Three days should not be a big deal, not if someone was feeling lonely already without everyone around. To Florentine, all she had to do was be patient but that was the opposite, she was running out of patience and missed all six of them. She had never been alone without a single one of them in sight before. This was a first and it was terrible.
Florentine was always too busy to think about her life deeply and the things she should experience but thinking about the couples made her remember her husband. She didn’t miss him not after the way he treated her in their marriage. She was lucky to have been offered protection from him by Cassandra’s father but she had since then stayed without love.
She had hoped that doctor Philip would be her spec when she heard about him but her disappointment when she saw him. He was good for a friend and not just her type.
A deep sigh left her throat as she finally left her flower vase which she had found an interest in. She was in her nightwear, a purple dress that was above her knee with its matching night shirt. Her hair was left fallen to her shoulder as well. She stood up from her chair, moving away from the table to force herself to sleep. It was eleven in the night yet she didn’t feel sleepy.
A knock suddenly landed on her door the moment she stood up. At first, she was startled then she became concerned wondering who would knock at her door by such hour. She felt alert the moment she thought something might have happened at the penthouse and one of them needed medical attention so she hurried to the door like her life depended on it.
“Is there… Fire somewhere. Should I be on my heels?” A sharp and heavy gasp left her mouth, a hand to her chest and then she shut her eyes briefly before letting them open. She breathed slowly through her mouth taking the time to look at the half stranger of a man standing before her wearing a plain white sleeveless top above an ash sweat pant. One hand to the door frame as he looked down on her and the other inside his left pocket.
“Carl?” She said his name voicing her surprise through her tone.
“Flor… shit! That name is too long.” He said shaking his head nonchalantly. Florentine’s eyes narrowed and she tucked her lip in feeling annoyed at his remarks. She wasn’t one to get pissed off easily but she had her reasons, she didn’t like Carl.
She forced a smile and tried to sound normal. “What are you doing here?” She said folding her arms across her chest.
Carl tilted his head to the side looking at the passage leading out of her room before returning his gaze to her.
He squinted as he took a quick mental picture of her wear, hair and face. She looked different and smelled really good. He had never really spoken with her even though he made demands for condom every now and then and had only sighted her most times from a distance.
She always wore her hair in a pony which accentuated her her beautiful face.
“Hello? I asked a question just now.” She said bringing his thoughts back to the present. She had a soft demeanor but he wasn’t sure she’d remain same with what he had to say.
“Ah… I em….”
“I was about going to bed when you interrupted. I need to rest.” Her tone was getting not so nice and he could sense she was different with him especially with the frown on her face which she didn’t realize. Was Thea exergerating about her character or was he overthinking because she looked like he irritated her right now.
“I need condoms.” He blurted and Florentine blinked taken back by his bluntness. She shut her eyes briefly and shook her head slightly as if trying to shake off what she heard.
“Condoms?”
“Yes, condoms. The thing for sex.” He said feeling more confident now. She was judging him was with her expression and he didn’t like it.
“There isn’t any here. I’ll get some tomorrow from the clinic.” She said and he looked pissed off for a moment. He stared at her with a serious face until she could no longer keep his gaze.” It felt like ages since someone stared at her that intensely. She hated his boldness, it was intimidating. “Did you hear what I said Carl?”
“I think you’re lying.” Carl said, of course his instincts were sharp and activated. Everything about her facial expression betrayed her.
“W-what?” She stuttered letting out an uneasy laugh.
“Do you have a problem with me?”
“W-what?”
“You keep stuttering. I said do you have a problem with me? Is there a reason you don’t want me to have sex tonight?”
Florentine was shocked, she haden’t expected that he’d catch up on her inner thoughts about him.
“I’m too tired for this, if you’ll excuse me.” She said and went ahead to close her door but Carl held it from shutting. She squinted in shock and tried to push it close but it didn’t move. Her strength was no match for Carl.
Why the heck was something like this happening when she was alone? And who did this man think he was to behave so.
“Guards!” She yelled surprising Carl who haden’t expected that. His reflex worked immediately not wanting to get in any trouble. He quickly pushed the door open entering her room. Florentine was about to scream again when he suddenly arced his hand to the back of her head, grabbing it and then he palmed her lips shutting her up. He pushed the door shut with his leg and swirled her around to hit slightly against the door. His hand on her head had protected her from harming her head.
Her eyes bulged, fear gripping her at what Carl’s intentions were.
Her thoughts were fast, thinking he was about to rape her in revenge for what Angel had done to him. Her eyes quickly turned teary and pleading for him to spare her.
“Shut the fuck up!” Carl said through gritted teeth while muffling the sounds she made. He was scared too at how she almost got him in trouble and probably framed. Even though he had Thea to intervene for him he didn’t trust Angel or the others. They were mafia men and ruthless and could kill him for a little accusation. “Are you trying to get me killed?” He asked her sounding very harsh. He could sense her fear and felt guilty. He could have handled things better but he was trying to protect himself.
“I’m not going to hurt you just promise you won’t scream, give me what I want because I am so fucking horny and I’ll leave peacefully.” He said and she nodded in fear.
“Promise?” She nodded again and he just had to trust her so he let go of her mouth and saw an angry gaze fixed at him. He stepped away but was followed with a hot slap to his face. It hurt, it fucking hurt.
Carl was pissed so he shot an even angrier gaze at her.