Chapter 31 Only her - Miguel's POV
THE PAST
Madison attends an elite ballet school. And I have to be careful before her driver sees me following them whenever he picks her up at school and drives her there.
I long to get inside the studio and watch her dance, but I know that's a risk I can't take.
I love watching her dance.
I've managed to sneak into the auditorium every time she rehearses for some or other event. It's the look on her face that does it for me when the classical music starts. Her body becomes a musical instrument that twirls in ways that are mesmerizing.
She's become too close to fucking Ben.
It seems that the girls in school hate her. I can understand why.
Madison Smith is exquisitely beautiful. The kind of beautiful that makes people create art. And apart from her parents being celebrity royalty, she's also linked to the Moretti family that has become one of the wealthiest families in the world because of Alessandro Moretti's business skills.
She has everything and more, and other women don't like that.
But they don't see what I see.
They don't see the blush that creeps up her neck and blooms on her cheeks when there is too much attention on her. That the only place she feels truly comfortable is when she's dancing up on that stage.
She doesn't want to be in the spotlight.
The spotlight inevitably finds her.
Ben saw that she needed a friend, and then he striked.
I can't say it wasn't genius. But if he hurts her, I'll kill him. I really will, I have been waiting way too long to wrap my hands around that snake's throat and squeeze the life out of him.
Society would frown upon the fact that I killed my only brother, and if it wouldn't land me in jail forever, I would've rinsed the world of the asshole a long time ago.
I park my car in a spot where her driver won't see me, and I wait until he opens the door and goes with her inside.
Oh yes, if I was Madison's father, I would guard her like the rarest jewel of the earth.
Then, like the creep that I am, I get out of my car and walk past the studio, just to catch a glimpse. But today, she's not on the first floor so I can't see her through the windows.
I hate that I have to turn around and go home. I hate that fucking place with my whole being, and what makes it worse, is that my dear old brother is there hanging out with his posse who follows him around like he's the president or something.
I linger at a cafe across the street for a bit, buying a piece of cake that I don't even eat before I make my way to the ballet studio again. Maybe this time I will get to see her.
It must be my fucking lucky day, because just as I'm about to walk past the entrance, the door opens and out comes Madison Smith.
I hurry my steps until I collide with her, and I catch her in my arms before she hits the ground.
"Watch out!" I exclaim, my hands going around her leotard clad waist to steady her.
I should get an award for my performance.
She looks up at me with those wondrous green eyes and her full lips open.
I have the insane urge to bend down and kiss her on the street for the world to see that she belongs to me.
She's the most precious thing I've ever had the pleasure of holding in my arms.
"Miguel." She breathes my name out, and it's never sounded so good.
"Are you okay?"
The smooth skin on her forehead frowns and she looks behind me. "What are you doing here?"
"I was at the cafe across the street, they have the best chocolate cake." The lie slips easily from my mouth, and I reluctantly let her go when she steps back. "What are you doing here?"
It seems like she can't look me in the eye, those mesmerizing green eyes looking everywhere but at me.
"I go to this ballet academy." She clears her throat and look at the man who stops next to me. "I need to get my extra pointes from the car."
"Do we have a problem here?" The driver asks me in a threatening voice.
"Oh, Miguel goes to my school." She says quickly as if she doesn't want me getting into trouble. "He's Benedict's older brother."
I love how she says my name. I hate that she associates it with that asshole.
"I have to go." I let my eyes burn into Madison's one more time, slowly traveling down her body dressed in a pink leotard and tiny black shorts. God, she's exquisite. "See you around, Madison."
I can feel her eyes on me as I make my way over to my car. She's looking at me, and that fact makes my heart swell in my chest.
I drive home with a rare smile on my face. She was blushing when I caught her in my arms. Maybe she will look at me like that again tomorrow at school, or maybe I should make another cafe run and next time, maybe get her a coffee. Do ballerinas even drink coffee? I'm going to have to look that up.
As suspected, Ben and his rowdy friends are playing video games in the entertainment room. Why the fuck do they always have to be here? I can't wait for this year to be over.
I grab an apple from the fridge before making my way to my bedroom and I switch on my computer to do some research on ballerinas' diets. I'm sure it's something like lean protein and complex carbs.
I'm so engrossed in watching a video of a day in the life of a professional ballerina, that I almost don't notice the door opening.
Caroline slides inside and locks the door behind her before leaning on it, a sly smile on her face.
Dread settles in the pit of my stomach. This is the second time this week.
She discards her dressing gown while walking over to me. "Your mother is behind on her rent. Again. I paid her electricity bill the other day."
When she drops on her knees in front of me and lower my zipper licking her lips, I don't see her.
Instead, the only person I see has green eyes that glitters like emeralds, and long dark hair. And when I close my eyes and throw my head back, it's her that I imagine.
Only her.