CHAPTER FIFTY

DALLAS

"Why are you?" I asked, masking my surprise with nonchalance.

It was a somewhat dumb question, because I was the only person who knew him personally at the event. But I didn’t want to quickly jump to the conclusion that he had come for me.

I tried to ignore the tiny flutter in my stomach at the sight of the smug smile on his face, the delicious smell of his musky scent, the mere sight of him.

I expected our first meeting to be awkward, because of last night's ‘incident’. I was literally his first sexual experience. Which is both exciting and slightly overwhelming. I liked that I was his first, a bit more than I should have.

While I pretended not to be bothered about what our interaction would be like going forward after last night, a tiny part of me dreaded he might avoid me for a long time. Like what happened after our ‘almost kiss’ in his study a while back.

Granted, we both avoided each other at the time, but I didn’t want a repeat of that. The thought of it bothers me in a strange way. I didn’t want to think about why it bothers me. It would mean I was searching for answers I probably shouldn’t know about.

Things were already complicated between us. I had thought he wouldn’t cross my mind as often as he normally does after he’d driven me to a mind-blowing orgasm, but here we are.

But technically, we didn’t have sex. Yet. Maybe I’ll finally get the attraction out of my system after we have sex, before it morphs into something extremely dangerous for me.

“I came to see my little monkey.” He said plainly, as if that was supposed to explain his withdrawal last night and his disappearance this morning.

And he really needs to stop calling me a ‘monkey’

I was annoyed he didn’t call me that last night and threw a huge fit. It would be hypocritical of me to pretend I didn’t like the nickname now. Right?

Truly, I didn’t appreciate being called an animal. But he made everything sound so good that I ended up liking the nickname.

“No, I meant why are you really in Korea?” I asked.

I hadn’t really thought about it before because, one, I was too excited to see him to ask questions,I literally jumped into his arms immediately I saw him last. And two, I was drunk most of the time. But now that I thought about it, his timing was suspicious.

Oliver traveled to D.C the same day I left for Korea. He never made mention of coming to Korea. I was certain he hadn’t set foot in Korea since his family moved away more than two decades ago.

I was also very sure he wasn’t here for business as he claimed. Otherwise, Tabitha would be shadowing him and staring daggers at me by now.  Especially since I spent the night with her boss. But I haven’t caught sight of her at all.

“I told you why I was here.” His brows slightly furrowed as  if he hadn’t expected the question.

“I haven’t seen you do anything business related.”

Or maybe I was just over thinking it. Maybe he really came for business. He probably went to attend to his business  before I woke up. Then why did he come to me immediately when he landed?

I knew he had come to the club straight from the airport because I talked to Heather that morning. I indirectly made her divulge some information, like when Oliver arrived from D. C and when he left for the airport. I calculated the time difference and the hours the flight took and got my answer.  

I wasn’t stalking him. I was merely curious.

I opened my mouth to say something when he remained silent for so long, but he said something that made my breath itch,

“You’re my business.”

There was something about the way he said it that unnerved me in a strange, but soothing way. The confirmation in his eyes as he said those words. The firmness in his tone.

Old me, that only knew Oliver as a cold and heartless asshole, would have thought the words sounded possessive, and he maybe thought of me as his property. But now, I find a strange comfort in it. It was the closest he had ever gotten to approaching the forbidden lair. Not that I want us to get there. Ever.

I shook the thoughts away before they could go any deeper.

“You traveled halfway across the world to see me at my best friend’s wedding? It’s not like anyone is going to try to assassinate me or something.” I chuckled and rolled my eyes.

A flash of worry crossed his eyes and his eyebrow creased.

“No one would come near you while I’m still alive.” his jaws flexed slightly.

Okay, that was a bit out of character. It wasn’t what he said. It was the way he said it. As if my life was truly in danger.

The emotion disappeared from his eyes and it was masked with his usual smug smile.

“I got to see you in a bridesmaid dress. It was worth it.”

I shouldn’t feel this warm because of his words. The butterflies in my stomach shouldn’t fly and beat so hard against my ribcage. I shouldn't be so captured in his web. But all of that happened.

He just admitted that he traveled halfway around the world to see me. He indirectly admitted that he… missed me?

Don’t ruin this, Dallas! Don’t ruin this…

“Is that the reason you back to the hotel with you last night?” I blurted out.

Lisa would absolutely murder me for ruining the moment if she was here.

But I couldn’t help myself. It wasn’t like we were dating or anything. I was merely his employee who’s gotten so good at riling him up.

If he ‘missed me’, he could have asked me to come back. Or come meet me at the wedding venue like right now. But he insisted on taking me back to his hotel. Despite the huge effect his sweet talking had on me, I couldn’t shake off the suspicion that there is more to his sudden visit than he let on.

His face morphed into an unreadable expression. I hate how I can’t read him sometimes.

“Do you want to talk about what happened last night?” he asked, his voice was gentle.

A lump suddenly formed in my throat, preventing me from speaking.

Yes, I want to talk about it.

No I don’t want to talk about it.

My mind swirled with conflicting thought. The fact he brought it up meant he didn’t want to pretend it didn’t happen. But it doesn’t have to matter. People have sex all the time, and they don’t drag each other to the altar after one orgasm. It would be probably better if it was a one time thing.

I was just about to tell him to forget about it when I heard footsteps approaching.

A figure emerged from the hallways. It was Ari. She threw a glance at Oliver and gave him a simple nod. He did the same. I almost laughed at their stiff greetings. Ari was probably still mad about the club incident.

“Dallas, Lisa is ready to go.” she said.

“I’ll be right behind you.” she flashed me a smile and strolled off.

Silence ensued between us again.

“Let’s talk after the wedding.” I said after much deliberation. He simply nodded.

I walked away from him, my heart heavy.

“Dallas?” I heard him call behind me.

“You look so beautiful.” He said and gave me one of his rarest smile.

My heart melted in my chest.