Chapter 23 Condition

Chapter 23 Condition
MAELIS ARDENT POV

I felt like my whole body stiffened as I met his gaze. How can he be here in all places? I swallowed, staring at her, but a cough from the man snapped me from my thoughts and quickly pulled Lucien away from him.

“How are you here?” I asked as I pulled him at the corner.

“You change your hair color,” he said as he touched my hair. I felt electricity as his finger touched my neck, and I could help but flinch a little.

“What? That's not important, what are you doing here?” I ask and look at the man stealing on the ground, grunting as he holds his shoulder.

“You’re supposed to be the one reporting to me, why does it sound like it’s being the other way around?” He asks that made me look away.

I mean, he’s right, but how can we meet here in all places? I sighed and looked at him again.

“I was trying to find a friend,” I said, but he just stayed silent.

I tried avoiding his gaze, but for some reason, I couldn’t. His smell makes me feel in a daze, inviting me to be close to him. I took a deep breath and was about to speak again when my gaze landed on his lips. I bite my lower lip and look away as I grip the side of my dress.

“Damn it,” I whispered. “What are you staring at?” I asks not looking at him, I heard him chuckle.

“You,” he replied shortly.

“We need to go now, let’s go.” I said and turned my back on him and started to walk away, “I said we need to leave.”

“You go first. I need to take care of this first.” I said, looking at the man on the ground.

“Lucien, no. Let it go, it's not like it’s your waist he touch.” I said, rolling my eyes at him.

“I know it’s yours, and that’s what makes it even worse.” He said as his eyes darkened again, staring at the man on the ground.

I felt a weird feeling of excitement inside me that made me confused. Why? I took a deep breath and walked towards him.

“I said leave it, it’s not worth it,” I said, staring at him. We stared at each other for a moment before he rolled his eyes and walked towards me.

But instead of avoiding the man’s body, he steps on his arms, making him scream in pain, and my eyes widen.

“Lucien!” I half shouted.

“Don’t show too much concern for him.” He said as she stood in front of me and slowly lifted my face to look at him and meet his gaze. “I’m getting really jealous now.”

I felt for a moment I forgot how to breathe, and my heart just skipped a couple of beats, but already felt like it just stopped for an hour, and now beating as if I’m competing in a marathon.

“I---What…do you mean?” I said and swallowed in between.

“Let’s go somewhere else, I might lose myself and kill each man that’s looking at you.”

Lucien walks towards one of the exit door and the security immediately opens it for him. What did I expect? He’s Lucien Allard, of course, he can do anything.

“Did you come here alone?” I ask as we are walking outside. “You’re not with Basil? Terrence?” I look around.

But stops when I nearly stumble back when I bump into his chest, making me almost fall on my back.

“OH!” I said and tried to grab him, and he immediately caught my waist. “T-thank you,” I said, startled.

“Since we meet ealier, all you do is defend and man in front of me, and now you just mention two other men again.” He said, glaring at me. “Do you think that’s funny?”

Is he seriously jealous? Why?

“I---I was just asking,” I answered and bit my lower lip, but before I could speak again, I felt my feet lifted from the ground. “Lucien put me down!” I shouted at him as he put me on his should picking me up like a sack on his shoulder. “Hey!” I said he didn’t react and just continued to walk until we stopped beside a Lexus convertible car.

“Get it.” He said as he put me down.

“What? No, I need to find my friend.” I said, but his glare didn’t budge.

“You’ll get it on your own, or do I have to get you inside?” He said with his deep, scary voice that almost made me choke on my own saliva.

I sigh, turn my back, and open the door of the car. “Hard-headed.” I heard him say before walking towards the driver's seat.

“I heard that,” I said, and he just looked at her and raised his eyebrow.

“Good, that’s the plan.”

Lucien grabs my hand as soon as we get out of the car and enter a hotel building.

“Lucien, what are we doing here?” I ask as we enter the hotel room. “You know you’ve been trying to make it a hobby, grabbing me and bringingme somewhere. I’m not a toy, just a heads up.” I said as I watched him walk inside the living area of the hotel.

“You’re too stubborn to be a toy.” He said as he removed his suit and his tie.

“I told you I need to find my friend, I don’t have time for this,” I said as I tried to look around, standing across him. “I don’t have time for this---” I said and turned to look at him again.

My eyes widened as I saw him took of his shirt, I quickly looked away and pressed my eyes closed.

“I know you’re here for Gabriel Valdez.” He said, making me stunned.

How? Did he know already?

“I’ll help you find him,” He said making look at him, I felt like the air around me felt thin, and I couldn’t take a breath as I saw him walk towards me, shirtless.

“W-what?” I stuttered as I stepped back.

“With one condition.”