Fated Reunion

“Why do you look so shocked? I’ve been looking forward to our reunion for all this time,” Brandon said before flashing me an enchanting smile.

“What are you going on about?” I snapped as I glared at him.

“Why don’t we sit down and talk first before…” he said before trailing off as his hands gestured to the large burgundy leather sofa set located in the middle of the living room.

Why am I talking to him? I should just turn and leave. I could see the king-sized bed through the ajar door to the bedroom connected to this living room. However, just like all those times before, my body couldn’t move when I felt his stone-grey eyes looking directly at me.

Brandon’s hand snaked out and quickly grabbed my wrist before he dragged me behind him, leading me to the sofa. He pushed me softly onto one of the seats before he took his seat opposite from me. The sight of him sitting crossed legged with the fingers of his hands laced together reminded me of the past that we share.

“It’s been a while since we last met, Elena. Around two years now?” Brandon asked needlessly.

“Why are you here? Where is my husband?” I snapped at him.

“Your husband? That loser won’t be turning up…” Brandon replied without a care.

“What is going on...?” I asked as I narrowed my eyes at him suspiciously.

Instead of answering my question, Brandon narrowed his eyes and stood up from the sofa.

“You don’t have to pretend that you’re in love with your husband when you’re not…” he said with a chuckle.

How does he know about that?

“He’s still my husband…” I said defensively.

“Is that the only thing holding you back?” Brandon asked as he cocked his head slightly to the side and smiled at me.

I used to think that it was so adorable when he did that but not anymore.

“What are you saying?” I asked.

“If it is, then you don’t have to hold back anymore. That man, he’s no longer your husband,” Brandon said with a smirk.

He pulled out some papers and threw them onto the table between us. I gasped in shock when I saw the title on the papers. Divorce papers…and it’s signed by my husband. My husband wants to divorce me?

“What have you done?” I snapped as my hands quickly picked up the divorce papers.

“Me? I just granted you the freedom that you long for, Elena,” Brandon said with a proud smile.

This man…he’s just as crazy and reckless like before…

“This is crazy…I’m going home!” I cried out loudly.

“You can’t. Our business here is far from over. The night has just started…” Brandon said, clearly amused.

“What do you want?” I snapped at him.

“Don’t you already know what I want?” Brandon asked as his eyes glanced over to the bedroom.

Does he truly expect me to sleep with him just because he got George to finally sign the divorce papers? Is that it?

“You know, it was good meeting you after all this time, but I will have to politely decline your offer,” I replied as I stared at him pointedly.

Brandon threw back his head and laughed loudly at me. He laughed so hard that I thought he was going to choke and die. His face turned slightly pink, and I watched in annoyance before I got up and headed straight for the door. I could hear his laughter from behind me as my hand grabbed the door handle and turned it.

It’s lock. What? Wasn’t it supposed to open from the inside? I started to panic a little as my hands tried to figure out the locking mechanism of the door.

“It won’t unlock unless I order it to. This suite, my princess, is exclusively used by me. It is never rented out to any guests. Don’t worry, I don’t blame you for not knowing that,” Brandon explained casually.

I was too busy trying to unlock the door that I didn’t realize that Brandon had approached me until he had leaned his body against my back with a hand pressed flat on the door next to my face. He’s too close.

“In case you haven’t figured it out, you won’t be able to leave this room until morning comes. That or until I’m satisfied with you, whichever comes first,” Brandon said as his hands slid down my body and held my hand gently.

What game is he playing? Why is he doing this?

“Why are you doing this?” I asked bluntly.

Clearly he didn’t go through all this trouble just to sleep with me? What is he thinking?

“Nothing really. I’m just collecting on my end of a bet that I won,” Brandon replied calmly as he slowly dragged me back to the sofa.

Slowly he pushed me down onto the sofa and sat next to me. His hand was still holding mine and his touch was surprisingly gentle.

“What bet?” I asked.

“Oh, your husband didn’t tell you? Allow me to explain then…” Brandon said as his hand started stroking up long my arm.

…

**A few hours earlier**

George visited Brandon’s casino often along with his other clients and was pleasantly surprised to be introduced to Brandon here. The owner of the casino did not join his customers very often and it was always an attraction of sorts when Brandon decided to play.

George had lost a lot of money at the casino after he’d been gambling all day and was desperately looking for a way to turn his luck around. He believed that he just needed a stroke of luck to win big to gain back all that he’d lost. That was when Brandon joined him at the poker table and offered to make a bet with him that he couldn’t turn down.

“Want to play?” Brandon asked casually just like a kid would ask his playmate to play with him.

“It’s an honor for you to join us. What do you want to play?” George said as he watched the younger man sitting opposite him.

“What about something based on pure luck?” Brandon suggested.

--To be continued…