15 PENELOPE?

Nova walked into the dining room, greeted her father and took her seat opposite Andrew's after they were served their portions of chocolate macaroons, which she couldn't wait to devour. Mr Clifford's face dropped when he saw the chocolate macaroons, he couldn't take anything sugary because of his illness so he was served a bowl of oatmeal and a cup of green tea as his breakfast. The dining room was filled with the mouth-watering aroma of the macaroons that could tempt anyone to linger for breakfast. The seductive smell of rich cocoa and softly flowery vanilla sugar produces the frothy lather. The cookies had a very nice texture and surface.

Nova began chewing the chocolate macaroon, which was slightly crunchy on the outside and soft but not mushy on the inside. Nova moaned as she licked the side of her lips, enjoying the subtle sweetness of the macaroons and a hint of nuttiness from the almond flour.

Andrew's attention lingered on Nova's lips as she continued to chew on the chocolate macaroon and lick the side of her lips. Her moans were like a melody to his ears. Desires started building up inside his body and it was understandable. He thought. Since he was only a man, hearing such a low rough grunt from her mouth aroused him.

Nova just happened to move her eyes in his direction the moment he looked over. His eyes flicked down to her throat, lingering there for a moment before meeting hers again. She forced herself to meet Andrew's gaze without a blink, feeling stripped bare by the intensity of that gaze. Everything in the room falls away, except for him.

" Why is he staring at me like that? " Nova thought. Her brown eyes studied his with idle appreciation of their allure. How had she never noticed before how dark his eyes were? They held so many emotions in them. Why does she feel that those eyes were a description of a 'hurtful beast'? Then she realised she had told Andrew everything about herself but yet she knew little or nothing about him. Why was she realising that now after seven years? She'd noticed that he always tried to change any topic she brings up about himself and his past. What could be so hurtful about his past that he was hiding?

Andrew held one of the chocolate macaroons up to his nose and inhaled the intoxicating aroma of rich cocoa. Then he put them in his mouth and started eating; the flavour was chocolate with vanilla sugar. He couldn't help but moan as the vanilla melted on his tongue.

Nova couldn't help but let her eyes wander unconsciously to his lips. Those lips? At the thought of his lips, she remembered their kiss and in the process she choked. She coughed and both Mr Clifford and Andrew stared at her with worried eyes.

" Are you okay? " Andrew asked and almost chuckled when he saw the crumbs of the macaroons at the side of her lips and almost vibrated with the need to reach out to her and lick it off her lips with his tongue.

" Drink some water, Nova. What were you thinking while rushing your food? Your cheeks are so red. " Mr Clifford asked, worried.

She opened her mouth to make a remark, when Andrew beat her to it.

" You have something on the side of your lips. " He said as he watched her try to get it off but she she was cleaning the wrong place so he leaned forward, over the table as if drawn to her by some invisible force and extended his thumb to wipe off the crumbs, his thumb slightly brushing her lips as he stared into her eyes for a moment.

Her eyes always reminded him of the sweetest chocolate. These brown eyes are rich and soft just like chocolate.

" Alex's birthday is coming up in a few days. Have you had anything planned out for the party? " Mr Clifford's question snapped the tension in an instant. Nova and Andrew looked away sheepishly as he took back his seat.

" I haven't asked him if he would like to invite any of his new friends. I would talk about it to him tonight. I have to go to work. " Nova said, standing up from the chair and picking up her designer handbag. " I will see you two tonight. Goodbye. " Nova said, pecking her father's cheek and walking out of the house to the garage as she got into her red Bugatti. For this week, this was the car she was going to be using. She ignited the engine and drove off.

***

Andrew, sat in his car, dressed in a black suit, his legs crossed as he watched the cafe opposite the street. He was waiting for someone and the person walked out of the cafe and headed to his car " Did you get what I asked for? " He asked the person as soon as he got into the car.

He was given a brown envelope after the person nodded. When Andrew opened it, there were images of Elena inside. One displayed moments in which she was with a man, and the fact that he was present in the majority of the photos with her seemed odd and suspicious. A particular picture piqued Andrew's interest and it was the one that shows her walking into a hospital and her behaviour looked suspicious. " Do you have any idea who this man is to her and why she is going to this hospital? "

" No sir. I don't know who this man is to her. I'll investigate some more. " The person replied.

" I need you to get me all the information about this man. His name, his past, everything! " Andrew said firmly.

" I will do that. "

" You may take your leave. " Andrew responded, deep in thought.

'What are you up to Elena? Who is that man you keep on meeting?" Andrew thought with a narrowed gaze.

" I will be back. " He told his chauffeur before he got down from the car, crossed the road to the cafe and was about walking inside when the door opened and someone unexpectedly bumped into him, the cup of coffee the person was holding spilled on his suit, causing him to curse under his breath.

" Ouch! " The woman winced, holding her head after colliding into a hard chest.

Slowly, she lifted her eyes, her gaze moving from his long legs, up to his hand and elbows, across to his abdomen before stopping at his chest. She gasped when she saw the coffee stain on his suit. " I.. I'm so sorry. I'm sorry I wasn't watching where I was going. " Her heart jolted when her eyes met with his.

He stared at her, a frown etched upon his face, he had hard, full lips and a sharp jawline which was clenched in anger. He towered over her petite figure, his muscles clearly evident through his black suit.

" Next time you should watch where you are going! Now my suit is ruined aargh! " Andrew said with fury.

" I'm really sorry. " The woman murmured.

" It's okay. " Andrew sighed angrily.

" I still feel so bad for spilling the coffee on your suit. " The woman said and smiled at Andrew. She couldn't figure out why she was attracted to him so strongly at the moment. She wasn't someone who believed in love at first sight or infatuation because they weren't real and were simply based on lust, yet she couldn't help but be drawn to this cold man who was towering above her with dark eyes that were full of secrets.

She should have detested him since he seemed arrogant and hardheaded because she didn't like arrogant guys, but she felt a tenderness in him that moved her. She wished to learn more about him. Yet how? She found everything to be odd. She wasn't someone who was susceptible to falling in love with a man right away.

" By the way, I'm Penelope. " Penelope said, her voice gentle.

Penelope?

Andrew scowled, watching her. " Do I look like I care? " He said curtly.

To be continued...