CHAPTER FORTY ONE

DALLAS

I walked hurriedly to Oliver's room. I almost broke into a run, afraid that he'd have left for the airport. Several thoughts swirled in my head as I approached his room, but the most important is that I have to see him. I need to see him. I knocked hard on his door. My knuckles stung, but I didn't stop knocking. I didn't want to barge in, considering I don't exactly have a good track record when it comes to that.

"Come in." His deep voice came from the other side of the door.

I gently twisted the door knob, all the urgency from earlier slowly left my body.

The door opened slowly to reveal Oliver with his back on me.

"Are you planning to break my door, little monkey?"

He turned to face me slowly and my heart nearly stopped. His hair was still wet and scattered all over his face giving him a unearthly look. His top buttons were undone, revealing his chest and sexy collarbones.

I tore my gaze away, my fist clenched beside me at the unwelcome thoughts crowding my brain. This isn't the right time for them.

"You left this on my bed." I said it more like a statement than a question.

He merely shrugged and crosssed his arms. His eyes darkened with each passing second. He was staring at me like an unhinged animal observing his prey, waiting for me to walk into his trap, so he'd claim me.

Or maybe my mind is playing tricks with me because of his words the last time we saw. Whatever it might be, It's making it hard for me to speak.

"Could you stop staring at me like that?" I blurted out and I regretted it instantly.

His eyes further darkened and a malicious smirk appeared on his lips.

"How am I staring at you?" His voice was dark and menacing, matching with his expression.

The short time I've known Oliver, I've always seen him as a cold, arrogant, heartless, controlling to an annoying level man. I've never seen his dark, unhinged side. And that's exactly what he is showing me right now. I felt the need to be scared of this side of him. It's also annoying because nothing scares me. Not even the grim reaper. Oliver might be worse than the grim reaper, but he won't scare me away.

Which is why I stayed despite my instincts screaming at me to run and get the hell away from there. I refuse to be intimidated. I tilted my chin and stared at him straight in the eye. That seem to further intrigue him as his smirk stretched into a full grin.

"With the timing, I suppose you know about Lisa's wedding. I'm not even going to ask how you knew about that, and I'm not saying this because I'm an ingrate, but you didn't have to get me this. It's not part of our deal and I already feel like I've been taking a lot from you when I'm barely doing anything for you. This feels too much. I'm sorry, I don't think I can take this."

I moved closer to the bed and was about to drop it but his voice stopped me.

"Stop!"

The one syllable made my hand suspend in the air. He strolled towards him, his expression darker than earlier. I couldn't even read behind it. I instinctively took a few steps back as he approached me till my back hit a hard surface.

Great, now I'm trapped again.

Mental note: never let him get too close to trap me ever again. It's becoming ridiculously frequent these days.

"I didn't say you can reject my offer, little monkey." He said, his face dangerously close to mine.

Why does he do this every time? He gets so close to me. Close enough to claim my lips with his. But he never does. It's like he is punishing me. Driving me to edge and then retreating, making me crave him more. It's a sick game of his that he seems to enjoy very much.

But I wasn't going to cower today. I refuse to.

"You can't make me accept it. I appreciate the thought but I just can't take it. It's too much."

He pulled away from me, his face turned serious.

"Do you know how to use a hair dryer?" He asked.

"Yes. Who wouldn't know how to use it?" my brows furrowed in confusion as I stared at him.

He merely shrugged and walked into his closet. He came back with a hair dryer and handed it over to me. The frown on my forehead deepened as I stared at him. I collect it anyway.

"I have a hair dryer." I said.

The realization dawned on me as I stared at him.

"No, I'm not drying your hair."

I could barely survive been in such close promixity with him.

"You said you weren't doing anything for me. I have a personal assitant so I can't ask you to help me with work. I have a chef, I can't ask you to cook for me. This is the only thing I need help with right now. Then you'll know you earned the ticket."

I had no idea how to feel aboout this. In one word, it was... thoughtful.

I reluctantly collected the hair dryer from him, our fingers slightly brushed.

He sat at the edge of the bed.

"Come on, we don't have all day. I have a flight to catch."

I dragged my feet forward reluctantly. I stepped between his legs, his thighs brushing against mine, sending shivers down my spine. His eyes was on me, piercing through my soul. I made sure to avoid eye contact with him.

As I lifted the dryer, Oliver's hand settled on my hips, his fingers trailing my waist. I stiffened under his touch. He chuckled at my reaction.

I took a deep breath and focused on my task. The buzzing sound of the drying filled the silence between us. It was also distracting me from thinking about Oliver's hand on me. I ignored the heat building up inside me due to his close proximity and his electrifying touch. While I was struggling to keep my expression neutral, his face remained the same the entire time.

Either he is very good at keeping his poker face, or he is genuinely not interested in me. He is probably just touching me because he wants to get used to touch. Maybe I'm just reading too much to things as always.

"You're so close." he muttered, his brows slightly creased as if the thought of it annoyed him.

Well, two can play the game.

"You asked me to dry your hair." I shrugged.

"I can do whatever I want with you." he continued.

I wanted to scream at him to do it and not just drive me crazy with his words, but he seem to derive pleasure in making me wait.

"I don't think you'll do anything." I said plainly.

"Are you tempting me, little monkey?" his voice was laced with raw amusement.

I suddenly regretted my words. I gulped down as my gaze locked with his, the dryer suspended in the air. Then he suddenly flipped me over and my body sunk into the soft mattress. His face was dangerously close to mine. My breath became shallow as I anticipated his next move. Just one move and our lips would touch.

"Do you get off on poking my dark side, little monkey?" he whispered close to my ear, his voice tingled my skin.

I could feel his erection pressed against my lower abdomen. I had no idea what changed in Oliver within a week. The last time I saw him, he was mad at me for talking to his cousin. His reaction was weird. But now, he trapped me on his bed, his scent invading my every sense making it hard for me to think, and his erection bulging dangerously close to my core.

We heard a knock on the door. Tabitha's voice followed,

"Mr Kang, your lunch is ready."

Oliver didn't stand up or give Tabitha a response. A part of me didn't want him to stand up. I loved the position we're in and I want more. But if I didn't stop him, he'll just carry on with it. It's not the right time.

"Oliver, you need to stand up." He didn't listen.

"Please." I choked out, my voice cracked as I spoke.

He let out a goan but listened to me. He dipped both his hands in his pocket, his face expressionless just as it was before he trapped me under him. While I felt so flustered like I just got fucked.

"Pick up the ticket. And never reject anything from me again." He dissapeared into the closet, leaving me with a throbbing core.