■ Note: Like I've already said since it's a fiction, I'll be making up stuff to add into my work, which could be a disease, any gadget, places, food, medicine etc. Please keep this in mind when reading, because I like to be in full control of my works, and so that my lack of knowledge doesn't hold me back I've decided to make up my own stuff which I can bend to fit into my story. Happy reading. ■

● AUTHOR'S POV

"Pull up your dress." Xanthos stated calmly, as he refused to break eye-contact.

"Excuse me!?" Ava was dumbfounded at what her ears had just heard.

"Pull up your dress sweetheart, or perhaps you need my assistance?" Xanthos teased as he moved closer filling up the gap between them.

"Why do you need me to pull up my dress?" Ava questioned securing her dress as she gripped on it, incase Xanthos actually tried to offer his assistance.

"I don't exactly need you to do that. I can do the job very well myself. I am just trying to be a gentleman." Xanthos stated giving an innocent smile, and going through his coat pocket he fished something out of it.

It was a black strap with a small square-screen attached to it and a clip; very much like a seatbelt's, at the end. The screen was flat enough to not appear as an obvious bulge over the strap, and the dark strap itself was a thin lightweight one.

'Is that some sort of sexual contraption!? He does not seem like a sadist though. But then again, it isn't always as it seems.' Ava's mind had countless questions, as to what was happening, just rushing through it.

Was it the Fifty Shades he might have binged last night, or probably the scenario of having her all alone with him, in a tiny space, with not much place to bolt from this scandalous scene? Ava couldn't make up her mind, why suddenly she had to lift up her dress, and why was a black strap being twiddled around his fingers.

"It's a tracker." Xanthos explained as he dangled the dark strap before her eyes.

"We're not off to a house warming party Ava. It is best if you stay close, and do as I say." Xanthos said as his hand made its way upto her face, and he tucked away a few strands of hair.

Ava's attention was too hooked on his words with a warning hinted through them, that she didn't realize how Xanthos' masculine fingers handled even a strand of her hair so gently, as if a little more force and it'll be harmed.

"This tracker strap goes on your thigh." Xanthos said as he shifted his gaze from her face, to her milky soft leg that peeked through the slit. The strap was thin enough to not be visible when worn underneath, hence making it perfect to be hidden under one's clothing.

"Give it, I'll put it on myself." Ava said as she held out her hand and tried to appear calm, keeping her expressions under strict check.

"As you wish." Xanthos was quick to hand it over and point at the leg covered by her dress, opposite to the one being exposed by the slit, as the one that the tracker would go on.

"Just a few inches below your waist." Xanthos directed Ava the place where she had to put it on, and moved back as he took out his mobile phone and got busy with it, almost as if giving her a little privacy.

Taking the opportunity, Ava was quick to turn her back towards him and through the leg slit, she hurriedly placed the strap around her thigh which wasn't the exposed one, exactly a few inches below her waist, and using the clip at the end she locked it in place.

Fixing her dress she adjusted back, and made sure the strap was secure and the dress was properly covering her as much as it could, despite it being backless with a thigh-high slit on one side.

"Quicker than I expected." Xanthos commented, his eyes still locked on the bright screen before him.

Putting away his phone, Xanthos brought up his left hand before his eyes, which had a wrist watch on it with a similar small square-screen on it, as that one on the strap that was now tightly secured around Ava's thigh.

"Let me activate it." Xanthos said as he tapped a few times on his wrist watch and then focused his attention on Ava.

"You couldn't have done that when you had it!" Ava asked as she looked at him in disbelief, and suddenly his quick agreement to handing over the strap to her that easily, started to make a little sense.

"It skipped my mind." Xanthos replied, puckering up his lips.

"Tell m--" but before Ava could complete she got interrupted. "It's a bit complicated, and there's not much time left for classes, we're closing in on the venue and I'm sure you wouldn't want my hands up your dress infront of a whole gathering." Xanthos said keeping a straight face, but a little thrill laced his words, that went unnoticed by Ava.

"Or, maybe you don't mind?" Xanthos teasingly questioned as he crossed his arms and inched his face closer to hers.

"Fine." Ava replied as she, despite her urge to push the devious man out of the moving car, kept her cool and assured herself that she was only complying because her safety was in question. She had only been dealing with this sudden chaotic life of hers for her safety, she might as well take another jab to the throat if it ensured she'll get to live.

"It'll be quick." Xanthos assured as his hands swiftly moved towards Ava, and through the leg slit he pulled up and away her dress, enough to expose her thigh which had the strap secured around it.

Xanthos skillfully uncovered her thigh without even having his hand come in contact with her skin, but still, the sensation of having someone touch her dress as she felt the soft satin brush away from her thigh, made Ava's body get covered in goosebumps.

Just like Xanthos said, he was quick to finish the job with just a few taps and raised his head to meet her eyes.

"All done." Xanthos smiled and moved back to his place giving Ava some space to commence breathing, as she had been holding her breath without even realising it.

Ava quickly fixed back her dress and realized, how Xanthos was not just swift, but also careful enough to not actually touch her bare skin. He finished the job respectfully enough, to not have his hands snake around her thigh or make any debaucherous comments.

After arriving at the venue they made their way into the main hall where the guests were seated, Xanthos again reminded Ava to stay close and not disappear from his eyes.

As they entered the scene, Xanthos had his hand around Ava's waist and a bright smile illuminating his lips. All eyes turned and focused on them, once the two made their way through the glass doors, and into the crowd.

Every head intrigued, and wanting to know; who the lady in gold with the emerald-eyed man was.

Some men in awe of her beauty, some racking their minds to know her identity, some women having their eyes turn green and some just utterly engrossed in the charming devil.

"Xanthos, my dear fellow! How have you been?" a man in his early 40s, dressed in a navy blue suit with his hair neatly combed back, greeted loudly as he made his way upto Xanthos. His arms wide open as he came in for a hug, and Xanthos removing his hand from around Ava's waist momentarily, hugged back the man.

"It's been quite some time since we met my friend, how have you been treating life?" the man in blue joked, as he warmly held Xanthos' arms, and offered him a pleasant smile.

"It really has been quite a few months." Xanthos agreed offering back a warm smile. "I've been treating it fairly well, If I say so myself." he further added and both let out a hearty chuckle.

The fair-spoken man moved back, and tilted his head to the right glancing at Ava. "And who might this gorgeous lady be? I don't recall seeing this pretty of a face with you before." the man queried as he stretched out his hand over to Ava.

Ava stole a glance at Xanthos before placing her hand in the man's, and he softly kissed the back of it presenting her with a rather courteous smile.

Despite his age, he appeared younger and was a handsome face to lay sight on.

Xanthos moved back his hand to Ava's waist, this time gripping it a little more securely and pulling her closer to him. Ava still couldn't get used to of being in this close vicinity of a man, but she kept playing along.

"This fair lady is Miss Ava Reed, an employee of mine. She was kind enough to be my date after I got stood up." Xanthos introduced Ava, and whispering the last few words, he sarcastically pursed his lips together.

"Ha ha! Stood up? I don't believe it." the man let out a laugh and Xanthos just elevated his shoulders a little, replying, "What can I say?"

Xanthos then turned his head to the right and locked his gaze with the stunning girl beside him, who looked exquisite adorned in all her glory. "Ava, this is Mr. Gillano, Mr. Hullio Gillano." he introduced as he kept his eyes locked on her, and taking a few more seconds than necessary, he finally broke his gaze and focused back on Hullio. "He is a long-term friend and a business rival. He owns a chain of clubs in the West Wing of Samwill and the female clothing brand Élégante." Xanthos further added.

There wasn't any mockery in his words, he appeared rather proud introducing his friend and Ava noticed his amicable genuiness, which was somewhat foreign to her.

"And he might also be the one to give me a run for my money." Xanthos light-heartedly whispered to Ava, and Hullio was quick to interrupt.

"You talk too highly of me. I'm in my 40s and you're a competitor of mine, and still in your 20s. I think we can very well see who's going to give whom a run for their money." Hullio retorted and both men now humbled by each other's comments, shifted their attention towards Ava.

"Miss Ava Reed, your name is as vibrant as yourself. It was a pleasure meeting you, positively hoping to see you again in near future." Hullio's gracious words made Ava's lips pull up a polite smile.

"The pleasure is all mine. It was delightful meeting you." Ava responded and Hullio offered her an ample smile.
After a few more talks Hullio took his leave, only to have more people come greet Xanthos and the gorgeous lady beside him.

Ava had taken account of how some had a slight disbelief in their eyes when she would be introduced, but she was already aware that Xanthos Aldine was a big name, and if someone were to accompany him, they must be a somewhat known figure themselves.

She was already prepared that she might be getting more than just smiles at tonight's celebration, which was held as a congratulatory event by Albert Gilmore; a well known business tycoon, for his younger brother Arthur Gilmore for opening up a chain of cafes, that was being sponsored by some of the guests; that had also been invited to enjoy and celebrate the new launch.

Xanthos was busy talking to one of the other guests and was now standing at a little distance from Ava, which was on purpose as he had noticed how she looked drained, constantly greeting one person after the other. He decided to give her a little break, though he kept stealing glances at her making sure she was fine and close by.

Ava slowly regaining her stamina decided to fetch herself something to drink, her thoughts still in process when her ears caught on a nearby conversation going on, when she heard her name being taken.

"Ava Reed. An employee? I did hear the rumours that Xanthos had picked up some filth from the streets, I just never expected it to be true."

Ava turned around her head a little catching sight of the person so publicly trashing her. It was a petite woman, dressed in all red with her brown hair let down, which came all the way to her waist, she had her back facing Ava.

Judging the distance and the tone, Ava felt as if the lady was being offensive and loud on purpose.

In any other scenario Ava would have given the lady a piece of her mind, but, Ava's Id was being put under check by her Ego, and she decided to pay the lady's words no heed until a sudden realisation struck her, and her eyes dulled, 'Most of the people here knew who she was, and owing to what circumstances she had gotten involved with Xanthos.'

The disbelief in some eyes when her name was taken infront of them had a reason, that was entirely different from what Ava had initially anticipated. The tracker and the warnings to stay close by made sense now, they were very much likely because of the reason that the event was also guesting them here as well, the people after her throat for her father's rotten acts.

Author's Note
Hope you liked the chapter, vote and comment if you have the time to.
Thankyou.