And babe I’m fist-fighting with fire
Just to get close to you
Can we burn something babe
And I run for miles just to get a taste
Must be love on the brain
That’s got me feeling this way

—“Love On The Brain, Rihanna”

CHAPTER TEN

I covered my yawn with the back of my hand, lazily shifting on the bed. I blinked several times, trying to make sense of my surroundings. I tried to stretch my arms, but found them caged by strong hands wrapped around my body. I sighed, feeling warm and cozy from the touch, wanting to bury myself deeper into it. I pulled back my head to look at the person beside me, my smile quickly disappearing. Shit.

The events from last night came flooding back to me, erasing the comfort I had felt just moments ago. I couldn't believe myself. My eyes moved to Evan who was still sound asleep beside me. My stomach did a little somersault at the sight. His hair was ruffled and his soft, plump lips were slightly parted. Combine that with his long lashes, his slender nose and the thick stubble on his jaw, he looked like a whole-ass GQ model.

I had the urge to stay in his arms a bit longer and just stare at him, but I quickly pushed it away. I carefully untangled myself from his bulky body, trying my best not to wake him up.

It wasn't like I hadn't woken up beside a man before. I wasn't a virgin either. Besides, I didn't even have sex with Evan. Just shared a bed with him. That was it. So why the hell was I freaking out so much? I was twenty three, goddammit, but he made me feel like a hormonal teenager.

I practically ran to the bathroom once I was successfully out of the bed. I placed my hand over my hammering heart, trying to lay out a plan for what I should to do next.

Go back and cuddle with him, what else?

A part of me meant that sarcastically while another was dead serious. I didn't know which one to listen to. Or which one was stronger.

"Arghhh!" I pulled my hair in frustration. If I hadn't already, I was surely going crazy now.  I hated how he made me feel so conflicted all the time. Last night, I let him see me at my most vulnerable. Again. And he took care of me. Again.

The happier that should've made me, the sadder it did.

I hadn't taken my sleeping pills last night otherwise this wouldn't have happened. I didn't always need them, but they had helped me countless times before. I usually never forgot to take them. Ever since Evan Carter came into my life, I had been acting reckless. What happened last night was the final nail in the coffin. Perhaps the time spent with Evan had been perfect for Scarlett, but it didn't sit well with Flora at all.

I needed him to get closer to Scarlett, but stay the fuck away from Flora.

I turned towards the sink and splashed cold water on my face. I brushed my teeth, then tip toed to the wardrobe to grab my clothes. I took the quickest shower possible, did my makeup the fastest I had ever done, grabbed my bag and practically ran out of the room, leaving a sleeping Evan alone in my bed.

+++

"You look lost." I jumped at the voice, startled. I turned my head to look at the handsome man grinning at me.

"Sameer." I huffed. "You caught me off guard."

"Boss isn't here yet and the meeting is about to start soon. Don't you find that a bit surprising?"

The mischief was quite clear in his voice. Sameer was an extrovert and could easily strike a conversation with anyone he wanted. He was from the sales department so I hadn't interacted with him much, but every time we talked, he spoke to me like we were long lost friends. Actually, he spoke to everyone like that. If he wanted, maybe he could be a con artist too. He wasn't hard on the eyes either. His jet black hair, gorgeously tanned skin and dark brown eyes made me quite handsome.

"I guess so." I said dismissively.

Should I have woken Evan up? But what would I have said after everything he witnessed last night? Fuck. I really didn't think it through before leaving him alone in my bed like a coward.

We were in the hotel lounge for a meeting with a few clients. The clients could be here any minute now and there was still no sight of Evan. Perhaps it wouldn't be so worrisome if he wasn't the embodiment of punctuality.

"I was wondering if you've heard the rumors swirling around in the office recently." Sameer said. "Something to do with boss and—well, have you heard?"

"You're not as slick as you think you are."

He threw his head back in laughter. "I just thought you may know something about where Mr Carter is."

"What rumors have you heard exactly?" I demanded, narrowing my eyes.

He smiled at me goofily. "Well, he danced with you at the charity event. And you're here, on this trip, although it hasn't been that long since you started working. So what rumors do you think I've heard?"

"I thought sales guys were usually too busy for gossip."

"I make time." he shrugged, chuckling. "Especially when the gossip is this interesting."

"You know Sarah?" he nodded towards the redhead busy adjusting her makeup at the other side of the lounge area.

"Ev— Mr Carter's personal secretary? What about her? I've never really talked to her." I thought back to when I was considering making friends with Sarah to get closer to Evan. I just never got the opportunity.

"She has got it bad for Ev— Mr Carter." he bit back a teasing smile. "She is not pleased with the rumors that are going around. When exactly can I expect a cat fight?"

My eyebrows rose in interest. Why didn't I notice that before? I hadn't interacted with Sarah much, but I had felt a bit of hostility from her quite a few times. I didn't think much of it, but now it made sense. For some reason, it just pleased me.

"Give your fantasies a rest. Now why are you telling me this?"

"Because Sarah is a bitch. And I love gossip. It's funny how you're getting on her nerves without even knowing."

"I'll take that as a good thing then." I laughed. Sameer liked gossip so I automatically liked Sameer which meant I had to get him to like me as well. Maybe I could get him to give me some useful gossip in the future...

I heard someone clear their throat and my gaze immediately moved to the person standing at the entrance of the lounge. My stomach tumbled as my eyes took him in. I suddenly felt my breaths becoming ragged as a mixture of nervousness and excitement shot up my body.

Evan entered the lounge, his piercing gaze fixed on me. His eyes shifted between Sameer and me, his expression hardening. I bit back a smirk.

This is going to be interesting.

++++

The entire meeting, Evan kept glancing at me from time to time and I kept dodging his gaze like a pro. He didn't seem pleased by this.

But what else was I supposed to do? I didn't know how to behave in front of him after last night. I felt embarrassed and ashamed of myself for crying in front of him like a baby. The worst part of it was that I wasn't acting. My breakdown was very much real and completely unplanned.

I was so used to everything going according to my plan that I had no clue what to do when it didn't. I hadn't faced this situation before. I had never let my mask slip. I had never needed a Plan B because I never fucked up these many times.

As soon as the meeting winded up, I quickly got up from my seat and raced to the door.  Just a little more and I'll be in the safety of my room.

"Ms Stone." and there goes my sanity. "I need to speak to you." I grinded my teeth together, refusing to turn around.

"W-what is it about?"

"Could you turn around? I feel strange talking to the back of your head." his tone was humorless, cold even. It wasn't hard to understand why.

"I—" I was cut off when his phone started ringing. Perfect timing. Taking this as a blessing in disguise, I thanked my lucky stars for saving me from this conversation.

"You should take that." I chirped, a little too excitedly. "Which means I should probably leave. So I'll be going now—"

"Scarlet—"

"Bye!" I made the mistake of glancing back at him. His eyes were cold, his jaw hard with annoyance. I quickly rushed towards the elevator and away from him before I could be stopped, knowing one thing for sure.

Evan Carter wasn't going to let me get away so easily.

+++++

Q - What do you think of Sameer? Does he remind you of someone from the older version? *hint hint*

Hope you guys enjoyed reading as much as I enjoyed writing this chapter. Thank you to everyone who has stuck around for so long.