Chapter 8 Attraction

"Famous designer Fairy just released the new line of Bloom jewelries, pre-orders for every piece made it sell out a few minutes after it's release, the market is still heavily anticipating the release of the royal crown, the main piece of Bloom's new collection."

Christina listened to this news sitting with her legs crossed in her living room. Specifically, the villa currently under James' name. A delicate smile appeared on her face.

This was exactly what she was waiting for as well. The imposter releasing new designs in her name.

Not many people knew this, but each piece Christina designed always had a unique element, something Layla tried to imitate in this collection she released but failed miserably.

Christina had seen the designs when they came out two days ago, Layla had done nothing but re-create some of Christina's old designs.

Trying to steal someone's work but not having the ability to do it fully, pathetic.

"Poor little Layla, since you had the guts to steal my identity, let's see if you can create a unique main piece. I hope you're ready to prove that you truly are the designer and founder of Bloom." Christina muttered to herself.

She was still painting her nails when the front door opened and James walked in. He glanced at her expectantly but Christina made no move or acknowledge seeing him return.

When he noticed she didn't react, he held his briefcase to her.

"Here, keep this for me upstairs. There are important documents in there so don't even think about messing around with it."

The old Christina would have taken his briefcase and happily kissed him on the cheek then prepare his bath, but this time she didn't stop applying nail polish even as he instructed her to take his case.

"Did you even hear me?" James' demanded feeling slightly pissed.

"I did, I just have more fun pretending I don't." She said without raising her head to even look at him.

"What did you say?" He asked and she still treated him like air, "Tina don't mess with me, I was merciful enough to let you move back in. You should at least make yourself useful if you're going to live in my house."

"Your house?" Christina queried with a faint smirk.

"What do you mean by that question?"

"Forget it." She sighed leaning back in her seat, "Your legs aren't broken and your hands are perfectly fine, take your own briefcase upstairs."

James opened his mouth as if to say something but changed his mind, he was too tired to exchange words with her, he knew she was just being bitter because Layla was the one he loved now and she was probably acting this way thinking it would get him to melt and soften towards her. In her dreams.

James' scoffed and walked away.

Christina watched his back with a tinge of hatred in her eyes.

"This will be fun." She smirked.

The next morning, James had already left for work a long time ago when the doorbell suddenly rang. She expected to find James there thinking he must have forgotten something and returned, so she took her sweet time before going to open the door but her mouth was left agape when she saw who stood there.

Dressed in a casual white dress shirt with a few upper buttons left open, Lorian leaned casually against the door frame.

"What are you doing here?" Christina shook her head to focus breaking out of the daze this man's appearance had captivated her in.

Lorian didn't reply, instead he strolled into the house as if he owned it, hands in his pockets as he glanced around.

"You didn't answer my question." She said but he still acted as if he didn't hear her.

He toured around the house as if that had been his aim for coming, then began to climb up the stairs.

"Lorian." She called after him and he suddenly stopped halfway up the stairs.

He suddenly grinned, making his dark eyes sparkle. "I like my name on your tongue."

"What?" She was confused.

He flashed a grin once more and went up to the second floor.

"Wait, you shouldn't be here."

If Lorian heard her, he acted like he didn't. Before she could stop him he was already in the master bedroom.

Why did this man always act so willfully? He did the same thing yesterday, calling her to his office while he'd already asked James to come over, was he doing this deliberately?

When she entered the master bedroom, Lorian was standing next to the bed.

"Was it right here?" He suddenly asked.

"What?" She asked with a confused frown.

"Did he bring his mistress in here? Did he have sex with her, right under your nose?"

It flashed back into her head like an old movie. For the most part Christina had been oblivious about the affair between James and Layla until she saw the text from Layla telling James she was pregnant.

Before that, Christina had ignored all the days she would come back to meet Layla walking out of their bedroom with disheveled hair and ruffled clothing, but she would dismiss it whenever Layla quickly covered up with that innocent smile of hers and told her that she'd only been here to get some documents.

Thinking back to it now, Christina could only shake her head at how naive and trusting she had been, she had even been so friendly with Layla in the past to the point she asked her to address her as Tina just like James did, Christina had wanted to be friends with her husband's secretary because she believed being friendly with people always yielded the best results, all she could do now was scoff at that old thinking.

She swallowed the bitter taste in her throat as she replied. "Now that I think back, I guess he did bring her here...slept with her, in our own bedroom. Maybe he even ... maybe he even got her pregnant here."

Even if all she felt for him right now was hatred, she had still loved him deeply in the past. Betrayal from someone you loved deeply always burnt harsher than flaming coal.

Her head was lowered to sort through her emotions, she didn't realize when Lorian had approached her.

"You told me the other day that you would do the exact same thing to him." He raised her chin making her look in his deep set obsidian eyes that always seemed to shine like black diamond whenever he was looking at her,

"And like I promised... I'll help you." His words were low and his whispered breath, hot and minty fell on her face making her skin suddenly heat up.

His eyes held promise of something sinful, he was a man good on his word, and his gaze told her how dead serious he was about what he just said.

The thought of it made her face burn even more and he chuckled in a deliciously deep low voice.

"You're blushing."

She quickly stepped back creating some distance between them.

"What are you doing? Don't tell me you called James over again just so he can see us together."

"Not this time, I'm just here to give you something he never has. And believe me...with me it'll be unforgettable." He'd already closed the distance between them and that heated feeling started again when he touched her.

It was like the faint spark of electricity in her veins, igniting a kind of flame deep inside, a dangerous flame.

Lorian was evil in a way that could make any woman subconsciously desire him even if they tried to resist, and Christina tried her best to deny the faint sparks she felt.

This wasn't attraction, she kept telling herself. She'd forgotten what that felt like, and it certainly shouldn't start with someone whose only relationship with her was for the purpose of achieving her goal.

"I can touch you in a way he hasn't before, kiss you in a way he hasn't..." With each word his voice grew softer and his face inched towards her slowly.

Her heart jolted as if it had been awakened from a long slumber, though she said she loved James when was the last time her heart had beat for him?

This electric feeling frightened her because it felt wrong in every way, she raised her hand and pushed at his chest.

"You can't..." Her words were cut off by the sound of footsteps climbing up the stairs and approaching the bedroom.

"I can't believe I fucking forgot such important documents." Christina could hear James' voice. Her eyes widened in alarm.

Why was he back so soon?

If he saw her here with Lorian again, his suspicion would definitely be aroused if it wasn't the last time.

Lorian however seemed unfazed, there was an evil smile on his face as the knob turned and the door slowly pushed open.