Chapter Thirty; Pinky Promise
THIRD PERSON POV
The week blew over quickly.
Aurelia had successfully stayed clear of the CEO, and she was more than glad he didn’t make an effort to contact her after the confrontation. Still sense of dread settled in her heart. It was like the calm before a storm.
Maybe he was brewing another vicious plan. She couldn’t afford to relax. But today was Sunday, so she needed a little break.
Her life has been nothing more than dramatic in the past month, so it wouldn’t hurt to unwind a little. She was in her home, a place that the CEO could not reach. He knew her house address, yes, but still, she didn’t want to dwell on that.
She didn’t want to think of him.
Aurelia was curled up in the living room, Chelsea sleeping in her lap as she sniffled and sobbed. Rewatching the Titanic was her favorite way of relieving stress. A heartbreaking romance and a tub of ice cream could never do you wrong.
The sound of the doorbell interrupted the movie and she paused it, setting Chelsea aside so she could answer the door.
Maybe it was the pizza she ordered. On opening the door, Aurelia certainly did not expect to see Caspian.
“Caspian?” She blurted out, rubbing her teary eyes with her palms as she immediately straightened up. “What are you doing here?”
Caspian gazed at her with slight worry, his brows arched as he noticed her tear-stained cheeks and red nose. “Hi, Aurelia. Are you alright?”
Aurelia nodded, straightening up as she leaned against the door.
If she were being honest, she wasn’t alright. Not when her ass still ached from the spanking her boss gave her a few days ago, but she couldn’t tell him that.
“I’m good.” She answered, plastering a small smile on her face as she gestured towards him. “And you?”
It was awkward, seeing him at her doorstep after everything that happened.
‘One more thing. If I ever catch that blasted first choice of yours so much as lay a hand on your hair. I’ll make his life a living hell, then be sure to expect a nice punishment yourself.’
She suddenly remembered the CEO’s threat. Aurelia wondered if he’d go as far as to send someone to spy on her, reporting her every move. Judging from what he’d done so far, he probably would. It made her uncomfortable, but she feared more for Caspian.
The CEO wouldn’t hurt him, right? Would he go that far?
“Why don’t you come in?” Dispelling her frantic thoughts, she stepped aside to make way for him to enter. Caspian offered her an appreciative nod as he walked in and she noticed the gift back he held behind his back.
As he walked in, Aurelia did a double take, narrowing her eyes as she checked the hall leading to her apartment. She whipped from left to right, but she saw no one. Nothing suspicious or out of the ordinary. Letting out a soft sigh, she closed the door and turned to face Caspian.
Aurelia shook her head at her paranoia. How could one man set her on the edge like this?
“I come bearing gifts.” Caspian proclaimed, pulling her from her train of thought. He handed her the gift bag, and Aurelia hesitated a bit before taking it.
“You didn’t have to…” she trailed off as she peeked into the bag, seeing a stuffed Teddy bear. Her eye softened as she immediately recognized it. It was the teddy bear he tried to get from the claw machine on their date.
Aurelia looked up at Caspian, her lips parted in awe. The young man averted his gaze, looking off to the side as he sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck. He rocked on the heels of his boots, his cheeks tinted pink.
“After you left, I tried over and over again to get the toy. In a way, I was venting out my frustrations, since you didn’t give me a proper explanation before leaving…. It got me thinking.” Caspian rambled his chaotic thoughts, his shoulders slumping as he let out a sigh. He’d practiced heavily before coming here, reciting each sentence in his head as he tried to find the best way to convey his conflicting feelings.
“What I mean to say is…” He took a deep breath, shifting his gaze to his feet. “This is my final attempt at winning your heart.”
Aurelia fell silent for a moment, her gaze flickering from the teddy bear to him. She chewed on her bottom lip, her mind straying off.
“Caspian…” her voice was soft, the familiar guilt pulling at her heartstrings. “What made you change your mind?”
Caspian smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “The person you chose…. it’s the CEO right?”
Aurelia’s eyes widened, the color draining from her cheeks as the gift bag slipped from her grasp.
“H-how did you know?”
A moment of silence passed before he replied.
“I noticed. I’m a keen observer. From the elevator to the gala…I saw the way he looked at you. The way you looked at him. I didn’t want to accept it then, but I overheard your call in the bathroom on our date. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, you were taking so long and…. when I went to check up on you, I heard.”
Caspian let out a bitter laugh as he finally raised your head. “You didn’t hesitate before going to him, and then it all clicked.”
“I’m…” what could she possibly say at this point? There was no use denying it. “I’m sorry…” In the end, she apologized by default.
“It’s not your fault,” Caspian reassured her. He picked up the bag and placed it in her hands, giving them a comforting squeeze before pulling back. “The heart is what the heart wants.” Although he tried to lighten the mood, Aurelia knew he was hurting, and it pained her, knowing she was the cause.
“You’re a good man Caspian.” She said and meant it. “Too good for the likes of me.”
Maybe if she’d chosen him from the beginning, she wouldn’t be in this mess. He didn’t even ask her any questions, she was sure he must be curious, but he chose to respect her privacy.
Unlike a certain someone.
Caspian chuckled, shoving his hands in his pockets as his lips split into his signature boyish grin. “I’m just me, Aurelia. And you’re everything and more ” He countered, his tone heavy with admiration. “Even with a pair of shorts and a simple T-shirt” he added, his smile shifting into a teasing smirk.
Aurelia looked down at herself, her cheeks tinting pink as she realized she faced him in her poor man’s PJs, a combination of knee-length shorts and a baggy t-shirt. Her hair was lazily spun into a loose bun at the top of her head, and she noticed the huge ice cream stain on her shirt as well.
Embarrassed, she lightly punched Caspian’s shoulder, and he winced dramatically, doubling forward as if he’d been hit with crushing force.
“Damn, you really pack a punch, I should have known after you almost cracked my skull with a vase.” He mused, satisfied to see her flustered reaction.
“Don’t remind me of that!” Aurelia covered her face with her hands to hide her red cheeks, causing Caspian to burst into laughter.
Chelsea stirred awake, rolling on her back as she stretched her limbs and let out a small yawn. Caspian moved to pet her, but she jolted up, taking a defensive stance as she showed her fangs and hissed at him. An action that took both of them by surprise.
Caspian flinched, a shadow crossing over his features as he let out a little squeak of fear. Aurelia couldn’t hold back her laughter at his reaction, and now he was the one with rosy cheeks.
“Man.” He raised his hand in surrender as Chelsea glared at him viscously. Caspian took a cautious step back, heeding her warning. “Rejected by the cat and the owner, I’m a loser aren’t I?”
Aurelia laughed again, but her laughter soon died down.
“Caspian, please promise me you won’t tell anyone.” She begged, Her eyes pleading as she looked up at him. “If words get out there’ll be a huge scandal and I-”
“Aurelia.” Caspian cut her off. “I’m not judging you.” heaving out a short breath, he held out his pinky. “Just promise me one thing. Are you happy with him? I’m asking you this as your friend.”
Aurelia swallowed hard, contemplating her thoughts, then after a few seconds, she linked her pinky finger with his.
“Yes.”
It was neither a lie nor the truth.
The CEO made her feel strange things, things she feared to explore any further. Things that threatened to consume her. And it was only the beginning, who knew what awaited her in the near future.
A hint of hurt flashed in Caspian’s eyes, but it left as quickly as it came, so quick she didn’t notice. “Then your secret is safe with me.”
Aurelia was grateful, a wave of relief washing over her. “Thank you, Caspian.” For the first time in a long while, she didn’t feel utterly alone.
Meanwhile……
“Reports.” Luke brought his glass of whiskey to his lips, enjoying the sweet tingling taste as he leaned back in his seat. The video of Aurelia pleasuring herself played on the large screen TV in his private villa, the sounds of her moans filling the space around him. Just how he liked it.Copyright by Nôv/elDrama.Org.
“He was there today sir. I spotted him entering and leaving her apartment.” His henchmen said over the phone. The man had spent the last few days camped outside Aurelia’s apartment building on Luke’s orders.
Luke’s grip on his phone tightened. He cut the call and tossed the phone aside, finishing the rest of the whiskey in one gulp. The liquid burned his throat and chest, but it did nothing to quench the anger brewing within him.
That damned coworker! He thought, not bothering to keep Caspian’s name in mind.
“Hah.” he scoffed, his temple pulsing with irritation. “She’s taking me for granted.” Luke slammed the glass against the table, hard, almost shattering it.
His eyes blazed, a sinister grin overtaking his features as he returned his gaze to the TV.
“I don’t make empty threats my dear Aurelia. You’ll know this soon.”