*WARNING: This chapter contains imagery and description that may cause distress. ROSE A sense of justice overcame me. “But he’s a werewolf! Werewolves have super healing abilities right?” “Scars and wounds heal, Rose. Not missing limbs… or eyes.” He turned further away, his back facing mine, then he added, “One of the branches caught his eye during the fall and… you can imagine the rest.” “So he… lost an eye?” I couldn’t believe my ears. A chill streak shot up my spine. I jerked up a hand to cover my eye. How does it feel… to have a part of you stabbed… and then torn from you like it didn’t matter? I can imagine the excruciating pain. But do werewolves feel the same? Do they feel the pain even though they heal faster than us? I stared at the strong back crouching in remorse. And then, all of a sudden, my parents’ car crash slammed into my mind. When the car flew off its rail, were Mum and Dad petrified? Did they know that the end was near and gave up? Or did they try to es
ROSE "What kind of date?" I heard myself asking. Rum was on his way to his bedroom in his laid back manner—one hand in his pants pockets, one hand holding his phone for his eyes to read, and his feet in a leisurely drag—when he halted and slowly turned. His face asked, what kind of a question is that?, before his silky voice did. “Are you for real?” he asked. Then, he turned to face me. “I’m taking a woman to dinner—what kind of date do you think that is?” I stepped forward. “But isn’t she your sponsor? People don’t discuss business over dates, right?” Those blue eyes darkened with rage. “What are you trying to say?” His tone was telling me: I was out of line. He’s right. Who am I to tell him what to do and what not to do? Even Dan gave him the green light. So who am I to say he can’t date a woman to move ahead in his career? It’s not that I don’t know this part of his life. I do! I know that he's done favours for sex; he's slept with many women. And he even bluntly told
ROSE “Rum…? Err, we’re not done yet,” squealed the flustered assistant producer. “Sorry, Grace. I need a three,” Rum replied solemnly as he rushed past the lady who smiled back sheepishly. "Three minutes!" Someone shouted in the background as I continued to be tugged forward. When we were out of earshot, I tried to wrench myself out of that stinging grasp. “Let go of me!” I hissed. “Oh, now you’re whispering? You’re finally aware that everyone’s looking?” he muttered sarcastically. The second we entered the dressing room, Rum slammed the door shut, locked it and caged me against the wall with his hands on each side of my head and his angry face in mine. "I don't care what the fuck is your problem…." Those blue eyes held my gaze. "But you better get your shit together. You got a problem working for me, then FUCKING LEAVE." I stared at him. Fear was slowly seeping from his glare into my veins. So he brought me here to cool off. But he made it abundantly clear: he wants no
ROSE BUZZ, BUZZ! Hmm? I pushed open my eyelids and the curtains of my bedroom windows came into view, rising and waving in the gentle breeze of the night. BUZZ, BUZZ! My phone. It’s ringing angrily. It sounds important. Like I’ve missed something. Shit! What time is it? Did I sleep through dawn?! I jumped upright in my bed, whipping up my phone, and answered it immediately. “Yes! This is Rose!” “GET YOUR ASS HERE! NOW!” I rubbed my eyes. “Rum?” And he hissed, “Fifteen minutes or you’re dead!” And the call disconnected. Wait. What? Shit! I’m not dreaming; I’ve overslept! I stretched my eyes and stared hard at the time. 7:45 p.m. OH MY GOD! Did I sleep through the entire day?! I checked the date. TUESDAY, 10 JAN. I sank in relief. Thank goodness… I’ve only passed out for thirty five minutes; I didn’t sleep through the entire day. It’s still today. Rum’s still at his dinner date with Goldie—. Wait. That was Rum on the phone, wasn’t it? Why did he call?
ROSE The journey up to Rum’s penthouse was filled with silence until the gentle ping of notification that the elevator would soon open. But when the doors slid open, Rum didn’t dash out as usual. Instead, he remained leaning against the rear wall of the transporting box. I didn’t move either. I felt too tired to lift a muscle. So the doors stayed open. Jokes aside, I’m still crossed with Rum. But then, I’m also feeling guilty for throwing my temper at him and judging him for simply doing his best living in our world. On top of all that, right now, I feel scared. What if Rum found out that I’ve fallen in love with him? Disappointment. He’d be disappointed with me. And I don’t want that. I want him to think the best of me. I have to hide all these feelings I have for him. Maybe I should act like I don’t care. The doors slid to a close, jarring me back to the elevator, and I realised we’re both still inside. Finally, Rum stepped forward to press a button and the doors halte
RUM The buzzing won’t stop. “Urgh…,” I groaned. “Get it, Rose.” BUZZ… BUZZ… Jesus Christ! “ROSE!” I roared and jolted to a push-up position on my bed and glared to my right. It was empty. The ruffled sheets definitely told me that someone had slept in it. Last night was glorious, and it was real. It happened. I slept with Rose again. We agreed that we wouldn’t. But I wanted it to happen again, and, to my excitement, so did she. Something didn’t feel right. A sense of emptiness in the air. A dreaded sense of emptiness. I grabbed the duvet, holding it around my waist, and got out of bed. “Rose!” I called for her and then I listened. For the sounds of water raining from the shower, her soft humming in the bathroom, her feet padding across the carpet in the living area, to the kitchen and the gym and back to the living area. Nothing. Only silence. “Fuck…,” I murmured. Where the fuck is that girl? Only then I remembered the buzzing sound from earlier—my phone. I
JOY At first, she was smiling, when I saw her at the door, a bag on her shoulders, four large paper bags strapped around her forearms—two on each side. She was in her jumper and jeans but gone are the specs, just as I had last seen her. She looked like she had just gotten out of bed and had rushed through the packing up to leave wherever she was before coming back here. I assumed that place she was at was Rum’s place, and was about to ask her what happened when her eyes became watery. I took the paper bags from her and asked if she was fired. Then large teardrops started rolling down her reddened eyes. So I hugged her and told her she had done her best. Big companies like B.A.D. are hard to survive in, and she's only an intern. But she managed to stay there for four years, despite having no formal training, and that meant something. And then the incredible girl wailed, loud and hard. In a voice shaking with grief, she blurted that she would no longer be Rum’s assistant. And
ROSE Yes…. Yes, I’ll save him. I won’t let them push Rum around. I won’t give them the token to use it against Rum. I’m going to put a stop to it, even if it means losing my fast track to achieving daddy’s dream. “Stability,” I breathed, just before those tantalising lips touched mine. “I want stability.” He paused and jerked back. His face shot up to level with mine, showing me a curious yet upset expression. “What the fuck… What the fuck are you trying to say?” “I’m sick and tired of the roller coaster life at B.A.D.,” I said. “And I’m sick and tired of walking on eggshells around you.” Those blue eyes enlarged with surprise, giving me the boost in my morale to continue with the lie. “You heard me, I’m done with this life of anxiety and uncertainty. I feel vulnerable all the time and I hate it.” I gritted my teeth at that handsome face. “I HATE IT. Did you hear me?” BANG! His fist slammed on the door just above my head and he leaned in. “You don’t seem to hate it when