A stranger’s voice, coming from a place that felt off-limits.
Flora’s reaching hand suddenly stopped, cold sweat covering her body, and her heart felt choked up. Shock washed over her pale face.
Her shaking voice took a sec to ask, “Who… who are you?”
The man, sporting a bathrobe, sat on the edge of the bed, gazing at the wine glass in his hand. What Flora couldn’t see was the bitterness creeping into his eyes and the icy glaze that covered them.
The man downed his red wine in one swig. His slightly tipsy eyes showed a hint of gloom, “Get out!”
Shivering, Flora picked up the contract, stood up, and asked again, “Who are you, really?”
There was a long silence. The feeling took Flora back to years ago when she nervously waited outside an OR door that’d decide Justin’s fate.
Hope and anxiety slowly filled her eyes.
“Me?” The man scoffed, “I’m just the puppet master at Desire.” His answer was airtight.
“No, you know more than that.” Flora insisted, her voice going off-key due to her agitation.
“Your sugar daddy should be looking for you by now,” the man said as he placed the wine glass on the table, and after a chilly grinding sound, he stood up. “If you don’t leave, don’t blame me for the regrets.”
The man’s tone was already icy.
It wasn’t until Flora left that door, left Desire, and stepped onto the street, that the cool breeze snapped her back to reality.
Crowds bustled, and she alone seemed so lonely.
She took out her phone to check the time, only to find more than a dozen missed calls. Before she could get a better look, her phone buzzed again. She answered, “Hello.”
“Woman, are you trying my patience?” Dylan’s tone was anything but friendly, “Or do you wanna back out?”
“I swung by Desire just now, and my phone was on vibrate,” Flora replied timidly.
“Where are you?”
Flora glanced around and reported a location.
Dylan didn’t waste any more words and hung up the phone.
Flora called her mom and told her she’d be crashing at a friend’s place tonight. Facing her mom’s suspicion, she made a few simple excuses, as she really didn’t have the energy to deal with it.
Sitting on a bench in the night market, she faced an audio store across from her.
The night got darker.
…
“Can you really forget your first love?”
“If one day you meet someone who looks just like him, is it really him?”
“Is there any chance for you?”
“Is this fate being kind, or just another cruel joke?”
Flora’s deep eyes shot up in surprise.
The once touching dialogues from the audio store now mirrored her reality.
“Is it possible that love can be passed on to another, but destiny refuses to let me hold onto the one I cherish?”
At the entrance of the electronics store, people milled about, gossiping and pointing. She pressed her hands to the glass window, her sorrowful, pale face barely visible in the clear, shining pane.
Down the street, a luxury sports car pulled up in this everyday shopping area, drawing a crowd of curious onlookers.
Dylan stole a glance, noting the Flora’s faint outline not far away.
“Honk, honk, honk—”
Flora quickly wiped away her tears and approached Dylan when she spotted him.
She managed to keep her emotions in check as she climbed into the car. Dylan noticed her red eyes and felt a twinge of annoyance. He floored the accelerator, and in no time, they arrived at a lavish villa.
The gate opened automatically as the car approached. They followed the path, passing by a man-made outdoor pool, before finally parking in the garage after nearly five minutes.
“Out.” Dylan exited the car first, and Flora followed, clutching her purse.
The opulence of the mansion-style villa left her speechless.
Dylan strode through the nearly 1,000-square-foot living room and headed straight for the second floor. Flora trailed behind in small steps. After Dylan unlocked the first door on the second floor, he began to undress.
Flora glanced around, noting the consistently luxurious and tasteful décor. The cool-toned bedroom would typically feel icy, but even so, the black and white hues melded seamlessly.
“Want a shower?” Dylan suddenly spun around, his upper body already bare, displaying his impeccably sculpted figure.
Flora nodded and set her purse aside.
With a touch to the wall, a concealed door emerged, revealing an expansive, private bathroom.
“Go on.”
“Alright.” Flora stepped into the bathroom, the door silently closing behind her. A lavish massage bathtub came into view.
She removed her clothes and neatly folded them to the side.
Without turning on the hot water, Flora stood in the bathtub, eyes shut tight as the cold water assaulted her.
She hugged herself tightly and tilted her head back. The water cascaded down, mingling with the hot tears streaming from her eyes.
Suddenly, a warm, solid chest pressed against her back.
