( In the middle of nowhere. )
Jackson walked into the room and bowed before the Mafia Don.
“Tell me.”
“Everything’s ready as you instructed.” He reported. The Mafia Don relaxed into his chair and puffed out smoke from the cigarette in his slender fingers, one which ladies oh-so-frequently swooned at.
“Your pawns are in position and are ready to strike. But I don’t get one thing, Don.” Jackson pointed out with a bit of hesitation.
The Mob boss finished up his glass of whiskey and picked up his favourite gun.
“Why don’t you just finish her off like the rest? Our lowest ranked dogs can easily infiltrate the house and make it seem like an incident. She’s staying alone with the boy and the housekeeper so it shouldn’t be much of a problem.” He cautiously asked as his superior slowly took out the bullets and fixed them back.
“Do you know how long I’ve waited for this day, Jackson?” He icily stared at a silver bullet.
“Yes, Don.” He bowed lower, subserviently.
“Then ending it with a single bullet is too merciful. The brat thinks she has known pain?… That’s a scratch to what I went through. I’ll teach her what pain feels like and make her beg for death.” His gritted in a frosty voice.
Jackson cowered unconsciously feeling the room drop about a hundred degrees colder.
“What about the boy?” He asked. The Mafia Don walked to the window and stared at the dark raging ocean.
“He got himself involved, so he’s gonna get it along with her merry band. But his will be special, Jackson. A means to an easy end.” A blood curling maniacal smirk etched his lips…
***
( Beverly Hills, California. )
“Stay still!” Arian De’ Argent, the hot French was breathless, trying to massage his girlfriend’s wriggling feet!
“No, stop! It’s ticklish!” Natalia squealed and pulled away from him. The movement dunked Arian into the soapy water. He jerked away immediately, gasping for air. Natalia laughed wickedly.
“You’re really something!” He gasped. His white shirt became wet and his sweatpants earned patches of water stains on it.
Natalia was taking a bath in the tub and the gracious French wanted to give her a nice foot massage. A failed attempt, if you had already noticed. Megan walked into the large room after a brief knock and froze, staring at the room.
Yup! She had a lot of cleaning to do.
Her eyes returned from scanning the place to Natalia who was lying in the bubble bath which rose up to her neck, then crawled down to her employer who was on his knees before her??? She arched a brow.
“Um… your apple tart?” She cleared her throat and stifly raised the tray.
“Thank you, Megan.” Arian picked up the bath cloth for the sixth time and faced his pouty girlfriend.
“I want some apple tart.” She puckered her lips as Megan hastened away.
“Not till I’m done with the massage.” He concluded. With her long brownish blonde hair in a high bun, Natalia looked extremely adorable with a puppy dog face.
“It won’t work.” Arian burst her bubble with a determined face. “Your legs?” She grumbled and raised her legs on the edge of the tub a little too higher. Arian hid a naughty smile. He looked over and saw her frowning.
“Don’t scowl.” He smiled. She scoffed and looked away when he tried to touch her face.
“Fine.” Arian sighed. She squealed excitedly seeing him stand up. However, Arian slipped on something soapy and fell into the water. He jumped out immediately and gasped.
“God, are you alright?!” Natalia bulged her eyes and reached for his dripping body.
“My eyes hurt. I think I have soap in…” He blinked painfully and tried to touch it.
“Well don’t rub it!” She breathed and hastily used the hand shower on his face.
“Does it still hurt?” Natalia was worried. Arian squinted his eyes carefully, but they flew open the next second! Because the Royal was sitting up, the bubbles could only cover half of her chest.
He blinked rapidly.
“Does it?!” She worriedly asked again.
“No, no! I mean yes, ouch! It hurts so much!” He gushed out like his eyes were on fire! And technically, they were… with what they were seeing!
Natalia tapped his hands away when he absentmindedly tried to touch his face again.
“It’ll sting! Your hands are soapy.” She scolded. Arian obediently nodded and placed them under his chin, enjoying the show while his girlfriend naively poured more water to properly clear his eyes.
Evil.
Natalia must’ve said something that Arian didn’t listen to because the next minute, she gasped loudly and mightily slapped a towel on his face! Arian quickly removed it but she had laid back and covered herself well.
“You’re such a pervert!” She screamed and scowled but he smiled unapologetically.
“Sugar, very soon the foam will all disappear and I’ll have access to see everything.” Natalia looked down to see it was true. She started to splash around trying to create more bubbles but it was useless. Arian’s grin increased.
“Pass me a bathrobe!” She seethed. He negatively nodded with a wicked look. Natalia threateningly zeroed her eyes.
“Pass me a bathrobe, Arian or I’ll smack you so hard that…” The hot French rushed to grab a towel. Even his own mother hadn’t threatened to hit him before!
“Now close your eyes and hold it out to me.” She ordered. He did as she said. Natalia stood up and wrapped it around herself.
“You can open your eyes now and move away.” He moved a step away. She raised a brow and he hastened away a couple more steps. The Royal came out and slipped her feet in her flip-flops.
“Time to wash your hair.”
“Must I?” She pouted tiredly. Arian nodded and sat her down.
“Don’t try anything funny!” She shot him another look but he shrugged this time.
“Don’t do anything tempting.” He countered. She narrowed her eyes into dangerous slits before leaning back. Arian innocently picked up the shampoo but five minutes later, Natalia did the exact opposite!
She crossed her attractive legs under the short bathrobe and let the v-neckline slide open a bit.
Dirty play!
“Take your eyes away, Arian.” She muttered gingerly with her eyes still closed. Arian hesitantly pursed his lips and finished with her hair quickly.
He wrapped another towel around it and moved away. When they walked out of the bathroom, Megan was on standby, ready to scrub the place all over again. They watched her abruptly push the cleaning trolley inside and lock the door!
“….”
“Come.” Arian led Natalia to the bed and helped her dress up. He dried her hair too then took a shower in the nearest guestroom.
“I don’t want apple tart anymore.” She pouted as he returned to the master bedroom and laid beside her.
“What do you want?” He turned to her. Natalia laid on her tummy and bit her lip thoughtfully, considering all the menus a crown royal on a strict diet was forbidden to eat.
“Let’s order junks!” Her eyes glowed.
“And let me guess, pepperoni pizza and soda?” He drawled knowingly.
“With my favourite white chocolates.” Her eyes turned predatory. Arian chuckled.
“After a kiss?” Natalia nodded and sat on him. But when their lips were about to touch, she pulled away and stared down at him.
“If you get a kiss, there’ll be no junk for you.” She greedily stated. Arian smiled. He held her hips and brought her closer.
“You’re all I need.” He sensuously pushed her hair away and connected their lips…
~~~
The duo spent the entire day cuddling on a cozy couch, eating junks and watching endless movies. Arian leaned out of Natalia and went to get a bottle of water while she picked her call. They’d just ended a crime-romance movie and he was exhausted.
And a bit sleepy.
When Arian walked back to the movie room, Natalia whipped around to face him with tears in her eyes.
“Sugar, what’s…”
“Arian, it’s your mom! She’s in the hospi….”
~~~
Natalia tried to keep up with Arian as he dashed into their exquisite family hospital. Immediately the nurses on duty spotted his frightened figure, they ushered him into the Madame’s VIP ward, explaining she was feeling better. But the young master wasn’t listening.
“Mom?” He tearily whispered seeing the frail person on the bed. Everyone’s eyes popped open including Mom Rose. Her pale eyes disappeared the moment they landed on him.
“A… Arian?” She tried to get up. Arian rushed over and pulled her into a hug.
“I’m sorry, mom. I’m so… so sorry.” She kissed his tears away and clutched him tighter.
Mom Rose’s misty gaze met with Natalia’s standing outside the ward. She smiled gratefully which came from the bottom of her heart. Natalia smiled back and silently wiped her tears.
Her heart was a mess. She knew it was over, indefinitely. Her short lived happiness. She’d kept her promise. Arian was back with his family… so it was time to go.
Tommy saw her as she took a shaky step back. He grinned excitedly, ignorant of her looks and opened his lips to call out. Natalia hastily signalled him. He looked around and saw that everyone was occupied with Arian before slipping outside.
Natalia crouched to his level and smiled at him. “Tommy, don’t tell anyone I was here okay?” He bobbled his head even though he couldn’t understand.
“You don’t visit anymore. Will you come visit us?” He pouted. She touched his fringes and nodded.
“Pinky promise?” He demanded.
“Pinky promise.” They sealed it despite the hurt in her heart.
“Take care of mom too. Don’t be mischievous, okay?” She whispered and he nodded. “Okay.”
Natalia cleaned her tears and kissed him. “Now, go back in before we get busted!” She forced a smile. The little fox grinned and ran back inside.
Natalia took one last look at the person her heart was hurting. She was sorry for leaving but it was for the best. Until she caught the sick murderer who was after her, she had to protect him at any cost.
She watched as Arian was cuddled up in his mom’s arms before she turned her back and walked away.
“Elva?” Tears poured down her cheeks as she weakly slumped on a garden bench outside the hospital.
“Natalia??”
“I need a hug right now. Please come get me.” She left them to fall, ignoring the people moving around.
Elva started to panic but Natalia simply gave her the hospital’s address and hung up. She sat for minutes in silence, letting her heart out. After a while, Natalia wiped her tears and slowly stood up. It wasn’t the time to be weak.
‘Never let them see your tears.’ She remembered her grandmother’s words. But that didn’t stop them from falling in drizzles as she walked away.
“You damned bitch!” A furious voice yelled out of the blues and slapped her!…