Chapter 34: Smirks Travel

“I guess that is a challenge, my future wife.”

The simplicity on his face made me scoff. He tried to take my hand but I jerked it off and took a step back.

“Didn’t your parents teach you to keep your hands off women you aren’t familiar with?”

“Oh, I am sure they would have,” He looked back at me as he kept his hand back in his pockets. “If they weren’t busy drowning in alcohol and being abusive.”

Emotions flickered in my eyes for a moment. His parents were abusive? Alcoholic? Heartless to say, this seems like a plot twist in a cliché novel rather than real life.

“And if you think you can be heartless and emotionless like you want to,” He took a step toward me while I looked down, “Then that’s not possible for the Scarlet I know.”

As he started to walk past me, I turned around. “You don’t know me.”

He stopped but didn’t turn toward me.

I continued, “You never knew me, Xavier. And now the person you are going to know, she… might not meet your expectations. She might not follow your orders like a doll.”

He turned around and chuckled. “I guess you don’t know me either. Because if you did, you would’ve known I never wanted anything like that.”

“Well, I guess we are both unfortunate.”

“I know you have this… passion to prove me wrong and make me suffer, Scarlet,” He said in a low tone, “But make sure Drew doesn’t have to suffer because of this.”

“He wouldn’t. Here is a fun fact: I love him more than you can ever.”

He smiled, turned around, and walked out.

…

No matter how fierce I presented myself to be, I was still afraid within my heart. There were so many things that could go wrong any moment and I knew that most of them were out of my hand — but I had to start somewhere.

Thankfully, he didn’t come back or say anything. I was so scared when he mentioned his thoughts about marriage. Maybe he was caught off guard when I retaliated.

Sighing, I went back to Drew’s room, locked it, and tried to fall asleep in the luxurious surroundings — while trying to ignore the fact that Max would be going crazy right now. He would hate me so much. God, I know just how to make the worst out of situations.

______________________

The next day, I woke up a little early. As soon as I regained my senses, I became a little jumpy. My surroundings seemed to be normal. I looked around to find Drew but he was not there.

“Drew? Andrew!?” I shouted as I got up and ran across the big room. Worries covered my entire conscience. When I couldn’t find him anywhere, I went out of the now-opened-door and reached the corridor.

Thankfully, I didn’t need to shout his name as I saw one of the maids roaming around who might help me. I had seen her around when I was brought here earlier — and she seemed to be one of the few friendly people.

“Hey. I am Scarlet. Have you seen my son? He is a six year old!” I said, not knowing how much she knew about Andrew.

She looked at me with confusion but then her lips curled into a small smile. “Oh yes. I saw a cute boy leaving the house just about thirty minutes ago. He was well dressed, although I am afraid, I know nothing about where he went.”

I nodded and smiled. “Thanks for telling me, uh… where—where is Mr. Xavier?”

“Oh, the boss must be in his own room as his time to leave for the company is still in an hour. If you want to meet him, you could go to the first floor from these stairs, and the first room will be your destination.” She said, while pointing towards a particular flight of stairs.

“Thank you so much!” I flashed a smile and she smiled back at me, going back to work.

I sighed as I turned towards the direction of the stairs. I didn’t want to meet Xavier at all, but I had to know where Drew went… and I was pretty sure he knew. Of course, he would know everything.

With cautious steps, I stepped down and finally stood in front of his room. It was quiet everywhere, but I came across at least six of the maids and servants roaming in the big mansion. I guess all of them were trained to be completely silent at work.

I took a deep breath.

‘Demand, don’t ask.’ I whispered to myself as I knocked on the devil’s door.

There was no reply even when I knocked again. I exhaled and finally said in a rather strong tone: “I am coming in, you better not be naked!”

I waited for a second before opening the door. He was sitting on the table, doing something on his laptop.

He looked at the door and then a small smirk made its way to his lips.

“I swear you miss me so much,” he said as he shut it down and got up. He turned toward me, kept his hand in his pocket and painted a clever face. “How many times have you pictured me naked?”

“Let me count, how about NEVER? I need to know where Drew is!”

He sighed and shook his head. “You are such a careless mother. I wonder how you took care of Andrew for so long.”

“Where is he?” I said slowly, exaggerating on each word. “Tell me right now, Xavier Valencian!”

He looked at me and smirked again. “Yeah? And what would you do if I don’t tell you, Scarlett Walker? Kill me?”

He took a few steps toward me slowly and I stared back at him to intimidate him, but all in vain. He kept moving till he was directly in front of me — so close, that I almost gave up on my steady breathing and fierce persona.

“No, but I will fight back till I can!” I said the obvious, without hesitating.

“Did I ever tell you that this endeavour just made you a lot more sexier?” He said as he kept his hand on both of my cheeks.

His eyes stared into mine with a strange passion. They seemed to be piercing but also searching for something. His wicked sly smile made matters worse.

However, I didn’t flinch and continued giving him my death stare. I knew how to cope up with all this — the scar of my face will forever remind me.

“Where is Andrew, Xavier?” I asked again, trying to keep any other conversation at bay.

“Why don’t you try getting the answer out of your own, woman?” He said in his usual dominating tone as he tried to come even more near. I had to take some steps back to maintain normal distance but it didn’t work because he took the same number of steps toward me.

That happened till I reached the wall — and nothing good happens after that. Like, ever.

He pushed me against the wall as he got the first opportunity. I gasped but didn’t lose my cool. I continued looking at him with the same cold eyes but he came near my face — and his breath fanned over my mouth.

“Do what you did in London once again, Scarlet,” He whispered, “Give in to your fantasies. Feel it again. I know you want to, so what’s stopping you?”

I closed my eyes and shook my head slowly. “It is human nature to learn from mistakes.”

“It is human nature to repeat the activities that makes them happier. So do it, Scarlet and no one will know. I assure you.”

For a second, I was so tempted — but I knew what was right. I opened my eyes and with all my strength, I pushed him away. Finding the opportunity as he stumbled back, I ran to the other side of the room, picked up his gun from his laptop table and pointed it at him.

“Where. Is. Drew?” I said — and this time, the smirk was on my face.