I stared at her incredulously. How could she think that I only wanted a kiss?

That's what you thought in the first place? A small voice was echoing in the back of my head. I quickly blocked it off.

Is it only the kiss?

"If I let you kiss me, will you stop, Alex?" she repeated, her eyes filled with curiosity and damn, I saw the determination in her eyes to get rid of me.

That truth hurt a lot.

A kiss?

Feeling her soft, warm, and sweet lips again? It is very tempting...but, I want more.

Yes, I want more.

I want all of her.

I want her.

I want her all mine. Body and soul.

The truth struck me like an arrow, hurled straight into my chest.

But she doesn't want you? A soft voice echoed in the back of my head.

Just thinking of leaving her alone caused my chest to tighten. Can I bear to watch her from a distance, flirting with another man?

Seeing Austin today staring at her like he wanted to pounce on her whole made my blood boil. Frustrations, jealousy roiled through me like a maelstrom. I had to use all my willpower to contain myself not to jump on him and poke his eyes out of his sockets or beat the shit out of him.

Just thinking any man feasting on her made my temper set on fire.

"Alex?" she called once again, her perfectly plucked eyebrows darted together in a deep frown.

I stared her down, unable to control the frustrations growing deep within me upon remembering that old Austin. "Is that how shallow you think of me, Clara Bell? I want you, and not just for a damn kiss!" I hissed and tore my gaze off her and shifted it to the rearview mirror.

I want to crush her lips with mine, kiss her endlessly until she realizes how much I want her, not just one damn kiss.

Langdon's eyes fixed on the road. I knew he can hear us, but I don't care. He had witnessed a lot of things I've done inside the car, heard a lot of arguments with different women, but he never meddled with my life.

Clara made a faint frustrated huff next to me. I dragged my gaze back to her, and she was staring at the window, lost in thought.

I wish I could freely wrap my hands around her and snuggle against her.

I unconsciously let out a loud sigh as I dropped my back against the seat. She turned her head to look up at me, frowning. "Why are you like that? You used to hate me?" she said sulkily.

I frowned at her. I didn't really hate her. That's a very strong word. Maybe I'm just too hurt that she never liked me, that's why I made her believed I hate her, too.

"I never hate you, Clara Bell. I'm just annoyed because you always assumed me of a douchebag," I explained, feeling that kick in my chest again.

"But you were?" she scowled, and I chuckled. She was so confident.

"Wrong, babe! You believed too much of rumors." I shook my head, gaze never left her beautiful face.

The crease on her forehead doubled. "You were with different women while dating Claire," she stated tartly, and I shook my head once again.

"Claire and I were going on and off. She wasn't truthful to me the whole time," I shot back. My lips pressed into a hard line upon remembering how Claire managed to play the victim. How she managed to make the people around her believed she was innocent.

Clara Bell looked away as she sighed.

"Can we stop talking about her? I just want to enjoy your company, to be with you." I said causing her to turn her head and look up at me.

She regarded me intently for a moment. Our eyes locked and for that moment, I was lost. Her clear blue eyes were like the color of the Caribbean sea under the sun, tempting anyone to be drowned in them. At this moment, I felt like it was sucking me in, hypnotizing me.

"Fine," she said, pulling me out of my trance.

A broad smile broke out on my lips.

"But no kissing!" she hissed, widening her bright blue eyes at me, and I was silent for a second. For now, I'm happy that we are fine. I love to kiss her again, but if in return of stop seeing her, I wouldn't mind waiting. I won't stop until she'll be mine.

I grinned at her. "Well, what if you want it?" I asked.

She glared at me. "Never!" she snapped.

"Fine, unless you ask for it," I gave her a suggestive grin.

She scowled darkly. "That will never happen!" she snapped again as she gave me a sharp glare that could cut through me. It hurt a bit, but I don't mind.

"Alright," I chuckled, as I lifted my hands in surrender. I don't want to take the risk of losing this truce tonight. I really want to enjoy her company without her snapping at me, or hissing at me.

"We are here, sir," Langdon's voice cut through my racing thoughts.

I slid out of the car and quickly rounded the car before Langdon could and opened the door for Clara Bell. She gave me a genuine smile, and my heart cavorted. If only this moment stopped, I would love to see that smile, just for me.

She hooked her hand in the crook of my inner elbow as we entered the restaurant. We were ushered to a booth, a little far back. The light in the restaurant was dim, but the light was enough to see what was written in the hard cover menu.

I've never eaten at Perch at night. I only come here during lunch, when I'm meeting some clients. The tables aren't too close, the distance was decent enough to keep the customer's voices at a hearing circumference unless they are using their high pitch tone.

"Good evening, Sir, Ma'am. I'm Jana. I will be your server tonight. Would you like to start with beverages?" the middle aged woman asked. She's probably working during the night, I've never seen her here before.

She was smiling at Clara Bell, I immediately saw the fondness in her eyes as she gazed at her. Who would not?

Clara Bell has a face of an angel, not to mention her bright, curious eyes when it is sparkling with happiness. The two orbs seemed to enchant anyone who stared at it.

"Sure. A glass of Bellini, please," she beamed at the woman, and the woman's face brightened as her smile widened.

"And you, Sir?" she turned her gaze to me. I thought she had forgotten me.

"Champagne, premium," I said.

"I apologize, Sir, but we only do bottle,"

"Fair enough. Bottle it is!" I said as I waved off my hand.

"Excellent! I'll be back with your drinks," she said enthusiastically before she strutted off.

As soon as her back turned on us, I folded the hard covered menu and leaned my back against the upholstered leather bench.

She eyed me with curiosity. "Did you decide what to order?" she asked, one palm resting on the other page of the menu.

I lifted my shoulders in a half shrug. "I'm ordering wagyu beef," I nonchalantly replied.

She just nodded her head, then dragged her gaze back on the menu. I watch her as she skimmed the menu with her curious eyes. She jutted her lips outward once in a while, I find it adorable or when her nose crinkled as she moved her eyes to the other page.

"I guess I'll have their Special House Pasta," she said as she folded the menu.

"The chef is good. He used to be working with Gordon Ramsey," I said.

"Really?" her face lit up with the news.

"The CEO is paying him triple, so he must be good," I replied.

"If he used to work with Gordon Ramsey, then he must possess something from the great cook himself," she smiled.

I sat upright, then leaned in. Hands resting on the table. She was just watching me the whole. "When is the launching of the new perfume?" I asked.

I already know when, but I want her to invite me personally to be with her.

.....

"In two days, I think," I replied. I'm not really enthusiastic about the upcoming launching of the new perfume of Dior.

I saw hope in his eyes, and I'm not blind to see that he wanted me to invite him. I know Clare will be there because she was the face of Dior's previous perfume, Velvet. And inviting Alex would mean war between us, but something deep within me was nagging me to bring him, to be with me.

Now that I realized that he was really determined to have me. The fact that he wasn't only interested in kissing me had awakened something deep within me, just like the first time when I first tasted his lips.

I know it was crazy to ask him to kiss me, but at that moment, and with a little alcohol in my system, I felt that strong urge to feel his lips on mine again. I want to kiss him. I didn't really mean for him to stop bothering me, to be truthful.

My heart was beating so fast as I stared at him, watching his reaction. Wanting to know how far he could go. Instead, I saw pain flickered in his eyes for a fleeting second before it disappeared. It felt like my eyes were playing games with me, but the sincerity in his eyes when he told me that I thought shallow of him, betrayed his casualness. There was an unmistakable hurt underlying in his tone either, and that didn't escape my senses.

He was sincere. I can feel it in my bones.

It's frustrating that he's acting like this.

All my defenses were down when he's acting so innocent and tender.

But he wasn't just acting.

I was too lost in my thought I didn't hear the waitress came back. Alex ordered our food, and as soon as the waiter set down my drink, I grabbed it and took multiple sips.

The waiter poured Alex's flute some Champagne before she set it down next to his glass, then told us to be back for our food.

Alex took a sip. "So are you not gonna invite me?" Alex asked after he set down his flute. His voice was flat and despondent. It reached my heart, and it's frustrating. Why do I always felt him?

My shoulders sagged. I want him to be there with me if I am to be honest, but this thing with Claire isn't settled yet. I can feel that Claire won't be just sitting there and be cool if I'm dating Alex.

Not that I'm considering it.

Yes, you are!

I blocked off that small voice in the back of my head.

"Claire will be there," I murmured feebly.

"Are you afraid of her?" Alex asked causing me to tear my eyes off the half filled sweaty glass and snapped it to his.

"I'm not afraid of her. I'm just thinking about my reputation." I snapped. I'm beginning to feel frustrated. Honestly, I don't want to hurt Alex anymore. I feel like I'm the one being the jerk here.

Claire did nothing to me. She did not hurt me. She was a good friend to me, so why would I do something that I know will hurt her bad?

"I know you don't care about what people think, but I do. What would people think of me? A betrayer? Everyone knows that Claire and I are best friends," I snapped.

"Was she a friend to you?" Alex asked. I caught his jaws flexed, his facial muscles tightened.

His fingers around the temple of the flute tightened, too.

"As far as I remember, Alex, she was. She did nothing to hurt me. She may hurt someone, but it wasn't me." I met his eyes. My throat tightened at the truth.

He nodded his head. He regarded me intently for a second. His eyes swept over my face with intensity. Heat prickled across my skin as his eyes skimmed my face. My heart picked up speed. I unconsciously grabbed my glass and took sips.

"Would you believe me if I tell you that she can allow me to date anyone but you?"

I blinked twice. "She didn't say that?" I said, but I felt the uncertainty in my own voice.

"Why?" I choked out. I swallowed the lump that felt stuck at the back of my throat, then drank the rest of my drinks.

Why would she say that?

"Because she's jealous of you. I understand you're a good friend, Clara Bell. But Claire is not who do you think she is. She knows I like you... I mean I want you that's why she threatened me not to pick you. I can pick anyone, but not you," Alex explained.

I clenched my teeth. I looked at the empty glass mindlessly. My fingers curled tightly around the temple.

I pushed the glass towards him. "Please, pour me some!" I said and watch him took the Champagne bottle and opened the bottle.

I thanked him as soon as the glass was filled with Champagne that looks like a color of peach after the liquid was mixed with the bits of Bellini left in the glass. I didn't mind.

I took several gulps.

As soon as I set down the glass, I met Alex's eyes. He was just watching me the whole time. His hot stare slowly melting me inside. "Can you accompany me then to the launching party?" I asked without hesitation, ignoring the loud thumping inside my chest.

Perhaps the alcohol already took control of my sanity, but I don't care. To be honest, I'm happy for being truthful to myself.

I want Alex there with me.

.....

.....

I'm sorry guys. The wait now if very long since I couldn't stay longer in front of the laptop. This morning sickness is sucking all up my energy, but I'm happy, finally, my dream came true! Thank you for all the sweet wishes!

I hope this chapter made you smile. Alex made a huge leap in Clara Bell's good side.