"Are you sure you don't wanna try their dessert?" I inquired absentmindedly, her forehead slowly wrinkled as she threw me a 'what's going on with you' stare.

I inwardly winced when it dawned on me that I had asked her perhaps more than five times now. I was too lost watching her too engrossed as she finished the rest of my salmon. I could hear her silent moan as she chewed the pinkish fish flesh while I enjoyed the last drops of the wine.

She let out a soft chuckle and shook her head, a few blonde tendrils of her hair that got loose from her hair tie framed her face moved as her head shake from side to side. "Again, I'm too full, Alex. You forgot I had two meals," she glared, good-naturedly at me.

I realized the waiter was still standing awkwardly close to me while waiting for me to pay the bill.

"I'm gonna despise myself even more if I'm gonna have desserts." She shook her head as she added. "You didn't eat at all. All you had is the wine," she pointed out. She even cocked her eyebrow to the side, towards the direction of the empty bottle. A soft grunt escaped her lips momentarily. An apparent disapproval of her actions.

I shook my head briskly as I involuntarily pulled the left side of my coat and my free hand dug into the inside small bag sewn onto my coat for my wallet without leaving my eyes off hers. I feel like an invisible thread is pulling me closer, drawing me into the depth of her deep blue liquid of pools.

I never thought I would find that kind of love my parents had.

"Still, you should have ordered another one," she frowned. She looked embarrassed mingled with a pang of regret flitted across her face.

"So you can have it again?" I joked lamely, hoping to illicit another laughter from her. I didn't like seeing her face filled with negative emotions such as guilt or embarrassment.

A flush of embarrassment rose to her cheeks and she looked rather appetizing than that smoked salmon or any of the dish on the Rosemary & Thyme's menu. Then she let out a soft laughter, shaking her head as she gently dropped her back on the back of her cushioned seat.

"Yes, I should have ordered another one... but I'm not hungry, babe. So please, stop worrying about me. Though I find it so sweet," I grinned and she chuckled.

I pulled my black wallet out of the left breast pocket of my coat and pulled out my credit card.

"And I don't want to see your pretty face carrying that guilt," I chuckled, tone light and cheerful trying to wash away all that traces of regrets off her face. "I'm happy that you are eating good." I gave her a reassuring smile, and I badly wanted to lean towards her and kiss that guilt away.

I hesitantly tore my eyes off her and shifted it to the black leather bound folder sitting on the table in front of me, waiting patiently for my attention.

I unfolded the bill holder and slipped the black card into the small pocket intended for any payment card on the left side, while a rectangular piece of paper neatly sitting on the right side of the bill folder. My eyes briefly ran across the receipt without really paying attention and folded the folder. I grabbed the folder and handed it to the waiter.

The waiter took the folder and I caught a sight of him tapping on the small machine before I tore my eyes away and rest it on my happiness.

I may have been looking like a dumb the whole time, my face felt like it had been stretched too much from smiling for so long, but I couldn't help it, and I don't care.

"No more fussing about my lunch, agreed?" I said.

"Yes," she agreed.

"You should try their desserts—" she added, perhaps not thinking as she immediately bit her lips, trying to bit back whatever words she'd wanna add.

A deep, throaty chuckle left my lips. I was also rewarded with a hearty laughter from her which made my heart swell with so much happiness.

I'll get my dessert later in the car. I'd like to add but I fear she might feel even more embarrassed with the waiter close by.

"Alright, I'm over that topic. Forget I said it," she said, eyes alight with amusement.

When the laughter died down, she stared at me with a serious face. "Thank you, Alex!" She smiled so sincerely. "Thank you for giving me your food. And for being so nice to me."

I returned her smile with my own. "I'll give you everything, Babe!"

She smiled but she rolled her eyes at the same time.

I would love to see her eyes rolled back as she reach her peak, writhing underneath me while I rode her fast and hard.

I quickly tamped down that erotic images out of my nasty-clouded brain and tried to focus on her gorgeous face.

She didn't say anything, but her eyes spoke, grateful. Our eyes locked and the waiter standing to my left forgotten. The time seemed had stopped, for me.

"Thank you, Sir." The waiter's voice brought us back from our trance.

He held out the card to me and I took it without looking at him.

"Hope to see you again, soon," he added before he left us.

I stashed the card back inside my wallet that I didn't realized I was still holding and deposited it back in the breast pocket of my coat.

Clara Bell turned slightly to retrieve her coat that was hanging on the back of her seat.

I caught a sight of her creamy breast covered with a black lacy bra briefly, but that tiny thing didn't deter my alcohol- infused brain from forming such arousing images.

I quickly erased that images before I'm walking out of this place with a hard head pointing at everyone it meets along the way back to the car.

There will be a right place and right time for that.

My gaze languidly moved to her peach coloured, almost glowing bare arms to the junction of her shoulder and arms.

There was a strong urge to ran my tongue along that silky radiant skin, taste her and lick her all over.

"I really misjudge you," she chuckled softly as she shrugged on her coat, drawing me out of my nasty thought, my eyes hastily met hers.

"As they say, don't judge a book by it's cover," I teased, my voice sounded so low and deep, a little breathless. A hint of rasp.

She let out a hearty laugh and I'm relieved she wasn't aware of the changes of my tone.

"If you are a book, your cover isn't ugly. It draws attention," she giggled, and it widened my smile as her face lit up, her eyes wrinkled as she laughed with no care in the world.

My heart cavorted watching her face glowed with happiness, her eyes twinkled with true joy and peace.

"I'd take that as a compliment," I said as I winked at her.

"How modest," she teased causing me to burst into laughters, deep and rumbling sound coming from my chest, oblivious to the eyes that drifted to us.

"I didn't know you have a sweet side," she teased as soon as the laughters simmered down.

"I do. You just never paid attention to me," I retorted back half jokingly as I stood and held out my hand. She took it and I help her on her feet, not that she need help getting up.

"I hate being the wrong one, but I must confess you're right. I judged you right away. I am sorry." she admitted looking up at me, entangling her dainty fingers on mine. A flash of regrets and remorse shaded her cheeks in pink hues.

"It's all in the past now," I replied as I smiled down at her and gave her hand a gentle squeeze in reassurance before turning my eyes away onto the door. Her hand is so soft against my hard one.

Holding her hands made my heart so full. My chest puffed out as we trudged down the aisles towards where Langdon was standing stiffly, oblivious to the eyes that was watching us. I felt like I was floating, up and up and into the heavenly realm. I wished the time had stopped.

We headed towards the exit door. Langdon was standing next to the door, holding it open.

Langdon was obviously holding back his smile as he looked anywhere but us. He had been the witnessed of all my failures concerning Clara Bell.

"Thank you, Langdon," Clara Bell muttered causing him to shift his eyes on her. He just briefly tilted his head with a small almost restrained smile on his thin lips.

We headed towards the elevator. We didn't wait that long when the door slid open. We entered at the same time, still hand on hand and Langdon came in. We were at the back while Langdon was in front of us.

The metal box jerked softly as it goes down. I leaned a little closer to Clara Bell, my free hand toying the back of her hand that was clasped on mine gently, almost just a brush. It's soft and silky. I brought it to my lips while my dark eyes was locked on hers and she blushed.

Dropping her hand, I leaned in closer, hovering her and she looked up. Her eyes darker than usually is, it only intensified that aching sensations in my lower belly. My whole body burned in want to take her there and then. Her sweet scent taunting my willpower, teasing me. My lower groin tightened.

I leaned in slowly, holding her eyes that mirrored mine. It only intensifies the aching on my groin. Her cerulean eyes turned darker blue, and I can feel the soft pants escaped her lips then held her breath before she close her eyes as my lips was a matchstick away from hers.

A light thud broke the spell just as my lips touched hers. She jumped back and as she looked away. She brushed her loose hair to the side. She gave me a small, embarrassed smile before before following Langdon out of the elevator.

I let out a disappointed groan and felt my crotch a little tighter. I looked down and to my annoyance, it is rather eye catching.

"Are you coming?" Clara Bell's voice brought my eyes up and met hers. I quickly stepped out of the metal box before it closes.

Clara Bell was holding her laughter and I know why. Her eyes briefly saw the bulging on my crotch.

I fought hard the heat that was creeping up to my cheeks.

What's the difference of wearing a boxer in a public.

I looked around the small room, and I was relieved to see that there was no one. But I'm sure anytime, someone would be coming to use the elevator.

I playfully glared at her when our eyes met. Her eyes was alight with amusement.

"This is your effect on me," I teased her and her face coloured with pink hues.

"Then hold it," she managed to reply, blushing furiously.

"We should head out," I said, taking her hand and clasped on mine. She didn't protest as I lead her to the door out of the building.

We crossed the street and Langdon was holding the door for us. Just before we reach the door, flashes of cameras directed at us. I quickly pulled my hand around Clara Bell, pulling her closer to me protectively, her head hang down as I lead her faster towards the car.

"What is your relationship to Ms. Valiente, Sir Demakis?"

I ignored the question from a young man, a reporter who out of nowhere popped out and blocking us. I wanted to knock them out of our way with my fist, but that would only draw more attention.

A few more accompanied the guy. Langdon came in rescue, pulling the reporters out of our way.

"What about Ms. Preira, Mr. Demakis?"

"Isn't it Ms. Preira and Ms. Valiente are bestfriend?"

"Ms. Valiente, since when you Mr. Demakis seeing each other?"

I ignored all the questions that was thrown at us while Clara Bell still had her head down, dodging all the cameras while I pushed our way out of them and with Langdon's help.

I quickly opened the door in the back seat and help Clara Bell inside before I slid in. Langdon slid in and turned the engine on.

When the car moved with the traffic, I felt Clara Bell's hand shaking and I reached it out, taking it and gave it a gentle squeeze.

She looked frightened and my heart squeezed.

"I'm sorry, Sir, Ms. Valiente," Langdon said, briefly catching my eyes on the rearview mirror before shifting his eyes back on the busy road. "I didn't see them coming," he added.

"It's alright, Langdon," she replied. Her voice a little shaky.

She looked at me, pulling her hand back, she gave me a small grateful smile.

"I thought I'm already used to them..." she sighed, and she pulled her small purse that was sitting on the other side of her. I didn't noticed she had it, and she left it in the car when we went to eat.

She was then busy rummaging inside her small bag, and I almost laugh cause with that tiny leather bag, it seemed that she couldn't find what is she looking for.

I shook my head, and dragged my eyes away from her.

I met Langdon's eyes briefly on the rearview mirror and spoke. "Did you get which networks they are from, Langdon?" I asked. "I thought I saw one with TMZ shirt.

"Yes, Sir. From TMZ and Daily Celebrity Gossip," he responded.

I pulled my phone out of my pocket and before I could dial my secretary's number, it rang.

It was Uncle Rafael.

"Hello, Uncle."

I turned my head on Clara Bell's direction and met with a pair of blue curious orbs. She was holding her phone.

"Is it my dad?" she mouthed at me.

I nodded my head and paid attention to the other line.

"Alex." Uncle Raffy started, "are you coming now?" he asked.

"Yes. We just had some lunch," I explained briefly our delays.

"It's okay. I was trying to call her, it seemed that she still hasn't turned her phone on." My eyes drifted to her phone and saw her phone lit up with a bitten apple flashed on her wide screen.

"She just turned it on. She left it in her purse in the car," I said.

"That's okay. I'm with Christopher and some other people right now here in our penthouse. I'd like you to drive her to her condo for now, and if you can stay with her for a bit until we are done with our meeting, that would be great. I'd like her to be here, but I don't think she'll agreed to whatever I had in mind. So I'd rather do it without her knowledge. When it is over, i'll eventually tell her," he explained.

I nodded my head as I looked out the window. Clara Bell was now busy texting.

"No problem, Uncle. If there is anything I could help, please let me know."

"You've done a lot already, and my wife and I are very grateful," he replied.

"I'll do everything for her," I said, in a determined tone.

"We know," he answered in a sincere tone. "Actually, I might need you to take her somewhere for awhile, while we are in trial against these perpetrators. And we are also trying to stop these reporters from printing out the news about the trial, or anything about my daughter. A lot is going right now, and I don't want my father-in-law to know what was happening here. He's a little crazy that old man."

My lips broke into a wide smile. In all the things that he mentioned, all that was registered in my brain is whisking Clara Bell away.

I have the best place. We have a Villa in Mykonos Island.

It's been a while since I was there. Last year, my family spent their Christmas there but my hands was tied up, I had to skip that Christmas with them.

"Sure, Uncle. I know where," I replied, turning my head to look at Clara Bell. She was now staring at me with brows knitted together.

"What?" she mouthed, a little frustrated. I'm relieved she can't hear what we were talking about.

Clara Bell scooted closer and was about to close her ear to the phone, with the phone being sandwich between our ears. "Great. I—"

"Clara Bell is here, Uncle!" I interjected before Clara Bell takes any hints of our plans.

She pulled her head with start and glared at me.

I acted innocently, mouthing her "what?"

"Alright, I'll just email you then," he said. "Can I talk to her for a bit?" he asked.

"Sure," then I handed her the phone.

She took it, grabbed it rather none too please, then shot me an icy glare.

"Yes, dad?" she spat, rolling her eyes at me before turning it away.

I chuckled. I looked out the window but my attention was fully on the pissed off lady next to me.

"Why can't I come now there?"

I heard her asked, her voice sharp. There was a pause and all I could hear was her sharp breathing. She had sense we were hiding something from her.

"Alright," she conceded after a long tensed silence. "I hope you're not hiding something from me, Dad," she sighed.

My head snapped to her direction. She was still looking through the window.

Then silence took over again but not for long.

"Alright. I love you. See you tonight," she murmured, dropping her eyes to the screen of the phone then turned it off.

"Langdon, to my condo please," she said before shifting her eyes to me, then she handed me back the phone.

"What did Dad say to you?" she asked.

I took my phone back and slid it back in the right breast pocket of my tweed coat as I answered her query, willing myself to act innocently.

"He said to take you to your condo and stay with you. Did he tell you why?" I asked her, feigning innocence.

Her eyes perused my face and I stilled myself, but my heart is starting to beat faster.

"He said he's taking mom for a dinner cause she's still mad she was left at the penthouse," she shook her head before letting out a deep sigh.

"I see," was all I said.

Her phone ringing took her attention away from me. I felt relieved for a bit.

She briefly looked at the screen before answering it.

"Hey, Brit!" I heard her say before I turned my eyes away.

The thought of whisking her away, alone with me made my heart swelled with happiness. It's a perfect place to propose.

I quickly pulled my phone out and emailed Emily. I need a ring. I made a mental note to call my dad and let them know I'm using Villa Alessandra.

Dad and Mom had this thing where they just decided to fly to Mykonos before they wanted to cruise around the island. I don't want them to show up when I was busy with Clara Bell.

I emailed Emily about the ring, I'll try to get it tomorrow, if things goes well, I'd like to take her tomorrow night to Mykonos. I also emailed her to get our IT team to work on that reporter, making sure it won't leak on the internet.

The car stopped in front of her condo building. I slid out the car without waiting for Langdon to open the door for me, and waited for her to come out. Reaching out for her hand and help her out of the car. She slung her purse on her shoulder and with my hand rested on her waist, we walked to the entrance door. The guard held the door and nod his head briefly before we pass him.

We walked to the elevator with a deafening silence. I hit the button and then stood next to her, my hands dug into my trouser's pockets, waiting for the elevator to open.

"Brittany told me our CEO was trying to contact me," she began, causing me to look at her.

She was staring through the unopened elevator.

"What does she want?" I asked, frowning at the thought of the CEO having the nerve to call her after abandoning her.

"I have a feeling she wanted me to continue the contract. She already got me fired. I'm not coming back," she stated, with a tone that was sharp and determined.

I'm happy of her decision. She's too good for that job.

"What's your plan then?" I asked.

"I don't know yet," she shrugged. I caught her winced.

"Is everything okay?" I asked.