Fatal Alliances: Chapter 41

The drive back to the house was intense. Adrian hadn’t spoken a single word to me, and it wasn’t helping that we were alone in the car together. The others had taken separate vehicles while I was stuck with Vandermir, as usual. Not that anything was wrong with that. It’s just that his mood was beginning to scare me. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him this frustrated. It was weird because his frustration took the form of a deadly silence.

“Adrian,” I began in the hope that he would say something.

Nothing.

“Adrian!” I called again.

“Miss Greene, I’m right here. I can hear you.” His voice was oddly calm and collected.

When you think he’s going to snap at you then he does the unthinkable and doesn’t.

What a strange man.

“I… nothing,” I faded, unsure of how to reply to him.

Maybe the silence is what he wants.

Taking that as a sign, I took a deep breath and closed my eyes.

The sudden sound of thunder shot me up. Looking around, I found myself on the bed in my room.

How did I get here?

The place was beyond chilly and I honestly felt gross. Taking a quick shower, I threw on a long sleep shirt even though it was still morning. The thought of Adrian’s odd behaviour kept lingering in my mind. I had to find out how he was before my thoughts drove me insane. Stepping out the room, I looked around the hall but there was no one there. The soft sound of distant talking was coming from the kitchen, so I quickly went there. Ricardo and Finny sat at the table discussing something, but stopped when they saw me.

“Hi Julie,” Finny smiled, “How are you feeling?”

“I should be the one asking you that, Finny.”

My eyes scanned the place, but the person I was looking for was nowhere to be seen.

“If you’re looking for Adrian, he’s not here.” Ricardo sighed.

“What do you mean he’s not here? Is he alright? What’s wrong with him?” My panic flared.

“No Julie,” Finny assured me with a soft, sad smile, “Adrian’s here. He’s in his room but-“

“But?”

“He hasn’t left it since we arrived.” Ricardo finished.

How childish of you Vandermir!

A sudden concern washed over me, “D-did he eat?”

I don’t think I remembered Adrian eating anything since yesterday. How could he be this unconcerned about his health? What if something happens to him? No, nothing can happen to him. I won’t let this stupid thinking affect his health like that.

“Not from what I know,” Finny answered.

Going over to the kitchen counter, I made a cup of tea. I know Vandermir by now, he won’t accept anything all at once, so I’ll start with the tea and then I’ll convince him to get something to eat.

“What are you doing?” Finny asked curiously as I place the cup of tea on a tray.

“I’ll make sure he drinks this whether he wants to or not,” I stated, walking away.

Upon arriving in front of the door, I softly knocked. There was no answer.

Knocking again, the door slightly pushed open. Didn’t he lock it? With a sigh, I hesitantly walked into the room where I saw Vandermir standing from his desk.

“You sure know manners, Miss Greene.” He stated dryly.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to barge in.”

“Didn’t you?” He asked in irritation as he walked towards me.

“I said I’m sorry.” My voice was soft and somehow ached.

Placing the tray down, I took up the cup and held it out to him.

“Here. You should at least have something to drink.” I sighed.

He didn’t seem like he was going to take it but surprisingly he held it, brushing his hand over mine.

For some reason, my hand accidentally slipped and the hot tea fell on his shirt, soaking to his chest and over my hand.

“Oh my gosh!” I panicked, “I’m so sorry, I- I-“

“Are you hurt?” He suddenly asked, taking my hand in his.

“Adrian, you-” I protested, placing my free hand on his chest.

What was wrong with him? If he didn’t take the shirt off, he’d be burnt badly.

Slowly, I unbuttoned his shirt, brushing my hand over where the tea had slipped. Didn’t he feel it burn him? Or was he accustomed to that kind of pain?

“I’m sorry.” I softly stated again.

He placed a hand over mine at his chest and gave a soft sad smile, “It doesn’t matter, Miss Greene.”

“It does.” My voice ached, and I felt the tears build up in my eyes, “It matters to me.”

Adrian looked at me as if I said the most foreign being to him. I could feel his heart pumping faster and mine was no less. Could I really do that to him or was it just the hot tea?

Pushing his shirt off, my blood rushed with the most intense desire. For some reason, I cared less about how sculpted and gorgeous this man was in front of me. All I kept seeing was the pain he went through, the agony he faced alone, and how damaged he was. I didn’t like it. The man in front of me was broken in so many ways and I had no idea how to fix him.

Slipping his arm around my waist, he gently pushed me back until my back hit against the door shutting it close.

“Adrian.” I breathed.

Before I could say another word, he trailed his stubbly face at my collarbone kissing my neck heatedly. I heard the sound of the door lock and honestly, I didn’t care. Keeping me locked in his arms, he neared the edge of the bed and stopped. His grey eyes soaked me into his aching soul as I felt my insides smothering to his very breath.

Pushing me on the bed, he grazed his hand tauntingly on my leg, making me feel this odd sensation I’ve never felt before. In that precise moment, heated lips crashed feverishly against mine. There was a certain longing to the way he kissed. My lips moved submissively to his as I felt his hands work down at each button on my shirt, touching my bare skin. He made a raspy moan as I played with the belt of his pants. I couldn’t help but admit how hot that was.

“You don’t want to do that, love.” His voice was that same raspy tone, mixed with a dangerous plea.

I pressed my soft lips demandingly to his as he devoured me, edging his hand at my inner thigh. He trailed hot kisses down my neck and my stomach, fiddling with the strap of my bra.

“Juliet,” He breathed bringing himself back up to staple his lips against mine. His tongue brushed over mine, teasing lightly before retreating and grazed his teeth over my lips, nipping at the fullness.

Pulling away from me, he pushed himself up. With his hands for support on either side of me, he stared down upon me. I brought my hands to his face, gently brushing my fingers over his lips. I was about to speak when I noticed his expression turn dark and cold, almost as if something wasn’t right. I swore I hear him swear under his breath.

“What’s wrong?” I asked in a soft, raw voice, confused.

“I shouldn’t have done this.” He stated, uncaging me from his arms, sitting up and looking away, “I’m sorry.”

Pushing myself up from the bed, I wrapped my shirt around me and felt my heart almost sinking. He regretted what he just did? So why the hell would he even do it?

“I don’t understand.”

“This was a mistake, it shouldn’t have happened.”

“What?” My eyes damped.

“I’m sorry, Miss Greene,” was all he said.

“No. You’re not. Why do you keep doing this to me Adrian?” I sighed, slipping off the bed and staring him in the face, “Do you hate me?”

“No. I don’t hate you.” He seemed to correct, standing from the bed.

“Then?”

“You wouldn’t understand.”

I shook my head and felt the tears escaping, “You’re right.” My raw voice ached, “I wouldn’t. I wouldn’t understand anything. But what I do understand is that you’re the same as other men. Men like you are the reason I stayed away from-“

Stopping, I looked away in so much pain it was almost surreal, “If this was for my father being Rocillie, then I applaud you.”

“Miss Greene.” He stated placing a hand on my shoulder.

“Don’t touch me!” I slapped it away, “Just stay the hell away from me!”

“Listen to me.”

“No! I’m just so sick of you, honestly.” I spat, my emotions were getting the better of me, “I just…”

I couldn’t even look at him anymore. Tightening the shirt around me, I left the room- going into mine.

I honestly never felt this battered before. I never cried and felt this kind of pain before and for some damning reason, as much as I wanted to hate Adrian with all my heart, I still couldn’t. Why the hell was that? Sitting on the bed, I hugged the pillow burying my damp face into it until I heard a voice.

“Juliet, for God’s sake…”

Adrian stood at the door, already wearing a T-shirt.

“I told you to leave me alone,” I stated, trying to ease the pain I was feeling within me.

“I can’t.”

As he was walking towards me, I stood up from the bed. I was so angry, confused, frustrated, embarrassed, hurt. I honestly did not have a single emotion to hold my ground. I found myself just staring at him demanding answers, yet filled with so much agony that my legs would give away. Adrian Vandermir was a man I could not understand. He made me feel things no one could make me feel, yet he could easily break me with his simple words. I was supposed to hate him, but I couldn’t bring myself to.

“What do you want?” I brought myself to ask.

He stared at me, burning his gaze through me. It made me feel weak. Only after a few seconds, he answered in an aching raspy voice.

“It’s not what I want, Miss Greene. It’s what I need.”

Wiping my tears away, I looked up at him, “Then what do you need?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

I frowned at his reply, “Please tell me, Adrian. Maybe I can help you.”

“What I need, Miss Greene, I’m incapable of having.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Every action has its consequences, Juliet. All my life I’ve taken risks, it’s natural for an entrepreneur. But sometimes, behind every businessman, there’s a human, and humans at some point in time need to play safe. You mistake me for a perfect man and I’m not. I can’t keep you happy if I can’t even keep myself content.”

“You haven’t answered my question, Mr. Vandermir.”

He gave a soft, pained smile, shaking his head, “You’re smarter than that of what people give you credit for. I truly mean that.”

“Please, for God’s sake, tell me.”

“I already told you, it doesn’t matter.”

“Adrian, please.” I pleaded, clutching his shirt, “Tell me what you need.”

“Forget it.”

“Tell me!” My voice broke.

“You.”

For a moment, I felt like there was no oxygen around me. Adrian’s voice was soft and hoarse.

“I need you, Miss Greene.”

“What?” I breathed.

“But it won’t matter. I’m not going to get you involved with me more than you already are, Juliet. All you can get from me is pain.”

“That’s not true.” I managed to find my voice.

“I’m not accustomed to this, Miss Greene.”

“To what?”

“The affection.” He replied.

“You’re telling me you’ve been abstaining all this time?”

That for some reason made him softly laugh, “No. That’s not what I meant.”

“Then?”

With a sigh, he placed his hand on my face, “Your affection. It’s different.”

“Please.” I pleaded unsure of what I wanted.

“I don’t want to hurt you, Juliet.” He stated, walking towards the balcony.

Sticking his hands in his pockets, he smiled as he looked at the rain sparkling down upon the green pastures.

“It’s funny how people find joy in the things others overlook.”

Adrian sat on the sofa, just staring at the scenery. I sat next to him, breathing in that same peaceful silence.

“I don’t even know what to say anymore.”

“You don’t have to say anything.”

With a soft sigh, I leaned back, pulled my feet on the sofa, and rested my head on his shoulder. Adrian said he needed me. He admitted it even though he didn’t want to. I’m not going to leave him alone. I’ll be there for him. I wasn’t sure what type of relationship we shared. Whatever it was, it was different. Whether we admit it or not, we did share some kind of bond. It was just… complex.

The sudden sound of a watch beeping woke me up. I hadn’t even realized when I fell asleep- that too, with Adrian. I nuzzled next to him as he kept an arm around me. He always looked so peaceful when he slept. I liked seeing him like that. Slowly opening his eyes, he looked at me with lazy eyes.

“My watch. I’m sorry.” He apologized in that sleepy voice.

“What?” I asked softly.

He raised his free hand with a drowsy smile, showing me his wristwatch.

Well duh, Greene.

“Oh,” I replied.

Sitting up and away from him, I pushed the strands of my hair behind my ears, “I’m sorry.”

Getting up from the sofa, he rubbed his face and leaned at the balcony railing, looking at the cleared sky.

“Best sleep I ever had in years.” I heard him murmur softly.

He turned around and gave me a half-smile, “Well, you look beyond pink.”

“I’m not.” I defended hoping I hadn’t been. But who was I kidding? I’d been blushing since I woke up.

The sudden thought of what would happen tonight at the dinner function washed over me and I felt an intense dread swell within me. Adrian neared me, kneeling on the ground in front of me with knitted eyebrows.

“What’s wrong?”

“N-nothing.” I breathed nervously.

Taking my hand in his, he gently caressed it, “Tell me.”

“Adrian… what if -at the dinner function.”

He squeezed my hand softly, “It’s going to be fine. Leave the worrying to me.”

“You have enough trouble already.”

“I’d rather have all of the trouble and pain in the world than for you to have any.”

He trailed his hand up my shoulder to the nape of my neck where he pulled me closer to his face.

“Forgive me, but I can’t help it,” Was all he said before gently brushing his lips against mine.

I closed my eyes as I motioned my lips sweetly to his. I loved that I could feel the cool crisp air flutter through my clothing and have the sunlight shining down upon the dewy pastures with the soft droplets of rain glittering down as we kissed.

Lightly pulling away, he tenderly tucked the loose strands of my hair behind my ears while leaving a soft kiss on my lower lip.

“What is it about you, Miss Greene?” He whispered curiously.

The sudden knock on the room door caught our attention.

“I should get that,” I whispered back.

Getting up, I walked towards the door- opening it to a worried-looking Finny.

“Finny?”

“Julie, thank God, I was wondering if you were alright.”

“How are you now, Fin?” Adrian suddenly asked from behind.

“Oh, I didn’t know you were here. I’m much better, thanks.”

“Good.”

“Say,” Finny smiled teasingly, “What were you two doing all this time?”

Adrian laughed softly and side glanced at me, “Miss Greene and I were playing checkers.”

I arched an eyebrow at Adrian.

Checkers? Really?

Keeping that smirk plastered, he winked at me and left.

Finny raised both eyebrows and smiled playfully, “Checkers you say? I don’t see any checkers in the room, Julie.”

“Finny!” I laughed, hitting him lightly on the chest.

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