CHAPTER 24
It was time for the slow dance.
Fifteen minutes had passed since Marcelo asked Theressa to step out; she had failed to even notice a ragingMarcelo march back inside the hall.
"Would you like a dance? Ma lady" Joe stood tall yet relaxed, his broad shoulders back and his chin held high with confidence. His stance was open, with his arms slightly extended as if inviting someone to step into his embrace.
Theressa could understand why some of his clients fell for him, he was everything a woman desired, from a glance one could see "A rich handsome gentleman" From his prominent elegant features, he was everything to Theressa except Marcelo. That was the difference between Theressa and the other women he had encountered.
Her heart has already been snatched by Marcelo, she had let him have it, she couldn't think of sharing it in half and saving the other with Joe.
"Yes" Theressa couldn't help but smile as she placed her slender hands on Joe's big but soft hands allowing Joe lead her to the dance floor. Their eyes never leaving each other.
Joe's arm made it round her waist feeling the gray silk dress as he caressed her waist.
Theressa blushed as their bodies swayed gently to the rhythm of the classic music, their bodies moving in sync, movement graceful and fluid. Theressa felt comfortable seeing the weak warmth in Joe's eyes, a soft smile playing on her lips as they got lost in the moment.
She felt like a princess in the arms of a king, Joe was treating her just right, so right for a moment she wished she had met him earlier, fallen for him even before Justin.
They were both enjoying the moment.
Until she was snatched, another arm tightly gripping her waist taking her away from Joe, her hands landing on his hard chest, where it's supposed to be.
Joe had moved forward to argue but Theressa had lifted her hands to stop him. "I'll see you later" she whispered, hoping Joe was able to read her lips and take the signal.
The disappointment in the gentleman's eyes didn't go unnoticed by her. Theressa truly enjoyed the moments with him. He wasn't as boring and creepy as she thought he would be. He was a perfect man, but not the perfect man for her.
He left with droopy shoulders and Theressa had to hold herself from calling him back to apologize as she watched him leave.
Marcelo scoffed, his tongue poking his inner cheek as he gazed down at Theressa.
"So what now? You want to follow him out and leave your boss on the dance floor huh?" Marcelo brows furrowed creating deep lines on his forehead, his lips curled downward in a frown as he took loud breaths that can be heard under the loud music. Theressa refused to fuck up her plan, things were going just as he planned and so she had to hold back her laugh as she glared back Marcelo.
"I'm certain you have a fiancée" Theressa began
"You can't just take me away from my date" Theressa said in disbelief and feigned annoyance.
"A date? You go against the contract to have another man?" Marcelo's words weren't rushed, his voice wasn't raised either but Theressa could hear the jealousy in his whisper.
They both were moving to the song playing; they weren't dancing, but still. Theressa felt right. She felt she was in the right arms unlike Joe.
"Contract?" Theressa rolled her eyes.
"That was over the minute you replaced me with another Secretary, that was done the minute you introduced me to your fiancée. You made it clear we were done, you made it clear that I'm just a normal employee and so why can't I find love, you did and so I'm just doing the same" Theressa almost scolded, her hands balled in a fist on Marcelo's hard chest as she had to hold herself from punching his chest.
Marcelo's eyes shut as he sucked in a breath, his lips parting to speak but a gunshot beat him to it. Just like everyone else, Theressa had screamed on top of her lungs, her eyes shutting in fear as her hands clutched Marcelo's tux tightly.
Her heart jumped as her body weakened as she realized what was happening. They were getting attacked.
Theressa's body had forgotten who's in control. She wants to run, just like everyone else, to hide somewhere and not to be the next target, however she couldn't leave Marcelo, Marcelo was like the best body armor at that moment.
"You'll be fine" Marcelo whispered, separating her hands from her ears ``trust me" Marcelo held on to Theressa's hand tight so tight like he was scared of losing Theressa to the crowd.
Marcelo pulled out a gun from his back as he targeted the closest enemy, making way for us to get to a safer side, he still didn't stop even as he angled himself, shooting the ones who had invaded the party, the ones covered fully, hooding with masks hiding their identity. Marcelo's men had also made their way inside the hall, some getting the guests to safety while some stayed back, like fighting the invaders.
Among the invaders one stood out to Theressa. White tux with a red rose plastered to the side chest of the tux suit. His face was covered halfway with a black mask, his gun pointed directly at Marcelo, leaving out the bodyguards as he aimed at Marcelo.
Their eyes had met, Theressa could barely see his eyes but she could feel it, his gaze was on her's and he had lost focus.
Before Theressa could think more, a gun was pressed to the side of his head, forcing him to get on his feet. Marcelo wasn't by her side anymore, their hands were no longer entangled and Joe was held by the neck with Marcelo gun pointed at himself. It seemed most of the men with Joe had been wiped out and the few standing had noticed one of the members or maybe their leader had been captured and so they gave up on their guns.
"Do not drop your weapons!" A male voice scolded, followed by a muffled scream.
"Let him go and we shall return her" the man holding on to Pillar scolded, Pillar was whimpering, scared as a gun was pointed at her.
Marcelo didn't look like he was ready to release Joe, no emotions were painted on his face.
"We have to leave" someone came behind Theressa, his tone lace with emergency as he held onto Theressa's arm.
"Theressa wanted to protest, she couldn't leave just yet, what about Marcelo?
"Marcelo ordered me to take you out of here" Kayden stated and before Theressa could protest again, she was swept off the floor not by Kayden but George.
"Cover up for me!" George yelled as attention was drawn to them. Guns pointed to them as they began to attack.
Theressa couldn't help but scream as the gun shots erupted again.
There were lots of men around her, she couldn't make out anyone, her vision blurred, she couldn't get off George's shoulder. But her eyes had met with Marcelo's for a split second before exiting the hall.
Why would he want Theressa safe? Why not Pillar?
Theressa got irritated, annoyed. She didn't want to leave Marcelo to fight alone.
She wanted Marcelo to be safe, she wanted to fight, fight with Marcelo, to watch his back and not be forced to leave him, because of her weakness. Kayden and George, the only one's she could have had faith in, were with her.
Does Marcelo really care about her so much, he let his most trusted men go with his ex secretary instead? Why does he have to save her, she's path of them… was part of them but still she shouldn't be considered one to be taken to safety.
She shouldn't.