THE p*****t

CHAPTER 4: Their Exes

Early in the morning, Louie had delivered a large box to her cabin room with a short letter inside an envelope from Quen.

The message –

Princess,

Inside the box will be your outfit for this morning. We'll be meeting the bride and the groom for a foursome breakfast date in a hotel's restaurant before we go to the private beach vacation home of the groom's family. We'll leave at exactly 7 AM.

Quen

When Myrrh opened the box, she was shocked to see: a Versace distressed floral jacquard fit and flare above-the-knee dress; a Jimmy Choo pair of Minny white silk and satin minimalistic strappy stiletto sandals; a Chanel white leather Cerf tote bag; a pair of Gucci shiny black-grey shade lens oversized sunglasses; a Cartier jewelry set composed of a pair of white gold and diamond double cc earrings, a white gold love bracelet, and a ladies white gold and diamond Pasha Vendome cocktail watch.

She was already all set when Quen knocked at her cabin door then entered.

As he saw her, he looked at her from head to toe. You're indeed very sophisticated and attractive. How can I be so lucky that you'll be by my side this entire weekend? I should have you in my life permanently. I will do my best to win you over. You're the one I've been waiting for all my life. My philandering days are definitely over now.

He was wearing a white Calvin Klein linen suit over a light blue dress shirt with open top buttons and no tie, Prada brown leather belt, Prada casual brown leather loafers, and Rolex Daytona watch.

In her mind – Why are you so handsome in anything you wear? Why can I not resist your charm? This is just fake dating! Just remember that! Myrrh, you're only doing this to pay for the damages you caused to his car.

He asked her casually with a boyish smile on his face, "Ready to go, princess?"

"Yeah, but I'm nervous," she had opened up.

He offered his right arm for her to hold on. She held on to it. He said, "You got nothing to worry about. You are a people person. With your brains, it will be very easy for you to hold a conversation with anyone."

I also wonder myself why it was so easy for me to trust you. Why do I feel comfortable around you? With your smile, my nervousness, worries and fears just suddenly disappear. She expressed, "Well, when I attend upper class events, I just usually work on the background. I've never attended any of my father’s events as well the big and posh showbiz events my mother had attended."

He responded, "I get it. Still, you should not feel nervous. You're naturally beautiful and sophisticated. Plus Silas would always be at the background to make sure no angry woman would be able to bully you just like what happened last night. I have strict orders on him to look after your safety if we ever got separated while attending social functions together."

"Why are you doing all of these," she was curious with his motives so she spoke her mind.

"I do protect my domain, and whether you like it or not, you already belong in it the moment you agreed on our deal," he said firmly.

Such made her somehow felt protected. But it would not still change the fact that - I still cannot get hold of my attraction towards you. I just hope that you'll be a gentleman just like you promise.

They rode his Lamborghini Veneno from the yacht then he drove it to the pavement of Kebu Yacht Club. Silas followed them aboard a black BMW car.

After almost thirty minutes, they arrived at the restaurant of a five star hotel in Yeredan City owned by the groom's family. The bride and the groom were already waiting for them.

To Myrrh’s surprise, she and the bride were acquaintances. Sabria, a showbiz celebrity and ramp model, was a cousin to her ex-boyfriend in college. Introductions and pleasantries had been made and exchanged.

Over the breakfast, there conversation went like this.

Harry asked, "So how did the two of you actually meet?"

Myrrh answered casually, "I had accidentally bumped into his car while it was parked at my restaurant."

Quen added, "And instead of making her pay, I asked her on a date."

Sabria reacted, "That's fast! You just arrived less than a week ago."

Quen responded, "Well, it's not every day that I get to meet a lady of her caliber. Aside from her innate beauty and sophistication, she is also very smart. Apart from those I really admire her for being a successful and hardworking businesswoman. I could not afford to let the chance to know her better just pass me by. The attraction is mutual and we are both adults, so we agreed to date exclusively and see what happens next."

She felt elated with his words of praises for her but her doubtful mind – Is he telling the truth? Or  is  he just making up things? Does he really admire me for all those qualities he just mentioned? When he describes me, he seems to truly appreciate me for who I am. But why do you seem to be too good to be true, Juan Enrique Ibañez VI?  Why do you make me feel so good inside? What is you ulterior motive in making me your regular date?

Harry reacted, "That's cool!"

Sabria then asked Myrrh, "So Myrrh, have you met David again after your breakup?"

Myrrh did not like that Sabria had to mention her ex-boyfriend’s name. Such had brought out bad memories that she wanted to forget. She did not want to see him again. Nevertheless, she tried to answer casually, "I have not. I flew to Paris right after the review classes for my CPA board exams to study culinary arts. After a few months I went back to take the board exams for a few days, then returned again to Paris to finish my culinary studies. When I went back for good, I settled in Davou and established my own business there."

Quen asked, "Who is David?"

Myrrh answered, "A college ex-boyfriend. He's Sabria's cousin."

Sabria added, "You already met David before, Quen. You even mistook me cheating on you with him because we are very close."

"Yeah, I already remember him," Quen replied. "So, where is he now? Will he attend the wedding?"

Harry answered, "Yes, he'll attend the wedding. He is one of our secondary sponsors. He will arrive at the venue this afternoon."

The mere thought of seeing her ex-boyfriend again gave Myrrh a sudden fear. But she tried very hard to mask it.

Quen noticed that Myrrh wasn’t keen discussing her ex-boyfriend and he truly wondered why. Her usual smiling face turned into a poker face.

Sabria curiously and giddily asked, "So tell us more about your first date."

Quen made up a lie, "It was just a casual dinner by my place. She cooked."

Harry commented in a lighter note, "Nice to know that my best friend here will not get hungry. You see when he is too focused with work especially on an invention, he oftentimes forgets to eat."

Sabria added, "He might also forget you actually exist in his life."

Myrrh gladly retorted, "That will not be a problem. I'm a busy bee as well. We already agreed to make a compromise regarding such."

Harry asked out of curiosity, "What's the compromise?"

Quen answered, "We will accompany each other in attending social functions whether personal or business, local and international wise."

Sabria commented, "That's nice! You will get to know each other better while mingling with others and travelling together. It seems like you are not the conservative and private type you used to be anymore, Myrrh."

Myrrh just said casually, "Well he could be so persistent and I could not seem to say no to him."

Sabria then asked, "So how is your Mom?"

Myrrh turned less lighthearted, "She is still at the hospital but she is out of danger already. She actually could not wait to come home already."

After the breakfast, they, along with the other guests all went to the private beach vacation home in convoy. Louie had also arrived with their luggage aboard the other black BMW car.

While on route, Quen asked, "So how many ex-boyfriends do you actually have?"

She answered, "Just David. I went out on few other dates after him when I was in Paris but all just didn't turn out well so I just focused on my career when I returned here in the country. Did they not appear on your comprehensive background check?"

"Yes, they did not appear," Quen then asked further, "What does Sabria mean about conservative and private type?"

She narrated, "Even if a daughter of a famous showbiz personality, I do not like the limelight but David likes it. He is actually a showbiz personality already. As for being conservative, I was still very young back then,” then she felt like opening up to him about her bad experience with David, “Although we have some sort of intimacy, it never came to such point of me fully giving myself to him. I was not ready but he was. So one time he brought me in a private beach house for our anniversary. He initiated more intimacy, I did not allow it. He forced himself into me. He manhandled me and hit me so I fought back. He was shocked with the turn of events. He regretted his actions, apologized but I did not give him another chance. I broke up with him."

Quen reached for her left hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "Physical abuse is a big NO if the man truly loves a woman. You made the right call," he told her. With what she had revealed, he already hated the man to the core. He could be the reason why my princess has rejected every man who got interested with her in the past. That David is a monster. How could he lay a hand on her? His actions are simply unforgiveable! Manhandling! Hitting!  

Myrrh really appreciated and fervently hoped – I wish you are not like him and those other men who were just after s*x when wooing a lady. I wish that you will never take advantage of our situation.  

They reached the private beach vacation home. Quen and Myrrh, along with Silas and Louie, were accommodated in one of the many small cottage beach houses. They occupied a two-bedroom cottage each with en-suite bathroom, a dining/kitchen area, a living room and sun-roofed deck. Quen had already mentioned to Silas about Myrrh’s ex-boyfriend and he have him a very strict instruction, “Never ever let that man get near her at all cost, Silas.”

Quen and Myrrh occupied the bedroom with a queen size bed while Louie and Silas occupied the bedroom with two twin size beds. Louie facilitated the unpacking of their luggage with the hosts' employee, while Quen and Myrrh mingled with the other guests with Silas in tow.

That morning also, Harry and Sabria hosted an extemporaneous pool party for all their guests to get acquainted.

Quen and Myrrh returned to their cottage to take a shower and changed into swimming outfits.

Quen took a shower first while Myrrh checked on the closet. As she opened the closet, she was surprised to see a yellow Ellie Saab cocktail dress and a pale grey green Zuhair Murad strapless floral gown from their transparent garment bags. There were also three suits for Quen, one was a grey Giorgio Armani suit, another was a light brown Valentino suit, and the other one was a taupe Versace suit.

She also saw two Victoria's Secret nighties with matching robes, Victoria's Secret underwear sets, a Tommy Hilfiger two-piece blue and white swimsuit with white cover up, a Gucci white wide brimmed hat, a pair of white Chanel espadrilles, a Chanel white beach tote bag with a matching towel, and other stuff.

She put on the SPF cream, and her mobile phone inside the bag. She also saw her own big leather bag containing her laptop, tablet and other personal stuff.

Then she realized – Will we be sharing only one bed? There is no divan here or a sitting area. There are only two bedrooms also. Danger!

Then Quen came out of the bathroom with just a towel covering his lower body. Myrrh could not help but gawk at him. His chest and abs were perfectly sculpted. She bit her lips. No matter how she suppressed her attraction towards him, she could not seem to contain it. He exuded power and yet he was so kind and gentle to her.

Quen noticed Myrrh biting her lips again. It was really so seductive whenever she bit her lips.

He felt very much attracted towards her. He did not know how he could manage to share a bedroom with her without being intimate with her. This bedroom only has one bed and there is no divan or sitting area. Will she allow us to share just one bed?

When he approached her by the closet, he was not able to stop himself anymore. They looked at each other. She bit her lips again. He caressed her left cheek with his the back of his right palm. She closed her eyes and opened it again while he inched his face much nearer to hers.

He whispered, "Will you give me the permission to kiss you, princess?"

She swallowed, enclosed her arms around his neck, looked into his eyes and whispered softly, "Yes." Why did she say yes? Have you can crazy already? Don’t give in Reina Myrrh Javier. But she was not able to take it back anymore. She really wanted to feel his lips on hers.

He did not wait anymore. He enclosed her slim waist with his arms and immediately claimed her lips for a short kiss then he probed deeper as she allowed him entrance. It was long and ardent.

When she ran out of air, she parted her lips from his. Then she said, "It is now my turn to take a shower."

"Yes," he acknowledged it and let her go to the bathroom. He knew she was being cautious. But she allowed us to kiss. Her lips are so soft. And she is a very good kisser. She let her guard down for a while but put it back again. I should have more patience. I will always ask her permission.

He got his white Tommy Hilfiger swimming shorts, his white Tommy Hilfiger classic fit crew neck t-shirt, and his white Gucci sliders from the closet and wore them.

He made several work-related phone calls while waiting for Myrrh.

Inside the bathroom, Myrrh still could not believe it – Did it just really happen? Did I really give in to my pent up desire for him? Did I just allow him to kiss me? That was a very overwhelming kiss. He was so gentle yet eager. Why did he have to be a very good kisser? Why does he make me feel so giddy like a teenager? I should not let my guard down again. He did ask my permission first so I just need to say no next time. But how will I ever be able to do that? He is just so attractive with that towel on.   

When she went out of the bathroom, she was already wearing her swimsuit and cover up.

She gathered the beach bag by the vanity and wear the white Chanel espadrilles, the Gucci sunglasses, and the Gucci white wide brimmed hat she had readied beforehand.

Hand in hand, they walked by the stoned path to the swimming pool which was just a few meters away from their cottage. When he reached for her hand, she just accepted it and didn’t reject it. It made him happy deep inside. This is the start. I should just take things slowly.

They sat down next to each other on a wicker lounge chair.

Myrrh noticed that David was already at the pool, he was on another lounge chair at the other side of the pool with an upper class socialite who was in attendance at Quen's birthday/welcome party the previous night.

She whispered to Quen even clinging to his arm, "David is already here. Please do not allow him to get too close to me."

Quen sensed her uneasiness. He understood that it could be an aftereffect of her traumatic experience with her ex. He put his right arm around her waist and whispered to her ear, "I would always be just by your side." But in his mind – She is clinging to me. This is not so like her. She seems to be in fear upon seeing her ex-boyfriend. She is in panic mode. I need to make her feel safe. What did her ex-boyfriend actually do to her? How did he manhandle her? What was the extent of hitting she experienced from him? I swear, you can never ever get near her, David.

With Quen’s arms around her waist, she had somehow felt calm. I thought I was already over the trauma I had experienced from you, David. Why do I have to meet you again? I have already even allowed a man to kiss me for the first time after my experience with you after all those years. Quen was able to melt my defenses. Yeah, he did! How was that possible? Was it because he rescued me from my father’s wife? Why do I feel safe with him? With those other men I dated in Paris, I had always let my guard down. When I settled in Davou, I never entertained any suitor. Most men are just after sex