Chapter 42: In Which Her Ex Returns

Aurora stared at the man in a pink polo shirt and dark blue, slim-fit pants with a golden-brown, messy, crop haircut.

She continued watching as he glided across the grey marble floor towards her with a surprised look.

She couldn't move. D*mn it! Why can't she take her eyes off those blue eyes? They were still as captivating as she could remember.

Look away, Aurora. Remember what he did to you.

But she couldn't.

A squeeze in her hand woke her from her stupor. She turned and looked into a pair of dark brown eyes and returned to the present.

"Are you alright, babe?" Theo whispered with a concerned look. He watched the color he had put in her cheeks drained instantly when she saw that man.

He looked at the man in front of them. He was almost as tall as Theo with a lean physique and a smile that would put any woman to trance.

In short, he's a slimeball.

Theo knows his kind. Men like him could easily have a woman wrapped around their fingers, dictating every bit of her life until they got what they wanted, and then dumped her.

The man kept his eyes on Aurora. Theo didn't like his smile - I own you, it said.

"I didn't expect you'd be here," the man put on a large grin.

Theo looked to his left.

Aurora was seething. She didn't look very pleased to see him, Theo gloated silently at the thought.

SLAP.

Theo stared at Aurora, stunned.

That man was taken aback as well, but he recovered swiftly, as if he was used to it, and a knowing smirk appeared in his lips.

"I know you miss me," the slimeball chuckled at her.

Theo's suspicions were confirmed and instantly, his arm went around Aurora's shoulder. "Babe, let's go."

Aurora nodded.

They turned from the man when he spoke again, finally acknowledging Theo.

"I see you've got a new man, Rory."

Theo halted. His jaw muscle flexed. Aurora's family calls her by that nickname and this man was using it with great ease.

F*cking a*shole, Theo cursed silently. He was obviously staking his claim on Aurora.

Don't take the bait, big guy, Theo warned himself. But he was helpless. A surge of jealousy and anger already rose inside him. He didn't like that Aurora was closer to other man besides him.

He felt a tugged in his arm and Aurora looked at him, "Let's go, Theo."

They turned and strolled off, leaving the man grinning at their backs, his eyes shining with amusement.


******


Aurora stared at the breathtaking scenery of the blue waters of the sea, the white sails of the yachts and the surrounding green hills.

She took in a large, deep breath of the salty air and exhaled heavily.

Her heart rate was returning to normal, now that the reality was sinking in.

Will is back and he's here.

Suddenly, Aurora remembered Theo and turned around.

He was leaning against the doorway, observing her. When their eyes met, his serious expression melted into a smile.

"How's the view?" He came towards her, both hands shoved into his pockets.

Aurora gave him a weak smile, wove her arm around his and muttered, "I love it." She rested her head on his biceps and sighed.

"I've ordered some food for us. After we eat, we'll go to the beach before it gets dark," Theo said quietly.

He was dying to talk to her about that man, but he'd be an *ss to raise the topic when she wasn't ready.

It can wait till tomorrow, he calmed himself.

But Aurora seemed to read his mind. "He's my ex-boyfriend," she confirmed quietly.

What the hell did you see in him, Theo wanted to ask his redhead goddess. Instead, he remarked, "So that was your type, huh."

Aurora nodded with a light chuckle, "Yeah, he was. When I didn't know better."

"What's your type now?"

Aurora lifted her head and turned to the dangerously handsome man with an intense gaze. Slowly, she placed her arms around his neck and drew him close.

Noting the crease in between his brows, she bowed her lips in sympathy, "Oh no, did I make you jealous?"

He stared at her plump lips. "I'm not jealous."

Aurora molded her mouth against his and he tightened his arms around her waist to deepen the kiss.

Before it went any further, Theo tore his lips away, leaned against her forehead to steady his breathing and pulled her in for a sweet embrace.

"I don't like him," he whispered into her ear.

He was mimicking her, Aurora thought and chuckled at his shirt. "You smell nice," she copied his response.

"I don't like that he calls you 'Rory'," Theo sighed.

Aurora giggled, "Well, you're the only one who calls me 'babe'."

D*mn, he groaned silently. She just made his heart pounding madly again. He pushed her deeper into his warmth.

Then, for some reason, Audrey's words surfaced in his mind. It felt like a thorn, poking at his happiness

Taking the chance, he pulled her to an arm's length and leveled his gaze with hers.

"Aurora," he began. "Is there anything you want to tell me about him?"

Aurora was suddenly as serious as he was, "What are you trying to say?"

Theo took one last look at his little temptress then broke into a smile and shrugged, "I just want to know more about him, in case, you know, I bump into him. I don’t want to look like an idiot, you know what I mean?"

Aurora chuckled as she snuggled against the broadness of his muscled body, “He’s the idiot - not you. But if you really want to know, I’ll tell you.”

“No trading?”

The sultry low voice chuckled once more, “No trading.” She didn’t know what came over her, but she just wanted to assure Theo that he was the only one for her now.

Theo eagerly sat at the lounge chair near them and asked, “How long were you two together?”

“Four years. He was… my first love.”

Hell, Theo cursed silently. His frustration was up to his chest. He inhaled deeply and asked, “Why did you break up?”

Aurora paused longer this time. Then, she cleared her throat and muttered, “Our personalities didn’t match.”

Theo raised his left brow. Why did it sound like an excuse? He didn’t want to admit it, but he was certain Aurora was hiding something. Another secret. God, he groaned inwardly, why can’t she be truthful to him?

“He broke up with you?”

Aurora looked at the sea and then down at her hands, “We just… drifted apart.”


******


“Mr. Barone,” the sickening voice greeted cheerfully.

Theo looked up with a grim expression, but he said nothing.

Aurora’s ex-boyfriend plopped down on the armchair in front of Theo and sighed, “God, I love this place.”

Theo remained silent and wary.

While Aurora was taking a shower, he received a message from the concierge. A certain Will Fisher wanted to meet him at the hotel bar at midnight. It didn’t take a second for Theo to figure out who the hell Will Fisher was and why did he ask to meet.

“Thank you for coming here to meet me on such a short notice, Mr. Barone. Or should I call you, Theo?”

Theo maintained a blank look. “Mr. Barone will do. My name is reserved for the people who matter.”

“Well, we are after the same woman, so that makes me important as well, don’t you think?”

Theo inhaled carefully, “You were saying?”

Will blinked then laughed in realization, “I like your straightforwardness, Mr. Barone. But first, let me get my poison.” He snapped his fingers and a waitress appeared beside him.


Satisfied that the waitress was getting his drink, Will regained his broad grin and leaned back comfortably.

Theo sipped on his whiskey and pretended to have all the time in the world. He was pretty riled up inside but that would be the last thing he wanted Aurora’s pompous ex to know. Maybe he should count to one thousand to refrain from punching the daylights out of this arrogant sh*tface.

When Will's drink was finally delivered, he took a lazy sip and then swirled the blue alcohol in the glass. He peered behind the transparent medium and chuckled softly, “Here’s what I want to say, Mr. Barone. Thank you for taking care of Rory, but I’m taking her back now.”

Theo smiled, “I see. And you’re telling me this because…”

“I want you to leave Rory alone and stop harassing her.”

This guy is mental, Theo shook his head silently. Does he even know what he’s saying? Apparently that slap didn't send a clear message.

Chuckling quietly, Theo took a sip of his whiskey and observed the golden liquid swirling in his glass, “I don’t quite get what you’re saying.”