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The moment I twisted the door knob and started to pull it open, a hand came against the door and before me.

It slammed it back and shut with a loud bang.

I gulped, but turned not towards the source.

"What... do you think you're doing?" His voice came as a cold threatening hiss from behind me.

"I... I sent Katy a message to come and get me. I'm going to wait for her." I managed, my voice slightly shaking.

It did not escape me that the Adam's body was directly behind me, and yet, he was careful enough not to initiate any contact with me.

Instead, I could just feel his body heat, burning my skin painfully.

I felt his stare at me, and my skin unconsciously flushed beneath the intensity his drugging orbs had.

I shifted uncomfortably, reaching out for the door knob again, "So if you'll please excuse m-"

"Katerina is on a weekend travel with Leonard in Santorini, Greece. She is not even in the country to come and get you." He mouthed slowly, his voice deepening in arrogance and conceit.

Wow, Kat. So communicative with me eh?

I clenched my jaw, yet still turned not.I attempted twisting the door knob and pulling, to no futile, as the door didn't budge under his strength. "Alright, I'll take a cab then. Thank you for your concern."

From before me on the door, the hard and steeped fingers of the hand slightly twitched.

"Fair. I expect you to return my shirt before departing then." His voice came dead serious and calm.

My eyes widened. What the... where did this come from now? Seriously...?

I bit my lips, clenching my fist around the knob.

What a low card to play... he knew that, had he demanded that in case Katy was coming, I would have easily complied as she could get my clothes with her.

But... if I'm opting for a cab...

I can't go on board in just my bra and panties, last time I checked.

I moved my jaw, biting my lip so hard, as a memory shot to my mind upon thinking of being in my bra and panties.

A shudder crossed my body, as the image of Rickard Ellington Conway, half-naked and feverish, and myself in my underwear, under a cold shower in Berlin, shot to my mind.

My heart sank.

That was where we had agreed to trust each other.

That was where I thought we were both demanding... trust from one another.

Yet apparently, I was the only one asking for something... emotional.

Numbness overtook my heart again, as it reflected in my expression.

I let go of the door knob as I gulped, gathering my strength.

And I turned towards him.

Fixing my orbs into his storming dangerous ocean beads attempting to devour me, I reached for the buttons of the shirt I was wearing.

And I began undoing them.

One by one, it took me around thirty seconds.

Before I slid the shirt off of my shoulders.

And let it land on the ground.

And I remained in nothing but my black laced underwear pair, which the salon had attired me according to my sizes.

From before me, the titanic of a president had a quick change of expression. His eyes widened, and his lips parted, revealing a purely stunned expression, as he clearly did not expect what I had just done, wordlessly.

I kept my unflinching gaze, as my heart clenched further. Every single inch of my body ached and flushed under his gaze, and yet, I stressed my nervous system beyond its capacity to maintain my expression.

As I reminded myself of the shower incident, and how stupid I must have looked back then.

As my gaze even hardened further in grudge, a slight layer of moisture formed against my eyes, yet no tears dropped, as I just let my own words of reality hurt me further. "Why do you seem so surprised, President?" I managed unflinching, as my gaze froze further in pure hurt and pain.

"Nothing you've never seen before, no?"

Something flashed in his orbs.

Something deep and... dangerous. As they remained widened.

His jaw tightened, and I eyed as his neck muscles popped. He pursed his lips, as his eyes started going back to their normal size. He had clearly gotten that I was hinting at our Berlin shower encounter.

They darkened dangerously and mercilessly. And their light dimmed in that second.

Keeping them fixed into mine, they slowly invaded my soul, as they aimed to inject their ice into me.

I eyed as he flinched not, and yet, something stirred in them. Something like... resolution.

He moved in my direction, in the speed of a shadow.

I gasped, shutting my eyes as I stumbled back and against the door in a thud. I raised my hands up before me, attempting to... push him away in case he was charging at... me.

Opposite to my expectations though, he didn't even touch a spec of me.

Despite the fact that I did feel his presence so... near.

Click.

My eyes snapped opened, slightly wide, as I looked at the source of the sound, only to find it coming from the door knob.

With his hand over it.

And a key in his hand.

I gasped, as I saw he'd stepped away from me, his eyes fixed into mine as he still had the keys in his right hand's long fingers.

My mouth went dry, as I just gaped at him with wide eyes, unable to ask what the hell did you just do?!?!?! Why did he lock!?!?

He was several feet away from me now, as he moved his jaw carefully, and I did notice he aimed not to look at anything but my face.

"Wh-What did you just... do?!" I forced out.

He reached for his wristwatch, clenching there as he moved his jaw. "As I have been classified as a deceiver, a manipulator, and an abuser," He started, every single word dripping a ton of icicles to express how... displeased he was with the phrasing.

He hardened his gaze at that, as he turned and headed towards the window of the room, spreading it open. Beneath it, a grande fancy-looking sofa-chair was present.

From the shelf beneath the window, I eyed as he opened a cigarette pack, pulling one cigarette out as he took his place on the master sofa. "I am living up to the accusations," His look froze as he eyed me, lighting up the cigarette.

"And playing low."

I shuddered under his gaze, and he took a long drag from his cigarette, releasing it.

"This said, you shall not leave until you have listened to me."

I blinked at the chilliness and absolute authority in his voice. It was unwavering, as though he... he really was determined for me to listen out.

"A-Are you locking me up?" I hardened my voice.

"Why do you seem so surprised?" He flinched not, as he played my own cards against me. "I am deceitful and corrupt after all." His voice froze, almost scratching my ears from the heavy ice it held.

I bit my lips, hardening my gaze, yet unable to say anything.

"I have no expectation for you to comment on any of what I will say. A car will await you down once I am done, and decent clothes will be prepared for you." He flinched not, as he snapped his huge orbs down to his shirt on the ground.

It did not escape me that he did not even lay his gaze on my figure not even for a split second, clearly intentionally. "Also for now, attire the shirt back. You are making it seem as though I harassed you or... coerced you, which is disturbing, to say the least."

I bit my lips, as I looked before me.

What the hell... what... now...

I pursed my lips, letting out a gentle breath.

At the back of my head, a very small, faint voice wanted to listen out to him, yet a huger, more grudging part wanted to just leave.

As I looked at him one last time, I could see the absolute frostiness and authority in his gaze, which in turn did give me an insight how serious he was about his threat.

I sighed, reaching for the shirt at the ground, as I re-wore it, and took my place at the couch next to the door where he was seated earlier.

"Alright, I'm all ears."

He choked his cigarette in the ashtray before him, as he stood up at that, lighting another one on directly. Wow, fast.

As he fixed his mysterious beads into mine, he didn't let out a flinch, but rather intensified the concentration and coldness in his gaze, as though to dominate the coldness of mine.

With radiating superiority, he took a long drag of his cigarette, before he puffed it out coolly. "Before I advance with any of the points I will address, Thorne, there is one statement which I will lay as a base for all that will come after it."

I felt my mouth go dry at how his voice suddenly evolved into another level of chilliness, as though to clearly convey how dead serious he was.

Giving me some seconds for his words to sink in, he'd already released his second drag from his cigarette, as his jaw tightened.

"I hid the truth from you, but I did not, for once, lie. And I never will."

My eyes widened at the statement, remembering that I had called him a liar in the ball days ago.

My spiteful state directly managed to collect itself from surprise, as I started frowning, preparing my ultimate comeback of 'aren't they the same thing?'.

He seemed to see through that, as he continued, voice as sharp as a mad sword.

"I have no interest in whether you see them as the same thing now, but I know that you subconsciously realize they are not." He murmured, hardening his gaze.

I gulped, seeing he'd read my thoughts. What the hell...

"If anything, I opt for simply not sharing information in order to avoid lying, and this is something you pointed out yourself, months ago." He flinched not, as his aristocratic eyes devoured me mercilessly.

I blinked, and my heartbeat raced suddenly as I remembered that I had done so, days back when I wanted to ask him about Harveston Hamlington and even when I wanted to know whether Leonard Beards was cheating on Katy.

Yes... I remember back then...

The thought that he never lied was what... made me so sure about asking him.

I bit my lips, going silent as I admitted to what he was saying.

He didn't change his expression, and the tension in the air remained as thick.

"Thus as I said so, from here on, it is up to you whether you believe whatever you hear, Signorina Charlotte Thorne."

My heart sank, aching as it prepared itself for more punches to come.

He blew off some smoke, as he savored the rest in his throat, silently.

Clearly preparing for his upcoming attack.

Parting his lips, the last bits of smoke departed seductively as he spoke.

"I do not plan to justify the reason as to why I hid the truth from you, Thorne, not only because I am not in the habit of justifying myself to anyone..." He paused, and his eyes changed at this.

Evolving into something dark.

That gray.

As though he was drowning in his own pool of dark thoughts and having some... scenery before him playing.

One that was detached from where we were now or what was going on.

His jaw tightened, and he eyed me with ultimate authority and coldness.

A shudder crossed my body, as I felt nothing but pure ice waves vibrate off of him.

"But because you need to realize that this is the way I have strived in the business world so far."

I gasped, my eyes widening as his expression grew more cold.

"I have survived every day with the realization that every single piece of information about me serves as a knife against my throat." He spoke deliberately, as his tone deepened dangerously. "And that the more news reach my enemies, the further means I am providing them to use against me."

The deadly grayness in his orbs did not fade, and fear slowly started creeping into me.

Fear that all the attacks I have issued at him since I woke up... had eventually awakened the dormant Trevor Ellington Conway within.

I gulped, "B-But I am not an enemy-"

The steel gray in his eyes glinted as he cut me off, fatally.

"Which is what makes you more dangerous."

I shuddered, my voice disappearing as I gasped.

Chills crossed my body under his merciless look, and he reached out for his wristwatch, as though to... seek control.

"Because you will be among the first utilized by my enemies against me. Because they will be expecting what you are expecting: that I will be sharing with you information you are more worthy than others of knowing." His voice came, hoarse and dangerous.

Worthy...

So you are admitting I was worthy of sharing the information with...

"But that is a mistake I cannot afford committing, Thorne. Not now, and not anytime in the near future where numerous enemies of mine are awaiting the slightest chance for my downfall." His voice held not a single spec of hesitation, and yet at the same time, it had an unimaginable amount of ice I could not fathom.

My eyes shook, and my heart ached as I looked at him.

Good God... that look.

It was still as harsh and... unreachable.

Yet he looked so... alone.

Powerful, yet alone.

As he was keeping his promise to be honest? -by informing me that he cannot promise to not hide from me again...

I didn't respond, and yet my expression, almost imperceptibly, mellowed slightly at his scene.

It was... a weird mixture.

So much supremacy, yet also... so much isolation.

Slowly, his orbs started defrosting from their gray state, and I noticed his grip over his wristwatch tighten, as he snapped himself back to where we were now.

He arced his head in the direction of the city at that, as though not comfortable in making eye contact all the time.

The city lights reflected in the beauty of his beads, as they glowed with... sincerity. Wait, no! I cannot think like this ever again so easily!

"The first time I met Carolina De Françis, I was twenty four." He started carefully yet coldly, "And I had just been appointed as president of the first branch by my father."

I spoke not, as I observed him silently.

"Back then, it had only been three months since I came back from the military, and I was still..." He paused, clearly searching for a correct vocab to phrase what he planned to say, "Desperate to earn my father's support in aim of destroying Lucas Collins and obtain power."

My heart clenched. A really smart thing to bring up Reina Collins at such a time, dude, I gotta give it to you.

He took a long drag from his cigarette at this, blowing it. "And Carolina was among the candidates introduced to me by my stepmother. She was the daughter of a very valuable shareholder from France, one who my father desired for long to obtain support from for the enterprises."

I bit my lips softly, yet spoke none.

And he fixed his orbs into mine at this.

My heart gave a jump, but I directly snapped my gaze away to prevent it from being... affected by those drugging orbs of his.

"I could tell you I was forced to go for such a deal, but aside from the fact that I am no man to be coerced into anything by anyone, I did consciously choose Carolina among several candidates."

I gulped, looking away. Oh wow, that's what you had to say? I shifted to stand up, but his voice froze me as it came cold, arrogant, and without a single spec of hesitation.

"Because she was the only choice who managed to eliminate any doubts I had about the possibility of us partaking any form of physical or emotive association in the future."

I blinked, taking my time to register his words. Gah! Why does he use such complicated English?!

"I... don't understand." I mumbled softly, "Are you saying you wanted to ensure you would never have any possible future relationship with her? Sh-Shouldn't it be the opposite? As in choosing one who you thought you might have some sort of chemistry with?" I questioned, fixing him curiously.

He released some smoke outside the window, as he stood up, gazing there slightly yet still having his face arced in my direction to reflect the city lights in his orbs. He turned his gaze towards me, fixing me for a long, silent moment.

As he deepened his gaze, something stirred in there... something that, in addition to the already existing coldness and haughtiness, mirrored his... pride as well.

"Even though I did wish to earn my father's support back then, I was still aware he was primarily responsible for ruining my life with Reina and my major." He spoke unfazed, as he froze his gaze, "There was no way in a million years I would just stick to a plan he had for me as though I were some sort of puppet."

I gasped, "S-So..."

He turned fully towards me at that, still having his cigarette extended from the window to prevent the smoke from entering the room.

"Carolina's aim of being my fiancé was similar. She wanted to take over her father's enterprises, and his only condition for that was for her to marry into another big enterprises in order to benefit their stocks. As she was similarly disinclined to marry at all back then, we decided to call it an engagement, so that we get on our fathers' good sides, set the marriage on hold, while we achieve whatever each of us aimed for in the future." He explained unflinchingly, cold as his orbs dived into mine shamelessly.

I fixed him back, keeping my relatively grumpy expression, as I awaited him to continue.

"Shortly after the engagement, Carolina traveled to France to resume her doctorate studies. And the dynamic of our relationship since then has been to call occasionally per year, to make sure the other is still alive and doing well. Each of us had his liberty guaranteed as long as we ensured that the engagement stood still for either our families." He choked his cigarette to death at this, as he took a step to my direction of the room. "She is an acquaintance, if I were to be generous, but that is all. The woman even has a lover, and they have been together for almost a year and two months now."

Almost subconsciously, slight warmth started creeping into my heart, as I bit my lips silently. I frowned softly, as a sudden thought hit me, "B-But that's not really a valid reason. I mean, even if she does have someone else... he could be a... a side chick." I mumbled, projecting on the way I saw myself in their case.

Wait though...

I compared Carolina's lover to a side chick...

But... But in Mr. Ellington's case, I am the side chick... so with this logic, does this mean I am subconsciously classifying myself as the... lover?

Heat flushed through my face, as I fidgeted. What the hell are those weird and messed up thoughts, Char?!? Gah!

The Ellington Adam crossed the