She looked up at him as though he had gone crazy but when she saw the look in his eyes, there was something in them, as though he was trying to tell her that ‘Hey, go with the flow, will you? Must everyone here know what we’ve been through?’ She took her eyes away from him, he dared her, and she would have to show him that she could act as if she had never known him before. He asked for her name, right? Then she would tell him her name. She tried to smile at him, “My name is Anna Brayden, and you are?”
“Jack.” The smile he flashed her was tight lipped and she looked away from his face, not even looking back when he added, “Jack Roberts, glad to have you here, Miss, Anna.” She only nodded her head and thankfully, his mother joyfully announced that they should get into their meal before it got cold, Anna began to eat even though she was aware of his heated gaze that was on her face and with each move she made, she was certain nothing left his eyes.
The dining table was engulfed by an eerily silence and the only sound that one could hear was the clatter of their cutleries and when they were done, she was glad that they could finally leave, and she would have to breath as she normally did. But when they all moved to the living room, she smiled shyly and was trying all she could so that Mom will look at her because Anna knew with just a single glance, Mom will know that she wanted to leave. But it seemed as though her mother was trying all she could to avoid her gaze and that had angered her more than anything that had ever before.
A phone rang, and just when Anna heaved a sigh out of relief that it was either her phone or Mom’s, Willa smiled apologetically at them and picked it before. She excused herself and was back in a few minutes with a look on her face, “Mom, I'm afraid but I have to go home. Victor is there and he’s waiting for me.”
“Okay, darling. You have to take care, okay?” Katharine said with a smile and Anna watched as Willa hugged her softly before she kissed her cheeks and she turned to look at Jack that had his attention on his phone. “I’m leaving, Jack.” She said with a teasing grin and when he looked up at her, despite the way he wanted to frown his face at her, that grin made it so hard and he didn't know how he ended up smiling at her.
“Drive safely, Willa, okay?” She rolled her eyes, he was aware of the fact that she hated it whenever he sounded as though he was her big brother or even worse, her father.
“I will, call me before you fall asleep, I have something I want to discuss with you.” He nodded his head and stood up while she hugged him, and he kissed her cheeks. “Take care, Willie.”
“I know, I love you too.” He rolled his eyes at her and she bade everyone that was in the living room goodnight before she left. Just when Anna thought that they were finally leaving too because she had seen the two mothers on their feet, Daphne turned to look at her.
“Anna, you can have a chat with Jack. We’re going out to shop for a face cream and we’ll be back in no time.” Anna wanted to scream at the pitch of her voice.
“Mom, can’t I follow you or the driver should take me back home?” Her eyes pleaded, she knew her Mom understood and from the way her voice sounded so whiny, she knew the Roberts family must’ve know how eager she was to leave their house.
Katharine smiled at her and she shook her head, “I know you might need to rest, and you dread the hours we’re going to take in the shopping place, right? We’ll be back soon, my darling. Be a good guy to her, Jack, okay?” She turned to look at him and he had this leased look on his face as though he had been waiting for this chance, to be alone with Anna Brayden where she had no power unless that which he had given her.
“Yes, Mom. Bye, Mrs. Brayden, but please don’t make Anna wait for too long.” The kindness and nice behavior he exuded made it easier for her Mother to believe that Anna was in safe hands and it made it easier for her to walk off despite knowing that Anna was boiling within. But this was for her own good, she calmed herself down and they hopped into the car.
Anna stared at him, how he was smiling and acting as though she was there. She knew that smile wasn’t genuine, he was just trying to be calm before he began like the storm was to a rain. She took her eyes off him with her heart thumping rapidly. Just being seated merely a few feet away from Jack was making her heart rumble with emotions she didn’t understand. To her surprise, she didn't think about Henry at all, what mattered was the Jack that was seated near her.
What was it like for him after the last encounter they had? At that time, she felt cold, but she knew that no matter how Jack will warm up with her, she knew him so well to believe that he would let go of that this easily. He would take his revenge one way or the other, she just hoped by the time he was going to take the revenge, she would be strong enough to carry whatever it was coming her way she would be wise enough to think of a better way to avenge on him. What did Maya say about him? They had never seen this coming, that she might actually one day come into their house in the name of an invited guest and she would be left alone with him, did they?
He cleared his throat, and Anna felt as her heart lounged to her throat before it moved back to its enclosed position and even though she wanted to look up at him and see what the hell he was up to, she calmed herself down and fixed her attention on the television. It wasn’t like she was understand what was going on there, but she had to show this man that she would never be intimidated by him even though that’s exactly what was happening to her right now. From the corner of her eyes, she could see the way he had stood up, and just when she was about to thank god for making him walk away, Jack came to the two-seater she was seated on and he perched right next to her. She acted unbothered, even though her palms were getting sweaty and the erratic beating of her heart was increasing.
She wondered whether it was possible to be affected by the man she loved so much the way. How could his mere presence do things to her no man was able to make her feel even though he was touching her all over? But for Jack, all he had to do was be there, and she would lose all the control she had ever attained in her life. Was it the same for him? Or she was the only one going through this phase? When she briskly glared at him, he looked so calm and she concluded that she was the only one feeling the way she did.
“I thought you’d want to have a better look of my face, Anna?” He said with a voice he wasn’t sure was his. It was a voice filled with both anger, hatred, and the lustful desire he couldn’t deny having for her. She turned to look at him with an expression that felt as though she was damn bored, and she couldn’t what to get rid of him.
“Can you please give me the privacy I deserve? You’re way too close to me that I'd like any man to come, not you at least.” She rolled her eyes exasperatedly and she wished she hadn't done that because to Jack, it felt as though she was begging him to scoop her into his arms, because he moved even closer that she had to shift on the chair.
“Have I made you become afraid of men, Anna?” It pleased him to think so, she noticed. And it she might have to burst his bubbles even though that was the reality of what was happening. She was afraid of any man coming closer to her, and it was all thanks to him. And what she hated him more for was that she was hardly resisting him now, and she didn’t even know where that feeling came from. She thought she had hated him? Then why was she having these thoughts about him and the way his breath fanned her skin was a torture she had never imagined she would ever get through in her life.
She turned, trying too hard to put up with a hard expression even though she was sure that the chances of Jack seeing through her thick skin were so high that she hated herself for unknowingly baring her soul out to him. “Sorry to burst your bubbles, but do you think what you did to me was enough to make me start being afraid of men, Jack? How pathetic that thought must’ve been.” She flashed him a sly smile and turned her attention back to the television. She was aware that he had moved closer to her now, did he know? That she was merely breathing now, and it would only take him another minute for her heart to stop being calm like it was now?
“That is relieving then, because I thought you’d carry the damage I gave you for eternity. But it seems like I have more spaces in your heart which needs to be broken, don’t you think?” She sharply turned to look at him, not knowing his face was close to her body that when she turned, she had her lips directly on his and her eyes bulged out as though they were saucers and he smiled at her.
She abruptly went to her feet and was glaring at him, at the same time, trying so hard to calm her raging heart. It came back to her in a rush, the feelings she had felt when he had kissed her in Spain. How softly he had held her, how badly she ached for another kiss from him, but she’d rather die than have herself thrown at him ever again in her life. “What the hell do you think you’re doing, Jack?!” She asked in an enraged voice and wondered if there was anyone that would save her from this man. What did he think he was trying to do? Or better, what was he trying to find out because the look on his face was enough to tell her that whatever it was he was trying to find out, had been successful.
“Oh, so my assumptions weren’t bad after all.” He was moving closer to her in such a seductive stride that Anna had to be taking a step back with each step he took forward. Why was he doing this to her? She would rather they fight than have him emotionally playing with her. “Don’t take a step toward me again, Jack!” She warned through gritted teeth, but it seems as though her threats were a fuel to whatever mission he had.
“Why? Are you afraid that you’d throw yourself on me if I do?” He was grinning, and she was still taking a step back because she couldn't believe what was trying to happen with her.
She shook her head, still trying to emote herself as the strong person she wanted him to believe she was, “One more step forward, and I'd make sure you regret it, Jack.” Her palms were getting sweaty and she found her knees going weak until she felt urge to hold onto something or lay on something. What the hell was wrong with her entire body?
That smirk, had it always been beautiful, or she was just seeing the beauty in it now? There was a chord of wire behind her and she got tangled into it that the next thing she felt was her getting lulled backward but instead of her to fall down on the tiled floor, Jack firmly held her, and they fell onto the three-seater with a loud thud. She was laying below and him above, and when she opened her eyes to have him staring unabashedly at her, Anna knew this would be the very end of her. Jack Roberts will be the end of her.