Chapter 10

POV - (Point of View) Aurora Navarro

"What are you doing here?" I asked, a mix of surprise and confusion in my voice.

What is Mr. Arrogant doing here? Leaning against the door of my apartment? And how did he manage to come up here? He can't even enter the lobby without permission.

He probably seduced the old lady at the reception! I wouldn't be surprised if that actually happened!

"Who was that guy who dropped you off at the building?" Tristan ignored my question.

"That's none of your business!" I said firmly, crossing my arms.

"Is he your boyfriend?" Tristan continued with the questions. I rolled my eyes angrily at his persistence.

"You can't do this, demand answers from me as if I'm obliged to tell you everything I do. You can give orders to your employees and company staff, but you have no power over me."

"Don't I?" he asked skeptically, taking two steps towards me, bringing us very close.

Normally, I would step back, but I didn't. I'm not going to give in.

"Perhaps you're surrendering to me because of him," he referred to Alex.

In reality, on my long list of reasons not to sleep with Tristan Callahan, Alex was somewhere in the middle and one of the main reasons.

"And if it is because of him? Are you jealous?" I feared his response. I wouldn't say it was jealousy; I know Tristan well enough to know that he doesn't tend to get attached to someone or feel that kind of emotion. But we're not so close that I would know whether he has a possessive side or not.

"Jealous?" he chuckled softly. "That's ridiculous." Tristan stepped back and began to walk slowly around me, as if "analyzing" me from head to toe. I felt like a mannequin, where others' gazes are upon me, but their interest lies in the clothes I wear. In Tristan's case, his interest is in taking my clothes off.

My breathing grew heavy when I felt his body close behind me, getting closer and closer. My heart started beating frantically when I felt his hands on my waist, pulling me back and pressing our bodies together. His hands slyly roamed my body, causing unwanted shivers.

I opened my mouth to complain, but no sound came out. I couldn't say anything, let alone move. I hate it when he leaves me speechless!

"Tristan, stop," I mentally scolded myself for my voice faltering.

My mind is truly wicked. I'm asking him to back off, but in reality, I'm imagining him shirtless.

Damn it! I shouldn't have seen that photo on the website!

"Why would I back off?" Tristan asked, calmly brushing my hair aside. "I know you're enjoying this as much as I am." He brushed his lips against my neck, his warm breath against my skin sending shivers down my spine.

I hate to admit it, but he manages to strip away all my sanity in his attempts to seduce me. Now I understand why women always throw themselves at him, but there's one thing: I'm not like the others.

Summoning all my determination and courage, I removed his hands from my body and stepped away from him. I turned to face him, observing his disapproving expression. He made a move to approach me, but I interrupted him.

"One more step, and I'll kick you 'there' again!"

"Why do you have to make it so difficult?"

"I'm not making it difficult. Understand that I'm not your toy; I'm not your little doll. Accept that I like someone else."

"And do you think I care about that?" he furrowed his brow. "Whether he's a friend, boyfriend, fiancé, or lover, I don't care. This is between you and me."

"You really are something," I shake my head in denial. "Even after saying that I love someone else, you keep trying to convince me to sleep with you."

"Your love is artificial," he said, causing me to raise a confused eyebrow.

"You say you love him, but it's me that your body desires," Tristan concluded.

I swallowed hard and remained silent. They say silence implies consent. I find Tristan very attractive, but I don't confirm that my feelings for Alex are artificial.

"We can end this right now. We can go into your apartment and have a night of intense pleasure, and then I'll leave, disappear from your life," he spoke in a casual tone, as if it were part of his everyday routine.

"Honestly, you disappearing from my life would be wonderful, but I've already told you that I'm not interested in being involved with you, even if it's just for a few hours."

"If you weren't interested, you would have already filed a restraining order to keep me away from you."

I tilted my head to the side; the way he spoke made it seem like I couldn't live without him. It made me laugh internally. His self-esteem is getting out of hand!

"You know what? I'm going to file a restraining order right now!" I said, remembering the photos where Tristan was inside his car, observing me. With them, I would win the case and have peace again.

Tristan started laughing ironically, and I was puzzled by his sudden behavior.

"What are you laughing at?" I asked, but he didn't bother to answer. He turned around and walked slowly to the elevator without a word. "What's gotten into this crazy guy?" I asked myself.

I shrugged and entered the apartment. I tried to ignore Tristan's change, but my mind was already trying to find the reason why that idiot started smiling out of nowhere, as if he were up to something.

I stopped my questioning when an idea popped into my mind.

"He didn't do it..."

I ran as fast as I could to the dark room. The door was already open, and I could see my empty mural. My eyes widened.

"What a son of a bitch!" I exclaimed, slamming the door with force.

How did he enter my apartment without having the key? That was an interesting question, but I didn't care too much about it. My main focus was to recover my photos and then get a dagger and stab it into Tristan's chest!

It's incredible how he manages to drive me crazy!

I left the apartment and took the emergency stairs down to the lobby. I wouldn't waste my time waiting for the elevator; otherwise, Mr. Arrogant would escape.

When I reached the lobby, I saw Tristan exiting the elevator and giving a brief nod to the old lady behind the counter.

"Tristan Callahan!" I shouted his name, but he didn't stop walking. I ran up to him, and before he could leave the building, I jumped on his back, and we fell together onto the wooden floor.

I quickly recovered from the fall and positioned myself on top of him, holding his wrists beside his head to prevent him from escaping or taking advantage of that embarrassing position to touch me inappropriately.

He smiled mischievously. That scene was ridiculous, and there was even the old lady at the reception as an audience.

"I usually like to be on top, but if you prefer it this way, I'll accept," Tristan said.

I ignored both his comment and the burning sensation in my cheeks.

"Give me back the photos!"

"I've already gotten rid of them."

"You're bluffing," I wanted to believe he was lying. Those were the only photos I had of him.

"I'm not a man who bluffs."

Persistently, I got off him, accepting my defeat. He stood up before me and then extended his hand to help me.

"I can get up by myself," I said, getting up.

"I'll never try to be nice to you again," he rolled his eyes and turned to leave.

"Wait!" Without realizing it, I had grabbed his hand, which caused a strange sensation in me.

I quickly pulled my hand away from his, and he turned, expecting me to start speaking, but the words escaped me after what had happened.

"What do you want? Did you change your mind about my earlier proposal?"

I sighed. Can he only think about sex?!

"It's not that, idiot. I just wanted to know how you got into my apartment," I said, and his brief glance at the old lady at the reception was the answer. I was dumbfounded. "Do you have no shame hitting on an old lady?!"

"I didn't even have to make much effort," he replied, and I made a face. I don't even want to imagine what he had done to convince her. "See you another day, feisty."

I watched him leave the building and get into his car on the other side of the street. Before heading to the elevator, I gave a dirty look to the old lady, who shrugged.

Truly, today has been long and very stressful!

***

Adelaide was working tirelessly alongside the other cooks in the restaurant. In a few hours, they would be serving the buffet at a birthday party, and there were still some appetizers to be prepared.

In the restaurant kitchen, while everyone rushed around, I was sitting at the counter, enjoying some delicious sweets.

"Will you stop eating the appetizers?!" Adelaide stopped in front of me, looking at me angrily.

"No, thanks," I said, and then I put another sweet in my mouth.

She took the plate of sweets away from me and carried it off. I grumbled and swung my feet, disapproving of her actions.

My attention was drawn to Adelaide's phone next to me. It had beeped, indicating the receipt of a new message.

Curious as I am, I picked up the device and opened the messaging app. I smiled widely when I saw that it was from Griffin. He was the one who sent the message.

"Hey, Adelaide! I was wondering if you'll be off this weekend," he said in the message.

"Why are you snooping through my phone?" Adelaide questioned, startling me as she stood in front of me.

"I'm playing some games to pass the time," I said, the first excuse that came to mind. Adelaide seemed to believe me. "Anyway, how are things with the hot doctor?"

"Don't say that at my workplace!" she whispered angrily. "We don't see each other much. I'm busy with the buffets, and he's busy taking care of his patients."

I really hope they work out, but the only problem is that both of them put their love lives on the back burner.

"You're always busy. At this rate, I'll start rooting for you and the handsome chef again," I said, looking over Adelaide's shoulder and spotting someone approaching us. "Speaking of the devil."

"Adelaide, get back to work," Kai ordered, and she nodded and rushed back to the stove, stirring one of the pots. The man who was still in front of me looked at me. "Aren't you supposed to be in college?"

"Aren't you supposed to be working instead of meddling in my life?" I retorted, making him sigh deeply and turn to walk away. "Kai, darling!"

"I'm not your darling!" he looked at me impatiently again.

"Anyway, is Adelaide going to have time off this weekend?"

"Only on Saturday. She'll be serving another birthday buffet on Sunday."

I smiled as if I were about to do something mischievous, which was partially true.

"Griffin will be glad to hear that," I said to myself while typing a message to Mr. Arrogant's brother.

"Hey, handsome devil!"

Wait. I can't write that. I have to pretend to be Adelaide.

"Hi, Griffin! Well, I'll be off on Saturday. Why the interest?"

"Who's Griffin?" Kai asked.

I lifted my gaze, seeing that the man was still in front of me, but now with a curious look.

"The doctor who took care of me when I was run over by an incredibly arrogant being."

"Incredibly arrogant?" he smiled slightly. "Which one of those wealthy guys?"

"You don't want to know..." I muttered. Tristan would be furious if he heard what I just said.

The phone in my hand beeped with a new message from Griffin.

"Would you honor me by being by your side on your day off?" the doctor asked.

In the first few seconds, I was smiling because Adelaide hit the jackpot in finding a gentleman like Griffin, but then I looked at the time, and my eyes widened.

My class starts in four minutes!

"Shit!" I grabbed my backpack and quickly got off the counter.

"Don't use foul language!" the man scolded me. He hated it when I did that. "You have to be a polite girl."

"Fuck it, I'm screwed!" I ignored his look of astonishment and ran over to Adelaide. I stopped by her side and handed her her phone. She looked at me confused. "I need to go, I'm late for college. Don't forget to reply to Griffin and confirm your date on Saturday!"

"W-What?!" Adelaide asked, but I couldn't answer because I had already rushed out of the restaurant.