Time stood still and nobody mattered to him.
He stared at her like she's the only one in the world.
Azev Zaviyar Al Jazzi
Monaco, Monte Carlo....
This was never the kind of meetings that happened that were planned or expected, it was the kind that raised brows and made people ask over and over again what happened.
It took one look...
Just one to hold a powerful man in a web.
Not because it makes sense but because it doesn't and it wasn't meant to.
Sitting and gathered together in a room made of glass are powerful men, men of caliber.
Dressed in suits made from fine Italian wool-Ermenegildo Zegna's suit.
The air around is heavy as murmurs fill the soundproof room.
Attention is focused at the figure sitting at the head of the table, hands clasped Infront of him on the glass table in front of him.
His silence louder than the words being spoken.
His face bared of any form of emotion or expression.
Covered and mysterious with a cold air around him, dressed in a three piece black suit made from Vicuna wool with no sign of belonging to any brand.
One had to look better to know his clothes weren't made by ordinary people just how he isn't an ordinary man.
A Rolex sits on his wrist along with a silver manly bracelet, his long strong fingers covered in silver rings, the veins on his hands visible and bulging.
The men stare at him, though they carry faces with no expression present he could still spot the familiar glint.
They are made men.
But like a lion he spots his prey and studies them.
"The making of such buildings takes careful planning as it is going to be unique and of course a tourist attraction" A man amongst the others says while gesturing to the screen.
Andre stands behind his boss, back slightly slouched from the ongoing meeting.
His eyes move to the other man and an almost visible scowl makes itself present.
'What a statue' He says in reference to his boss's security head.
Azev just stares on already making an internal decision before deciding to avert his gaze from the room of cheetahs.
After scanning the entire room of men with his eyes, they move towards the glass and he glances down.
Instantly his breath hitches and he finds it hard what to make of it.
Something or rather someone who catches his attention.
Rare, extremely rare.
His eyes follow the movement of the figure below, studying and too stunned to even blink in fear the beautiful silhouette might not be real.
Like a moth drawn to a flame she raises her head up a little.
The moment is brief but it is just enough for him to catch a glimpse of her face and he loses it.
Without a second thought Azev stands up from the chair he is sitting on, the barely there screeching sound of the chair and his action makes the whole room silent.
"Is there something wrong Mr Al Jazzi?" Mr Edward asks who is the CEO of one of the biggest banks in the world.
Azev doesn't pass him a glance and instead quickly strides out of the upper floor room and down the stairs.
"I apologize ladies and gentlemen on behalf of my boss, an emergency just came up please excuse me" Andre says before hurriedly following after Azev and Xavier.
Eager to see what has his ever composed boss striding out of a meeting worth millions of dollars he is stunned to find his boss standing at the edge of the stairs just staring straight ahead.
Tracing a delicate finger lightly on the art pieces before her, she stares at it completely hooked by the simplicity and beauty of the painting before her.
She moves with ease and grace, the white dress clinging to her curves in a familiar manner.
Raising her hand to adjust the silk scarf around her hair for sometime she drops it back on the painting.
Every soul that walks past passes a lingering gaze towards her figure but she doesn't bother returning it or acknowledging their gazes as she is already used to it.
Attention.
What beautiful things attracted towards them just like the painting before her.
Slowly like a man placed under a spell and completely lost he walks towards her. Hesitantly.
"Beautiful" Kiara hears a deep husky voice call out behind her and for a second her hand freezes on the painting.
She drops her hand and steps back a little from the painting before turning to face the owner of the voice.
Her breath gets caught and she finds herself gaping at the being in front of her.
Not to be exaggerating or clinche the man in front of her is drop dead gorgeous. The most attractive man she has ever seen but what draws her in is his eyes.
Silver, like nothing she's ever seen before and carrying within them a storm, with dark amber swirls within.
The staring contest between them continues and Kiara finds it hard to look away and that is until she starts processing what is happening.
'Definitely not me staring at a man like a meal'.
'Delicious'
"What's the name of your perfume?" That is the first thing that escapes her lips the moment he steps just a bit closer.
Kiara's eyes widen slightly at her own words but she masks it quickly.Mentally facepalming herself, Kiara cannot help but curse herself mentally for spilling those words.
Azev stares at the woman in front of him with amusement swimming in his eyes.
In the seconds he spent walking towards her he had thought of a thousand different things she would say but definitely not a question about his perfume.
Who asks a drop dead handsome man about his scent.
'If not a creep'.
"You like it?" The question rolls out with his tone still mildly amused.
Kiara blinks taken aback by his voice, the smooth deep texture making her insides melt like her favorite ice cream.
"Pardon" She questions acting lost and not willing to answer if it's about the perfume.
'Oh sultana, your grandmother will be ashamed of you' She laments internally.
"The painting" Azev gestures towards the huge painting hanging on the wall beside them.
Shrugging, she turns to walk away from him, not willing to give a reply.
Powerful men scared her and from the way the man in front of her is standing she could tell he is power.
The people who were walking through the hallways now seem scarce and also they now barely throw a glance their way with their heads down.
"Uksijin" Azev calls out and her brows furrow but she doesn't turn back to face him.
"Oxygen you mean" Kiara corrects.
"You're trying to take it away from me" A squeal makes him turn to glare at Andre who stares at his boss horrified.
He clears his throat quickly "Sorry sir, please continue".
"Listen here Bature, I am not the kind of girl sweet talkings works for so please" With a roll of her eye on bunching up her dress she passes him a dramatic stare.
Azev stares at her hard, his heavy gaze makes her eyes stutter and unable to hold him.
She looks down to his chest before looking back to his eyes.
"I don't mean any harm malaki, the painting is yours" Azev replies.
The words he had uttered to her hadn't meant to be a line from a book but something genuine.
How a woman he barely knows makes him talk this way is surprising.
A small laugh escapes her at his words, one filled with disbelief as she eyes the man in front of her.
A painting worth 2 million dollars given to a stranger.
"I think that belongs to the hotel we are both standing in" Kiara answers in a bored voice while passing him an uninterested gaze.
"The hotel belongs to me sweetheart" Azev says in a matter of fact voice.
Taking slow disbelieving steps towards him she stares up at him, the height difference glaring at her.
"Who are you?" Kiara whispers to the man standing in front of her.
"Yours, Your man anything you want me to be" Like a man completely gone and whipped he whispers back at her, his attention focused on her small frame in front of him.
Kiara blinks, stunned into silence.
Without a word to him she turns to walk away, towards where the real auction for the night is taking place.
What a strange man.
A handsome one for that matter.
"Oh and the painting is indeed beautiful" Kiara says just after finally breathing in.
"I wasn't referring to the painting malaki, but the one who is the most breathtaking sight earth has been blessed with" This time she walks away completely, his words lingering with her.
Just for a second tho as she fights off a smile and the blood rushing up her neck, without glancing back and feeling his eyes on her. She struts like she owns the room completely unaware of the storm she has left behind.
Azev stands there, still staring at still lost even when she has completely disappeared.
"Sir" The familiar voice of his assistant drags him out of his little dream-like state.
The look on his face immediately changes and he turns to face him.
"Andre" Being called by his first name by the boss makes him gulp.
"Arrange the painting to be sent to her" He instructs.
"Th..The meeting s..sir" With a stink eye, Azev walks towards the direction in which the meeting is being held.
Andre lets out a sigh of relief behind him.
1 hr later
After the short meeting which was spent with his mind barely conscious and thinking about his beautiful Mio.
Azev wastes no time in stepping out of the meeting room and only after he has walked out did the occupants of the room finally breathe.
"Sir, where to next" Zander, his right hand and head of security, dressed in military pants and a green short sleeved with earphones placed in his ear asks.
"Penthouse" Azev says and Zander nods before turning to glare at Andre who is busy poking him.
They get to the elevator which is reserved only for executives and the three men are about to step in but Zander instantly stands in front of Azev.
"Sir" He calls out, voice curt and body tensing into action.
Azev just passes him a look before stepping in front of the still tense Zander.
"You forget who you trained under, Comrade" Azev says before stepping into the elevator.
"Malaki" Azev calls out immediately he sees Kiara curled up in the elevator, the worry evident in his voice as he steps in front of her, his height towering.
"Turn around" He hisses at the two men inside with him.
Zander hesitates but obeys the command.
Soldiers eventually obeyed the last command.
"Are you ok?" Azev asks kneeling before her and that is when Kiara raises her head.
It takes her time to place his face and when she does, she nods before attempting to stand up.
With arms outstretched, he tries to help her only for Kiara to smack his hands.
"No touching" It comes out stern like a mother warning her kid as she glares at him while Azev purses his lips.
Andre who is barely holding in a laugh at seeing his boss like this lets out a cough to cover up his laugh.
"Malaki, I'm trying to help" Azev calls out softly but all he gets in return is a glare from the fiery woman in front of him.
"Don't call me that Bature" Kiara says her glare scotching as she struggles to stand.
Azev stares mildly amused by the fiery lady who even when down is hot.
He watches how she stands straight on her own, squiring her shoulders and flicking the silk veil tied around her hair.
"I was drugged" Kiara says after sometime and she turns just in time to see the man's eye turn color.
The once silver orbs become darker and his voice thunders out.
"WHAT" Even Zander who has years of training as a soldier flinches while Andre outrightly trembles as he can sense the rage in his boss's voice.
"Don't shout" Kiara says in a warning tone, her ears already ringing from his voice.
Andre's eyes widen and he starts making eye motions towards Kiara to warn her.
Seems she has no idea who the man standing in front of her is.
"I apologize" Clean and polite just how he is used to being.
He stretches out his hands once more to help when she stumbles but a second swat makes his hand pause.
"Kar ka taba ni Bature, Zan karya kan ka" Don't touch me foreigne, I'll break your head.
She threatens, already used to switching to her native language when pissed.
For the remainder of the elevator ride, it is silent with his gaze focused on her face, unwavering and full of admiration.
A wave of uneasiness hits her and she clenches her eyes shut for a moment.
"Are you ok?" The worry is evident in his voice as he stares at her flushed face.
He inches closer, his face inches away from hers and making her body react.
Kiara is puzzled whether it's from the drugs or simply her subconscious.
"Are you planning to kiss me, Jebaya" step back.
Kiara snaps at him, her eyes still shut.
"It's like you read minds too Malaki"....
How was it
Leave your thoughts and chapter two will be dropping soon.