Chapter 76 MY FLAME
\[NEW YORK, CAIUS' HOUSE\]
"And when is the appointment?"
"A month from now," Doctor Frat replied from the background.
"You've handled the necessary things, right?" Lorraine asked, tracing her finger along Drex's face.
"I've spoken with the doctor. He's from Chinese, and is based there as well. I've also confirmed that he knows his work. Trust me when I say he's the best doctor for the surgery. Doctor Chen is his name, you can look him up on the internet."
A smile appeared on Lorraine's lips. "A few months to come, and I'll be the type of girl Drexton likes. It's still far, but it's worth the wait, right, Drex?"
The robot nodded twice.
"Good boy," she patted his head.
"I will forward his contact details later in the day."
"It's fine. I couldn't have done all this without your help. You are the best doctor, and I trust you'll continue to keep the secret like you've always done."
"You can trust me on that, Lorraine," Doctor Frat said.
"That's more like it." Lorraine hung up.
"I can't wait," she spoke to Drex. "I can already imagine the look in your eyes. Under the neon light, you'll see me exactly how you like girls. Thick thighs, fuller breasts." She squeezed her breast, moaning in response to her fantasies.
"I'm so obsessed with you, Drex." She buried her face in the robot's neck, licking it.
The door pushed open, and Caius walked in.
She sprang up and wanted to lie, but seeing the shocked look on his face, she knew he had overheard her.
"Ca... Caius."
"You are in love with Drexton?" he asked.
\[SICILY, BALCONY\]
Being in James' company was not a bad idea. She was surprised to see him at the event, but soon got over it. He's among Drexton's board members, so he's meant to be present.
Seeing him was a coincidence, and she hadn't regretted it one bit. She was glad he found her.
And speaking of Dexton, it's been a while since he left. She had thought of texting him, but changed her mind. He told her not to go out of sight, meaning wherever he was, he could see her.
If that's true, then he should find her.
Her phone was switched off.
Let's see how he'd find her.
"At times, I envy him. Rumors have it that he made his first million at the age of seventeen," James said, looking at the stars.
"Seventeen? That's way too young."
How James and she got so engrossed in conversation about Drexton was what she didn't know. But she has learned a lot of things Drexton himself would never tell her.
"I know, right?" James looked at her. "It might be a rumor, but it's the truth."
"You know, I made my first one million at the age of 20, and that was with the help of my dad. Drexton is amazing when it comes to business, and, truthfully, I admire him. You know the board members hate him because of his age. He's 25 and our head, it's kind of embarrassing," he chuckled.
Ixora couldn't help but be stunned.
She'd never wondered his age, but she just found out he's 25, that young.
He built his empire at the age of 17. Wow.
"I'm guessing his parents must be brilliant enough to give birth to such a genius," Ixora muttered.
"Parents?" James asked. "I don't think his parents played a part in his success. If they did, the Blackthorn family would be all over the internet."
"Are you trying to say..." she trailed.
James nodded. "I think so."
Ixora's eyes held all she had to say. No spoken words, just admiration.
Drexton will keep on surprising her, but if his parents aren't rich, how is it possible?
The more she gets to know about Drexton, the more confused she gets.
And Joanna is not Drexton's mother, does it mean?
"Enough of the Drexton talk." James' voice brought her back to earth.
Their gaze found each other.
"You are very beautiful."
Ixora brushed a strand of her hair, suddenly feeling awkward.
He took slow strides towards her until her back met the wall.
His leather scent filled her nostrils, and she hated to admit it, but it was suffocating.
No other scent can intoxicate her like Drexton's.
She came to earth, realizing Drexton's thoughts had been invading her memory over again.
She doubts if she'd be able to stay without thinking of him.
"J... James, what are you doing?" she stuttered, avoiding his gaze at all costs.
"Shhh." He placed his finger on her lips. "Don't speak. Let me admire you."
Ixora gulped. "It's suddenly cold here, let's head back." She smiled.
"I'll go first."
She turned to leave, but he grabbed her hand and pinned her to the wall.
"James, what are you doing?"
"Don't you get it, Ixora?" He trailed his finger along her exposed shoulder. "Being friendly to you is all a pretense. I can't keep up with it anymore. I want to marry you, and have you all to myself."
The look in his eyes was filled with something Ixora could recognize very well. Lust.
"I'm not canceling the alliance anytime soon. I befriended you just to make you fall for me, but you have to get close to Drexton all the time. Our parents want us to get married, and we are going to go ahead with it."
"You've gone mad," Ixora muttered, not feeling shocked to know the truth about his pretense.
Maybe her life's now filled with betrayals—that at a point, it doesn't hurt anymore. Betrayals.
"Mad only for you," he whispered, dragging his thumb along her lips.
She wanted to bite his hand, feeling clearly irritated by his touch.
If it were Drexton's, she'd have melted immediately. Her knees would barely stand on their own, and she'd be wishing he'd do more than just a finger on her lips.
And Drexton, where was he? Not that she can't get away from James if she wants. Aside from Drexton, no man can dominate her.
He claims to know all her movements, so why doesn't he try finding her? She darted her eyes around, checking for even his shadow.
"Looking for your savior?" James held her chin, focusing her to look at him.
Then a smile graced Ixora's lips.
She could smell the scent. Intoxicating and mind-wrecking as usual.
He was around, probably coming.
Ixora's eyes held with James.
"Yes," she replied in a daring tone.
James narrowed his brow in confusion.
And then he said, a few miles away from James. "You love disobeying me, don't you, firefly?"
His voice did what it has always done to Ixora. Going into her system and traveling straight to her core. Clenching.
James, with a glared look, turned to Drexton.
Drexton strode to Ixora, his steps mighty and precise. He held her shoulder, running his eyes along her face.
Whatever he was searching for, a sign of James' touch on her body, she had no idea, but she loved it.
"Wanted to see if you could find me," Ixora replied, subconsciously licking her lips.
Drexton's gaze darkened, and in the blink of an eye, she was on his shoulder.
He began walking away.
Ixora became oblivious of James's presence again. "What are you doing?"
Slap.
He spanked her ass.
"Quiet."
Ixora's lips parted, but no words came out.
Suddenly, she smiled, an idea coming into her head. Naughty.
She leaned near, her teeth meeting his earlobe in a soft bite.
Drexton didn't stop walking, but she felt his muscles tense, and she knew it did work.
"Don't start a fire you can't put out," Drexton warned, dangerously.
Ixora bit it, slower and more sexily than the first. "Does the flame ever stop burning?" She trailed her finger from his earlobe down to his neck. "You are the flame, my flame," she whispered.
Drexton abruptly stopped his steps, taking his gaze into her eyes.
Those pretty eyes held nothing but intense desire for him.
She was smiling innocently, like she wasn't the one who played naughtily while on his shoulder.
A smirk, which Ixora noticed, tugged at the corner of his lips. A meaningful smirk.
He tightened his arm around her and went out of sight.
All this time, James' eyes never left them. His fingers were balled into a fist, veins stretching on his neck, threatening to pop out.
Once again, his plan has failed.
Uncovering Drexton was like a puzzle and a maze all stacked together.
Getting close to Ixora was to get on Drexton's nerves and make him lose his cool. Maybe then, maybe he would be able to show his true colors. The almighty Drexton, admired by the public, would react in a way he wanted. Then he'd get a clue about who he really is, but the whole thing was useless.
He wouldn't deny it. At some point, he lost his senses and wanted to truly kiss Ixora. She's his soon-to-be wife anyway.
Remembering that, he took a picture of them.
He dialed Georgia's number.
"Hello, aunt," he paused, running his tongue along his upper teeth. "I just sent you a picture."