Brendan tilted his head to the side and departed from the door. Hands still in pocket he took languorous steps towards Phina, his eyes never leaving the gown that hugged Phina's figure like a second shadow. It seemed the gown had captured his senses with its aura. But if he felt enchanted, he did not show it.
''I'm here to speak with Phina'', he drawled as he neared the mini crowd. When there was no movement he added with a stress, ''Alone.''
The designers and make up artists all scurried out the foyer with the exception of one blue-eyed little woman.
With a tiny whisper Lorraine asked warily, ''You... You won't harm her?''
Brendan's brow twitched, the flimsy downward curve of his lips, indicating that he was making an herculean effort not to burst out laughing. ''Do I in any way resemble Jack the Ripper?''
You don't know just how much you reflect his character, Phina thought, her heart beating in anticipation of a little time alone with this hunky dory, even if he may be a modern day assassin.
''Not really but you know last time didn't go well,'' Lorraine said with a nervous tug on her simple lemonade dress.
''So what?,'' he inferred in annoyance. ''Or should I give a scout's honour like those silly teens do?''
Lorraine gulped, not even sure if she should still be in this obnoxious man's presence. With a pitying glance in Phina's direction, she hurried out the hall.
Phina stared longinly at her hommies' back and turned when she heard a clearing of throat.
''May I offer you a chair sir?'', she offered, her derriere a few inches away from resting on a sofa.
''You may sit if you want.''
He didn't add more but Phina caught the drift. He wasn't sitting.
''So you may be thinking that I'm a weakling because I haven't yet carried on with my threat.'' It wasn't a question.
Phina hurried to placate him. ''No, no. Of... Of course not. I would never think that way.''
She bit her plum lips and drew back as Brendan scooped closer. She could smell his delicious, male cologne mixed with a bit of his manliness from this distance. Doing her very best to not sniff like an emaciated mouse does at the scent of cheese, she lowered her eyelids and inhaled lightly.
''But I have a big surprise for you'', Brendan said. ''I'm going to marry you.''
Phina didn't know whether to be relieved or sober. She hadn't been expecting such an admission from him. Why the sudden change of mind? Had his mother been able to get to him afterall? But the logical woman in her knew that a maelstrom was brewing somewhere from the dark corners of hell.
''But,'' Brendan added.
Phina chuckled inwardly. She saw that coming.
''We will be married on my terms.''
Reaching forward, he grasped Phina's slim waist and pulled at the dress. ''There would be no wedding, so there would be no need for this.''
He nodded at the dress and before Phina could act, tore at the seams. Phina watched in horror as the gown ripped and the artistically arranged beads fell to the floor with pelting torrents. The only barrier that separated her naked torso from Brendan's eyes was the stark-white Italian designer corset.
Bowing her head in shame, she wept in silence as Brendan still hovered over her.
''We will be married,'' Brendan hissed, ''but I shall make sure that you regret it every step of the way. I will have you like a rogue and untamed stallion has a virgin mare. I will take you to a deserted island where no one can save you. And I shall make sure that our children grow up never knowing the monster that you are.''
Straightening up, he concluded with a nod at Phina. ''And now you know I'm a man of my word.''
He left without a backward glance.
Phina remained in her seat, her whole self shaken to the core. Was this what she was in for? The skirt of the gown still clutched her waist but she wasn't interested. Her eyes were blurry with colourless and salty tears. She didn't look up when she heard footsteps coming from the stairs, but she definitely heard the gasps and the stretched pause of feet.
Phina imagined what the women were thinking now. She, with a million dollar gown torn to shreds, and a Calibanous man for a future husband.
She screamed. And it filled the galaxy.
A/N: I really feel bad for writing this chapter. Sorry guys, consoling chapters up ahead. Happy Sunday to yall.
I didn't go to church though. Spank me.... ugh.
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The Tame (ON HOLD)
Romance"Marry the girl, son and you can remain in the business empire your father strove hard to build." Brendan stared flabbergasted at his mother like she had grown two huge scarlet wings. Orphaned and penniless, Phina has b...
