Page 13 of Scent of Desire
“It’s good to see you.” I pulled away.
The ocean blue of his eyes sparkled before he caught sight of my bouquet. “He’s offered you flowers. He sure knows you well.”
“It’s actually for him. I picked them.” I slammed my mouth shut, knowing how stupid that could sound.
“It’s beautiful.” Adonis swallowed harshly. “Even though I doubt he’s refined enough to appreciate the view of beauty. Women should be the ones getting flowers.”
The memory of the bouquet Adonis bought me last Christmas slipped through my mind, and an awkward silence washed over us. He took a deep breath, looking heavenward, his lips pressing together with a hesitation to tell me something.
“We didn’t end our last phone call very well, and the last time we met at the opera, it was too brief. I wanted to see you in person. Things aren’t going well for me,” Adonis confided, his eyes glistening with phantoms that haunted him.
I took his hand, and I bored my eyes into his. “What’s happening?”
“For starters, my father came back a couple of nights ago with a huge bruise on his face. Some dudes had beaten him up. Pricks. Those rats all want our money,” he cursed. “And then, we had problems at the board. We’re late on deliveries, and some of our investors troubled us.” He passed his hand over his forehead, exhaling sharply. “Anyway, I’m sorry, I don’t want to worry you with business.”
My eyebrows lowered. “You know I’m here for you. I’m sorry about all that.”
“I wish you could be here, Lily…” He leaned closer, his thumb stroking on my palm.
I smiled. “You’re the heir of the biggest luxury goods company. Surely you can manage without me.”
“Your uncle is worried too. He came to our place—he said you should be back home very soon. Is it true?”
The pounding of my heart echoed in my ears, and I instinctively took a step back. I didn’t want to go back home. My uncle never mentioned his worries to me the day I messaged him to tell him I was close to making the aphrodisiac and have the perfume I for so long dreamed of achieving.
“He’s missing you. He doesn’t feel well.” Adonis crossed his arms on his chest, his jaw clenching.
“Really?” Remorse burned the back of my throat, and panic surged through my veins. “Did something happen? Is it bad?”
“Yes.” His stare hardened. My heart sank, imagining the worst of the scenarios until he added, “Yes, he misses you. He’s lonely and depressed, but I’ve been there for him.”
I nodded. “Thank you. I’ll probably ask him if he wants to come to the manor.”
A squawk of laughter jerked his head back. “You’re joking, right?”
“Well, no,” I bit out. “Radcliff may not be the most welcoming person…”And he doesn’t hold my uncle deep in his heart, but then again, he dislikes mostly everyone.“But I don’t see why not.”
“For starters, he’s not the type you introduce for a nice meal with your family.” He raised a brow. “Second, he won’t let you, Lily. Don’t you see that you’re like a prisoner here?”
“Adonis, please… Can’t you see Radcliff has been good to me? Do I look different and unhappy to you?”
His eyes roamed my face, wandering across each of my features with a perplexed expression on his face. His stare latched onto my hair, and his nostrils flared.
“Cute brooch. Looks expensive,” he quipped before heading back to his expensive car.
“Adonis—”
He interrupted me, his elbow leaning on the roof of his car with its door opened. “At Carmin, there will always be a place for you, princess. Good always wins against evil, right? You’ll see.”
He turned on the engine and gave me a last grin. But this one felt unnatural. It stretched out on his lips too deep to be true, and his eyes remained empty. I waved goodbye nonetheless, and he left the manor at blistering speed, pulling out the dust on the soil in a rising fog.
I coughed, the earthy smell prickling my nose and burning my throat as if I was being buried underground.
Fortunately, the smell of the bouquet brought me back to a colorful life, and I wondered if it would have the same effect on Radcliff.
“Radcliff?” I knocked at his office door for the third time.
Nothing.
