The Arrogant Beauty who Cured The Billionaire's Vacant Soul

The auditorium was filled with students after our school's annual cultural ceremony. There was an important announcement to be made by our school principal.

Everyone kept their fingers crossed on what's the important news they were to hear in such a short notice. I already know the news but I'm not the one to disclose.

I'm James Marshal, an introvert , boringly studious and a school captain for the senior volleyball team.

A few among my friends came rushing to me after sneaking out for snacking at the college cafeteria. "Hi James, what do you think the old man wants to lecture us with this time?"

I only smile at my best friend Sherlock and look ahead. The principal enters the stage in his neatly gelled gray hair and polished black suit. "Good afternoon, dear students. I know all of you are speculating on the news I am going to expose but I wouldn't keep you waiting. Yes, the results of our school literary topper are out. Any guesses?"

Everyone in the hall began to gossip and some were shouting my name. "Yes you are right." His breaths were excited. "The literary topper for the academic year 201516 is Adrian James Marshal."

Everyone begins to clap and whisper congratulations to me. I reach the stage shaking hands with a few fellow students on my way. The principal pats my shoulder a look of appreciation in his experienced eyes. He gives me a firm handshake and hands over the trophy to me. My fingers run admiring the beautiful copper shield and eyes twinkle in happiness looking down at the crowd cheering for me. It was my biggest moment of joy, my achievement and the reward for my hard work from the last two years.

Unlike all my friends and classmates hailing from opulent families I did not have the power of money to rank an admission in St Xavier's. I am a middle class boy who worked night and day for the best grades and attained what I'm today.

My father left this world when I was less than two. My mother works two jobs a day as a waitress in a restaurant in the evening and serves as a billing assistant in a grocery shop during the morning shift to place food on our dining table.

My only aim in my life is one day become a popular man, earn millions and free my mother from all the struggles she encountered in her life to bring me up.

As I walk down the stage with the trophy in my hand the girl most awaited and the one who stole my every dream comes forward and hugs me tight. "Congratulations James" Amaira whispers and kisses my cheek.

Goosebumps invaded my system as I experienced the touch of her lips on my skin. The crowd acclaims and claps for us as we escape to the back of the stage.

"Hi James I felt very happy for your achievement. I'm very lucky to have you as my friend. I wish one day to become like you and make my parents proud." She beams to me in admiration. "You are two years younger to me and have time to prepare and win the literary trophy. Don't worry I will prepare you well even after I pass out from the school." I assure Amaira and get each of us a chocolate muffin from the cafeteria.

As promised I coached Amaira in all the subjects and helped her achieve good grades. "I will pay you the fees for teaching me." She insisted. "It will help you earn a few days of meals instead of suffering from hunger." I felt very sad for her words but brushed my thoughts away. Amaira is my girlfriend. She would only think good about me and in a way tried to help me but I wouldn't take any fees from her. I continued to teach her for the next two years and helped her fetch good grades.

Six months later,

It was the final day of school, the day of school prom. It was also the day I decided to make Amaira officially my girlfriend though it would be a surprise for her.

I was dressed a black tuxedo. The prom dance was about to start. The stage was beautifully decorated with roses, lilies and several colorful lights. My fingers were trembling in anxiety as I walked to the center of the stage with my hand dipped in my pants pocket, holding the blue rectangular box in my fingers.

My friend Sherlock called Amaira to the stage. She was dressed in an ankle length turquoise color gown that hugged her curves in the right places. Amaira is my first love, first kiss and my first in everything.

She looked very beautiful and immaculate like a fallen Angel in the rich attire. The color of the gown reflecting her eye color made her explicit and gorgeous from the usual crowd of girls. All the students were clapping for us as Amaira walked to the stage because they already knew what was about to happen.

Some of my friends tried to teach me tales about Amaira's disloyalty to me but I'm intelligent enough not to believe such gossip. My angel is as pure as the holy cross.

She was standing in front of me. The crowd coos for us as I gave her the rose and dropped on my knee to hold out the promise ring for her. "Amaira, will you grace me on this special occasion to be my girlfriend and future wife?" I asked her in expectancy with anticipation in my eyes and a full blown smile on my lips.

My ears recorded a roar of laughter at the next second but my eyes weren't ready to believe on what's happening in front of me. "Amaira what happened to you? Are you okay?" I ask her in a stupor about to reach her hand. She evaded my touch moving behind, held her head back and laughed.

A handsome young man walks to the stage in the next second. "How could you even imagine that a wealthy girl from a powerful family like me would marry a beggar like you? I just used you to attain good grades James Marshal." She speaks arrogantly between her chuckles. The crowd started murmuring, some smiled conceited and others gazed at me with pitiful looks.

Sherlock walks behind and pats on my back trying to ease me. "What you have done is a blunder. A day will come when you will pay for this." He cautions Amaira but she doesn't seem to care in the least.

"Look at that shabby suit Marcus," she snickers and turns to the side to look at the man standing beside her. "You should have taken your tutoring fees from me James, tsk...tsk." She gives a deplored look. "At least you would have purchased a suit worth wearing instead of using this rag." She points to my dress in a condemnation.

Marcus gives me a look of disgust with a shake of his head and holds Amaira's hand. After taking two steps forward he stops and turns back. "Don't dare to look at my girl ever again." He warns in a menacingly low growl with a finger pointed to me and walks away from the stage.

I blink twice, thrice but nothing registered in my brain. I was still on my knee with my hand extended holding the ring in the box. Sherlock gets behind patting my shoulder and helping me to stand.

"She...she" I pointed to Sherlock Amaira's departing form but no words further pulled out except the tears in my eyes washing out in streams out of my cheeks.

"Hold up those stupid tears, you are born a man and supposed to be bold, decisive." Sherlock admonished. "You would stay intrepid, undaunted and teach the bitch a lesson. Promise me that today." He spoke determinedly hypnotizing me by his gutsy gray pools and I took the pledge.

I will destroy you Amaira Witmore to a state of no retrieval. This is the vow of a wounded anthropoid who resolves treachery better than a nature's fury.

Adrian

After Amaira's exposition of her true colors and her heartbreaking words my world collapsed. The only girl I loved with all my heart had betrayed me, broke my heart to pieces without a care. I felt used, deprived and most of all cheated.

The moment I reached outside the auditorium I broke to a ground wrecking yowl but unlike Amaira Sherlock did not abandon me. He was there beside me when I required him the most. With his words of inspiration I recollected myself.

By the time I left his house, it was dark. Mom had called me twice anxious about my whereabouts. After my school I work a part time job as an accountant in a nearby financial agency. Though the earning is not much, it takes care of my tuition fees and purchase of my school books but I was not in the right state of mind to work that day. I called the office and reported that I was sick.

When mom called I did not tell her about what happened at the school auditorium. She already had enough on her platter. I did not want to disturb her with more. I told her I was staying at Sherlock's to celebrate the school graduation and took leave from work for the day.

After having my dinner I was walking back to my house. It was dark and a little drizzling. I was slightly drunk because of the mess that happened a few hours ago. I did not see the vehicle approaching me at a record speed from the opposite side. In a sprinting motion the car hit me and my body flew upon the Lamborghini. My head bolted to the car's windshield like a pummel. Blood rushed out of my form setting in small puddles and then everything went blank.

I opened my eyes to white painted walls and sky blue curtains. The smell of disinfectants wafted in the air as I inhaled deep. "Son, how are you?" A middle aged man with black rimmed glasses and a gray beard comes forward. He held my upper arm in affection and looked at me in fondness. I look at him in a puzzle unable to understand his referral. The last time I checked about my existence, I knew my father was dead when I was two and my mother brought me up with a lot of pain and effort.

I fell in love with a worthless piece of shit. She betrayed me and insulted my love in front of everyone in the school. I was walking back to my house fragmented to bits affected by the havoc the bitch initiated in my life when suddenly a car flew upon me like a plane out of nowhere. Everything happened in a blur and the next moment I opened my eyes, I was resting in a hospital in the company of a stranger who was thankfully friendly and caring.

The man who stood beside her begins to speak. "I'm Augustus Martin, a famous businessman and billionaire of New York and she is my wife Angelica. We have an ancestral home at Hudson and we were on our way to our home when we found you half dead and unconscious lying on the road in a pool of blood. I stopped my car and brought you to the hospital." The man says slightly restrained in his voice.

I slowly reach the hand of the patriarch in thankfulness. He pats my shoulder in assurance and continues. "Your case was serious and there were no multi speciality hospitals in your town. So after the initial treatment, I brought you back with me to New York getting you the treatment in one of the famous hospitals our family owns. My son is a doctor and he has been treating you for a while." There was a look of pride in his eyes, when he spoke about his son.

"Since how many days have I been staying here?" The man shared a look with his wife and there went on a nonverbal communication between them for a few seconds. Within the short span that I happened to stay in their company, I understood they were a perfectly compatible and most compassionate couple I had hardly seen in my life.

Love doesn't need a language. The most intense emotions are actually speechless communicated with the eyes and end in the heart but whores like Amaira Witmore can't experience such potent emotions even in their next birth unfortunately these words about her I was too late to understand.

The door clicked open and a man in a white coat who had similar features to Mr Martin walked inside. "Hello I am Allesandro Martin, your physician who has been treating you for the last sixteen months. How are you feeling?" So my illusions were right, he is Mr Martin's son the doctor who had been treating me all this while.

I extend my hand for him to hold. "I'm good. Thank you for treating me." The doctor examined me and reached the exit. Augustus and Angelica walked out along with him leaving me in my own world for a few minutes. Everything around me became confused. Who are these people? Why are they helping me so much for no reason? Where is my mother? Does she know I am still alive?

You are a different man now with disparate features. Consider it as a blessing in disguise. None of your enemies would recognize you. I am sorry to say this but I wonder if the catastrophe that took place in your life was actually an accident? According to me it was a well planned murder." I began to connect the dots in my head and everything became crystal clear. If not for this humane couple I would have stroked the gates of heaven long back.

I have resolved to myself, I will teach Amaira Witmore and her bastard father a lesson they will remember all their lives.

Adrian

Ten years later

After I came out of hospital Augustus adopted me and financed my studies. With determination and hard work I finished my education completing masters in my favorite subject business analytics.

Mom had almost gone insane finding no information about me but when she came to know about my whereabouts, her happiness had no boundaries. She thanked the Martins whole heartedly and now the Martin's house is like my second home. Augustus handed over all his businesses in New York and overseas to me after introducing me as his legal heir.

I walk through the foyer to the entrance of the Martin's house holding a bouquet of yellow roses. "Happy birthday mom" bending down. I kiss the cheeks of Angelica, truly an Angel like her name says who gave rebirth to me in this world by her selfless care, humanity, patience and became a second mother to me. "The roses are beautiful. Thank you." She speaks with love and hugs me.

Abigail came home for mom's birthday two days ago, canceling her teacher's seminar. Abigail is a teacher. She loves kids and has chosen the profession matching her tastes. Her husband Devon is a professional guitarist. He will be joining us in the evening for dinner as he had a performance in the afternoon. I learnt playing guitar from him for the love I uphold for music.

Alessandro was present for the lunch along with his wife Edith, the daughter of Allen and Arianna Rodriguez. They had been childhood sweethearts since primary school and are married three years from now. Edith is seven months pregnant with their first baby.

"Hey man, how is life going?" Alessandro asked once we were out of the dining area after lunch. "Sweet and hot" I reply to him with a wink but in a whisper that only he can hear. His ears turn red looking for any women around us. "You need to get settled, man, you are already twenty six." I shook my head idly changing the channels of the TV with the remote. "No way man, I'm happy with my present life free of any responsibilities."

A maid comes with the desert in a tray and each of us picks a bowl of fruit pudding. "You never know when you fall in love. Once the right girl approaches, you will have no control on your emotions and all your previous theories will go down the drain." He professes gazing at Edith with so much love. "Whatever man..." I evade the heart wrecking subject I had enough experience of.

As Allesandro gets up to help Edith sit placing a pillow on her back, dad walks to me. "Son, how is the business going?" He hands me a glass of wine and both of us walk to the study. "The business is good dad...." I tell him with a half smile. There is always this disquietude in my heart that keeps haunting my dreams for the near death that I suffered. Dad pats my shoulder. "I can understand." A knowing smile played on his brims.

One month later...

I idly walked the upscale Covington Art House. Yes I own this art gallery. It is special to me because it is my first investment after taking over my father's business.

Since my initial years of adulthood I had been a diehard fan of exquisite paintings. The walls of my house are decorated with graceful masterpieces of famous painters but for this time I flicked a bored gaze over the current pieces gracing the exhibit walls. Unusually, nothing among the displays seemed to excite me.

I rounded the corner and nearly ran into a short, slim, plainly agitated blonde who dropped her art portfolio at the unexpected contact. She pushed her glasses deeper on the bridge of her nose and then bent to collect her spilled artwork, her small hands fluttering with anxiety as she attempted to quickly grab her art and bail.

Long blonde hair trailed down her back in gentle curls and waves and I was struck with the image of twisting that gorgeous mane in my palm. She had the most beautiful chocolate browns and her slender fingers were soft and long that brushed mine tenderly while collecting her art works.

"I'm sorry" I mutter and help her with the scattered stationary. She shoved the artwork deeper in her bag about to hustle but I stopped her. "I'm Adrian Martin, the CEO of Sunrise Industries and the owner of this art house." I tell her hypnotized by her chocolate browns. Why are these novel feelings erupting in me, the feelings I buried long back in my heart, the feelings I did not assume still exist in my nub.

"Sir she is Christina Casablanca, a final year student of our art college and a painter. She is deaf and dumb, lost her speech and hearing due to an accident ten years ago. If you could talk slowly, by the moment of your rims she would understand what you speak and reply using the movements of your hands." So that is why she was looking at my lips. She was trying to read me and I thought....I shook my head embarrassed by my stupidity.

Such a beautiful girl yet with no speaking and hearing skills! God must have gone crazy and stone hearted when he made this pretty girl but I'm not a man going to fold his hands and accept fate. I am the one who is going to turn the tide and question destiny.

"Send Christina to my cabin." I tell the manager and walk to my room. Within a couple of minutes I hear a knock and she walks inside. This time I was slow in my words so that she could read my lips. "Take a seat Christina." I tell her softly. When she was comfortable, I walked around the table to stand beside her with my hands folded and legs crossed leaning to the desk. She gets anxious with the proximity and pulls her chair back to create a safe distance between us.

"Mention not."

Adrian

Two months later

Dressed in a sky blue suit and a red tie at exactly ten minutes to nine, I marched through the lobby of my New York office building. People moved out of my way to create space and wished me. I punched the 26th floor on the elevator which led me to my office. With the sound of the ding, the elevator doors slid open to reveal the reception desk and waiting area.

A deep burgundy carpet with gray edging set the tone for the company as luxurious, professional, and successful. The plush leather chairs and polished petrified wood end tables told anyone entering the space that Sunrise Industries was no petty interface but a multinational, mega corporation with a chain of industries in its subway, just the way dad wanted.

My business rivals feared me and my investors respected me, at least insofar as I knew I could make hell a lot of money through them. I never felt weak or anxious when I stepped up to the negotiating table and I normally thrived on other people's stress and pressure. Now my sole motto is to crush the Witmores by hook or by crook. "Jennie, Andrew will be here in a few minutes. Show him right in when he arrives."

"Yes, Mr. Martin," Jennie said with a polite nod. Andrew Walker is the head of Sunrise Industries legal department, but I had also been friends with him because he is forever honest with me. Sincere and candid people are the ones upon whom I have respect and employ with the best pay scales. Thus, Andrew is one of the few people who knew me as the man, beyond Adrian Martin CEO of Sunrise Industries.

Through Andrew's help, I hired Jack, a tech expert. He apprised me of the ways the Witmore accounts could be hacked. The pilferage will be sophisticated, planned and a clean sweep of company accounts without even a hint of a third eye knowing about it until it is well accomplished.

Three months later.....

"Congratulations Adrian, the deal is done." Andrew tells me enriched. A proud smile enveloped my features. The circumstances made me proud. I had maneuvered and negotiated the deal in the best possible way. I moved to my mahogany desk and stared down at my reflection in a hubristic smile. I had been certain in my strategy, confident in my work for a long time and the result of my plans clicked the best way.

"Thank you Andrew. It was so kind of you to help me." I dismissed him and leaned back on the leather chair with my legs crossed on the desk in front of me. A satisfied smile on my countenance, I crushed the Witmores but this will be a realization they would assimilate too late. It is a slow poison administered in their system. They will never know from where the flame started, their shares will drop down gradually and the investments would mangle. Steadily they will turn from barons to beggars.

Wow

Lighting a cigarette I pulled out my phone from my pants pocket. "Hey beautiful, let's rock today in celebration of my biggest victory." I wasn't like this at all. I was the studious, mild and silent guy next door but Amaira Witmore and her father changed me from a sage to a beast.

Half an hour later Clara walked inside swaying her lips. I met Clara in one of my dad's parties. She is a gorgeous brunette with perfect hourglass shape and creamy long legs. I bedded her the same night. She had the best ways in attracting men with her figure and moves, a stunning slut in ravishing curves. She settled in my lap, her hands wafted around my neck as she moves her upper body sliding over mine and rubbed her breasts to my chest. I kissed her hungry and deep.

"Bye, Jennie, I will be back to the office by tomorrow. Hold my calls till then unless there is an emergency." I directed her. "Yes sir." Jennie closed the door behind her, leaving the two of us in the privacy of the elevator. I ran my hands desirous on Clara's perfect physique and squeezed her breasts. She giggled like a Cheshire cat, her hands reaching my member, fondling me there. "Oh no baby, wait till we reach my bed."

The next day was a weekend, Sherlock called me and my face became like a glowing sun. "Hey man it's been more than six months and no see?" He taunts me. "Are you ready to join me for lunch today at the Radiance?"

"Of course sweetheart...." I could imagine him scowling at me as I landed on a guffaw. "Don't call me that." He growls. "Store those cheesy lines for your girlfriend." Instantly Christina's face flashes in my mind bringing goose bumps in me. I avoid the subject and tell him. "I will be there by twelve."

Since the last couple of months I had been dying to see my beauty but meetings lined up, work commitments and taking care of the Witmores blew my mind. As a result the cravings of my heart had to be locked, forced to wait.

I was having lunch with Sherlock. "How is your business going on James?" He settled the fork on his plate and gave me his undivided attention. "Amazing, I just completed taking care of the Witmores, my long cherished plan finally starts its execution." I wink displaying a conceited smile. "You did?" He asks me to be surprised. I nod cocksure. "I'm now excited to see the bitch's face." He tells me in real happiness forking the noodles on his plate.

Both of us cackle to a belly laugh. After we calm down he invites me to his home. "Next weekend I and Darcy are celebrating our first wedding anniversary. I hope you will join us in the celebration." I raise both my brows at him. "Is it already a year after you got married?" He bites his lip like a teenage girl. "And I am going to be a dad in another six months."

I faced him astonished. "I can't believe this man. You are too fast." He scorns baleful and I have fun enjoying his puppy face. "Well congratulations to you and Darcy." I speak between my laughter.

"So when would we have the privilege of seeing you with a girlfriend?" He changes the subject diplomatically. All my jokes die down with the question and I reply to him damn seriously "very soon". He looks at me taken aback. "Did I hear it right?" He murmured, peering at me like a halfwit idiot. "Yes you heard it right." I confirm in smiles and look around for the server to order another bottle of wine when my eyes locate someone familiar.

I walk to the table in excitement excusing myself from Sherlock. "I am sorry to interrupt but do you know each other?" I ask Edith, going completely thrilled. "Hi, what a pleasant surprise...." Her eyes went wide, elated. She directs her hand to Christina and introduces her to me. "She is Christ..."

"I know" I reply to Edith before she completes her sentence. "We met in my art gallery.” I tell her swilling thoroughly in Christina's arresting features. "Oh wow!" Edith studies me in her scrutinizing gaze about to pull my leg but I was smart to avert the danger. "I'm here with my friend Sherlock." I wave to Sherry to join me as I take a seat. Sherlock introduced himself to both the ladies and invited them to his anniversary celebration.

All of us finish our lunch and Sherlock leaves for his office. Ten minutes later Allen Rodriguez walks inside the restaurant in his everlasting charismatic persona, a white coat hanging on his right arm and a stethoscope around his neck. We exchange greetings and I opt to drop Christina home. He helps Edith from her seat to take her home. She will be staying with her parents for a few days.

"How are you?" I ask Christina once we are alone in the car. My hands were itching to touch her, hug her but I was to control my feelings until she was comfortable with me. I noticed her fiddling with her fingers and my concerns about her grew interminable in a fraction. Whatever her agitation was, I wanted to rip it out of its flesh.

"Adrian" she enunciated to herself enthralled by the name but with no voice from her lips. "Do you like it?" I ask her tenderly, lifting her chin and getting captured in the sudden brightness of her eyes. She nodded and smiled and I felt my name was more beautiful than ever.

She places the tips of her fingers to her chin and brings them out forward. "Thank you, for what?" I ask her to divert my vision back to the road. She types something on her phone and shows it to me. "It was a huge amount and I'm not a professional. You shouldn't have paid me so much for the painting."

I peep into her capturing browns. "We can adjust the amount with a deal. Teach me to paint and I would think I had a fair bargain."

Adrian

We passed through New York's high rise buildings and busy roads to reach the suburban areas which had fresh green pastures and tall trees. In The midst of nature we come across beautiful medium sized cottages. After driving further a few of such chalets Christina asks me to stop in front of a brick structure.

It was a cottage, typically a small house that could carry the connotation of an oldfashioned construction at the same time a modest and cozy dwelling abode. The croft was surrounded by green pastures, different colors and varieties of flowers. Behind us was a beautiful lake.

After spending almost three decades in the city of busy speed up, whoosh and whizz I felt the cabin as a welcome to paradise in the billets of nature. An obscure feeling of heavenliness inhabited its way in my heart. I park my Buggati at a distance, take Chistina's hand and walk to the cabana. The door was opened by a red haired woman in her late forties who had the same chocolate browns like Christina.

Chris shared something to the lady in sign language and the woman's eyes twinkled in glee as though she had known me for ages. "Please come inside and take a seat." She directed me to a small sitting room that felt cozy and comfortable. "I am Adrian James Martin, Christina's friend." I introduced myself to her.

"We know, our daughter had so much to say about you." She gushed enthusiastically. "I am Jade Casablanca, Christina's mother and he is my husband, Christina's dad Caleb." A blond haired man with thick rimmed glasses comes forward and holds out his hand. "It is nice to meet you." Now I know where Christina got her beautiful blonde hair.

There were some hand signals that went between Christina and her mother. Though I couldn't understand much about reading their hand gestures, I could decipher Christina was speaking about me. Instantaneously I decide I am soon going to learn sign language and be proficient in it very soon. There is no way I could fail myself in reading my girlfriend.

"Christina says you are a very generous and caring person. One of your employees, Tina, from the purchasing department, is her friend." Jade enthused. "I'm just a normal man who takes care of his employees and pays them well when they work hard." I speak balanced and pragmatic, accepting the steaming cup of coffee from her tray.

Christina lost her speech and hearing due to a tragic accident which happened ten years ago when she was only twelve. Since then Caleb and Jade had tried several remedies but with no effectual result. She thus lives under the protection and care of her parents along with her younger sister Jasmine.

Jasmine is a sixteen year old bold and brazen, fun loving girl doing her final year in school. She is the complete opposite in nature of her sister Christina. "Hi Adrian" she cheers and sits beside me. "I heard you are a business magnate and a big shot. I love designing dresses and want to do my graduation in fashion technology. Do you think you could help me with employment in your area of interest?"

Christina quickly comes, sits beside Jasmine with a scowl and directs her to her room pointing to the door with her hand. I chuckle at the sisters. "Sure, study well and I will help you with the best job." I assure Jasmine and pick the coffee cup to my lips that Jade gave me a while ago.

Caleb Casablanca and his wife Jade were exceptionally convivial people basically of Spanish origin but born and brought up in Hudson. They fell in love and got married at a young age, blessed with two daughters. Caleb is a professor in a local college and Jade is a professional dancer. Art is digested in Casablanca's blood since their birth. Probably that's how Christina is extremely talented in painting though she is too innocent to take the credit.

By the evening the dining table was decorated with scented candles and mouth watering Spanish dishes which I couldn't taste in the best of the restaurants.

The dinner started with Gazpacho a tomato based Andalusian soup served during very cold times. As the temperature in New York is freezing right now I relished the soup much. Followed by the soup were starters Patata Bravas (potatoes cubed and shallow fried) and in the main course were Tortillas, Albondigas, Migas and Jamon. "You haven't had a second serving. Don't you like the preparations, Adrian?"

"The food is very tasty." I complement Jade. She smiles and refills my plate with the affection a mother holds to her child. The dinner culminated with Spanish sweet dish Leche Frita and homemade Churos. By the time I finished the dinner my stomach was about to burst. Because I loved the Churros, Jade had packed some more for me to snack at home.

I felt relaxed with the Casablancas and never thought I would have such a warm welcome at my first meeting itself. I felt like I was already a part of the family. I wish they were known to me earlier but no regrets. It was now not only for Christina but her family too that I wanted to make mine.

Christina came out to wish me goodnight and the family left us with the privacy I desiderated. The portico was dimly lit with just a forty watt bulb at the center. I walked towards my car taking the hand of Christina and looked around making sure we were encapsulated in the darkness.

I ran my hands tenderly from her shoulder to forearms and looked into her eyes in a yearning concupiscence. She rubs her forearms with the palms of her hand. "Feeling cold?" My voice was a rugged whisper as I bent my head slightly to read her eyes. I remove my jacket and lay it on her shoulders. Circling my hands around her I pull her to my chest. Her lips slightly part at the sudden contact and I place a kiss on her forehead. "You okay?" My voice goes more hoarsely.

She nods, dipping her head down in shyness. I pull the sides of the jacket closer, zipping it up. "Drink ginger tea before going to bed. It will keep you warm during the night." I wiped the sauce on her cheek with the pad of my thumb that she caught while eating churros a few minutes back. "Good night, now go inside the house. It is too cold here. I will see you soon."

I turn back and open the door of the car. She continues to wait, taps on my shoulder and holds up her phone. "Yes I will message you when I reach home." I told her with a smile but this time I couldn't hold back. I pull her face to mine and peck her lips. "Now go inside my love. Otherwise you will freeze here." I request her and wait till she reaches her entrance. After making sure she was inside the house I started the car.

Amaira

One year later

"Why do you think the shares of Witmore industries are marking stupendously low in the financial market? I need an answer right now." I punched my hands on the table glaring at our chief operations officer Jeremy Spear. "I was out of the country for just six months on a doctoral program and you brought the company to doldrums." I accused the already shivering man in a high pitched voice.

"I have tried my entire resources madam but we are yet to know from where the pilferage is taking place." He answers me meekly. "You are a mum." My voice echoed between the walls of the room and eyes glazed at him in the brightness of a flying rocket. "Stay at home and look after your children, at least your wife will have some rest." He looks down in defeat and I order him with my voice low, composed. "You need not come to work tomorrow." I handed him the resignation letter. "Sign it or else your death is in my hands."

The next second he scrawled the signature on the resignation letter and sprinted out of the room. I dial my secretary. "Order an urgent meeting with the branch heads. They need to be in the conference room by eleven that is half an hour from now." I lift my hand and check the time while I tell Rita, my secretary.

"Why is our company running in losses? Why are the prices of shares depleting? And why is there a stealing going on company's accounts?" I ask the branch heads without a greeting. "Don't we have sublime software for peerless encryption of our accounts? Or some of you are going against the back of your own company?" I direct my point eyeing the branch heads without a snag, knotting my fingers together and leaning back.

"We are sorry madam. Please give us time for a couple of days more and we will reach you with a promising result by the end of this weekend." The staff’s feeble answers came out. "I need you to be louder." I hit the table with my hand and stood up. They repeat their replies much louder and stern this time. "Good" my answer was firm. "If I don't find the solution to this problem right before this weekend then all of you will submit your resignations on my table by Monday morning."

The misappropriation was cleanly done in an expert manner with no third eye coming to know about it until the embezzlement went beyond the control. I booked an appointment with Adrian Martin's secretary for next Monday because he is out of the country right now.

How and why, I couldn't help but have my incongruent questions that emblazon my mind, the answers I wanted to find out more than curious.

Adrian

I thought when Jenny informed me Amaira Witmore wanted an appointment. I made Jenny lie to her that I was out of the country. So she found out who was the reason behind her vanquish. Not bad, she is faster than I expected. She wasn't this smart at school. But I am not going to make her task easy. She has to work her fingers to the bone to get an appointment from me. Let me see what she is going to do when I decline the meeting with her on the next Monday too.

During the past couple of months I couldn't get a chance to meet Christina. I was too busy traveling in and out of the United States. We were launching a new clothing line in men's formals. Meetings lined up with the shareholders and holding seminars about our company's product got me busier than I could imagine.

The least I could do to Christina was to message her on where I was. It was Friday evening and another night of the nail biting winter in New York. I was lazily playing the strings of the guitar sitting in front of the fireplace to an old tune of Madonna Like a prayer.

It was seven in the evening and the calling bell rang at the exact time. I sprint to the front hall and open the door. "Come" I smile excitedly and circle my hands around her shoulders to walk Christina inside the house. She looks around the mansion in admiration. This is the first time she comes to my house after a year of our courtship. "Do you like the house?" I ask her to softly bend my head down and kiss her hair.

She nods, smiling , raising her head to look at me. I can do anything in this world to see the smile on her face. During the past year that I met her I consulted countless doctors regarding Christina's speech and hearing problem. Out of the legion physicians that I met, only one of them gave me the hope of her speech. Nevertheless I declared to myself that I would leave no stone unturned to bring back the normal life she yearns.

I got proficient in sign language and can read Christina now like the back of my hand. The expressions in her eyes are an open book to me now. "Are you tired?" She shook her head. "Feeling hungry?" She shook again and pointed to the guitar sitting beside the fireplace. "You want to play the guitar?" She nods with a smile.

I squat down in front of the fire and pat on my lap for her to sit down. As she sits facing the fire, I pull her hair to the side and run my lips softly on her face. She points to my slightly grown stubble and rubs her chubby cheeks. I chuckle, so cute and innocent. "My stubble bites you? I'm so sorry my love. I will just come back in a few minutes." I shave and return putting her back in my lap.

"This is how you hold the guitar." I teach her by placing her hand to the neck of the guitar and start playing the strings while singing to the tune. She places her hand on the guitar board feeling the rhythm in her palms and concentrates her eyes on reading my lips.

As I watched her peep at my cupid's bow I couldn't desist but smooch her rims. After a while she takes an about turn in my lap and straddles me with her legs circled on either side of my waist. Her hand was on my chest as she felt me sing for her. Her head was resting on my shoulder enjoying the feel of the music. Few minutes later I placed the guitar to my side, holding her closer and running kisses on her face.

"Adrian, why do you like me? There are many girls out there waiting for you who are far more beautiful, wealthy and without a handicap." She asks, showing the typed letters on her phone. "I do not know why I like you but I know how much I love you. I cannot live without you Chris. You are my breath." I admit to her with sincerity in my eyes.

She raises her head and attaches her lips to mine. I kiss her in a salacious hunger, craving her and needing her more than ever.

I carried her bridal style, reached the bed of the master bedroom. Putting her gingerly on the bed, I remove her shoes and kiss each one of her toes. She takes in a rugged breath meeting my eyes absorbed in sensuousness. I sat beside her on the bed and removed her shirt. And for a moment I felt my heart had stopped on its beat. My eyes studied prisoners to her heavenly sculpt. In front of me was the prettiest girl on earth.

I let the skin on my palms play across her nipples, teasing them. I pulled her right nipple into my mouth, circled it gently with my tongue, and then sucked, nipped at it with my teeth. Heat pools between her legs as she brings them closer. I moved and did the same to her left breast too. She pulls her lips into her mouth, arresting the moan. "You don't need to feel shy or hesitate for anything in front of me, love." I assure her, pull out her lips from the repression in her mouth.

She wrapped her arms and legs around me, pulling me closer. "You are an amazing seductress. Do you know that?" I raise her chin to meet my eyes and lean forward on top of her to rub my crotch against her sex. Her eyes meet mine in a startle. "What?" She points to my manhood that makes me go chuckled at her innocence. "Haven't you ever seen a penis?" She looked down and jiggled.

She writhed beneath my hand and pressed herself into me, whimpering with desperate need. I teased her until she bucked under my hand and begged me with her eyes to relieve her aching need. I moved my fingers over her faster, giving her the speed and pressure she needed to reach her orgasm. After a few moments I felt her break into pieces in my arms. I held her while she caught her breath and then she slowly got up and fumbled with the buttons of my pants.

I helped her and slid my pants down. "This will go inside your sex." I told her in sign language. Her eyes went anxious looking at the size. "I smile at her cuteness."Don't worry it will fit." I lay on top of her and pressed myself against her, not entering her yet, but teasing, taunting, building her up again. Chris was wideeyed with surprise as she arches against me and strained to get me enter her, to end the torture.

She writhed and moaned beneath me. Her body felt like an instrument that no one had known how to play before me. As my hands played over her body, shivers of anticipation went up and down her spine as she came alive. With one swift stroke, I slid inside and she cried out at the sensation wrapping and gripping her legs around me. "You are so sweet and tight exactly the way I want." My voice was low and raw.

I held still inside her for a moment, but she could only stay still for so long. She started to move her hips in tiny circles, pulling forth another groan from me as I began to slide in and out of her, slowly burying myself deeper within her. Chris tightened her legs around me and moved as I did. She pushed toward me and brought me deeper still. I wrapped one arm around her waist as I felt her body tense—coiling as if ready for release.

“Deeper Adrian,” Chris enounced with the salacity on her lips but with no voice. What she did not know was that she is a part of me. I can read her even with my eyes closed, with just a feel of her. The sound of the whispered demand pushed me right over the edge and I pumped bringing us to the bliss of an idyll, a Utopia of a promised land.

She fell along with me and rode the waves of her orgasm until I collapsed on top of her, both of us completely sated.

Somewhere in the middle of night after our repeated sex she scratches on my chest. I open my eyes and question her with my looks. She makes a 'c' with the palm of her hand and runs it from her neck to her stomach. "Oh my baby, I bring her to my chest and kiss her forehead. "You are feeling hungry?" She bobs and nuzzles her head to the crook of my neck. I kiss her cheeks. "I will bring something for us. Stay here." I kiss her forehead and walk out of the bed.

Few minutes later I walk with a plate of meat sandwich to the bedroom. We finish the food like starving predators. Both of us slaked and satisfied in every way, I brought my 'would be wife' close to my chest and welcomed the dream world.