by Anya Palvin
"What are you doing here?" She sounds upset. Who wouldn't be? After two years he shows up with a gorgeous girl on his arm. "I was just leaving, since the garden is off limits I'll find somewhere else." he tries to keep cool, and pull Ciara towards the exit before Mya says anything he isn't ready for Ciara to know. "I see you're not done playing yet." she says out loud and with much resentment. Goddammit! "Mya, I'm in town for one more night so we should catch up before I go." he says what he thinks she wants to hear so she wouldn't ruin everything by making Ciara get suspicious.
"My dad owns a night club in Brooklyn, it’s a classic place to hang out and have a few drinks. There's a vault underneath, and I turned it into a strip club. It's empty during the days, we can go there for now and we can take a rain check on the first date thing." he quickly ushered her into the limo.
He would be lying to himself and everyone else if he said he didn't care about Mya. She looks amazing, even more stunning than she was in college. She never had a problem with any dangerous venture, she was the Michelle to his Obama, but he never considered settling down...until now. Seeing her again does poke something up like his old feelings, and the attraction is clearly still there, but he wouldn't do anything that will hurt Ciara. "This isn't an outfit for a strip club or a bar." She jokes but he's somewhat offended, Mya used to go just about everywhere with him no excuses and no questions asked, but since this is her first week in his world, she gets a free pass to make her own choices. "I'm actually hungry again, let's go eat." he says and she smiles agreeably.
Pascal is an Italian fancy restaurant on the Upper East Side. Conceited debutants and spoiled heirs and NYC Upper East Side princes pick this place as their favourite place to eat.
Choker hates this city, the only places he knows about are the ones his dad took him to for business, or a girl met him for drinks. If this was Italy or England, there would be a million places to choose from, but he isn't familiar enough with this city to roam around making amateur stops and spontaneous walk-ins.
"What happened?" She panics as he removes his coat in the restaurant. Blood stains are practically all over the sleeve of his jacket. How did she even see that? "Misunderstanding" he replies dryly and took her hand. They follow the waiter to a cozy corner table and he pulls out a chair for her. "Thank you" she blushed. "So what happened with you today? Is this the reason why came up late?" She points to the blood stain and he fights the urge to roll his eyes. He never had to explain anything to anyone before, especially a girl. Or maybe his new agitated attitude comes from seeing Mya again. Who knows? "I already told you, it was a misunderstanding. I don't like this city. I'm literally considering about leaving today." he sounds cold and callous but he didn't mean to sound that way to her, it just came out that way. Her sad reaction makes him sigh. "You said you have a few days off right? Come with me, I'll have you back here safe and sound in a couple of days." he reached over and touched her hand and she willingly held his. "I don't know if I'll be back to New York after a few days." She blurts out and he looks confused. "I got a job offer in California, it was crazy and so sudden, I know. But I'm really thinking about taking it." she exhaled after coming clean about her intentions, expecting him to either be happy for her or explode with forward but necessary questions like;
DO YOU THINK IT’S A GOOD IDEA?
WHEN ARE YOU LEAVING?
WHERE WILL YOU LIVE?
HOW OFTEN WILL WE SEE EACH OTHER?
...etc.
But instead he didn't say anything, and his straight face gave nothing away. She couldn't even guess what’s running through his minds.1
The waiter came and took their orders and they ate in comfortable silence, well, he did. She was playing with her food, dying to say something else but couldn't find the right words how to tell him.
"Do you want dessert? Their Key Lime pie is pretty good." he finally speaks but she nods no. One, she's full from the entree she just had and after 3 glasses of wine who would have room for anything else? For a size 2, she ate enough in this one sitting, than she usual does for the entire week. So dessert is definitely out of the question. "So do you think I should take the job?" She puts their conversation back on track, and he bites his lower lip. He does that a lot when he's thinking. "I can't tell you what to do, you're not my wife. But you are a pretty good doctor, and anyone with your skills shouldn't be tied to one facility or any medical routines. I have a few doctor associates and they travel around for work, wherever, whenever, and it works. But you're not them, and a backpacking lifestyle might not be for you, you might like a more routinely arrangement same over that kind of lifestyle where you get to see different faces day after day. I'm obviously not going to say what you want to hear Ciara, we are two completely different people, and we don't exactly think alike which is why I didn't offer my opinion in the first place." he ends the topic quickly because she's clearly disappointed by his answer. "Would you live in America?" She asks in a soft whisper. "No" he says honestly. "Why?" She asks whispering again. "I've never liked it here, but my American clients like meeting here instead of flying to another country. I've never actually thought about moving to a place I completely don't understand. I'm not a big fan of your government, and some of the laws here are a little far-fetched for my liking. The properties are overpriced and smaller than I'm used to, and the cars here are stupid. Now if you ask me about moving to Dubai or Africa, somewhere I could actually make a lot more money than I do now, then you would get a completely different answer." He smiles and she can't help but smile too.1
"I like my job now, but sometimes, I'm bored to death and I temporarily looking for some excitement. I, I like the way I felt saving that boy from the warehouse. Maybe I could do something like that. Maybe travel work isn't such an odd idea. I don't care where I am, as long as I get to save someone's life. There's no better feeling in the world." She smiles during and after.
"I wish I could pack the courage to tell her what happened to the boy after she left last night. But what good it will to tell her? She enjoys saving lives and I enjoy taking it away." He thinks silently, putting a protective arm around her.
....
I guess opposites do attract.
16.
Mya's Star Island mansion is the envy of the block. Oprah even bought out another lot just to compete with all the extra space Mya's yard has.
Her 3 dogs Comet, Cosmo and Collin greet her as she pushed the door opens.
On the left wall of the entrance hall, there's a picture of Choker holding her in the most romantic and protective way. After two years she still kept that picture and even displayed it on the wall at her home.1
She feeds the dogs and walks slowly upstairs. She's comfortably dressed in jeans and a tank top, wearing no bra. Her hair is brushed neatly into a ponytail and she's wearing Cartier diamond earrings, and a Michael Kors watch.
She makes her way to her master bedroom and into the walk-in closet to quickly find an outfit to change into. The closet is as big as the typical two-bedroom apartment; shoes tidily lined on shelves against the walls all around the room, metal garment racks with tons of outfits, a cool lady bug shaped ottoman, a giant gold framed mirror, a cherry wood chest with jewelry compartments and a cherry wood dresser for underwear.
She strips naked, well not entirely naked. She's wearing a black lace thong. The clothes she just took off goes down a laundry shoot and she picks a black maxi flowing dress with cute sandals and lets her hair down.
"Hello, sweetheart" her father greets her at the bottom of the steps, but he's not alone, he brought a very good-looking young man with him. She makes her way down and gives her dad a brief hug.She didn’t even bother to glance at that sexy, flawless man standing next to him. "Sweetie, this is Prince Adan, he’s the Sultan's son." he introduced them and they shook hands. "I didn't know you were bringing a guest dad." she says gingerly. "I wanted to surprise you so be nice." he coached her into a smile. "So, where is the chef, I'd like a special dinner prepared." he disappear
s down the hall in search of Mya's Italian chef Ramone'.
Prince Adan is blindingly handsome, young and has a flawless skin, dark boy band hair and is wearing royal robes and attire, even his eyes look like they belong to a throne of their own.
"So, your parents are great advisors. I don't know what my dad would do without them." he says in a really sexy voice trying to strike a conversation with her but she's completely unaffected. "Cool" is all she said, looking everywhere except in his direction. "I, uh, I noticed the picture as soon as I walked in...boyfriend?" He asks subtly pointing at the picture on the wall of her and Choker. "Just a picture." she whispers sadly.
Mya has always been in love with Choker, and she hoped for the day he would finally come to his senses and realize that he felt the same way, and they would leave the past behind and focus on their future, but after two years of silence, it's hard to hold to a dream when you're the only one seeing it.3
She sees his pictures in magazines, and heard about his rising career. She thought about flying to one of his events to see him, but she didn't want to appear pushy, or anything similar that. He didn't want a commitment then and she was fine with it, but the woman he’s with now couldn't seem to handle an arrangement like that and not get emotional and screwed up over time.
"Would you like a tour of the house?" She asks, distracting herself from her own sentiments. The last thing she needs right now is to melt down in front of a total stranger, and her judgmental father.
"Dad, what are you doing?" She asks in mere panic as she watched her father stand and raise his champagne glass at the dinner table, with his ‘I-have-an-announcement –to-make’ face. "Honey, your mother and I have decided to marry you off to Prince Adan." he blurts out, with great happiness laced in his voice and his smile. "What?" She's beyond the feeling of shocked as her eyes wide opened. "Married?" She asks disapproving at the idea. "I don't know you, how can I marry you?" She fights the strong desire to slap them both right in their faces. "The happiness on her father's face fades when she burst that and he leans in clutching the table for balance.
"You can't marry him because you don't know him? Is that right?" He whispers in a scary movie villain kind of way. "Yes daddy, that's way hilarious!" she tries desperately to plead her case. "And who do you know?" Her dad asks but Adan cuts him off. "Do you know what's ridiculous?" Adan interrupts. "Knowing a man for 6 years and he still won't marry you. He hasn't even spoken to you in 2 years. I have 3 other wives and they're all spoiled and taken care of. They never lack the emotional connection they need from me and they don't have to create a relationship in their head and hang pictures of a man that could care less about them just to feel good about themselves. Harry, I apologize for interrupting you but as a Prince I could have your daughter punished for looking down on me. But because of my due respect for you and for your wife, I'll overlook this disrespectful manner once and one time only. You don't need to try convincing her to do anything. She seems perfectly fine the way she is, desperate and alone." he finishes a brutal rant, and leaves her sitting at the table with a bruised ego.1
...
"You know I love you, and your mother and I am very proud of you for everything you've achieved. But, sweetheart you're 26 years old, you need children and marriage. How long exactly are you going to wait before that happens?" He walks around the table, and kissed her hair, then leaves in a sky blue Lamborghini with Prince Adan.
She sits alone in her mansion having flashbacks of her memory with Choker.
Flashback
(Three Years Ago)
Choker threw a party at hisloft located in the heart of London, and all his friends from Imperial College and UCL never failed to show up to have a good time.
He's in the kitchen doing shots with Keys, and a few of the jocks from UCL.
There are hot girls walking around topless, ashowing off their impressive tits, while only wearing sexy underwear, climbing in and out of Choker's hot tub on the terrace. "Prince I want your life" one of the guys from the soccer team whine as he watched all the hot girls parade around in next to nothing. "Enjoy yourself man, it's not like I have my eye on anyone here." Choker revealed, and he didn't have to say it twice, all the guys standing around him immediately rushed off to flirt with the half-naked girls. "Let me guess, Mya's coming?" Keys asks and Choker smiles. "Yea she just texted me." he cuts a slice of Oreo cheesecake and puts a fork full in his mouth.1
Keys and Choker are just as hot three years ago as they are now. The only difference is, Keys had a wife beater obsession. He'd wear one everyday just different colours. Now he developed a love for suits, and designer coats and tees.
"So when are you gonna loosen the leash." Keys teased and Choker rolled his eyes. "What the bloody hell are you fussing about?" Choker practically shoved a shot in Key's hand. "Mya and I understand each other. Besides, she's the only girl on this planet I trust to stick my dick in without protection and swear there'll be no surprises later. She knows the lifestyle and she understands." He explains, trying to make Keys see that commitment or not Mya is incomparable to all other girls.
She's no ordinary girl at all, her parents are just as rich and privileged as his, and their connections are just as strong and powerful. "Choke I don't care what you say, a woman never really understands why the man she likes, likes to bed other women." Keys says in a know-it-all kind of way. "Not only does she understand it, she joins in on her own free will. I came home and found her and 3 of the hottest international models naked in my bed, and it wasn't even my birthday." Choker says proudly, smiling his British face off.
Soon, Mya walks in, looking absolutely gorgeous, no makeup and wearing the plainest casual kick back outfit, but nevertheless she took his breath away.
She walks over in what seems like slow motion, and as soon as she reached him, he leaned in for a short, sweet, kiss. "Hi" she says in a low but happy tone. Keys grabs a bagel from the counter and hands it to Choker. "Dude, here's an English muffin, don't bother putting whip cream on it, just use cream cheese there's a lot of whip going around already." Keys teased, suggesting that Choker's whipped. "Do you know what's worse than being whipped? Being a bloody hermit. So many 5 star pussy in here and you're hanging around me all night. I'm beginning to wonder about you Keyshawn. I really am." He says with an emotionless face but with humour in his voice. "That's not funny" Keys seethes and walks away immediately, Mya and Choke bursts out laughing.
(Present day)
"So, when are you meeting up with that girl?" Ciara asks about Mya, distracting Choker from the breath-taking sunset. They had dinner and dancing in the vault of his strip bar, and now they're on the roof of the tallest building in New York City, savouring their moments as the sun go down. "I don't want to talk about her." he says dryly, blankly staring at the changing sky. "I lied to you about something." she says trying to get his attention and it worked. "My middle name isn't Princess, it is Rennae." she confesses and he smirks. "I already know that, Keys had a profile background check done on you right after you left the police station." Choker's eyes widen when he realized he just confessed to knowing her from the night she tried to save the rat in Venice.
It took her awhile to put the pieces together, but when she finally did, her face darkens. "Oh my god" she blurts out with great disappointment, embarrassment and anger. "Oh my god" she says again, standing up and stepping away from him. "You are the one that killed that man in the alley?" She accused him but he stayed silent. He didn't actually pull the trigger but it was his order, so it’s almost the same thing. Besides, if she's going to be apart of his world, she should know by now that death is unavoidable and is certain to happen, especially when it comes to dealing with traitors.
He could easily explain everything, and tell her that he's been smitten by her since the first time he saw her that night, but what good would that do now? She might not believe another word that comes out of his mouth, all he can do now is sit here and listen, and watch her slip away. "You knew how guttered
I was about my experience that night, and you just let me go through it anyway. Did you even come to New York to visit JT? Or is he in on this too? Are you just using me to make sure I don't say anything? Oh my god you are, aren't you?" She continues to throw numerous accuses at him right now with no bit of intention to even hear him out first and her tears are now streaming down her rosy cheeks---unstoppable."I think I'm gonna be sick." she says running to the rooftop exit door.
17.
Ciara walks as fast as she could to the exit and manages to get the door open, but Choker's hand pushed it shut. He placed both hands on the door, at either side of her head trapping her. She squirmed, screamed, fought and tried to push him away, but he was as steady and as hard as an iron moulded statue. "Are you done?" He asks looking down directly into her eyes as if he's staring just straight into her very soul. She was silenced, but her heavy breathing stays unstoppable. "First, don't ever accuse me of anything again or raise your voice at me. Two, what the fuck does what happened in Italy has to do with where we are now? I know you know exactly why people like the guy in Italy end up the way they do, we've talked about this and I've shown you my world. I have no reason to manipulate you to keep you quiet, that's too much work and bullets are faster. I actually care about you and trust you enough to share the dark parts of me with you. I don't get why you're so mad, and I really don't care. You either accept me for who I am or you don't." He swoops down slowly and she stops breathing, he almost kisses her but he stops midway, giving her achance to choose.2
"You either want me or you don't." He whispers, looking directly at her parted lips, and just like that she wraps her arms around his neck and pulls him down towards her lips. He responds, grabbing her waist with both hands and lifts her up, her back against the metal door for support, her legs wrapped around his waist and he's pleased to find no underwear under that sexy dress. He pulls his zipper down and with one swift thrust he forced his way through the barrier of her hymen and buries himself deep inside her warmth.1
