Rise To Stardom: My Villainess

[ 8: 32 P. M. ]

Eventually, it doesn't take long before the engaged couple finally arrives at their place. Exhausted from their long hours of island hopping, Alessio makes himself comfortable on the couch as soon as they're inside their room. Ember, meanwhile, goes to her luggage to take some of her clothes, heading straight to the restroom right after.

At first, Alessio doesn't care as he thought that she'll just change into her pajamas to prepare for the night, but he is left surprised instead when Ember exits the restroom in her red mini dress. She is stunning. Her amber hair falls to her small waist. Her aureus eyes have a glint of something. She looks bold and beautiful of course, but it's a little bit revealing and formal. It's like she is dressed for a party, but what party?

He gives his fiancée a look of bewilderment, who only smirks at his astonished reaction. But before he can even realize it, the white shirt that she has borrowed from him earlier is thrown right at his handsome face. He takes the shirt off his face as he narrows his jade eyes at her beauty, not-so-impressed by the action she just pulled on him.

It's not like that she cares, however. Ember only rolls her aureus eyes, cl.i.c.k.i.n.g her tongue, as if daring to insult him even further. "Don't wait for me anymore. Just sleep if you want to sleep. I'll be heading over somewhere," she coldly retorts while taking her phone and purse from a table.

Alessio is not happy as he stands up from his seat to scold her. His jade eyes express his frustration for her childish antics. "And do tell where you are planning to go at this hour. Have you not been listening to me earlier? It's already dark, and it's dangerous outside. For once, stop being like a child and start acting like your age." He runs a hand across his black hair as he glares at her.

Instead of being guilty, Ember feels satisfaction. She mockingly laughs, instantly silencing him and his concerns. She then slowly walks towards him almost like a vixen planning to seduce her man. Placing her index finger in his pursed lips, she offers him her bewitching smile.

"Didn't I tell you to stop pretending? I bet that your bitch would like you to worry for her instead." Alessio intensely stares at him while Ember continues smiling at his indifferent face.

For a while, their gazes just clash. Gold versus Jade. Only their breathing can be heard inside their room for a moment. One would think that they'll forever stay in that position until Ember finally decides to take back her hand, wiping her index finger on her dress as if his touch is disgusting.

"Well, whatever. Enough of this. I still have somewhere to go." She grants Alessio an innocent smile before elegantly walking herself outside the room, slamming the door hard behind her like there's no one sleeping inside the residence.

The man is left alone to ponder what just effing happened. Alessio's jade eyes are slightly wide as he stares at the door before he eventually lowers his gaze to his l.a.p, sighing at the sight of his crumpled white shirt. Just why is he even worried for her… she is not his anymore to protect. The black-haired man compels himself to close his jade eyes while he rests on the couch...

A few hours later, and his intention to sleep is deemed unsuccessful. Alessio presses his lips as he glares at the empty bed before him, not liking the fact that his fiancée hasn't returned home yet.

Before he can even realize it, he is already dressing himself up ten minutes later. The cold exterior that he dares to conceal has finally cracked once again as clear worry slips off his usual stiff expression Shuffling his hair in frustration, Alessio retrieves a jacket resting on a chair before he swiftly goes out to search for that stubborn fiancée of his.

[ November 8, 2019; Friday; 12:46 A.M.]

A smirk plays on his lips; a young man wearing a chic and expensive suit is having a great time while seated at the aisle in front of the bartender. Despite the gaze of a stranger settled on them, he doesn't bother to be ashamed of his antics as he continues to go for the prey beside him.

Not that the woman is against his constant flirts, she seems to enjoy being indulged by his whispers of flatters, even urging him to continue by flirtatiously batting her eyelashes at him. Of course, since the young lady somehow appears to adore his presence, he continues to grace her with it.

He slowly moves his body closer, instantly having a sniff of her strong lavender fragrant. With her smile curled into a teasing smirk, he suddenly feels a heat course through his body. He doesn't know if it's from her addictive scent or just the alcohol talking that he unconsciously lowers his head to meet the lips of the woman before him. But before the kiss can even be placed, he is suddenly interrupted by someone behind him.

*Click*

The sound of glass slamming on the table resonates through the room as our heroine, Ember, took another shot without a care. She was never good with drinking alcohol, but the lack of tolerance doesn't seem to stop her now. While she always tends to avoid drinking with or without company, she suddenly has a change of mind… well for today that is.

Today is something that she is willing to take a shot that she has always tried to avoid. Fl.i.c.k.i.n.g a wrist, she drunkenly requests for another alcohol as the irritation that had been building since the day one they stepped into this island has finally exploded, disrupting the calmness she has struggled to maintain. She just wants to forget as she asks for another beverage from the bartender who hesitantly submitted.

Hearing flirty remarks beside her, Ember lazily turns her gaze to the couple beside her. Her eyes, only settling on the golden hair the man owns. What a pretty color it is; she has always wanted to have a cat that has the same color of his hair, but she's too busy to even take responsibility for owning a pet. Leaning close just so she can have a closer look, she suddenly stumbles on her seat, immediately falling. Fortunately for her, the man's back cushioned her fall; and she latches onto him with a very flushed face.

As the man tilts his neck to see the person responsible for the disrupted moment, Ember has a glimpse of his handsome face. She is slightly in a daze as she drunkenly takes in his features, almost drowning in those enchanting silver eyes. As she perceives the beauty mark on the corner of his right eye, she suddenly has a feeling that she knows him from somewhere.

He looks kinda familiar… is he that Aurius guy? As she continues to look at him, she suddenly remembers the stiff man she acted with. But the possibility of meeting him here is too unlikely, so she decides to abandon the thought.

Squeezing a flirtatious grin as she perceives the shock expressions written over his face and the woman he was obviously with, she intentionally leans closer to tease him. "Yah! If you were going to flirt with someone, then you should have at least picked a beautiful one, you know…" She puckers her lips into a pout as if almost disappointed with his decision. "Like me!" she enthusiastically slurs as she points her finger to herself.

Aurius is beyond weirded out by the lady clinging onto him without his consent… and taken aback by the lady's actions and beauty. What she claimed is true; she is beautiful. In fact, she looks far more beautiful than the woman beside him. Despite volunteering herself, he doesn't make a move on her as the lady is clearly drunk. While he has a very promiscuous nature, he didn't think that it would be good for him to take advantage of her vulnerable state.

So instead of encouraging her, he turns around gently and tries to brush her hands off him. "Miss, you're drunk," he says; but Ember is far too intoxicated to even listen. Instead of pulling herself away from him, she wraps her arms around him as she presses her head on his c.h.e.s.t, seeking some warmth. Aurius is once again taken aback by her actions; his silver eyes widening from the contact.

"Miss," he mumbles, looking at the other woman and the bartender for help.

While the bartender seems amused by the current scene, the other lady looks very annoyed with her arms crossed. Realizing that no one is going to help him with this predicament, Aurius sighs as he returns his attention to this woman. She seems to softly smile as she hugs his figure harder, murmuring incomprehensible words under her breath. Somehow, he can't help himself from seeing her cute as he continues to observe her.

As he's about to brush her off again, someone suddenly yanks the lady away from him.

'Alessio?!'

His silver eyes widen upon taking in the stoic-looking man, very surprised to see him here. He turns to the lady; his brows furrowing as he gradually assumes the identity of the drunk woman. 'So does that mean she's Ember?' His assumptions are unanswered, however, as Alessio doesn't bother to acknowledge Aurius as he takes his fiancée away from the place. But before leaving the bar, he gravely tells the bartender to add the woman's order in his tab.

With the drunken lady using him as her support, Alessio assists her form towards the exit by gently holding her arms. Almost stumbling, he has his grip on her to prevent her from falling. As they are about to go through the door, the young man stops in his tracks for a moment.

Alessio looks over his shoulder to narrow his eyes at the well-known womanizer without a care of his identity. He may be the CEO of one of the biggest entertainment companies, but the Xu's are not a tiny bit inferior to their status. While he and Ember aren't currently on good terms, he still wouldn't be so forgiving to anyone who ever dared to take advantage of his fiancée.

When they are finally outside, Ember cannot help but shiver from the cold. It didn't help that she's wearing a quite revealing outfit. In response to the icy gusts of an ocean breeze, she presses herself closer to Alessio, drunkenly murmuring "cold" under her breath, as she utterly fails to realize the identity of the person before her.

Her fiancée of course stiffens from the sudden movement before later composing. He shakes his head at her, sighing. While he initially wanted to reprimand her for her childish behavior right after they were outside, the urge disintegrated.

Looking at her helpless state, his cold gaze melted into pools of warmth. The man doesn't even think for a second as he takes off the jacket he was wearing and wraps it around her. "You are really such a child," he heaves out a sigh, "You know how Bora Bora could be so cold during the night time. You should have at least brought a coat with you when you went out earlier," he mutters under his breath as she looks at him with a dazed, child-like expression.

A smile later grows on her flushed face as she hugs the jacket closer to her shivering body. "Warm," she murmurs in a child-like manner, looking very blissful. She then suddenly walks forward; but with her movements lacking the right balance, she suddenly stumbles towards him. Her face, directly hitting his c.h.e.s.t.

Alessio's heart almost jolts upon seeing her fall; fortunately, he has a good reflex to catch her on time. He carefully holds her, slowly realizing in the process that she's far too intoxicated to even walk. The only way that he can see for them to leave this place is for him to carry her in his arms.

And so, that's what he did. With a deep sigh, he wordlessly lifts her in a bridal carry. Ember, as a result, lets out a surprised squeal. Fortunately, she doesn't seem angry at his sudden actions as she even rubs her face on his c.h.e.s.t as if a kitten wanting some warmth from the cold temperature. Alessio holds her tighter to secure his grip, with his lips slowly pressing in a thin, straight line.

Leaving trails of footprints behind him as he trudges through the shore, Alessio soon arrives at the resort hotel that they were temporarily staying at. The staff is quick to offer their help, but he dismisses them off with a shake of his head. Of course, he can sense their curiosity in their gazes as it rests upon them; but the young man doesn't bother to give them any of his attention. Instead, he continues on his way, entering the elevator without even saying a word.

As soon as the elevator door closes before them, Alessio turns his attention to his fiancée. The soft breathing of the woman, instantly greeting him; she has dozed off in his arms. Looking at her in this state, he cannot help but sigh. It's almost like nothing has ever changed upon seeing her like this; she is still as childish and reckless as always. He instantly stiffens when she leans even closer to his body. Her arms by his neck become a bit firmer as she unconsciously hugs him in her sleep.

He eventually composes himself, realizing that she's still fast asleep.

From the peaceful expression she is holding in her sleep, his gaze slightly softens. Taking note of the jacket that looks about to fall, he doesn't hesitate to carry her whole weight with his right as he secures the jacket over her arms once more. As if satisfied with his gestures, Ember unconsciously lets out a soft exhale.

And just as she does that small movement, something tugs on his heart. Before he can even comprehend it, he's forcefully pulled into his thoughts, wondering if the Ember back then never left. But before he can even linger on those thoughts a little bit longer, the elevator door opens, immediately bringing him back to reality. He blinks his jade eyes, slowly breathing. Giving one final look at the woman in his arms, Alessio eventually composes himself before completely stepping outside the elevator.