Chapter 143 Her scent.

Zhavia was sure that the anger she felt was going to explode. She wasn't herself anymore. She had been feeling this rage ever since his thought came through her mind. There was something about the way he sent her away that angered her.

If he cared about her the way he said he did, then why the hell did he send her away? Why did he make her fall hopelessly in love with him and just let her go like this? 

She was uneasy. She was heartbroken and at the same time alone. That feeling that use to cloud her mind and soul before he came along was slowly gripping her by seconds. She started breathing heavily. She gulped the red wine she held in one go and walked to the balcony of her room just to breathe. 

Her hair was packed upward in a ponytail. Her black silky smooth mini dress followed the movement of the wind as she closed her eyes. The sunset was also alluring and it added a soothing aura to what she needed at that moment. 

She took a deep breath, savoring this blessed moment of a full day as the slight thud on the door had her cursing under her breath.

Sofia stepped in.

Her eyes searched around the room but she didn't find zhavia. Her heartbeat took over. She started thinking of the worst-case scenario because zhavia didn't look good when they came back earlier. She was extremely pale— far from the usual.

She walked further into the room in slow strides, and her heart continued its work.

"Zhavia?"

She called, already panicking as she walked deeper into the room; the funny thing is, she could smell her but she couldn't see her.

"M-miss McKay?"

She called again getting no response. Her hands started vibrating profusely. 

Those words started ringing in her head. The words of the dark man suddenly engulfed her thoughts that she didn't even realize when zhavia walked back from the balcony and into the room where she stood.

Her eyes were wide. She was in a daze. She was now struggling to breathe. She was terrified. What was she going to tell him? How the hell will she tell him that his goddess was nowhere to be found when he emphasized that his goddess should not be out of her sight?

"Oh my God". She muttered under her breath.

"What?"

Zhavia's voice called her off and gave her chills at the same time as she broke off from her imagination and walked to the woman in front of her, checking her entire body.

"A-are you okay? Are you hurt?"

She raised her arms and walked around her checking her entire body.

The confusion on Zhavia's face was evident. She couldn't figure out why Sofia was all worked up.

"Are you out of your mind? Let go of my arm".

She quickly backed off and croaked her throat a little; who would blame her? Being watched by the dark man is not something anyone would want especially if you fail him. She tried to compose herself as much as she could but it was to no avail.

Zhavia furrowed her brows with the grimmest expression on her face.

"What the hell is wrong with you?"

Her tone was extremely fearful. Her eyes were on her and she didn't even flinch for one bit— yes, she was that scary.

"I-i just um, i-i, well, a letter came in and i-i, well, I thought you would...".

Before she could complete her sentence, Zhavia grabbed it from her grip.

It was a black letter, and it was sealed with the rarest tag ever. Only the powerful can leave a print like that— scratch that, only people with exceptionally powerful regimes can leave a print like that. And they only send this when they want to hide their identity.

But in this case, she already knew who this was from because it was printed boldly on it. And funny enough, she had seen that seal before. That seal could Interswitch power however it wanted and give power to whomever it pleased. That seal has the final say, wherever it is taken to— it is the highest in the room. That seal is the unspoken word of the devastating daredevil and that seal can only come from one place. The desk of the dark man himself.

She held it, still looking at it. And at that moment, her heartbeat increased by a hundred. Her aching heart seized. Her organs jumped again. Her skin reacted even without his presence. Her eyes welled with tears she didn't know she could still experience. Her body gave up on her and her head started spinning. All the emotions surfaced at once and it was too much for her to take in. She was happy, excited, angry, and devastated all at once.

She managed to drag her legs slowly to the couch as she sat. Sofia's eyes stayed fixed on her as she observed her expression with absolute shock. It had been a while since she saw this side of zhavia.

Her thumb brushed on the seal as she opened the envelope and saw the bold letters. What it entailed brought a smile to her face, but somehow, it looked too good to be true.

Nicholas promised her that he was going to come to pick her up by himself, but he didn't say he was going to send her a letter. Or maybe this is his way of picking her up. 

No.

Hell no.

He would never do this. She had studied him enough to know that he is a straightforward man and he always keeps to his words. He had never been a letter person. In fact, he hates them, he doesn't read them.

So, why the hell would he send it to her. She was confused. Was this a trick? Is he doing this to make a point? What is he trying to do? 

She read the letter over and over and over again.

Dearest Zhavia Mckay,

                         You are invited to attend the Royal yearly masked gala of The Ross's Empire.

                                                           Sincerely, Nicholas.

This doesn't look like what he would write at all. It looks entirely blank with no emotion at all. Suddenly, the anger swam back into her head. How dare he joke with her like this.

How dare he send a letter to her instead of keeping to his words. He was supposed to show up if he really wanted her there. All the rage seeped back into her brain and a thought followed immediately.

"Get dressed Sofia, we are being invited to a masked gala".

Sofia saw the pain in her eyes. She saw the disappointment and knew that something was off.

But what could it be?

Fuck

~~~~

Meredith was dressed in a red body hug long flowing dress that had a V-line design at the thigh area, exposing that area. Her pure black hair was styled in a sexy royal way that spelled British. She was styled by one of the best British fashionistas and looked like she had been kissed by an angel.

The wealthiest people were invited. As matter of fact, in every Ross party, your wealth determines your respect and pride. It also determines the people who will get associated with you. Even millionaires are outraged in there, and then even if you are a billionaire, you have to be a multibillionaire in other to fit in.

The large room was packed with people in different corners chatting, but the center of this large room was spaced. The chandeliers there glistened to the floor and everywhere glittered from the effect of it. Classical Music filled the air, and the astonishing magnificent designs lightened the room. It was beautiful.

Every single person in the room had who they chatted with. Tiger and Klaus chatted with guests who introduced themselves and they hated it but just moved with the flow. 

Meredith talked with guests who surrounded her with their glasses of wine in their grip as they laughed cooperatively about what she said.

Everyone basically had people to talk to around them except him. He was at the dimmest, darkest part of the room. He hated the bright light so, he isolated himself from it.

No one knew who they were talking to because they were all in masks. He was there but no one could figure out who he was. And in that gloomy corner where he was, he thought of her. As he sipped the wine, he smelled her.

His eyes began to search around the room. This was all too surreal to him. He was certain that she wouldn't be at the gala, but her scent was the only thing he could breathe in. 

No.

This Is all in your head Nicholas.

She's not here.

He took another sip and tried to wave her thoughts off. Immediately, his heart started responding to his head. 

Why the hell is my heart racing?

He stood up. He wanted to clear his head, and the best way to do that was to go outside this shitfest.

Just as he was about to take a step forward, his eyes found her.

This is all an illusion.