Elliot's POV
Sereia was like a damn onion.
Every time I finally thought I understood a hidden layer, there came another.
What the hell was she trying to do to herself last night?
I wasn't even interested in why she was doing it, I just wanted her to stop.
It made me so angry when she said that she had to suffer in the dark as her 'punishment'.
I sighed out of frustration as I leaned back on the lobby's couch.
I'll be down in a minute.
Her face was tear-stained and her voice was low as she avoided eye contact with me.
A minute was twenty minutes ago.
Two more minutes passed before the elevator doors revealed her.
As she stepped out, my eyes were immediately drawn to the way how her black dress hugged her figure with effortless elegance.
The fabric was so sleek and smooth that it almost appeared as velvet.
The dress hit just above her knee and her hips swayed with the step she took.
She's so damn sexy.
My whole body heated while my jaw dropped.
My body hated me right now for denying pleasure from her sweet one.
The familiar scent of cherry blossoms entered my nostrils when she neared me.
"Good morning, Elliot," she said with a bright smile on her face. "Ready to go?"
She pretended like she wasn't crying in my arms on the floor last night.
I pretended like I didn't wake up with her in my arms this morning.
I stood up. "Extremely."
As we began to make steps towards the door, Rachael stopped us.
"Mr. Harrington, Ms. Sinclair," she addressed us with a pleasant smile. "Good morning."
"Morning Rachael," I replied. "What can I do for you?"
"I was wondering if Ms. Sinclair could move out before lunch?" she asked and I internally groaned.
I forgot about that.
"What?" Sereia innocently asked and I sighed.
"Don't worry, I'll take care of it," I told her.
I'd been so concentrated on work and trying to understand what the hell was happening to my body that I forgot I needed to find her a room.
"What is this about, Elliot?" she asked, her tone filled with annoyance.
"I'll let you two be," Rachael said before rushing out of this tense situation.
"It was a problem with the booking," I explained. "I forgot to sort it out."
She stayed quiet as she watched me.
I knew that she was fuming on the inside.
"I'm sorry," I said. "I'm going to handle it right now."
"Don't," she said as she began walking back to the elevator.
"Sereia," I caught up to her. "It was an honest mistake."
"I shouldn't have relied on you for anything," she said, her voice tensed as she pressed the button. "You couldn't even arrange for me to have a room for five days. I shouldn't rely on anyone."
Hurt was all over her face and she miserably failed to mask it.
"Come on, Sereia," I tried to comfort her. "It's New York, there's plenty of other hotels."
She ignored me.
I sighed again as I pulled out my phone and dialled an old buddy of mine.
He was in the industry so if anyone could find a good room, it was him.
"Harrington!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with energy. "What can I do for ya?"
"You owe me a favour," I said as we walked in the elevator. "I need a high-end hotel room, preferably close to King's Hotel."
He exhaled deeply. "I wish I could return the favour this time, but I can't. It's business and fashion week. All the high ends are booked up. I can see if I can get you something almost as good."
Almost as good isn't enough.
"It's fine, thanks anyway," I said before hanging up. "Sereia-"
The elevator doors opened and she walked out. "It's fine. I'll find something on my own."
I followed behind her like a damn dog.
Why the hell am I chasing behind this woman?
I should just let her be.
"We can share my room," I told her. "There are two beds-"
"No thanks," she said as she opened her room door. "I said I'll find something."
"Everything decent is booked up," I explained to her. "You're better off just sharing with me."
"I don't give a damn about decent," she said. "I can handle myself anywhere."
I huffed. "Weren't you the one who wanted to spend time with me? What's the big deal about sharing a room with me?"
"I-" she stayed quiet.
"Tell me," I commanded.
"I don't want you to see the things I do when I'm alone."
"Well, you're not going to be alone," I promised her. "I'll be right there with you. It's only for today and tomorrow. We'll leave early the next morning."
She stayed quiet as she contemplated.
"I'll give you space if you need it," I assured her. "I'll even sleep on the couch if you need the room. It's just two nights."
She nodded. "You better not judge me if I wake up from a nightmare."
"I swear on my trust fund."
She held in a laugh and I tilted my head.
"What's funny?"
"Swear on your trust fund?" she asked. "Who says that?"
"Don't you?"
"Sadly, I don't have a trust fund to swear on, Mr. CEO."
"Whatever smartass," I teased her before I helped her pack.
She smiled as we placed her belongings in her suitcase.
"You're really not like how everyone portrays you to be."
"And how does everyone portray me?" I asked, curious to know.
"Rude, cold, spoiled, insensitive, slow-"
I stopped her. "Okay, I get it."
It's like she'd been waiting her whole life to list my negative traits.
"And how do you portray me, Sereia?"
She stopped packing to look at me.
"Well, for starters, you're not that rude," she said. "You're kind and respectful. You're also far from spoiled. I'd imagined you trying to boss me around this whole trip, but you didn't."
She took a seat on her bed and I did the same as my eyes stayed hooked to her.
"You're nothing like the way people portray you. I'm ashamed that I once believed them."
My mood changed as I watched her. I was saddened.
Why did she have to appear in my life now?
I had finally settled for Olivia and come to terms with the fact that I would never feel anything towards someone.
There's nothing physically wrong with you, Elliot. You just haven't met that person who sparks you as yet.
My doctor, George, had told me.
However, I didn't believe him.
I'd thought he was just saying anything to receive the large payment that he was going to charge.
But he was right.
I found my spark and she's sitting down right beside me.
"Hello? Are you still with me?" she smiled brightly as she watched me.
"I am," I nodded.
"Well?" she moved closer to me. "Do you like what I just said?"
I nodded again. "I do."
"I guess I misjudged you too," I admitted. "I thought you were untrustworthy and a bit rude."
"However, I know that you're not, even though you crossed the lines sometimes," I told her. "You're a beautiful, intelligent, trustworthy woman, Sereia."
Her smile grew even brighter and I focused on the lips.
They looked so warm and inviting. They looked like they were tired of being alone and needed someone to join them.
A surge of adrenaline drilled through me as my body leaned forward.
Her beautiful, pink lips parted while her eyes drifted to my lips.
She suddenly looked up and locked her eyes with mine.
Instant shivers were sent down my spine.
I then lowered my face so close to hers that our lips would touch if we moved any closer.
My lips automatically parted like hers when I returned my gaze to hers.
This was wrong.
This was so wrong.
I'm her boss. I'm married to Olivia. My best friend is interested her.
She impatiently shifted in her seat as she waited for me to make the first move.
She wanted me to disrespect my position, my wife, and my best friend.
I pulled back, trying to mask the frustration that she put me in.
"We should finish packing," I told her. "The cleaning crew will be here soon."