Chapter 44

**** FLASHBACK CONTINUES*****

"I will make it all flowers and chocolates for you, love".

I remember his words like we all remember the line, 'mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell'. It is engraved in my mind.

He said he will make it flowers and chocolates for me and the duffer's ass is so unromantic that he took it literally. For the next few days, I would receive different flowers and chocolates every day. My morning would start with the smell of different flowers and reading small notes tucked in the bouquets. 'I love you, Adria', 'Have a nice day, love', 'Hope you like the chocolates', 'Hope the flowers are of your liking' and many more with his name 'Austin.H' written at the bottom.

Just the way I have on my chest.

I was irritated for over a week. The notes kept getting cuter and Andrea would tease me after reading them.

"He sucks at being romantic", she said while laughing her ass off.

"It's cute though", I mumbled under my breath.

"What did you say?", she asked while getting up from the sofa and walking by my side.

"I said he sucks at everything he does", I lied to her.

"Shut up. I heard what you said. Why don't you give him a chance already?", she said and raised her hands when I looked at her questioningly. "No pressure on you from my side. I am loving that you are taking your own time. That bastard needs to know your value and should suffer being away from you for some time".

"Some time?", I raise my brows at her. "I am never giving him any chance", I said to which she just laughed and went to her room.

The flowers and chocolate kept coming for a couple of weeks until he decided to make his royal appearance again.

"What the fuck!", I screamed when I saw Austin standing outside the changing room. I decided to shop for some formal clothes for myself as I have a presentation tomorrow and have no formals to wear. "You are so creepy and a pervert", I screamed at him.

"I did not watch you change, my dear so I am not a pervert. Also, I already told you I will keep popping up in your life until you decide to settle down with someone. Which means I warned you beforehand so I am not creepy either", he said in a husky voice while his eyes were eyeing me up and down. "This skirt and blouse look good not you but.."

"No one asked your opinion", I cut him off.

"I belong to the business world, love. So you can trust me with my opinion", he said.

As much as I wanted to ask his business ass to fuck off he was right. I just rolled my eyes at him but did not object.

"Good. As I was saying this skirt and blouse look good on you but it's too short. It will make you look like a slut".

"You are an asshat", I pushed past him and went out to get some other clothes to try.

"Only you can call me that and still be breathing", he said with a chuckle. "I might have sounded rude but I was saying the truth, love. That skirt is so tight around your ass all guys and your professors are going to look at it and not your presentation. I know your staff, the female teachers might judge you for your outfit and deduct your grades", he said and was eyeing my ass. I went near a big mirror and turned to look at my behind, it did look inappropriate.

"Wear this", he said handing me another skirt. I rolled my eyes at him. Austin is an over-possessive bastard he will want me in a grandma skirt and nothing else. So I went inside the trial room without even looking at the skirt he handed me, thinking that it would be some long, loose one.

Surprisingly the skirt he gave me was nothing I expected. It was a knee-length black pencil skirt that would go on the off-white colour blouse I was currently wearing. It fitted me nicely and appropriately, I mean it was not as tight around my ass. I didn't want to see the arrogant smile of victory on his face so I changed back into my own clothes and went out carrying the one I wanted to buy. I liked the one he chose but I am not letting him see me in it.

As I went out Austin chuckled and shook his head at me. "I was expecting something like this from you", he said.

"Don't think highly of yourself. I kept the skirt that you chose cause I am getting late and have no more time to try another one", I told him while walking towards the cash counter.

I kept the clothes on the counter and suddenly Austin kept a pair of formal heels beside them. "They will complete the look", he said and I just nodded my head. I needed formal shoes, how could I forget this.

Should I thank him? Hell nah!

"Cash or card mam?", the cashier asked me. I handed him my card. I was surprised Austin did not insist on paying.

He took the shopping bags and trailed behind me as I walked out of the mall, towards my car.

"I am surprised you didn't offer to pay", I asked him.

"You are an independent woman. I know you wouldn't let me pay for you. Besides, the last thing I want is to argue with you", I smiled at his answer. He knows me well.

As we reached my car I took the bags from his hand and kept them in the back seat. Austin trailed behind me as I walked towards the driver's seat and opened the door but before I could get in Austin pushed the door close, spun me around and trapped me between the car and him. His hands were on either side of my shoulders.

"Can I kiss you", he asked, his lips almost touching mine and his eyes focused on them. "Please", his voice was dripping with desperation. He sounded like a thirsty man begging for water. I was hypnotised by the closeness. I couldn't say no.

"Yes", I whispered and his lips crashed on mine. He held my face between his palms, his touch was so light. T first his lips moved softly on mine but soon his tongue entered my mouth. The soft kiss now turned into a hungry, wild one.

I missed this feeling, I missed his lips on mine. I missed the way he tasted. My mind and senses were fogged by his smell.

But when we pulled apart to catch some breath I realised what I was doing. I was letting him in, I was giving him hopes, I was breaking the wall I made around myself. This can't happen, this shouldn't happen. He is fire and I am a moth, he will burn me someday leaving me into ashes.

I pushed him away from me. He didn't say anything just looked at me with hurt filled eyes.

"This won't happen again", I told him and got into the car.