The Perfect Gift

Then he says something that makes the ticking bomb inside me explode.

“It’s been a while, Luke. I didn’t expect our reunion to be like this, and certainly not when you’re the acting CEO of Hemmington.”

Throu

gh the hazy white hot anger simmering inside me, the only person who can cut through the beast that's raging inside me steps in to calm the storm I hold on tight to.

Her soothing forest green eyes catch my gaze without trying hard channelling peace to the raging beast.

It's the worse idea to let Austin see a weak spot I never have before. He'll use it to every advantage he can to overthrow me and get whatever he comes here for.

Like a lingering shark, he's ready to pounce on anyone else who's stupid enough to let his blood spills. And that stupid is me.

I won't see the end of it because neither of us will be alive to see it. If I'm going down I won't go down alone that's for sure.

For now, I have to back-off or risk exposing so much more of my weakness. Might as well hand him over the knife and have him have a go at it to make life easier.

Against my judgment, I turn my stiff back and retreat.

Chapter Seven

Olivia

I've only followed my guts when it screams for me to do something I will never do usually. But for whatever reason, I feel compel to follow him and explain myself. Something I've never done on anybody since learning to depend on anyone else but my own.

At a loss, Austin study with what I can imagine my trouble face, his expression practically screaming confusion.

He opens his mouth to speak, but I'm quick to cut him off without being harsh about it.

I don't owe him an explanation except for the stubborn man who just walks out on us just because he likes to think the worse of people. It'll be nice to say in his face what a pompous ass he is.

"Look, I have to discuss an important matter with him. Mind if I slip out?"

I shouldn't have asked because before he can form a coherent thought, I'm already dashing away with one purpose in mind.

I've never imagined that hunting down Luke Hemmington can be this hard. I look for him everywhere, heck I even dare come in the male's bathroom, but he's not there. When it's clear that he deserts his business evening dinner, I make sure to settle everything first before taking a chance on his house.

An hour later, I'm standing outside his door, unsure what to do next.

Lorina warns me that he may not be in a good state of mind right now, telling me to push my visit tomorrow to give him time to cool off but I just can't wait a couple more hours. Not when his sad face keeps flashing back in my mind.

I have the least idea how to get inside without him slamming the door right on my face, and it's not like I have a skill on picking locks which I don't. Now I wish that I've sneaked out at night with friends and sneaked back inside the house to practice my lock picking on the door.

Shaking the thoughts away, I focus on the task at hand, staring intently at the door as if it will magically open itself.

For some twisted joke of fate, the door opens. Luke stands in the doorway in his pyjama pants only which hangs dangerously low on his hips. I can't help noticing the happy trail leading to his organ.

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I raise my eyes up meeting his blank, cold stare. I feel the chill with the way he's regarding me, but I don't let that discourage me. I've never gone to all this trouble to chicken out now.

"Are you just going to stand there and gawk at me?" He says gruffly.

My mind has trouble processing his words, and so when everything finally registers in my head, he's already making a move on closing the door on me. I move without thinking, jamming my feet on the door right before it can shut on me.

He frowns at it which I take advantage on. I swiftly slip in making myself welcome unwelcome.

He can easily prevent me from entering, but he doesn't so I'm taking whatever sliver of hope I can.

The lock clicks softly that I nearly miss it. Maybe because my heart's thundering in my ears, trying to break out of my rib cage.