Stolen (Book 1 of the Greed series)

Chapter 7: Confused

It was the typical, horrifying moment before the humiliation. It was the calm before the storm. Even though Mark was acting normal in this wooden, barn like bar, I could see the fury behind his eyes and secretly I was terrified that he would physically hurt me. 

"Mark, what?" I asked simply. 

"Don't you think you should come back now?" He replied, his intense gaze focused on me until Noah cleared his throat from behind me. I'm pretty sure If I held any harder onto this glass it'll shatter.

Mark's angry gaze pierced at Noah as I heard his two feet plant on the ground, one step, two step, until he was half way in front of me.  

"I don't know who you are, but if you have any intention on hurting her, than I can tell you you won't get very far." Noah's voice dropped to a threatening low, one that set me off ease. I peered at Mark from over Noah's shoulder. His expression had changed from anger to disgust.

"Hurt her? Andromeda, what have you been telling this guy?" He asked me, motioning to Noah. I shrugged, realizing that if Mark knew who Noah was he wouldn't be acting so stupid. 

Noah's black hair fell easily over his eyebrows as he glared at Mark, seeming to tell him to back off with his eyes. I felt it was obviously my time to intervene, so I placed my hand on Noah's broad shoulder and muttered a comforting word or two. I stood up and pulled my rising shirt down, taking a step or two over to link arms with Mark.

His arms are like steel, stiff and awkward, almost. This just felt unnatural to be holding his arm. But, how come it didn't feel awkward when we kissed? "It's alright Noah," I said. "Mark and I are just going to go back to the room. Thanks for the drink, see you later?" I asked hopefully.

"No, he won't." Mark glared at Noah and I playfully punched him in the arm. 

"Mark, I swear. If it's alright with Noah I will see him again." I replied sternly.

"It's fine with me." Noah said happily, smiling wickedly.

"Why don't you ever fucking listen?" Mark complained as he yanked me in the other direction. I waved a hand goodbye at Noah as I was dragged through the lobby and down the hallway to the elevator. "Why can't you just be a good person and stop sticking your nose into everything?"  

"So, what the hell am I supposed to do, Mark? Sit here and wait to be hanged?" I said defensively as the elevator doors slid upon to a packed space, well, maybe four or five people. All of them stared at us as if they'd been expecting us to get in the elevator at this moment in time. "You know, on second thought," I paused. "I think we should take the stairs." I said turning around quickly when Mark snatched my upper arm in his large hand. 

"Be polite." He whispered in my ear. So, I smiled and curtsied and made my way into the elevator with a role of my eyes. 

"And yes, you are supposed to wait around." Mark said to me, nonchalantly leaning against the wall and winking at a middle aged blonde woman with the clearest blue eyes. I scoffed. 

"No freaking way." I sneered, crossing my arms. 

"Yeah, way." Mark said, bringing our conversation to the many eavesdropping ears in this elevator. "And you hanging out with some random guy does not make this a better situation, for either of us." 

"Oh, screw you, buzz kill." I rolled my eyes. "Besides, if you knew what...Jason… has in store, you'd be on your knees for him any day." Many of the people in the elevator flashed me a dirty look as if I'd just been spitting out sexual innuendos in every which way as well as giving out free aphrodisiacs.

"Andromeda, you know I'd only be on my knees for you." He winked flirtatiously and I scoffed. 

"You make no sense." I laughed darkly. "Hey, aren't you technically cheating?"