Chapter 6

• I turned off the airplane mode of my phone for the first time in weeks. As I opened it, hundreds of messages came along. From Dad, from Aunt Miranda and from Kino. All of them are asking my whereabouts and on why I am not responding to their texts. Luckily, Kino was the only smart one out of them to reach me through the email.
• I walked towards my closet and changed into a yellow sundress. I’m going to the spa for massage this afternoon. This is my first time going to a real spa because I was always grounded in the house all of my life.
• “Good afternoon, Miss Sloane! Looks like you’re ready to go again?” Heart greeted me by the reception.
• I smiled and nodded. “Yes.”
• “Well, have fun, Miss Sloane.” She cheered me on.
• I smiled and headed to the door. When I walked out, I saw Lucy and Nero talking to each other. Nero’s back is turned on me and I can only see Lucy smiling widely. It must be her day off because Heart is still in the reception.
• Lucy is wearing a red beach dress while her hair is tied up in a bun. She looks pretty with her blonde hair tied in a bun. She looks like a model or something.
• Nero, on the other hand, is still wearing the clothes from this morning. His hair is damp though. Maybe he surfed? I don’t know.
• I almost cursed out loud when I realized I would pass by them because that’s the direction towards the spa.
• Go, Kinsella!
• I had to cheer myself on if I wanted to have my Ultimate Wrap.
• I took a deep breath and walked past them. Lucy’s voice was a little loud so I heard what she’s telling Nero.
• “We can just stay in your room all day.” Her sweet voice is nightmare to me. Nero answered her but she didn’t stop from convincing him that they could stay in his room the whole time.
• I rolled my eyes and shook my head. I don’t even know why I did that. I shouldn’t get affected alright. I barely know anyone here so I don’t think I need to care much about what they do or they don’t. I’ve been telling myself all the time—I will leave soon. These people…all of them will just be part of my memory.
• I shook all of my thoughts away when I entered the spa. The women are all wearing their uniforms with a flower stuck onto their hair tied in a clean bun.
• They all greeted me happily and asked me what service I would get. When I said I want an Ultimate Wrap, one of them immediately asked me to enter the room for the said service.
• She helped me all throughout, from the preparation to even lying on the bed.
• The massage was relaxing. I even fell asleep while the session was ongoing because I was so soothed.
• It was ninety minutes of worth-it massage. I would definitely take one again sometime within the next week. The massage ended with a Be Well massage that made me even want for more. This is the best. Now, I know why the reviews for this are massively great on the internet.
• “Thank you.” I told them when I paid and left a very good tip.
• The ladies all smiled and even suggested good places to eat. I mentally noted all of the places they said and promised myself to visit all of them before I leave this place.
• When I got out of the spa, it was already dinner time. I am so sleepy and I just want to lay in my bed and sleep. I decided to just eat food from the delivery instead of eating out again.
• I walked towards the hotel and saw Nero sitting on the reception area. He’s now wearing a white shirt. I pouted as I entered the glass door. No one else was here. Heart was gone and it’s just Nero who’s sitting on the receiving area.
• He’s staring at me as I walked inside. His expression looked so serious and it made me shiver inside.
• “You’re late, Miss Sloane.” He uttered as he stood up from the reception desk and walked towards me.
• I took a step back when I felt him being so close to me. His eyes are piercing through mine like I did him something wrong and he’s now ready to punish me anytime soon.
• “I…I went to the spa.” I stuttered.
• His jaw clenched and his gaze intensified. “I know.”
• My eyes narrowed at him. “You know?”
• He nodded. “Where have you been this morning?”
• “Jog…”
• “With who?”
• “I’m alone, Nero. Who do you think would I be with?”
• “So you’re not with Stan?”
• He counters my replies really fast. But then again, is there something wrong with me being with someone else? Is he bothered about it? Why would he bother about it?
• “How did you know?” I asked in shock. How did he know all these stuff?
• He pursed his lips in a thin line and looked away. His eyes are becoming dark shades of blue. I’ve never adored eyes this much. But his eyes are so enticing I want to get lost in them forever.
• I stared at him and waited for him to answer. He looked at me and sighed.
• “I know everything, Kinsella.”
• My heart beat erratically as he called my name. He’s always been calling me Miss Sloane. This is the first time he’s called me by my name. And god! Why did my name sound like the most adorable word in the world as it came from his mouth?
• “Why do you know Stan?” I asked.
• He shrugged. “He’s the cousin of the owner.” He replied.
• I bit my lip. “Alright. Now, go back to your work. I’m going to my room.” I told him as I pivoted towards my way to the elevator.
• I’m trying so hard to calm my heart right now. He’s just around there and we’re all alone. Suddenly, I thought of Lucy. Why is he here? Is she waiting on Lucy to come over to his room?
• I should really stop thinking. I should really stop asking a lot of questions. All of this thoughts, all of this questions will only backfire at me in the end.
• I don’t have the right to think about him. I don’t have the right to ask questions about him or his relationships. But why do I feel like he has all the right to question me?
• This is crap. I need to get a hold of myself. I need to control my emotions and my mind. They would eat me up if I don’t.
• The elevator opened and I was shocked to see Nero going inside it before me. He raised his brow at me. I took a deep breath before going inside the elevator. Alright, maybe Lucy’s already upstairs, in his room.
• I walked inside and the door closed.
• “Your dress is too short, Miss Sloane.”
• “I believe I’m wearing the proper attire for the beach.” I replied, trying to hide my frustration at him.
• I heard him mutter a string of curses under his breath.
• “What are you saying?” I asked.
• He glared at me and then eyed my outfit. “I’m saying that you should cover your skin more because all of those men are dreaming of your sexy legs, Miss Sloane.” He said in a stern voice.
• I almost forgot how to breathe when I heard him utter those words. But then I figured I needed to be stronger. I needed to be more than Miss Sloane to him.
• “It’s the beach, Nero. I can show skin.” I said.
• “I don’t like it.”
• I looked at him in shock. “If you don’t like it, then don’t look.” I told him as I tried to mask my shocked expression.
• His jaw clenched as he pressed me against the elevator. Everything happened so fast. I heard his hand punching one of the buttons in the elevator making it stop midway.
• He trapped me in between his ripped arms and the cool elevator wall. He looked so frustrated and in distraught. It’s as if he’s trying to keep something in when his eyes look like he’s going to burst out soon enough.
• “How can I not look, Kinsella?” he asked me in a strained voice. His eyes are pierced through mine as I weakened under his gaze.
• I bit my lip and couldn’t speak. It’s as if my tongue has lost its purpose.
• “Fuck! I don’t wanna look, Miss Sloane, but your body is killing every single sane cell in my brain. I don’t want to want you but I think I already do. More than I can handle.”
• His words lingered in my system. How would I be able to sleep after hearing him say this to me? How will I be able to think well now? How will I be able to control my feelings for him?
• His hand travelled to my face and he lifted it to make me look at him again. The tiny strokes he’s giving me would give me nightmares tonight but I would risk this all. How these volts of electricity in me awaken will make me insane.
• “I’m asking you again, Miss Sloane. Are you avoiding me?” His voice is filled with softness and adoration.
• I bit my lip and was caught up in the situation.
• “Please answer me before I lose my mind thinking of everything I did that would make you avoid me.”
• I nodded.
• “Fuck.” He cursed under his breath before crashing his lips down on mine. He placed his hand on my spine and pulled me closer to him as his mouth owned my tiny little cavern.
• “You cannot avoid me now, Miss Sloane. Never again.” He said before kissing me again.