29 - SAVIOUR AGAIN

I accepted my fate and in no time, I was packing my bags ready to leave for the Florida. I stared at my phone to find series of text messages trooping in from Kyle asking to talk, but that was the last thing I wanted to do – to talk, because it was never just talking with Kyle. I know that at some point my panties are going to be strewn across the room.

The moment I stepped out of my house, I came face to face with Shawn standing just outside the door like he had been waiting for me. I stared at him in surprise, my eyebrows lifted in question

“Shawn” I called and he kept my stare

“Can we talk?” he asked and I looked at my watch, I had just less than an hour to get to the airport.

“Now’s a little tight” I told him and he stared at the luggage I held in my hands and he looked back at me.

“Are you travelling somewhere?”

“Yes, to Florida. I bagged the deal so I have to go sign the contract”

“Just you”

“Yes, just me. Why?”

Shawn shook his head and I saw a slight relief flash across his face “But I need to talk to you”

“I have to go now or I’ll miss my flight” I said to him and he nodded “So maybe when I’m back we could talk?”

“Can I get you at the airport when you’re back?” his face had some innocence to it, like was willing to atone for sins that I had no idea he had committed, but I stared at him long and hard weighing my non-existent options.

“You know what, sure. You can do that” I managed a smile and he returned it while I pulled my bag with to the waiting taxi as he watched me leave.

“Text me when you land” I heard him say before the car zoomed off.
***
Stepping off the airplane onto the bustling Florida tarmac, there was a tiny bit of relief ad excitement that washed over me. For the next three days, I didn’t think I’d have to bother about the nervousness that crawled into my stomach at the thought of seeing Kyle at work, or catching a whiff of his cologne that unsteadied me for a second – for a tiny while I felt free not all the way happy but free nonetheless.
The warm breeze embraced my skin as I made my way to the luxurious hotel I’d be staying at, a sense of grandeur filled the air as I walked in. The chandeliers sparkled above, casting an faint glow that seemed to illuminate the path before me. While I patiently waited for my room key card from the receptionist, Mr. Venza approached me, I recognized him because he was there the day I flopped my presentation because Kyle had chosen that very day to walk into my life. He walked briskly towards him, his lip thinned in a tight-lipped smile that seemed to be hidden by a face full of beard, but his eyes were dark and twinkling as he took my appearance in, and I had chosen to dress comfortably in some washed jeans and black sweater, I left my hair flowing down my back while he was dressed sophisticatedly in a tailored suit. His captivating presence commanded attention as he was flocked by a young man walking ahead of him and two bodyguards trailing behind him. When our eyes met, a knowing smile graced his lips.

“Miss Aria” he greeted me warmly stretching his hand out for a handshake, his voice filled with a not so subtle Russian accent, while I took his hand firmly with a smile on my face too “You’re welcome, Sophie told me about your pitch, she loved it and you know, she’s my daughter so I trust her judgment”

“Yea right” I did a mental eye roll suddenly remembering how knowing look she shared with Kyle, just before he fingered me in the elevator.

“Thank you sir, the pleasure is all mine”

Then he smiled, but it wasn’t a smile that defined pleasantness, it had an undertone to it and I was yet to understand but I went with the flow

“How about I treat you to dinner tonight, you know just to welcome and maybe try to steal you from K&H to work with us and Venzos automobile, you have the kind of zeal that I admire, we need that at my company”

“Oh – ” I said surprised, unsure of what to say now because his words were totally taking me by surprise.

“I have a private dinner room, how about you join me tonight. The lobster is on the menu tonight” he said, then he winked at me before walking away, leaving me staring at his retreating figure and all I could think of was, would moving to Florida finally take me permanently away from Kyle – or no, how much I was instantly craving sea food even though his invitation caught me off guard – and – and he was taking a personal interest in me. Still, curiosity mingled with a twinge of caution, and I found myself analyzing every bit of the short conversation we had as I made my way to my hotel room.

Later that evening I slipped into a sleek, midnight blue dress that I had randomly packed with me just in case, a dress that gracefully accentuated my figure with delicate lace patterns, a touch of crimson lipstick and a hint of subtle eye shadow on my eyelids, my hair cascading down in loose waves down my shoulders framed my face with a touch of softness. I didn’t want to look like I put too much effort but I also didn’t want to look like I didn’t put in any effort at all.

I made my way through the winding corridors of the hotel, the anticipation grew palpable. The private dinner room looked like a clandestine sanctuary as I stepped into the dimly lit space, why did I feel a surge of excitement mingling with unidentifiable ease? There he sat, Mr. Venza, his face adorned with a seemingly innocuous smile that barely concealed a shadow lurking behind his eyes. It seemed sinister, fleeting yet unmistakable – also mingling with his charismatic charm.

“Miss Aria!” he exclaimed the moment I walked in, gesturing me to sit down beside him on the sofa like chair, with a large table before him “Glad you graced my invitation”

“Didn’t have much of a choice when you mentioned the lobster”

“Perfect” then with a snap of his fingers, he signaled for the waiter who appeared almost immediately with a bottle of white wine, and pouring me a glass before I even had a chance to interject but Mr. Venza’s smile was cajoling, and it felt like I would be disrespectful if I said I didn’t want to drink any alcohol.

“One of the best they have” he said to me, taking his glass to his lips and I did the same, taking a sip and letting the sour sweetness invade all my senses, but mentally reminding myself not to drink more than two glasses.

“So the lobster” he said to the waiter, who nodded and walked away leaving me alone with him again. I felt his eyes taunt me through his wine glass that he took to his mouth again and licking the wine off his lips he said.

“How would you like to work for Venzos” he asked me and I smiled nervously.

“That’s a huge request” I said and he only smiled.

“I’ll pay you double whatever Mr. Hart is paying you, I give you a house and a company car right here in Florida – ”

I stared thoughtfully at him “Why me?”

“It’s easy, you’re beautiful, you’re obviously smart and you’ll be a great asset to my company”

“Can I at least think about it?” I said to him but he didn’t nod right away, he studied me a bit, his eyes seemed to ravish me in a way that felt uncomfortable but I had chosen to ignore it – it was probably all in my head.
“Of course you can – drink up” he urged me.

I was merely half way through my first glass when I started to feel a slight buzz in my head and it confused me – I couldn’t be drunk already. I stared at the glass in my head with a blurriness that seemed to appear out of nowhere and I could feel the glass slipping out of my hand till I heard it hit floor and the shattering noise echoing in my ears.
What the bloody hell was happening to me?

“Aria” his voice sounded distant like he wasn’t in the same room with me, I felt my eyes closing shut but I fought to stay awake, looking to stare at his face that blurred in double lines.

“You can’t be falling asleep, the lobster is almost here” I heard him say, then I could feel his hands running up my thigh and caressing in a manner that I couldn’t stop him because it wouldn’t make such a difference.

“Stop” my voice was barely audible, fear seized my heart immediately, and when I tried to stand up to leave, I couldn’t hold myself so I fell back to the chair into Mr. Venza’s waiting arms.

“Please don’t hurt me” my words felt like froth in my mouth but he merely chuckled.

“I’m not going to hurt you sweetheart, I’m just going to make you feel very good”

“Please – ” I struggled, but just then the door flung open and the familiar cologne filled my nose.

“Get your hands off her you filthy bastard” the voice was familiar – it was Kyle.

How did he –