In Love with the Dragon - Chapter 5

Qila was dreaming again. She was in a forest not far from the city. She could hear the traffic nearby. The trees were tall and old. Many had thick foliage and broad trunks. Some were moldy and slimy.

She frowned and wondered, 'What is this place?'

Someone coughed aloud.

Qila turned around but saw no one.

"Who's there?"

"I'm here." A large werewolf appeared in front of her.

She gasped but with surprise not fright. The werewolf had burnt tail and several scorched patches on his fur.

"Are you hurting? Of course, you are hurting! I'm sorry!" Qila extended her hand towards the werewolf. "Can I help you?"

"You want to help me?" The werewolf started to laugh but the mirth ended to a coughing fit.

Qila approached the werewolf and stroked his back to comfort him.

"Oh, I haven't laughed for a long time!" He grinned at her. He showed all the canine teeth to its full glory.

Qila smiled hesitantly. "How can I help you?"

"Kill the dragon!"

"What?"

"Kill him if you want to help me!"

Qila was taken aback. The werewolf had changed into a man. A shadow of a man! The forest had dimmed and darkness had fallen.

Qila ran away from him.

"Kill him! Kill him! Kill him!" His voice faded into the night.

She reached the cave. Self-consciously, she touched her hair. Tendrils had loosened from her braid. She pushed her hair away from her face. That was the least of her concerns.

'I must talk to the dragon!' she told herself urgently.

Qila found herself wandering around the cave but she could not find the dragon's lair. She was becoming desperate. The werewolf... no, the shadow of a man was determined to kill the dragon!

"Dragon?" She decided to call him. "Fire-dragon?" Her voice echoed to the tall ceilings of the cave.

"I'm here..."

Her heart jumped with delight.

"Where are you?"

The beast was breathing blue flame. His eyes were not red. His scales were not shiny. Maybe, the lack of illumination stripped the shimmer off the body...

"What happened to you?" she asked with concern.

"I'm deteriorating..."

Qila approached him carefully. Her eyes were looking for injuries. She noticed his little wings. They were not flapping.

"You must come to me! Help me!"

And the voice! The voice of the dragon was deep and rich.

"You are the Shadow!" Qila shouted furiously. "Get away from me!"

"Hahaha!" The dragon became the shape of a man, the shadow of a man. "You are quick! I applaud you! You are ready!"

"No!" Qila ran away from him as fast as she could. She was breathing hard but she could not stop. The man was pursuing her!

"Gotcha!"

Qila opened her eyes suddenly. She was wide awake and still breathing fast. Her body was alert and ready to act.

"Oh, it's just a bad dream!" she exclaimed with relief. "Again!"

The ringing of her alarm clock pierced the silence of the flat.

Qila was galvanized into action. It was Monday morning!

She was in a frenzy. She took a shower but did not wet her hair. Her office clothes were not yet ironed.

"I'm gonna be late!" she muttered as she unplugged the portable iron.

Someone rang the bell. She ignored the sound. She was busy dressing for work.

When there was knocking on her door, Qila paused. She glanced at the calendar. It was not yet pay-rent day!

"Who is it?" She hopped over the door. Her panty stockings refused to go up the correct way.

"Spike," was muffled answer.

Qila was stunned. She partially opened the door to make sure.

"What are you doing here?" It was a silly question for her--but not for him.

"Fetching you," he replied seriously. "May I come in?" Spike was enigmatically handsome. He was courteous, too.

"Um, a moment!" she said breathlessly. She was getting excited!

Reluctantly, Qila detached the chain of the door. It was an extra-long door-guard but she always forgot to mention this to the landlord.

As Spike passed Qila by the door, his expensive perfume dominated the room. He was wearing a formal dark suit. His wide shoulder carried his prominent head. His long hair was smoothed by gel and tied at his nape by a small black ribbon.

He looked around swiftly. Suddenly, she saw the surroundings from his eyes.

She was proud of her flat, but now, her little castle became a small shack.

Her toilet and bath had a pretty curtain. Her mini-kitchen became dwarf-size. Even her inverter refrigerator did not stand out!

"You have a nice and clean place," Spike complimented sincerely. He stopped in front of the poster. He stared at the dragon with a slight smile.

"I'll finish dressing!" Qila exclaimed in a harassed manner. She scurried by the bed and pulled the flower-printed curtain. Smoothing down the black skirt and white ruffled blouse, she donned the black blazer. She slipped on her black heels.

She did not have time to braid her hair so she left it hanging. She wore the only jewelry she owned, a diamond clip. She bought it with her first salary.

"I'll ask you again: what are you doing here?"

"I am your new immediate boss. You worked in the encoding pool. Now, you shall be my personal assistant." Spike rubbed his palms together as though congratulating himself for a genius idea.

"W-what? But--" She was astounded. She should not be surprised because she already guessed how wealthy and influential he was! "What do I need? I haven't written my updated resume!" At the back of her mind, she felt relief. She did not forget the threat of Dollie...

"That will be your first task as my personal assistant. Are you ready?" Spike observed her face. "No make-up?"

She blushed but did not speak.

He walked over to her. Holding her chin up, her lips was on a level to his.

"What is your height?" he murmured intimately. He was just asking an inane question but he was so close...

"A-about six feet?" She was not sure.

"Whatever... I want to kiss you... May I?"

Qila swallowed but she nodded.

Spike was tender when he touched her lips with his mouth. Like yesterday, he rubbed his lips on her skin gently.

"I don't know if I will last a month!" he muttered croakily. "I really want you, Qila!"

"Y-you promised, Spike!" Qila cried in panic. There was excitement, too.

"Yes, I promised. I regret it but I have to keep it," he sighed deeply then he gave a small smile. "Let's go before I forgot my first meeting this morning!"

They were holding hands when they went down the stairs. Spike was leading her.

A white Cadillac was parked on the curb of the road. His two bodyguards were beside the black Mercedes Benz parked behind.

Without a word, the uniformed chauffer got out of the white car and opened the door for Qila.

Qila did not know what her reaction was. They were mixed. Her emotions were in chaos.

She refused to be belittled. She was independent. She could hold herself in any situation... even against the blatant display of Spike's wealth!

She was mute along the way. She snubbed his every attempt for conversation.

"Are you sulking?"

"No." She was forced to answer but she still faced the window.

"Why are you so silent?"

"Y-you are--you are rich and powerful. I'm a... We have nothing in common!" Her low voice was wobbly. She looked down at her lap.

"You are a snob, Qila," Spike said calmly.

"I am?" she asked in disbelief. She watched her hands twining and untwining distractedly.

"On the contrary, we have many things in common. We are both tall. We like the same music, the same books, etcetera... But the most important is," he paused and waited for her to turn her head. "We like kissing each other," he whispered softly.

"Spike--"

"I am Brantley Pendragon III, the billionaire owner of Pendragon Group of Companies. I cannot change my status in life. There are many people around the globe who depend on me. You have to take me or leave me!" He personified the word, 'Arrogance,' when he gave her the ultimatum.

They stared at each other. For the first time, his gaze was blank. There were no desire and no provocation.

Qila licked her dry lips. Her heart seemed to jumped out and lodged in her throat.

"I am cautious by nature, Spike. I want to know you better before I--before I take the plunge towards the unknown..." she explained humbly.

"I understand, Qila. I'm willing to wait, darling," he expressed tenderly. His blank expression was instantly wiped out. He was lover-like again.

He called her 'darling' and she almost said, 'to hell with the waiting!'

When he pulled her into his arms, she quivered deliciously.

"Spike?"

"Qila..." His mouth stroked her lips gently.

Controlling her desire was more difficult than restraining Spike!