SAM
I spent an hour soaking myself in the huge tab with a vanilla strawberry bubble bath and a glass of red wine.
We had dinner after he’s done the cooking. I was just sitting pretty while he was busy preparing our dinner.
We said our goodnight after finishing the movie we agreed to watch. I felt bad and empty when we separated our ways.
I am sleeping alone while he’s just a few steps away, but he keeps to his words to keep his hands off me and the no sex we agreed.
I glance at myself in front of the mirror one last time. No matter how much I want to spend my day in his apartment, I have to work and bills to pay.
A knock at my door catches my attention.
“Phoenix?” I yell in front of the mirror.
I hear his vague voice, so I walk towards my bedroom all the way to the door.
I approach with a gorgeous smile on his face, and I can’t help but gawk. He’s freshly showered. His hair is still wet.
I can smell his aftershave and a hint of his cologne-the same cologne he used when we were still together.
“Can I come in?” he asks with a breakfast tray in his hand.
I can help but smile and feel blessed with the man in front of me. I open the door wider to let him enter.
“Good morning, too, Phoenix!”
He chuckles, gets inside, and walks towards the couch.
I follow him and notice he’s only wearing a t-shirt and a pair of sweatpants. The ass that I adore is in full view when he bends to place the tray down.
I’m such a perv.
“Let’s have breakfast, princess. I will send you to your work since you don’t have your car here,” he says after kissing me on my cheek.
I can’t help but feel overwhelmed by the gestures he’s doing.
The butterflies in my stomach scatter.
“Yesterday, you sent my dirty laundry to the laundromat. You cooked us dinner. Then, you already wake up early to make us breakfast. I think you’ve done too much already. I can hire a cab to go to work.” I press the remote to open the curtain, then sit beside him on the couch.
“I am not complaining, and I’ll be bored to death here at home. No arguments. I’ll send you to work.”
We start with our breakfast consists of blueberry pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon, fresh fruits, and of course coffee.
“You always win,” I complain.
He smiles and looks amused. “It’s for your own good, my love.”
My heart flutters every time he calls me my love.
Simple things he does have huge effects on me. I never say that three words back at him, but it’s only at the tip of my tongue. I hope he knows that I love him larger than life.
I just want to process everything’s happening between us first, and it happens so fast.
I just broke up with Tyler, and now I’m here with Phoenix though it’s not official, it feels like we are already back together.
“Samantha.”
I snap my head at him. “Yeah?”
“What’s on your mind?”
I shake my head then sip my coffee. I grimace and put the steaming mug down. I hit his arm. “You pranked me!” I peek at the mug and fake my gag. “What’s in there?”
He laughs his ass out loud, then gives me an innocent look. “That’s a coffee, princess.”
“No, it’s not. It tastes like a poop of cow.”
He barks out laughing. His laugh is contagious, and I can’t help but join him.
“Did you happen to taste a poop of cow?” He grins.
Finally, Phoenix is back-the annoying and cocky Phoenix I knew months ago is back!
“No, ew! Why would I taste a poop in the first place?” I grimace.
“Stop talking about poop. We’re in front of food, and where’s your table manner?” His body shakes from laughing.
“And that mug you took is mine.” He points at the mug I sipped from, then points at the mug with froth on top. “And that one is yours.”
I smile because he remembers the coffee I ordered when we came here a few months ago.
“Sorry. But really, Phoenix. It tastes like poop,” I say, biting my lip to stop laughing.
It tastes bitter and tangy-a taste that won’t leave in your mouth until you gargle with mouthwash.
“So, you won’t kiss me if I drink this?” he asks with a mischievous smile.
I look at his lips that’s still smirking. I roll my eyes. “Don’t tease me early in the morning.”
His smirk turns into a full grin.
“Evil!” I say and stand up, and he bursts into a laugh.
“Not yet!” He grabs my hand when I open the passenger door to get out of his car.
I stop and look at him. “Yeah?”
He grabs my head and presses his lips to mine, and I immediately kiss him back. His kiss is soft, slow, light, and chaste, then he breaks it and leans his forehead on me. He doesn’t taste like his coffee-his taste is addictive, and I want to kiss him more.
“I love you, Samantha.”
I kiss his lips softly. “I know. Will you come later to pick me up after work?”
He pecks my lips. “You don’t have to ask because that’s the plan. You should go before I’ll change my mind and drives us back to our apartment.” My brows furrow with the word our, I don’t say anything.
“Okay, later?”
“Later, Princess.”
He drives away in his dark blue Porsche after waving his hand. A hand pats my shoulder that makes me jump. My hand instantly places on my chest. I roll my eyes when I turn around to see Sandy with a smile and raised brows.
“Was that Mr. Williams?”
“I won’t talk, so drop it.”
She giggles even more like a teenager who has just been greeted by her crush. “So, you really knew them before their visits, don’t you?” She bumps her arm on me.
I stop and hold her arm. “Don’t gossip about my life around, Sandy. They’re maybe rich and always in the news, but they have their private lives, and they are great people. They deserve privacy, and oh, if you love your job, just keep whatever you saw earlier to yourself.”
She listens intently then widens her eyes. Her mouth gapes then jumps up and down.
I hold her arms to let her stop.
“I knew it! I knew it! That drinks that night at the Night Stalker Club! It was his drink because his name is Alexander Phoenix. That makes sense now.” I glare at her. That’s when she stops and pouts.
“What I told you earlier?” I ask.
She sighs, “You know, Sam. You’re my close friend, and I never gossiped around about your life even they asked me questions about that visit. I still haven’t answered them, and I have no plan on giving them what they want. So, you can trust me.”
I nod then press the button of the elevator.
“So, you’re dating him? What happened to that Tyler guy?”
I groan and suddenly remember Amy. It’s been a week since the last time I talked to her. I usually call her and Maya during the weekend, but I missed it when I got sick.
“Fine. I’ll drop it. Just so you know, I’m happy for you girl, and finally, I see the sparks in your eyes.”
I stiffen. “What do you mean sparks, Sandy?”
“You may have laughed at jokes or smiled, but I could see the sadness in those blue eyes of yours. I was thinking about what happened to you because you have a boyfriend, but he didn’t seem to make you happy. But I kept that thought to myself. I don’t want to be nosy, you know. You may be my close friend, but it’s not my business, and you will surely open up when you’re ready.” She gives me a genuine smile while rubbing my arms.
“It’s a little bit complicated, Sandy, and I’m really not ready to share my love life or-”
She stops me. “You don’t have to. What is important is I can see that you are happy now.” She giggles again. “And Sam, I should meet your man, Alexander Phoenix Williams.”
I roll my eyes, and we both laugh then the elevator slides open.
Pairs of eyes are on us. I bite my lip to contain my laugh. Sandy elbows me who is now red beside me, and I give her a warning looked to stop.
I work silently when the telephone rings. “Sam Anderson speaking, how may I help you?”
“Ms. Anderson. I’m Janet from the reception, you have a delivery here. Can I send this up?”
I brow furrows. A delivery?
“What kind of delivery?”
“A bouquet of roses.”
My eyes grow big. Maybe from Phoenix.
My lips form into a grin. “Okay, send it up, thanks!”
“You’re welcome.”
My phone buzzes after I hang up the call from the reception.
It’s from Tyler. What does he want?
“Hey, Ty. How are you?”
He sighs deeply. “I went to our apartment yesterday, Sam, and you aren’t there. I asked the men who were fixing the apartment, and they didn’t tell me anything. They said they couldn’t tell me anything about their client. Why did you let them redecorate our apartment without asking me first?” he talks quickly and sounds annoyed.
Crap!
“I am sorry, Ty. I forgot to tell you about that-”
“I thought you don’t have money to spend. How did you afford to ask an interior design agency?”
My eyes almost pop out. Phoenix didn’t tell me anything.
God! I’m so stupid.
“Ty, it’s not me-”
“Then who? Did Phoenix kick you out of our apartment? We still have three months of paid rent.”
“No. Why would he even kick me out?”
“Oh, you don’t know? He didn’t tell you, did he?”
“Tell me what, Tyler?” My voice slightly raise.
I sink myself in my chair and cover the phone with my hand. The bouquet of red roses came. I smile at the man who delivers and signs the paper he showed me.
“He didn’t tell you that he bought that apartment building?”
My mouth hangs open. My blood boils.
I take a deep breath to calm my anger. “Nope. He didn’t mention it. I will just pay you back, Tyler.”
“No need, Sam. I’m not calling you to pay me back. Where are you staying for the meantime?” he asks.
I second thought of telling him. What would he think? That I moved on quickly?
“Phoenix offered me a place-”
“Of course, he did,” he snaps.
“And what is your problem?” I snap back.
“Nothing, Sam. You know I still love you, and I don’t want to see you getting hurt again. I am still here, your best friend, and if he will hurt you, you can always count on me.”
“I know, Ty. Thanks for that.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Call me whenever you need me, okay? Got to go, babe. Bye.”
“Bye.”
I dial Phoenix’s number. He picks up almost immediately
“Princess.” I can feel the excitement in his voice.
“Princess my ass,” I hiss.
“When are you going to tell me that the apartment building where I am staying is already yours?”
He sighs, and I know he doesn’t expect my question. “Is that a big deal, princess?”
I groan, “Of course, it is. Why didn’t you tell me? Did you happen to kick Tyler out?”
“Did he tell you about the apartment?”
“I ask, and you will answer me, Phoenix!”
“Yes, ma’am,” he says slowly.
I bite my smile.
“I didn’t kick him or anything like that, princess. I told him when I slept that night on your couch that I bought that apartment after I found out you are staying there, and it was on the lease anyway. I got a good offer, so why not.
“What did you do to my apartment, Phoenix?”
He doesn’t answer right away, but he releases a deep breath.
“I asked a team from Seb’s who work to design and decorate for hotels, penthouses, offices, and apartments, something like that-”
I groan, “I don’t have money for that kind of crap.”
He just laughs at me.
“This is not funny!”
“My love, did I ask you to pay me? Or maybe you can pay me back with a kiss. I don’t accept cash anyway. I have plenty of them.”
I roll my eyes. “I. Am. Not. Sleeping. With. You!”
He laughs even more. “Not. Yet. But. Soon!” He mimics me.
“How soon?” I whisper with a seductive voice to tease him.
“How about later?” he whispers back.
“Not happening!”
“Fine, I can wait.”
“You should!”
“It’s worth it.”
“Is it?”
“Of course, princess,” he answers softly.
“Thanks for the flowers though,” I say grabbing the bouquet and smell at the delicate red petals
“Flowers?”
I roll my eyes. “Yes, Phoenix! The bouquet of roses you asked to deliver to me. It’s with me right now. Thanks! I love them.”
“Princess, I didn’t send you flowers. If I ever give you flowers, I will hand them to you personally, and I won’t give you red roses. I know what flowers you like, and certainly not red roses. Who the fuck sent you that fucking flowers?” He sounds pissed.
I almost drop my phone.
I swallow hard when I notice the card. I pick it up and open the message inside.
He is yours for now, but he will be mine later…
Xoxo
Phoenix curses, and I don’t even notice I am reading it out loud.