by Taylor R. C.
- There, you thick! - He spoke without the slightest regret.
- You haven't seen anything yet! - James said entering and looked at Bartor. - Stay out there, gossip.
He practically slammed the door in the driver's face, but that wasn't what made Gisele laugh, but the way James spoke.
- Gossip?
- Do not meddle in what is not your job. - He said with a grunt. - What the hell did you do to do that?
- Do what? Ah, kiss you? - Disguised laughing. - I felt like it!
- You are crazy!
- Why are you so offended? Her brow arched in curiosity.
- Have you ever thought that men can also feel abused?
Gisele wanted to laugh until tears came out of her eyes, but she managed, with great cost, to contain herself, his offended expression was an icon.
- Certainly already, but by the way he grabbed me the last thing I was feeling was "abuse" and I dare say that I was at risk of abuse!
- You attacked me!
- It was just a joke ...
James really wanted to shake that woman up for some reason in his head, beautiful as it was if he went around kissing guys for fun, that way, he would make them lose their head, as he was doing with him.
- So go play with the devil like that!
- You look like a version of him, only hotter ... - He said with a malicious smile.
- You're definitely crazy.
Gisele threw herself against the comfortable car seat, rolling her eyes without really understanding why he was so offended. No man has ever done a scene like that of such revolt for kissing her, in fact, they begged to have the least brush of his lips on hers.
- You are so embarrassed, you don't even know how to enjoy the moment, you complain like an old grouch!
- Look here, you little princess, if you think that just because you are on vacation here, doing everything you want with whomever you want, and thinking about putting me on the list, you were wrong.
She had turned her face to face his in the middle of his speech and saw the way the man was looking at her, he was angry, but it was more than that, he wanted her and it was not small. The blue of his eyes was almost instinct for the dilated pupils and the breathing was heavy, but he resisted ... What she found instigating.
- Was I really wrong?
The way she looked at him made James shake his hands to keep from grabbing her, it had been a bad idea to lock himself up with the creature in such a small place, he could smell everything from her, from her scent of roses to her breath.
- Yes, now go away.
She agreed and for a moment he thought he was safe again, but he missed badly, because Gisele moved and touched his face, running his fingers over his beard, his eyes fixed on his.
- I will leave if you answer me why I offended you so much!
That soft touch on his face awakened things that had long been dormant in James, and it was as if a knife was stuck in his chest. And so he decided that if she didn't leave, he would go, because he had to run away, because after six years someone awoke something that must be dead, that he had no right to still live, his heart.
Gisele saw something change, become more vulnerable, then close, and with a movement the man broke away from his touch, opening the door, suddenly leaving and closing it. She watched him through the window, spoke like the driver, then practically ran the other way across the street, putting as much distance as she could, until she disappeared between people. What had that been? She questioned herself, completely confused.
- MS. Linsey? - The driver got in the car. - Mr. Watts asked me to take you where you were interested, could you tell me where you want to go?
She rubbed a hand over her face, swallowing and trying not to look totally lost, because in her entire seduction journey, never had anyone literally run away from her.
£££
When Watts arrived at the mansion, night was already falling. He had been walking for hours, until he realized that his clothes were soaked, only then did he decide to take a taxi and return.
- Sir. Blackcastle!
Pottes received him at the door and obviously cannot help hiding his surprise, as well as his curiosity, at his condition.
- Make me some tea. - He asked dryly.
- You don't want help ...
- I can take off my own clothes!
He spoke past the butler, taking off his jacket and playing along the way. He was angry and still very thoughtful. After those six years he imagined that nothing could come back to shake his indolent posture, but he seemed to be being tested, because that creature - Gisele Linsey - fell on top of him with a parachute.
James went into his room, taking off the rest of his clothes, leaving them huddled near the door and went to the closet, hurriedly dressed, and then bent down, opening a drawer that was after the shoe rack, took out a box. . He swallowed, hadn't opened it for a long time, but decided he should, it was time to remember why he was still breathing.
As soon as it opened it was hit by the smell of orange mixed with something softer, already fading, but still there, like a ghost, so comparison was good, very good. He closed his eyes, being flooded with memories, which seemed to come out of a thick fog, which slowly disappeared, until he could see clearly and almost make him believe it had happened the day before.
- I'm sorry, Eliza ...
He whispered to himself, but feeling as if the woman was there. James opened his eyes, staring at the rest of the silver box. A perfume in half, a dry rose in a bag, a gold cord with a diamond pendant in the shape of a drop and a portrait, small, but that eternalized the image that would never grow old.
- Sir. Blackcastle?
Pottes called, he was in the room, he took a deep breath closing the box, putting it back in its hiding place, then stood up, walking out of the closet to find his butler lighting the fireplace. The silver tray was on the table in front of his chair. James went over there, helping himself, letting the silence flood the place, which was welcome, since he had no inclination to say anything, but nothing that is good lasts forever.
- Bartor wrote down the address he left Miss. Linsey, and it's next to the tray, on the card ...
- Throw away! - He answered coldly.
"I figured you might want to ..." Pottes said, stoking the fire and James.
- I do not want!
- What a pity ... - He was silent for a second. - They told me that she is beautiful, of course with much respect I comment.
James slammed his hand down on the table, throwing everything on the floor, the rage didn't even resonate with Pottes, he was still stoic there.
- Stop playing cupid, you old idiot, you know very well that I don't want anyone, I'm going to die alone, so stop with these stupid ideas ...
- But I didn't say any idea sir, just pass on what you hear, that Bartor today left a beautiful girl at the States Palace Hotel ...
Watts covered his face with a hand taking a deep breath. Great, now he knew where she was ... Pottes did it on purpose, everything he did was for that purpose, James knew that deep down the butler kept dreaming about the day when he would find someone, only it wasn't going to happen.
- Pottes, understand ... - She looked at him seriously. - I will die alone!
- Well, you don't deserve it, what happened was not your fault, so you shouldn't punish yourself ...
- Enough! James shouted. - You have intruded too much, everything has limits!
The butler gave a positive nod. He fixed the non-existent wrinkles in his tie, but gave him one last look, very straight.
- If you want to die alone, that's fine, but don't ask me to collaborate, I've already buried too many members of that family.
James snorted and Pottes left the room. He threw the cup in his hand against the nearest wall, venting his anger, which never seemed to end.
£££
Benett paced back and forth, also confused by the whole story that Gisele had told him. It was all very pointless, that was tru
e.
- He wanted me and ran away without explanation, as if he was afraid!
- That man is freaked out. - Benett said. - Maybe we should reconsider ...
- No, now it's a matter of honor for me, absolutely!
Gisele said throwing herself on the sofa, dressed in a bathrobe, drinking some whiskey, still very frustrated with that afternoon that had compromised her all night, because it left her in a bad mood to go out, made her give up the ballad.
- The man has mental problems Gisele, how he runs away from you, woman, everyone dies for your attention ...
Yes, it was true ... And that was exactly why she was so angry. James Watts the Baron of Blackcastle was in tune with his game, the kiss was a thorough test, however, something in the middle of the course changed.
- There's someone, something, it wasn't the problem with me!
- Of course it was not with you Gisele!
- Is there a woman? - She turned to Benett.
- No, not even records, he was never seen with anyone.
She looked away from him, thinking, biting her lip until it hurt and didn't see an answer. Everything was so strange for Gisele because she knew that the Baron was not indifferent, that is why running away from her was so “offensive”, as the vain woman she always was, and such a gesture from him was an affront, enormous, as well as fuel.
- I will fold it, I don't care if it takes too long, and now I decide ... - Gisele looked at Benett. - I want the Baron, forget the others, my focus will now be on James Watts and let's see how long he resisted. Take your computer, let's create my definitive history, because this man will be mine!
£££
That gray morning Gisele got up as if it were a sunny day, excited and deciding that she had waited long enough, so she put on a light blue wash jeans, black pumps, white silk shirt and putting on a khaki coat, and she was ready. He took a taxi, leaving his hotel, heading towards the most central part of the city, where the Watts Steel building was located, no less than the Baron's steel kingdom.
Her trip there took about thirty minutes, it would have lasted less if she had used her own car, but she preferred not to attract attention, so in less than ten minutes, she was already out of the vehicle and entering the busy hall, she walked to a long white marble counter where there were two attendants, a blonde and a brunette, with their attention fixed on their respective monitors.
- Hello good day! - Gisele said in her kindest tone of voice.
- Good morning ... - The blonde replied smiling.
- I am Gisele Linsey, curator of an exhibition, and I would like to make an appointment with Mr. Watts, he acquired one of the pictures of the event and asked me to bring it in person.
The two women looked at each other with clear veiled suspicion, which Gisele already expected, her intention was to let Watts know that she was there, in any way, it needed to be noticed.
- We will have to check with the secretary if he can answer it today, could you wait a moment?
Asked the blonde politely pointing to the place reserved to be a small reception space.
- Today? Is he in the building?
- Hum yes...
That was really winning the lot ... Gisele thought with a smile.
- No problem, I'll wait!
She said, because there was no problem, because after all Watts would know that he was there and based on his decision Gisele would act.
£££
James was sitting in a chair at the head of his company's long board table, like every month he always had to go through that, which was a real penance, because he had to deal with those men, who were chosen precisely to avoid headaches.
- The reports for the second two months show a drop in our numbers due to the difficulty in implementing the new research center in Boston that would relieve American production a little!
He looked at Mr. Fausto feeling extremely bored and irritated, but on that day much more, he didn't want to be there and he didn't even need to.
- Mr. Fausto, I already know this, because I know how to read the reports I receive, so make your salary worthwhile and resolve this issue, because for that reason you were hired, in fact, you are all here to solve these problems, because I don’t want to, so please stop these damn meetings that only serve to tell me that they’re working ... - He said standing up. - I watch them, even if I'm not here, now talk less and do more!
Without waiting for a reaction, in addition to the shock etched on his features, James made his way out, exhaling an exasperated huff, reaching into his blazer pocket for his sunglasses, heading towards the elevator, however, he was intercepted.
- Mr. Watts! - Stella, his secretary, came in a hurry and continued. - There is a curator wanting to make an appointment ...
- One what? - interrupted looking at her.
- Curator, Miss. Linsey, she said she bought ...
He stopped listening to everything the secretary continued to say, because his mind froze, settling only on that name, on the woman who owned it, unable to believe it.
- Is Gisele Linsey here? He asked in a rather rude manner.
- Yes, Mr. Watts.
- Did you say I'm here? The secretary frowned, confused.
- Well, I don't think so ...
- I don't know any Gisele Linsey, so excuse her!
He said quickly and put on his sunglasses leaving his secretary behind, she was used to untimely outings, however, that one was certainly the strangest.
- What does this devil do here? - He wondered inside the elevator.
Meanwhile, at the reception Gisele was informed that she would not be attended, as Mr. Watts did not know her, they were very clear, simply dismissed, obviously that act was so characteristic of the Baron. Pork ... She thought leaving the place with firm steps and wishing as much as possible to kick that man with all her arrogance, but at least she was present, and clearly disturbed him, it was already a positive point. Gisele was about to cross the road looking for a taxi when she saw a car she knew and a smile molded on her lips, she didn't think twice, she crossed herself and let herself be hit by the vehicle.
- Cum!
Bartor's exclamation was to James's internal reaction. In a second the car braked, but still, they heard the sound of the body crashing against the bodywork and he knew who it was, because he saw it, so it got cold and he saw himself outside even before thinking about being.
- Gisele!
She heard the scream muffled by the buzz of the fall, as well as the momentary shortness of breath, knew she hadn't broken anything, protected her head and jumped at the right moment, Gisele knew what she was doing, although risky, but in desperate times they could only be combated with desperate measures. She weaned herself, moaning, it wasn't because she "knew how to be run over" that she wouldn't be in pain from that madness.
- Do not move! - It was James approaching.
- What ... - Gisele was confused.
- I already called the ambulance!
Bartor said, but James only paid attention to Gisele lying on that dirty, cold floor, looking smaller than she really was. He bent down beside her, brushing the brown hair from her face with an absurd need to see her eyes, to hear her voice, to touch her.
- Gisele, talk to me!
Blue eyes met hers engraved with concern, Gisele almost felt bad, but only almost, since her madness worked, despite being very painful. He knew that nothing like a woman in danger to soften a man, at least one who was good, so that concerned gesture from the Baron said something about him.
- Horrible man, he hit me ...
She whispered and gave a smile that made something inside James squirm, of course she was still beautiful, but she was also in pain, in fact, Gisele really felt her hip smacked.
- Technically it was Bartor, but yes, but the fault is his little wind head, how can he cross like that without looking?
James' face softened in a way that left Gisele surprised, as well as the gesture, his fingers traced from her eyebrow to fo
llowing the jaw line.
- I was distracted, you sent me away!
If he had known that it would not have "dismissed" she, in fact, part of her never wanted.
- Okay, it's my fault. James sighed and removed his touch. - Where does it hurt?
- Everything ... - That wasn't quite a lie.
- I'm tempted to get you off that floor.
He claimed he collapsed sitting next to her in the middle of that street, which surprised her, but he tried to avoid showing it.
- I'm tempted to get up!
- Bartor! James exclaimed. - Where's the damn ambulance?
The arrogant, confident way in which he spoke already seemed very familiar to Gisele, as well as fun.
- They said they'll be here in minutes sir!
- Call again, now, disturb! - He looked at Gisele. - Don't you dare say that I am not helping you and try a millionaire lawsuit against me!
Gisele laughed, but frowned, then coughed, now she had started to think if it was really worth throwing herself in front of that car.
- Ah more is so tempting.
- Little princess ...
James was trying to distract her, trying to distract himself, because with every second he saw a flash of pain in those extraordinary eyes, he made him want to punch the damn floor, as well as the people who gathered around him, curious, wanting to see more of that accident.
- My lungs are smoking, I think I want to sit ...
She didn't lie. James moved, leaning towards him. The man had the features of a prince, Gisele did not like how that attention he was given made her feel so good, he felt the touch of his hand on her lap, even over his clothes.
- Hold on a little longer, we will not risk moving you, however much I want! - He said quietly and his voice deepened. - Try to breathe slowly ...
Gisele started to imitate his breathing and started to help, but the sensation was still uncomfortable, she swallowed hard with the attention on James' face, which was serious, but with a new softness, which made him more beautiful and accessible.
- The ambulance has arrived, Mr. Watts!