ALARICK'S P.O.V

My world came crashing down on me as the words left her mouth,

"A night with Mr. Steele."

She breathed ruggedly as she stared at the lake. She looked breathtaking as always, even in this miserable state she didn't fail to lure me towards her. I just wanted to claim her right there.

She was innocent. I knew the day she left. I just wanted her to remember me. Just once.

She wasn't crying anymore. I didn't miss the broken smile forming on her lips as she kept staring at the lake. She looked like an innocent doll. My innocent doll.

I knew Roman was a womanizer and had few sex slaves. He used to force himself on them but I never thought of Amelia being a victim to his cruel ways. And that made my blood boil. I wanted to rip that fucking bastard into pieces. Just thinking of him, touching Amelia was bringing me to the edge.

Her beautiful face was working as oil to the fire I had in my heart for Roman.

"It was the first day." She inhaled deeply, "After that I became the whore of so many Mr. Steele's that I can't even remember how many times I hooked up."

"End of the story!" She said standing and stretching her arms out. A small saddened chuckle escaped her lips. She wanted to look tough as always. Not wanting to break down once. And that made me proud.

But the only thing pressing at the back of my mind was the reason why she was telling me all this. She didn't remember me. She didn't know me. She just considered me as her arrogant boss and yet she was opening up to me.

She smiled at me but I couldn't return it. She parted her lips to say something but I grabbed her hand and pulled her down on my lap.

"Why are you telling me this?" I finally asked.

She gazed into my eyes as if finding answer in them, "I don't know."

I mentally smiled. I just wanted her to be mine at that exact time. Only mine.

"You're not anyone's whore." I breathed out. My hand reached out cupping her soft rosy cheeks,

"You're mine."

With this I pressed my lips to her, claiming her mine. She was my girl.

My Rose.

*

*

*

*

*

I was completely annoyed. I had asked Isaac to call her but she refused. I knew I wasn't able to give her my time the whole week but it was for her own good.

I still remember the day when I first saw her. It's pretty long time now but still she is just like the same doll to me as she was.

The years I spent without her, craving for her were the toughest years. And now when she is right in front of me, I know I will not be able to stop myself. And that was the reason I was holding myself.

"You should tell her. This hide n seek is insane." Isaac grumbled.

"What should I tell her?" I asked angrily.

"The truth." He said as he plopped another bite in his mouth, "Wait. I don't even know the whole truth myself. You never told me!"

"I-"

"Nope. No excuses this time. What the hell is going between you two?!" He said throwing his spoon back on the plate.

I huffed. Isaac is one of those stubborn kids who don't stop crying even after getting candies.

"Are you-" he started again.

"Okay. Okay! I'm telling!" I took in a long breath, "When my father handed me the business...I was twenty at that time.."

"Don't brag." Isaac muttered.

"Shut up. So there was his huge party held in Greece. Owen Torres and his family was invited too..."

...Flashback...

Putting my suit jacket on and setting my tie, I looked at the mirror for the last time. It was one of the most important day of my life. Everything could be ruined or made.

Businessmen from all over the world are invited in this party. Today I will seal my first deal.

I had to prove that I was totally capable of handling the company. My dad believed in me and that was all I needed.

Everyone stood up as I entered the conference room. I nodded at them and took my seat.

One of the men stood up and begun their presentation. After an hour of listening, there was my turn to make the final decision.

I stood up with a pen in my hand.

"In my opinion, halting the construction will bring no success at all. As you see here," I said pointing at the Russian shipyard, "This is one of our most successful shipyards so I think instead of constructing another shipyard in Russian estate we should keep constructing this shipyard here in Greece." Giving a glance at my father who was staring at me with smile on his lips I took my seat, "And that would be my final decision."

I could see some elder men muttering and nodding their heads.

Mr. Rupert stood up,

"Mr. Knight, your conclusion is logical. We agree with you. We thought that you weren't mature enough to make such deals but we were wrong."

A smirk made its way over my lips. I stood up and shaking hands with Mr. Rupert, I waited for all of them to leave. After they left my father came to me,

"I am proud of you son." He said with his eyes sparkling.

I nodded.

"You should be taking rest right now dad." I said with concern in my voice. His heart condition had been worrying me since a long time. He left the room and I stood there for a while grinning like a mad man.

Then I heard shuffling behind the door and I frowned. I could see a shadow through the frost door.

I kept staring at the door when it burst open. My breath caught in my throat as I looked at the girl standing in front of me.

Her bright red locks were caressing her rosy cheeks and her pale skin was shining under the dim light as I kept looking in her green eyes. My eyes travelled down her face to her straight nose and pink full lips.

She looked like an angel with this white dress on her. A smiled crept over her luscious lips as she stared at me, a smile that could light up the world.

"Um...I am sorry." She began and her voice lingered around my ears as soft melody, "I was just looking for...umm Alarick. Alarick Knight."

I was caught off guard when I heard my name from her lips. It sounded so sensous that I could felt myself getting hard.

"I...am Alarick Knight." I said with a smirk plastered on my face.

"Oh.." she chuckled as red rose into her cheeks, "Um...My dad wanted me to meet you."

"Well...You've met me now." I said as I began walking towards her.

"Uhm..hi?" She said fumbling with her fingers. She looked so fragile and innocent with those doe eyes. Her red hair, rosy cheeks and plump red lips resembled her to a delicate rose.

Yes, a rose.

I chuckle left my mouth, "What's your name?"

She stiffened, "I-I am..Rebecca."

"Rebecca?"

"Rebecca Torres." She said.

"I would rather call you Rose." I smiled.

She was still fumbling with her fingers. Her tongue darted out licking her lips sensuously. I closed my eyes briefly to compose myself.

I approached her and standing right in front of her I asked,

"Well?"

"Um... I can tell...you want me."

And that caught me off guard. Was she some mind reader?!

"What?"

"You want me." She said nodding.

I chuckled at her straightforward behavior.

"You got me right." I said I stepped forward leaving no distance between us.

I could see she was nervous. Her gulping was making it visible.

I trailed my hand along her bare arm and she shivered.

She brought her hands up and rested them on my chest and slowly she slid them around my neck. I don't know what this girl was doing to me. I have just seen her and I am attracted towards her.

Without any control on myself, I leaned in and claimed her lips. So soft and sweet, I could kiss her all day. Pushing her against the wall, I held her wrists. Bucking her up, I pressed her into me.

"What's going on here?!"

I was snapped out of my thoughts and quickly moved away from the girl.

Mr. Ruperts was standing with another man.

"Oh Dad!" Rebecca. ran towards the other man and he wrapped his arms around her," Thank god you came, he was...he was.." And she began sobbing.

Mr. Ruperts was staring at me wide eyed, "You were right Mr. Torres, I was going to make a huge mistake."

With this he left the room.

Mr. Torres smirked at me and my eyes went towards the girl who was in his arms still crying. I frowned at what I saw in her eyes. Regret.

Her tears weren't fake. There was sincerity in her eyes. It felt as if she was crying out for me.

The man jerked her around but she never broke the eye contact with me.

'I am sorry.' She mouthed as tears kept trickling down her cheeks and she turned back.

I was taken aback. I realized I just lost my deal. But that didn't made me angry. I wasn't enraged but confused and irritated. I wanted her back.

Rose...

...End of the flashback...

*

*

*

*

*

Chapter dedicated to all my special readers who made this book reach rank 34! And 140k reads!!!

I love you all. Thank you so much 💞

What do you think about the flashback?

-Shanza 😙