Past Mistakes
CHAPTER 4
“There is never a time or place for true love. It happens accidentally, in a heartbeat, in a single flashing, throbbing moment.” ? Sarah Dessen, The Truth About Forever
I was stunned as I went to my room. I couldn’t believe what had just happened in the living room. My body was trembling… and I had this feeling of unfulfilled passion wanting to be released deep inside me. His k!sses were not enough… I wanted more… I wanted him so badly.
I stayed up all night, thinking of him. I could still taste him on my lips, his smell of musk, cologne and alcohol combined still lingered on my nostrils and the warmness and moist of his tongue… made me restless.
Finally at dawn, I fell asleep.
“Rachel! Wake up. It’s seven o’clock and you’re still sleeping.”
Someone’s shaking me. It was Genevieve.
“Mr. Niarchos arrived. He’s looking for you.”
“Oh…” I rubbed my eyes.
“He arrived early this morning. He’s at the breakfast table. He wants you to read him the papers.”
I was disoriented and my head throbbed. Last night’s memories creeped back in my head again and that made me pause for a while. Did it really happen? I was staring at the ceiling until I zoned out.
“Hey! What’s wrong with you girl, are you okay?” Genevieve snapped her fingers infront of my face and that made me startle.
“Yeah… Yeah… I’m fine.”
“Come on, get up.”
I sat down slowly and yawned. “I’ll be in a sec.”
“How was the party last night? Did you have a good time?”
“So much.” I stood up and folded my blanket.
“How’s Jason? Still looking gorgeous?”
I tried to think of Jason, but my mind was fogged with Ares’ image. His expression last night as he k!ssed me with intense… passion. His eyes were like flames, burning with desire. The longing… yearning I felt last night came back again – a disturbing ache like a fever wanting to be cured. I shook my head, trying to erase the image of Ares.
“Um.. yeah.” I replied and went to the bathroom to take a shower.
I was reading the newspaper for Mr. Niarchos when Ares joined us at the breakfast table.
I gasped the moment I saw him. He was gorgeous as ever in gray and white armani suit. He looked so fresh and clean and his dark hair glistened, still wet from the shower. And he smelled so good… I felt drugged by his clean and manly scent.
I got nervous. He made me nervous. My hands and legs trembled. I couldn’t help the tingle of excitement deep inside me. I stopped reading the papers and just stared at him.
He looked at me merely a second and immediately shifted his eyes to his grandfather.
“Good morning.” He said, then settled on a chair opposite mine.
“Good morning. How’s the office? I heard that you closed the Lazarus deal.” Mr. Niarchos asked.
“Yeah, I did.”
“You made me so happy, son. We’ve been trying to close that deal for years already.” Mr. Niarchos replied.
They were talking about business and things that I didn’t understand. All the time I was just listening to them and sweeping glances at Ares, waiting for him to look back at me and gave me just a little smile.
BUT he never did. He was busy eating and talking to his grandpa. Eventually, I noticed. He was intentionally ignoring me… like I never existed.
I was hurt, upset and confused.
He k!ssed me last night, and now he’s ignoring me. Is he going to pretend that last night never happened?
I excused myself and went back to work.
I excused myself and went back to work.
Almost a week, Ares ignored me.
I was right. He was pretending that the kiss never happened… or it was just NOTHING to him. He’s a jerk!
Too many times, I wanted to confront him – to ask what that k!ss was all about.
Sometimes, I made excuses on his behalf. What if he didn’t remember that he k!ssed me? He was drunk that night. If I’d ask him, he would sure deny it. That would be so embarrassing.
I was getting paranoid.
I had eyebags from lack of sleep. I kept on thinking about Ares and the k!ss. I kept on wondering how it would feel like making love with him.
I remembered him having s*x with the girl in his bedroom. I cringed at the thought… so disgusting! But I didn’t know what I felt anymore and I was not thinking right. I was instantly filled with jealousy thinking about it and sometimes… I wished that I was that girl.
I really need a diversion right now, or else I’ll go crazy. I can’t like Ares Niarchos. I have to stop thinking about him.
It was Saturday, so I decided to go home after work. I missed my bed and my room already.
When I arrived home, I was surprised to see Dad on the couch watching his favorite game on TV.
“You’re home.” Dad said.
“I miss my bed. You’re home early, Dad.”
“I’ve been here for hours. I had the afternoon off. But I’ll be going back to the mansion tonight. Clint is taking his night off.”
I went to my room and grabbed my laptop. I opened my email and was surprised that I had been accepted as a cashier at a bakery shop in Manhattan.
I was so happy and I felt like a weight on my shoulders had been lifted.
This could be the answer to the dilemma I’m experiencing right now. A good job, good rate and away from Ares Niarchos. Great! I won’t see him everyday and I can get on with my life.
I went out of my room to tell Dad the good news, but he was not happy about it – in fact, he was upset.
“You have a job at the Niarchos mansion. The cashier job won’t give you a higher rate. Look for a much better job.”
“I want this job, dad.”
“And I said no. Not now. Mr. Niarchos needs you in the mansion.” He snapped at me angrily.
I didn’t want to argue with Dad, because in the end, he would always win.
I was disappointed. I wanted the job so badly. What is wrong with him? I can’t stay working at the Niarchos mansion as a maid. It’s driving me cr@zy, seeing Ares everyday.
I needed someone to talk to. I took my phone and dialed Beverley’s number, but she wasn’t answering. I dialled Genevieve’s but she said to call her again later, because she was still with her boyfriend.
I remembered Jason. Maybe he’s busy… or maybe he’s not. There’s no harm in trying.
I took my wallet and looked for Jason’s calling card.
“Hi. Are you busy?”
“No, I’m not. I just got home.” Jason chuckled. “What do you have in mind?”
“I wonder if you want to… um… hangout tonight?” I finally got the courage to ask him.
“Sure, I love to. Where are you?” He asked. The enthusiasm was very evident in his voice.
“Home. I mean, our home.”
Okay. I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”
“Make it twenty.”
I took a quick shower and changed to my black jeggings and white sweater. I spent time putting light makeup on and blowdrying my hair.
Jason and I had dinner in a burger chain. We had fun. I got to know him better. He told me about his job, the projects he was working at the moment, about his family and his dreams. I was so impressed. He was a smart guy, caring and family oriented. He focused on his priorities in life.
He asked some personal questions too. My future plans, about going to university, my hobbies and others.
At eleven, Jason tooked me home. Not in our home… but to the mansion.
I didn’t want to face Dad in the morning. I was still upset. I didn’t understand why he would not let me work at the bakery. Working as a housemaid in the Niarchos wouldn’t get me anywhere. I would be stagnant and miserable. Besides seeing Ares everyday was so awkward.
Jason stopped his car outside the main door of the mansion. I was about to get out when his hand clasped my forearm.
“Thank you Rachel. I had a great time.”
“Me too. Thanks for coming at such a short notice.”
“My pleasure. I’m glad it’s me you chose to call.” He leaned forward and k!ssed my cheek.
The k!ss surprised me and I knew that he was aware of that too.
I waited for Jason to drive through the gates before I went inside the mansion.
I was not yet sleepy, so I went to the balcony. Instantly the scent of the flowers greeted me with delight. I inhaled the fragrance so deeply and hugged myself. The night was so quiet and the moon and stars looked so bright.
“Is that your boyfriend?”
The familiar voice made me gasped. My heart jolted and my pulse pounded. I closed my eyes for a second and very slowly, I turned around and faced Ares.
“He’s my friend.”
“I saw him k!ssed you. I- I thought…” He shook his head then ran his hand through his hair. “Never mind. Goodnight, Rachel.”
No. I didn’t want him to go. Not yet. Since he k!ssed me, we didn’t have a chance to be alone with each other. I wanted to ask him why he was avoiding me… and about the k!ss…
“Ares, wait.”
He stopped and faced me again.
That look… that same look again – so dreamy, like he was making love to me with his eyes.
NO. No. I was drowning with his eyes again. I gritted my teeth. Focus, Rachel.
“Why are you avoiding me?”
His eyebrows furrowed. “I’m not.”
“Stop denying it. Or are you going to deny also about the k!ss?”
“What k!ss?”
My face immediately heated with embarrassment and my temper flared up.
What did he mean by that? He didn’t remember the k!ss?
I didn’t know what came over me. I moved towards him and slapped his cheek forcefully. “I hate you!”
Ares looked at me with murderous eyes. He touched his lip slowly and rubbed his fingertips. “You left your mark on me.”
In an instant, he pulled me towards him and clamped his mouth with mine. He was k!ssing me forcefully and thrusting his tongue inside my mouth. I could even taste his blood. His hand was on my hair forcing my head back and his other hand was on my waist holding me steady.
I gasped with delight when his hand went under my sweater and touched my bre@st, stroking it gently. “Tell me, Rachel, is this what you want?” His lips brushed against mine as he spoke.
“Yes… oh yes…”
Like a hungry animal, he kissed me fiercely. His lips seamed a path from my cheek, down to my shoulder and neck. I m0aned with pleasure, loving the feel of his lips and the moistness of his tongue on my throat.
“Ares…”
We kept on k!ssing each other until k!ssing was not enough anymore.
I removed my shirt and my bra to give him more access of my body. Then in clumsy fingers, I unbuttoned his shirt. I ran my hands on his chest and felt the excitement when he groaned.
We were in the balcony, k!ssing and touching… lips to lips, skin to skin, tongue to tongue… we forgot where we were.
He k!ssed me so deeply and I loved the feel of his hands everywhere on my body when suddenly we heard a gunshot.
I screamed.
“You’d better marry my daughter young man, or I’m going to shoot you!”
I was shocked. I instantly covered my bre@sts with my arms.
I saw my Dad holding a shotgun pointed at Ares’ head.
Oh my God!
“What’s going on here?” I saw Mr. Niarchos walking towards us. Behind him was his security team.
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