Claimed By The Rogue Alpha novel Chapter 20

==Olivia==

I never appreciated the truth in the words: as ever-changing as the weather, until today. Just some minutes ago, it was bright, threating to have me blind for a moment. Now, the once blue sky had become a grey monster and the nice warm breeze was a gale. I squinted my eyes to shield myself from the dust that came with the wind.

I began making my way out of the maze, doing quite a job in keeping my dress in place. I let out a sigh of relief when I made it out. No sooner had I done that than I jerk. I wasn’t expecting to see Matteo. Also, I didn’t expect to meet him in such...manner as he was. Something was off about him, given the way he stared at blankly. I waved off any concern. He wasn’t my business at all. All I had to do was get inside, have some nice warm bath and then be buried under my blanket.

But then, my plans were shattered when he dashed for the wall adjacent the backdoor and began punching it.

My jaw dropped. I rushed towards him, trying to pull him from the wall. He wouldn’t budge. It was as though I wasn’t even trying at all.

“Fuck me! Fuck my life.!” His breath reeked of alcohol. They turned my stomach and I turned the other way to gag. The smell of the vomit further nausated me. I fell to the floor, pouring my insides out. My eyes began to water from the force.

“Oh, I disgust you?”

It was Matteo. He was facing me now. And I would have pondered on why the hell he was acting the way he was, but there was a much bigger thing to worry about. His right fist. It was bloodied now.

He ignored me and went back to the wall.

“You see that, moron? You disgust a common fucking slave girl.”.

A lump grew in my throat. I shut my eyes, willing myself to remain calm. I wasn’t going to cry. No, not because of him.

“Stop. You’re hurting yourself.” I stood, making one more effort in pulling him away.

He stopped. Surprisingly. But my relief was far from established. He scowled. “Get lost.”

The insult, yeah it was pretty solid, but I wasn’t affected by it as much as the alcoholic breath. I gagged again, clutching my tummy, but unlike before, nothing was forthcoming. The nausea however lingered.

“There she goes again,” he said, giving out a dry laugh.

I was dumbfounded. I had never seen him in such state before. Ever.

“I'll show you what’s disgusting. “

Before I could bat an eye, he crashed his lips on mine. I was lost for a second, but eventually came back to my senses. And when I did, boy, he still had his lips clamped to my trembling ones. I stared, wide eyed, shaken, not knowing how to react.

Then, I felt him pull me towards him. His hand grabbing my butt cheek. I made the resolve to pull away, but I backed down when I saw his eyes. They were closed. Looking all innocent like a child’s. His lashes were long and… wait. Double. He had double lashes. They were long, and straight. Dark just like his hair.

Then, I jerked backward. Or rather, Matteo jerked me. He turned the other way and threw up. A torrent of goo splattering in the floor.

Thereafter, he slumped. Gasping, I rushed to him and with all my might, I pulled him from the mess. His shirt was stained, same with a side of his face.

I wiped the mess off his face, leaving a smear. I stared down at him, still in shock with what had just played out.

==Matteo==

My lids trembled before I slowly opened my eyes. First, everywhere appeared blurry, but after some time, I finally gained focus. The familiar chandelier hung above. I shut my eyes again, taking a deep breath.

Reopening them, I leaned on the bed head. I was alone in the room, leaving me wondering how I'd made it here. One minute I was in the bar and the next, I was…

The bar. Dammit. I’d gotten drunk. I ran my hand across my hair, instantly noticing that it was wet. Did I have a shower or…? I groaned again. This was one reason I hated drinking. It messed with my head.

Cussing, I heaved from the bed. Fuck, I weigh a log. Cool draught filtered into the room. I drew my attention to the window.. It was raining buckets now. The sky had become so dark that one would think it was deep into the evening, even when it was just…

I took my eyes to the wall clock, taken aback when I saw the time. 7:30. Had I been so wasted? Seriously? I shook my head. I wasn’t ever gonna take alcohol again.

Just then, a smell overpowered me. It was intoxicating. That same frangipani scent that tormented me. I groaned and went for the bathroom. Opening the door hastily, I got inside, turned on the tap and began splashing my face with water. Wake up, wake up wake up! You need to wake up, man! I stared at the mirror, disgusted with whom was at the other end. A knock sprang up. I wiped my face with a towel and opened the door—stepping into the room.

“Who is that?”

“It’s Philemon, sir.”

I fought the urge to sigh. Of course, I wasn’t expecting him to say his name, I… Know what, that did it. Sooner than later, I would lay him off.

“What do you want?”

“Miss Haynes would like to see you.”

I almost burst out laughing, but I held myself. The nerve of the brat. And here was who was supposed to be my servant, telling me that a slave wanted to see me. Talk about wonders.

“Come in,” I said.

Slowly, he opened the door. I got ready to douse him with a slap, but my plan was aborted. Olivia stood at the door.

She stepped inside.

“What?” she said, laughing. “Of course not. I’m—”

“Cooking up scenes just to try to seduce me.”

She stopped, stunned, and blinked her eyes. “I'm sorry, what?”

“A word of advice. Settle for a more sexy gown. This…” I sized her up, taking in the light cotton dress she was putting on.” Doesn’t make the cut.”

“Wow,” she said. “Yeah, maybe you’re right. I’m such a fool for helping your sorry ass in the first place. And this dress, this dress? Yeah, that was what I was provided with. I have to stuff tissues around my boobs so that I don’t run the risk of having my nipple glare to your pervaded ugly face. You’re right, Matteo, to think that—”

“Enough.”

“That I am hitting on you, cos I don't know why I’m still here in the first place.”

I grunted.

“I’d have been better off dead than having to deal with your—”

“I said shut it, goddmit!” I said, pouncing on her—gripping her arm. She trembled, but instantly put on a brave front. Her face, hard.

“You want to eat me raw? Go ahead.”

I glared at her, the muscles of my jaw pleading for mercy. She didn’t blink; her hazel eyes shot at me. I took notice of her brows. They were neatly swept in place, making me appreciate her blond feature more. Talking about blonde, I focused my gaze on her hair, and that was when the smell hit me. Frangipani.

I inwardly gasped.

Then, from nowhere, something slobbery landed straight on the bridge of my nose. It took me a while to realise it was saliva. She spat on me? Fuck, she did.

I shut my eyes. Anger, fury, rage. All in one. They clung to me.

“How dare you?”

I snapped my eyes open to find her…shaken. But I wasn’t going to be fooled by the show of regret.

“I…”

I didn’t know when my grip on her loosened. But when I realised, it was too late. She was already at the door, trying to scramble away.