The Accidental Kiss

Evelyn was fed up with everything. Firstly, she had a hard time believing the man who claimed that he was trying to protect her and went underground for two years as penance. But the reality was that behind his façade of contrite, he was drugging people who were closer to her so that she can’t go to someone for help. And now she has to live under that constant fear because no matter what she does, she can’t escape him.

And secondly, her only hope, Xander was behaving like a jerk. Acting as if he doesn’t know her. But his completely changed demeanor left her to conclude that he was also one of the Mafia’s targets just like Joseph and Sara who were with her the last time. Evelyn still hadn’t forgotten how Joseph and her upbeat staff greeted her with smiles because the memory of their Boss escaping the claws of death last night was completely wiped off from their minds.

Dylan knew that once he releases her from his cage, his little bird would fly around trying to seek help so he drugged everyone, erased their memories, and turned her into a liar.

Xander’s glare hardened. Her stubbornness had started to get on his nerves.

“I don’t care about you but I hate people who lie to me and the way you looked at me, it is clear that I don’t know something which I should.”

Evelyn rolled her eyes, “Of course, you would only care about yourself.” She gritted.

Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath before answering him, “FINE. If that’s what you want to listen then yes, I am hiding something from you and I won’t tell you no matter what you do. So, just leave my office right now.”

Saying that she pushed him and turned around to face the window but Xander didn’t give a damn about her words. He coiled his long fingers around her left forearm and pulled her closer to him with a jerk.

“Ahh!! What are you doing?” Evelyn hissed in pain as his hold was brutal. He was crushing her bones.

“Don’t show me attitude. Tell me what are you hiding.” Xander sneered at her face.

Evelyn pummeled his chest, “Let me go, Xander, ahh!!”

She screamed and struggled while flailing her arms but a squeak left her mouth when he pushed her onto the window pane and hovered over her.

“TELL ME!!!” He roared making her heart jump.

Evelyn bit her lips as her throat clogged up. How badly she wanted to tell him everything but she refrained for the sake of his life. Dylan can’t be defeated and by involving Xander in his mess, she would only put his life in danger.

Clenching her jaw, she turned her neck and rested her head on the pane.

“There’s nothing, Xander-”

Evelyn mumbled in despair but words got stuck in her mouth when something caught her eyes. She blinked her eyes multiple times not believing what she just saw.

‘Dylan?’

Her lips parted in shock watching Dylan who walked through the gates and entered the company’s premises. His gait was authoritative and even from far, she could feel herself getting intimidated by his forbidding aura.

Xander frowned after noticing her paled expression. What did she see that made her this scared?

He ducked forward and tried catching a glimpse of it.

“What is it?”

Evelyn stumbled in shock upon hearing his voice. The fact that Xander was with her while her ex was coming to meet her couldn’t be more perfect timing for their disastrous encounter.

“Nothing,” She said hurriedly and covered his eyes but Xander grabbed her palms with his hand. Shooting her a glare, he averted his eyes and placed his other hand on the glass pane as he tried to peek outside.

“I said it’s nothing, move back.”

“Why there are so many cars parked outside the entrance? Did you invite someone?” he spoke and looked at Evelyn for the answer.

Her soul left her body.

“N-No, there’s no one.” She reiterated the same line for the nth time and continued shaking her head left and right when her earpiece buzzed.

“Ma’am, Mr. Black is on his way to visit you,” Sara said from the other side, her voice shook as she was scared of her reaction.

“THE HELL SARA!! HOW CAN YOU-” Evelyn rebuked her as she weaseled out of Xander’s grip who was also startled by her sudden outburst.

Meanwhile, Evelyn grabbed her head in frustration but soon took a deep breath. She needs to act smartly.

“Don’t let him come upstairs, I mean it.” She spoke sternly because the least she can do at the moment was to stop Dylan before he creates havoc.

“I-I can’t Ma’am, he is your husband. He will kill me if I stopped him. That’s what Joseph said and Mr. Black was ready to shoot him when I intervened and saved his life. Mr. Black threatened me to clear his way and guide him to your office. I a-am sorry Ma’am.”

Evelyn broke into cold sweats. Dread cinctured her while her limbs turned numb in shock.

‘He revealed their relationship?’

“What’s going on? Who are you talking to?” Xander rumbled as he was getting irritated by her laconic responses. Why was she acting so shady?

But Evelyn was too shocked to reply. His patience completely wore off by the end as he snatched her earpiece and plugged it into his ear.

“Hello, who arrived downstairs? Hello, fuck”

Xander threw away the earpiece as he let out a raging growl and turned to Evelyn who was still as a statue.

“I am done with your games. I will check it myself,”

His reply pushed her back to reality. Evelyn jolted when Xander turned his heels and started leaving the room.

“No, wait,” screaming, she lunged at him and grabbed his left hand but he harshly yanked it away and continued marching towards the door.

Evelyn looked at him in horror. Her emotions were in a haywire, she couldn’t think straight. She can’t let him meet Dylan.

’Do something, Evie, HURRY UP!!” Her conscience yelled at her and that’s when an idea struck her mind.

“Fine, I will tell you.”

Xander halted. He turned around and looked at Evelyn sternly.

Evelyn was in a bind but she can’t let him die too. Exhaling a shuddering breath, she approached him with wobbly steps.

“I-I.. the thing is.. firstly I am sorry but I will be honest with you now.” She drawled out and continued walking. Her gaze flitted from him to the ensuite bathroom which was just two steps to his left.

‘That only required a single push.’

Evelyn was trodding on the edge of the precipice. She needs to stay calm and act wisely to stop the bloodshed. Dylan never liked her closeness with Xander. His insecurities will snowball the moment he catches her with him again.

Xander curled his fingers in a fist at her snail’s pace.

“BLOW THE LID OFF, EVE!!” He blared and the next moment Evelyn grabbed him and pushed him in the bathroom along with her.

“W-What? What the hell are you doing??” Xander seethed watching her as she locked the door and turned to him.

“Sshh.”

Evelyn quickly covered his mouth with her small palms surprising him.

“Please just trust me for once.”

Xander was confounded. He looked into her eyes which were begging for his support. But no matter how hard he tried he just can’t prepare himself to trust her.

He peeled her hands away from his face and pushed her back. Evelyn yelped in fright when he pinned her on the wall and towered over her.

“Then why are you clouding the issue? If you trust me so much to bring me into your bathroom and even locked the door then why can’t you just divulge your secrets?” he spat/

“Because I am trying to protect you,” Evelyn cried, she couldn’t control her emotions anymore and let them out.

“I know you hate me. I know you don’t trust me a tiny bit and perhaps don’t even want to see my face but all I am asking you for is one chance to believe me. I promise I will tell you everything. Just let-”

“Let that enigmatic soul leave the building first, right?”

Xander said and threw a smirk turning her quiet. Evelyn simply nodded because he only read her mind.

Xander gazed at her intensely. Evelyn couldn’t match his gaze and looked down but he didn’t let her. Instead, he lifted her chin with his index finger and thumb and forced her to look into his almond eyes.

A shaky breath released her lips when her eyes took in his features. Xander was blessed with one of the most beautiful pair of eyes. Evelyn gazed at his thick black eyebrows, dark eyelashes, and high cheekbones, and sharp jawline. She continued checking him out shamelessly when her eyes stopped near her lips. They were pink and plump. A tingling sensation ran down her spine noticing the proximity of their faces. Her hold on his collars tightened as she could feel his hot breath fanning her lips which were just at a hair’s distance from his. One slight movement and she would end up kissing him.

Xander could hear her racing heartbeat. She was intimidated by him which blossomed his pride. But the way her gaze kept vacillating from his eyes to his lips, he knew what she wanted. Giving her a boyish grin, Xander ducked forward making the tip of their noses brush against each other.

Evelyn gasped and quickly twisted her head to the side when he slammed his palm beside her head starling her. He then roughly grabbed her chin and forcefully made her look at him again.

“No more running away, Eve. No more.” He husked in a deep voice that made her go scarlet.

Evelyn immediately looked away and licked her chapped lips. Goosebumps ran all over her body as his rich cologne engulfed her. His minty breath sent her heart into overdrive.

“Want me to help you with it.” Xander rasped as he brushed his thumb over her lower lip.

Her eyes rounded to the size of saucers. Evelyn scowled and immediately shot him a glare but they both jumped when someone kicked the door open with such force that it nearly got pulled out of its hinges.

“Who’s that fucker!!” Xander sneered as he released her and rushed outside.

“No,” Evelyn whisper-yelled and quickly pressed her palm on the scanner that was below the basin. Without wasting time, she then dashed to Xander and pulled him back by his collar.

Xander stumbled as he wasn’t prepared. He tried to balance himself but slipped on his right foot and ended up falling on her.

Evelyn shrieked as they both collided but Xander immediately circled her waist and placed his other hand on her head as her back met the wall with a loud thud. Evelyn on the other hand fisted the lapels of his coat and pulled him towards her. It was just a reflex but Xander couldn’t balance himself and ended up locking their lips.

A zap of electricity coursed through her veins when their lips collided. Both of them rooted on the spot, too stunned to react but Evelyn was the one to pull off.

Her cheeks flushed to the darkest shade while her chocolate hues glistened with shock and fear.

“O-Oh, my God. I-I am sorry,” she mumbled, embarrassed out of wits. She didn’t have the courage to meet his gaze and looked here and there like a scared child when Xander grabbed her nape.

Evelyn flinched and peered at him. But what she saw snatched the ground beneath her feet.

His gaze had darkened. Xander could feel his heart skipping watching her innocent eyes. She was so pure and the sudden urge to protect her from the world erupted inside him.

Evelyn gulped and placed her palms on his chest to create some distance but Xander didn’t like her resistance. He pulled her closer with a jerk making her yelp and grabbed his biceps for support.

“You did feel it don’t you?”

Her core dried.

Evelyn’s gaze fluttered as she tried dodging his question, “I think he left.” She mumbled and scooted back. She was panting heavily as if she had just run a marathon. Indeed, the accidental kiss was euphoric but she knew her limits. She was clueless about her feelings and it was not the correct time to figure them out.

She was lost in her world but her ears perked hearing Xander laughing.

Evelyn looked at him with furrowed brows.

“W-Why are you laugh-”

“He as in Dylan?”

Xander spoke in between her laugh shocking her to the bone.