Awkward Tension

NEAL

"What are you doing to me, Neal?" she said. Why do her words get me so excited and aroused?

I was finding it difficult to fight the urge to kiss her and make her mine.

Our eyes locked, and I felt my pulse rising. I wanted to have her—damn it, she looked so beautiful in her PJs that I wanted to rip them off.

If her lips moved again, I would be forced to kiss her, but the way she looked at me in a confused state made me realize I must be out of my damned mind. Even though I could feel the tension building up between us, I still wouldn't dare.

It would kill me if she hated me afterward or if she felt repulsed by me.

The whole situation was beginning to feel awkward.

I cleared my throat before shifting away from her. She adjusted herself on the bed, looking everywhere except where I was seated.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean for that to happen," I apologized.

She only nodded while biting her nails. She has always had this shy personality; she's very soft and tender, which makes me worry that the world would want to take advantage of her sweet nature. This made me always feel the need to protect her.

"Don't take it to heart; I was being silly, as always," I lied to her, which made her chuckle.

"It's okay. I'd be damned if I fell for your cheap tricks," she said.

"Hey, watch it, young lady. I'm sure if you weren't my sister, you'd be dropping your panties for me by now," I teased her, trying to lighten the atmosphere in the room.

"Not funny, Neal," she said, rolling her eyes at me.

"Bad joke, I get it," I said, raising both hands in retreat.

"If you have nothing else to do here, you can leave my room now," she said, giving me that bossy vibe.

"Hating my company already?" I asked as I furrowed my brows.

I knew I was in denial, but as much as I wanted her, I knew I wasn't right for her. I wanted nothing more than to see her forever cheerful.

I had to let go of whatever feelings I was building up for her because, in the end, I'd probably run back to my mischievous ways.

I never really belonged to any woman, not even when I made an exception for Diane.

I wanted so badly to belong to this woman right in front of me now, but I didn't want to be the reason she cried herself to sleep at night.

I just wanted her safe, even if it meant being away from me. I wanted her to be happy, even if I wasn't the reason for her smiles, I told myself as my gaze lingered over her body.

I didn't realize what I was doing until I heard her voice.

"Snap out of it, will you?" she said, shattering my thoughts. I looked up at her, but she was just shaking her head in disbelief.

I rubbed the back of my head and smiled sheepishly.

"I'm making breakfast. Sofia is off today, so are you coming?" I asked as I was already making my way to the door.

"Ah! Not those burnt bacon and cheese with pasta. You're terrible at cooking, you know that."

"C'mon, don't be silly, Olivia."

"Not a chance," she kept whining.

"Fine, I'll order in then. After all, I'm a billionaire, not a chef," I bragged.

"You can't be saved."

"I know," I responded, letting out a mischievous laugh as I exited her room.

Later that evening, Olivia informed me that she would be going back to work after the seminar her hospital was hosting in Los Angeles, which I teased her about, saying she was using the hospital as a front to run charity work.

After our discussion, she went to the movies. I stayed home, not in the mood for parties, so I bailed on my friends.

I was getting some good rest when it ended abruptly as I heard commotion outside in the compound.

I could hear my chief of security, Ethan, loudly commanding someone to leave or they'd be sorry.

I dragged myself sluggishly out of bed and made my way to the terrace to see what the noise was all about.

"Oh, how I hate being disturbed…" I cursed under my breath. "...Whoever is responsible will be sorry," I said out loud.

Before I knew it, a shot was fired, and I heard a woman scream, which made me quicken my pace until I finally reached the balcony.

What the hell! What is Diane doing back here in my house? I said to myself when I saw her.

I was furious because she is like a plague—difficult to get rid of these days, and she was starting to get on my nerves.

"Ethan!" I shouted, which brought all their attention to me, and everything went silent.

"Who let her in? Answer me, God dammit!"

Diane tried to speak, but I didn't give her a chance.

I gave her a murderous glare—if looks could kill, she'd be thirty feet under by now. That was how much I hated her.

"Did I not warn all of you that if she entered here again, you should make sure she leaves in a body bag?"

"She's one stubborn woman. I've been trying to scare her away, but she's too persistent," one of my security men, Jay, blurted out before Ethan could caution him not to speak.

"So you let her in? Why in the hell is this wretch still breathing, Ethan?" I questioned him with a stoic face.

"I just wanted another chance to prove to you that I've changed… please," Diane spoke up, but I simply ignored her sobbing.

"So all seven of you couldn't stop this shallow woman, and you still haven't told me who let her inside."

"Mark, you were in charge of the entrance, so care to explain yourself?" I glared at him.

"I'm sorry, boss," he apologized, but an apology wouldn't cut it because I needed to make an example out of him.

"You're fired," I told him, but he tried to plead, which I turned a deaf ear to.

"I want you gone before I get down there!" I told him off before making my way to where they were.

Upon reaching them, I dragged Diane, not caring what happened to her as she tried to meet me halfway.

"Not a word of this to Olivia," I ordered them.

I shoved Diane into the trunk of my Mercedes before I drove off.