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I was sitting on the dining table while drinking my orange juice, thinking of possible reasons Xavier was behaving like that, gaping at my breakfast and waiting for him to come down.

The sound of footsteps pulled me out of my thoughts, straightening myself to look unaffected I lifted my gaze to see Xavier coming down the stairs in his black suit with a white shirt underneath, everything on point. His hair styled in a wavy texture, he was on phone with someone, occasionally replying to the person on the other side.

"Let me know if you find anything." He said lastly before hanging up his call, diverting his gaze to me, a vibrant smile crowning his lips, I guilelessly kept staring at him, his other hand was covered with bandages but he tried his best to not let me get implicated by it.

"Good morning baby." He greeted me, gently trying to place a kiss on my cheek but I trudged away, hurt tinged in his eyes at my reaction, there was everything in his stance but his eyes, they were filled with hurt and exhaustion. He didn't let my rejection waver his smile, he tried to talk to me again, silently taking a seat in front of me.

"Do you need anything?" He asked smiling and I shook my head as a no. I didn't want to talk to him knowing I would give in to my heart and ask him about yesterday.

I took a bite of my toast to avoid conversing with him, he poured himself his black coffee and started sipping on it, he wasn't having any breakfast as well, how can he go without three meals in a row? I wanted to comment but resisted against it.

We silently continued eating, he slowly stopped trying to start a conversation when I continued giving him syllabic answers, when his coffee was done he stood from his seat, coming around the table to me and gently placed a kiss on my forehead, I kept frozen in my place at his sudden kiss.

"Remember to enjoy your day off, alright baby?" He asked, his eyes shining with unknown emotions, his hand soothingly resting on my hair, I prepared myself inwardly and clasped his hand before pulling it away, standing as well and slowly adjusting his crooked tie, smirking at him deceitfully and responding.

"I will. Darling." Kissing him on his cheek and leaving the dining room to him, he stood there till I was out of his sight, defeated and hurt. That's what I wanted, after all, him to feel what I felt once and this was nowhere near that.

I don't know what he did after I left, I don't care enough to even find out, locking myself in my room was the only thing I was doing from yesterday, drowning myself in empathy for me, no matter how his sobs pierced through my heart, I never did through his, he remained silent when I was crying out for him to stop, it was all fake, his sobs, his passionate gazes and his caring side it was fake so that he can have me in his clutches again. So he can fix me only to break me again.

Fool me once, shame on you.

Fool me twice, shame on me.

If I ever want to break this detested engagement then I need to have a stand of my own, I couldn't just be tamed by some worthless feelings I have got for him. It was my problem, not his.

It was almost half an hour later Luke informed me that Xavier has left for work and to inform him if I needed anything, I politely thanked him before adjourning him, it was boring being alone in this huge penthouse.

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All the day went pretty much the same until at six I got a call from Stephano, I was a little stunned on receiving his call but happy nevertheless.

Accepting the call I answered beaming. "Yep?"

"Hey, mia Bella, what are you doing?" His thick Italian voice reached me and I subconsciously pressed my thighs together, I was shocked at how my body was reacting to his voice, his words sounded like music to my ears.

"N-Nothing much." I stuttered out, shocking myself even more.

"Are you alright? You don't sound alright." He asked worriedly and I nodded reflexively but then I remembered that he can't see me, I passed my fingers through my locks to somehow calm myself from reacting like a teenager.

"I'm fine."

"That's a relief, -" his voice sounded relieved, I smiled at him,"-I just wanted to check up on you, since you weren't so good on your engagement day." He continued and my mood dulled at the mention of the horrible engagement, I remembered asking him to go on a date with me again.

"Really? That's the only reason you called for?" I asked amusedly, already knowing his answer.

"Yea-no. I wanted to ask you out on a date with me, -" he blurted out and I chuckled a little at his nervousness, I was about to reply when he interrupted me, adding quickly,"-but only if you're comfortable with it." My smile never faltered once during talking to him. He was everything I ever wanted, considerate, caring, loving, respectful but instead I choose the opposite of it. Someone who couldn't even treat me like a decent human being rather than his precious infatuation.

"Are you okay with going out with an engaged woman?" I asked jokingly, my tone laced with mock and dark humour, degrading myself in being tied to such a disgusting person, he was silent for a while before answering smoothly.

"I would've had an affair with you even if you were a married woman, so I think being engaged is easier to deal with, don't you think?" He answered smugly and I chuckled at his reply, a genuine one after a long time, I reckoned my thoughts out and the only thing my brain was assisting on was to go. I anxiously added.

"There can be a possible scandal as well, are you sure you can handle that?"

"For you. I think I can."

"This is serious Stephano."

"I'm sorry but when did I give you the impression that I was joking?" He retorted immediately, sealing down my comeback for once and for all.

"I will withstand anything if it means seeing you with me." He whispered, his words healing my broken heart, I felt wanted. I felt wished for. I felt cherished. The void in my heart fixing due to this person whom I never reciprocated anything for his actions.

"Why?" I asked before I could stop myself, my eyes stinging due to the upcoming tears.

"Because you are you." He answered smoothly and I closed my eyes, this was probably the most simple and yet passionate words I've ever heard, because I was myself. A lone tear of relief slowly trailing down my cheek.

"I-I d-"

"Is that a yes?" He stopped me in anticipation.

"Yes,"

"Yes! Then I'll pick you up at 8, how does that sound?" He asked cheerfully, and I giggled while wiping my tears, retorting amusedly.

"You'll have to pick me up from Xavier's penthouse, Romeo."

"I'll be there, see you soon Mia Bella." He answered, his voice laced with determination, never once wavering from Xavier's name, he hanged the call and I sighed as his call ended, smiling heartily and rushing to get ready. It was after a long time I was going to have a comfortable date night, It was fine even if it wasn't with the person I thought it would be.

Grinning like a Cheshire cat who won a lottery I rushed to the bathroom, to prepare myself, showering and shaving where needed, pampering myself to relax my mind and body, wrapping a towel around myself exited the bathroom to enter the closet.

I rummaged through the expensive set closet for a decent dress, I picked out a black Ralph Lauren dress with a high thigh slit and black Louis Vuitton heels, it was full-on sexy and nothing else, just like he named me sexy. Setting my hair in a wavy texture and applying dark damned red lipstick and light eyeshadow to go with the look, it was giving out my real personality, bold. Smirking at my appearance I hurriedly prepared my clutch.

I was just about to exit the closet when my gaze fell on my luggage in the corner, I stood there silently, glaring at it, then I decided, hastily opening it and picking out a thigh holster and switchblade, adjusting the blade on my covered thigh with the help of holster, making sure it isn't prominent, intentionally placing it inward to avoid being seen by anyone.

When I was comfortable with the position of the blade and my outfit I finally glanced at the wall clock, it was showing 7:40 pm, Stephano will be here any minute now, so I decided to go down and wait for him.

Checking myself one last time and smiling at myself in the mirror I hurriedly slipped into my heels and rushed out of my room with my clutch, carefully descending the staircase to enter the living room, I noticed Xavier sitting on the couch with Luke reporting him something, I didn't care, I was too happy to indulge myself in idiotic working talk.

Xavier had his back to me while Luke was facing me, the sound of my heels enticed his attention to me, he stopped talking at once, gaping shamelessly at me while I smirked looking down, knowing I did a pretty awesome job, not two seconds after Xavier turned his head, his eyes meeting mine sensually, I intentionally alluringly gazed at him, my bust doing a good job in luring attention, his eyes roaming all over my body with intensity, making me feel hot all of a sudden.

His lascivious gaze was short-lived, soon his expression twisted into confused ones, his eyes holding unnerving gleams in them, he stood from his seat while I reached the foot of the stairs, quickly checking my phone for any message from Stephano but gladly there wasn't any till now.

"Where are you going?" Xavier voice pulled my attention to him, Luke was already out, leaving us alone to have a decent talk.

"Out." I placed my phone back into my clutch, the cold metal of the blade scouring into my thigh suggestively.

"Where?" He inferred possessively and I stepped closer to him, gently placing my hands on his chest, his hands encircling my waist reflexively.

"Out on a date," I whispered, staring at his lips in desire, his eyes forbidding me without saying anything, his right hand wandered down to my ass, pulling me even closer to him causing my body to stick to his with no extent between us, his lips just mere millimetres away from mine.

"No." He stated sternly, his fingers digging into the skin of my waist, I encircled my arms behind his neck, smirking and intentionally nearing even more to him, our lips touching ever so slightly, his eyes meeting mine in challenge and atrocity, while my redolence invaded him in a trance.

"Yes," I whispered, his lips tingling mine, his eyes fired even more at my defiance with both outrage and yearning. I nudged my leg between his legs letting him feel what I was hiding, his eyes darkened even more on feeling the cold metal touching his inner thigh, his length jabbing me in my inner thighs in return, I kept my breathing in check and my stance precise.

"There will be consequences." He whispered, moving his lips to my ear and slightly grazing my sweet spot, marking me before anyone else could, I shuddered a little before tilting my head for him unpretentiously, his lips doing a great job in affecting me, keeping my arousal to myself, even when my brain was in defiance my body was reacting naturally, but I never dulled my fast reflex and my attacking stance.

"Do I look like I care?" I whispered back, tugging his hair to separate him from me, his lips moved from my neck to their previous position, right in front of my lips, I smirked before placing a mocking soft kiss on his lips, never closing my eyes, glaring right into his, letting him see my disgust for him, his hands tensed on my back whilst I separated from him overtly. Detaching myself from him completely, smirking his way and closing once again, resting my hand right on the bulge in his sweatpants, his breath hitched when my hand made contact with his bulge.

"I gave you something to handle while I go on my date. I consent you to imagine me while jerking off. Darling." My hands slowly stroking his length over his sweatpants before I pulled away at once, scoffing at him and leaving the living room, my heels clicking on the hard marble floor, announcing my departure.

I found myself in the kitchen afterwards, so I decided to drink some water before leaving, I was pouring myself some water when I felt Xavier shoving me into the kitchen island from behind, his length shoving into my ass making me gasp at his unexpected move, I didn't expect him to come to me again rest alone this near to me, his hands resting on the island from beside me, his breath closely flowing on my bare shoulder making me shiver, his shadow consuming me whole.

I tried to turn around when his right hand encircled by the waist and another hand firmly clutched my neck keeping me in place, tilting my neck to his convenience, I noticed him smirking from the corner of my eyes, resting his lips to the crest of my neck making me reflexively clutch the kitchen island in support, his lips trailing feathery kisses all over my neck.

He stopped right beside my ear, "Enjoy your date with Stephano-" his lips expertly brushing my ear, his hand slowly meandering down near my core but never touching it. I was yearning in his hold, he caught me off-guard."-and his company slowly deteriorating from tomorrow onwards." He completed and I whimpered when he bit my ear, igniting fire and desire in me just as I did, returning the favour thousand folds, I kept myself attached to the kitchen island, my lips tremoring and my breath coming out in halves.

His hands teasing me, building the want to be touched but I never gave in to him, his hot breath flowing on the nape of my neck.

He scoffed slightly, smirking and softly grabbing my hair for a while and patting my head before leaving me alone, I huffed out the breath I was holding, slumping down on the chair to control the overwhelming majority of sensations of fear, lust and disgust to calm down, I glanced in the way he came from but he was already gone, just when I thought I had the upper hand, he proved me wrong, I gulped down the glass of water I poured, trying to settle my nerves from going blastic.

By the time I came back into the living room he was relaxingly settled on the couch, not even minding to glance at me, I was composed now but he seemed like he never was affected by my advances, sitting leisurely on the couch with his laptop in his lap, typing away on it, ignoring my presence completely.

In sync the doorbell chimed in making me tense, the front door opened and Luke walked in, followed by a devilishly handsome Stephano, his leathery brown suit packing him like a snack, his hazel eyes wandering to find me but instead met with Xavier, I followed his eyesight to see Xavier sitting there dominantly, his legs crossed while his arms leisurely resting on the couch, the laptop was long gone, I walked closer to Stephano, swiftly averting Xavier's glare piercing through his head.

He beamed upon noticing me, gently enveloping me in a bear hug, not even minding to greet Xavier or giving him any importance, this man has some guts. His hands resting on my lower back, a giggle slipped through my lips when he hauled me in the air, I clutched his shoulders to avoid tripping.

"You're looking stunning, Mia Bella" he whispered and I felt my cheeks warming up at his compliment, I hid my face in the crook of his neck causing a deep chuckle to rumble through his chest, vibrations of it sending shivers down my spine, I didn't know if it was because of him or because I was horny.

He gently lowered me down, his cherishing gaze falling onto me, keeping his hand firmly on my waist he turned to Xavier, a smirk prominent on his face while Xavier had a grim expression attached to his face, his glare faltering my happiness a little, making me subconsciously trudge away from Stephano. I was scared of his threat from earlier.

"Mr King" Stephano greeted, nodding his head at him in acknowledgement, his face contouring a smug expression, Xavier was silent for a while, not doing anything to hide his previous arousal while looking at me, his gaze disappointingly subsiding on me, I diverted my gaze away from him and easily settled it on Stephano's hand on my waist.

"You knew the aftermaths when you decided to walk in here, didn't you?" Xavier's voice sent bolts of fear down my spine, my hand reflexively tightened on Stephano's arm and this didn't go unnoticed by both of them, Xavier glare halted at me while stephano started drawing soothing circles on my back to calm me.

"I did." Stephano was relaxed beside me.

"You have the last chance to back out now, leave my fiáncee and never ever think about her again and I will do close to little damage to your company-" there wasn't easy revenge on Xavier's dictionary, he'll still crumble Stephano's company down if he back out now."-or take her with you and wait and watch silently till you end up on streets with nothing." He completed and I slowly separated away from Stephano, no matter how badly I wanted revenge I couldn't do this to Stephano, he was nothing but kind to me and I couldn't let his company go bankrupt.

I was shocked when stephano replied, an easy smile on his face. "I'm already here, so might as well complete what I came to do." He shrugged before coming closer to me, I glanced at Xavier to see his hands fisted in resistance, his lips twitching in anger while veins in his neck and hands were bulging out, his blood-red eyes glaring fiercely at Stephano who was not giving him any mind, smiling cheerily at me.

"Let's not do this, Alright stephano?" I mumbled worriedly, glancing at him under my lashes to make him understand, he placed his hands on my cheeks, quieting down my excuses, I hesitantly gazed at him.

"I don't th—"

"Shh..." He whispered, gently uniting our foreheads together, his breath flowing on my face while his cologne evaded us together, my eyes wandered on his face talking in his features.