Chapter Seventeen
Yeah, he was right. I was always forgetting to lock up the door. I sighed turning for the wardrobe, but he pulled me back.
“How was school?” He asked.
“What do you care? I’m here to work Right? You do not have to meddle in my personal life.”
“I know when I’m meddling and right now, I’m not. Don’t try side-lining my question next time.” He warned, his grip tightening around my wrist.
“You’re hurting me,” I struggled fragilely.
“I’m having a party and they would be a lot of friends, try to be in your best behaviour,” he continued.
“What does that even mean?” I shoved my hands out of his hold.
“It means you can’t be creating scenes like this out there.”
“Try not to make me,” I held his gaze boldly.
“You know it’s intriguing how you can be both stubborn and scared at the same time. Tell you what, that’s a rare combination.” His face stretched into a smile. For one who hardly wore smiles, it looked new on him.
“I would be downstairs. We leave once it’s seven.” He lowered his head down to mine, dropped a soft peck on my forehead, and turned to leave.
“I thought it’s your party?” I asked, when he’d move two steps away.
“Where are we leaving to then?” I asked with a little bit of confusion.
“You would see,” he kept walking.
***
In the past few days, I’ve grown so used to hearing the word “don’t keep me waiting” that it now rang in my subconscious mind and I didn’t necessarily need more reminders about being ready on time.
I was wearing on a set of lingerie from among the things that was bought earlier on at the boutique. I spent more time styling my hair, and a little more while looking for the right pair of jewelleries.
I stood at the mirror for what might have seemed like an hour, looking down at my almost naked figure. My cleavages were visible in the tiny piece of bra top, so were my thighs in the skimpy skirt and my tummy. I had never had to dress up in my dancing wears from the house. There were always at a safe reach in my bag until I got to the club. But this wasn’t the club.
I felt a sting of guilt wash through me. Stripping at the club was a means to survive, it wasn’t something I was proud of. And now, I have to be a private stripper, for what? For Charlie to get justices for being embarrassed? I sighed, cursing myself within for ever agreeing to do this.
But then, I was in it already and had to act fast. Who knows, if I did my best to seduce him with my moves tonight, i could get him drunk, and make him spill some secrets about himself. There has to be something good coming from this party tonight.
I picked up an after dress jacket, and flung it over my body. I was already downstairs waiting when Jacob stepped in and made for the spiral staircase.
“You kept me waiting,” I announced, stopping him in his track. In his haste, he hadn’t noticed that I was sitting there. He stopped and changed direction.
“I see you are quiet on time today and looking umm…” He stammered.
“Looking what?” I felt the blush rising up my cheek already. I knew I was looking irresistibly hot and I knew it was shouting out.
“Never mind. I would just tell the boss you’re ready,” he turned away, reaching for his phone from his pocket.
I relaxed into the chair, feeling letdown by another lack of compliment. This dude is no difference from his boss, I concluded. Except for the fact that Antonio was way finer than any man I have seen in recent time. Finer than Charlie, if I’m being entirely truthful.
Jacob was done with his call and headed outside through the large door that led into the castle yard. I had no idea if I was to go with him or wait back, and he had said nothing, so I waited. A guard passed by, climbing the stairs with his eyes completely forgotten on my body. I shifted uncomfortably on the couch, wrapping the jacket over myself.
A short while after, Antonio’s presence was announced by the heavy sound of his booted feet on the staircase. I stood up, loosening the strap that held the jacket dress, it came undone, so that my body was visible in the lingerie. I posed with my root foot forward and my hands around my waist. He has been a devil for a while, now was my turn to be a Jezebel.
As expected, he came to an abrupt stop the moment he saw me. His phone was suspended in the air and his eyes shone, not with excitement. The guard that had passed earlier was drooling beside him as well.
“Jasper leave!” Antonio commanded in a rough tone.
For a moment, I thought I had detected a sense of longing in his voice. Perhaps he needed privacy to take me right there in the sitting room. I watched the guard squirrel off in a hurry at the boss command.
My smile widened as Antonio stepped forward, he was so calm, his grey eyes was concentrated on me. He lifted his hand, pushing behind the waves of hair that fell over my shoulder, then leaning in, he pecked my neck softly in a way that sent a shiver through me.
“I see you tried out doing yourself. But you would never dress out of your room in this manner again, have I made myself clear?” He whispered in deep tone that spelt anger.
“But…” I tried to speak.
“Go upstairs and change,” he commanded.
“What exactly is wrong with you? You said I was going to dance, Right? And you asked me to pick out this lingeries, so why can’t I wear them.” I yelled, feeling frustrated.
“I asked you to pick them, I do not remember telling you to wear them for my party. Eve do you know the number of people that would be at that party? Who says you can’t dance dressed moderately?” His hand was curved behind my head, holding my face perfectly tilted up to his.
“I am a stripper!” I said softly, in an attempt to command the same terror that came with his voice when he spoke that way.
“You can be more,” he answered, the calmness was gone, I didn’t blink twice before he was dragging me all the way through the stairs.
“What are you doing?” I struggled to get free from his grip.
“Taking you back to your room,”
“Why!” My voice came out in a near scream.
“Because you ain’t ready for this party yet,”
“Antonio stop,” I dug my feet into the tiled floor.
He stopped and I was almost glad, then he picked me up in his arms, and continued towards my room. Every attempt to stop him was a failure. We were back in my room.
“What are you doing?” I followed him to the wardrobe where he was ransacking through the hanger of clothes.
“Wear that,” he threw a red dress at me.
“What?” I caught the dress mid air.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!
“And this,” he pulled out a pair of black heels.
“I’m not…” I was beginning to say.
“I could strip you naked and dress you myself if you want me to. Don’t dare me.”
I knew when to be stubborn and when to quit and right now, with that tone, I knew I was to quit. He had settled on the floral couch and was focused on his phone. I pulled off the bra top and skirt, not caring much if he was looking at me.
The red dress was a perfect fit, it was slitted up to my thighs and the heels, though a bit high, was the right choice. I loved what I saw when I passed through the mirror.
I waited patiently for him to look up from his phone, but it was taking too long. So I coughed, aiming for his attention. It worked, as he slowly raised his eyes up to me.
I wasn’t expecting a compliment this time, I have been disappointed the few times i waited for one and have finally accepted the fact that this man here, is not one for sweet words.
I held my breath as I waited for him to say something. He rose from the couch silently, dropped his phone into his pocket, and held out his hand for me. I hesitated for a moment, then placed my hand in his.
It felt like a groom taking his bride to the alter and I couldn’t help but feel like Antonio’s bride. “Now you look stunning,” he said quietly, a small smile playing at the corner of his lips.
I stood still, shocked at the unexpected remark. Who exactly is this man?