I shook my head. Why did I care about what he was doing here?
I should just go back to the terrace.
Once back upstairs, I found the meeting was over and everyone was now enjoying their drinks, except Ace. He simply drank a glass of plain water.
And… that witch was now in my seat!
But his attention wasn’t on her. Instead, those stormy orbs were searching around for something. Until they landed on me. Was that relief that flashed over them?
He beckoned me to him with his head, but I turned around and went to Liza, who was talking to two of the Arabs beside the railings. Matt wasn’t here.
“Hey, where did you go?” Liza asked.
“Washroom,” I replied, standing next to her. Nodding, she returned to the conversation.
One of the Arabs’ gaze locked with mine as he flashed me a smile. I remember his name was Fazza. At twenty-something, with dark hair and tanned skin, he didn’t look bad. But the interest in his brown eyes didn’t match mine.
But out of politeness, I smiled back.
“How long are you working for Mr. Valencian?” he asked.
“It’s been just a week.” I averted my eyes from his awkward stare.
“Oh, so you’re new in this field too,” he stated. “I just joined some months ago.”
“You’re a designer?”
He nodded. “Yep, loved doing these drawings with paper and pencils from my childhood.”
This time, my chuckle was genuine. “Well, I still draw the designs with them. Doing it on the computer doesn’t feel connected.”
A grin spread across his face. “Looks like we’re on the same page then.” He glanced at my hand. “You’re not having anything. You need a drink?”
When I was about to answer, an arm around my waist cut me off. A gasp slipped through my lips as I was pulled against a hard frame. His familiar heady cologne tingled my nostrils.
“Sweetheart, what took you so long? I was waiting for you,” Ace said with his jaw tight as stone, casting a look of frost at Fazza. I just stood there, dumbfounded.
“You—you guys are together?” Fazza’s gaze fell on my waist, where Ace’s arm was wrapped around me possessively.
“Yes, she’s taken,” Ace replied, but it came out much like a hiss. Though his expression was cool, his orbs were hard, as if warning him off, staking his claim on me.
Fazza put his hands up. “No bad intentions here, Mr. Valencian. I was just talking. Anyway, I’ll just take your leave now.”
Once he was gone and so did the others, I tried to wriggle out of his hold, but he only tightened it. Huffing, I glared up at him.
“What are you doing? And what did you mean by I was taken?”
He cocked his head. “Because you are. You’re mine.”
My heart stopped. The intensity of his gaze held me speechless. And then my heart started racing, blood ran hot in my veins as something soared in my chest.
I gulped. “I-I’m not yours.”
“You aren’t?” He leaned closer, stormy grays held me prisoner.
The shake of my head was vague.
“You sure, Rosebud? Because your eyes are saying otherwise.” His hot breath fell on my lips as his fingers dug into my flesh, sending shivers down my spine.
“Why did we stop here? We were supposed to go directly to the office, right?” I asked, glancing at the mall standing tall outside of the car window.
“At least you said something,” he remarked, eyes amused.
Pressing my lips, I scowled. After he declared his claim on me back on the terrace, all I could do was get out of his arms and run away from him. My plan to return with Liza and Matt failed as they already left me, assuming I already had a ride. And I’d no way but to get into his car with him again.
Throughout the whole ride, I hadn’t spoken to him. Even when he tried to grab my hand—the nerve of him!
“Well?” I crossed my arms over my chest, snatching his smoldering gaze there. Blood rushed to my ears.
Inhaling a deep breath, he brought his eyes back to mine. “Caleb and Tess’s engagement is this Sunday. And I need your help to choose gifts for them.”
I raised my brow. “It’s your cousin and best friend you’re talking about. You don’t know what to get for them?”
A sour feeling appeared in my mouth as the picture of him and Tess from that night flashed through my mind. Did they really have anything at all between them? If they did, then he should’ve at least felt some discomfort that the girl he used to date was going to marry his cousin, who was more like a brother to him. But it seemed like it didn’t affect him at all.
If there wasn’t anything like that, then what was it that I saw? The intensity between them, the passion…
My hands balled into fists, my chest constricted. But I managed a calm façade before him. Years of practice, how could I not manage?
“I’ve got something in my mind for Caleb, but I don’t know what to get Tess. Yes, she’s my best friend, but as her sister, and a girl, you’d know better.” He assessed my face, as if searching for something in there. Did he know of my inner turmoil? The turmoil that was getting more difficult day by day to cage in.
I stayed silent, lost in my own thoughts.
“You’re mine.”
What did he mean? After all these years, the years he maybe didn’t even care where his best friend’s little sister was. And now out of nowhere he called me his? He wanted me? When did this happen? I didn’t believe he just fell for me after just seeing me at that party.
“Here, I’m sure you’ll love this one, ma’am. This is one of the best pieces of necklace in our store,” the manager of this renowned jewelry outlet said. He was there to greet us himself. And why not? The great Achilles Valencian was in his store.
I mentally rolled my eyes.
I didn’t want to help him find a gift, but I couldn’t just say no to those stormy grays. I knew I was being stupid and weak. But… I couldn’t help it.
And we were here because Tess was obsessed with diamonds and clothes.
Shaking my head, I passed another piece of necklace. They were too heavy. “Show me something light and contemporary.”
At Achilles’s nod, the manager took off to show me some more of their collections that I finally might like. I didn’t know much of Tess’s choice, but I knew she was fond of trying the brand-new designs in the market.
Twirling the bracket on my wrist, I scanned the jewelries on display. Then something caught my eye. A simple pendant with a diamond cut emerald in the middle. The tiny rubies that surrounded the emerald made it more gorgeous than it already was.
I wasn’t fond of emeralds before, but the tiny ones in my bracelet had won my heart.
I wonder who left this beautiful bracelet before my door that day…
“You like something for yourself?” His deep voice came close to my ear. I instantly stepped away from him. This man just didn’t know personal space.
“No. We’re here for Tess, not me, remember?”
He watched me for a moment before nodding.
“Mr. Valencian, please take a seat. Let us show the latest collections of our store,” the manager urged, with two assistants behind him carrying dozens of boxes in their hands.
With a curt nod, he wrapped his arm around my waist and led me to the sitting area. I tried to wiggle out of his arm, glaring at him. But he kept a firm hold, pulling me more into his warmth.
I huffed, giving up, not wanting to create a scene. And the thing that I felt in his arms, his scent, could be another reason I didn’t pull away.
He was tampering with my head, as well as my heart.
After I was done choosing something for Tess finally, he maneuvered me to another store. This time, I was thrown to hunt for a dress for her.
I told him our dressing style was a lot different, I couldn’t help him with that. But his opinion was different.
“I trust your decisions, Rosebud. I’m sure whatever you choose will be the best. Don’t worry. I’ll help you make the decision.”
I frowned in confusion. Whatever he said went over my head. What did he know of my decisions and choices, anyway?
Though I wouldn’t admit it, I was thankful the woman who was helping us find a dress wasn’t staring at him like a puppy craving a bone, like the women in the other shops we visited. She was polite and professional, no hint of lust on her features. When I told her what type of dress I wanted, she handed me two dozen expensive gowns. For wedding functions, they’d be best—suggested the woman.
I ran my hand over a pink satin, checking its florid designs.
Suddenly, it was snatched from me. Looking up, I found a displeased Ace glaring holes into the dress. “We’re not taking it.”
“Why? What’s wrong with it? I think it’d be perfect for Tess. And pink is her favorite color.”
He raised his brow. “What’s wrong? It’s too short.”
“So? She has no problem with short dresses.”
“But I do!” His lips tightened.
Something nagged inside me. Why did he care if Tess wore short dresses or not? My temper flared as I grabbed the dress back from his grasp.
“I liked this dress for her, so we’ll be taking this. You told me to help you and I’m just doing that. If you don’t like my choice, then be my guest and do it yourself!”
My sudden outburst didn’t seem to bother him, as he was too busy eyeing me up and down.
“What’re you doing?” I frowned.
“How do you know Tess would look good in it? You didn’t see it on her, did you?”
“I don’t need to see it on her. I can tell, this will be perfect for her.”
“But I’m not certain,” he said, tilting his head. “Why don’t you try it on yourself, and see if it really looks good?”
My eyes widened. “What? Why would I do that? And how can you decide if she’ll look good or not seeing it on me? I’m not her!”
He shrugged. “Your height and weight are almost the same as Tess. So, I don’t think there’d be a problem.”
“But—’
“No buts. You’re only wasting our time arguing over this. Just try this out, let me see you, and get done with it.” He cut me off. When he mentioned of seeing me, goosebumps crawled up my arms. And it didn’t help as his stormy grays grew stormier.
“Fine!” Glaring, I walked to the changing room. There were people around the shop, more men than women in our section.
I’d have to walk out in this thigh length sleeveless dress.
Slamming the door shut, I cursed under my breath for agreeing to help him and started undressing. I didn’t even know if it would fit.
It did fit. But it was tight as hell. I could barely breathe in it. He was wrong. We didn’t have the same weight. She was thinner than me, where I was the curvier one. Well, it was obvious as she was the girl who spent hours at the gym.
Once I was ready to go out, I tugged at the ends to somehow drag them a little lower and opened the door. I didn’t find him outside the door as I expected. In fact, I found him sitting comfortably on a bloodred leather couch, with his elbows on his knees.
And the most surprising thing was the whole shop was empty except for the sales girls of the shop.
