I let out a small whimper as my eyes closed, my chest heaving hard. My face buried in my palm, and I let out a shaky breath. I was trying as hard as I could to not let Florian hear me, but I knew I had gotten loud at some point, and I was grateful that he hadn't bothered to say anything to me.
I sighed, closing my eyes. Today would have been my wedding. Yet here I am. I have nowhere to go. I straightened slowly, sniffing hard as I tried to best to compose myself. I turned to Florian. His eyes were cold as he drove silently, his fingers resting between us, the other navigating the steering wheel. "I... I will sleep at the office till I can..." "You are coming home with me." I bit down on my lips. "That is hardly home, Florian." He turned to me, his brow lifting. "Okay? You have called the Roseville mansion home for twenty-six years. Surely it wouldn't hurt your soul to call my place home for now." I turned away, my eyes brimming with tears. He was right. I had never felt at home in the place I had called home. Ronan was the one who had a home, while I knelt at his feet and ate the crumbs of a family he was generous enough to let me have. A handkerchief suddenly came in front of me, and I looked down at it. Florian's hands were stretched towards me, his eyes glued to the road. I looked down at it again. It had his initials customised into it, and I remember he had those even back then. I had even stolen one, but I can't remember where it is anymore. I had let go of my fetish for Florian and dove in deep with Damien, only to find myself tossed right back to Florian. "I used to have one of these," I said, my voice shaky with tears as I took it. "You did?" I nodded, forcing a laugh. "I stole it. It was so fascinating then." Florian turned briefly to me, then sighed. "We will stop to get boba." "Boba?" "You like to have boba when you are sad, or have you outgrown that?" I turned fully to him, my lips parting. "You still remember?" He went silent for a long second. "Did you lose the handkerchief?" I shrugged. "There was no use keeping it. I forgot where it was, so..." "It is impossible to forget you, Roxanne." I met his eyes, and he was already watching me, swirls of darkness filling his eyes. I turned away, my fingers grasping unto the handkerchief for dear life, my eyes blinking rapidly as I tried to keep my breaths in check. He said nothing more, and I could feel him turn back to his driving. After ten minutes of awkward silence, we stopped to get boba. I turned to the coffee place, my heart sinking. It was not a place I had been to before, but it reminded me of all the times I had been to similar places with Damien. I remember when he had gotten me boba and had returned with the number of the woman serving it. He had said he told her he had a girlfriend, but I remembered how he had turned the receipt with her number away, never throwing it out. It was all my fault. I did myself in. Florian got out of the car, and I watched his back as he made his way in. He was tall, his back broad, and I knew exactly how it felt to dig my nails into that back. To have that adonis right above me, teaching me how to speak in the languages of ecstasy. I turned away. I was too hurt to confront all of the pent-up emotions with Florian. Even though I was somehow tossed back into his arms, I wanted to delay it as much as I could. It felt like there was a gaping wound inside of me, and I could mot possibly entertain anything else. Much less anything as dominant and toe curling as Florian Hunt. He soon emerged with a cup of boba, his brows furrowed as he walked to the car, then got in. "Here." I collected it with both hands, and he leaned back, his eyes taking me in. I brought the cup to my lips, my eyes averting his. After a long, pregnant pause, I couldn't yake it anymore. "You must think I am pathetic. I..." "Enough of this," he said simply, then reached for his phone from between us. He leaned closer, his eyes holding mine in a dark, serious gaze. "What do you want?" My brows furrowed at the serious question. "What.... what do you mean?" He took in a deep breath. "Say it, Roxanne. Do you want to watch them burn in hell, or do you want to do it yourself?" I clenched my jaws hard and turned away. "I don't hate them." "You do, sweetie. Do you want Damien to go scot-free? He cheaged. He lied to you for seven years. He made fun of you. He rid of your family, although you are better off without them. Do you really want him to go scot-free?" I closed my eyes. Anger started to replace the helplessness I felt as the memories switched rapidly at the back of my eyes, painting everything I had viewed through rose coloured glasses into deep red shades. "Florian..." "Do you really want him to go scot free?" "No!" I yelled, my chest heaving as the boba spilt unto my dress. "I want him to suffer. I want to fucking take everything from him! I want him to beg o his knees! I want my parents to see! Their golden child, his friend! I want to ruin them all! Can you do that? Huh?" Florian's eyes darkened, and he wrapped his hand gently around my neck, then pulled me to him, his lips brushing mine. I closed my eyes, my chest heaving as I held onto him, like he was the very last thing remaining for me. My lips parted, and I let it dance to the rhythm he set for both of us, slowly setting my blood on fire. "Anything for you, princess," he whispered against my lips. I sighed, my eyes closing as he pulled me into his chest so I could cry more. This was better than boba, but for some reason... a chill ran down my spine at his words, and I dared to believe them. Maybe I shouldn't have.I stood in front of the mansion where Florian apparently lived. It was at least twice that of my parent's, and was situated in a quaint, quiet place in the richest part of CA. I looked around. Nature was thriving here, and the mansion itself was victorian style and extremely beautiful."Let's go," Florian said finally as he came beside me. He had handed the keys to a man who had greeted me and said man was currently taking the car away."I..." I started to say, my eyes falling to my feet. I still couldn't shake off the heavy awareness of him that I felt. And the awareness of what we had done last night. "Are you sure this is okay? I could sleep in my office before I find a way to retrieve...""Stay here, Roxanne. Don't be stubborn."I nodded slowly, then swallowed as I felt his hand rest gently on the curve of my waist. Without another word, he pulled me into the massive entrance, his body heating mine up due to how close together we were.The interior was even more magnificent, and I
"Ma'am, please come with me to the bedroom. Sir has asked us to help you settle down before lunch."I tore my gaze away from the path where Florian had taken away from me and turned to the woman. She was young, probably around my age, and dressed in a very neat maid's uniform.I forced a small smile, then nodded. "Thank you."She smiled, then gestured with her hand towards the stairs. I took the path she directed me to, while she fell into step next to me, her fingers elegantly clasped in front of her.I looked around the house, as last night was a complete haze, and I could barely even remember that wr had climbed a stair case. There were dark pieces of art around the house and one on the wall at the very top of the stairs.It was a close-up of a hand. My brows furrowed. Those rings looked like Florian's, and the longer I looked at the painting, the more I saw.I could see the rest from what could have been there, and his fingers seemed to be wrapped around a... chin?I could see the
The bath took longer than I thought, and when I finally pulled myself out of it, the water had gone cold. I wrapped a robe around me and walked. The walk-in closet was just across from the bath, and I thought it was absolutely convenient.I braced myself for yet another discovery as I opened the door. This place had been a whole adventure all through. It made me wonder what else waited. What else could be in there.I opened up the doors, and my lips fell open. Rows after rows of comfortable clothes ranging from hoodies that looked at least two sizes too big, then shorts just like I loved to wear before the whole glow up thing.Now my wardrobe was filled with silk, and I wore them even when it got too hot or felt weird against my skin.I broke into a smile as I walked inside, running my hands on the clothes. This was an absolute dream. There was, for sure, an entire closet for formal dresses and shoes, but the comfortable clothes filled the entire space.I settled on a large Hoodie and
ROXANNE'S P.O.V I sat alone at the dining, my feet rapping slowly on the floor. My eyes roamed around the entire house, my chest heaving as I took in the space. Florian did have stellar taste. He always has. His clothes always stood out from my brother's and any other friends they had. He always stood out from all of them.Maybe that is why I still don't understand why he kissed me in that closet years ago.I shook off the thought as Florian appeared, carrying a white glass bowl in his hands. He was wearing an apron now, and I wondered if he had done the cooking himself.I bit down on my lips as he set it on the table and started to turn away without looking at me. My brows furrowed a little. He had brought me down here himself after complimenting this hoodie and all, but now he seemed distant. Aloof."Florian."He stopped, then turned to me. "Yes?""Maybe I should come help out?"He raised a brow. "The maids are here for that.""So why are you cooking?""Because I want to," he said
My lips parted, but no words could come out of it. I just sat there, my eyes fixed on Florian's smile, the TV in the background acting like some sort of reminder of what I had gotten myself into.I stood up slowly, then walked past Florian and towards the TV. It showed herds of reporters, and Damien tried his best to push through them. He was still wearing the suit I had seen him in earlier, and I wondered what my parents thought right now. What they would be feeling.Would they finally take me back? Would they believe everything I had said?I turned, and Florian was behind me, his hand tucked into his pockets, his eyes cold as he looked down at me."Did... did you do this?"He looked up to the TV, then to me. "I wish I had.""Florian.""Let's face it, Rox. He slept with prostitutes and then let them take explicit photos of him like that. What exactly was he expecting? Of course, one of them would end up blackmailing him or even leaking it. This was bound to happen."I swallowed hard.
I woke up to the warmth of soft moist skin against my face. It felt like bliss, and I moved even further in, inhaling the pretty scent of masculine aroma and cooking. It felt nice, and I smiled, wrapping my hand even tighter around this pretty smelling thing, like if I woke up, it would be gone."You lied about hating being touched."I stopped chuckling to myself, then opened my eyes and looked up. As it turns out, my hand was firmly wrapped around Florian's back, my nails digging into his flesh, my face buried in his chest.My lips parted, and I started to move, but he pulled me back, a gasp escaping my lips."Florian, I...""You can stay here," he said, and I could hear him chuckle a little. "You are such a bad liar."I sighed, slowly adjusting closer to him again. He did smell incredibly beautiful, and there was perfection in the way my hands were around him, his skin soft yet firm."I didn't lie," I said slowly, my lashes fluttering against his skin. I felt him jerk a little to th
I ran to the closet, my eyes roaming around the section for formal to semi formal dresses that I could wear. The Continental is an elite restaurant frequented by some of the wealthiest people around. Even though I had no use for any of the glitz and glamour of the place, I have always dreamed of having their special lamb roast, after one particular day when Ronan had come home, bragging about the VIP card dad had given him to the restaurant, and how his date had been completely stunned, enough to let herself be bend over even in the bathroom floors. Of course, she never heard from him again, but she sure is satisfied. I shook my head, then reached for a black dress. It was floor length and would hug my figure down to the very edges. I took it in, nodding slowly. It was sparkly and had a slit up to the thigh that was covered in transparent black material. The sleeves were slim, almost nonexistent, and the neckline was a little loose and had an arrangement of pearls around it. It was p
ROXANNE'S P.O.V.It was the first quiet time I was getting in what seemed like two weeks. Since the wedding preparations reached a peak, I have had friends, cousins, relatives over, and even at this time of the night, we would be attending to one detail or another, fixing things and making sure everything would be perfect.Now the wedding is tomorrow, and I am standing here, watching my dress, my heart feeling light. I could see everything spiral in front of me.The first time Damien had asked me out. It was seven years ago, and we were both just starting college. I didn't take him seriously because then, I had just started fixing up on myself.I had just taken off my braces and had lost the glasses and switched them for contacts. I was taking care of my skin, and I had shorter, better styled hair now. I was slowly growing into the woman I was now, and I didn't think someone who knew the chubby girl from high school would ever want me, even with the changes.He apparently did, and the