If speechless was a person, then that would be Alora, to describe the rate of her dumbness.
She was unable to speak as the shock still ate into her, seeping into her bones, mingling with the marrows and embedding itself there.
And as his thick dulcet voice cut through the intense air and breaking the atmosphere's temperature, dread only attached itself to her more as memories of that day rolled into her memory like it's routine whenever he watched her.
Alora inhaled and exhaled like an asthmatic patient in need of an inhaler.
" Hmmm.. Nice dress you wore to impress me... Not impressed still" Davian's expression was indifferent and he just stared expressionless, at her.
Alora slowly got herself back and she gazed unbelievably at him.
What was he doing here... She was supposed to meet a certain Mark Craig.. Why now was she seeing DAVIAN CEDAR... DAVIAN CEDAR of all people.
Was this mistaked.. Did she sit at the wrong chair.
"What are you doing here" Alora asked with shaky breaths and Davian lifted his lids to her casually.
He picked up the wine glass on the table and took a sip, he dropped it afterwards, the "clink" sound going off in the air immediately it made contact with the table.
" What does it look like" He questioned back and Alora gulped.
" Where's my date... You aren't the one I..."
"Oh Mark Craig.. He realized you didn't worth him and found another , someone better" He said and Alora gulped hard, the lumped coursing through her throat like a stone, pain filling it as she stared at the Black Devil sitting before her.
"You seem uncomfortable... Why're you so far.. Come closer.." Davian said, his voice stinging, calm and collected, the calm almost palpable, his look was indecipherable, his gazed pinned on her.
Alora's breath kept cutting short by the sec, the more she stayed with his, his presence felt like an oxygen deprivation, stealing the air from her lungs, and filling it with peppers burns, so she stood up grabbing her bag.
"I sat at the wrong chair.. I'm sorry.. Wouldn't want to disturb your date with my presence" Alora bowed and turned walking away hurriedly, almost loosing her footing as she walked fast, her heart's palpitations almost bouncing out the walls of the restaurant.
"ALORA CREE" His voice silenced the atmosphere, stilling the air in a thunderous grip, Alora's heart flew off her chest at that moment. Her foot stopped moving without her permission, her eyes wide, her hand gripping her purse to her chest, her unevened breath pulsing out of her nostrils shakily. And slowly without wanting to do so, her body did a reverse turn to face the Black Devil who looked as calm as day, almost like he wasn't the one who just called with an authoritative yell.
" You're my date.. Come here" Alora's heart elevated to her throat, hanging there as her feet unwillingly moved back towards him, the stares of everyone stabbing her skin.
She stopped opposite Davian, her hand vibrating, something she desperately tried to hide, she swallowed back her heart and it dropped in her stomach with a heavy thud.
"Sit" Davian said still, his voice calm, his face void of emotions.
Alora took her lips in her warm mouth as she dropped her gaze unable to stare into his eyes, and slowly her bum landed on the chair, the dread within her heightening.
Davian relaxed on the chair with his fingers intertwined, his burning gaze pinned on her.
He didn't speak.. He just watched her adjust uncomfortably on the chair obviously affected by his presence.
The silence was slowly eating into her skin and she was about spitting her mind but..
" Why're you silent huh... You usually have alot to say... Don't you Alora" Davian asked yet even more calmly and Alora's throat tightened. She couldn't hold it anymore else she may burst open.
"You have to stop blaming me okay.. I had thought you did it.. I didn't expect my sis could lie to me.. I didn't know.. I only realized recently Davian.. So I beg you pls.. Don't be a devil and keep blaming me" Alora dropped hurriedly like the words were fire her mouth and she could only let off steam by talking fast
"You think you have the right to call my name right now" Davian asked and Alora inhaled.
He stretched his hand to the wine glass picking it up again, he sipped a little quantity and gazed at the liquid turning the glass carelessly in his hand like he was studying it.
"I am a devil.. Don't ask me not to be what you turned me into" Davian said, his calm aura piercing as he dropped the cup back gently.
"I'm sorry.." Alora apologized with her head bowed and Davian traced his gaze up to her bowed face.
" What does it change" He asked again and Alora took in a large breath looking up to meet his hole boring eyes, regretting it almost immediately.
"Nothing" Alora said and he nodded.
He stood up straight and tall, his frame shadowing her, his broad shoulders, well defined under the shit jacket.
Alora looked up at him wondering what he was gonna do.
"We'll see again" He said simply and turned around walking away from the place.
Immediately his presence and aura cleared, Alora released the hanging breath she never knew she was holding.
"Jeez.. What just happened" She thought to herself.
She just met Davian Cedar.. Like now.. She just met the tormenting devil of her life and he sounded no different from his silent torments.
•But how come he was here instead of her date.
•How did he even know about her date.
Alora couldn't stop these questions from skipping past her mind.
And did he just say they would see again.
Alora scoffed doing the sign of the cross.
Never.. She hopes, wishes and prays they never cross parts again in this life or even the next to come.
Alora was about standing up when her date rushed in, looking way worse than his pictures, his face was red from rashes and his hair was bushy.
Alora stood up quick.
"Excuse me.. I had a date already" Alora said and slapped herself for even calling the tormentful sessions with Davian ' A Date '.. Such an odd phrase.
She walked out of the restaurant, leaving the guy there, mouth dropped, shoulders slumped and and glasses dropping.
The stares of everyone housing their various intensions for the stare accompanied her out like desperate flies.
Alora stopped immediately she stepped outside drawing in a large intake of breath as the cold evening wind smashed against her skin.
The sky's was beginning an uproar, the wind broke and rumbled to attune with the sky's rumble.
The clouds, dark and defiant, looking like molded sorrows as it circulated around preparing to unleash its tears.
Alora could feel her skin break under the intensity of the cold, she regretted almost immediately wearing such an exposed attire, to impress the wrong person at that.
That damned DEVIL.
" We'll see again" His words resounded at the back of her memory and her body shivered.
The shivering could have come from the cold or from the effect of his words... Maybe twas the effect of his words because somehow.. In as much as she tries not to think about or belive it, she feels his words may come true.. About them seeing again.
No.. No no.. She shouldn't think that.. There's no way that would be possible.. That shouldn't see again.. They can't meet again.. No.. They just can't.
Alora nodded with that belief in mind and she flagged down a cab.
"Cree's Villa" She said at first but frowned changing her mind..
Going home meant going to the so called CEO of Titan's core place since her blind date wasn't successful.
No..she should head to Hope's place instead.
She can never get entangled with a certain old man because of the contract her father wants her to sign.
"Change of direction.. Colin's District" She said getting at the backseat, she shut the door staring out the window.
Her dubious mind drifted to Davian and her brain regenerated his image.
He was way more handsome and buff than before, his skin tone reflected the evening light, his ripped chest framed the light covers of his suit, and if he wasn't wearing a tie and three of his buttons were undone, then just how nice those abs would feel under her fingers.
Alora's eyes widened and she slapped herself as she realized how far her thoughts must have drifted.
Why would she even think of such.. That darned devil was supposed to be her enemy.. Jeezzz.. How could she be thinking of his face and body at this crucial moment.
Alora's frown deepened even more as a familiar wave of wind crossed her skin from the slightly tinted windows .. The kind she always got whenever she left the house or came home.. Waittt.
Alora looked up and her soft brown eyes enlarged to form a circle.
Her lips parted as gaze at the bloodily familiar environment.
She traced her gaze to the driver of the car and her heart skipped a beat.
"Chaffeur Felix... Ohhhhh fuckkk.. How the hell are you in the car" Alora yelled but the mute middle aged man just bowed to explain he was just following orders.
Chaffeur Felix was her father's personal driver so.. Literally her father sent his personal driver to pick her up.
Jeezz.. He was serious about this marriage stuff.
Alora kicked her foot against the car with a frustrated look.
Why was her father doing this.. Yes she knew the reason but why still..
How could he just give his daughter out like that.. So easily.. Like how could he.
Well she shouldn't be so shocked.. He never treated her with much care in the past.. It was always Emily.
Alora sighed not wanting to reel into that part of her life.
Chaffeur Felix drove into CREE'S EXQUISITE VILLA, as her father named it, and parked in the parking lot.
The rain already started showering and Alora stepped out into the cold despite the pinching showers of the rain as each droplets collided with her skin.
She didn't even bother running, she just walked hoping with each step, the rain relieves her strength and relishes it.
She sighed as she stood at the door to the living room and she already knew what to expect but withing this short time of encountering Davian and entering the car, she came to a decision.
She'd sign the papers.. She'll marry whosoever CEO he was of TitansCore or whatever the name was called.
It was best getting entangled up with a rich family for the sake of her safety.. Living with someone like that would mean guaranteed protection.. Now that she encountered Davian she needed extra security that her father could not provide.. She needed to be safe.. So.. She would sign it.. For her own benefit.
Alora pushed open the unlocked door and she stepped in gracefully, her dark wavy hair swaying behind her.
And just like she guessed, he was sitting on the living room chair with a strict gaze, calmly holding his walking cane.
Emily was there as well to " grace " the place with her presence.
Alora scoffed and directed her gaze back to her father.
The maids unusually stood distance away.. Not really unusual as it only signified one thing.
They've been yelled at.
Poor Maids.. Only for her sake..
Alora sighed and took five straight steps in, Devoured with confidence.
She stopped some distance away from Edward who just glared quietly at her, the document slowing marrying his hands at the rate at which he held them steadily.
Alora forced herself to withhold an eye roll as she held her black bag to her thigh.
"Someone's looking hot.. Did my little sis finally grow up.. Hmm.. Where you shagged... Uh.. Uuuhhh... Bad girl.. When you're supposed to prepare for your wedding tomorrow" Emily's voice resounded and Alora finally was unable to stop herself, she rolled her eyes, the sarcasm so obvious.
"Alora did you..."
"I'll sign the contract... I'll do your bidding.. I'll get married tomorrow.. I'll sign them now" Alora said silencing Donald and his eyes brightened as he wag he'd Alora step forward and boldly take the papers from him.
She took out the pen, the slick Bic sliding between her manicured fingers as she flipped open the pages stamping down her signatures without reading the agreements.
She tossed the document to the table directly opposite her dad and she continued her catwalk to the wide stairs.
"Get dressed then.. Good you signed them yourself.. Would have forced you to if you had refused.. Get dressed..we're going to his house to return the document and you can say high from there" Sir Donald said and Alora stopped on her tracks placing a foot on the second stair.
She turned sharply to face her father who used a walking cane despite his age.
"You took the contract.. Why don't return it yourself.." Alora asked.
"Don't question me.. Get dressed and fucking come with me okay.. We're heading to your future husband's house" Donald said and Alora scoffed matching her way up the remaining stairs.
༄DAVIAN'S MANOR ༄
Calling the edifice " Grand" or " Exotic" was downgrading its majestic qualities.
Their villa was a baby's play compared to the Exquisite castle standing before her. The glass ware looked foreign and specially made, the glass looked tinted yet transparent, the lighting were magnificent and lawn outside the house had breathable fresh air and lovable scents.
Alora couldn't help staring around open mouthed.
The spiral chandeliers let off various erotica lights making the mood... Discomforting yet comforting.
The place exuded wealth, fragrance and pure undoubted power.
Alora was unable to refuse following her father here so she just put on something comfortable although impressive unlike the skimpy uncomfortable outfit she wore this morning.
It was a red dress that stoop mid thighs clinging to her tiny waist and bunching at her hips carving out the curves and dips flaring at her midthighs and a woven black heels having high interlocks to the knee with pencil tips, the black an aligning colour with the dress.
A simple gold chain rested on her neck and and gently clip on earrings nestled against her ears.
She looked devourable in one word.
A man (Jephtha) showed up to lead them to the dining area.
Alora composed herself, guiding each of her steps and dropping them with confidence and poise.
Donald clutched firmly to the document like a slight wind would blow it off barely applying pressure to his walking cane as he followed Jephtha behind.
" Get comfortable" Jephtha said simply before leaving.
Donald nodded with a sheepish smile as he sat on a chair, already salivating over the served dishes but still not letting go of the contract.
Alora pressed her lip together.. Her dark red lipstick smacking. She had only wore mascara and lip stick as makeup with a slight brush of her brows.
She knew she was putting in too much effort to meet an old man but then.. At least he may be picky.. She needed to be far away from that Black Devil.. She needed this man's protection.
The gentle sounds of footsteps approaching announced the arrival of the Manor'ss owner, the head of TITANCORE, the one she was gonna get married to.
Alora quickly plastered a fake smile to her face with a poised look while Donald stood up with respect.
The owner of the footsteps finally showed his face hands in his pant's pocket with Jephtha strolling behind him, hands held behind his back.
Alora's smile dropped, her balance wavered and her butt slammed on the floor in a fall before she knew it as the new realization hit her like an unexpected turnado.
Her brain melted and moulded back together for a moment as she tried to put things in place.
Da.. Davian Cedar.. Like her nightmare.
Her fear was standing right before her, his muscles glistening, packed and full like one who never skipped a gym Day, his ripped chest covered in a black singlet accompanied with black pants joggers. And a nice inside slippers.
So calculatively..
She just walked into her own death.
Her nightmare owned this house.
Her dread was the CEO of TITANCORE.
Her nemesis was the owner of the contract paper.
She was marrying him tomorrow.
She was marrying her death tomorrow.
SHE WAS MARRYING DAVIAN CEDAR TOMORROW. AHHHH
"Good evening Sir Romanov.. It's such a great honor to step into your abode" Alora's gaze was unable to leave Davian as her father spoke.
His sea green eyes gleamed with obvious doom and ruin, damnation screaming in his gaze.. Her damnation and slowly they moved from her father to her and she felt her heart jump to her throat again, like her throat was the safest place to hide from his scrutiny.
"You look startled" His voice echoed in her head and beads of precipitation formed on her head.
The look in his eyes.. It was so obvious he was enjoying this. So obvious he loved the way she was looking pathetic.
Alora slowly drifted her gaze from him to her Father.
Her father just gave her out to her ruin.