Suspicious Shade

Chapter 3: Yve

Yve sat silently in the passenger seat, her head resting against the window. The cool glass felt soothing against her tired face as she stared out at the passing scenery. The hum of the car engine and the soft classical music playing on the radio were the only sounds breaking the silence.

She could feel Felix's presence beside her, his eyes flicking in her direction every now and then. She could sense his gaze on her tired form, and she could almost feel his playful smirk even though she didn't look at him.

Yve kept her eyes fixed on the passing scenery outside, not wanting to engage with Felix in conversation. She could practically feel the smug energy radiating from him, and it annoyed her to no end.

After a few moments of silent driving, Felix spoke up again. "You're quieter than usual," he commented, his voice lighthearted. "Usually you'd be biting my head off by now."

Yve sighed inwardly, her irritation spiking at Felix's nonchalant remark. She turned her head slightly to look at him, her eyes narrowing.

"I'm just tired," she said, her voice betraying her exhaustion. "I'm in no mood for your usual teasing."

Felix chuckled softly, clearly amused by her grumpy response. "Oh, come on," he said, still in a playful tone. "Don't be so grumpy. I'm just trying to make conversation."

Yve rolled her eyes and turned her head away from him again. "Well, save your breath," she retorted. "I'm not in the mood for your conversational skills today."

Felix let out another chuckle, enjoying the banter between them. "You're no fun when you're sleepy," he teased.

Yve shot him a glare. "And you're no fun even when I'm fully awake," she snapped back. "Just drive, please. I'm too tired to deal with your nonsense right now."

After what felt like an eternity of silence, the car finally pulled up in front of the manor. Yve looked out of the window, her eyes taking in the grand estate before her. The mansion stood tall against the evening sky, its imposing presence a reminder of the responsibility that awaited her inside.

Felix turned off the engine, breaking the silence that had settled in the car. "Well, we're here," he said, his tone tinged with a hint of sarcasm. "Home sweet home."

Yve let out a low sigh, her mind already preparing herself for the countless tasks that awaited her once she stepped into the manor. But first, she had to deal with Felix.

She turned to him, her gaze steady. "Thanks for the ride," she said coolly. "Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to go inside."

Felix, sensing her dismissive tone, chuckled softly. "You're welcome," he replied, his smirk still in place. "But you'll have to give me something in return."

Yve bristled at his words, her brows furrowing in irritation. "Give you something in return?" she echoed, her voice laced with skepticism. "What exactly are you expecting, a favor token?"

Felix's smirk grew wider as he saw her annoyance. He leaned back in his seat, feigning nonchalance. "Well, I was thinking something a little more... personal."

Felix leaned further back in his seat, a sly grin on his face. "You know, Yve," he began, his voice annoyingly smug. "You can deny it all you want, but you and I both know how this ends."

He paused, letting his words sink in before continuing. "You'll be my wife soon, and there's nothing you can do about it."

Yve crossed her arms, her scowl deepening at his words. "And what exactly is this 'simple favor'?" she asked, her tone filled with skepticism.

Felix chuckled, enjoying the challenge she presented. "I just want a little kiss," he replied, his voice low and smooth.

Yve's eyes widened at his demand, her irritation growing at the audacity of his request. "A kiss, really?" she said, her disbelief evident in her voice. "That's what you want in return for the ride?"

Felix chuckled again, his smirk growing wider. "Oh, come on, Yve," he taunted. "It's just a little kiss. It won't kill you."

Yve narrowed her eyes, her irritation and disgust at his request evident on her face. "You're unbelievable," she muttered under her breath.

She considered her options, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of giving in to his demand. But she also knew it wasn't worth the argument. With a resigned sigh, she relented.

"Fine," she said through gritted teeth. "One kiss. That's it."

Yve smirked as she leaned in, feigning like she was going to give Felix a kiss. However, at the last second, she reached up and tugged on his nose instead, giving it a firm pinch.

Felix let out a yelp of surprise, his smug expression faltering as he rubbed his now sore nose. He looked up at Yve, a mixture of shock and ire in his eyes.

Yve couldn't help but let out a chuckle at Felix's stunned expression. With a final mocking wave of goodbye, she shut the car door and walked away, leaving him in the car with a wounded ego and a sore nose.

With a huff, Felix watched Yve walk away, his mind still reeling from the unexpected nose-pinching he had just experienced. He sat in the car for a moment, rubbing his sore nose and seething with irritation.

Just as he was about to start the ignition, his phone rang, breaking the silence of the car. He picked up the call, his expression shifting from irritation to intrigue.

Felix listened intently to the person on the other end of the call, his expression growing more and more serious. He muttered something under his breath, a phrase that wasn't quite clear.

"Yes, I understand..." Felix said, his voice was low and focused. "I'll take care of it. Just make sure... no one finds out."

He paused again, listening as the person spoke. His hand clenched tightly around the phone as he nodded slowly.

Felix hung up the call, his mind already plotting the next steps. He leaned back in his seat, taking a deep breath as he muttered to himself. "Yve..."