Filed to story: Bring It On My Mafia Life Novel (Rhea & Lukas)
“This,” Elijah said, lifting bags that he dropped by her bedside, “I wanted to keep it in your bathroom before you woke yet you caught me like a cat trying to steal its owner’s fish,” He scratched the back of his head nervously which was kind of cute in her eyes.
“Wow,” Rhea breathed, staring at the shopping bags in disbelief. All of them must have cost a lot.
“I should pay you for…” Rhea said, already reaching for the wallet she stole from Lukas.
How shameless she was to use stolen money – she doesn’t exactly care. Money was used for the same purpose anyway, spending!
“No, don’t. Please,” He begged her, “I’m not doing all of this to coerce or manipulate you into accepting my proposal. You can choose to reject my offer, but please don’t reject my help,”
“Ahh!” Rhea screamed inwardly like a fangirl would when she sees her favorite celebrity crush. Elijah was her dream boyfriend.
“Well, thank you,” Rhea said in a calm yet appreciative tone, trying not to show she was taken by him already.
“Sure. And you should come down for breakfast when you’re done freshening up,” He reminded her.
Rhea smiled at him throughout his entire stay however the instant Elijah left, her smile fell at once. How could this happen again? She had been speaking to him with her morning breath?
“Gosh Rhea,” She threw herself on the bed; turning, tossing, and kicking the air. By the time she was done with her internal turmoil, Rhea decided to go through what he got her and was dumbfounded at what she saw.
All of the clothes Elijah got her were all designers and even bare the company’s logo. She didn’t even dare to imagine how much he spent on them. And to her amazement, all of them were decent.
Rhea sighed, she had been expecting him to buy those provocative ones so she could seduce him and blame it on the clothes he got her.
“Seriously!” She slapped her head. What the hell was she thinking? As if she could even seduce him, just a look into those eyes and her legs become as weak as jelly.
Words could not form in Rhea’s mouth when she looked into the bag that contained her underwear. He got her each of every type of underwear the store had – Hipster, Bikini, Boyshort, G-String, Tanga Brief, High-Cut panties. You name it.
Rhea went red in the face and she couldn’t help but wonder if he ordered these online or got them himself from the store. She was so embarrassed. How would she face him later?
But no amount of cringing stopped her stomach from growling and she had no choice but to wash up and hurry down for breakfast. Rhea chose to put on a silky tank top and leggings, following the sweet smell of the pancake to the kitchen.
“You’re right on time!” Elijah announced, his back turned to her. Gosh, how did he know she was here? She didn’t even make much noise when she walked.
He finally turned around with a plate in his hand, drizzling the ever-amazing maple syrup on her pancake before passing the food over to her on the kitchen island.
“This looks delicious,” Rhea was already salivating. How much she loved a man who could cook. She was seeing more than enough reason to give in to his request. What’s the worst that can happen anyway?
“Thank you,” Elijah smiled at her, before placing his own food on the Island as well.
But to her surprise, she saw him use honey instead of maple syrup.
“Why didn’t you use the syrup?” Rhea narrowed her gaze at him, suspiciously.
“In case you decide mine is more delicious, then we can share. Don’t you think it’s a good idea,”
“S-sure,” that is not a good idea at all.
Elijah sat beside her and then using the knife, cut a piece and picked it with his fork, “Here, have a taste,”
“Urm, okay?” Rhea opened her mouth and took it into her mouth before chewing on it only for her eyes to widen.
“Geez! You are right! It’s so good, both flavors. You are so brilliant,” Rhea complimented him as the both of them shared their food.
It was the nicest breakfast Rhea has had in a long time till she noticed the sudden change in Elijah’s demeanor.
Rhea dropped her fork, “What is it?” she asked. She might not know much about Elijah, but she knew something was bothering him now. Rhea hated that he was disturbed, Elijah was a good person.
“You would be leaving the country tomorrow,”
“Oh,” Rhea’s face fell at once.
That announcement dampened Rhea’s countenance at once. Although she knew that she would have to leave just as he told her yesterday, she just didn’t think that it would be so soon – she was beginning to like this place. Or maybe, she was beginning to like his company a little.
“Okay,” Rhea said nodding her head. Suddenly the once appetizing pancake didn’t look that enticing anymore. Her stomach was churning and it made her pretty much uncomfortable. She lost her appetite.
“Would you be coming along?” She asked and at the last moment realized how stupid that question sounded.
Why would Elijah come with her? She was lucky enough that he helped her escape the bad guys and was risking his life to get her out of the country. Gosh, she was so stupid.
At that question, Elijah glanced up from his plate, holding her gaze. He then arched a brow asking, “Do you want me to come with you?” he threw the ball in her court.
“Would you come if I told you to?” Rhea challenged him and when he didn’t reply, she sighed, “Just forget -“
“I would,” Elijah added, “If you want me to,”
Rhea gulped, he means that?
“That is if you want to be mine, Rhea. That’s just how much I value commitment. When you’re mine, I can even go back and forth to hell for your sake,” Elijah said with a manner of seriousness that she even forget how to breathe.
…..
“So, the question is, what do you want, Rhea? Define your desire,” He asked her, gaze holding hers strongly.
‘Yes,’ that was just all she needed to say yet Rhea couldn’t form the words in her mouth. There were just so many things that could go wrong.
What if Elijah wasn’t who she thought he was? For Christ’s sake, she hasn’t even seen the man’s face. Moreover, she doesn’t even know what he does for a living. But one thing was for sure, he was a criminal. A smart one at that.
The abilities he possessed weren’t something an average person had. Or maybe he’s a spy or something? No, anyone associating with Ruth has nothing with the law. Ruth hated the law herself.
Now she thought about it, Rhea wondered if he was a killer? How many lives have ended in his hands? What if the so-called feeling he has for her is nothing but an obsession?
Elijah said he would give her choices, what if that wasn’t the case and it was all a fa?ade to make her feel safe? Thinking of it, she had read a book like that where the man was obsessed with the lady and kept her away from the world in the name of protecting her. What if that was the case with her?
“You seem to be having second thoughts,” Elijah found out, rousing her from her thoughts.
“What time do I leave tomorrow?” She asked, intentionally diverting his attention from the question of leaving with her.
“Your flight leaves in the morning,” He said.