Deceived

Chapter 2 | Butterflies and Hurricanes

Listen to the whispers of the wind

Listen with care and do know

They shall speak to you in time before

Unleashing the mighty wings of a storm

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We watch in silence as the dark clouds roll in. Shivers run down our spines as the cold winds brush across warm skins, awakening every sense with yielding swiftness. As the hair on our body stands up in response, the intuition kicks in. You know there's a storm coming..

The tingling of her hand had started to spread like a slow forest fire, searing along her arms and down her chassis. It crossed her chest as she heaved, breathing irregularly and reached her stomach where a swarm of butterflies, warm and full of buzz was released. The strangest things were happening to her. Alethia had never felt this way before; she was wondering whether she had fallen sick due to the cold morning winds.

Looking up from her pristine white sheets, she glanced at the striking man sitting right before her. It all started as soon as he touched her. She had been blushing and blithering like a little girl and had not been able to look at him ever since, all this was absolutely new to her. This was not something Alethia ever wanted to face in her life. She had plans and aspirations and none of them included the idiocy that had taken over her in that moment.

She took swift glances at him, recognizing a strange tension in his form. It relieved her knowing she wasn't the only one caught in the muddle or was he really tense? His ocean blue eyes were fixed upon the discussion taking place in the room, the very discussion Alethia was supposed to be an active participant of. There was a sudden flicker, a lapse of her fretting mind she was hoping. His eyes went from the icy gaze of the arctic oceans to the molten amber of burning gold.. She blinked and shook her head. She had definitely fallen sick.

His eyes were actively following the conversation between Carter and Mike. Just his gaze taking in every movement but he knew that he was anything but listening to them. There were sudden jitters running through his body, burning within him, his racing heart just didn't dull down. He was so tempted to look at her, so close, he could smell her sweet hair and fruity mouth. He could feel her watching him. His own thoughts felt alien to him as soon as he met her weakening gaze, a jostle of its own kind.

What is this that I'm feeling towards this girl right now? This feeling it just doesn't pass, how will I ever get to the play then?

He was second guessing and questioning himself. Nathaniel Damon was doubting himself and that never happened..

"So Foss lets pen this down for Mikey here! We've got the first thousand prints coming out as soon as he chooses the date. Please call Fiona for editing and we can step forward towards making your book a bestseller!" Carter broke the tense cloud that hung above the two lost bodies. Alethia just gave a nod and a subtle smile. That's all she could muster in response.

"Mr. Damon, I'm so glad you decided to trust my skills and invested in my dream. It was the kick start that I needed." Mike looked at Nathaniel with utmost gratitude.

That's how he had ended up there. It was supposed to be the beginning of the games that he had been so excited to play. Nathan was a man of power. He enjoyed everything with a twist in life and loved to control all he could, and he could control all without a doubt. So why was it that when he shook hands with this nether girl who he himself had come to capture in the trance of his mind games, had he suddenly lost all his might and fight. There he sat with no words to even gather the pitch he was supposed to lay. There he sat fighting his burnt soul as it started melting away from the mask that he wore in the world.

"Well I knew sponsoring you would be the right thing to do considering the success this novel is going to get and of course how it's going to help us all." He winked at Carter acting completely oblivious towards the uncertain golden eyes that observed him. That was the only way he could compose himself enough to maintain his stance.

They all stood up as the meeting came to an end. Alethia was still stumbling from the tingling that was pulsing within her chest. She picked up her sheets and turned her back towards them all pretending to reach for her bag behind her chair. She wanted to put as much distance between her and the stranger. She wanted to get her thoughts and her body back.

She heard them laughing and chattering as they left the room but the pulsing feeling within her seemed to remain. Massaging the root of her nose with two fingers she tried to comprehend her next moves. Letting a deep sigh go she picked up everything and started walking towards the glass doors glad she had the space to finally breathe.

She reached towards the handle, pushing the door open but was rocked backwards as the very reason for her disheveled self came barging in.

Nathans stark blue eyes stood out against his dark hair as he stepped forward standing right before her. His stance so tall and dominating it made Alethia squirm inside. He stood there with all his grace, hands deep in his pant pockets as his cold gaze met hers. His lips twisted in a smile, an evil yet delicious smile that made her quiver in his presence.

Out of the blue, his left hand reached out, moving towards her and all she could do was blink at him. Nathan's calloused fingers went for her right cheek in a sliver of a motion, grazing her already burning skin with such tenderness she nearly dissolved into his hand, leaning in.

It was so soft, so warm, it felt so right as it set fire to her skin, a fire that burnt high with flames of bliss.

He watched the slight quiver of her lips as her eyes closed. He couldn't help himself; all he wanted to do was breathe her in and taste her. He nearly bent down, relishing the closeness as her sweet scent surrounded him.

A merciless war had begun within him, leaving him utterly confused. He knew what he had to do yet all he could think about was grabbing her and holding her so close until he could only breathe in the captivating scent that was hers.

He fought the yearning that had appeared within his chest and turned back to the cold that came so easily, letting it flush over his being. He smirked, watching her play right into his hands.

The sweet warmth suddenly vanished as Nathan took a step back, smiling at her a knowing smile.

"It was nice meeting you Alethia." Her name rolled off his tongue like honey on her skin.

And then it was all gone. Like a sudden steep fall, all the warmth that had clouded her mind walked out with him, following his hunter like steps. The swooning mist in her head was replaced by loath as she remembered the smirk he had on his face before he walked away.

He was clearly aware of the effect he had on girls, but she wasn't just any girl he could drag to bed, she knew his kind.

She stormed out of the room, gaining pieces of her one by one as the seconds passed. What was she doing? Behaving like a skittering desperado! By the time she reached the cabins embarrassment left an unkind taste in her mouth.

Steam was rolling off her head as she walked towards Rhea's cabin. She never had been the kind to fall for high headed guys like him! She didn't need any of the drama and indecency in her life, she was running toward her goal and nothing could bring her down.

"The guts of some men are absolutely ridiculous!" She yapped snapping her dreamy eyed friend from her thoughts.

Rhea frowned at her, having rarely seen her fuming over something along the lines of men.

"Who are you talking about? Jason?" She asked, eyebrows knitting in confusion.

"No Jason is a sweetheart! The blue eyed a-hole who just pranced into the office." Alethia dropped herself on rheas table, hate dripping in every word.

Rhea started laughing. "Well he has every right to prance in like that looking at how extremely hot he looked winking at me.. What did he do to you?"

Alethia sneered at her, "Him and hot? Are you being serious? His attitude destroyed any attractive character he might have had!"

She took a couple of breaths in letting the anger flow away, being well aware of how unnecessary it was.

"Nu-uh nothing stumps those smoldering blue eyes.. Who is he anyway and how did he get any reaction out of you at all?" Rhea smirked at Alethia knowing no man had ever bothered her this much, not even her own boyfriend.

"Well he knew exactly how to get on my nerves. Whatever, I don't have time for this. He's sponsoring the new writer we've got. Some big company man! Don't care. Hey, please tell Fiona to talk to Carter about the editing." And just like that Alethia let all her worries fall and went back to work mode.

"Woman! You have to tell me the details! You can't leave me hanging like this.. I want to know much more about Mr. Burn." She winked at her, holding her hand to prevent her from leaving.

"Mr. Burn?" Alethia rolled her eyes at her.

"Yeah Mr. Burn! He's effing hot and he actually got you all riled and burnt up, couldn't think of a better name." Rhea smiled at her, her sweet smile; fluttering her lashes and making wing like motions with her hands, feigning innocence.

"Right. I'll tell you at lunch." Alethia stepped out of her cabin trying to go back work.

"Oh remember, lunch at the gay bar down the block!" Rhea chuckled as heads turned around to look at them, eyebrows raised like it was any of their business.

Alethia just walked away, taking her phone out and figuring out the rest of the day so she could forget the warmth of that embarrassing moment that had left a stain on her cheek and the memory of blue eyes turning to gold replaying within the dark corners of her mind.

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

When Rhea saw Alethia again she was buried within a mass of white sheets like snow on a hill.

She saw Carter talking on the phone in his office and just tip toed behind Alethia trying to surprise her. As soon as she got close enough to touch her, an evil smile painted upon her face and mischief glimmering within sweet green eyes she failed as she always did.

"I don't understand why you feel the need to even try anymore."

Alethia said, leaving her words hanging in the air like a sword upon Rhea's neck.

"Every time! How do you do that!" Rhea screeched exasperated. She could never win at this. Trying to catch Alethia off guard had been an absolute nether possibility up until now. She always knew. The moment rhea ever got even close enough to hold her breath Alethia caught her red handed. She always shrugged it off like it was nothing but it irritated rhea to no ends.

Alethia chuckled, a little noise through her lips amused by Rhea's reaction.

"Are you a psychic or something?" Rhea asked settling herself upon the tiny little space in the corner of Alethia's desk.

"Even if I was, wouldn't tell you." She grinned up at rhea packing up her stuff from the table and getting ready for lunch. Rhea just rolled her eyes in reply ignoring the insult and coming right back at her.

"By the way, the whole office thinks we're gay."

"What? Why would they think that? I have a boyfriend and you, well you have Kevin."

"Well they think like that because I offered to take you to the gay bar down the street and you agreed." Rhea shook her head and made her doe eyes.

"And why is my boyfriend just Kevin and not my boyfriend?" Rhea questioned making air quotes on "Kevin".

They both picked up their bags and made their way down the elevator. Lunch was an ordeal of half an hour for Alethia but for rhea this was the only time she got to have fun with her best friend.

"Kevin does not come under boyfriend category! No boyfriend can be as loving, caring, considerate and sweet as him. None that I know of at least. And you guys are practically married." Alethia smiled at rhea a sly smile.

"Alright there's some logic in that. So you're fine with our office romance?" Rhea bared her teeth at Alethia in the joy of knowing this was something she couldn't do anything about.

The elevator started filling up as it went down the floors and more suits walked in. The crowded space was finally emptied as everyone marched out on the ground floor.

"I'm absolutely fine with that! Especially if I have a girlfriend like you!" Alethia winked at rhea and they both burst out laughing.

The deli down the road from the tall glass building of their office had been their lunch spot for the two years they had been working at that place. They always walked in at lunch sifting through the thick crowd to reach the counters where they were handed their lunch packs even before ordering.

Mr. Christopher of 'Chris's Deli' knew those two girls in and out. They were the good kind and always helped him when he was in trouble. He had two girls just like them and every time they came in he missed them even more now that they had gone off to college.

"Thanks Chris!" Rhea beamed at the grey haired owner and smiled as he winked at them.

They walked out in the chilling weather. The cold hadn't gone down a bit despite the high position of the sun.

Rhea looked up at the dark skies watching the clouds rumble their way into the city. The busy road was swarmed by yellow cars muddled in a frenzy and a few black ones in the background. This was the life they had chosen. Busy streets and cheese sandwiches.

"Do you ever think of going away? Just leaving everything behind and starting a new life?" Rhea asked Alethia as they sat next to the open fountain.

"All the time. Just want to fly away and go to some warm, sunny, beachy city." She replied as they started munching on their sandwiches.

Rhea stole some of the fries from Alethia's box looking at her. "Miami too hot?"

"Way too hot! But then I think of how this city has made me who I am. It has given me an identity and I'm finally at the path of making something out of myself as opposed to all those people who wanted to see me fall."

Rhea shook her head. "I swear every time you talk about those horrible people I can feel rage ready to burst."

Alethia smiled at her friend. She knew even if the world came to an end she would always have Rhea. She was her soul sister, she was the one who completed her sentences even before they left her tongue, she was the one who knew the best for her.

"I know. But not the rage I felt today!" Alethia wanted to change the topic. Talking about the past always hurt.

"Oh god! I almost forgot Mr. Burn. So what did he do?" Rhea asked full of glee.

"I don't know. It was really strange. The moment our eyes met it just made me feel all different and.. and I felt like I could trust him."

Rhea started chuckling watching her friends dreamy eyes. "Luuurrv at first site huh?"

"Naah, it wasn't love. It was something strange. When his hand touched mine I swear I could feel my skin burn. My heart was beating in my ear and I felt like I was stuck in the middle of a desert surrounded by only sand. But then the fireworks started."

"But when you came to see me you were so pissed!" Rhea asked confused. She knew Alethia would never react the way she did.

"Oh he pissed me royally. When everyone left he came back and looked at me with those heated blue eyes. I literally felt myself melt into a puddle on the floor!"

Rhea was swooning along with Alethia imagining it all in her head.

"And then he touched me. His hand so tenderly grazed my cheek. It felt so good. It was so strange. I felt.. so strange. Until he looked at me with that a-hole smirk and said 'Nice meeting you Alethia.' I could literally see him looking down at me like he was going to drag me right into bed and I would comply, 'Yes master!'" Alethia was fuming again thinking about it. Letting a few more fries into her mouth to wash away the embarrassment that was flushing in again.

"Waoh he did not!" Rhea screamed and Alethia knew she was being sarcastic.

"What did you expect? He's a hot jerk and hot jerks always play around with pretty faces like yours. Since when did that bother you. You've always been great in ignoring them." Rhea couldn't put her finger on it.

Alethia sighed. She knew she would have to accept it. Lying to herself was one thing but lying to rhea was impossible.

"I think I was more angry at myself than him. I've seen his kind, dealt with them. But I've never swooned and blushed like a witless girl in front of them."

Alethia looked away embarrassed. She hated herself for acting that way at all. It felt so alien to her, the blushing, melting and being dumbstruck.

"That explains more of it than Mr. Burn could." Rhea looked at her with a knowing look. She knew her friend had the ability to harm herself more than anybody else could even try to.

"Yeah. It was weird. Never felt that way before. Hate him for that." Alethia finished her sandwich as she waited for rhea to finish her fries.

"Well so what! Now you know better! You know the kind of guy he is and you're my strong girl. I've seen you kick butts of guys like him. Chill out. There's nothing to think about. He's not even gonna be here to bother you in a few days."

Alethia nodded knowing once Mikes deal was off the ground she wouldn't be seeing him again. That relieved her. She felt much better and just shrugged the self loath she had started to develop. Rhea always made her fell better.

They both walked up the road back to the office picking up coffee for each to rattle away the cold that had started to sink into their bones. By the time they were back to work Alethia had almost forgotten about those blue eyes.

They did pop up in her mind now and then but she just ignored them  and the butterflies that continuously fluttered in her stomach upon their arrival.

By the end of the day she was back to herself except for a little part of her that was scared to see him again. Rhea and Alethia made their way down to the parked cars. Rhea was too busy blowing kisses for her boyfriend through the phone as she bid her goodbyes and started to drive off.

Alethia smiled at her and unlocked her second hand car. She thought about calling Jason to ask him if he wanted to come over when a sudden chill ran down her spine. She was standing alone in the parking lot behind the open drivers door. As she looked up from her phone towards the opposite street she froze.

Blue eyes. The color of deep frozen lakes looked right back at her. She blinked and they were gone. Alethia shook her head feeling the flutters begin to stir again. She looked around for a while but couldn't see him. She knew it was just a figment of her mind. Sighing she felt cold winds start to blow from her side and turned to look in the direction to only see Nathan standing a few feet away and  watching her.

She gulped looking at him. He smiled at her and then suddenly her phone started ringing pulling her out of the haze. She looked down to see Jason's call.

She looked up again but there was no one in the lot except for her. She calmed her breath and told herself to stop obsessing about that man. She felt like she was gonna get a fever. Sitting into the car she locked the door and cleared her thoughts. She was just making all of it up. There was no other explanation to it.

Picking up Jason's call Alethia started her car.

"Hey babe! Out yet?" His husky voice made her feel comfortable again.

"Yeah.. yup." She breathed.

"Good. Get home fast they say there's gonna be some rough winds out there in the evening. I was thinking pizza tonight?" Jason chattered on.

Alethia was hardly listening to him. The harsh winds had already swept into her life. She just ignored everything and smiled thinking of pizza and home. Everything was going to be okay. She knew it. Except for the blue eyes sitting in the back of her head.

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