JOSI

On a different night when Josi still can't find sleep, she goes on another night time tour around the mansion.

The topic this time is the future's uncertainty. Say she manages to find a spot amidst Idris's world. What happens when he decides he's no longer interested in her? What happens if decides he's ready to move on and casts her aside? There's no absolute certainty of how deep Idris's feelings really are.

Then there are the unforeseen conflicts she may not be prepared to handle. There are bound to be variables unaccounted for. What happens if the plan just doesn't work?

A bit discouraging, but Josi will pull through. In her desire to see Idris Night Verdonni succumb to misery, she has already made up her mind. She has to guarantee the safety of her family. Of Bradley. And of herself. But most of all, she has to guarantee her freedom.

Revenge is best served in doses larger than the original sum. So Josi will keep up the act. If worst comes to worst, she will get down on her knees and beg for forgiveness. Maybe Idris will find it in his heart to pardon her.

Josi laughs at the thought.

There's no set destination for this journey, but one is soon granted when she walks past a parlor. There's a figure inside, and upon closer inspection, Josi realizes it's Idris. It seems sleep hasn't come to him either.

He's seated behind a grand piano with a cigarette. At this rate, he may just fall over from cancer, and Josi's quest for revenge will be fulfilled much sooner than later. What an idealistic reality.

But if Josi wants some variation of that reality true, she needs to make the first move. She sucks a breath in and heads inside the parlor.

Idris doesn't seem too surprised. He just allows her the empty seat next to him, all while he keeps up with his cigarette.

"You play the piano?" Josi asks.

Idris shakes his head no. "I don't know why this is here."

How could he not be made aware of the ornaments in his own home? Josi sighs and turns back to the instrument. She presses keys at random to get a feel of its condition. It hasn't yet lost its quality. A waste, truly.

"Don't tell me you used to play the piano." Says Idris.

"No, why?"

"Because that sounded terrible."

Josi just stares at him, then decides to let it go. "I wasn't playing seriously. But my dad used to."

Idris looks at her this time, the smoke from his cigarette filtering into the air.

"He used to play for my mom and I when I was little. But then he stopped. Maybe he grew tired of it, I don't know." She shrugs. "He was the sole reason I wanted to become a teacher. That and the fact that I adore kids." The memories begin surfacing, but soon dial down when Josi sees the suspecting look Idris gives her. "What?"

He pulls the cigarette from his mouth. "I just don't understand why you would want to work in a filthy vicinity such as a school."

"What do you have against education?"

"Everything."

A pause. And then, "Don't tell me you were at the bottom of your class."

"Contrary, actually." He tells her. "The people just weren't very obedient."

Josi almost gasps. "You were a bully?" She's not sure why it comes out as a surprise. It's right on brand with his image.

Idris scoffs, insulted by her accusation. "I wasn't a bully. I simply told them to do things for me and if they didn't, there would be consequences."

Josi opens her mouth, then closes. Perhaps it would be best to steer the conversation somewhere else. "Well, what about your dad?"

Idris puffs a smoke. "He's dead."

"Oh . . . then your mom—"

"She left when I was seven."

Josi goes mute. Then after seconds of racking her brain, "Do you miss her?"

Idris's demeanor changes, much less calmer than before. "What's it to you?"

"You don't always have to be so closed off."

"And why do you care, Cade? Why are you here next to me?"

Josi merely shrugs. "I don't know."

Idris frowns and looks away, because an answer that vague does not satisfy his curiosity. He wants something more definitive, but Josi knows he won't come right out and ask. If she's somehow come to care for him — it really would be a foolish man's question. Her job now, however, is to validate that narrative. Make him believe she really has come to care for him.

"You know, you shouldn't smoke so much."

Idris clicks his tongue. "You nag too much."

Josi shoots him a glare that makes him shrink back. He seems to regret his choice of words, but not for long because now he's scanning her over again. With how close they are, it seems almost possible for their noses to touch.

Josi picks up on the scar next to his lips. "How did you get that scar?"

"Captured and tortured."

"Why did they capture you?"

Idris shrugs. "My father knew. But he's dead so I can't really ask him now."

Josi boils it down to some feud which Idris had to pay for. The scar looks like it was once a painful injury, what with how detailed it is. With a thumb, she traces the straight line down to his chin. Then she switches to the cigarette and slowly begins pulling it away.

"See. It wasn't that hard." Says Josi, her voice no more than a whisper.

With the little distance between them, Josi can feel Idris's exhalation on her skin. Close enough she is to wallow in his scent, and for the first time truly savor it. Despite the putrid cigarette, his cologne shines through. Sandalwood and Vanilla. It draws Josi in surprisingly, but even more so distracting are his eyes. He stares at her with that same longing gaze. The one he usually gives her when he thinks she isn't looking. And when he brings his eyes down to her lips, the gaze intensifies. Josi knows what he's thinking.

And she's correct. Idris breaches the gap and kisses her. It's soft. Light. Like he's scared of going in too hard. Like she'll disappear, and this reality will transform into a sweet dream. He tilts her head up with a finger under her chin, then leads a trail all the way down her neck - still with the same finger. This conjures goosebumps down Josi's skin. Everything about this betrays the idea of Idris in her head. That he's capable of this level of gentleness is mind-boggling.

He pulls away after mere seconds and stares at her, as if searching for permission to continue. And Josi grants him that permission. She stares at his own lips, and that's all it takes for Idris to pick up the pace. He cradles her cheek, because he so desperately wants to move in deeper. And he gets his wish. Josi sends her tongue into his mouth, and from that alone, she can taste his eagerness. How much he truly wants her.

Josi smiles. She won.

When Josi pulls away, there's a thin line of saliva between their lips; proof of their lengthy kiss. She struggles to catch her breath while Idris watches her do so. Then his face lights up, as if he's just come up with the world's brightest idea.

"You should date me."

Josi frowns. "Is that your idea of asking me out?"

"Yeah."

The blatant entitlement. Josi sighs and once again, lets it go. "I don't know. You were an ass to me."

Idris pauses here, contemplating. It takes him a while, and Josi knows it must be him regretting his actions. No amount of regretting will right all those wrongs, though. "What do I have to do?"

This question vexes Josi. If he truly wanted to prove himself, he would let her go, let her return to her family. But he will do no such thing. He would rather her close to him than allow her return, because granting her freedom would put her right back on Bradley's radar.

Josi calms her nerves, then looks Idris in the eye. "Tell me how much you want me."

Idris knits his brows. "The mouth fucking wasn't enough?"

"Women love it when men tell them these things, Idris."

This gives Idris time to think. He studies her yet again, something he does quite often now. And then he confesses. "You're the first woman I've ever been in love with. I don't want anyone else but you, Josita. And I'll never want anyone else."

Josi's eyes slowly widen. He's finally admitted it himself. He loves her. He's in love with her. A love with much authenticity. A love ready to be exploited.

"Are we done here?" Asks a very flustered Idris.

Josi smiles, this one much more genuine. "Yes, sir." She kisses his cheek. "Goodnight."

Josi leaves the parlor for her bedroom. When she gets there, she slams the door shut and collapses to the floor with her head buried under her arms. Her lips still tingle from the kiss. The sensation still has not left. She wipes her mouth repeatedly, hoping it will chase the feeling away. But it proves futile.

This is only the beginning. She cannot break down now. There will be harder tasks to tackle in the future, ones bigger than this kiss. She will have to get used to it. And quickly. Because Idris is no fool. He will pick up on clues faster than she can prevent dropping them.

Josi will play the part of Idris's girlfriend effortlessly. She will fall madly in love with him only on the surface, and he will believe her. They will stay together as a couple in that prison cell. And Josi will live that lie. All for the sake of revenge.

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Idris thinking this is enemies to lovers