Repressed (Wattys 2014 Winner)

Chapter 11

I woke up earlier than Alex did, Adrian’s words nagged at me. Adrian was powerful, he was a millionaire, and he could afford anything and everything. Adrian wasn’t known for negotiating or compromising on a deal. And that’s what I was to him, a deal.

I got up from the bed and walked to the balcony.

  “You may not want me, but I do and I will have you. Just wait and watch.”

The words were torturous. I knew that I would have to be more careful when it came to Alex and our relationship.

“You may not want me, but I do and I will have you. Just wait and watch.”

I choked back tears, I quickly tapped my temples with my fingers, “Stop, stop!” I whispered to myself, “Stay strong.”

Adrian had smelt blood and now he wouldn’t stop, I knew he would keep chasing me till I gave in. But I wouldn’t surrender so easily. I had to be stronger. I clutched the bed sheets that I had wrapped around me tightly. The sun bit down, London was a city of despairing weather. Sometimes bright, sometimes dull.

“You may not want me, but I do and I will have you. Just wait and watch.”

“No!” I cried out.

I felt arms around me, Alex put his neck on my shoulder, “No what?” He kissed my neck, softly biting me.

“No! I won’t ever leave you.” I turned to him and kissed him, needing to feel his lips on mine, Alex moaned, “And I don’t want you leaving either.”

I took Alex back into the bedroom, I removed the sheets covering me and I went to his bathroom as Alex watched me, “Are you joining me?” I called out with a short laugh.

“No, I am just gonna’ watch.” He sarcastically replied as he removed his pants and followed me.

***

Shane bit his lip in frustration as his boss shouted at him over the phone, “I don’t know, Adrian, I haven’t seen her since she got back.”

Shane was only one of the many spotters Adrian had hired in hotels worldwide, they were instructed one thing and one thing only: ‘If you see a woman even remotely similar looking to Milania, bring her.’

He walked around in his suite, he flung his gym clothes on the bed, “Adrian, I haven’t seen her, when I do, I will let you know.”

Adrian’s voice came clipped and cool, “When X attacks; I want you to make sure, you are near Milania, I can’t trust that numbskull to not inflict damage upon her, you make sure you are there or else, I swear to God, I will bring you to the streets.”

Shane swallowed, he knew exactly what Adrian Raphael was capable of, Adrian, could be the most charming, wittiest, and gorgeous guy anyone had laid their eyes upon, but beneath that veneer, he was vile, malicious and sinister. Sinister to all except for Milania. It had been a year since Milania had run away from the fucker. Shane couldn’t understand why Adrian was stuck in the past, it was quite evident that she had, why not him?

“I know, I get it, don’t be a bastard to me.” Shane replied, going out to the balcony for a smoke, “I told you, I’ll be there, with chloroform and all.”

Shane’s heart was breaking inside, he had met Milania, only once, but he knew in one look that she didn’t deserve the torment Adrian would inflict on her once she passed into his clutches. His heart was being ripped inside, don’t do it, Shane. Don’t. But he knew he didn’t have a choice. It was either kill or be killed when it came to Adrian’s affairs.

“Bastard?” Adrian asked pissed, “Let me get one thing clear Shane, if even a teeny-tiny microscopic scratch comes on her I will kill you. You are, after all, an expendable.”

And with that Adrian cut the phone leaving Shane absolutely terrified of the power the man with the icy gaze possessed.

***

I relaxed as Alex lay next to me, for a couples’ hot stone massage. The woman rubbed my back, kneading into my tense muscles, she carefully placed the hot stone on my back, and I gasped with pain, “Ouch…that is hot.”

Alex smirked at me, “It is a hot stone massage after all!”  I could hear the masseuses snicker silently at my stupid remark. Pooh! What meanies!

“Well you don’t have to be mean.” I said, and continued, “And anyways, where were you? I woke up at 7 to find you gone and then you come back at two in the afternoon…what are you playing at?”

Alex’s smiled dropped, “I went to meet Luca.”

My heart skipped a beat, I swallowed, “Luca? Why? What does she want?”

Alex was quick, “She wants nothing, she just wanted to talk and spend time, for old time’s sake, you know?”

I got up swiftly, the stones falling to the ground, my masseuse stepped away from me, “Old time’s sake?” I stared at him dumbfounded at his statement.

Alex stayed down, “Milla, I used to date her. We were together for four years, shit like that doesn’t just evaporate.” He clicked his fingers to emphasize his point. I got pissed, “So you mean to tell me that you spent more than five hours with your ex? What the hell?” I got down from the bed and walked to the changing rooms, Alex called after me, still not getting up.

“MILLA YOU ARE OVER REACTING!”

I didn’t reply. I pulled on my sweatpants, wore my sneakers, pulled on my Hype. Hoodie and exited the dressing room, Alex was standing outside, in a t-shirt and a pair of over worn sweats, “Milla…you are overdoing this.”

I snapped, “Excuse me? How would you feel if I met my ex, and spent five hours and more with him, without telling you?”

Alex remained silent, I nodded my head, “Exactly. You wouldn’t like it, you’d probably go ballistic.”

Alex pulled my forearm, “Don’t go there. You are creating things in your head okay?”

I sharply pulled back and began walking to the entrance of the spa, Alex followed me, quickly telling the receptionist that we’d be back. But oh, how wrong he was.