April was very grateful for the eager and shameless woman that she is, James couldn't bother her while he had Emily surrounding him.

April sat at her desk and turned on her computer. She saw Aarna sitting at her desk and smiled over at her. She continued to work and as others drifted in she said good morning. James was caught by Emily and for that April was relieved.

James had come over to her desk as he was leaving and she said goodbye as she would to any other client with a small smile as it was all she could manage.

Aarna asked her to go to lunch to which she refused she didn't want to eat or make small talk. So everyone left the office and she was alone for a while. She didn't notice them come back as she threw herself into work.

Knock knock

Hearing a knock April furrowed her eyebrows and looked up. She saw Micheal standing before her and a half smile spread on her face.

Micheal had back to back meetings all day and he rushed to April's office and thankfully she was still there working away. He saw her small smile and he inwardly sighed, something was wrong Dean had been right.

Micheal sighed and said, "So let's go."

"What, where?" April was instantly taken aback as he was abducting her it seemed.

"You need some fun, get your stuff and let's go," Michael responded and walked to the lift and hitting the button.

April saw that he moved quickly and so she grabbed her phone and bag and rushed to his side, "So where are we going?"

"You will see," Michael smirked and got into the lift.

"Is what I am wearing okay?" April looked at her outfit she had put on a sort of office uniform so she wasn't sure if it was appropriate to wear out.

"It's fine, you look great. Don't doubt yourself April, your fierce and beautiful." Michael responded truthfully.

"Whatever." April did not take compliments as truth. Compliments were something people said to flatter you and you couldn't always trust people.

April followed Michael out of the lift and to his car.

"You like your cars don't you." April looked at Micheal's car as she got in and remembered him coming with her to buy her own car. She realised her car was a fourth of the price of Micheal's.

"Yes, I like my cars. This is my baby, it is my baby blue and silver Rolls Royce Dawn." Micheal answered proudly.

"Your baby is glamorous. So still not going to say where you are taking me are you?" April looks over and checked to see if Micheal could be swayed.

"Nope." Michael smiled and kept driving.

Micheal parked up and got out of the car, handing his keys to the valet.

"Come on, keep up beautiful," Michael shouted as he walked to the door, where a manager arrived to greet him.

"I'm coming." April got out of the car. It was eight PM and it was dark out. The city was lit up with the city lights and the night sky. She followed Micheal and saw the sign 'The Nephilim' she had never been to a night club before.

The manager bowed respectfully and welcomed them inside. April followed behind Michael, she stayed close as she didn't want to lose him. The club was filled full of bodies on the dance floor and at the surrounding tables.

Michael sat at the VIP table which was raised and cordoned off from everywhere else. At the moment a band was playing in the corner.

April joined Micheal and fixed her hair and skirt nervously.

"What do you want to drink?" Michael asked her first.

"I'm okay." April wasn't sure if drinking would be okay.

"She will have an appletini and I will have a long island ice tea," Micheal ordered for her and April rolled her eyes.

The drinks arrived promptly and Michael pushed the cocktail towards her and smiled. He wanted her to let go and let loose.

"Okay, just one." April took a sip and the sweet liquid was refreshing. She couldn't taste any alcohol.

Michael smiled at her and sat taking his time with his drink waiting for her to loosen up.

April had one, two then a third cocktail. She stood up when a song came on and she pulled Micheal with her towards the dance floor. She danced and the drink had given her the confidence she never had. She didn't care what she danced to as long as she could forget.

Micheal was happy to help her release some energy and some demons. The most appropriate place to bring her was Deans club The Nephilim, as the name entails whether you are an angel, a demon or a combination of both you can have a good time here.

April then went to the bar. A tall, tan and muscular bartender smiled at her.

"Can I get a shot of whiskey please?" April sat at the bar, she looked young, stunning and sweet.

Micheal joined her at the bar, "Whiskey? Really?" Micheal looked at her in surprise.

"Yep." She responded to Michael. The bartender set down her drink and she smiled, "Keep them coming till I don't remember at all."

"What don't you want to remember?" Micheal was interested in helping her work through her demons.

April took a shot then when the bartender filled her shot glass again she took another then she spun around ignoring Michaels question. They had set up a microphone.

"Oh, can I sing?" Asked April, getting excited.

"You can sing sure, go ahead." Micheal watched then April approached the bandstand and talked to the band.

When the music started she seemed to come alive. Micheal got out his phone and video called Dean. He turned the video to point at April, knowing it was what Dean would want to see.

Knowing that Michael was with April Dean picked up the video call quickly. He saw his angel up on stage and heard her singing in the background...

"Maybe tomorrow it won't be this hard

Who am I kidding

I know what I'm missing

I had my heart set on you

But nothing else hurts like you do

Who knew that love was so cruel

(Yeah yeah yeah)

And I Waited and waited so long

For someone who'd never come home

It's my fault to think you'll be true (yeah yeah)

I'm just a fool".....

Dean had just finished up a late meeting and after seeing and hearing his angel he rushed to his car to see her. Her song hit his heart hard and he wanted nothing more than rush to her and hug her.

He drove as fast as he could and arrived in under five minutes.

She had finished singing so Michael had cut the call knowing that Dean would rush to April. He sat swirling his drink as he waited.

Dean strode into his club ignoring the surrounding stares and the manager that followed him. He spotted his angel straight away she was downing a shot.

April turned as she felt a presence beside her, seeing Dean she smiled. Her butterflies returned and she leaned in hugging his strong chest.

Dean was taken aback but enjoyed her embrace after she had dodged him this morning. Smelling the alcohol on her he sighed and he pulled away from her. He lifted her in one fluid motion in a princess carry. She put her arms around his neck and cuddled into him.

Seeing the cute couple Michael smiled, grabbed Aprils bag and followed them out.