Abigail Lacoste
I didn’t know what fate had in store for me, much less that it would be by the side of the governor of California, a man completely outside of my world, who was risking everything to stay with me. I took the morning-after pill, and the next day I went to college, but I ended up feeling sick and going back home. My throat was inflamed, I had a fever, and I was sneezing. Seeing me in such a miserable state, my aunt convinced me to go to the hospital. While taking the medication, I kept looking at my phone, but there was nothing—he hadn’t sent me any message, and that made me feel a little scared.
“Take it, you need to take the antibiotics on time,” my aunt said as she entered my room after we got back from the hospital.
“Thank you, aunt.” I dropped the phone on my bed; she smiled and sat next to me.
“Are you sure you’re feeling okay? You look a little sad.”
“After these medicines and the injection I got, I’m fine.” I held her hand. “You didn’t tell my parents anything, right?”
“No, don’t worry. I didn’t want to upset your mother; it’s just a cold. You’ll get better soon.”
I hugged my aunt; she was a true angel in my life, and I felt bad for not being able to tell her about my romance with the governor. But I knew exactly what she would say and how silly I was for following my heart. I wrapped myself in the thick blankets, looking at my phone one more time—no messages from him. Frustrated, I eventually fell asleep, trying to forget Órion Fantone.
A week passed, and the governor simply disappeared. In the first few days, I still insisted—I called and sent messages—but after a while, I faced reality and realized I had been a complete fool; I was just another fling for him.
“Miss Abigail.” I looked back and saw the governor’s head of security, but I kept walking away. I was leaving college and needed to catch the bus home. “Wait.” He grabbed my arm.
“What the hell do you want?” I said loudly, losing patience; I wasn’t going to fall for Órion’s whims again.
“The governor sent me to get you and take you to his flat.” I smiled bitterly. After a week, he was after me again—maybe he just wanted to play with my heart some more.
“Tell him to go to hell.” I pulled my arm free.
I walked as fast as I could, boarding the bus that had just stopped at the stop, and took a deep breath, turning off my phone. He thought he could go days without contacting me and, when he missed me, I would run into his arms. But I was going to show him that it’s not like that—I’m not disposable, nor a fool who will wait for his desires and whims.
When I got home, I ran to my room, trying in every way to distance myself from the phone and focus on my studies, but Órion kept running through my thoughts, and when I heard the doorbell ring, my heart nearly jumped out of my chest.
“Why aren’t you answering me? And why didn’t you go with my head of security?” When I opened the door, I was bombarded by his questions. I looked at him, seeing his tired face and dark circles under his eyes.
“Go away, Órion,” I said angrily, not letting my poor heart fall into temptation.
“I’m only leaving when you explain why you’re treating me so badly.”
“You disappeared for a week,” I crossed my arms, “didn’t even send me a simple message.”
We were still at the apartment entrance. My aunt was working, and I knew it was too risky; someone could pass by and see him next to me.
“I’m sorry.” He took a few steps into the living room and came toward me, stroking my hair. “Cachinhos, my daughter had an accident, and I was with her the whole time at the hospital.”
“What?” Surprised, I stared at him; he wouldn’t lie to me about something so serious. “How? But there was nothing in the news, and I didn’t hear any gossip at college.”
“My assistant handled that for me. It wasn’t good for everyone to know the governor’s daughter crashed the car completely drunk.”
Órion closed his eyes, running his hands through his hair before going to the sofa and lowering his head for a few seconds. Then he looked at me, and he looked terrible.
“I can’t stay here long, but I want you to meet me tonight at my flat. I need you.”
My heart was already completely softened. I walked over and sat beside him. Órion pulled me into his arms, smelling my neck.
“I was dying to see you, but with so much on my mind, I had to stay away for a while.”
“Is she okay?” I asked, worried, stroking his face.
“Just some scratches and a few stitches on her arm, but she’ll recover. Now I have to go.”
He stood up, but I held his hand, making our eyes meet, and kissed his lips. My heart was completely surrendered; I loved him so much.
“I’ll wait for you at my flat.”
“All right, I’ll be there.”
I let him leave before throwing myself onto the sofa. I wanted to be by his side every day, every hour, but that romance couldn’t happen, and I would always live with the minimum. Night came, and I got ready to go to the flat. I was fully recovered from the cold, but my aunt still made me wear a nice jacket. I kept lying to her, and it destroyed me inside. When I entered the flat, I was surprised— all the lights were off, with only a path of candles leading upstairs. Slowly, I followed the path to a bedroom door, and when I opened it, I found Órion holding a beautiful bouquet of red roses, smiling.
“Forgive me for my absence. Even with so much on my mind, I should have sent at least one message to my girlfriend.” My eyes filled with tears, and I ran into his arms.
“I thought you were tired of me and just wanted to take advantage.” He held my face in his hands, wiping the tears running down my cheeks.
“Of course not. How could you think that, Cachinhos?” He placed the roses on the bed before kissing me. “You’re one of the best things that ever happened to me. If I’m alive again, it’s thanks to you and your smile.”
“Órion…” I kissed him again, and he smiled as I started to undo the buttons of his blazer. “I missed you so much.”
“Me too, my love.”
He threw me onto the bed, one of his hands sliding down, pulling my small panties aside before massaging my clitoris. I moaned, throwing my head back. I had tried everything to run from this love, but it was impossible to say no to the heart and its desires. Órion didn’t take long to be inside me, and with a steady rhythm, he made me moan, beg for more. Our bodies were hot and thirsty, my heart pounding, my breath quickening, and when I reached my orgasm, I scratched his back, losing my balance.
“Oh… you are my paradise and my downfall.”
“I love you, governor, so much.”
He gave himself over to pleasure, coming inside me. Órion fell onto the bed, pulling me to his chest, stroking my hair, and kissing my head. We were sweaty, and the whole room smelled of sex. We stayed silent for a few seconds; he was distant and thoughtful.
“I’m so tired. Melissa has never been the same since her mother died.” It was the first time he touched on that subject. “I don’t know where I went wrong.”
“Maybe she just wanted to get your attention.” I looked at him. “Take her to dinner, talk about her day, what she likes to do, make time for your daughter.”
“I don’t know how to talk to Melissa. Every time I look into her eyes, I feel guilty about her mother’s death.” He smiled bitterly. “That bullet was supposed to hit my chest and…”
“Shh, it wasn’t your fault.” I got up from his arms, stroking his face. “It was a fatal accident that could have happened to anyone—even me.” I shrugged, smiling. He stood and sat beside me.
“Never say that again. Nothing can happen to you.” He pulled me into his arms. “I wouldn’t survive.”
The pain in his words moved my heart. The guilt over his wife’s death had made Órion shut himself off from the world, resulting in an unhappy life with his daughter. He couldn’t forgive himself and finally move forward with Melissa.