Chapter 15: Being The Villain-2

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Later that evening, when Jade returned from classes, I had one of the men escort her to my office.

Knocking on the open door, she stood by the entrance, and I silently observed her as I sat on my desk, smoking a cigar, while playing with one of my switchblades, twisting the weapon swiftly through my fingers.

I was dressed in my usual attire, a dark purple pinstripe suit. However, since I was at home, my jacket and tie were off, and the sleeves of my white shirt were rolled up to my elbows.

"Come in and close the door," I commanded, not looking at her while I snuffed out the cigar.

Doing as she was told, Jade then approached my desk, "You wanted to see me? Though I must confess that I'm a bit surprised, seeing as you've been avoiding me since my birthday," she said, immediately getting to the point. That was Jade, blunt as ever.

Inwardly groaning, I resumed leaning against the table, my free hand gripping the edge, "I wasn't avoiding you; I've just been busy."

"You've always been busy, Dominic. That's never stopped you before from making time for me," Jade stated then added snidely, "although, I guess you're just too much of a coward to face me since we kissed. What are you afraid of?"

Growling at her insolence, I suddenly stabbed the blade into the table, "Watch your fucking tone! There's nothing to discuss where that is concerned. You asked for a kiss as your birthday present so I gave it to you, it's that simple."

"That simple, huh? I guess I should've asked you to fuck me instead then?" Jade crossed her arms over her chest as she walked over to stand in front of me.

Exhaling deeply, I growled as I said, "That mouth of yours! I should put you across my knee and teach you a lesson."

Jade seemingly bit lips in longing, her green eyes dilating at my words, telling me that she would not mind. Of course, I should have known that something like that would have turned her on.

She was such a freak, just like me, but I could not afford to think about such things right now. I needed to remain focused on the task at hand.

Getting up from the desk, I pushed her forcibly against the nearest wall as I snarled, "Stop looking at me like that!" I demanded, my breath fanning her lips as I added, "You need to relinquish this romanticised idea of me! We cannot be together; I always end up damaging everything that I touch!"

"What does it matter? I'm already damaged..." Jade whispered.

Her words hit me like a bullet to the chest, as I felt a searing and burning sensation in the middle of my torso. Pushing myself away from her, I moved back to my desk, turning my back to her. I took a few deep breaths as my bare hands gripped the edge of the table once more, trying to calm my anger.

"It was just a kiss Jade, please leave it be," I said softly.

"Really, so that's it? It meant nothing to you then? Nothing at all?" her voice shaking slightly.

I tilted my head up to look at the ceiling, something that I found myself doing a lot in her presence lately. Letting out a ragged breath before turning to face her once more, I was sure she knew that it most definitely meant something from the look in my eyes alone, even if my mouth remained shut.

"Well it meant the world to me, if you didn't know..." Jade's voice trailed off momentarily before she continued to speak, enunciating each word carefully, "You. Dominic. Are. My. Everything."

Glancing away, I blew out another harsh breath as her words washed over me, but I held firm as I replied, "I would only poison your existence, Jade. I don't want you getting sucked into my world, it's too dark."

Walking over to stand in front of me once more, her hands came up to gently cup my face. It took everything in me not to react to her the touch of her fingers against my skin. Her warmth enveloped me as I stared into her eyes.

"I think you're forgetting where you found me, Dom. Don't you remember?"

Jade asked.

A low rumble vibrated in my chest as my knuckles tightened while I was painfully reminded of that night, "How could I forget?"

"Then you will recall that I met Enzo at four years old. I've been in your world for as long as I can remember. I don't think I ever stood a chance of escaping even if I wanted to!" her fingers continued to caress my smooth skin, then stilled as she suddenly thought of something.

"I-is that why you don't want me? Because of what happened?" Jade questioned, stuttering slightly.

"God no!" my hands quickly moved up to hold onto her wrists.

She had just been a child; how could she think that any of it was her fault. I needed her to know that there was nothing wrong with her. Even if she saw herself as soiled goods, she was anything but. She had been so brave that night, when Vincent and I found her. I had admired her strength, and always wanted the best for her, she deserved the world and more.

Holding her gaze as I spoke, "I've never looked at you that way, you are so precious in my eyes Jade! I just don't want you getting dragged further into the darkness."

Her eyes bore into mine, "But it's within that very darkness that I find myself most at peace! It gives me the freedom to imagine things that would otherwise be impossible in the light. Can't you see that?"

I found myself leaning into her touch, my voice soft as it pained me to say, "You don't know what you're saying. You may have been dragged into this shadow of a life, but the light that you emanate needs to be seen. You're like a star, Jade. I don't want to see your glow become engulfed by my own obscurity."

Smiling slightly, she replied, "That's what you don't seem to realise, Dom. I love the darkness in you. If you say that I am your light, then you are my darkness. After all, a star cannot shine without the dark."

"I'm sorry, but I just can't risk it. You need to find someone more deserving, someone more your own age," I said simply.

At my words, Jade frowned and removed her hands from my face, "Is that how you really feel?"

Letting out a deep breath, I nodded. "Very well then. If you must know, I have a date this Friday," she said while trying to break free from my grasp

"Oh?" I arched my eyebrows in surprise, my fingers instinctively tightening around her wrists, "With whom?"

"That's my business," Jade responded haughtily.

Moving fast, I suddenly pulled her towards me, our faces close, "No one in this house has their own business, I am to know everything! Do you understand me? Now I'll ask again, with whom?"

"And you claim to hate it when I call you daddy," she grumbled, though from her husky tone I knew that she was enjoying my firm hold.

Gritting my teeth, I watched her bite her bottom lip. Huffing slightly, she scowled up at me while remaining silent, refusing to answer my question.

Jade knew very well that she was testing my patience, as the vein on my top left temple began to pulse.

"If I have to find out who he is, I will kill him..." I threatened as my grip on her intensified.

She winced slightly as she said, "But you just told me to go find someone! You say you don't want me, yet when I attempt to do as you ask, you seek to deny me even that?" Jade's voice was laced with confusion.

Realising that I was acting irrationally, I rumbled and thrust her hands away from me as I moved away from the desk. Walking towards the window, I looked at her through the reflection of the glass pane.

"Fine! Enjoy your date," I said with a snarl, then added as I walked past her,

"but I am going to make sure that he's deserving of you."

Jade watched as I left my office, joining Vincent in the hallway who gave her a sympathetic look before we walked off.