I was nervous.
To the point, I had been staring at my phone for the past two hours now.
Ivan dropped a text earlier saying he wanted to show me something. And I dreaded that something. I had been avoiding him for two days now. After that night, I hadn’t even gone to the mansion let alone answer any of Ivan’s texts. It might seem rude on my part, but I wanted to be cautious.
“Can’t fucking believe we have to hear the hour-long speech,” The girl beside me muttered and I gave her a look over. Her distinct brown hair with purple streaks caught my eyes first, then her stripped blazer, and micro skirt that barely covered her thighs as she sat crossed leg beside me. I had seen her somewhere but I couldn’t quite recall.
The one sitting on her other side was a blonde. Wearing a pastel blue dress. And my mind clicked as she turned to look at her friend. Natalie? That was her name, right? They were the ones sitting in the library.
“Seriously, what’s the point of this speech?” Natalie crossed her arms and glared at the front where the stage was. “It’s not like anyone’s actually listening.”
The university students had been preparing for it for two days now. And the Dean still wasn’t here. I saw him this morning. He must be in his office.
Her friend snorted. “Right? I’d rather be anywhere else.”
“Wanna go to the janitor’s cabin?” Natalie suggested and her friend quickly nodded.
“Anywhere but here.” I watched as both of them shuffled through the crowd and went somewhere. I sighed. it must be nice having friends.
The seat beside me was empty. Alina said she’d be here ten minutes ago, and I didn’t want to sit here all by myself. I didn’t even want to attend this fest in the first place, it was just our professors threatened us that they’d add up for the session’s attendance. I was planning to visit my family so I could use some grace.
I was looking down at my phone when a shadow lurked over me. With a hopeful smile, I looked up, expecting to find Alina, but my smile quickly dropped as I found Ivan looking down at me. His mastered smile was firmly in place like always. “Well, hello to you, beautiful.”
I would’ve blushed if I was still seeing him through the same eyes I did the first time. But now, things have changed. I couldn’t trust him, even if I wanted to.
A lump formed in my throat, tightening and making it hard to breathe. Where was Alina?
Before I could answer, he was already sitting in the empty seat beside me. I tried to keep my face neutral, masking my hesitation and nervousness. Silently, I prayed he’d leave, but he showed no signs of going anywhere.
“So, what brings you here?” he asked fixing the cuffs of his white shirt. He was wearing formulas today as per the dress code, and this was the first time. As handsome as he looked, the glint in his eyes was as maddening.
I forced a light reply. “Just… waiting for the speech.”
He chuckled softly. The sound made my skin crawl. “You don’t seem too excited about it.”
“Yeah, well, speeches aren’t really my thing,” I mumbled, glancing down at my phone again, hoping he’d take the hint.
To my surprise, he rested his arm on the back of my chair, his fingers brushing against my shoulder. My heart rate spiked, and anxiety bubbled up inside me. I tried to shift subtly away from his touch, but he just leaned in closer.
“You know, we should hang out more,” I blinked at him as he looked at the front to the stage where the announcer was saying something about the arrival. “I miss our talks.”
I swallowed hard, struggling to keep my voice steady. “Yeah, maybe.”
I didn’t realize I was sweating, even in a dress. Maybe the heater was on max, or it felt like the sun was inside the gym. I clasped my hands on my lap and discreetly wiped the sweat on the skirt of my dress. Thankfully, it was black, so it wouldn’t show.
His hand slid down my arm, and I stiffened, my body tensing with unease. “You’re always so tense,” he commented, his tone almost mocking. “Relax a little. I wanted to take you somewhere. But you keep avoiding my texts, Sera.”
I forced a tight smile, trying to hide my anxiety. “I’ve just been busy,” I lied, hoping he’d drop the subject. I could sit with anyone at this moment but this man. And he wasn’t acting normally.
Ivan leaned in closer. “Busy with what? You never have time for me anymore.”
I glanced around the gym, searching for any sign of Alina, my heart pounding in my chest. “You know, the work,” I replied vaguely.
“It is with great pleasure and excitement that we welcome the guest of the hour. A man of unparalleled vision and extraordinary achievements, he stands as a beacon of innovation and success.” The announcer’s voice faded into the background as I felt Ivan’s fingers crawling up my arm.
“He is not only a billionaire but also the esteemed heir of the world’s richest company.”
Ivan chuckled, clearly amused by my discomfort. “Work, huh? Well, maybe we can find some time this weekend.”
I nodded weakly, unable to form a proper response. His hand remained on my arm, his touch making my skin creep. I wanted to pull away, but I didn’t want to provoke him.
“As the trustee and benefactor of our esteemed university, his contributions have paved the way for countless opportunities and advancements. His generosity and commitment to excellence are truly commendable.” I held my breath as the crowd of students burst into loud applause and hollers.
The air felt stifling, and I could feel sweat trickling down my back. I swallowed hard, trying to keep my breathing steady. Ivan’s eyes bore into me, waiting for an answer I wasn’t ready to give.
“Sure, we’ll see,” I mumbled, hoping it would satisfy him enough to move on.
But he wasn’t easily deterred. “Well, you better, ’cause I am slowly losing my patience.”
I held my breath and was about to get up and walk away when the announcer’s words echoed in my ears. The initial words didn’t mean anything. But the last two sent countless ants crawling under my flesh and made my bones freeze. Or should I say the name? “Please join me in giving a warm and enthusiastic welcome to the one and only-”
Ivan’s hand on my arm was long forgotten as I stared in disbelief. “Mr. Judas Romanovski!”
My fingers gripped the fabric of my dress tightly.
I couldn’t take my eyes off the devil walking onto the stage. He carried a cane and wore shades, which should have made him look vulnerable, but to me, he appeared as dark and menacing as ever.
His dark hair was styled back, making him appear both handsome and deadly as always. He wore a dark suit with a grey shirt underneath, the fabric straining against his muscles, highlighting his tall and broad-shouldered frame.
He moved with an unsettling grace as if he owned half of the world. And would burn the other half just to see the smoke.
To others, he must have looked like a vision of perfection, but to me, he was the living, walking-talking version of my deepest fears.
My heart pounded in my chest, the terror making my breath come in shallow gasps. I truly felt like ensnaring to be his prey, to lure me into his web.
Was he here just because I skipped work for two days?
I wanted to run, to hide. I hated it. Hated feeling this way. Hated the fear that gripped my heart.
Others found him charming, but to me, he was a nightmare made flesh.
I instinctively took a step back, but to my dismay, Ivan’s hand had shifted from my arm to my back. I hated it.
The applauses just grew and the hollers intensified.
The devil just smirked as he looked at the crowd, and then his smirk faltered.
His face turned towards the line where I was for a good fifteen seconds.
If he wasn’t blind, I’d say he looked at me, but since that was not the case, I wondered why I was even feeling this way. It could be a coincidence. Judas was a trust fundraiser, so it was typical of him to be present here.
The girls around me sighed dramatically and screamed his name, their admiration questioning and concerning.
If they knew who he truly was, they’d run for their lives and prefer jumping off a cliff rather than be saved by him.
He was the kind of man who’d kill the president of the country just to sit in his chair for two seconds. Good thing he wasn’t a killer, though he looked nothing short of it.
My mind raced as I tried to process the situation. I could feel the tension building inside me. I needed to get out of here, away from the suffocating atmosphere.
The announcer welcomed him and handed him a bouquet. He tore his attention from the crowd and Kyle was also with him, helping him to the table. But his mood suddenly seemed depraved, for reasons I didn’t know and didn’t even want to find out.
As Judas took his seat, the applause slowly died down, but my heart continued to race. Ivan’s grip on my back tightened slightly, and I could feel his eyes on me, watching my every move. I needed an escape, a moment to breathe without the weight of their presence pressing down on me.
Taking a deep breath, I mustered the courage to turn to Ivan. “I need to go,” I whispered, hoping he’d let me slip away without causing a scene. His eyes narrowed slightly.
I stood up quickly, my legs shaky, and made my way through the crowd. I pushed through the throng of students, not stopping until I reached the hall and found the bathroom down the corridor.
Once inside, I panted as I looked at the mirror, splashing water on my face. My reflection stared back at me, the makeup I’d carefully applied that morning starting to smudge. I tried to calm my racing heart, the cold water helping to ground me. For a moment, I could almost forget the nightmare outside those bathroom doors.
I grabbed a paper towel and dabbed at my face. My hands were shaking, and I could feel the anxiety bubbling up inside me again. I took a few deep breaths, willing myself to calm down. I hope no one would look for me.
This wasn’t the first time I’d felt this way, and it probably wouldn’t be the last.
I really should go back to Texas for a few days. Maybe I was homesick and needed my mother’s hugs. Thinking of her made me want to see her. I pulled out my phone and texted her.
Seraphina: Is it normal I miss you?
Her response came almost immediately.
Mama Bear: Is it normal that I miss you too? Or is it just because I need someone to help me move the furniture around?
I smiled, shaking my head. Classic Mom.
I texted back smiling as I perched against the counter.
Seraphina: I’ll be home in three days. I miss you, and I’ve got a week-long break.
Mama Bear: A week-long break? This sounds suspiciously convenient. Are you sure there’s nothing else going on?
I felt my chest tighten.
Seraphina: Nothing else, promise! Just really need some of your hugs.
Mama Bear: Alright, if you say so. But you better not be hiding any surprises. Safe travels and I’ll see you soon.
I let out a sigh of relief. Hopefully, she wouldn’t pry too much when I got there. Now that I have talked to her, I feel a little calm. When I looked at the time, it was already thirty minutes since the fest.
My phone pinged and I expected my mother’s text, instead, it was not.
Unknown: I warned you.
**************