Chapter Sixteen

Jake couldn't remember how often he had played the game 'catch me' when he was younger, but one thing he was sure was that he didn't like being caught. He didn't like it then and he definitely didn't like it now. He hated what a certain brunette was doing to him.

  He didn't want to feel or care or show that anything mattered, but It was just one night and her innocence changed his views and dominated his mind, now he couldn't  look at her without conjuring up the image of her face tainted with colour against his pillow and how her dark hair splayed around her. He couldn't forget how extremely exquisite she had looked with her eyes shut as she sighed his name.

  Her skin as soft as silk he couldn't forget the feel and he could think of nothing right now but to have her in his bed again naked beneath him and all his. He felt a stir in his groin and he swore loudly.

  He's never really dated much and didn't sleep around either but the few he's dated, none has ever left such a lasting impression and he wondered why.

There was an intelligent part of him that tried to convince him that maybe it's because she's the enemy but this intense desire was going against everything he'd planned.

  He had been so confident from the moment he saw his mother's lifeless body dangling from her bedroom window. The thought set off a dull ache in his chest, it's been two years since but he was still hurting. She was a wonderful woman, loving and caring the only one who truly cared for him and Karen his sister. 

  He had promised to avenge her death and thus began his search for the woman who had destroyed his family but he was disappointed to learn that she had died a few months back. He didn't give up then, he had persisted until his investigations led him to Karl and Vanessa Wilkins, and he decided then that the best revenge against his father's mistress was to destroy her daughter's life the same way she did his.

  Van felt her heart breaking into a tiny million pieces and it's not because Jake had walked away as their gazes collided but it was the anger and disgust she saw in his eyes.

  She blamed herself for this mess that was her life because she had fallen in love with him that night she'd set eyes on him at this very villa two months ago, he was brooding and mysterious and she was fascinated by him, she felt special when he began to pursue her. She knew he only wanted one thing from her and she should've sent him to hell then but she was stupid to have hoped that there could be something more than just the physical attraction.

  Maybe it was bad luck or a curse that she had been condemned to love men who were way out of her league and did nothing but hurt and embarrass her–like Josh Hamilton, her high school crush who was a jackass in nature.

He had displayed the love letter she had written to him on the school's social media. She was made fun of by everyone in school. As if that wasn't enough, he dramatically spelled out his reply in front of all the students in the cafeteria. Rella had been the only one on her side, who defended her when everyone else poked fun at her.

  ''Wow, rejected yet again what a loser.'' A familiar squeaky voice drawled beside her and she wasn't surprised to see Brianna Foster and Marione Bridges.

  Brianna was the school's resident queen bee and a bank heiress, she's recently engaged to an oncologist. She has a loud mouth and is overly dramatic.

  Marione on the other hand was a staunch follower, always trailing behind Brianna like some stray puppy. She's a successful model and the newest endorser for the Four-Clover beauty products–a subsidiary of the fashion company owned by Jake Calloway.

  ''Hello to you too Brianna.'' Van dropped sourly. ''I don't know what you're talking about.''

  ''Oh there's no need to pretend Vanessa you can tell us.'' Marione flashed her pearly white teeth that made Van want to gag, she could tell when one was pretending to be nice and Marione was so obvious to a sickening extent.

  Way to go Barbie. she would love nothing more than to knock those shiny rakes out of her mouth. 

She'd be doing the world a huge favour.

  ''Sorry girls, I would've loved to stay and chat but I'm kind of busy right now.'' She dismissed casually hoping to get away before she did some serious damage to someone's new plastic face.

  ''It's Jake Calloway what were you thinking?'' Marione exclaimed theatrically and Van wondered what they knew and how they knew, she'd die if she were to be the centre of the town's gossip.

  ''There's nothing between Jake Calloway and I where did you get that silly notion that he rejected me?''

Brianna scoffed, ''Pfft, you can't lie to me I have eyes. And besides I saw that drama between you two a while ago even a blind man would know there was something between you two.'' Van balled her fists, schooling her features to appear unaffected, careful to not give them the satisfaction of seeing her squirm.

  If they knew, Van was scared of the nasty rumour they might spread.

  ''Rella's lucky you know, Stefan Diamond is the perfect catch.'' Brianna clicked her tongue. ''Frankly, I'm not surprised because she's always been the beautiful and intelligent one while you were the ever distasteful and miserable sidekick.''

  Van dug her nails into her palm, biting down her tongue to keep from making a scene.

  ''That hurts doesn't it?'' Brianna taunted further. ''I still have the video from that extremely entertaining day. Do you want to see it?'' she fumbled with the zipper on her purse as Van's hand clamped against hers, squeezing hard until her nails were digging into Brianna's skin.

  She watched with satisfaction the painful grimace across Brianna's face.

  ''Let go!''

  ''We're no longer in high school Brianna so don't try to bully me,'' she said menacingly. ''Say one more nasty word against me and I'll knock your teeth out of that distasteful gateway of yours and shove it down your throat.'' Van gritted finally letting go of Brianna's wrist which she instinctively nurtured with her other hand.

  ''You're a beast!'' Brianna hissed loudly glaring at Van then back at her bruised wrist.

  Lani smiled sweetly, ''Do you want to see my fangs, they're much longer now.''

  ''Brianna don't waste your time on her anymore she's not worth it.'' Marione said uncouth. ''She's alone anyway, that should remind her to stop aiming higher than she would ever get.''

  ''You're wrong,'' a sultry masculine voice drawled. ''She's with me.'' collective gasps escaped their lips as they realised who It was. 

  ''Josh…Josh Hamilton?'' Marione squeaked with a mix of fear and surprise.

Van tensed at the mention of his name, not because she hadn't known who he was when he spoke but his mere presence made the hairs at the back of her neck rise.

  What's he doing here? What does he want?

  She turned around slowly and met his handsome face and mesmerising eyes that were the colour of molten chocolate, just like she remembered. But his mouth-watering masculinity wasn't what had her speechless, it was the irony of the situation–the fact that he swept in trying to save the day like she was some damsel in distress and he was prince charming, his horse would most likely be his new corvette.

  ''You cannot possibly be serious!'' Brianna said in an outburst.

  ''Hello Brianna, fancy meeting you here.'' He turned to her like he was seeing her there for the first time. ''And of course I am serious.'' He told her and the look on her face was priceless as she stormed off.

  ''I can't believe she's still stuck up after all these time.'' He muttered, then with a heart-stopping smile that would've turned Van's insides to mush he said, ''Dance with me.''