Your Star (Vox x reader)

20🔞

Seconds of silence pass as I look into his eyes, and he looks right back into mine. Despite my efforts, not a single word leaves my throat. Whether it's because I didn't expect Vox to answer the door or because of how the sleeves of his white dress shirt are tightly rolled up to his elbows, I've lost any grain of self-assurance I once had. "Sorry- I realized I needed to drop something off for Velvette."

I catch his sight trail over my figure skeptically. "She's not here."

Curses stream into my head, but I bring myself to nod. There's no doubt that I set myself up by ringing the doorbell. I steal a hesitant glance down at the dress design in my hand. "Could you give this to her when she gets back?"

"She won't be much longer. Just wait," he talks more demandingly than suggestively. "Besides, that nut job may still be lurking around."

My eyes blink into wide circles. He must be referring to the menace in the maid outfit I encountered on my way here. "Remind me how you know about that."

"Security cameras, remember?" He clarifies with a scoff. "Little brat nearly took your damn head off."

"Right," I confirm, knowing he has eyes everywhere. Again, my mind traces back to how it's rather stalkerish, and his shameless tendency to bring the topic up certainly doesn't fight those allegations. Either way, it's doubtful he cares. "But I'm sure she's gone by now anyway."

"Let's not jump to conclusions. I'd rather you not do something stupid and die for such a pitiful reason," he lifts a brow, awaiting a complying response.

Even if I refused his offer, it's not as if he'd let me leave. Trying to would be pointless. "Okay, I'll wait."

A light grin graces his lips, and he steps to the side to allow me in. The moment I pass through the doorway, I find myself second-guessing my willingness. I'm not sure what has come over me recently. Had I been put in this situation a couple of months ago, there's no chance I would agree so easily. I loathe him with every fiber of my being, I tell myself. Yet, the subtle irregularities in my heartbeat prove otherwise.

"So, tell me. What's so important that couldn't wait until tomorrow to be given Velvette?" He asks, starting to walk down the hallway.

I follow alongside him, glimpsing at the paper in my hand. "An idea for a dress. You saw what I had done so far last night."

With the flip of his palm, he extends his hand toward me and gestures for the paper. I give it to him without question, studying his facial features for any giveaway of his opinion. However, as per usual, his emotionless expression masks his true reaction. Instead, he reveals it through words. "I didn't imagine it could look any better. Good job proving me wrong."

He returns the paper to my hand, and I feel a twinge of satisfaction at the validation. "Thanks."

The stuffy air confines my thoughts while Vox leads me to who knows where. He said that Velvette is currently elsewhere. I wonder if Valentino is as well. In all honesty, I'd prefer not to run into him tonight. In fact, if it were something I had control over, I'd choose to never endure his unpleasant presence ever again. 

As if reading my mind, which he seemed to have grown a knack for, Vox says, "Valentino is out too. They went clubbing— getting drunk out of their minds if I were to guess."

I avert my focus to him. "Why aren't you with them?"

"I didn't feel like going," he answers simply. "Even if I did, I was busy taking care of a deal at the casino. Work takes priority."

Nodding along to his words, I acknowledge his strong sense of responsibility. For someone who likes fun just as much as the next person, he knows when to switch off that side of his personality. It's an admirable trait. "It does."