Temptation: The Illusion

Ch-6 No Way Out!

I stared at the contract with Tristan's name in bold pre-typed on it and felt my head spinning. This was not supposed to happen. He personally asked for me. What does he want? Why me? Olivia was better at her job than I was. Taking up his assignment meant there was no way I could avoid him. Not in hell. And it also meant it was going to get even more difficult for me to keep myself in check. 

Now what do I do? 

"I...I er I can't take him up, Carter," I muttered, despondently. 

"Huh? What?" Carter frowned at me, a little surprise since I have never said no to work before. "Why can't you? Is there a problem?" 

Yes...a lot of problems! Problems that I can't even say out loud to anyone! 

"I already have three other assignments going on," I protested. "Its a lot of work Carter. I have to stay late half the week and even have to work on weekends sometimes. I can't add up any more burden on me. Nope...no way. You can fire me if you like but I can't," 

I sounded rude and obstinate for sure but there was no other excuse that I could come up with. And it was not like I was lying. Everything I said was true. There was a lot in my platter at the moment. I couldn't take up another client. And Tristan Jacques at that. The man has f*****g disrupted my mind. And I had know him for all but two days. It was disgusting. And annoying.  

"Jesus, calm down!" Carter rolled his eyes. "What do you think I am? Satan? I know you have a lot in your plate right now. Why do you think I asked for Callen Sommers reports?" I frowned at him and he shot me a lopsided grin. 

"Why?" I demanded and he clapped his hands together, looking unnecessarily pleased with himself. 

"Since Olivia is transferring Tristan's case to you," He said and handed the files I brought to Liv. "She will take up Callen Sommers. See? Easy. No muss. No fuss," 

He smiled at me and I was rendered speechless. Okay, this I didn't think of. s**t! What now? I blew my one chance at escaping. I had no other option left with me but to agree to it. The mere thought of seeing him again  filled me with dread. I was f*****g screwed. 

"What now?" Carter demanded at my expression and I shook my head. "Good. Liv...do you have any problem?" 

"Nope," Liv shook her head and grabbed the files. Was she pissed? It was a bit insulting to suddenly taken off a case but then he did clarify that he was happy with her work. But if he was happy why does he want me now? Did my mother pestered him? No. She won't go that far. 

"Great. Here's the contract, Mia," He packed up the documents in a manila folder and handed them to me.  "Here you go. Please drop these off at his place when you get off work today and get them signed by Monday. Also, Liv hand her all his files and data related to Tristan and you do the same with Callen Sommers, Mia. Any questions?" 

"Yes...since when do we started giving personal services?" Liv demanded sarcastically, pointing at the contract in my hand. 

"Since clients started asking for it," Carter retorted. "We have to go the extra mile for our clients, Liv. Especially when he has already paid a lumpsum advance even before signing the contract. Now, are there any other skeptical questions? If not...please get on with your work ladies," 

Liv opened her mouth to say something but I nudged her under the table and thankfully she kept her mouth shut this time. Grabbing the files, both of us walked out and I felt immensely guilty out of the blue. 

"Liv..." I called as she was headed towards her desk and she paused and turned to me with a questioning expression. 

"Yep?" She asked. 

"You aren't offended because Tristan personally asked for me, are you? You aren't mad at me right?" I asked contritely and Olivia rolled her eyes as she threw her long arms around my shoulders. 

"Why would I be mad at you?" She admonished. "It doesn't matter. Stupid things like these. But yeah Mia...just be a little careful, okay? Talk to me if anything bothers you. You know I am there for you, right?" 

"Yeah...I know," I smiled and gave her a one arm hug. "Thanks, Liv," 

"Anytime sweetheart," She smiled at me and then hopped back to her desk. And as I watched her, I wondered if I could really talk to her. 

It was around six-thirty in the evening when I pulled in at the parking of Tristan's apartment. He lived in one of those tall buildings on fourth avenue. I walked up to the elevator and pressed the button marked eighteen. The elevator doors opened directly at his apartment and i came face to face with a plush foyer that was decorated with beautiful paintings which were so huge that almost covered the entire wall on either side. In the center perched on a small black table in contrast to the beige walls and white ceiling was a cute little bougainvillea bonsai. It was so cute and beautiful and it felt like the entire decor would be incomplete without it. I stared at the tiny plant with its tiny flowers in awe and was distracted by the sound of approaching footsteps. 

"Ms. Garner?" An unfamiliar male voice said and I looked up to see a tall guy in a sharply cut suit standing in front of me. He had a pleasant face with dark blonde hairs and dancing green eyes. 

"Uh...yeah," I nodded my head and shot him a questioning look. 

"Welcome...I am Mark...Mr. Jacques secretary," He smiled at me and extended his hand which I shook gladly, giving him an equally warm smile. 

"Uh...I am just here to drop off this contract," I waved the envelop in my hand. "Please ask Mr. Jacques to review and sign them. I will pick it up on Monday and get the changes done if he wants anything to be changed that is. Thanks, " 

I handed him the contract and bowed before he could stop me and quickly headed back towards the elevator. I knew it was rude to just leave like that but I definitely don't want to see those piercing grey eyes again. 

"Leaving without saying hi?" I froze as his honey-caramel voice pierced through me and I swore inwardly. f**k. What does God want? The more I try to avoid him the more I am pulled towards him! I was trying so hard but everything just goes down the drain. It was irritating. I took a deep breath and turned to face him, here goes nothing... 

I really hoped that I had just imagined all his finesse. That it was all in my head. But unfortunately that was not the case and my mouth went dry as I stared at his gorgeous face and a hundred times more gorgeous body that was perfectly accentuated by the deep-neck body fit white T-shirt that he wore with washed off denims. His lips pulled up in a slow smile as he appraised me through his dark glasses. My imagination, I realised didn't do him justice. He was every bit perfection and I knew I was screwed. 

"Uh...I just came to drop off the contract," I muttered and pointed to the Manila folder that was now in his hand. Mark has disappeared somewhere, leaving the two of us alone. 

"Well, it doesn't mean that you have to run away as if a bull's chasing you," He said, taking two steps towards me. My mouth went dry and the usual hot stifling feeling that I always feel around him resurfaced. 

"Ah...er I thought you might be busy or something," I murmured and he laughed and shook his head. 

"I can always take out time for you," He answered and I involuntarily bit my lip. What was that supposed to mean? 

"After all business is important, isn't it?" He added, holding up his hand. Oh...that's what he meant. But what was I expecting anyway? 

"Come on in..." He urged and I had no other option but to follow him through the long foyer, trying desperately to act normal. At the end of the foyer were two gigantic double doors and Tristan punched in some codes to open it. 

"A lot of valuable paintings are in there," He clarified and I nodded my head. The doors opened revealing a plushly decorated sitting and dinning area combined. And right in front of me the floor to wall ceiling gave a beautiful view of the Seattle evening. 

"Please..." He bowed and I gave him a tight smile before walking inside. 

To my left dark winding stairs lead to upstairs and to my right at the further end was the kitchen. The furnishings were just right. Neither too crowded nor too sparse and as expected the walls were covered with paintings after paintings. The coffee table, the console were decorated with eclectic sculptures. It was a beautiful apartment. Perfectly furnished and neat. I wasn't exactly expecting that. Artists are supposed to be messy, aren't they? Well, I guess it was just a myth then.

"This is a beautiful apartment," I remarked and Tristan smiled at me. 

"Please make yourself at home," He said, pointing to the white U-shaped couch. "Would you like a drink?" 

"Sure," I nodded. I badly needed one because first my throat was parched and secondly if I needed to keep myself together, I needed a little alcohol. 

"Tea...coffee...beer...champagne...wine?" He spat out an entire list of beverages and I couldn't help but laugh at him. 

"Whatever you are having. Thank you," I answered and his answering smile was blinding. 

"Be right back..."He winked at me and disappeared towards the kitchen. Was he really forty-five? 

I sat down on the couch and looked around. He has good taste, I would give him that. The interiors were brilliantly done and it perfectly complimented his personality. Does he really lived here all alone? I glanced around and my eyes landed on the array of photo frames decorated on the antique wooden table by the widow. Leaving my purse on the couch, I walked over to it and stared at the pictures. I guessed it was his family. There was a picture of him with a beautiful woman with short sleek hairs, standing arm in arm. Another showed two children in their teenage years, a boy and a girl. 

"My wife and my children," He said, coming to stand behind me and almost making me jump. 

"Oh...you have a wife," I muttered and instantly pursued my lips. That came out wrong.

"I am forty five years old, Mia," He laughed, as he handed me the glass filled with white wine. "Of course I will have wife and children," 

"Yeah...sorry, I didn't mean it like that," I mumbled and felt my face flaming up with mortification. "Is she here?" 

"No," He shook his head as he sat back down on the couch. "We have been separated for almost ten years now," 

Oh...I had no idea why but I felt exceedingly pleased to hear that. And again the word wrong danced around in my head. 

"I am sorry," I muttered, sitting down in front of him. "And your kids?" 

"With their mother," He answered and there was a sad tone to it. "Lily is eighteen. And Aaron is twenty-one," 

"Ah...I see," I nodded my head. Not much younger than me. And here I was lusting after a man with a child almost my age. Could I be anymore disgusted? 

"What about you? Any special man in your life?" He inquired, his eyes holding mine. And at the moment I felt very glad that I was single. 

"Nope. Single as hell," I answered wryly. "I thought you got that from my mother that day," 

"A beautiful accomplished woman like you and single...that's a bit hard to digest. Its not like parents know everything about their childred," He commented with his secretive smile and cheeks burned. He thinks I am beautiful! I was almost giddy inside. 

"Yeah well...work eats up half my time," I answered with a shrug. 

"Its all about prioritizing," Tristan said, folding his arms across his chest and I couldn't help but notice how muscular they were. "Maybe you haven't found the right person yet?" 

I have...and he is unapproachable and completely forbidden! 

"I don't quite understand the concept of the right one," I answered and took a sip of my wine. It was chilled and helped a lot because I was literally burning up here. "What is a right person?" 

"Someone who gives you sleepless nights," He whispered, his eyes hooked on mine. I felt my mouth going dry as hay and my heartbeat rising. "Someone who makes you cherish your femininity. Who brings you alive with excitement. That's the right person, Mia," 

"They exist in fables," I retorted although I felt like he just described himself now. He was the one who was giving me sleepless nights. Who did things to me with just mere words that nobody could ever do even with their touch. This was getting out my hands, I realised. The more I spent time with him the more I am dragged towards him. Like magic or hypnotism. It was both crazy and unnerving. 

"Maybe you aren't looking harder?" He pointed and I shrugged. This conversation was baffling. Was he giving me advice or meaning something completely different? Was he talking about himself? But it was crazy. Why would he? It was absurd. 

"So er...the contract," I said, ending the weird conversation right there. "You can review it and sign it. I will pick it up on Monday, I guess. And if you want any changes done...just let me know. Does that work?" 

"No..." He shook his head and I frowned. Why? What was wrong with this? 

"Is there something wrong?" I inquired and he smiled at me in response. 

"How about I review and sign the contract and you pick it up tomorrow and have lunch with me? We can discuss the changes then if there will be any. Tomorrow's Saturday, right?"

I blinked at him in surprise. He wants to have lunch with me? What was going on? First he wanted me to represent him. Then he stops me from leaving. Now he wants to have lunch. What exactly does he want? What was going on in that pretty head of his? 

"Lunch?" I muttered and he nodded his head. 

"Now that you'll be in charge of my PR, I suppose you will be interested in seeing my work? Ms. Cordoso did too. And it will be time consuming I assure you and I can see you are tired. How about I show you my work and we discuss our business over lunch tomorrow?" He elaborated. 

I inwardly kicked myself. Of course, what an i***t I was. Reading way too much between the lines for no apparent reason. I needed to see his work and discuss quite a lot of stuff with him to plan my strategies for his publicity. I had to see him again. It wasn't like I could just get the contract signed and it was done. I was stuck with him for good now. 

"Yeah...sure...okay," I nodded my head. "I guess that could work," 

"Great. Then I'll see you tomorrow?" He asked with a smile and I couldn't help but smile back at him. 

"Until next time," Tristan beamed at me as if I was his favorite person in the world and pressed the call button for the elevator. I gave him a small smile  and wondered if I should ask the question I have been dying to ask ever since morning. But what if it comes out wrong? 

"What is it?" He demanded, raising a brow at me and I frowned. What is what? 

"What do you mean?" I asked and he pointed to my lips with his index finger. 

"Something is bothering you, isn't it?" He asked. "You are continuously biting your lip. Its something people do when they are bothered or nervous," 

I immediately released my lips, completely unaware that I have been biting it. I was surprised that he was noticing me all along. Was he naturally this observant all the time? Or was it because of me? 

Yeah right...

"Er well...there was something that I would like to ask you," I muttered, staring down at my feet. 

"What's stopping you?" He smiled at me encouragingly but instead of calming me it just flustered me even more. 

"Er...I was meaning to ask," I murmured and was so annoyed by my blabbering. Just get to the point you moron! "Why did you ask for me to represent you instead of Olivia?" 

There! I got it out! 

"Because I liked you better than her," He answered and a sexy smile splayed out on his lips making me almost go weak at knees. "Ms. Cordoso was indeed good at her job but you are honest. You didn't try to fake or butter up your abilities. And your lack of interest or knowledge in art is a challenge for me which I hope to win in the near future. And lastly, you are more close to me now that we are almost family so isn't it obvious I would go for someone I am more comfortable with?" 

I am more close to him and he likes me better than Olivia! I felt like doing ballet in a pretty pink tutu right in front of him. It was worrisome that a little compliment from him was enough to sky rocket my happiness straight into the sky in a few seconds. It was crazy and exhilarating. And I couldn't resist but to smile at him. 

"Well, thanks I guess," I answered and tried hard not to sound the way I felt. "I should get going now," 

The elevator was waiting for too long so I quickly walked inside and pressed the P button but since Tristan finger was still pressed on the call button, the doors didn't close immediately. I stared at him questioningly and he smiled at me. 

"I am looking forward to seeing you tomorrow," He said and before I could open my mouth to say anything he let go of the call button and the doors closed immediately whisking me down to the parking. I smiled to myself. He was looking forward to seeing me again. 

And so was I...

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A/N: Hey guys! Here's the next update! I hope you like it. I know many of you are confused as to what's going and stuff but trust me everything will be cleared out. It always does in the end, isn't it? And this is going to get more messy and complicated so just bear with me because this is a two book story emphasizing how our wrong decisions and refusal to do the right can cost us heavily in the future! I hope you will like the book! 

Thank you so much for your support guys!