"pass the book"

"Do you have to go? Spend the vacation here; I promise I will make it worth it," Emilia begged, making baby faces at me.

If I hadn't known her, I would have fallen for that, but not anymore; I wish to go as far away from New York as possible.

After the banquet drama at the Longs Hotel, I made up my mind to leave and get away from New York.

"You will be busy with work; besides, you don't want to get on Eloise's bad side." I smiled, taking the book out of her hand.

"Uuugh, I should quit my job. Will you stay then?"

"That won't work either." I zipped my suitcase while she fell on the bed, making a fuss.

"Now, we are all parked," I said, smiling heartily.

"Promise me you would call me every day."

"I will call you every single minute until you get tired of my calls." I hugged her tightly.

"You better," she hugged me tightly like I was leaving already.

"I will come to drop you off tomorrow then," she announced, checking the time. She took her bag and car keys and then hurried out of my apartment.

I grabbed a bathrobe and went into the bathroom for a shower; when I was done, I wrapped my body with the bathrobe.

I came out of the bathroom and was surprised to hear the doorbell ring.

It was past ten, and I wasn't expecting anyone. I went over to the door and looked through the hole.

My eyes lit up, and my mouth fell open. I moved away from the door, trying to process what I just saw.

The doorbell rang again, jolting me back to reality. I pulled open the door, and I was standing face-to-face with Jared.

"Hi," he smiled. I was flustered; Jared had always kept a stern, cold, and distant demeanor around me.

I can't believe he has it in him to smile at me; I have waited for him to look at me for the past two years I was married to him. Waited for him to accept me as his wife with the hope of stars and the moon.

However, when this long-overdue moment finally arrived, it was damn too late.

I wasn't excited seeing him smile; rather, it aroused many thoughts within me.

He kept his distance from me like one avoiding venomous snakes and scorpions; he didn't consider me human enough to come to our divorce proceedings himself; rather, he sent his lawyers.

Why is he suddenly here at my door smiling at me like nothing ever happened between us?

"Won't you let me in?"

I guess the presence of Kent threatens him, just like a little kid who disposes of his least favorite toy; when another wants it, he starts crying for it.

"Sure," I whispered and let him in; he didn't bother looking around and made his way to a seat on the couch. I sat down next to him, and I looked mockingly at him under the dim light; there was an unnatural stiffness on his cool face.

Turning to me, he warned.

"Sam, stay away from Kent in the future."

"Why?"

"He bears no good intentions and only approaches you to get to me; I don't want you to get involved."

"Do you not want me involved? Or are you scared I might finally find happiness and make you lose face?"

I looked at him intently, hoping to coax something out of him, but to no avail; he and Kent must have made a pact beforehand to say nothing about their past grievances.

"I understand that my family treated you badly, Leila hurt you because she was naive; my decision to marry you wasn't entirely to atone for her mistakes."

I was at a loss staring at the man sitting on my couch; if it wasn't for Leila's mistakes, would he even look at me? Did he say his family, he turned me more than any member of his family. I was already angry, but I somehow controlled my emotions.

"So?"

"I want to be responsible for you. I get it that we are divorced, but we can still work something out."

"Responsible?" I blurted out confused. I had no idea how he planned to be responsible for me when we were worlds apart. After so many years, it merely took Kent showing up for him to acknowledge me.

"Yes, just stay away from Kent, and I will be responsible for you."

I broke out in a round of laughter; I felt pretty pathetic. He must have thought so too, hence his audacity to visit me and vomit this trash.

Why on earth did I allow him into my home? I guess Kent was right; maybe I had hopes for the both of us. Hence, I keep humiliating myself over and over again.

I felt like slapping myself.

"You married me for Leila, and you chose to crawl back here because of Kent, you weren't willing to stay married to me just for my sake." I sneered at him.

"I don't need you, Jared; your self-consuming attitude makes me sick."

His face was very ugly, but his cool lips were pursing, not refuting a word I said.

I felt pain in my heart, the kind that made me feel miserable.

I jerked off the couch and holding the door, "You should leave, I wish to retire." I mustered up strength; he glanced at me a couple of times and walked away without a word.

I banged the door and walked into the bedroom, standing in front of the full-length dressing mirror, examining myself.

My half-dried hair was carelessly strewn about, and I was only wrapped in my bathrobe.

I sighed, wondering why I was still worried about Jared; he never really looked at me as his woman and had never touched me either.

And here he is talking about taking responsibility.

"Bastard," I cursed angrily.

I was still lost in thought when I heard the doorbell ring again.

"He didn't dare come back," I spat out angrily, storming off to give him a piece of my mind.

I pulled open the door. "Get the fuck away, you piece of..." I paused the moment I saw who was at the door.

"Woah......" he yelled.

"Oh my god," I gasped, covering my mouth with my hands. Every form of anger I felt earlier disappeared.

"Did I knock at the wrong door?"

"I..... I thought you were someone," I explained.

"I'm jealous; I wish I was the someone who could get under your skin and make you mad like you were earlier."

I smiled, but it disappeared the moment my head started working.

"How did you find me? First, it was Jared, and now you."

"That cunning bastard beat me to it... I guess he is the reason you were pissed." He pushed open the door and walked right in before I could even invite him in.

I shut the door and turned only to discover he wasn't in the sitting room anymore. I heard my bedroom door open, and I hurried in, only to find this tall, enchanting man walking around.

"You are going somewhere?" he asked, pointing at my suitcase in the corner of the room.

"What are you doing?" I queried him; my eyes rested on my bra and pantie on the bed. I quickly covered it up with the sheets.

"You are not planning on running away, are you?" I grabbed him by the arm and dragged him out of the room.

"No, just going for a short vacation. Now could you leave too?"

We were almost halfway out of the room when he stopped moving; before I knew it, he grabbed me by my waist and brought me close to him until my breast was brushing against his chest.

His mesmerizing look was messing with my head, and his lips were tempting me to take a bite. His cologne was driving me insane; all I could think of was him.

His hands were secured on my waist; he gently brushed his fingers on my face down to my lips. My heart was racing, and I parted my lips, hoping he would take me, right here and now.

"Don't go, Sam; I want you by my side," his deep baritone voice whispered into my ears.

I have no idea what this godlike man has done to me, but I am possessed by him.