Kitanna
Chapter 210: STRAWBERRY AND CIGARETTE

Chapter 210: STRAWBERRY AND CIGARETTE

[MUSIC RECOMMENDATION: STRAWBERRIES AND CIGARETTES ~ TROY SIVAN]

Somewhere in Axilla’s mind, she didn’t trust that they were attending the evening tea party just to have ’tea’ like Cortez said, but she also wanted to see his first love who melted his heart so much as rumoured. It bothered Axilla that she wouldn’t fit into the crowd, and maybe, just maybe Cortez’s former lover would look better than her.

Cortez and Axilla arrived at the merchant’s inn late in the afternoon. He arranged for Axilla’s dress and a stylist to get her ready before evening time.

Kayla was assigned to also help Axilla get ready for the tea party. While she was fixing Axilla’s hairpin, with them finally alone, the girl whispered, "What happened? Is he trying to have a secret wedding?"

Axilla rolled her eyes at her friend’s imagination, "Something happened back at the tailor’s shop," she narrated everything that had transpired at the tailor’s shop to an attentive Kayla.

Kayla nudged her friend after listening to the story, "Now I know what the Chief is trying to do! He wants to make it clear to everyone that you’re not a servant girl and that you would be by his side as his woman so the rumors about his first love or whatever should end. He is claiming you publicly."

Axilla tried to reason with the words of Kayla, and somewhere it didn’t really make sense to her. No matter how well the young master might treat her, it didn’t dispute the fact that she wasn’t of noble blood and people would continue to look down on her.

"Don’t worry, Axilla; just go and enjoy the tea party. Maybe he is trying to calm your nerves after today’s incident." Kayla said, thinking about it from another perspective.

As evening approached, the time for the evening tea party drew closer. Cortez, who was now ready, waited for Axilla close to the carriage.

Axilla was the first to see Cortez as she stepped out of the house. She took notice of how his black hair was neatly combed all back and slightly parted at the side, leaving a few strands to cover his face, unlike his regular merchant attire. Cortez was wearing something different: a red shirt that was ironed to crisp, neatly tucked inside his black trouser, and a black well-polished shoe to complement it, donned on his shoulder was a long jacket that had a high collar. His black eyes appeared sensational as he took a long drag of the cigarette that was latched to his lips.

Axilla was enchanted by this man; he looked nothing less than a fallen angel who came to drag women down to hell with his ethereal beauty. Even with him smoking, he still looked perfect. Axilla gulped at the effect the man had on her.

As if noticing Axilla’s presence, Cortez raised his eyes to lock them with the hazel ones of Axilla. He had seen countless women, but none matched the innocent beauty of the girl before him; everything she wore always had a way of fitting her perfectly, and this time she was wearing a plain peach-colored dress that fitted until her waist, then flowed down to her leg, with her hair packed behind with simplicity but yet alluring.

Cortez walked to where Axilla stood and held out his hand to her, "Shall we?" His voice was calm as the night sea.

Axilla pressed her lips and nodded. Before she stepped into the carriage, Cortez had a whiff of her scent. "Strawberry," he muttered.

The ride to the mansion where the tea party was being held was a calm one. Once in a while, Axilla tried to take a peek at Cortez. It was as if he had her compelled because she couldn’t look away from him.

Cortez, who noticed the way the girl stared at him at intervals, leaned forward, causing her to recline on the carriage couch.

"W--what are you doing, young master?" Axilla asked, almost panicking.

Cortez smiled, "I was giving you a better view of my face so your eyes won’t ache." He replied, but noticing how uncomfortable the girl was with the closeness, he moved back a little. "I was just joking," he replied, looking out of the window.

This was the reason Cortez never made an attempt on Axilla when they are in a confined space. He noticed that she always panicked and he took it that it might be because of past trauma, maybe when she was locked in by Hubert during their visit to Odel, so Cortez didn’t want to make her scared. He wanted Axilla to open to him herself and not make it seem like he was lurking in the dark to abuse her.

It was clear as day that Axilla shared the same feelings for him, but she still had a long way to go for her to open up her mind and let him in fully. So he preferred to show her outside how much he cherished her rather than making her feel like he was trying to force himself on her using his power.

Axilla held her gown tightly when the young master had moved very close to her. She found her heart beating like crazy; she almost panicked. Why would she do that? She asked herself. They had shared a kiss, three times, so why was she scared? She noticed the sad look on Cortez’s face when he moved away from her. Axilla wanted to explain to him that she wasn’t scared of him, but she decided to keep calm.

The rest of their ride to the mansion was a calm one, with both of them staring outside the window looking at the night sky that was beautified with stars and the bright moon that illuminated the land with clear light. Axilla’s nose caught the faint scent of wood; it was the cigarette Cortez had smoked before they started their ride. Mixed with the cigarette was strawberry perfume that Axilla applied.

The carriage was wafted with the sweet scent of strawberry and cigarette, which did the trick to calm both Axilla and Cortez as they made their way to the evening tea party. ’Just to drink tea.

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Author’s Note; Please do well to add the book below in your library. It’s another work by same author.

1. The Hitman’s Sunshine

Thank you ^^.

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