3. Gianna

What have I done?My mind keeps repeating like a mantra as I rush out of the club.

My fear, the smell of alcohol, smoke, and sweat nearly suffocates me. My heart feels like its going to explode. I can only blame my tipsy state for letting my guard down and allowing Chris to get to me.

“Gianna, wait!” I hear him call, but I hasten my steps, waving down moving cabs. To my disappointment, none stop.

He grabs my arm, making me turn to face him. My whole body shudders at his touch, leaving a tingling sensation instead. His hair is ruffled, and his lips are swollen and smeared with my lipstick. It sends chills down my spine.

“Let me take you home.” Theres a desperate plea in his voice that almost melts me. Almost.

I yank my arm away from him. “What part of ‘leave me alone’ dont you understand?” I yell, unable to control my emotions any longer.

“The part where I have to leave a drunk lady alone past midnight.”

I raise my eyebrows. “Oh really? If you are such a gentleman, why did you kiss me when you know Im not in the right state of mind.”

He blinks several times, suddenly tongue-tied. I feel proud of myself for rendering him speechless.

I point at his chest. “The only danger here is you. Just back off.”

A cab pulls up, and I tell the driver my home address. I enter the cab feeling relieved. As the car moves away, I dont spare him a glance.

It seems like the universe is out to punish me for something. Because how can I try to escape from reality and reality catches up with me at my supposed escape route?

He owns the club? How was I to know hes the owner when the club is not named after his surname like his other clubs?

The cab pulls up in front of my apartment, and the driver turns to look at me.

“Maam, I will advise you to run in now. Theres an SUV that has been following us for a while now.”

“What!” I shift and look at the back. Truly, theres an SUV parked a few buildings behind us.

I turn to the driver in panic. “Please dont leave until Ive gotten in safely. And if you see anything strange, call the police. I will call them too.”

The driver nods. “Sure.”

I rush out of the car and struggle to open the gate. I hear the sound of a car moving. I look behind me in panic. The SUV drives to Chris’s mansion, and the gate automatically opens for it.

It all becomes glaringly obvious. Chris is the one following me. The one who almost gave me a heart attack. It seems hes on a mission to make me die of cardiac arrest. That has to be the only reason.

“Im already calling the police,” the driver says, looking down at his phone.

I lean against the open car window. “Theres no need for you to do that. Thats my neighbor.”

“Ugh,” He blinks in surprise and looks at the now closed gate then back at me. “I will get going then.”

“Thank you, sir. I really appreciate what you did for me tonight.”

“Its nothing,” he replies.

“It’s everything.” I attempt to hand him a few wads of cash, but he refuses to take them.

“You have already given me a tip. I dont need anymore.” He’s insistent. We spend the last few seconds arguing on it before he finally gives in. “Thank you so much. I pray you find your happiness someday.”

He drives off into the night, leaving me pondering on his words.

“I hope so, too,” I mutter to myself.

As I enter my apartment, I cant help but wonder what has made Chris suddenly interested in me. He didnt give a damn about me years ago, so why now…

* * *

Having a best friend in high school is a blast. And it’s an absolute blast when my best friend has a hot older brother that Im pining after.

“He’s your brother, why don’t you go and ask him for it?” I nudge Nala hoping that she wont notice my panicked tone.

We are currently in her room playing truth or dare. We do that a lot, especially during the summer. I practically live at her place. Her place is the perfect escape from my aunt, who wont let me breathe.

Since Nala transferred to my school, she has been the only friend I have. Given that shes from the wealthiest family in the school, the other kids started to treat me better. I was no longer the poor scholarship girl who no one wanted to befriend. I became wanted all because of Nala.

The first time I went over to her house, a literal mansion that I can only dream of living in, I noticed the coldness of it. Although the exterior was beautiful, the interior was bland.

“You made me call Stephen and confess my crush on him. This is just a tip of the iceberg.”

I should have known that daring Nala would end up biting me in the arse.

“But I cant just go to his room. What if he yells at me for going in there?” I whine. I have never had any close contact with Chris. Only a nod of acknowledgement whenever he sees me in his home.

“He wont, he likes you.”

My ears perk up at that. “He-he does?” Im sure I sound so pathetic right now.

Nala rolls her eyes. “Duh, you wouldnt be here if he didnt.”

Although I know she means that her brother trusts me enough to allow me to hang out with his sister, my heart still flutters at her words.

“Now go,” she says and pushes me off her bed.

I scurry out of her room to hide my flushed face from her. I walk to Chris’s room at the opposite side, my heart rate increasing with each step. As soon as Im standing by the door, I perform a breathing exercise.

Hes probably sleeping. He went partying last night. He wont even notice. Gathering enough courage that I can muster, I open the door as quietly as I can. Im instantly blessed with the smell of the air freshener and a pleasant scent that belongs only to Chris.

The room is dark due to the dark curtains pulled together. But theres a ray of light that sneaks in through the side of the window that is not covered by the curtains.

What Ive learned from sleeping over at Nalas is that Chris sleeps like a log of wood whenever he’s drunk. Hopefully, I will be able to get out of here without waking him up.

I put on my phones torch, deliberately avoiding the bed in search of his laptop. The last thing I need is to see his sleeping face and lose focus.

I find it in the bedside drawer and let out a sigh of relief. I slowly walk to the drawer, and just when Im about to reach for the laptop, I hear a low groan that freezes me to the spot. My heart is pounding in my throat and blood rushes to my ears.

Please dont wake up. Please dont.

“Who is there?” His deep, husky morning voice echoes in the silence of the room. I hear some shuffling, and the light comes on. He immediately sits up.

His hair is scattered at all angles, his eyes puffy. I have always seen him so perfectly put together but never like this. And yet he still looks so cute.

However, the worst thing is that hes looking at me like hes seen a ghost, and hes shirtless. Exposing his broad chest and defined abs.

My gaze runs over his chest until it falls to where the blanket is covering his torso.

“What are you doing here?” There goes the deep, husky voice again, doing weird things to my stomach.

My eyes flick up to meet his, and I find myself stuttering. “I-I,” I start, but words fail me.

This is so embarrassing. This is not how I envisioned us having a full conversation for the first time. Im going to kill Nala for putting me through this. I clear my throat and avoid his skeptical gaze. “Nala dared me to bring your laptop to her.”

“Typical,” he scoffs before groaning and burying his head in his hands. “Fuck,” he cusses, and our eyes meet again. His eyes widen. “Shit,” he flushes and covers his mouth.

He probably regrets cussing in front of me. I resist the urge to laugh at his expense.

He points at the laptop. “Just get it and leave.”

I grab the laptop and turn to leave.

“Gianna,” he calls, making my heart flutter. I turned to look at him, wondering if he wanted something or just wanted to talk to me. But theres a frown on his face that indicates that whatever hes about to say is not good.

“Dont come into my room again or anywhere near me.”

I try not to let the disappointment show on my face, hiding the expression with a wry smile. “Im perfectly fine pretending that you dont exist.”

At the tender age of fourteen, Chris spoke a full sentence to me for the first time. And it all went downhill since then.

* * *

Whatever happened to his rule, I dont know. I just want to continue living in peace without him around. Im tempted to call Nala to complain about her brother, but its past midnight.

I take off my clothes and have a quick shower. I put on my night clothes and sit on the bed with my back against the dashboard.

Since Im not feeling sleepy and my mind is restless, I start working on my half-finished sketch of the Martins’ project that my boss specifically delegated to me.

Im putting the finishing touches on it when my phone rings loudly. I wonder who could be calling at three in the morning. I pick up my phone from the nightstand, but its an unknown number.

I frown and contemplate not picking it. Its surely not safe to pick up calls at this time. I place it back on the nightstand and finish up my sketch. The phone keeps on ringing, disrupting my peace.

I yawn and reluctantly pick it up.

“Hello?” I ask whoever’s on the other end.

“Hello, love.”

A familiar sting settles in my chest at the sound of his voice. I quickly end the call, fear settling in my gut.

How did he get my number?