His Sweet Karma

Chapter 3

                                                                                         MAHALIA

“I had this checked by a coin collector. You know what? He was amazed!” Ryder informed me.

I just looked at him, sizing him up.

“This is an old Minoan coin. You can see it’s not perfectly in rotund shape and it’s really, really old.” He showed me the coin while holding it between his index finger and thumb, turning it around with the use of his middle finger. “I am told their minting wasn’t perfect at the time, that’s why. And it has only one side stamped unlike our coins with two different stamped sides.”

I wondered why he was telling me this. As my eyes focused on the bronze Minoan coin, it seemed to wink at me. The coin was really old, so there was no way it was supposed to glint more than it normally should, was there?

“You see, I could’ve sold this for about $40,000. That’s already big money, right?” He grinned at me, making my mouth gape open.

“How dare you? That’s my father’s!” I hissed, giving him a hostile look. I was about to snatch it from his hand but he was fast to avoid his hand, hiding the coin inside his fist.

Ryder’s other hand pulled me by the waist, looking into my eyes with a wicked grin. “But of course I told him I won’t sell it. My little sis will be upset, won’t you?” His raspy voice was so low and gave me goosebumps up to my nape, I would’ve shivered.

I pushed him away from me, gritting my teeth. “Just give it to me, Ryder.”

A taunting smile appeared on his evil lips. “Let’s celebrate your birthday first.”

“I have no time for that,” I snapped.

“Come on! Let’s have a birthday dinner for you, little sis.” He advanced a step closer to me. “I have already booked a restaurant for us. Only for us, Mahalia. It’s your favorite Greek restaurant. You see, I’ve been looking forward to this, that’s why I prepared it for you. You’re now what? Twenty-one? You’re so ripe now. I can’t wait to—”

“If I’m going to have dinner with you, will you give me the coin then?” I asked, lifting my chin a little as I didn’t let him finish his sentence. I really wanted to cringe at his words. This perverted bastard! I could only give him a blazing gaze while gritting my teeth.

He smiled like an imp that he was but there was no denying he was really a good-looking guy. Maybe that’s why there were many women lining up to jump him. But I just had no idea why he was so bent on pestering me and trying to bed me not only once. Such a s*x maniac I must say!

“Are you really coming to have dinner with me, little sis?” Some kind of excitement crossed his blue orbs as his gaze was not torn away from me.

“If you promise to give me my father’s coin,” I said with a firm voice.

His eyes swept up and down my body before he settled them on my pretty face. “Okay. Let’s go,” he said with a sexy grin.

I just held back an eye roll. I took my things and followed him to his parked ash-gray sports car. It was a four-seater, two-door coupe and two-door convertible, which was worth admiring. I was not so into luxurious cars but this was really awesome.

I gave him a sharp look when he opened the passenger door for me and gave me a grin as he closed it before jogging around the front of the car to settle behind the steering wheel.

“Those flowers and gifts are for you by the way,” he said, pointing a thumb in the backseat. His eyes were on my face, clearly happy that I was in his car. The interior was truly luxurious and magnificent and it smelled nice. The steering wheel’s cover was black leather; the gray carpet was spotless; the seat covers were beautifully spruced up; and the accessories were complete, such as dash cam, USB car charger and many others.

I stared at him for two full seconds before I transferred my gaze to the backseat. A bouquet of blue evening primroses lay there. He really knew damn well my favorite color and flower. Beside the bouquet was a silver gift-wrapped box. I wondered what could be in that medium-sized box.

He waited for me to reach for them but I didn’t. Instead, he took the gift box and opened it for me. I was quite dumbfounded when I saw a couple of gold bangles with an intricate heart design and I could guess he had them customized with my name plus a heart engraved in both. He took one and put it around my wrist and then he put on the other one.

“Now we’re a couple,” he said, grinning.

I snorted. “You’re out of your mind, Ryder!” I said, trying to take off the bangle but he didn’t let me.

“Don’t take it off, Mahalia! If you do, I’m going to throw away your beloved father’s coin and you’ll never see it again.”

That made me go still. “Don’t you dare, Ryder!” My breathing was fast and shallow as our eyes clashed.

His jaw was firmly set, nostrils flaring. His eyes told me to defy him and he’d really do what he threatened me he’d do. I swallowed and took back my hand. I didn’t dare touch the bangle then and lay my hands on my lap.

“Good girl,” he said, snorting with satisfaction. He caressed my face before he turned on the ignition. The car purred softly and it smoothly ran on the street.

There was no other crazier person I’d ever met than him. Oh, I so wanted to smack him and run away with my father’s coin. But perhaps I’d do that when I’d get the chance. For now, maybe dinner wouldn’t hurt. Besides, I already felt hungry, which was confirmed by my growling stomach.

He glanced at my stomach area as he drove to the Greek restaurant he mentioned he already had a reservation. For just the two of us! How sick was he? He was supposed to be my older brother! I couldn’t help but feel more revulsion to him.

“Stay here,” he instructed as he opened his door when the car was parked in front of my favorite Greek restaurant.

I decided it wasn’t my favorite Greek restaurant anymore and even those blue evening primrose flowers were not my favorite now. God! How could he ruin everything in just a single blast? And to think it was my birthday to boot! I so never hated a person like right now but Ryder. He had the nerve to do this to me! I wasn’t sure if his obsession with me would ever go away. It had been going on for more than a couple of years now.

Ryder opened the door for me, playing the perfect gentleman I could puke. I took a deep breath when he offered his hand. I guess I had to accept it or this psycho would blow up and throw away my father’s lucky charm.

He held my hand firmly as I got out of the car. He then closed the door and turned the burglar alarm on as he led me inside the restaurant. I shouldn’t have been surprised but I was. I saw how the place was decorated with much effort. There were latex shiny chrome balloons of different colors everywhere. There were blue, green, pink, white, red, peach, yellow and purple.

Just as we stepped inside, the lights went dim, leaving the candelabra with lit candles. There were three candelabra that were lined up on a rectangular table, which was made of glass. The food and drinks were already set in place. I wondered when he had this timed. It was his plan all along.

A couple of staff closed the door when we were inside and greeted us. A huge birthday cake was placed on a trolley and rolled in my direction. The staff sang the “Happy Birthday” song. I couldn’t help but be touched by their efforts and stole a glance at Ryder who was smiling down at me with possessiveness.

My heart constricted and I couldn’t help but be teary eyed. Did he really care for me? But I hated it when he was trying to force himself on me. He was definitely not right in the head!

“Thank you,” I whispered when the staff finished singing and I looked at the birthday blue candles planted in the cake. I blew the twenty-one small candles. The six staff clapped their hands happily.

I was about to wipe my tears but Ryder held my hand and offered his handkerchief that smelled like him. In fairness to him, I noticed he wasn’t the old Ryder who seemed to take a bath on cologne. This one was mixed citrusy and woody scent. I took it and wiped my tears, missing my parents even more. How I wished they were here with me now. But I knew it wouldn’t ever happen again.

“Are you that touched to my being thoughtful on your birthday, Mahalia?”

I looked at Ryder with contempt. “Let’s eat and get this over with,” I hissed.

He just smiled toothlessly and pulled a chair for me at the head of the table after taking off my jacket. When done, he gestured for the staff to bring the plates at the other end of the table to my left and he took a chair there, to be next to me. He watched me tenderly when I started to eat my favorite food. Ugh! I really hated him. Even my favorite Greek food he knew it very well—dolmades and moussaka. Other dishes served were souvlaki or skewered grilled lamb meat, courgette balls, grilled octopus, feta and cheeses. There was even the Greek sweet called the baklava, which had honey and ground nuts encased in flaky filo.

The scent of these foods in front of me just made me hungrier. I didn’t care about Ryder now as I enjoyed the food. I couldn’t help it.

As we ate, we were left by the staff to have some “privacy,” as if I needed it with him. But I didn’t say a word as I ate and he kept watching me swallowing food. Should I be conscious because of that? No. He was nothing to me. I just gave him a death stare instead. Everytime. And he would just smile at me, as if I gave him a sweet smile. See how frustrating and annoying that was?

“I’m happy you’re enjoying the food. I wasn’t wrong to bring you here and celebrate your birthday together after all,” he said, proud of himself apparently.

I raised an eyebrow at him but didn’t say a word. I noticed he barely ate though. Didn’t he like Greek food?

I thought he read my mind when he spoke. “I love your food, Mahalia. It’s just that I feel full when you’re next to me and eat like it’s for the two of us.” He got the nerve to joke.

It wasn’t funny but I gave him a fake smile, then I continued to eat. I was never the one to watch my weight anyway. I was blessed with good metabolism.

Ryder busied himself cutting the cake and put a slice of it on a saucer to give it to me. He also put a couple of square pieces of baklava on one more saucer and placed it close to my plate.

“Eat more, my little sis,” he mocked.

“You don’t happen to put drugs in my food, do you?” My eyes sent daggers in his direction.

He laughed at that. “Maybe?”

I ground my teeth upon hearing it. I still didn’t forgive him for drugging me once, when I was sick. And I guess he knew what I was thinking right now and tried to hold my hand but I was quick to avoid his touch.

He sighed, face became serious. “I’m sorry for drugging you at the time. I was just… desperate to have you, Mahalia. You don’t know how much I desire you!”

“Am I supposed to be pleased or flattered by that?” I angrily shot back.