Do you buy this house, or your company gave it to you?" Henzal asked, trying to lighten the mood and sound casual.
He didn't answer immediately. Instead, his green eyes lingered on her before he replied, calm but firm, "I built it by myself."
Her brows lifted, impressed despite herself. The villa was massive, a piece of art drenched in shadows and elegance. "That's… incredible. But what is your position in the company? I mean… it's too big a villa…"
Her words trailed off when she caught the way his expression hardened. He set his spoon down with deliberate slowness and looked at her directly. Her heart began to race—had she said something wrong?
"I've been working for them for a decade," he said evenly. "They like my work. They promoted me higher and higher."
She nodded quickly, swallowing. "Oh… then why did you never visit us? Aunty misses you a lot. Uncle too. They haven't seen you in years—only letters and phone calls."
For the first time, his gaze seemed to sharpen like a blade. He leaned back, eyes never leaving hers, and his lips curved into something between a smile and a smirk.
"I'm a busy person, Henzal. I don't even have time for myself." His voice dropped lower, rougher, as he added, "But now… I'm free. All the time. For you."
Heat surged up her neck to her cheeks. She dropped her gaze to the plate, stabbing at her food just to escape his stare. Her pulse was racing, and she cursed her own body for betraying her.
A low chuckle escaped him, quiet but sharp, wrapping around her like smoke.
And in that moment, Henzal realized this dinner wasn't just a meal. It was a test. And he was already winning.
They ate their dinner in silence, the only sounds the soft clinking of cutlery against plates. All the while, he kept his eyes on her, watching her as if she were more than just a guest—more like a meal he was savoring, though that thought made her chest tighten in a strange way.
After a while, they both finished. Henzal rose from the table, and he followed her with a slow, deliberate step.
"Come, I'll show you the washbasin," he said. As he stood, his shadow stretched over her, enveloping her in his presence. She walked beside him, careful not to step too close yet unable to look away.
The washbasin was large and elegant. Henzal reached for the tap and started washing her hands. He finished washing his own and dried them deliberately, watching her every move.
Her wet hair started slipping into her face as she bent over the tap. Without hesitation, he tucked the strands behind her ear.
"You… your hair was disturbing you," he said softly, his tone calm but carrying that subtle weight that made her heart skip.
Henzal's breath caught, and she lowered her gaze, the closeness and his touch leaving a shiver trailing down her spine.
After a while, they moved away from the washbasin. He looked at her, his gaze fixed, intense.
"I'm feeling tired… I should get some rest," Henzal said, her eyes heavy with exhaustion.
He nodded silently as she started walking toward her room. Every step she took, she could feel his eyes on her back, lingering, consuming.
Once inside her room, she closed the door behind her and let out a long, shaky breath, trying to calm the fluttering in her chest.
Downstairs, he stared at his hand, remembering how it had brushed her hair. Slowly, he ran his fingers through his own hair, a smirk curling at the edge of his lips. He pulled out Henzal's cellphone from his pocket, his green eyes glinting in the dim candlelight.
"The beginning… is something you can't process," he murmured, chuckling lowly before turning and disappearing toward his own room.
---
Henzal made her way to the bed, reaching instinctively for her phone.
It wasn't there.
She frantically searched the sheets, the bedside table, even the floor around her bed—but it was nowhere to be found.
Her chest began to tighten, and a nervous flutter settled in her stomach. Only on that phone did I have Aunty and Uncle's contacts…
She searched again, more urgently this time, her fingers trembling. Where is it?
Panic began creeping in, gnawing at her thoughts, but no matter how thoroughly she looked, the phone remained missing.
Henzal made her way to the bed, reaching instinctively for her phone.
It wasn't there.
She frantically searched the sheets, the bedside table, even the floor around her bed—but it was nowhere to be found.
Her chest began to tighten, and a nervous flutter settled in her stomach. Only on that phone did I have Aunty and Uncle's contacts…
She searched again, more urgently this time, her fingers trembling. Where is it?
Panic began creeping in, gnawing at her thoughts, but no matter how thoroughly she looked, the phone remained missing.
Henzal hesitated at first but finally approached Aaron's room. Her hand hovered over the door before she knocked lightly.
The door opened, revealing him. Shirtless. His sculpted body caught in the dim light, a faint sheen of sweat on his forehead from whatever he had been doing. The tattoo of an eagle on his neck gave him an even more commanding presence.
"Ah… sorry to disturb you," she said nervously, her eyes darting away. "But my cellphone is missing. It's not in my room, and I haven't been able to talk to Aunty or Uncle since I arrived."
He listened quietly, his gaze fixed on her trembling face. "I've already informed them that you're with me. Don't worry," he said, running a finger through his hair as the sweat traced a line down his forehead.
"Ah… thanks so much," she murmured, trying to regain composure. "But my phone is still missing, and I can't find it anywhere."
He took a slow step closer, his voice low and smooth. "Shh… don't worry. Calm down. You're with me. Forget the world… forget everything else."
Her chest tightened, and fear fluttered faintly in her heart. "Ahm… Aaron…" she whispered, stepping back instinctively.
"Yeah… Henzal," he replied under his breath, his voice dropping lower, almost a growl.
She swallowed hard, gulping down her saliva. "I… I should go back to sleep now. And… again, thank you, and sorry for disturbing you," she said, forcing a small smile as she retreated to her room.
A dark, low chuckle followed her. "You… are you scared of me? Don't worry…I won't eat you… now," he murmured, the last word almost lost beneath his breath.