Promiscuous (Who's the slut?)

Chapter Six

I could scarcely believe what I heard. He's going to be my bodyguard? Damn. No way. After what he'd done to me at the bar three nights ago? My God. He's going to be a hindrance in achieving my goals. That is, to ruin father's family.

"Hey Marie Claire... nice gown." I raised my eyebrow as I lazily stared at the guy in front of me. I sighed. At sino naman kaya ito?

"You know what, I've been thinking about you eversince your sister introduced me to you." He whispered and moved forward.

"Mark, right?" He was introduced to me awhile ago. He told me then and there, that we've already met. But duh?... that was a cliche. Where the hell's my supposed bodyguard? Doing a great job of lurking in the dark, I bet. I smirked.

"It's Marcus."

"Really? Do you happen to know my sister?" I was trying to find him in the deepest part of my brain. Well, I guess, he wasn't in the list of my 31 boylets.

"Yeah... you're really beautiful. You know, the first time I saw you I wished I knew you first than Caroline." I smiled as a memory lightened up my mind.

"You're.. Caroline's current boyfriend?" I batted my eyelashes and sipped my wine.

Speaking of the devil. I saw Caroline coming. I touched the rim of my glass, a sign Marcus thought to be an invitation. Facing him. He looked at me in the eyes. And bent down... closer.. closer...

Closer Caroline. Haha.

I smiled my triumphant. I can taste the sweetest revenge on my lips. He was about to touch his mouth to mine when suddenly someone grabbed me from behind.

I came face to face with Satan. I was frozen for a minute. Shock receded, replaced by fury.

"What the hell do you think are you doing?"

"Shouldn't I be the one asking you that?" he said softly. As if talking to a child.

"Pare sino ka b---"

Before I knew it, I saw Rave's sight wasn't directed to Marcus' blotched angry face. There goes Caroline.

Oh. My. God.

I was slapped. It was too quick. I didn't even know what was coming. Caroline was screeching. She yanked my hair. We fell off. I felt being pushed down on the hard, cold floor. I sagged. Hell! Stupid! I started pushing her off me. A psycho is truly, always strong. Dammit. This is one madwoman.

There was pandemonium.

I could hear somebody trying to take Caroline off me. I nudged her, slapped her hand. Then in my peripheral vision. I saw him... arms crossed over his chest. Drumming his one shoe on the floor. As if waiting who would win.

I was soo... angry. Partly at Caroline. But more at him!

I pushed her with all my might. She was taken aback that she fell off me. Face first.

I stood up furiously facing him. Not even minding when Marcus tried to hold the hysterical Caroline hurling curses at my back.

"Everybody! The show's over." He shouted nonchalantly over the voyeurs. That snapped my brain.

"Damn you! What kind of a bodyguard are you?" he put his two hands on his hip.

"You're paid to protect me, not to watch!"

He raised his eyebrow. "I was paid to guard you, not tolerate you."

"Tolerate me?" I said coldly.

"Don't you think you deserved it?" I gasped. Of course, people condemned me. Why should I be bothered that some wished ill-will toward me?

"You're fired."

"You provoked her to act that way. You started it."

"You don't know anything." I felt like weeping. My body's aching all over.

Caroline started it. Laina tolerated it.

My face will surely be on the headlines tomorrow. Flat on my back, this time I wasn't sleeping around, I was fighting off rounds.

Tears are for fools. For the weak. I coldly walked upright like a regal queen. My poise and composure is coming back. So is my pride. I saw Caroline being quieted down.

"Caroline, listen to me... she seduced me!" Coward. At nagpaseduce ka naman? My God.

Is Caroline that desperate to hook herself with that spineless... I couldn't find the exact term for him... yes, he must probably be a worm?!

I looked up to see Laina with Brix, who seemed so flabbergasted, her hand on her mouth. Which is which? At seeing her bestfriend in the most unfashionable, embarassing fiasco of her life? Or because I had hurt her?

You're next Laina. Watch out. You might be losing Brix the same way I lost him.

I clenched my teeth. Patted my disarrayed hair.

"Caroline, thank God I forgot you were pregnant." Or else I would have pitied you... I called out as she glared at me. "And one more thing," I scrutinized her messed up hair. Soon it would not just be her hair, but her life as well.

"You deserve Marcus," I turned my back as I heard her scream. Snake.

I shut the door, didn't bother to even turn on the lights. I knew my way around my room. The music downstairs was deafening. I was too bruised and angry. The moonlight was illuminating shadows from the glass panel of my french door connecting to the terrace.

I entered the shower room and took a hot bath. I stayed the whole night in the attic. Easing my anger. This was only one of those battles I had to win over. I shouldn't cry.

Rave. He was going to learn to succumb to me.

By God. I vow that he will not last the week.

That thought warmed me up. Arrogant. Conceited. I came out of the shower room dripping wet to get the robe in the closet. I was humming when I dried up, put women's stuff and all. Going to read and sleep.

I turned on the lamp shade only to step back seeing the lone figure sitting on the single sofa facing my bed. I almost staggered backwards.

"Damn you! What the hell are you doing here?" his one eye popped open. He was too comfortable, legs propped up on her bed.

"Maire."

"I said the what the hell are you doing here?" Thoughts of making him kneel before me turned to dust. He was manipulating my emotions. I could see that. I should try to calm down.

"Sleeping, Maire. Where have you been anyway?"

"Sleeping?" I blurted out. Then my eyes grew wide. "How--- how long have you been here?" Surely... surely he hadn't seen her---

"Are you asking me if I've seen you walking out of the shower room nothing but water dripping all over you? Yes, Maire." He said annoyingly amused.

Why, he... he's... insufferable!

"Stop calling me Maire!. It sounds... it sounds..."

"Like a mare. Brix and Maire. Perfect combination huh?" A mocking smile lingered on his lips.

"Parang pangkarera ng kabayo."

"Get out." I hissed.

He just stared at me as if I'm half-wit. "Bingi ka ba? I said get out."

"No."

"Why the hell not, surely you cannot mean to--- to sleep here?" I'm getting hysterical. The situation is getting out of my control and I don't like this one bit.

"I've had strict order to guard you 24/7. I'm only doing my job." Guard not protect. Sh*t.

He doesn't seem to be disturbed about my wrath. He's not even affected by my mere presence. Boy, was I insulted?

"Guard me? Three nights ago at the bar, I almost got raped. And you had the gall to call yourself a bodyguard?" I almost screamed at him. I wanted to yank his hair. To provoke him. Evoke some emotion out of his cool facade.

"Darling..." he said huskily. "Getting raped is different from getting laid." I gasped.