Dandelion Lover

The place he brought me to was beautiful, we could see most of the city from where we were and a light breeze was c.a.r.e.s.sing my heated cheek. His hands were holding on to mine gently and he had his eyes fixed on me waiting for a response. I simply nodded.

I wanted to tell him what happened and tell him it wasn't anything big but my lips wouldn't move. I was hurt, and by the way he looked at me he knew it as well. I couldn't lie to him when he could see inside my soul through those green eyes which were clouded by worry.

"It wasn't anything big..." I started to say in a slurred voice but his disapproving gaze soon shut me up.

"When you are obviously roughed up and can't talk properly, it is a big deal." He cut me short. "Just tell me what happened from the beginning." He continued with a gentler tone, trying to coax me into telling him everything.

"We just... me and Vivian... wanted to help you out... and get a little revenge for us as well..." I managed to say although I could feel my throat closing up and my eyes watering at the memory. As if reading my mind, Gray went to the car and brought me a bottle of water.

"Better fix your voice before anything else, I wouldn't want to do anything... inappropriate." He muttered and opened the bottle before handing me the drink.

"Thank you."

"So?" He encouraged me, locking his gaze on me, searching for the smallest hint of a lie in the depths of my eyes. He took my hands and gently rubbed them between his. I could feel the encouragement of his little gestures, I felt safe and protected and at the same time, a tingling sensation came around as my palms started to sweat. I was starting to feel hotter than ever.

"So, Vivian arranged for Mr. Roman and his wife to have dinner together with Rob and me to discuss certain aspects of the partnership they had already agreed on." I continued holding my eyes looking down, towards our hands coupled together. I couldn't look straight at Gray because I knew he didn't want us to do anything, but to be completely honest, this was more of a payback for me than for the company.

"And?" He continued looking at me expectantly with his brows turned in a scowl while his lips were upturned in clear disp.l.e.a.s.u.r.e.

"Well Rob was surprised to see me there since he thought he would only meet with Mr. Roman but when he saw his wife he decided it was better to introduce me and make me keep her company." I continued sickened at the memories that were flooding back.

Gray didn't say anything and just waited for me to calm down and continue.

"When we were halfway through the dinner, Ann came over to our table and joined us for drinks." I could feel my tears welling up again but I had to put a stop to it and continue with my story. "At first everything went well, Ann was digging a hole for herself and I could soon make a show of Rob and her getting together behind my back. As expected she became infuriated quickly when Mr. Roman started talking about marriage for me and Rob."

At this part, Gray's lips slightly twitched and his frown got deeper. "This was how the plan was supposed to go so it was all good but we didn't count on her becoming crazed..."

"She started rambling on how she sacrificed herself to help Rob and how he promised her to wed her... " It was almost funny how she seemed more naive than me at that point I thought. She so easily believed his lies that I almost felt pity for her. "That was my cue to act according to plan...."

Gray's hands stopped and I could tell that all his attention was on what I was about to tell him.

"I then stood up from the table and slapped her. Everyone knows that Mr. Roman treasures respect and loyalty in a relationship and the slap was just to show him that I was unaware of their cheating." I could feel his hands tighten over mine and in a swift movement he grabbed my right hand and turned it towards him, touching the palm with a soft graze of his lips.

"You should never hurt yourself for things like that, they're not worth it." He whispered before kissing the back of my hand and placing it back in my l.a.p, with his covering mine.

"I know you said I shouldn't do anything and just forget about it, but I can't do that anymore. I don't want to be stepped on and certainly not by trash like them." I was reminded of the humiliation I felt when I saw them so wrapped up in each other and I never wanted to feel that way ever again. "I want to be respected for who I am, and if by being nice to people is not the way, then I have no choice than to become more selfish."

"There's no need to change." He replied.

"You may think so, but what happened today is the perfect example of why I should change." His hands stiffened once again but he said nothing.

"When I slapped Ann... Rob was so enraged that he... " I tried to say the word but it was like an invisible hand was choking me.

"He what?!" Gray asked enraged and I could see his expression darken even more.

"He grabbed my arm and slapped me back." I was finally able to say it, but unlike the feeling of relief that I should have felt, dread wrapped around me at the memory. The strong hand grabbing me, unable to shake free, the heated eyes that were drilling into my mind and the cold fingers making their way to my face with a surprising force, all shocked me to no end. I was terrified of the strength he had, I was feeling confident that I was right and he was wrong but at that moment it didn't matter.

Suddenly I felt the heat that was close to my body before leaving me and I raised my head to see Gray pacing around in front of me.

"That f.u.c.ker... I'm gonna kill him... " He shouted and I was taken aback at the ferocity in his voice. I firmly believe that these were not just empty threats and that scared me more than anything else. I hopped down from the rock I was on and stumbling ahead I grabbed Gray's arm.

"No! Calm down!" I tried to shout but his eyes that were now looking at me still had hatred in them, a hatred so strong that it made me shiver and I was unsure of my own safety.

"Don't tell me to calm down, I'm gonna kill that bastard if it's the last thing I do!" And with these words, my worst nightmare came true and I finally realized it wasn't about me, it was about him all along...