Chapter 22
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
?? MONTE CARLO, MONACO
“ I ’m going to kill her.”
“Will you stop?” Tate groaned, his gaze fixated on his phone.
“We’re going to be late.”
“So? You’ve never made a fuss about arriving two minutes late to an event before.”
Rowan wasn’t certain what had caused his nerves to spark. Perhaps it was the fact that he was going to attend an important event with Richard Mille—Primavera Racing’s biggest sponsor. But Rowan wasn’t one to be afraid of too many cameras aimed towards him. So maybe he was nervous because he hadn’t seen Avery in over a week.
They had promised each other to keep things casual, but why was Rowan craving her like oxygen?Like an addiction he couldn’t live without?
As his PR officer, she was obligated to attend the event—not as his date, though he wished he could’ve asked her to accompany him.
He was waiting for her inside the lobby of his building. He had recently bought a flat here, and his plans for the upcoming years were to spend more time in Monaco instead of his house in London. From here, he, his date, Indigo Bailey (whom he had no interest in apart from helping her find a place in the motorsports world), Tate, and Avery would go to the venue together.
“I bet you’re going to leave the party early,” Tate said to Indy who was busy fixing her blonde hair in the mirror.
“Me?” she asked, outraged. “Please.”
“You never stay during these kinds of events,” Rowan accused. “And you don’t try to be discreet when you leave.”
“True.” Indy shrugged sheepishly.
“How’s your new job coming along?” Tate inquired curiously.
Rowan glared at his two friends. “Are we seriously making small talk?” He wasn’t usually like this. He was just too nervous to think of joyful things.
“Grumpy,” Indy muttered. “No one’s forcing you to participate. But to answer your question, Tate, I’m miserable. I’m dying to host and present more on TV, but that’ll happen when my internship is done.”
Indy was a journalism intern at Thunderbolt Sports, a global motorsports channel. Everyone knew her dream was to become an F1 presenter. Already hosting a motorsports podcast, she was a force to be reckoned with—she was intent on proving women belonged in this universe, too. Rowan knew she had worked hard to attain her goals, and her persistence would get her on top of the world. He wouldn’t tell her, though. If he was the epitome of arrogance, Indigo was his female equal.
“Look at you go,” he said. “I can’t wait to be interviewed by you in the paddock.”
Indy eyed him amusedly, catching on to his sarcasm. “I know you’re thrilled. Anyway, Tito’s throwing a party on his yacht tonight. You guys coming?”
Tate answered, but Rowan didn’t hear the response because Avery entered the lobby.
“Sorry, I’m late.” Breathless as though she had run to arrive, her gaze was on her shoulder as she tried to adjust the strap of her satin dress. Dark locks framed her angelic face, a smattering of rose colouring her cheekbones.
Rowan felt his breath catch somewhere in his lungs and disappear. His lips parted, but no sound escaped as though she had managed to render him speechless.
Their gazes clashed, and the world came to a full stop. Rowan’s entire entourage crashed down to dust, her mere presence nearly sending him into an endless precipice of ruination.
She blinked, admiration slowly drawing upon her face. As she tucked a strand of hair behind an ear, she let her stare fall to his tailor-made suit, a beautiful smile touching her red lips.
Rowan grunted in annoyance when Tate hit the back of his head.
“Ow,” Rowan whined. “Fuck off.”
“You, fuck off,” Tate argued in a whisper. “You’re drooling by the way.”
Rowan punched his friend’s arm as he turned around to fix his suit and touch the corner of his lips. Obviously, he hadn’t drooled.
Tate Richards was so fucking stupid. But maybe Rowan was a bigger fool.
“Rowan was about to have a stroke,” Indy announced, chuckling as Avery approached. The sound of her footfalls matched the rhythm of his heartbeat—rapid, hurried. “He kept checking the time every ten seconds.”
“Drama queen,” he heard Avery mutter.
He rubbed the back of his neck and finally faced the woman who had been invading his thoughts.
“You look beautiful,” Indy praised her friend.
She did.
“Thank you,” Avery chimed in sweetly. “This dress looks fabulous on you. Bet you’re going to change into something more comfortable and fitting for a party later, though.”
“Wow.” Indy reared back and furrowed her brows. “Is my reputation that bad?”
“Yes,” all three responded.
Avery and Rowan collided gazes again.
“You look…” There was no adequate word in the English language that could describe Avery’s immaculate beauty. Her elegance. Her grace. He trailed his gaze from her face down to her physique, his jaw nearly going slack at the sight of the dress clinging to her body akin to a second skin, its fabric cinched at her waist before flowing down her legs seamlessly. A long slit followed the route of her right leg, allowing him to catch a glimpse of smooth, tanned skin. “Decent.”
“Jesus fucking Christ,” Tate mumbled quietly. “Get a grip, mate.”
It was evident that Avery wanted to laugh. She saw right through him—she always could. Lips tipped up into a mocking smirk, she lifted her brows in defiance, tracing her perusal over his frame with equal admiration.
“Thanks. You look okay, I guess.”
As he narrowed his gaze on her, she winked playfully. Rowan only pressed his lips in a firm line, anchoring himself to the floor so he wouldn’t go up to her and kiss her attitude away.
“Now that we’re done checking each other out,” Tate started, amused, “shall we go?”
Indy grinned, clapping her hands. This woman was a walking ball of sunshine. “We shall. I’m so excited. I bet they have good champagne.”
Rowan didn’t pay attention to Indy and Tate walking away, as he couldn’t stop staring at the devastating angel standing before him.
“We’ll be waiting for you in the car,” Indy called out, arm hooked under Tate’s.
“Got it,” Rowan mumbled. “Bye.”
Avery blinked up at him, timidity evident on her face. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
He exhaled, a ball of nervousness obstructing his airway.
“Let’s skip the event.” He wanted to drive her out of the city. Wanted to take her someplace where they could be in a world alone.
“Why?”
“Why?” He lowered his voice, leaning towards her. “Avery, I haven’t seen you in a fucking week. How do you expect me to react when you left after I told you to stay, when I woke up alone? I don’t let anyone stay in my room; you know that. If you expect me to act like I don’t want to be near you, then you’re wrong.”
She blinked, as though processing each one of his words.
Stepping forward, she reached towards him until her pinky finger wrapped around his—a rapid, secret touch.
“I promise we’ll find time to talk later.”
Then she brushed past him, her fragrance nearly bringing him to his knees. He’d bow before her. Would do anything for her.
“Come on, lover boy. The cameras aren’t going to wait for you.”
He scoffed, following her out. “Sure, they are. I’m the only star of the show.”
“There he is.”
“Goddamn it, Indigo. Stop looking at me like that.”
Indy giggled behind the rim of her flute of champagne before taking a small sip. She shook her head, gaping up at him with a smile on her lips.
“Seriously. What?” Rowan groaned again, frowning. “I don’t like that sneaky little smile.”
She batted her lashes dramatically. “You don’t like my smile?”
“You’re annoying. You’re not my type, so stop whatever you’re doing.”
“What’s your type? Dark-haired women with snark and wit who aren’t afraid of putting you in place?”
Perfect description of Avery.
“Maybe.”
“I knew it,” Indy mused, looking proud to have discovered one of his secrets. “You should put your arm around my shoulders. I’m not opposed to that.”
Baffled by her sudden suggestion, he frowned down at her. “Why are we doing this?”
“I know you’re trying to get someone’s attention.” Had he been that obvious? “I’m sure she’ll stop acting like she doesn’t care if you start flirting with me.”
Rowan sighed and gulped down the rest of his champagne. “You’re as infuriating as your best friend.”
“Kam?” she asked, confused. “She’s the classiest person here.”
They both turned to look where Kamari and Thiago stood, chatting with another couple. Something uncanny stirred inside Rowan’s chest when he observed the way Kamari was smiling at her boyfriend. Rowan wanted to be loved the way Thiago was loved—for the person he was; not for the driver he was known to be.
Rowan lifted his shoulders in an indifferent shrug. He looked away, one hand tucked in the front pocket of his trousers and his empty flute in the other.
“She never smiles.”
“That’s because she doesn’t like you,” Indy countered.
“Everyone likes me, Indigo.”
“That’s debatable.”
Rowan narrowed his gaze on the blonde standing by his side. “Did you side with Avery? Cause you’re being rude to me.”
Indy snorted softly before covering her nose with her hand. “Was bringing Ava up necessary?”
“Wasn’t intentional,” he grumbled, looking at the dancing crowd because he didn’t want Indy to witness his cheeks turning red.
“Whatever you say.”
Just like that, as though there was an invisible thread tying Rowan to Avery, he found her in a room full of people. She was dancing with Tate to a slow song, a smile on her lips as she listened to him rambling.
There was something about seeing her with another man that angered him and made his blood boil. His grip tightened around his flute, his jaw ticking when it clenched. Tate was harmless, though; his hands were resting on the middle of her back, a respectable distance stood between their chests, and there were no fleeting glances and secret smiles.
Unlike with Rowan and Avery.
She found his gaze from across the room, her smile dropping ever so slightly. Her perusal scrutinised the entirety of his physique, making time slow down. Rowan felt like combusting into a hellfire just with the intensity of it all—like she was holding the matches, and he was a moth to the flame.
Their secret moments in a crowded room caused frissons to roll down his spine, setting him ablaze with intense anticipation. He’d give everything to be in her arms. To make her smile and laugh.
And he’d give up forever just to touch her. Just to feel the sensation of her soft skin on his. Just to be with her.
“You can fool everyone, but not me, darling,” came Indy’s voice.
Rowan blinked. Just like that, all sounds became loud and clear, taking him back to reality just as Avery brought her attention back to Tate.
He looked down at his date, shaking his head. “I have no clue what you’re talking about.”
Indy’s small, knowing smile never once faltered. She finished her drink, head tipped back before tapping his back amicably.
“Your secret’s safe.” She winked, her expression morphing into mischief. Fuck. Rowan knew that look on her face—she was planning something. “Go to the balcony on the fifth floor, the one that faces the ocean in five minutes. Wait for my signal to leave, though.”
“What signal?”
“You’ll see.”
Indigo Bailey was both a mastermind and a mad woman.
She had gone on the dance floor, kindly asking for Tate to have the next dance with her, then murmured something in Avery’s ear as the latter was leaving.
Then, Rowan had watched Indy say a few words to Tate, causing him to grunt in annoyance before accepting whatever this woman had planned.
In Indigo Bailey style, she had convinced the DJ to play some early 2000s hit songs, causing all the guests to join the dance floor a minute later.
She had created a distraction just so that he could meet with Avery.And of course, she’d used her charms to do it.
When Rowan stepped onto the balcony, he felt like losing sense of everything—time, himself, his once-coherent thoughts.
He wondered how many times he had fallen speechless and felt his breath catch in the span of a few hours.
She was standing near the ledge, observing the burning sky where, on the horizon, the sun was bidding farewell to the universe. He could only see her profile, but the softest light gleamed in her eyes, indicating she was adoring this exact moment. And Rowan adored watching her love the smallest, simplest things in life.
He closed the door, bringing Avery’s attention to him.
“Woah,” he breathed out gruffly, ruffling his hair as he revelled in the view; the work of art she was. “How do you expect me to stay away from you when all I’ll remember from tonight is you, standing in this dress and staring at the sunset?”
She stared at him amusedly, watching how he closed the distance between them with slow steps. “Did you hit your head recently?”
“Why?”
“You keep on complimenting me. Is there something you need?”
“Very witty,” he drawled sardonically. “I’m a nice man.”
She tilted her head, taunting him with those red lips and rosy cheeks. “I already told you: we could argue about this statement for hours.”
“Brat,” he bit out playfully. Now standing in front of her, he couldn’t look away. Even the sky painted in vibrant colours wasn’t as breathtaking as the woman before him.
“Why are you here?” she asked softly. “You had all these people’s attention on you tonight.”
“I don’t care. The only woman’s attention I want is yours.”
He wasn’t certain what he needed to do to assure Avery that she was the sole person to rock his world.
She stared at the inked pattern on his neck, his mind flashing with the memory of her delicate fingers drawing over most of his tattoos—like she had healed his wounds.
“You have it. All of it.”
Rowan expelled a breath, losing himself in the moment. “You’re a goddamn distraction, Avery Sharma-Maddox.”
He said it like he blamed her for winding herself into his life. Like he hated her for having this corrupting effect on him. Like he didn’t want to fall.
“I’m sorry.”
But she wasn’t the reason for his downfall anymore; she was slowly becoming his guidance towards light—salvation with the silhouette of an angel. “Have you been avoiding me?” he demanded then, taking another step closer.
“Have you?”
“You don’t get to use reverse psychology on me, sunflower.”
Avery’s breath hitched when he finally stood before her, hands finding the railing behind her and caging her in between his arms.Holding her captive in his world, secretly hoping she would never escape.
“I don’t know what you want, Rowan,” she murmured.
His forehead fell forward, strands of hair toppling over his brows. Delicately, she cradled his face, her touch bringing him back to life. She pushed his hair off his forehead, watching him with awe, which caused his heart to burst into flames. Despite that inconsistent and wild beat, he could feel broken pieces mend themselves back, one by one.
He exhaled tremulously, leaning into her hand. “I can’t stop thinking about you.”
“Is it a bad thing?” she whispered.
“You tell me.” He grabbed her hand, planting a soft kiss on the inside of her wrist. “Hey, sunflower.”
She smiled, ruining him just like that. “Hey, lover boy.”
“You look…” Once again, he had to take a deep breath before voicing the words that had been deafening and ricocheting inside his mind. “Beautiful.”
“Finally found the right word?”
“I mean, you kind of rendered me speechless, so it took me a while to find the exact words to describe you.”
“What a flirt.”
He pulled her away from the edge of the balcony, lifting her hand to make her twirl. She was electric. Exquisite. Rowan had never felt so starstruck by anyone before, but it was evident Avery was intent on tilting his entire world onto its axis by simply existing.
He pulled her into his chest. “You owe me a dance.”
She winded her arms around his neck. “Do I?”
“Yeah. I watched you dance with Ritchie all evening long.”
“Do I sense jealousy?” she taunted, running a finger across his chest, where his shirt wasn’t fastened.
“So what?”
“Not even denying it? You must have lost your mind.”
He tucked a strand of ebony hair behind her ear, purposely lingering his touch so that he could observe goosebumps arise on her skin. “My offer still stands; let’s get out of here.”
“Rowan,” she murmured, her tone edged with an unfathomable pain. “You know we can’t. As your publicist, I need you to think about the consequences.”
“And as my… Avery?” His sunflower.
She held his gaze, indecipherable emotions shimmering along the edges of her irises. “Maybe we can have it all in the next life.”
He sighed heavily, dropping his forehead against hers. “What if none of these rules existed?”
This situation was slowly, yet surely, tearing him apart.
He wasn’t exactly sure when he had allowed himself to be consumed by those foreign feelings—ones he’d never thought possible to experience in this lifetime.
“Then things would be different.”
“What things?”
She brought his gaze back to hers. “Everything.”
When Avery looked behind his shoulder, blatant deception drew upon her features. She sighed softly when sounds of laughter came from inside, and she took a step backwards, the heat and comfort of her hands only leaving tingles in their wake.
Rowan had always hated how his fate was written in the stars, but he loathed destiny even more now.
She brushed past him, and he caught her pinky finger with his. “When can I see you?” he asked. “ Really see you?”
“We’ll find a moment. Now go back downstairs and shine your light.”