82. A Third Degree Burn
82. A Third Degree Burn
Emara Stone
Dr. Xavier Lance.
I freeze, watching Dakota’s psychiatrist standing beside my bestie like he owns that spot.
The same tall, ridiculously fine looking man with sharp cheekbones, dark hair, and that I-know-everything calm stare, which keeps on analysing your childhood trauma.
Xavier lifts one elegant eyebrow at me, looking mildly amused. While his hand rests comfortably on Ana’s back like he has every right to be there.
“You!” My mouth drops as I recognise the psycho doctor, dressed in all black like a grim reaper himself.
“What are you doing with him?” I ask my bestfriend as if she has gone mad.
“Wait.. You know Dr. Lance?” Ana asks me, looking more shocked than I am.
“Have seen him around.” My gaze finds the lunatic doctor again and I narrow my eyes at him.
“Emara.” Xavier smiles at me. The kind of smile that intimidates people without even trying.
“I was expecting to see you here.” He says in a smooth as tonic voice, casually withdrawing his hand from the back of my bestie, and slipping it into his pocket.
But I already saw it.
“Where is Dakota?” He asks me as if I am his personal secretary.
“With Ryan and his father.” I reply uninterestedly.
Grey eyes jerk up and his sharp gaze scans the room with mild curiosity, until they land on the group I just left.
“Excuse me, ladies.” He states, before walking away in their direction.
I quietly watch the scene unfold like an entertaining reality TV show as Xavier joins the cult of evil trio.
“So, that’s Dakota.” Ana whispers, finally laying eyes on the man I have been ranting about for weeks.
“Yep.” I reply, dry as dust.
“Is he the same guy with wolf tattoo who had beaten Ryan to a bloody period pad?” She asks me curiously.
“That’s the one.” I say, watching him keenly as her.
Dakota stands there straight with a glass of champagne, looking every bit dangerous and powerful he is.
Ana leans closer to me and whispers in a low devilish voice, “He is hot!”
I scoff loudly, “Yeah! Hot like a third degree burn.”
Even from across the crowded hall, his green eyes are locked directly on me. They watch me hotly, without blinking, like he is trying to set me on fire.
“My God! He is soo wrapped around you.” Ana sneers, teasingly.
“Yeah! Wrapped around me like a snake.” I roll my eyes, “He won’t let me go. He won’t let me live. Or breathe.”
“And wants to choke you.” She chuckles quietly.
As if he could hear us, Dakota’s gaze only intensified. He doesn’t even pretend to listen to Xavier anymore.
He is laser focused on me like a predator on his prey.
“If looks could undress, you would be naked under this chandelier right now.” Ana lets out a soft laugh after observing him too.
“Woah!” I nearly choke on the air, turning to her.
“Speaking of undressing.. What exactly are you doing looking so sexy next to Dr. Psycho?” I narrow my eyes as I smell something cooking.
“Looks like someone is planning to get naked after this date.” I tease, sipping my drink while eyeing her red hot mafia dress that she only reserves for special crimes.
“Em! He is my professor, and I am his student.” Ana retorts defensively, “And tonight, I am just his plus one. Nothing els-”
“Emara!” I turn my head, spotting Hardick and Stacey walking up to us, “You look amazing.”
“Oh, thank you. You look beautiful, Stacey.” I compliment her back, and introduce them to Ana, when suddenly we hear a loud, annoying voice cut through the air like a dying seagull.
“AMY!”
We all turn at the same time, and watch Daniel standing there in a blinding white tuxedo, staring at my bestfriend like he an addict found drugs after weeks.
His mouth hangs open. Eyes wide. Brain clearly offline.
“Oh my god!” He breathes, keeping a hand on his heart like he has just been stabbed, “Amy! It’s really you.”
“Oh, no!” Ana freezes beside me.
“Oh, yes! Amy.” Daniel steps forward, ignoring my existence completely.
“I have been looking for you for years. I asked everyone about you. I even followed every single Amy on Instagram and DMed just to ask if they were my Amy.”
We just stand there, watching awkwardly while his hoe eyes stay glued to Ana, like she is the last line of crystal meth on the table.
“My heart is doing backflips right now.” Daniel speaks breathlessly, “I have been thinking about you all this time. Manifesting us together and now, I finally found you. Amy!”
“My name is not Amy, Idiot!” Ana snaps at him in annoyance, “Do you even know my real name?”
“It’s okay. I’ll read it from our marriage certificate.” His eyes blink at her dreamily.
“You are crazy.” She grits, hiding her first-hand embarrassment.
“And you are a magician, babe!” Daniel states like he is fully possessed, “Because whenever I look at you, everything else disappears. Even your clothes.”
Ana glares at him like she is about to laser him, while the rest of us just stare at him, wondering what species is this man?
“Woah! I love your eyes.” He blurts out, “I want to make them roll back.”
Ana rolls her eyes immediately, “You just did.”
“Well, I am not a photographer. But I can picture us together. Naked. In 4K.” Daniel smiles at her innocently.
I can’t believe he totally forgot about me!
“Will you shut up? You are embarrassing me, Idiot!” Ana growls, walking away, only for him to trail after her like a puppy.
“Is he crack?” Stacey asks me, genuinely looking for an answer.
“No.” I smile sweetly, “He is on crack.”
Welcome to the crazy land of cuckoos!
Suddenly, I feel a tingling sensation running on my skin, and I look up, straight into the stark green eyes.
Dakota watches me with that same intense, unblinking stare, like I am the only thing in this entire hall worth his attention.
And the worst part is.. A tiny, stupid, traitorous part of me kinda liked it.
A strange heat twists in my lower belly, and I try to calm it down with champagne, but it didn’t work.
I need more champagne. Or therapy. Probably both.
But first, I need to pee.
“Excuse me.” I mutter to Stacey and Hardick, “I’ll be right back.” And head towards the hallway leading to washroom.
My heels click-clack against the marble floor, when I hear heavy footsteps join in right behind me.
“Emara!”
A commanding voice roars through the corridor behind me. I roll my eyes, not looking back as I already know who he is.
I don’t stop, instead walk faster as those heavy footsteps grow louder behind me with urgency.
CLINK-CRASH
I flinch at the sharp sound of glass shattering violently against the floor, and spin around to see broken shards of champagne glass glittering across the marble like ice.
Dakota had thrown his glass in anger and is now, walking towards me with long, angry steps. His calm-as-CEO aura shifts to an unpredictably violent one, as if something unhinged and evil has taken over him.
Like his other dark side.