Kill for Love

Chapter 8 - The Elevator

“Babe, are you okay?” Cytherea asked Ares when he noticed that Ares was quiet the whole time while they were watching a movie in their hotel room’s living room. 

They were sitting on the couch. Ares' right arm was on Cytherea's shoulders while Cytherea was hugging Ares' waist. She leaned her face on his chest. Just listening to the sound of his heartbeat makes her at ease. Ares always gives her a sense of security and love. And she loves him just as much.

They decided to stay in the hotel and will roam around New Orleans again tomorrow. Ares' mood had changed when Cytherea received another bouquet of blue roses and astilbe flowers. 

Ares noticed that in one week, Cytherea’s admirer kept on sending flowers every single day. It’s not just flowers, but also her favorites-- may it be food, perfumes, and other things. Ares was always in a bad mood because of it. Cytherea noticed it too.  

Ares sighed. "Our room looks like a flower shop now.”

She looked around the room. The flowers Astilbe gave her were everywhere. It almost filled their hotel room. She looked up to him and gave him an apologetic smile.

“I’m sorry about that, Babe. I will tell him to stop sending me these flowers. I know you don't appreciate this, and it's making me uncomfortable too."

"No, Babe, don't message him. You will just give him satisfaction. He will think that he already got your attention and who knows what this person is capable of doing. I'll take care of it," Ares responded. He is determined to find the person. He doesn't appreciate any man who tries to get Cytherea's attention. 

Cytherea is his alone. 

His jaw tightens as he thinks of so many ways to find Cytherea's admirer and stop him.

"Ok, I'll just throw away the flowers. That might have been the reason why your admirer keeps on sending it because I keep on accepting it.”

“Thanks, Babe. I’m sorry, I know I made you worry. I was not myself lately. For some odd reason, this admirer of yours is getting on my nerves.” Ares faced Cytherea and held both her hands. “Don’t get me wrong, Babe. You know I’m okay with your followers sending you gifts. But for some odd reason, this guy is totally on a different level. He is aware that you are already engaged, but he still dares to tell you how he feels about you, and it’s pissing me off big time. It seemed like he didn’t respect our relationship.”

“You don’t have to say sorry, Babe. I understand where you’re coming from. I’m also a little bit bothered by Astilbe— “

“You have a name for him now?” Ares’ brows raised. 

“Well, not that I know his name. But you know that name is always indicated on the notes he gave me. Besides, I love you, and no man can ever change the way I feel about you. I will be a fool if I ever let you go. Didn’t you know that I feel so blessed to have you in my life?” Cytherea said. She cupped Ares’ face with both her hands and gave him a peck on the lips.

Ares couldn’t help smiling at Cytherea’s tenderness. 

“I know that, Babe. I trust you, but not my kind. They’re a wolf in sheep’s clothing. I will not let anyone take you away from me- “

“Babe, no one can take me away from you because I will not allow that to happen.”

Ares smiled and took a deep breath to calm himself. He’s frail when it comes to her. Just hearing her sweet nothings fades his anger away. 

They didn’t know that while they were talking, Athena already arrived. The pain is evident on her face. She snorted.

‘What a great pretender,’ she thought.

She took a deep breath before changing her expression into a happy one.

“Hey, everyone, I’m back!” she excitedly announced.

“Hey, Bestie! Where did you go?” Cytherea stood up and walked towards her. She then hugged her and kissed her cheeks. 

Athena hugged her back and did the same. "French Quarters. I was just strolling to see if I'll find something that might be great for a souvenir," Athena responded. She went to the adjacent couch and lazily sat there. 

"Did you find any?" Cytherea curiously asked. She didn't see Athena holding any paper bag. She sat beside Ares again, whose right hand automatically wrapped on her shoulders. She smiled at him and leaned her back on his chest. 

Athena rolled her eyes. Cytherea giggled when she saw what Athena did. She thought that Athena was making a face because they were sweet again in front of her. This kind of scenario is not unusual to Cytherea, so she was not bothered by it.

“Nope, nothing interesting caught my attention. I’ll go to Gardens later or maybe tomorrow - I’m not quite sure yet.”

“Why don’t you come with us tomorrow? We’ll be all having fun. You know, I could use your help,” Cytherea asked.

“Is that going to be your date? Three is a crowd, you know.”

“Nope, I will start making videos again for my vlog. I will be trying some food tomorrow. Remember the restaurant where Ares proposed? That’s where we will go. Besides, it’s going to be an all-you-can-eat buffet for us,” Cytherea said excitedly and looked at Ares.

“Of course, how can I forget that restaurant?” Athena glared at Ares when he accidentally met her eyes. She gave him a death glare. To her dismay, Ares just completely ignored her and looked away.

Her eyebrows furrowed. She couldn't believe that Ares is now learning how to ignore her. 

'What a jerk!' she thought. 'Let's see how long you can ignore me.' She smirked while still looking at him. 

When Cytherea looked at her, she immediately gave her a sweet smile.

"Does that mean, yes?" Cytherea asked. Her eyes were glistening. She's hopeful that Athena will say yes. 

"Of course! Count me in." Athena took her phone and went on to create a message.

'You can't ignore me for too long.'

She looked for the phone number and pressed the send button. She bit her lips and smiled wickedly. She quickly erased the message after sending it.

Ares felt his phone vibrated. He took out his phone, and his jaw tightened when he saw Athena’s message. Ares immediately deleted the message and stood up. 

"I'm going outside to get us some lunch. Is there anything specific that you would like to eat, Babe?" he sweetly asked Cytherea. Ares decided to clear his mind. He knew that if he stayed longer, he might not be able to control his anger.

"I'm good with anything you'll get me, Babe. How about you, Bestie?"

"Anything will do. You decide."

Ares' eyes remained on Cytherea. He didn't even bother looking at Athena, which made Athena boil in anger. She made sure that Cytherea would not notice how pissed she was. She still managed to maintain a smile on her face.

"Ok, I'll be back, Babe." He gave Cytherea a peck on the lips before leaving the hotel room. 

Ares hurriedly went to the elevator. He was still pissed off. Ares noticed that Athena was acting so weird ever since the proposal. Even though he was afraid that Athena might do something stupid, he was confident that she would never reveal his relationship with her to Cytherea. He knew how much Athena cherishes Cytherea. She will never hurt her. 

Ares decided to buy some Muffaletta. He ordered six pieces and grabbed some sodas. Ares hurriedly went back to the hotel after paying his order. He was in front of the elevator when he noticed a guy who walked beside him in his right peripheral vision. He looked at the guy and immediately recognized him. The guy also looked at him and smiled upon recognition. 

“Hi, Mr. Pendleton, fancy seeing you here,” Gaus blurted.

“Well,” Ares chuckled. “You know I’m staying here at your hotel. It shouldn’t be a surprise to you,” he said to him sarcastically. He lowered his gaze to the bouquet he was holding. His eyes narrowed. The flowers looked so familiar to him. It was a combination of blue roses and astilbe flowers like what Cytherea always received.

“Right, but this is the first time that we bump into each other,” Gaus answered. He shrugged and wholly ignored the sarcasm in Ares’ voice.

The elevator dings and Gaus went in first. Ares froze. He was stunned to see the flowers that gave him anxiety these past few days and see the person responsible for making his blood boil.

“Are you not coming in?” Gaus curiously asked. 

Without uttering any word, Ares went inside the elevator. Gaus pressed the top floor button before pressing the fifth floor where Ares is staying. Ares’ suspicions grew more vigorous. 

“I wouldn’t even ask why you know which floor I’m staying and I’m not aware you knew where your guests are staying.”

“Are you trying to imply something, Mr. Pendleton?” Gaus’ brows furrowed. 

“Do I need to imply something, Mr. Raynott?" Ares scoffed. He glared at Gaus like he was challenging him for a fight.

"I'm not quite sure why you’re acting that way, Mr. Pendleton. If you can, please shed some light.”

Ares got more irritated with the way Gaus acted. He's still acting so calm and doesn't seem bothered by Ares' action.

"Cut the crap, Mr. Raynott. We both know you are the one who is sending flowers to my fiance."

To Ares' surprise, Gaus gave a hearty laugh as if he cracked a joke. It took a while after Gaus regained his composure. He took a handkerchief from his pocket and gently wiped his eyes. His eyes were teary because of laughter.

Ares got furious because of it. He slammed Gaus to the wall and grabbed his collar. Gaus didn’t show any signs Ares’ action shook him. Instead, he smirked at him. 

“I’m telling you, stay away from Cytherea. I’m warning you, and I’m not blabbing.”

Gaus was about to respond but got stopped when the elevator dings and slowly opened on the third floor. Ares immediately bolted out. Gaus shook his head while trying to fix his tangled shirt. 

“Gaus, Darling!” a tall woman about 5’9” tall, in his late forties, squealed as soon as the person behind the elevator door revealed. 

The woman looked so sophisticated in her blue summer dress. Even at her age, she looked so fit and has taken good care of herself. The woman hurriedly walked towards Gaus and gave him a tight embrace in which Gaus did the same. 

“You didn’t go home last night,” she said. The woman pulled herself out from the hug and looked at Gaus annoyingly. She didn’t even notice that there's another person aside from them and that the elevator was closed. “How many times do I have to tell you that you have to call me?” 

“I'm sorry, Mom. I have a lot of papers that need my attention. Besides, I know you'll be here, so, look at what I've got you." Gaus lifted his right hand and showed the bouquet to his mother. "You're favorite," he said as he gave Ares a knowing look. 

Ares' jaw dropped in awe. He saw the woman smile sweetly at Gaus as she received the bouquet. He couldn’t believe it. Ho

"Aww… Thank you, Darling.” The woman accepted the bouquet and brought it near her nose to sniff it. “I really love blue roses and astilbe flowers, but not because you’re bribing me, you’re no longer in trouble. I’m still upset that you didn’t go home last night.”

Gaus sweetly hugged his mother. He’s trying to appease her so that she will stop nagging him. “You’re such a worrier, Mom. Don’t worry. It will never happen again. Besides, this bouquet should cheer you up already.”

Ares got confused. 

So, it was for his mother? Am I wrong?