Amanita: Poison Shot

Chapter 113: The Benefit - A Fantasy About Friendship

It was Apollo, not Eros, the man in the limo! What the hell?!

The hectic drum solo playing in my heart felt like a pledge of future nightmares. I felt dizzy. He was sitting right in front of me, with a mischievous grin plastered on his face. I turned pale.

His impressive dark grey suit, with shiny cuff links at the end of his sleeves, and his deep red silk tie couldn't conceal how dark and deviant his soul was. A DNA-shaped brooch made of white gold and diamonds rested on the right lapel of his blazer. I assumed those were the right materials because the brooch looked expensive as hell.

The door of the limo was closed and locked before I could even think of getting out. Then, the two bodyguards got into the limo with us, but they sat a row closer to the driver and gave us their backs.

Apollo pressed a button on a small control panel, and a matte glass window automatically went up, giving us some privacy.

"Tonight's gonna be a great night, my love," he said then while combing his wavy blond hair backwards as if he was boasting of being so handsome and powerful. I was getting tired of his trademark gesture and his pride.

"Where is Eros? What have you done with him?" I dared to ask as if my own life was on the line when I felt the limo's engine turning on and leaving the parking spot.

"You don't need to worry, my pet. He's fine. He will be attending his mother's event shortly after us, I hope – when he's done doing all the extra work I've ordered him to do."

That behaviour was as despicable as his tone of voice. He had given Eros extra work as a last-minute thing before the benefit just because he didn't want him to escort me. Apollo was jealous of him.

"You look dashing in that dress, my dear Daphne." His eyes were examining me up and down with lust. "I'm sad I wasn't the one to choose it for you."

"I assume you've been busy trying to find the rebels." I tried to cloak my defiance with coldness and assumptions.

"Indeed, I have," he replied with a broad smile while checking whether his cuff links looked spectacular. He wanted me to notice them. "Among other urgent projects, like fixing the androids."

"And designing a killer bike for me – in the sense that it wanted to crush me to death," I added, briefly losing control over my tone of voice. I sounded meaner than intended.

"Oh, I'm sorry for that," he apologised. "It was meant to kill your boyfriend and steal you away. But... you were together... really close to one another, weren't you?"

He wanted to strangle me with his eyes. I did stop breathing for a few seconds due to fear.

"The bike's brain was a standard servitor from the GSNS, so its decision to harm both of you was... a mistake I wouldn't have made if..." I noticed he hated the word 'mistake'. He was having trouble saying it. But his subsequent sly grin iced the blood in my veins. "A mistake that would've never taken place if you had accepted to come and live with me from the start."

His piercing stare shook my soul.

"Are you trying to blame me for it?"

"No, I would never suggest such a thing, my love! I was just... saying... that... I will be obeyed. Last night's 'accident' doesn't need to be repeated, does it?" His tone sounded like a veiled threat.

"No, it doesn't need to be repeated. I broke up with Sigi," I answered coolly.

"Good. I already knew that, of course. But I want you to know that, if you're still harbouring feelings for each other, I will know."