I stared at myself in the mirror as I put some red lipstick on. It was five minutes to eight and Javier was not back yet. I hate being stood up, but you never know, i might just be shocked by the man.

We were yet to find anything on Gabriel, but Javier had a lot going down in his companies. It wasn't just production; there were members of staff in different companies that went missing out of the blue with no trace, and the last time they were seen was at the company.

I had not been in the police force at that point, and cases were filed according to the news and reports, but there was no such case in the station, and even the oldest member didn't know anything about it.

It was all fishy, too fishy, as a matter of fact.

There were too many plot holes in this, and Javier was involved. A part of me believed it was human trafficking, but I could not be certain he was guilty of such crime.

A knock on the door startled me and I dropped the lipstick.

"Come in." I squatted to pick it up, and my eyes flew to the door, to him, standing there in a black pressed suit, every muscle gently wrapped into the suit like it was tailored for his body.

Half his hair was in a ponytail while the other half flowed on his back. Regardless of the fact that I hated his guts, I admit he is a very beautiful man.

"Ready?" I blinked and picked my purse.

"Yes." I gave him a tight smile before we walked out of the room.

Juanita stared at me with awe in her eyes and I smiled slightly. She was the oldest maid in the house, and I quite liked her. Though we never talked, we understood our silence.

We got in the car, and the tension was so thick I could cut it with scissors.

"Are you telling me where we are going?" I tried to start a conversation, unable to bear the crying silence.

"It has no address."

"What do you mean..."

"Your father is the leader of Hallow Cross. I'm pretty sure you know the meaning of 'It has no address.'" His knuckles turned white against the wheel.

"Do I make you nervous, Mr. Delgado?" He laughed. He looked like someone that was losing his shit, but he laughed.

"Quit dreaming, Mrs. Delgado."

"Then why are you sweating when you just only got out of the house?" He opened his mouth and closed it. "... You're cold, quiet, have so much pride, but you can't overrule the fact that you can't..." The car came to a halt.

"Get to the back seat." I raised my eyebrows.

"That's not possible, I'll not..."

"Get in the back seat, Isabela." My heart jolted at the way he called my name, and I swallowed before pushing the car door open.

The road was empty and we were away from civilization entirely. I could not see a single street light up ahead or behind us either. Was I going to get killed? Where was he taking me to? In a red dress?

Opening the back, I stepped inside and he walked out before lighting a cigarette, causing me to cough. Five minutes passed and he was still not back. I didn't know what event we were headed to, but I had the sudden feeling to run as fast as I could.

I reached for the door as my heart raced, but the left door suddenly pulled open and he stepped into the back seat and pulled my hand so fast I was suddenly in his face...

Breathing heavily.

"You have been nothing but a pain in the ass and a constant distraction to my mind. I hate your guts, I hate your attitude, I hate your stupid sarcastic behavior, and I don't know what upbringing you had, but you will respect and do as I say."

"I don't follow orders from anyone." I tried to pull myself from him, but he tugged me closer and pressed me against the couch.

"You'll learn."

"Over. My. Dead. Body!" I growled in his face, and he stared at me while my eyes lazily dropped to his lips and went back to his eyes.

I needed to get laid, and fast.

He glared at me, even though he was just inches away. His cologne was intoxicating yet sweet, so sweet that I wanted to taste it, like a craving I'd wanted all my life, and I swallowed hard.

"You are insufferable," he grunted out.

"I thought he told you at the auctioning. No? Then I..." Hot lips crashed against mine like water hissing against fire.

It tasted like smoke. Like sin I didn't want to commit. Like whiskey I didn't want to drink. But it was sweet, too sweet for me to pull back, too sweet for me to abandon, so I deepened it.

His hand settled upon my lower back, pulling me closer while I dug my fingers into his hair, pulling it from its ponytail. And at this moment, I knew no drink could make me this high, no candy could taste this sweet, and as he pulled away, I found myself sitting on his thighs with both knees apart.

What have I done?

I pushed myself off him as my face became a beckoning of the color red. If the tension earlier was thick, this was enough to cover us through the storm.

"Get to the front, we'll be late," he said in a raspy voice, like he had just woken up, before he cleared his throat.

He walked out and took a breath before exiting the door. I looked at the side window and realized my lips had become a mess, good Lord! If that wasn't embarrassing enough…

But a part of me wanted to do it again. I really need a drink.

He drove to an unknown destination, and deep in the middle of nowhere, there was a huge black mansion that could be mistaken for the night without lights.

I remained silent till we were out of the car, and I realized most of the women around were in red while the men were in black. I guess it was a theme then.

He placed his hand on my lower back, causing me to go still.

"Relax, little fox. People are watching," he whispered with a small smile. "Now be careful, talk to the women around, do not take anything anyone offers you, take yours from a sealed bottle, and don't cause a distraction."

"I never cause distractions."

"You already did, the moment you got that dress on." And he walked into the room.