Elena's POV:
I step into the room before Adrian, and he slams the door tight behind us as he enters.
The sound echoes through the room, causing me to flinch.
He strides forward, shoulders tense as he pops open his shirt button and cuffs. Then he plops down hard on the couch, running a hand through his hair, leaving it slightly disheveled.
He's angry. But I don't understand why. I guess it has something to do with that Marco guy, but I don't know what it was about that encounter that's left him so worked up.
"…Adrian?" My voice is low.
He doesn't answer.
"Are you angry about something?" I push lightly. "Is it Marco?"
His jaw ticks.
I'm right.
"Who's he?"
Still no answer.
"Adrian…" I call out flatly this time, slightly annoyed by his ignorance.
"What did he do that's got you so worked up? And why aren't you answering me?" A little of my frustration slips out In my tone.
"Elena," he says, voice low, "drop it."
"Not until you tell me," I bite back. He's not the only one who can get angry and act all cocky.
His head lifts up as his dark gaze locks me in.
But I don't back down still. I want to know.
I cock my head at him, lifting a brow. "Go on, then."
His jaw flexes, and he exhales deeply.
"He's someone you need to stay the hell away from."
That's it?
"Why?" I press. "Is he dangerous or something?"
"Ohh, it's definitely something," he mutters. "Something worse than dangerous. So if you see him go right, you use left, if he uses left, you use the fucking right. Am I clear?"
I shake my head, confused.
"Wait. I don't understand you…"
"You don't need to understand. All you have to do is avoid him as much as you possibly can."
I hold his stare. I want to keep pushing, but then decide against it. If he says I should stay away, then it means the Marco guy is really dangerous.
Just then a phone rings. It's Adrian's. He sits forward, elbows braced on his knees, as he takes his cell out of his pocket and brings it to his ear.
"Yes."
There's a long pause.
"When?"
Another pause.
"Tell them I'm coming."
He ends the call, finding my eyes immediately.
"I have to go."
I frown. "Right now?"
"Yes. I have something important I have to attend to," his voice drops a little lower. "It won't take too long."
My chest tightens. "Oh. Okay."
His jaw flexes. Then he gets up, and walks towards me until he's directly in front of me, and the smell of his cologne travels up my nostrils.
God! He smells so good.
I'm thrown off when his index finger finds my chin, and he tilts it up slightly so I'm looking up at him.
He studies me.
My face.
My expression.
Everything.
"I don't want to make you feel caged here, so I'm going to let you have your way," his hot, minty breath fans my face.
"But you can't leave the hotel. Everywhere inside the hotel is okay. Don't wander too far. If you need anything, call me. And I mean anything."
"Do you understand me?" He tilts my chin a bit higher.
I shake my head at him. I do.
"Use your words," his gaze narrows slightly.
"I do," I breathe.
"Good," he says, releasing me.
My skin tingles where his finger was, warmth spreading throughout my body.
"I'll be back shortly," he says, heading for the door. But then his hands stop on the door knob.
"And Elena?"
I turn to face him. His back is to me. "Yes?" I answer, voice a bit shaky.
"Do me a favor and don't talk to strangers, will you?"
"Okay," I answer softly.
The door opens, and Adrian steps out, shutting the door behind him.
I exhale deeply, trying to steady my breath.
Anytime he gets so close to me like that, I always hyperventilate. Like I'm some dog or something.
I sink into the bed, curling my fingers around the sheets. I'm alone. And I hate it. But I can't help it if Adrian has got work. After all, that's the reason he's here.
I sigh, but it's cut short by a faint buzz.
My phone. I reach for it, bringing it up to my face. I expect to see a notification or something since I don't have any friends or people who call to check up on me.
But when I look at the screen, it's a text from an unknown number.
Unknown number:
"Did you enjoy breakfast?"
My blood runs cold, my grip on the phone tightening.
I stare at the message, reading it over and over and over again. Who would use an unknown number to message me just to ask about my breakfast?
I press the side button and lock the screen, throwing my phone against the pillow as I stand.
It's probably a wrong number or something.
My heart leaps, and I jump back, startled, when the phone buzzes again.
Slowly, with shaky breath and shaky hands, I reach for the phone again, and unlock the screen.
Unknown number:
"Don't ignore me. I don't like it when people ignore me."
What the fuck?!
The phone buzzes in my hand again. I swallow and open the message.
Unknown number:
"I know you've seen my messages. Why aren't you replying?"
Because I don't fucking know you?!
For fucks sake. What do I do? Should I reply?
No. Let me call Adrian. I'm sure he'll be able to trace the number or something.
But when I go to press on his name, I stop midway. Do I really need to tell him? I mean, I wouldn't want to disturb him over something as trivial as this.
It's not like the person's sending death threats or anything.
I'll just block the number. I open my settings and press block. That will do it.
But then immediately, the phone starts ringing with a different number this time. I throw the phone to the bed again, my heartbeat picking up.
"Jesus Christ," I mutter as I clutch my chest.
Who the hell is this person and why can't he leave me the fuck alone?!
The phone stops ringing. And when I think it's over, it starts ringing again. And it doesn't stop. It's call after call after call.
Screw it!
I snatch the phone from the bed angrily, and swipe on the green button, bringing it to my ear.
"Who are you, and why the fuck do you keep calling my phone?!"
"I thought you weren't going to answer," a deep, chill voice says from the other end.
"Well, I did. Now tell me what the fuck you want from me or stop calling my damn phone."
I don't expect his next action. He laughs. Loudly. A deep, rich laugh that vibrates through the phone.
"You're feisty. I like it."
Heat ripples under my skin, disgust climbing up my throat like bile.
I inhale deeply before speaking. "For the last time, what do you want from me? You've been calling and texting nonstop, so you might as well just say it now." I'm already angry and my patience is wearing thin.
"I want you, Elena."
I move the phone from my ear to stare at the screen, irritation forming in my features.
Not only did that sentence irritate my soul, but I'm also shocked that he even knows my name.
Forget it. I shouldn't have answered in the first place.
I bring the phone back to my ear. "Don't call this line again." I press the red button and end the call, exhaling deeply.
What the fuck was that?
My phone chimes in my hand, and I bring it up to my face.
Unknown number:
"We're not done."
Before I can think, I start typing angrily on the phone.
"Go screw yourself." I press send. Then shut the phone off immediately.
I sink down to the bed, and run both hands through my hair.
"God, this is not the type of shit I signed up for coming here."