Soul Mates Cry: Witching Call Part 3 (5 page)

Too handsome. 

He had the kind of magnetism no woman could resist. And it was hard for her, too, even when she constantly denied it to herself.

And of course, Anthony and the others could see what was unfolding. Except for Iliana, her co-workers enjoyed the hour Nickolas spent in the shop everyday, drinking his coffee, watching her as she steadily gets nervous, and leaving a huge tip for her afterwards, which she shared with everyone and the manager as per regulation of the shop. 

This torture has been going since that first time he came in to have coffee with a client almost a month ago. 

She remembered his eyes locking on her that first day—and the sizzle of heat she felt as she got caught staring back involuntarily at his perfectly handsome face. 

And since then, every afternoon he would come in. He would order coffee and would stay for one hour.

It was like clockwork. Every-freakin’-day. 

She wondered at his discipline. She hadn’t even seen him look at his watch. But in precisely one hour, everyday, he would leave.

He was the weirdest, yet handsomest man she had ever encountered.

Anthony’s teasing whisper intruded in her thoughts. “Oh… if I were in your place, love, I would have gotten a date by now. A god like him, coming to the shop every day just for me, sitting for hours with a coffee he never drinks… staring at me constantly… and then leaving the hugest tip we’ve ever received from anybody—hell, not just a date. He would already know how big my bed is!”

“Right. And next morning you will be found in some gutter with your throat cut like a chicken," she said under her breath. “Or maybe?” Her voice held the curiosity and confusion that she felt. "As far as we know, this guy could be the next Ted Bundy. He is rich, and he is good-looking.” A
huge
understatement. “What could he possibly want with a waitress from a coffee shop at the edge of the city? It’s not like I’m some model!”

She told that as much to herself because it was the truth.

“Honey… how many times have I told you? You are a piece of candy with that red hair. If you'd just take care of yourself a little better.” Anthony was now looking down at her so critically. “I mean… that dreadful ponytail. And no makeup!”

She straightened her wide black blouse and tight trousers. “I’m fine the way I am, thank you very much.” 

She did not say what was really on her mind—even if she tried making herself beautiful, she would only look merely presentable compared to the hundreds of women who undoubtedly vied for his attention. 

She was not one to fool herself. She might not know the man, but no one could dispute this other truth. She was highly inappropriate for someone like him. And she knew without a doubt what plans he would have for her if given the chance.

Of course she knew. She had been through that road before and she was able to escape. 

She has no intention of going back.

She took the coffee and brought it to the man's table, and then got busy with other customers.

Or at least she tried.

His eyes bore into her back at every turn. And as resolved as she was to ignore him, she still got so nervous that she would take orders from customers twice, only to realize that she couldn’t even understand what she had written in her notebook. 

The second time, she had to go back to a table to retake the order. 

Committing stupid mistakes weren't like her. It was beginning to irritate her. The black high heels she was wearing, obligatory rule of the management, were killing her legs and adding to her irritation.

And to make matters worse, her boss had picked this day to come to the coffee shop and check things out. He was already throwing her angry looks because of her stream of mistakes. She did not know if he even knew about this daily encounter because he would only come here occasionally and only in the mornings. 

But she noticed how he became nervous of everyone’s actions, especially of hers, once he spotted the lone man in one of her tables. He has been guarding her every move. She couldn’t afford to make another mistake. She dreaded the idea of punishment, especially when it amounted to a dent in her salary.

Or, if the look the manager was throwing at her right now was any indication, she could get fired!

She was sure he has already noticed how Nickolas Benson watched her.

And Iliana couldn’t afford to lose this job. How long would it take to find another one? She was already low on funds. And she has friends here.

But the tension was just too much to bear.

She lost her cool barely thirty minutes later. A tray with four coffee pots slipped through her fingers onto the floor. Her heart skipped a beat as the dishes shattered on the tiles, abruptly transforming the relaxed murmur of conversation in the café into complete silence. 

Oh my God…
she thought as she felt cold all over. She could feel the manager’s glare at her back without her looking. She thought she would be sick.

She was cleaning up the mess when the boss approached her and whispered into her ear, “The cost for this loss will be deducted
generously
from your salary, Iliana…”

That was the final straw.

As she was throwing part of her month’s payment into the garbage, angry tears flooded her eyes. 

It was
his
fault. 

That green-eyed panther-pirate.

This really has to stop now.

She rushed straight to his table as soon as the manager slipped into his office to answer a call.

“Could you
please
stop staring at me?" she hissed at him. "What are you? Some kind of a pervert? Stop this now! Stop staring at me. In fact, stop coming here! You're only getting me in trouble! Go somewhere else to order coffee you don't drink anyway! You are
not
welcome here!"

She did not realize her voice had gone up until she noticed how quiet the coffee shop had become. 

Horror-struck, she turned.

Everyone was staring at her. She could feel her face burning.

She heard as the man from the table stood up and she abruptly turned to him again.

She gaped as she adjusted her eyes to his height. Higher. 

And she thought—
God, I never knew he’s this tall!
Somehow she’s always away from the tables whenever he would arrive, and also everytime he got up to leave. She felt sicker.
Oh, why did I get angry again?

“I am terribly sorry, Miss Iliana,” he said, not looking at her name tag. 

He already knew her name. That wasn’t such a surprise. His voice was soft, with no hint of anger. 

Then he smiled. 

She lost her breath because it literally brought light to his face. 

“I never meant to make you nervous. On the contrary—”

"W-who told you I was nervous?" she replied defensively. “Why should I be? I don’t even know you.”

Instead of answering, he reached over and softly held her hand with his.

His touch, how her hand looked enclosed in his big ones, gave her a sudden feeling of security that confused her so much it did not even occur to her to pull away. 

He gave her such a sweet and innocent look that she felt a smile tug at her lips. 

She managed to suppress it before it got obvious. 

This was a
very
dangerous man. And not just from a physical standpoint.

He was a danger to every woman who could see and feel how virile he was.

He was a danger to
her
. 

And in the back of her mind, she had this tiny yet nagging feeling that his virility was just the tip of something far more… 

Chapter Two

SUDDENLY, THE
nervous voice of the manager broke her chaotic train of thought. 

“Oh… Mr. Nickolas Benson. What an honor for us to have you in our coffee shop!" 

Iliana jumped, realizing the change in atmosphere she instigated, and slipped her hand out of his to usher herself away.

“A thousand apologies. My employee shouldn't have spoken to you this way. She will suffer the consequences of her actions..." and sneaking a glare in her direction, he added: "...
immediately
." 

Iliana's heart sputtered to an abrupt stop. She knew exactly what that meant. 

She has just lost her job.

In the course of a few mere words, her boss had just snatched the future she was so desperately hanging on to.

With a forced and almost mechanical twinkle in his eye, he continued his simpering, "I assure you that this type of behavior is not acceptable in our shop, especially towards a fine member of our business society as yourself.”

Her boss was now beside her, talking to the man, drawing his attention away from her. 

She noticed the man’s smile turning into a wide, fake one.

Ahh.

She was certain ten minutes from now she would formally get fired, but she wanted to see this. As she always believed, if you’re going to go out, go out with a bang.

Seeing her boss kissing this man’s butt was a show she wouldn’t miss for the world.

“Please, Miss Iliana has done nothing reprehensible. The truth is that my approach was clumsy, to say the least. She is totally justified to think I am some kind of pervert—especially since she obviously had no idea who I am. I would never, in any circumstance, wish this insignificant incident be the reason for her getting in trouble. That would be extremely unfair, don’t you think, sir?"

Her boss looked confused. And he wasn’t the only one. She could see the look on the faces of a few of the coffee shop regulars who were watching since the commotion first started.

And in the corner, her co-workers were watching
avidly
. Anthony even gave her a thumb’s up sign from his perch in the bar. 

“Well… yes, of course… since you put it that way… if you really think so. Obviously, it would—”

“Excellent. And now that everything’s settled, can I please have Miss Iliana at my disposal for a few minutes? In private?”

Iliana’s face flushed at the idea. “Me? In private?” Being in his presence while other people were around was one thing. But being with him in private? No one else around? Just the two of them? She began to panic as images from the gutter story she created earlier flooded her thoughts.

Worse, interspersed with those images was of him seducing her while he held a knife to her throat! And she shivered—with fear and anticipation. 

What the hell…?! 

She turned to her manager for rescue.

But he didn’t even look at her. “Why certainly! For as long as you wish. I will serve the tables if necessary.”

She only had time to cast a shocked glance at her boss and catch his threatening look of displeasure before Nickolas grabbed her hand and swiftly pulled her out of the coffee shop, and into the chilly outdoor air.

The narrow road outside the shop was empty. He dragged her a little further away from the windows so they wouldn't be observed by curious eyes. 

He saw how his actions made her feel awkward. When he started talking, his voice was deeper, hoarse, frank.

“I’m sorry I caused you trouble. That was not my intention. My name is Nickolas Benson, and I am a businessman. I promise you, I am neither a freak nor a psycho." He smiled his magnetic smile again, his white teeth showing. And she gulped.

The better to eat you, dear…

A panther or a wolf,
she wildly thought.
Make up your mind!

He continued. "But ever since I saw you at the coffee shop… I can’t get you out of my mind! That's why I’ve been coming here every day. I should have asked you for what I wanted from the first day, but I was worried of scaring you away. You evidently don't scare easily, though. So..." He sighed deeply. "Look how this turned out.” 

He hadn't let go of her hand and was now, as if absentmindedly, gently caressing her palm with his thumb. Chills coursed throughout her body but again, she couldn’t pull away.

There was a moment when she felt like she would die if she pulled her hand from his. 

Because it felt so good, so
right
, for it to be there.

Oh God. If she ended up in a gutter it would all be her fault!

“I just want to ask you to go out with me, that’s it. A date, Iliana. I'll pick you up tonight?”

“A-A date?” This was all this was about? He wanted to go out with her?

But… why her?

“Please, Iliana,” he implored before she could ask. “Give me a chance. Dinner, dancing, drinks... anything you want. I would be delighted to get to know you better and for you to get to know me better yourself.”

She stepped backwards, finally pulling her hand from his. She almost winced at the abrupt emptiness she felt. It was really ridiculous, but she couldn't explain it.

She took a deep breath, regaining her self-control.

Only then did she dare to look at him. 

“What time?”

Her eyes widened upon hearing herself. 

That was not what she had planned to say.

But he was already smiling broadly, his eyes crinkling at the corners, his full lips looking sexy.

She felt breathless at seeing him so relieved at her acceptance.

Okay, he really was weird. But he couldn’t look perfect and be perfect, right? 

She would find something she didn’t like when she finally goes out with him on this date, and then she could resist him.

She could certainly say no next time.

She began to doubt herself as she drowned at the tender look in his sexy eyes. 

Couldn’t she?

Chapter Three

ONE MONTH
 later.

Nickolas looked at his reflection on the mirror.

His long, thick hair reached the back of his neck, swept back and neatly controlled by a comb. It was maintained by the most expensive men’s hair product, cared for meticulously in a famous men’s salon, and handled only by a favorite hair professional that would get a death sentence, or the equivalent of it career-wise, if he even dare think to cut it shorter than his requirements.