MY BELOVED POISON

TWELVE

"Tell me."

I looked into his smoldering eyes trying not to avert my gaze. Well my eyes were already averted, I was looking at his forehead instead of his eyes but he wouldn't know that.

At least he wouldn't be able to tell from this height.

I've always read in books where the girl would try something like this. She would end up getting burned. But I am still not so sure if I want to get burned by the fire that was King Niran. Would I end up combusting? Would I end up embarrassed, left wanting for more and yet here I was standing here trying to accept this because life had its cord tight around my neck.

His eyes looked bored , a glint behind them as he looked at me. Well my eyes that didn't even looked into his own. I hoped he didn't notice.

"Sir, I accept your offer". I never understood why people stuttered. Maybe I didn't stutter because I dulled out my senses trying not to get a whiff of his hypnotizing cologne.

"Come closer I can't hear you". He bent down and was now at eye level with me. I nervously fluttered my eyes shut before opening them.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what I was about to say. "I said, I accept your offer," I repeated, my voice a little firmer this time, though still tinged with nerves.

King's gaze bore into mine, intense and unreadable. "Is that so?" he murmured, his tone low and contemplative. "And why the sudden change of heart?"I hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. "It's... complicated," I admitted, choosing my words carefully. "But I need the money, and... I think I can handle it."

A flicker of amusement danced in King's eyes. "Handle what, exactly?" he pressed, his voice silkier than ever. A small curl from his man bun slid to his forehead making  him seem even hotter than before. I really wanted to climb this man.

My cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and I glanced away, unable to meet his gaze. "Handle... whatever it is you want," I mumbled, feeling awkward and exposed.King's lips curled into a smirk, and he reached out to tilt my chin up, forcing me to look at him. "You have no idea what you're getting yourself into, do you?" he said softly, his eyes darkening with something that looked like... concern? Why are you so worried? Aren't you the one who wanted to enter this forbidden valley, out here making me act a fool by saying yes. But then again I need the money.

makes me feel cheap.

I shook my head, feeling a mix of fear and excitement coursing through me. I mean it's not everyday you get to climb this handsome mountain of a man "No," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "But I'm willing to find out." I said boldly.For a moment, there was silence between us, the air thick with tension. Then, without warning, King leaned in closer, his breath warm against my ear."Good," he murmured, his voice sending shivers down my spine. "Because once you're in, there's no going back."And with that cryptic warning hanging in the air, King straightened up and walked away, leaving me standing there, heart pounding and head spinning.

I couldn't help but wonder what I had just gotten myself into. As King walked away, leaving me standing there in a state of bewilderment, I couldn't shake the feeling that I had just stepped into a world of unknowns. His cryptic words echoed in my mind, leaving me with more questions than answers.

But amidst the uncertainty, there was a glimmer of something else—hope. Hope that maybe, just maybe, this arrangement with King could offer me the financial stability I so desperately needed to take care of Aunt Lina.

I shook off the lingering doubts and focused on the practicalities of the situation. If I was going to do this, I needed to be prepared for whatever might come my way.As I made my way back to my apartment, my mind raced with thoughts of what lay ahead. Would I be able to handle whatever King had in store for me? And more importantly, would I be able to keep my emotions in check? I mean , a man and a woman doing you know what . Feelings are bound to be had no?
When I arrived home, I found myself pacing back and forth, unable to sit still. The weight of King's offer hung heavy in the air, and I knew that I needed to make a decision—and fast.Just as I was about to pick up my phone and call him, there was a knock at the door. I froze, my heart pounding in my chest. Could it be King? Had he come back to discuss our arrangement further?

With trembling hands, I approached the door and cautiously peeked through the peephole. To my surprise, it was Mrs. Jenkins, my kind-hearted neighbor, standing on the other side with a concerned look on her face.

"Mrs. Jenkins?" I exclaimed, opening the door to greet her. "Is everything okay?"Mrs. Jenkins smiled warmly at me, though there was a hint of worry in her eyes. "I just wanted to check in on you, dear," she said gently. "You seemed a bit out of sorts earlier, and I wanted to make sure you were alright."

Wasn't she the sweetest? I invited her in and we sat down at the small table in my living room. "Do you want something to drink?"

"No dear, I just wanted to invite you to have some dinner with me. Charles isn't going home today , he went out of town to visit some relatives". She said mentioning her husband.

I smiled gratefully at Mrs. Jenkins' invitation. "Thank you, Mrs. Jenkins, that sounds lovely," I replied, feeling a sense of warmth spread through me at the thought of sharing a meal with her.

We then walked out of my apartment and walked down the hall to hers. It was so much ore lively and looked more like a home. She and Charles had taken one of the bigger apartments, a 3 bathroom 2 and a half bath apartment. It was so pretty, flowers littered the house and a wall with pictures of her family and their adventures spread across a green accent wall. 

My apartment could never.

As we sat down to dinner, Mrs. Jenkins regaled me with stories of her own life, sharing anecdotes about her family and her adventures with Charles. I found myself laughing along with her, grateful for the distraction from my own worries.

But even as I enjoyed Mrs. Jenkins' company, my mind kept drifting back to King and the enigmatic offer he had presented me with. What did he have planned for me? And more importantly, was I making the right decision by accepting?

As the evening wore on, Mrs. Jenkins noticed the troubled look on my face and reached out to squeeze my hand comfortingly. "Is everything alright, dear?" she asked, her voice filled with concern.

I hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. Mrs. Jenkins had been nothing but kind to me, but I couldn't shake the feeling that I was getting myself into something dangerous. "I... I'm not sure," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "I've been offered an opportunity, but I'm not sure if I should take it." I didn't want to reveal too much. I didn't want to be given any labels , This was for my aunty. This was so we could survive.

Mrs. Jenkins listened attentively as I poured out my worries, offering words of wisdom and encouragement. "Sometimes, dear, life presents us with unexpected challenges," she said gently. "But it's how we face those challenges that defines us. If you believe in your heart that this is the right path for you, then you must trust yourself and follow it."

 Maybe King's offer was a risk, but it was also an opportunity—one that could potentially change my life for the better. I thanked Mrs. Jenkins for her advice and made my way back to my apartment.Tomorrow was a new day, and with it came the promise of a fresh start. And no matter what challenges lay in store, I knew that I would face them head-on.

i could do this .......