The Marked One (The Marked Series Book 1)

by Chevoque

  She was down-to-earth, didn’t expect the best, and the greatest part was that she had no pretences. He smiled to himself as he admired their view of twinkling lights and manmade structures built along one of Mother Nature’s most beautiful creations.

  “Why are you silently smirking? Are you making evil plans to rule the world?” she teased. “Wait, you already do that.”

  He gave her a simper, feeling cocky about it when he caught the sparkle in her eyes. “I reserve those thoughts for when I’m in my office looking down at the city I want to be mine,” he countered with an evil tone that had her laughing. “But no, I was just realising that this is a great evening.”

  She flushed again. “Yes, and it has barely begun. Yet it is an amazing start, if having nice wine and a great view has anything to do with it.”

  “You forgot good company,” he added casually.

  She sat back, finally completely relaxing. “I’m still deciding about that one.” He loved her charming wit and how at ease she seemed around him. She wasn’t trying to impress him, and that was a main reason why he thought she was enjoying his presence as much as he liked hers. “So, what do you do besides handing out dream jobs, running a huge company, and planning to take over the world?”

  “Not much, to be honest.” He thought about her question. “If I’m not on a plane to somewhere, I’m at an office doing negotiations.” Actually saying it made it sound like quite a boring life.

  “Come on, there has to be something. Or are you one of those fanboys who secretly collect all the band memorabilia and stash it in a huge room, where unmentionable things happen?” She was fighting not to break out in laughter.

  He jovially shook his head. “No, I’m not one of those.” The more he thought about it, the more he realised he didn’t have much of a life of his own. “I do have a bitch who runs my life at home.”

  Her eyes grew as big as the Savannah and she cleared her throat. “Uhm, sorry, what?”

  Tristan couldn’t help but laugh. “I have a dog and she basically runs my life at home.” Aaliyah looked relieved and was smiling profusely at him again. “Her name is Isabella. She is a rescued Great Dane.”

  “Odd name for a dog. Still beautiful though.” Aaliyah looked at him with admiration and was luckily so distracted she didn’t notice the terrible stare the man with the greased hair had given her.

  “It was my grandmother on mother’s side’s name.” Aaliyah made a face of utter disbelief. “As you said, it is a beautiful name and I never met any of my grandparents. My parents were both disowned and then they came here, hoping for a new start.”

  “Wait, the fairytale story about your mother, who would’ve been a Duchess? Is it true?”

  “Was it in your odd map?” He smiled at her. She looked awkward.

  “My friend, she’s a local girl and—”

  “Local?”

  “Native to Pittsburgh. Sorry, the South African slang sometimes messes around.” She took a sip of her wine and continued. “Anyway, she told me…after I told her about tonight.”

  He enjoyed the thought that she told her friend, who he had to assume was M. Spencer, and for a second he hoped that she knew about his wife, who he had been separated from for the last year. It was one conversation he was dreading to have with Aaliyah, because he feared she might then solely see him as a cheating womanizer. Bitter thoughts began to fill his mind, but luckily they had to order their mains, as Aaliyah insisted she’d rather have dessert instead of a starter.

  “Oh, as I said, she kind of informed me about more of your family, but she was a bit vague with some parts. I suppose it is the artist in her that gets distracted. Or it might have been Trai Byers when she told me all this while we binge-watched some series.” She looked like she was really thinking it over and realising how confusing it all must have been for him. “But, anyway, I do know the story of your parents is quite romantic.”

  He sighed. “You have an odd idea of romantic, but I suppose there is something beautiful in their story. To me it seems unfair, and our family back in Europe still wants nothing to do with us. Sometimes, I feel it might be better this way. At least my parents and I are quite close.”

  “Your father learned all his skills from his father, correct?”

  “Yes, the Gerardo family in Sicily are known for being fish mongers, thus great negotiators.” He felt proud of who he was in that moment.

  Aaliyah looked reluctant. “You don’t have to answer if it is too personal, but…money changes people. You couldn’t have been too old when your father made it big, so how did that influence you?”

  It felt an odd question, but the honest reason needed to be stated. One thing he was sure of was that he wanted to be open with Aaliyah. Have her see that he meant to be as forthcoming as possible.

  “I was spoiled. I took very much for granted. Spent money like I owned the companies my father took ages to make his own. I was a rebel and I was constantly so high or wasted that I made the dumbest mistakes during that part of my life.”

  She saw his hurt. “But you’ve learned from them? The mistakes and you’ve fixed them? Because you seem like you’ve got yourself together.”

  He thought about it. The truth was that it was still painful to think of Gabriella and what he basically caused. It was now almost eight years since that night, and that time had been the hardest. He felt like he’d never forgive himself and he was fine with that, but Aaliyah was looking at him with a raw hope, and the truth was he couldn’t change what had happened that night, but he had learned from it. And from his wife, who exploited this knowledge and mostly helped him recover.

  “It still bothers me,” he finally managed. “I just try to not think about it too much and when I do, I try to use it as motivation. To not be that person again. To not make the same mistakes.”

  Her complete understanding made her nod and she smiled, as if she was sensing that the conversation was turning stale. She took a gander out at the night, and after a short while, she softly said, “It looks so different from here, and the evening light also brings a completely different perspective.”

  The soft scatter of stars now covered the skies, and as if time stopped, the view was more beautiful than ever. The music held less classical ambience than usual and carried a more electro feel, which Tristan surmised he only noted due to his personal experience being more uplifted at that moment.

  Their food arrived and as Aaliyah ate her chimichurri-style Chilean sea bass, he enjoyed his yellowfin tuna with the port wine sauce and bacon. They were quiet through most of their meal, only stating how they were enjoying their food. Tristan nearly dreaded the thought that after their desserts, he was going to have to take her home and say goodnight.

  Aaliyah, on the other hand, seemed like she was crawling back into her shell, and it pained Tristan after she had been so open with him for most of the evening. He couldn’t quite tell why she was suddenly far more reserved, but the voice inside his head was shouting at him that she was just being careful, while he feared she wasn’t as taken by him as he was by her.

  The fear of rejection, he supposed, grew as Aaliyah bit into her molasses cookie, which came with her crème brûlèe. “Tristan?”

  “Sorry, what were you saying?” he asked, confused.

  “Something wrong with your cake?” An uncertain smile played along her lips.

  He looked down at his angel food cake and said, “No, just too much.”

  She didn’t seem to buy it, but clearly had no need to question him any further. He wasn’t sure why, but he was accepting that she had already decided that whatever could happen between them wasn’t going to.

  The drive back to her place was near uncomfortable and as he walked her to her door. He was still greatly concerned over her safety in this dodgy area, and it was killing him.

  “Thank you very much for this evening. I really did enjoy it,” she said as she faced him. The door to her place stood only a few feet away from him. He knew he might n
ot see her again.

  “Aaliyah,” he began. “Have I done or said something wrong?”

  She frowned. “No, but you seemed to have…I guess spaced all through dinner, so it feels more like I might have.” He could tell from the look in her eyes that she knew she was the one who had become guarded. She looked at her feet for a moment and then back at him. “I am so afraid of getting hurt. I find it hard to trust anyone, and I’m still just scared that your intentions aren’t what you say they are.”

  “I would never—”

  “I know you say it, but—” her eyes showed a lifetime of pain and her birthmark was surely the reason “—you are already so different from almost everyone I’ve ever met. I want to give in and just forget about all the hurt people, who were far less kind than you, have inflicted on me, but it is still bugging me over why you would even want to see me, much less why you want to see me exposed.”

  “Because you are beautiful,” he said without a second thought. She obviously wanted to protest, so he continued. “Because you are more than just how you look, and in all honesty, I’ve never enjoyed anyone’s presence as much as I do yours. You make me feel like I don’t need to impress you with fancy things and try keeping you around with the most amazing things I can think of. The only thing I do know is that it feels like I am fighting an unwinnable battle.”

  Guilt gripped her eyes and showed a truth he was hinting on during the second part of their evening. “I was trying to be cautious. I really like spending time with you as well, and I just don’t want to start falling for you and then open my eyes and realise it was all fake.”

  “Do you really think I’d betray you like that?” Her eyes gave the answer. “That is all you are used to?”

  She gave a soft nod. “I want to believe you are different and that I’m just being silly, but you need to understand that it is a safety mechanism.”

  “I completely understand.” She didn’t hide that she didn’t buy it. “You might have noticed that I do have quite a good amount of money and that usually attracts the type of people who want to use you. So I really am aware of how hard it is to trust people, and while I never want to force you to believe me, I just want you to see that my intentions are good. That I know what it is like, but also because you know what it is like to be afraid to just give in to someone else. I feel like I can truly connect with you and I want to. Aaliyah, I want to—”

  “I believe you.” The words were a plea as they crossed her lips. “I…I’m trying my best. How about I make it up to you?” Seemingly determined, she pressed on while he was already decided. “I really enjoyed this evening with you and I am willing to try again.”

  He felt his lips curve upwards. “I would love that. And…I will be more open.”

  “You don’t need to if you don’t want to.”

  “No, I think the best way to show you and to show myself that there is nothing to fear is to be more forthcoming.” She sighed in relief. “So how about tomorrow?”

  “So soon?” They were back to the cheerfulness they had lost.

  “Why not? I have a meeting until one o’clock, but after that I’m free and I’d really like to see you again, soon. And waiting until next week already has me agitated. Have you been to the National Aviary?”

  “Always wanted to go, but…well, you know.” She nearly looked guilty.

  “Then I’ll pick you up at one o’clock. We’ll have lunch and see how it goes?”

  She laughed. “Deal.” She stuck her hand out to shake his, but almost immediately let it fall to her side and rather leaned in to kiss his cheek.

  Soft, supple lips made contact with his flesh and it felt like a thousand volts shot through his body, invigorating him. When their eyes met again, she shyly smiled and seemed a little less and more uncomfortable at the same time.

  He cleared his throat. “Thank you for accompanying me this evening. I am looking forward to tomorrow, and not to sound rude or like I’m chasing you away, but I would like to know you are safely inside before I drive away.”

  “Still not a fan of my little warehouse?” She turned away to open the door. The movement made her perfume find its way to his nose, and the notes of jasmine and cotton candy stayed with him as she went inside.

  “Goodnight, Aaliyah. Now lock the door and do call if you are invaded by fat rats from the labs.”

  She chuckled. “I’ll put your number on speed dial,” she said when she faced him again. “Goodnight, Tristan,” were her last words before she began closing the door. He waited for the click of the lock and made his way to his car, smiling like he had not a worry in the world, while he was still hopeful that tomorrow things would change for the better.

  Chapter Six

  Aaliyah

  Aaliyah was excited to see Tristan again when she woke up the following morning with a smile on her face. The day seemed bright as she stared down at the living area, where sunlight filled and lit up the entire space. It was odd, because she was far from a morning person and getting up was usually an ordeal.

  She rolled to her side and texted Madeline about how great her date had gone the previous evening and also informing her about the one she was going to have that day. As she was ready to head downstairs, her phone began to ring and the caller ID made her smile.

  “Good morning,” she said in a way she thought might have been a little too sexy.

  “Good morning, Aaliyah. I hope you slept well?” His husky tone was smooth and inviting.

  Butterflies, swift eagles, and even fancy dragons made her feel the flutter of excitement inside. “Thanks to you, I did. I hope the same goes for you?”

  “Mhmm, it was one of the better night’s rest I have had in a while.” She smiled at Tristan’s subtle flirting. “I want to apologise beforehand, but something has come up and I can’t make it for our date. The meeting I am having in a few minutes has progressed into one that requires me to do damage control. But I do want a rain check as soon as possible.”

  Her mood flattened, but she understood that it was how his world worked, so with a smile she replied, “I completely understand and I’d love the rain check. How about tomorrow?”

  He sighed. “I wish. I want to see you as soon as possible, but I have a weekly visit with my parents and well…”

  “Family always comes first.”

  “Yes, and I will make it up to you with a great gesture you wouldn’t be able to refuse.”

  “That only makes me nervous,” she said, her honest opinion slipping out.

  “Never be,” he said in a tone that could soothe a heartbroken soul. “I will call you next week so we can plan something.”

  “Very well, I will be waiting,” she said in a tone full of anticipation.

  “I’m really sorry about this. I—”

  “You don’t need to apologise. I’m sure my friend will be happy to spend some time with me instead.” She paused, feeling disappointed and also slightly relieved, because she wasn’t sure she would be able to go through another date being exposed. She began making her way down the staircase and her phone indicated another incoming call.

  There was a pause before Tristan spoke again. Background noises dominated his end of the line. “We’ll talk soon.” She felt awful realising that her still detached manner was showing far more than she had anticipated. “Enjoy your weekend, Aaliyah. Goodbye.”

  “You too, bye.” The call ended quite abruptly after that, and as she was looking at her phone, she saw Madeline calling but made no move to pick up. She looked out the window.

  The city was waking up and the early light silhoutted the city, making shapes she could admire all day long, but she knew she needed to get out of the warehouse and out of her own mind. She picked up the call. “Hello, Madeline.”

  “Took you long enough. So what are you wearing?” Madeline was sounding ever excitable.

  “Bad news, he had to cancel, so I am free and was thinking I would like to see my best friend,” she chimed.

  Ma
deline was quiet, likely sensing Aaliyah was holding something back, but that might have been her own paranoia. “I first need to know if you two kissed last night and if there are any dirty secrets I need to know of?”

  “No dirt, just a cheek kiss,” Aaliyah said easily.

  “What? I’m not saying one should put out, but a kiss on the cheek? Legit?” Aaliyah let out a heavy breath, expressing her frustration, which Madeline ignored. “At least tell me that it was more than just okay? Your text said it was okay and that you were having a second date today. So does the cancellation on his part mean you liked it even less? You confuse me sometimes.”

  “Are you done? Because I’m still waiting for the ‘hello, friend’ part and the ‘how you doing?’”

  This time it was Madeline who sighed. “Hi, friend. Hah ya doone? Well? Oh, that’s great, me too.” She paused. “So, now, my turn. Are you going to give me a proper idea of what happened last night? You need to remember that you and dating are comparable to Africa and rain. It rarely, if ever, happens.”

  “Don’t joke.”

  “What? It is true. Right across the world it is either far too hot or too cold, and even your home country is having one of the worst droughts in thirty years!”

  “How do you even know that?” Aaliyah chuckled.

  “I like checking in on SA news since I’ve met you, but don’t get me off point. Are you gonna tell me more about last night?” Madeline would never miss a chance to use her persuasive/guilt trip skills to convince a person to give up the goods.

  “My date is cancelled now, and I would like to see you so how about—”

  “21st Street in ten minutes?” Madeline sounded far too excited.

  “I just woke up. How about in an hour?” Aaliyah really wanted to get her face covered. “Damn, why are you even up already? You never see light before ten?”

  “Couldn’t sleep,” Madeline blabbered off and added with frustration, “Okay, fine, and then I need to ask something about the portraits and whatever. But we’ll discuss that later then. Okay, bye.”