Jacob froze for a second, unsure if he'd heard correctly. He blinked, confused.
_"What?What did you just say?"
Matthew's smirk was all the answer he got.
_"You bastard…"
Jacob swung and landed a solid punch right in Matthew's face.
+"Oh, come on,"
Matthew said with a scoff, barely flinching.
+"I expected more from you."
Jacob shoved him hard in the chest, sending him a step back. Still, that damn smirk didn't budge from Matthew's lips.
With one hand, Jacob grabbed his collar, and with the other, landed another blow across his face.
Diana, hearing the commotion, rushed over bewildered as to why Matthew wasn't even defending himself.
Tears streamed down her face as fear gripped her chest.
-"Jacob, please I'm fine! Please, stop... Just stop."
She grabbed his arm and pulled him back. His face was flushed red, his hair falling messily over his forehead. His eyes finally locked onto hers and saw her trembling in fear.
Diana quickly rushed into the kitchen and filled a glass of water. Her hands were shaking. she'd never seen a fight like that before.
Well, not counting what she and Matthew had been through.
Her heart pounded in her chest. Sweat trickled down her back.
-"Here, drink this… please."
"You need to calm down."
_"I'm fine,"
Jacob muttered.
_ "You're the one who needs it more."
She gulped down the water and it was clear he was right. She needed it more than he did.
+"Get the hell out of here."
Matthew's voice came from behind them, calm… but dark.
+"I don't want to see your face in this house again."
He walked toward the intercom by the wall and pressed the button.
+"Clear the property. Forty meters, now."
As he began to walk up the stairs, he turned his head slightly. this time addressing Diana.
+"In ten minutes, I expect you in my room."
Diana looked at Jacob, her voice quiet but steady.
-"Go, Jacob. It's okay. Nothing will happen."
She didn't wait for his answer and turned and quietly followed Matthew up the stairs.
Jacob stood there, defeated, staring up the steps with hollow eyes.
He'd screwed everything up.
Under his breath, he whispered,
_"Damn it…"
And he couldn't even tell if he meant Matthew or himself.
Diana stood in front of the mirror, staring at her messy hair.
-Maybe I should brush it
... she thought.
She grabbed her brush and began gently running it through her waves thick curls that fell all the way to her lower back.
Once she finished, she tied it back with a simple hair tie.
She looked a bit more presentable now. For a second, she thought about putting on some lipstick
but quickly shook her head. As if that would make any difference.
He wouldn't care.
And she wasn't some whore, either.
She didn't have anything special to wear for sleep, so she decided to just go in her regular loungewear.
After brushing her teeth, she chose not to take the connecting door between their rooms.
Instead, she walked to the main door, took a breath and knocked.
She heard his voice from inside and slowly stepped in, eyes lowered.
Matthew was standing by the dresser, glass in hand.
Whiskey. He didn't even glance at her at first.
She walked to the edge of the bed and clasped her hands in front of her.
With a tilt of his head, he gestured toward the bed.
+"Sit."
She obeyed quietly, settling on the edge.
She wasn't sure how many drinks he'd had but it was clear this wasn't the usual Matthew.
His eyes were glazed. The smirk was gone.
He picked up his phone and tapped a few buttons.
She guessed he was activating the central lock.
With a click of the remote, he dimmed all the wall sconces except a few that left the room in a soft, golden glow.
Then he turned to her.
+"Take it off."
Diana held his gaze for a moment.
Then, slowly_deliberately_she slid her lounge pants and underwear down.
Matthew tilted his head slightly, watching her like a starving man.
She pulled off her oversized T-shirt next
and finally, her bra.
For a brief second, Diana glanced toward the window.
The sky was growing dark.
Must be around five or six, she guessed.