Perfect Revenge (Revenge Series Book 1)

by Catherine Edward

  She was definitely liking this new side of Axel.

  ∞ ∞ ∞

  Three days later…

  Axel was surprised to see a message from Xander while he was at his office.

  “Xander, what is it? I thought I told you not you call me when I am at work,” he hissed into the phone.

  “Wait, what?”Axel asked as he listened to his friendly banter.

  “Xander, it was your idea and I told you clearly how it will turn out. You created this mess, now it's up to you to figure out, how you wanted to save your virtue from that wretched woman,” Axel smirked hiding the laughter that was bubbling in his throat.

  He’d warned him about Alicia before he got involved with her and now just as he expected, she wanted to get in his pants. With Alicia, she believed sex as a way to get a hold of a man and Axel wondered if Xander would be able to figure out a way out of it, which was really hard considering that Alicia could be really persuasive.

  “Axel!”

  “Huh!” He whipped around to see Samantha coming in with a set of files. “Look, I have to go. Figure out something or maybe tell her that you’re going away for a shoot or something, bye,” he whispered and disconnected the call as Samantha made her way to his table.

  “Why do you look like I just caught you with your hands in a cookie jar?” Samantha teased with a playful smirk.

  Because you just did. “Ah, that was my friend,” he managed, which was true. “And, he was talking about relationships. You know, how much I hate that topic.”

  Samantha quirked her eyebrows in question and Axel realized what he just said.

  “Ah, I meant that I have no experience in these things and it's not a good idea for him to ask me that,” he added quickly as his lips set in a thin line, hoping that she'd drop the subject.

  “That might be true. But, you aren’t doing so bad yourselves,” Samantha chuckled as she closed the distance between them. “You know, you look so cute when you have that confused look on your face,” she chirped.

  “I like to think myself that I look hot, not cute,” Axel replied as she twirled his tie between her fingers.

  The past couple of days were really great and a lot had changed between them. Samantha always teased him and their little chit-chat made the work more fun.

  Axel sighed in relief as she pulled away, and walked to the desk, he longed to run his hands along her curves and that tight skirt she wore to work this morning was so distracting that, it was the only thing he could concentrate on when she was near.

  He wanted nothing more than to close the distance between them and kiss her mindlessly when she was near, but he was too afraid to make a move.

  What if she didn’t appreciate that?

  What if she didn’t like the way he kissed?

  “What’s going on in that mind of your’s?” Samantha asked with a concerned look.

  “Ah, nothing. Um… what is that you want to talk about?” He quickly changed the subject and pointed the files she brought along. Samantha didn’t miss the way he changed the topic, but she let it slide and concentrated on the work before her.

  Something was definitely wrong with him and she needed to figure out what was it.

  Chapter – 12

  The dinner once again went well and this time he chose to take her to an Italian restaurant that made and serve the best traditional Italian dishes.

  Axel was once again wearing that cold mask, closed off from the conversation. He wasn’t even enjoying the food like he usually did or didn’t talk much. When it was time to leave, Samantha paid the bill and gestured him to follow her out.

  “Keys.”

  Axel cast a puzzled look at her when she asked for his car keys, but gave it to her immediately when she narrowed her eyes at him. Samantha drove the car as Axel sat beside her in a comfortable silence. His brows knotted when she parked the car in a lonely parking space that dimly lit and located behind some apartment building he didn’t recognize.

  “Spill it!”

  “What?” He asked as confusion etched his features.

  “You were fine when I came in this morning and then, something changed. What is it?” She asked with narrowed eyes, that warned him of an impending storm that would hit home if he didn’t speak the truth.

  “It’s ah…”

  “Are you not happy?”

  “Wh- of course, I am happy,” he replied quickly.

  “Then, what got your knickers in a twist? Are you having any second thoughts?”

  Axel gaped at her, not expecting that she would ask something like this. “No!” His response was quick as his heart rate sped up.

  “Axel,” her features softened as she unbuckled her seat belt. “I want you to know that you can trust me with anything. I can see that something is bothering you. What is it?” She asked gently as she turned to face him.

  Axel contemplated for a moment as he met her eyes. He thought what his therapist would say in a situation like this. He would ask him to speak his mind, be honest with his thoughts.

  “I want to kiss you,” he confessed as nervousness bit his skin with its sharp fangs. He tried to pose with confidence, but his insides were ready to collapse as she looked at him as if deciding if he spoke the truth.

  “And what is stopping you?” She asked softly as the previous confusion and worries seemed to clear from her mind.

  “What if you don’t like it?” Axel sounded as if he was talking to himself.

  “Oh, Axel, why would you think like that?” Samantha closed the distance between them and cupped his cheek as she looked directly into his eyes.

  “I don’t know,” he admitted as his eyes swept over her face, landing on her plump lips. Samantha’s tongue darted out wetting her lips as she smiled softly.

  “Only one way to find out,” she whispered as reached down covering his lips with hers.

  Axel stiffened for a moment before returning the kiss. Her lips were soft like a feather and a little hint of sweetness left him with a longing for more when she pulled away.

  “Wasn’t that tough, is it?” She smiled as she searched his face for any regret. “Wanna try that again?” She asked when her eyes found his hooded ones that appeared drugged with lust.

  Axel responded by pulling her on his lap, kissing her with a fervent need, which soon elicited a slight moan from her throat. Samantha nibbled at his lower lip and thrust her tongue, seeking entry, which he allowed gladly, letting her take control of the kiss.

  His hands traced her curves as their tongues danced around each other. Her breath quickened as she adjusted herself in his lap so that she was straddling him. Desire pooled between her thighs, and her lower belly quivered with need. His hot mouth too sinful to let go and aroused her in an instant.

  She almost jumped out of her skin when a car honked in distance. They both broke into a fit of laughter as their make-out session got interrupted.

  “It’s getting late,” Axel whispered as he caressed the side of her face.

  “Yeah,” she got up, adjusting her skirt as Axel exited the vehicle before climbing in on the driver seat.

  They sat in a comfortable silence for the rest of the ride and when he dropped the car before her apartment building she turned to look at him with a smile on her face.

  “Thanks for the lovely dinner and good night,” she said, getting out.

  Axel opened his mouth to speak, but then decided against it as he was unsure of what he wanted to say to her. Samantha walked two feet from the car before turning towards him again.

  “Just so you know, that was pretty hot and I think we should do that again,” she added with a wink before speed walking into her building.

  A huge grin broke through Axel’s lips as he drove off, whistling the entire way to his home.

  ∞ ∞ ∞

  The rest of the week was a blur. Samantha surprised him during the midweek saying that she his schedule was free and she’d booked three tickets to Spain for that weekend. Finally, it was th
e last day at work and there were so many things he needed to take care of.

  Samantha was well-organized and handled her new post in an efficient way. Axel’s workload reduced considerably and he was amazed to see how efficiently she handled the role. It was as if she had experience in handling a business.

  She’d hired a new secretary, a fresher named Denzel two days before and has trained him for the role. The twenty-year-old was talented and dedicated to the work.

  Axel missed seeing Samantha every time at the office. It was Denzel, who popped when he called for his secretary. However, Samantha did bring his morning coffee and they always had lunch together. Excitement and joy bubbled within his heart as he thought about the trip. He would really miss Samantha and their little talks during the trip.

  “Knock, Knock,” Samantha poked her head in with a bright smile, that warmed his heart.

  “Hey, come on in.”

  “Someone’s happy!”

  “Yeah, just excited to see everyone after a long time. My cousin has a boyfriend, who she wants me to meet. Then, there are my Aunts and grandpa Joaquin,” he recalled with a warm smile.

  “And, I am happy to see that smile on your face,” Samantha gushed as he pulled her closer, pecking her lips.

  “I am going to miss you,” Axel whispered against her lips.

  “I will be missing you too.”

  “So, what are your plans for this weekend,” he asked, caressing the side of her face, wondering how soft her skin felt.

  “I am moving back to my parent’s home. I moved out after graduation and tried to build my career on my own. Now, that I’ve achieved my goal and that I am missing them so much, I thought it was time to go back.”

  “I am glad to hear that,” Axel muttered as he traced her skin with his lips, peppering soft kisses along her neck and jawline.

  Samantha giggled as his two-day stubble tickled her. “Why does that make you glad?”

  “Well, moving in with your parents means that you won’t be alone all the time and you’ll be in safe hands,” Axel explained as he nuzzled into the crook of her neck.

  “Protective much?”

  “Always,” Axel whispered as he caught her lips again.

  By the end of the day, he had completed his work. He had made sure that all the scheduled shipments would go as planned, signed the required documents, checked the accounts and met all the department heads to brief them on their duties during his absence. Just one more meeting with this new client and he could pack his bags for Spain.

  ∞ ∞ ∞

  Axel mumbled the lyrics of his favorite song as he got dressed. He was going to meet his extended family. His mom had informed him that morning that his cousin Andrea got engaged to her boyfriend and it only added more reasons for the joy that bubbled within him.

  Andrea pursued her Masters in the New York University and stayed at their home during that period. His uncle was so strict that he wouldn't allow her to stay anywhere else. She had become his close friend. He couldn't wait to meet her fiancé.

  He’d called Xander and informed him about his short trip to Spain. Axel felt relieved to learn that his idea worked. Xander told Alicia that he was going away for a shoot and will be out of the city for a few weeks to escape her claws.

  The next morning, Samantha arrived an hour earlier to his home wearing simple jeans and a T-shirt. Seeing her felt like a breath of fresh ear as he greeted her with a real smile and a half hug with a pat on her back.

  Sara beamed when she saw her future daughter-in-law and hugged her so hard that Samantha felt like her bones would crack if the woman adds up any more pressure.

  "You're crushing her, my love," Henry chuckled.

  "Oh, sorry. I'm just happy," Sara sniffled wiping the happy tears. Her boy was in love again and this time with the right girl.

  Henry grinned widely and agreed with Sara. "Well, I'm happy too. But, we need to start now if you don’t want to miss the flight."

  Soon, they left home with their luggage and Samantha drove them to the airport in Axel’s car.

  “I’ll call every day,” Axel promised.

  “Sure.”

  “Sam, ah… Um… I was wondering if you’d like anything from Spain,” he asked scratching his head. He didn’t know what she liked.

  Samantha grinned, shaking her head ‘no’. “Have a safe journey and enjoy your time there,” she said, giving him a warm smile as she pulled him by his collar.

  “I miss you already,” Axel kissed her, earning a soft chuckle from her.

  “Me too. Come back soon,” she whispered as he rested his forehead against hers.

  Axel smiled down at her as he realized how close she’d come to his heart in these days. He wanted to take it slow at first, but as each day went he couldn’t help but want more.

  He cursed softly, hearing the announcement of his flight. A sudden feeling of void filled his heart as he looked at a smiling Samantha. He didn’t know why he felt that way, considering he’d be back in a week and they could FaceTime or Skype each other anytime.

  Henry tapped at his shoulder and Axel let Samantha go with a tight-lipped smile. “See you soon, Sam.”

  Samantha nodded with a smile as his parents took their turns, hugging her goodbye. Samantha stood watching them go until they were no longer in sight before leaving the airport, completely unaware that, paparazzi was capturing their moments, who took their photos a few days back.

  The paparazzi smiled to himself, satisfied with the clear shots he got. The couple looked so cozy and the kiss was just perfect. Axel Joaquin Finlayson was definitely in love.

  After he published the last set of photos, a female approached him and promised to pay him more cash if he got her more photos of Axel with that unknown girl. He had got a couple of photos of them together on a few dates and this was the best he’d ever got so far. It wasn’t his job to know who she was and he didn’t care as long as he got paid. With a happy sigh, he hopped on his motorbike, riding away to the small fortune that awaited him.

  Chapter – 13

  “Sammy!”

  Samantha woke up to her sister’s violent shaking in the evening. She had moved in with her parents again earlier that day and fell asleep in exhaustion.

  “What is it, Sasha?” She croaked, rubbing her eyes and yawning widely.

  “You have to see this, come.”

  “What?”

  “This,” her younger brother held up his tab showing the latest gossip, which was going viral.

  Millionaire in love, the headline of the news read.

  Samantha frowned, looking at the photos of her and Axel, that were taken in the Italian restaurant a few days ago and at the airport that morning. Reading further, she felt her blood boiling. The article depicted her as a social climber, using men for their money.

  Her father’s booming voice downstairs caught her attention and she immediately hurried downstairs.

  “Who posted this?” Gregory was on the phone when they reached downstairs.

  “You dare call my daughter a social climber?”

  The Sinclair family stood silently as they watched Gregory’s outburst.

  “Shut the fuck up, Russell. If you don’t take down the news now, I will sue you to the grave.”

  “Five minutes, Russell. Else you and your crew can say kiss your asses.” Gregory grumbled one last time and disconnected the call.

  “How dare he call my princess that? Damn paparazzi!”

  “Gregory, you are scaring the kids. Calm down,” Narmadha spoke softly.

  “Did you see it? Did you notice what he called our daughter? I’ve built a fortune for her and he calls her a social climber. It will take Axel a century to earn the fortune I have earned for my daughter.”

  “Gregory, please calm down.”

  “Dad, I don’t care what they wrote about me. I just care about our family. I don’t have anything to prove to them,” Samantha piped in.

  She stopped her father when he tried to sa
y something.

  “Dad, I really don’t care. Let the dogs do all the barking.”

  Gregory nodded after a while. “I’m suing him if he doesn’t take it down though,” he grumbled. “I don’t want my daughter’s personal life plastered on the newspapers.”

  Not everyone knew who she was. Her father was a noticeable man in the business industry. Growing up, she always stayed under the radar. Gregory never mixed his family and business life together. They never went to any of her father’s business parties and he never hosted any of the party at their home.

  He made sure that his children grew up away from the limelight and had a normal life. They rode the bus to school and college just like normal kids. Both Gregory and Narmadha taught them to live a normal life without luxury. One week they would dine in a five-star restaurant and the next he would take them to a small diner, which would be crowded with loud talking.

  All the four children knew the value of money and learned that they shouldn’t take anything for granted. It pushed Samantha to seek a career out of her father’s empire. She’d never used her father’s name to get things done and she didn’t want to start it now.

  Samantha just hugged her dad before going upstairs to her room with her younger siblings in tow.

  Axel must have landed now, she thought as the went to check her phone for any calls or messages. And she had a message from him.

  “Landed now, will call you after settling down.”

  “Okay,” she typed with a broad grin.

  “Was it him?” Sasha wiggled her eyebrows as Ryan took her phone, browsing through the message.

  “Yep,” he confirmed.

  “Ryan, don’t you have manners?” Samantha exclaimed.

  “Nope.”

  “Ugh! Stop popping the ‘p’. Just say ‘yes’ or ‘no’.”

  “That’s the trend, Sammy.”

  Samantha rolled her eyes and snatched the phone from his hand.

  “So, how is he?” Amelia asked, entering the room.

  “Good.”

  “Just good?” Amelia quirked her eyebrows.

  “Ami, not now,” Samantha huffed.