Chapter 5

Gavin’s POV I had underestimated Liza Sinclair. I had only returned to Li City, where whispers of untouchable elites with unfathomable influence were commonplace. Yet, I hadn't imagined that the woman I had impulsively married would belong to such a powerful circle. That bold, impulsive decisions now felt like a calculated risk and more of a wild gamble. Not only was she weird, but intriguing. I watched her unlock her phone and began to type with purpose. Eric kept glancing occasionally in the rearview mirror and I turned away from him to step out of the car. Eric was quick to do the same as he got the car door for Liza. I waited till she was out of the car before moving forward to the front door of the villa. I used a fingerprint scanner to access the villa before turning towards her. “Register your fingerprint.” She was my wife now and this was going to be our home till it was finally over. She looked momentarily confused as she blinked twice before stepping forward to comply. “Oh, right.” I watched her press her finger against the scanner and we walked in afterwards. I gave her a brief tour of the modern, sleek, villa. Liza kept getting distracted, barely paying attention to the luxurious surroundings. My sharp eyes caught the lack of focus and I let out a low, irritated chuckle. I couldn't believe this woman was standing in one of the finest homes in Li City and she couldn't even bother to look around? She didn't even notice me chuckling. She kept glancing at her phone at intervals and it made me extremely curious about her family. “Let's go up,” I say to her and she turns to me with attention. I watch her smile a little before nodding. With a sigh of exasperation, I led her up to the third floor, where the villa took a more quieter and tranquil tone. Most of the floor was dominated by the gym but beyond it was a single, private room. My safe haven. Pausing at the door, I gestured toward it. “What do you think about this room?” She looked up at me before shifting her gaze to the opened door. She stepped inside and took in the space with a cursory glance. It was an impressive room, spacious and airy with a private balcony overlooking the city. Whenever I need a quiet moment, whenever I want to make a decision, whenever I want to be left alone, whenever I feel less motivated, that was my go-to-roon. It was where I spent most of my nights, especially when I was in Li City. I saw her gaze wandering to the scattered tailored jacket draped over a chair, to the wrist watch I had flung to the bedside table this morning and eventually to the finance book left open on the desk. Her brows furrowed slightly as she turned to me. For a moment, I thought she wanted to make a comment about the scattered items because she looked like a woman who didn't get scared easily. She had called me notorious, yet she wasn't acting uncomfortable with me. She didn't even regret her decision about marrying me. “This is your room?” It sounded more like a question, her voice tingling with surprise. I wanted her to check the room out and see if it was ok and comfortable for her to stay in before telling her it was mine. But she was intelligent to have figured that out already. An amused smile curved up my lips as I nodded at her. “I'm staying here? With you?” She still sounded surprised. I raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at my lips. “Why? Are you not comfortable with that?” She didn't reply immediately. Instead her eyes were fixated upon me, her face impassive. I continued. “Don't forget we are married now. And you said it few minutes ago, that you wanted us to see where this will lead to. Isn't it normal for newlyweds to share a room?” For a moment, her expression changed and she froze, caught off-guard by my words. Suddenly, she stepped forward until she was right in front of me. Without warning, she leaned on tiptoe and crashed her lips to mine. I froze, completely caught unawares. In between the kiss, I muttered, my eyes still wide open. “What are you doing?” I felt the instinct to pull away but I couldn't even stepped away from the kiss. Her lips radiated heat and her eyes showed some courage that made me feel more than intrigued. I was attracted. This would be the first woman my path would cross with who would dare do such a thing. First; she had approached me with bravery and asked me to marry her. Now, she was kissing me without a fear in the world. I was feared. People tremble at my name. But not this woman. Her gaze met mine, her eyes gleaming with a playful intensity. “What do you mean what am I doing? Don't tell me you are shy? Isn't it normal for newlyweds to kiss?” Her boldness rendered me speechless. Before I could say anything else, she leaned closer, letting the tip of her tongue delved into the inside of my mouth. A jolt of electricity coursed through me, spreading through my veins. The sensation caught me off-guard. It wasn't the soft, fleeting touch of her lips on mine, but the warm, damp intimacy of her tongue sipping into mine. I stood frozen, unsure of what to do, as my body betrayed my usual composure. Eventually, she moved away, making me feel the absence of her warmth, in my mouth and on my body. Her expression was calm, almost indifferent but her eyes sparkled with unmistakeable satisfaction. She appeared genuinely pleased at what she had just done. I was rattled. What had just begun as a playful attempt to tease her about sharing my room had spiraled entirely out of my control. I jerked back to life and stepped back. “Do whatever you want.” I muttered to her, my heart plummeting hard against my ribcage. With a final glance at her standing there in my room, I turned on my heels and retreated towards the study on the second floor.