Chapter 25

“Are you okay?”

I looked up at Amilia who was looking at me with concern.

This was the third time I came back to the pantry for coffee and I was still dozing off. If Hudson had caught me, I’ll be having an earful again. He already started my day with that because I had skipped overtime last week.

“Just a bit… sluggish.” I replied while rubbing my eyes, fighting another yawn.

“Tough weekend then?” She said with a small smile of understanding. She’s always been a genuine woman. Sometimes I tend to forget that.

I return a smile. “You have no idea.”

“I’m sure what you are going through right now, you will overcome it. You are hardworking and determined. I mean, that’s what I like about you.” She shrugged as she peered at me with little to no shyness of her confession, a blush forming her cheeks.

“Thank you.”

I inwardly frowned when I didn’t feel the usual heat creeping up my cheeks.

“I’m sorry about the date. I will try to have time for you.” I said guiltily.

The memory of Cara and I together just added to my guilt ten folds. Amilia and I weren’t really dating but if she finds out that I was sleeping with another woman whom I have no relationship with, what will she think?

She grins as she sways her body side to side like a kid, hands clasping to her front. “No problem, Dylan. I know you prioritize work and family. I can only think that they’re lucky to have you as their backbone.”

I smile. Her words were making me feel better. “Thank you again, Ami. You don’t know how much what you’re saying right now means to me.”

“I know.” She giggles. “I just don’t want Hudson to ruin your day or any other ones in the future. The old man is a jerk.” She said with a roll of her eyes. “He’s just bitter because you’re so much better than him. You actually deserve his position more than himself.”

I chuckled at her antics. “You better not say that if he’s around. He’ll probably let you stay here til 9PM working your ass off.”

We talked and joked at each other for a while before we proceeded to our workstation. She made me feel better for the time being. She made me forget my issues a little. However, the guilt was growing in exchange for that. I realized I was actually being a dick.

It was an unspoken thing in the group that Amilia and I liked each other. Our mutual friends knew that. That’s why they urged me to confess to her. I was not used to flirting or openly confessing my feelings and that made us stagnant- liking each other only through our eyes and smile. Let alone, relationships were not exactly my priority right now.

There were so many what ifs in my mind and that only discouraged me to confess to her. I long realized that I do like her but that it wasn’t enough to pursue a real relationship with her.

I cannot deny though that her personality and the way she carries herself is what made me attracted to her. Not to mention the little things she does that are so cute and adorable.

I also cannot deny that when Cara came into my life… a lot of things have changed.

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Ever since that incident three days ago at breakfast, I haven’t seen Cara. I was kind of relieved and at the same time felt concerned for her absence. Her men weren’t around either. I don’t know if we just haven’t crossed paths or they finally left America and went back to Italy. Either way, it surprisingly bothered me.

It was Friday morning and I planned to skip making breakfast since I expected her absence again. I wanted to grab some takeout at a cafe nearby. The coffee there tasted great and I planned to bring some in the office.

I went downstairs all in a good mood at the thought of coffee pumping up my day. When I finally reached down, I froze at the figure dozing off on the couch. I eyed the used wine glass and the bottle on the center table.

I took slow steps towards her, battling myself if I wanted to wake her up and prepare breakfast for her or just coffee like she wanted. After all, it was my obligation to do it. However, I didn’t want to wake her up. Should I just move her to her bed?

I hesitated when I saw the stain on her white suit. Blood. I gulped at the sight. Just when I had moved on from the horror of that night.

“What do you want?”

I flinched. I thought she was asleep. There was an edge to her voice as she spoke. I wondered why she was not in the mood.

“I… are you hungry? Do you want me to prepare something for you?”

“Just go.”

I couldn’t go though and ended up just staring at her with her eyes still closed. My mind was reeling at the thought of what made her in a bad mood and it was affecting me.

My heart jumped when she opened her eyes straight at me.

“What did I tell you?” She asked flatly.

“Do… do you need anything?” I asked instead. I was kind of nervous. I expected her to lash out at any moment.

She stares at me for a while before moving to get up. She stood closely to me- her chest almost hitting mine. She was wearing her intimidating heels so she was taller than me again.

Her hand moves from my chest to my neck. It felt like a caress so I didn't anticipate what happened next when all of the sudden, she grabbed my neck and choked me.

Her grip was tight as I started begging for air, holding her wrist to pull her away. She then threw me to the couch, her hand still wrapping my neck. She placed her knees on each side of me, straddling me. She was grinning the whole time as she watched me in pleasure.

“Cara…” I groaned. My eyes looked at her, begging for her to stop.

“What?” She drew her face closer to me, nose to nose. “What do you want me to do, tesoro?” Her sultry voice reached my ears despite my struggles.

I closed my eyes, succumbing to defeat. There was a slight frown in her face I saw right before I closed my eyes.

I suddenly feel her lips against mine. It wasn’t exactly a kiss, just a press of her lips to mine. But that only ignited my desire for her somehow. My attraction towards her made every bad thing about her dissipate. Because I knew there was still good in her.

I don’t know when it became a heated kiss. I just realized my arms were already around her waist, her arm on my shoulder, the other around my neck. She was sitting firmly on my thighs, the warmth of her core pressing against my crotch which was now growing very hard for her.

We pulled back when we felt like we needed air. We were panting as we pressed our foreheads together intimately.

“You’re afraid of me.” She stated while she caught me staring at the red stain adorning the front of her suit.

My eyes shifted towards her hazy gray orbs that probably reflected mine. I gulped. Her beauty makes me forget all the evil she’s done. An angel doing unlawful deeds. But when you actually look at it… all she’s done was because they provoked her first. Her ways might be inexcusable but she doesn’t do anything that is unreasonable.

She hummed when I didn’t reply. “Do you still want me, tesoro?” She whispered, her lips hovering to mine.

Silence responded to her question. I clenched my fists that laid rest on her waist. My inner turmoil was clouding my decision.

She moved back and showed me an understanding yet proud smirk which caught me by surprise. Her hand reached to my cheek, thumb stroking my lower lip. Her mouth moved to speak but I beat her to it, fearing what she might say.

“I do.”