Chapter-9

Layla Alberto's POV

"Would you please stop?!" I am so annoyed at Jenna. She is making kissing sounds. She came back today morning and found me in Ben's shirt that I wore yesterday.

"You still love him." She declares.

"I don't!" A scowl taking it's place on my face.

"Uh-huh! Why did you sound so defensive then?" She is grinning and I roll my eyes at her as I plop down in the chair in front of her. We are having our morning coffee.

"I didn't!" I take a sip of my coffee.

"She says defensively." Jenna teases.

"Jenna!"

"Tell me, why did you not remove his shirt again?" She asks resting her chin on her hand as she looks at me smiling, like she already knows the answer. But even I don't know the answer!

"I-I... I just..." I trail off.

"You just what?"

"It just felt comfortable okay!"

"Something happened. Something you are not telling me. You were so angry at him till yesterday. You went to his place all annoyed. He kissed you fell in the pool. He asked you to change. Then you did and since you wore that shirt you were are all... How do I put it?" She looks keenly at me. "Not hating Ben."

"I still hate him!"

"Yeah, you do." Sarcasm is clear in her voice. "Give me the tea!" I sigh.

"Miranda is not really his girlfriend. They were acting like they were together to keep up an image for the public. It was a contract." Stupid fucking contract! Who gets into contracts like that?!

"What?" Jenna is frozen. "WHAT?!!" Now, that's more like her!

"Yes. I was just as shocked."

"Okay, so... They were in a contract and... and they are still-"

"No. They broke the contract the day Max and Miranda got clicked kissing." Her mouth drops open and her eyes are wide.

"Give me that coffee!" She takes a sip of my hot coffee, puts the mug down and looks at me. "This needs more sugar." She mutters at the coffee. "But WHAT in the HIPPOPOTAMUS FUCK IS THIS SHIT?!" I shrug. I felt the same Jenna! I felt the same! Took me the whole Sunday, two whole tubs of Sea Salt Caramel Ice Cream to get it! "Does Max know?"

"He only knew about it after the "kiss"." It is now a national subject. It's all over the media and it's crazy.

"Okay, but why are you still wearing his shirt? Doesn't add up. Spill the beans bitch!" She commands and I nearly jump out of my seat.

"Okay. Okay!" My hands are up like I am surrendering. "When I went to change in his room, he informed there are woman's clothes and I thought they were Miranda's. This is before I knew of the contract. The clothes did have tags on them, but I just didn't feel like wearing something that belonged to others or the woman he is involved with." She is listening waiting for me to get to the point.

"So...?"

"I put on his shirt and pants and the pants were too lose. I was looking around for a belt and I was checking his drawers when..."

"Oh for fuck's sake! Just say it!"

"I found the scarf." My voice is low. Even thinking about how I felt when I saw the scarf... There is that thumping!

"What scarf?"

"My favorite scarf. The one I was wearing on the day we first did it." I remember how he tied my hands with it. He put the scarf over my face and kissed my lips over it. When I tried to run, he put the scarf round my waist and pulled me close. I remember clearly how he used to smell it. He said it smEllied like me.

"NOOOOOO!!!!!!" She looks like I just told her the Earth is the Sun. I take the coffee from her. "NO WAYYYYYY!!!!!!"

"Yes way." I pull out the scarf from the chair beside me. I show it to her and she just looks like she might faint from all the shocks.

"BITCH!!! WHAT THE FUCK?!!!"

"I just didn't want to take it off." My right hand touches the sleeve of the left hand. It just feels so soft. He has worn this and I am wearing this now...

"You are so in love!" Jenna declares calmly.

"No. I hate him." Hurt grips my heart. His touch, his kisses, the way he looks at me... Everything is so consuming. Then his words... How they hurt me! I hate him! I HATE HIM!!

"You only love when you hate. You have to love to hate." Jenna looks at men puts her hand on mine before calmly speaking. "It's okay that you love him."

It's not. It's not! I hate him!

"He is asking for you." Ellie says walking out of his cabin. I throw my head back and groan. This is the seventh time he is asking for me in past one hour. He called me just a minute ago and Ellie offered to help me and went in. She is back out in a second.

"Can he catch a break?" I don't even take my notepad. It is Monday morning. After the Sunday I had and the talk I had with my best friend, I am kind of off the rails. I burst into his office and there he is sitting in his chair with that smug smile on his face. How I would like to wipe that with a slap! I stop in front of his table, fold my hands and stare right into his eyes. "What?!" He is not going to play games with me.

"My kitten pulled out her claws." He comments. His eyes shift to my chest for a brief second. I am wearing a wrap top that when I folded my hands near my chest pulled my breasts together.

"I am not yours and I am not a kitten! What do you want?!" I am frustrated. I need more coffee.

"Are you done with the presentation?" He asks.

"No! With you calling me every two minutes I won't get it done it seems! Stop playing these silly games and find something to do!" I shake my head. The stress is really getting to me. He gets up from his chair and immediately comes to me. He leans on the table and tries to reach for my hand. I take a step back. He has this look on his face. Is that... Concern?

"Is the work stress too much?" He asks. I just look away. You are causing me stress! "Did you have breakfast?" I don't answer.

"I none of your business." I spit. Suddenly, I am being pulled by my waist into the broad chest. He leans down and I suck in his scent guiltily. His lips are so close to mine. My heart is beating like I just ran a marathon.

"I am going to give you two sweet options, My Little Star. One sweeter than the other. Choose wisely." He warns and I am staring at him all lost. "You come have lunch with me or I can kiss you for five minutes. I know you won't resist the second one. Your eyes are on my lips and you are biting your lip." His hand comes up and removes my lip from under my teeth very gently. I blush so hard.

Way to go, Lyls! Way. To. Go!

"Which one do you choose?" He asks and I nearly forget what he is talking about.

"I..." His face gets so close. His breath is on my face. His hand that saved my lip from assault is caressing my cheek. I feel my eyes close for a second as I am lost in how it makes me feel. His lips are so close to mine.

"My beautiful Little Star." He whispers. Oh my stupid Heart! Don't give in!

"Lunch! Let's go to lunch!" I pull my head back. I was just seconds away from letting him kiss me. He has a smirk on his face. I am sure my face is red. Pull yourself together, Layla!

"Let's go then." He let's me go for a brief second before taking my hand and pulling me out with him. I follow him as he intertwines our fingers. As we pass through the desk, he commands Ellie. "Ellie, get the presentation done." He gives her my work. Ellie nods while looking at our intertwined hands. I am about to tell him to let me do it, when the lift doors open and before I know it we are going down to the cellar.

"What is this place?" I ask looking around. There is no one here except us and all the employees are rushing since he came. We came to a hotel for lunch. I have never been here. "Why are they are scared of you?" The waiter that put water on our table looks so nervous. I tried to smile but he is too focused on Ben to notice. I am so busy looking around that I nearly miss Ben staring at me.

"You like this place?" He asks.

"I just came here. I don't know. The vibe feels good, I guess." I reply nonchalantly. He is still staring at me. "Would you stop staring?" I sigh and pick my glass of water looking anywhere but him. I lift the glass up to my mouth.

"No. Would you stop avoiding my gaze?" He asks rhetorically and I choke on the water that went down my throat.

"I am not!" Great job! Can I sound anymore defensive?! What's with people getting on me today?! It was Jenna in the morning and now him? "Why are flirting with me so openly?"

"Why shouldn't I?"

"Because it's not going to work. No matter what you do!" I confirm as I stare directly at him.

"Why did you take the scarf?" He asks and I open and close my mouth like a fish. I thought he didn't notice. My teeth dig on to the lower lip and I shrug.

"It is mine." It is!

"No. It's not." He says with such look in his eyes. He is looking at me like I just took something important that he owns.

"Ben..." I trail off.

"It is fucking mine." His voice is so calm. His eyes land on my lips and even from three feet away from the other side of the table, he is still effecting intensely.

"I am not coming back to you-"

"Waiter!" He calls loudly cutting me off. The vein in his neck is so visible. The waiter comes and places our food in front of us before leaving.

"You can't yell and change the topic." I sit back folding my hands near my chest again for the second time of the day. "Nothing you do is going to make me change my mind-"

"We will see about that, Little Star."

"Stop calling me that, Ben."

"Make me." He challenges. His endearment causes the butterflies in my stomach to fly and hurt my heart at the same time. My phone rings and I pull it out to see that it's Mark. He usually only calls me when someone needs help. I am not in the mood to take his call right now. I don't have any money on me except for five hundred dollars. It's pathetic, but what can I do, I have to live by my choices.

"Stop staring!" I nearly yell but it comes out more like a whine. My brows are pulled together annoyed. The corners of his mouth twitch up and I groan.

"Make me stop like you used to." He challenges again and my mind flashes back to one of the happier days of my life.

"Mr. Henderson! Mr. Henderson!" Our math teacher yells and I look over my shoulder to find Ben staring at me then turning his head to the teacher.

"If you are done staring at Ms. Alberto, would you tell me the answer to this?" He asks and Ben goes over to the boards, takes the chalk and completes the problem like a pro. I grin like a fool. Ben is so sexy! He turns around, looks directly at me and walks to his seat that's right behind me. I feel his eyes poking my back.

"Can you guys make it anymore obvious?" Jenna teases and I smile. "Ben, your obsession is clear as day light!" She shakes her head. We are sitting in the school grounds after school.

"What can I say? She is getting more and more beautiful." He pushes the hair behind my ear and kisses my cheek. I blush. Jenna groans.

"Stop. Everyone is watching." He is staring at me with such intensity. It's not lust. It's not attraction. It's like he is in wonder. That does things to me.

"Make me." He whispers in my ear. I sit in his lap and he adjusts me. My hands are around his neck and my lips meet his in a passionate kiss. Jenna makes a gagging sound, but it doesn't stop us. "I love you, my Little Star." He whispers between the kisses.

"You wish. Go ask Miranda!" I poke on my food and hear him chuckle.

"I can't. She is not my girlfriend." He responds.

"I am not too." My phone pings again and it's a text from Mark. He messaged saying a little girl is suffering my cancer again and I sigh. I don't know how to help. What can I do? Should I ask Jenna for some money? I know she would give it to me without question, but if she knows it's for Mark, she will kill me. She doesn't trust him. She thinks he is using me. I bite my lip and look up to find Ben looking curious.

"Who is it?" He asks. "Is someone bothering you?" His brows pull together.

"No." I put the phone down and he immediately grabs it. "Stop! Ben! You can't read through other's texts." I try to reach the phone, but he pulls it away reading the text.

"Who is Mark?"

"None of your business!" I reach for it again and he grabs my hand this time.

"Who. Is. Mark?"

"A friend!"

"Who is the girl he is talking about?"

"Someone he knows that is diagnosed with Cancer as you read." I explain and he starts reading through the texts between me and Mark. "Stop it!" I go to his side and grab my phone from his hand. I turn around to walk to my side, but he holds my wrist and pulls me down. I squeal. "Ben! Let go!"

"Stop!" He yells this time and puts my hands behind me. I scowl. "How do you plan to help with just five hundred dollars in your account?" He asks and I look at him stunned.

"How do you-" I stop myself. He is a billionaire and he has contacts. He can pull strings. "That's for me to think. You don't need to worry yourself. Now let me go." I try to pull away. "The staff is watching. What if they kick us out? I don't want to be in another scandal!"

"You won't be. This is my hotel. They are my staff. I own everything here, except for you." I look at him stunned. "Although I am planning to change the last one soon." Oh, he doesn't miss a chance to throw his charm at me! "This hotel will be opening two weeks from now." He explains.

"Congratulations!" I respond dryly looking away. He grabs my face and makes me look at him.

"Be my date for that night." I don't know if he is asking or commanding. I smile sweetly and lean closer to whisper in his ear. I could see he is eager as I go close.

"In. Your. Dreams!" I whisper and move back to look at him and bat my lashes at me innocently. Take that sucker! He chuckles again.

"Classic, baby." He teases and I frown. "You want to pay this the hard way?"

"I don't want to play any games with you!"

"Let's make a deal." He offers while adjusting me in his lap somehow still holding my hands behind me. "You come as my date and I give money to save that little girl your friends texted you about." He says and for a minute I am thinking. Doesn't sound so bad. "I want my scarf back as well." He adds and I open my mouth to deny. "Ah-Ah!" He shakes his finger in my face. "That's not up for negotiation."

"Urgh! I hate you!" I look at him like I want to tear his head off.

"You wish." He throws his charming smile at me and I do not show him how much it melts me. He picks some pasts up with the fork and brings it to my mouth. "Open." He commands and my mouth automatically does without my permission. What the fuck is wrong with me? Is it his scent that causing me to behave like this! He hurt you, Layla! Look at you sitting in his lap, falling in his trap!

I know! Can I stay in this trap for a few more minutes? It feels so good.

"So? What will it be?"

"What if I say no?" I ask.

"You would be foolish to think I would stop." He brings the fork again to my mouth, feeding me like he used to. He leans down puts his face in my neck and smells me. I throw my head back and close my eyes. Oh my God! Help me! "I missed this!" He places a kiss there. I open my eyes as he pulls back still holding me in place. Our eyes meet. "Just for one night." The pleading in his voice is clear.

"Just for one night." I whisper.

"Yes!" His breath teases my lips.

"Okay." I whisper. A smile grazes his lips and I so lost.

One night couldn't hurt right? It doesn't have to change anything! I will still hate him after that!

How stupid of me to think that?

A night can change my life forever and if I knew what is coming, I wouldn't have agreed to this!

A/N:

Hey my cute dumplings!

Ah! The love between these two!! They pinch my heart!!! Is Ben trying hard enough to get her back or should he try harder? Tell me what you think.

Please VOTE and COMMENT.