Chapter 26

Kylie's POV
Well, at least that's what I thought would happen but I was surely mistaken. In fact, I was taken aback by his response.
He did just stand there for a couple of seconds. I was starting to believe he had frozen to the damn spot.
His icy, silver glare rose from the ground and met me.
"Is that so? Well, that just sounds splendid." He snarled through gritted teeth.
Mark didn't wait for another word to escape my lips nd simply migrated to his office.
That was what actually happened. And for the rest of the day, he never went out. He didn't call me in and I certainly didn't go in there. I just carried on my duties, finished off the contracts and when it was home time, I packed my stuff.
But could I just really leave without telling him.
No.
Hesitantly, I stalked over to his office door and knocked. After a few seconds, he told me to come in quietly
When I walked in, he was seated at his desk with his back towards me. It kind of reminded me of the day he summoned me here for the first time. And to think, that was three days ago.
"Umm, I'm leaving now. Do you need anything else before I go?" I asked nervously, the events of today replaying in my mind
"No. You can leave." He said in a dismissive tone. That cold tone he only could execute so impeccably
I was about to leave when he spoke up again.
"Before you leave, here is your pay check." He said, turning around.
Mark reached for his desk drawers and pulled out a white envelope. He stretched his hand out for me to reach
I walked closer to him, then took the envelope from him but before I could retract, he grabbed my hand. Some delicious feeling surged through my veins immediately. Gosh, I need help.
He looked at me with those piercing eyes, with a hidden emotion I couldn't decipher
"Don't go out with him." He stated, more like demanded.
"Hunt is not a good guy."
I slapped his hand away.
"Oh, and you are?" I retorted sarcastically.
"Listen, Mark, I can go out with whoever I want and you don't have a say in it. You, for all I care, can date whoever you want. You can even go screw Cicilia right now. You are just my boss, not my father or my husband. Let's get that straight. I never want to have this conversation again." I said in one breath, then took a pause.
For some reason, his grip on my hand tightened. His eyes darkened nefariously. He stood up, slowly and it was scaring me because his eyes were deeply fixated on me.
"Fuck that shit. I tried to ask nicely, but I'm done with that. You aren't going out with him. Period. All he wants to do is get in your goddamned pants!"
By now, he was only a few inches away from me, his iron grip on my hand. My heart was beating so fast right now. This was the side of Mark that I feared since the day we got together.
I wish I had just left without talking to him. Why hadn't I just done that?
"Mark, let me go." I said, not making the mistake of showcasing my fear. I need to stand strong
But he didn't listen. All he did was step closer to me, so that our chests were touching. His grip now starting to hurt
Oh, so you want to be stubborn, hey? We'll see about that
I met his stare, with one of my own. I slowly glided my hand up his chest, which was heaving, and to the nape of his neck. His glare faltered, and his grip loosened.
I smirked inwardly. I then grabbed his neck and pulled him down towards my face. We were so close now that my lips brushed his.
His grip was a distant memory now. Using this to my advantage, I brought my other hand to caress the smooth, glowing skin of his face. I could feel him shivering under my touch
"Kylie," he whispered ever so faintly.
I used my finger to trace his lips, never breaking my glance from his. I leaned foward, as if I was about to kiss, but passed his lips to his ear.
"You don't own me. Well, not anymore at least." I purred mockingly, then left afterwards.
Edward was seated patiently in the Cadillac.
Damn, that felt so good. Maybe a little too good.
I didn't bother to stop until I reached the bottom floor. Mark didn't even call me back. Maybe he was too stunned to do so.
He fired up the engine and drove off. I coud feel him looking at me through the back view mirror.
"Hey Edward. Take me home please." I chanted, getting into the car
"What's that smile about, Miss Carter? You must've had a brilliant day." He said, curiosity etched on his aging face.
After I said that, his phone started ringing. He picked it up and answered
My smile widened.
"Let's just say that life got a bit more interesting.
"Good evening Mr Johnson…Yes, she's still in here…Of course."
He handed me his cellular.
"Mr Johnson would like to speak to you."
I snorted, but took the phone anyway. "Sir, it's after office hours."
"You little vixen." He breathed, and I smirked.
"Don't initiate something you won't win. I hope you enjoyed your little moment of victory because-"
I could totally hear his anger and I liked the sound of it. I want him to fume, to be going insane at the thought of me going out with Kelvin.
He laughed wickedly, and it was absolutely arousing.
"Don't say I didn't warn you. You're getting yourself into a shit storm, Kylie. You will regret this, especially when he strips you of your dignity." Then the line went dead.
Those words got my heart racing. For some odd reason, some nagging feeling was telling me to not go on the date, but my pride told me otherwise.
I was on my way out of my apartment when I saw Sara in the hall, going through her mail
"Hi," I said and she looked up, a bit startled
I nodded, probably grinning like a Cheshire cat.
"Well, I got my first pay check yesterday and I'm going shopping for a few things. So you can imagine."
"Hey," she replied, awkwardly.
"You seem to be in a happy mood.
"Great." There was a slight silence after her last words
I suddenly remembered the clothes she lent me.
"Oh, your clothes! Let me give you your clothes back. I'm sorry grateful for your help…"
She shool her head, smiling.
"Don't worry about that. You can keep them. They look fantastic on you anway."
"Thanks," I chuckled lightly.
"So I guess I'll see you around." She spoke, turning her door knob
"Wait." She stopped, and looked back at me.
"Do you want to come with me? I haven't been shopping in a while and I could really use some company.
"I don't know," she said hesitantly.
"It's not like we're friends." Well, she was right. We weren't.
She must have seen the tinge of disappointment in my eyes.
"Okay. I'll come with, only because I don't have any plans today. Just give me a minute to change and grab my purse."
After she went in her apartment, I waited a few minutes and then she came out. We then proceeded downstairs and hailed a cab
"So, where do you want to shop?" She asked, looking out the window at the moving figures
I shrugged.
"Well, I need to buy some clothes, a phone and maybe a few groceries. But I really need to find something to wear tonight, I have a date."
"A date?" She said, turning towards me. "Who is the lucky fella?" She said in a sing song voice.
I blushed involuntarily.
"It's this guy I met at work a few days ago. I actually bumped into him and ended up spilling coffee on myself." I laughed at the memory.
She laughed too.
"Well, what's his name?
"Kelvin Hunt"
Sara froze.
"What? You mean the Kelvin Hunt. As in the heir to that multi billion dollar company? That Logan Hunter?"I nodded. "Yep. He even gave me his suit jacket.
She squealed like a teenager.
"Oh my gosh. Really? You have to show me it. Now, tell me, how handsome was he?
I scratched my chin, feigning to think about it.
"I don't know. He's alright."
She slapped my arm playfully.
"I know he's drop your panties hot. He's got those mysterious, captivating green eyes. I would want to meet him!"
I, personally, would never describe Kelvin as drop your panties hot because he's really not. Yeah, he's hot and all but not as much as Kelvin. Kelvin was just breathtakingly gorgeous, it was surreal.
Wait, did I really just think that?
Yes, because you only have eyes for Blake…
His voice brought me out of my daze. I brought out my purse and handed him some money, telling him to keep the change.
"-will be $26.78." Said the cab driver.
When I stepped out of the cab, the New York signature stench slapped me hard in the face. And it made me want to puke.
We were in Times Square, surrounded by a bunch of shops.
"Where to first?" Sara, inquired, shielding her eyes from the blazing sun.
I didn't reply, but simply grabbed her hand and led her into the madness
About two hours later, Sara and I were quite exhausted. We visited many shop, from Target to Forever 21. I bought a few clothing items, some shoes, a phone too. I tried to buy Sara something, but she vehemently refused.
For some odd reason, I felt like I was being followed. I would look back, and not find anything suspicious.
Currently, we were walking around, drinking slushies and just talking.
"Stop." Sara commanded. Her eyes were directed towards a shop window, where a stylish black dress was on display. "That dress is perfect for your date."
I looked at it, like really looked at it, imaging myself in it. It was off the shoulder, showed a bit of cleavage and a bit too short for my liking.
"I don't know." I announced doubtfully. "Don't you think it's too suggestive? I don't want to seem like I want to shag him or anything."
She looked at me as if I'd grown two heads.
"Who wouldn't want to get laid by that guy. Come on, loosen up! You need to live little."
But she was right. I did indeed need to liven up. I've been living in a conservative life too long.
"Okay. I'll try it on to see how it looks.
A few seconds after I said that, Savannah pushed me into the shop, grabbed the dress off the rack and pushed me into a changing roomSlowly, I stripped out off my own clothes and put it on.
Savannah came in. She looked dumbfounded, seeing me in the dress.4
Goddamn. The dress fit me like a glove. I couldn't even recognise myself in it. It hugged me in all the right places, and made my legs look really long.
"If he doesn't get an erection from just seeing you, he's not worth your time."
I laughed.
"Does it look good."
"Good is an understatement. You look amazing. Now, quickly get out of it so we can find shoes to match."
As she said, I stripped out of the dress and into my own. We hurriedly went to the counter, paid and went out of the shop.
Savannah was now leading me, trying to find the so called 'perfect shoes' for the dress. As we were walking, I saw a store that had a race car bed in it.
It reminded me of Israel.
I remembered his adorable love of cars.
Tears welled up in my eyes at the thought of him. I hadn't seen in over a year now. I realised I missed him terribly.
"Found them! These black Louboutins. And they're not too expensive. Let's go check them out." Sara suddenly resurfaced.
Soon, I was being dragged off to yet another shop but only now, my thoughts were elsewhere.