That One Ride

Chapter 36: Distance

Teresa's POV

Adam and Eliana Lewis's real estate company Ad-Eli Ltd. is on the verge of bankruptcy. This happened when all the shareholders sold their shares overnight after Adam lost a deal with France-based multi-billionaire Alex McOwen. One of our reports has claimed that the loss in this financial year is the largest in the history of this well-known venture.

According to the reports, the couple is still staying in Paris and denied commenting on the news. Stay with us to know more about the ups and downs of the business world.

My head shot up in Alex's direction, only to find him smirking at the video. What the hell did he do? I know he was behind this, because why there would be his name for an undisclosed deal?

"What did you do?" I asked, narrowing my eyes at him.

He chuckled at me, never wiping out that smirk as he held my left cheek in his palm and held us close. "I might or might not have contacted all the stakeholders to sell their shares, and I might be responsible for them to become broke."

I raised my brows at him. Broke? They were bankrupt; I supposed there would be any way of paying the debts or something. "How can they be broke? And there had to be something, you know, to save them? I don't know."

"Are you serious right now?" His voice had a flash of anger in it. "No, there is no way, and even if there is... I will make sure to finish them to dust."

"W-why?" I said, my voice trembling a little at the deadly glare he was giving me.

He inhaled a sharp breath, never leaving his gaze away from my face as if fighting for words to come up. "Let's just say that this is the first step in their destruction because I will make them pay for what they did to you and tried to do to me."

I chuckled at him humorously. He was being serious the way he was putting everything, but he had to understand that the people he was engaging himself with... by any means were not good. If that pathetic woman did not blink at her daughter's near-death experience, there were high chances that she would risk her everything to hurt him.

To add a feather to the cup, I was of no use to him. The guilt started coming over my heart at the thought. Useless. I was being useless and he was risking his all.

Maybe he was not risking anything. Of course, he knew the tactics of this world, and I had come to know over the past months that not only France but his aroma was nerve-wracking everywhere. As much as I wanted to slide away from the sadness, my heart was overwhelmed with unknown happiness as my heart made a bungee jump at him. He had done this for me. He thought of doing something like this, and I felt my body swimming in the clouds at the warmth of his hold. The hold he had on my body and soul.

Even though it was cool and all, my worry for him only increased.

"You are making unnecessary enemies when you already have a long list of them," I said, low enough to let him hear the concern.

"And they are at the top of it in bold letters with a red line under their name. I can never forget how you reacted every time you saw Adam, and honestly, it crushed my heart. And when you told me about your father all I wanted to do was rip their heads from the body with my bare heads, but as you can see, I have far better plans for them."

"Why do I have the feeling that whatever this plan is, I am not involved in it?" I asked.

He raised his brows, sending me a knowing look as if to indicate that he was not even thinking about it in his sleep. Anger rushed through my veins as I pulled myself away from him. I clenched my hands in a fist as my nostrils flared.

He had been working his ass off since I got attacked in his house, and never bothered to share apart from that mafia shit. I might not be of any practical help, but I could support him. Emotionally, at least.

When will the men species understand that talking about your problems not only lightens up the turmoil of hidden emotions but also make the person, they want to protect, aware of the danger lurking around?

But here I was, mad at him to share something. Anything with me, because I did not deserve this. What if... what if he had something planned that could endanger his life. Or what if it would destroy us. Robert, Adam, and Eliana were fake to the core and jealous freaks who would go to any depths for their so-called revenge. Not to add that they were working together.

My heart raced in my chest at the thought of it.

"You are overthinking everything, love." He said, with a voice barely above a whisper.

"No! No, Alex I am not overthinking. You are adamant about not telling me anything and I am fed up with all of this. I understand you are protective and all but I am not a child. I survived, and I will survive as well." I yelled, not holding back the anger.

He clenched his jaw as his hand came near my waist and I took a step backwards. Hurt flashed his eyes as veins of his neck popped out. He raised his brows at me, daring me to do that once again. "Do not test me, love. I am not having this conversation, now come here."

"Why? Why can you never have this conversation? You don't trust me?!" I asked, holding the tears on the brink of my eyes.

A sigh of annoyance and anger escaped his mouth. "Of course, I trust you. It's just... I cannot jeopardize your safety at any cost. Trust me, you not knowing anything is best for your protection."

Hell, I wanted to scream so bad at him. I wanted to shout at him to stop... just, fucking stop this I-will-protect-you drama with me and grow up to let me fight. I stared into his honey-brown orbs with a blurry vision as my eyes started watering with anger. I felt like everything inside me was burning and it would turn me into ashes. I felt as if my heart would bleed itself.

Alex extended his hand to my cheek again, to wipe out the tears but I pulled myself two steps back. If he was not angry before, he was now. His eyes narrowed at me with his lips pursed together to control any steam that might erupt from him anytime now.

"Out of all the people in this fucking world, I expect you to remember what happened to my father. He tried to protect me, and he fucking died. He died right in front of my eyes. My heart is too weak for another loss, Alex. Very... very weak."

He closed his eyes as his chest rose with an audible inhale of air. "It's not like that. I am safe, baby. I am not going anywhere and I promise to never leave you. Please don't cry. Try and understand that all I want is you. Protected in my house, in my arms. I am sorry, Teresa, but I am bounded to say anything about it."

A humorous laugh echoed the room. He had to be kidding me. "Those were the words he used to tell me. Call it my fear or my fucking instincts but the people you are trying to protect me from are the ones who made my life hell. They had done it once, will do it again without a second thought."

At that point, my hands were shaking vigorously. I was beyond angry with my arguments, and he was doing nothing to convince me otherwise.

"I will be sleeping downstairs. Good night." Having said that, I stormed out of our room. Not bothering that I was in only bra and thong. I reached downstairs to my other room and saw Alex walking in my direction with a furious expression. If only eyes can kill anyone.

I closed the door on his face, shutting out his shouting. He stayed there for a long time until realized that I would not be opening the door.

Can you pick me up in the morning from Alex's house? -Teresa

Sure, Tee. 7:30 AM. bitches gonna spend the time of their lives. -Jessica

A/N

Babyyyyy, why men like Alex are not available on Amazon? I would willingly sell my soul for him! Duh! 🙃

ALSO *drum rolls* 🥁

Question: How will Teresa flirt with Alex in another dimension?

Answer: 'Hey, are you French? Because Eiffel for you'

🙄khekhekhe