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Eyes

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Chapter 12: Eyes (Rhys's POV)

I stopped at the top of the stairs and moved towards the banister, resting my hands on the railing and watching as Stella hesitantly followed me, glancing over her shoulder at Zarah and Logan. 

Zarah held up a doubtful thumbs up while Logan's gaze met mine. He lightly shook his head at me before mouthing, "Be nice." 

Unfortunately for Stella, I was in no mood to be nice this morning, especially after the havoc she caused last night. Tucking Stella in became mission impossible with her whining and flailing limbs. Luckily, even though she fell on her ass in the process, she was stable enough to get herself dressed. I made sure that I left before she came out of the bathroom and grew sober enough to remember me. 

"Mr. Romanov," Stella said, reaching upstairs and clearing her throat, folding her arms across her chest, toughening up to put on the act of confidence she always did around me. 

My eyes cut to Zarah and Logan and they both immediately looked away, acting as if they weren't just gawking at us. "When did you get home last night?" I asked, holding Stella's eyes, trying to figure out if she had any recollection of last night's events. 

"Are you asking because you'd like to know or because my father wants to know?" She watched me in amusement, dodging the question. Stella was a smooth talker and was able to use words to get out of anything, to turn any situation around so it was in her favor instead. The first and only time I was witnessing her fail was with this marriage situation. 

"The latter," I replied. 

She rolled her eyes in annoyance. "Has he finally decided he cares?" 

"He's finally decided today will be the day you meet Nico D'Angelo," I told her, turning to face her, keeping one hand on the railing. 

Stella's facade dropped for a few beats before she picked herself back up. "I'll do my best to create the worst impression possible, now that I know," she said. 

"I don't think he would care, Ms. Almonte. You're forgetting what he does for a living. It's truly just business to him." 

"Really? Because I don't even know what he does for a living," she snapped back. I waited, staring at her and a beat later, she huffed. "Something about owning hotels is what you told me," she muttered under her breath. She let her arms drop to her sides as her eyes narrowed at me. "Why are you here? Just playing messenger or planning to be my chauffeur for the day?" 

"Why is Logan here?" I questioned, glancing at them again only this time, they were busy in their own world. With Logan's back to me, all I saw was the stupid grin on Zarah's face. 

When Stella couldn't answer, my eyes shifted to her and I lifted a brow questioningly. Stella stared at Logan and Zarah and bounced on her feet, her hands now behind her back and she gnawed on her bottom lip, obviously trying to think of a decent lie. 

My annoyance transformed into pure amusement. I'd never seen Stella resemble a deer caught in the headlights, especially not like this, not with me. "My, my, my," I taunted, stepping closer to her and lifting a hand to take her chin between my fingers, forcing her to meet my gaze. "Have I caught you?" I smirked. 

She swatted my hand off with a frustrated click of her tongue. 

"What's wrong, Ms. Almonte? Can't lie to me today?" I inched closer, my eyes trailing down from her head to toe. 

Her hair was pulled back with a claw clip, shorter strands slipping loose and framing her face and her satin sage green gown did the bare minimum to cover up the slip dress underneath, and even her fluffy sock-clad feet failed to hide the way her toes curled out of unease. 

I moved to tuck the strand of hair away from her face but she tried pushing my arm away before I could, only this time, I saw it coming and grabbed a hold of her wrist instead, tugging her closer to me. "What are you hiding, Dorogaya?" I questioned. 

"I don't know why lying to you feels so wrong today," she muttered in frustration. "So I plead the fifth." Tugging her arm free, she huffed and spun on her heels, her hair whipping me in the face as she strutted off to her room, slamming the door shut loudly. 

I closed my eyes and let out a frustrated breath, scratching my brow with my thumb before heading back downstairs, joining Zarah and Logan in the kitchen. I noticed the way Logan had moved to the other side of the cartoon and resumed working on whatever he was doing on a laptop. I wasn't sure if it was his or Stella's. 

"Rhys," Zarah greeted, watching me in amusement before patting the stool beside hers. "Has she riled you up again?" she asked. 

"Surprisingly, I think he won today," Logan said, glancing at me briefly before he continued typing away. 

My eyes drifted down to the laptop before him and it took a lot of control to keep myself from questioning him about it. 

"Stella's getting married?" Logan asked all of a sudden, closing the laptop and lifting a brow at me. 

"Logan," Zarah warned quietly. 

"Did she tell you that?" I questioned before looking at Zarah, "or did you tell him that?" 

"I don't think that matters," Logan cut in. 

"Is... is Mr. Russo really forcing her?" Zarah asked hesitantly, waiting for me to answer her. 

"Are you letting him?" Logan interrogated. 

"It isn't my place to stop him. I'm his lawyer and this is far from a legal matter. It's between him and Stella." 

Zarah's huff caught my attention. "I expected you to be better than that," she scoffed before standing up and going over to Logan's side, taking one out of the three croissants there. 

"Don't worry, I wouldn't put it past him to intervene," Logan said, facing Zarah as he wiped the chocolate from the corner of her mouth and licked it off his thumb. "He won't be able to help himself." 

"What are you talking about?" I asked, annoyance already coursing through me. 

A tiny smile tugged at his lips. I was still getting used to seeing him smile now that Zarah was in the picture. "You really want me to believe that Damien will force Stella to marry somebody and you, knowing that she doesn't want to, are just going to stand by and let it happen?" 

My eyes narrowed. "What makes you think I wouldn't?" 

The two of them exchanged a look. "We'll let you figure that one out," Zarah chuckled. 

I glanced over at the stairs as I heard Stella's footsteps approaching. I couldn't help but do a quick scan of her as she made her way over. 

Her hair being brushed through now sat straight, thrown over her shoulders even though a small claw clip decorated with pearls held her hair away from her face. She had matching pearls in her ears while she wore a short white dress that hugged her nicely with two dainty straps holding the dress up. There were soft clusters of roses in pale pink all over the dress but her purse and heels matched the white of the dress. When she got closer, I realized that the dress was lined from within by a satin slip dress in white. 

Stopping at my side, she released an annoyed sigh. "Now that you're here, you might as well chauffeur me. I don't even know where I'm supposed to meet him." 

"Nova," I answered, my eyes getting caught on the soft glitter and sparkles on her inner corners, and then the gloss on her lips. 

"You drive. I'll get a cab back," she mumbled before looking over at Zarah and Logan. 

"We'll reschedule," Zarah reassured with a smile. 

I tore my eyes off of her, checking the time. "You're already late," I reminded her. 

"At least I'm going," she scoffed, heading towards the door, calling out to Zarah over her shoulder, "Lock the door on your way out!" 

Standing up, I trailed behind Stella, ignoring the knowing smile on Zarah's face as she waved me goodbye and then the squeal that escaped her when Logan poked her side as I shut the front door behind me and entered the elevator with Stella. 

"Do you have a meeting near Nova?" she questioned without even sparing me a glance. "Isn't that why you're driving me there?" 

No. 

"Yes," I answered, pocketing my hands. 

She turned to face me. "Does that mean I can't call you if I need to escape this date?" 

I held her gaze for a moment. Even when my eyes weren't supposed to be on Stella, somehow, they were only ever on her. And it was a problem, one that would come back to bite me if I didn't resolve it. "I would prefer it if you didn't," I said, facing ahead, my jaw ticking as I ground my teeth. 

A soft sigh escaped her and I felt every nerve in my body grow rigid. 

"But I'll be there if you do," I mumbled reluctantly, looking back at her. 

She held my gaze, both of us facing ahead as the elevator stopped and the doors opened with a faint bell. "Since you'd prefer it if I didn't, Mr. Romanov, I won't," she said. I noticed the way she caught me slowing down my pace to match hers and in response, she walked faster. "But I appreciate the reassurance so I won't push my luck. Especially since you're still an asshole." 

"That I am, my love," I agreed, unlocking my car as we neared it until I held the passenger door open for her. 

She let out a breath, stopping. "Always such a bastard gentleman, aren't you?" 

I looked down at her as she settled in the seat. "Always," I smirked with a wink before closing the door for her.

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Chapter 12

since it's FINALLY Christmas season, what's ur fav Christmas song? I need all the responses I can get to make my Christmas playlist this year lol

Mine's low-key 'Christmas Tree' by V CUZ THAT SONG IS SO PRETTY AND SO IS TAE <3

next ch: perfect