Yours, Eternally

Nine

"We'll see you tomorrow, Ava!" Quinn exclaimed as she locked arms with her lover. Derrick gave a quick nod before stepping into the lift, leaving just me and myself, alone with the comfort of my work.

How romantic.

Taking some time to recover from the facepalm I gave myself a second ago, I reached for my phone in search of the time before taking a long and heavy sigh.

Only 4 more hours to go.

With work revolving around us, it has been months since I had last seen Alice. And though late, I would not pass anything up to miss this opportunity of meeting her.

Putting on my game face, I trudged to the other room with the blueprint of the final ring I had to construct, this time without the comfort of any music.

Yes, I have learnt my lesson.

Time has a peculiar way of performing. It runs by like a bullet train when you're in a hurry and crawls when you need it to speed up. It didn't take long before I accomplished the pre-ordered ring.

The strain from looking at the computer and minute details dried out my eyes, threatening me to shut them. Reaching for the phone once more to check the time, I hurriedly waltzed back to my office chair before plopping my head on the table for a short nap, not forgetting to set a thirty minute timer.

Nathan's POV

I watched as she slept soundly in the office, peacefully and at rest while I removed my coat to place it around her shoulders. Tucking a loose hair behind her ear exposed her soft and silky skin, instilling a deep hunger that had been quietly building ever since I laid eyes on her.

Bending down, I pressed my lips against her cheek; something that I had been yearning to do. Lingering for just a few seconds before pulling back, I admired the beauty that emitted from her as she remains trapped in her dreams.

-Flashback-

"Who are you? I thought I had said that no one is allowed to come in here."

There I was, sitting with a bottle of liquor grasped between my fingers. I was tired, with a few months-worth of beard growing rampant, and hair that was starkly unkempt and filthy.

"You look pathetic." I heard the woman say, prompting me to shoot a glare at her. She was a beauty, her dark and luscious hair paired with those ocean blue eyes, shimmered brightly despite the lack of light in this room.

"You do not know me. So, get out." I spoke nicely, yet not concealing the irritation and annoyance that she had brought out from me. All I wanted, was to be left alone as I drowned myself in sorrow.

"I know you well enough; well enough to know that you are a coward." The anger burned and stung me, not because of her rudeness, but because her insults were true. "So right now, I am going to do you a favor. But in exchange for that, I will be needing something from you."

-End of Flashback-

"If you knew about everything, would you still forgive me?" My fingers latched on my hair, feeling the painful ache emerge and tear me from the inside out.

BEEP BEEP! BEEP BEEP! BEEP BEEP!

Ava's POV

BEEP BEEP! BEEP BEEP! BEEP BEEP!

Arousing from my sleep, I reached for my phone to switch off the incessant annoyance as it screamed unpleasantly for attention. I rubbed my eyes before letting out a yawn.

"Much better," a satisfying sigh left my lips, thankful that I had a short time to recharge my physical battery.

The extra weight on my shoulders prompted me to glance back as I saw a coat draped across my back. Bewildered if it was real or just a dream, my fingers caressed my cheek as I felt a lingering heat; as though I had just received a kiss.