Ch 7: The Deal

Recap:

No, enough was enough. Cecilia decided that she would put this man out of her mind for good after tonight. Feeling him ease up on her wrist, she felt relief sweep through her, as she plotted her swift escape.

But the blessed freedom didn't come. Although Nicolas eased up, he still kept a firm grip on her wrist, and proceeded to drag her out of the ballroom, into the dark recesses of the unlit corridor, ignoring the screaming protests of the girl behind him.

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"What are you doing?! Where are you taking me?!!"

Nicolas just ignored the screeches of the girl behind him as he strode her down the corridor with lengthy strides, holding onto her wrist firmly. The sounds of the ballroom grew more and more distant as they entered the more intimate part of the house, visited only by family and close friends.

"You have no right to come into this part of our house! This is our private area! Let go of me!!!"

With an almighty tug, Cecilia finally managed to snatch her hand out of his possession, forcing Nic to suddenly stop with her. Glaring at him, she panted for breath, holding her mistreated wrist to her chest and massaging it with her other hand.

Drawing a deep breath, she prepared her lengthy tirade. "You nee-"

Unconcerned with what she was going to say, Nic just grabbed hold of her upper arm and continued to drag in the same direction as if nothing had happened.

Caught off guard, Cecilia just stumbled after him, barely managing to keep up with him. The walls of the mansion just sped past her; the antique paintings hung on them a mere blur to her eyes.

Suddenly, she was swung around a sharp bend, a large THUNK! being heard, before her back crashed into a wall, wrists pinned above her head so she was immobile. Dazed, bewildered, and blinded by the darkness, it took Cecilia a few seconds to work out that she was in one of the guest rooms on the first floor of the house. Somewhere, in the back of her mind she understood that the earlier noise she had heard must have been the door closing.

But all rational thought flew the moment those sapphire blue eyes bore into hers.

Her breath caught at his proximity, unable to think, let alone speak. The shadows across his face hid all his features, except for his eyes and lips, drawing even more attention to them. Each hand had a grasp on each of her wrists, holding them firmly to the wall, his chest a micrometer away from hers. So close, that each rise and fall of her chest caused a whisper of a brush against him.

Just that phantom-light touch sent deep shivers down her spine, and her mouth dried as her eyes helplessly moved to his lips. Was it possible for someone to have such perfect lips? Full, but not large; plump, but hard; just a tinge of pink, but the very definition of masculinity. She wondered how he would kiss. Would he be gentle? Or demanding and rough? Or both?

The pressure on her wrists hardened, and her eyes flew back to his. What she saw there made her gasp.

His eyes were pure molten heat, sending lightening bolts sparking over her skin. His gaze seemed to penetrate her, making her feel naked and vulnerable beneath him. She squirmed subtly, cheeks on fire as she pressed further back into the wall, trying to stop these feelings flooding through her. The millimeter of distance she had created shortened again, as he managed to shift infinitesimally closer, his body following hers. She pressed back further, going up onto her tiptoes, but she now found herself closer to him than before, his eyes mere inches away from hers. He left her no room as he closed even that space she had created between their bodies, until she couldn't breathe for fear that her chest would end up pressed against his.

"Miss Knight," his breath was a feather across her face, eyes roaming over her.

"Yes?" She breathed back, eyes locked on his, caught in their spell.

"You were saying?" And with that he stepped back, releasing her wrists and smirked at her, cold eyes scanning her up and down.

Cecilia just looked at him, wide-eyed, mind in a desperate state of confusion. She couldn't understand... Wasn't he just about to kiss her!... Why was he stood so far away?!... She just wished he would hold her... Cecilia was left with a deep ache inside her, tears burning her eyes, as she turned her head away. No! Don't forget, this is the man who has repeatedly insulted you. You are NOT going to cry over him. If anything, he's the one who deserves to cry! Her back straightened, as rage and hatred filled her veins, drying out her tears. She turned back to see him still surveying her coldly, arms crossed, as if he were looking at a lower species.

Extremely tempted to give in to her violent urges, she reminded herself of her superior upbringing and decided she would show him just whom he was dealing with. After all, her father had raised her to be a lady, and a lady she would be.

Drawing her shoulders, she arched her neck and surveyed him with just the same coldness that he had been looking at her with. Satisfied with her posture, she moved away from the wall and switched the lights on. The room flooded with light, show-casing the opulence of her surroundings, and taking with it the strange tension that had seemed to hover over them.

She turned back around to face him. "It is insignificant. You have brought me here. I assume there was a purpose?" She questioned, raising a brow imperiously, her own arms crossed.

For the first time since she had met him, she watched him falter, eyes widening slightly in surprise. Although it was only for a second, before his trademark cold eyes and stern face were fixed back into place, Cecelia felt a burst of gratification. Ha! Take that! Just you wait, Mr Nicolas Freire... You won't know what's hit you!

"Yes, there is a purpose. I need you to inform your father that you're busy, and he needs to find someone else to help me host the company charity ball in 3 months time."

"What?!" Cecilia felt her own composure falter before she composed herself again. "I beg your pardon?"

"It is not my pardon you need to beg. It is your father's, when you tell him you will be unable to assist me."

Cecilia felt her blood boiling, but she was determined to maintain her poise. "Indeed, I am sorry if you believe I was apologising to you, Mr. Freire, because the truth is that you are the least deserving of my apologies in the entire county!" She responded haughtily. "Now, please explain yourself from the beginning, clearly and concisely. I do have other matters requiring my time; my time is not just for wasting on you."

Cecilia could practically feel him grinding his teeth and boring holes into the side of her head, as she turned away to hide her smile. Victory is near! Go Cessy!! Cess =1, Mr Asshole =0. Suddenly it occurred to her that he had not been able to hide his ire behind a cold mask, like before. So he can be affected by me, too... interesting...

"Your father wants to introduce me to all the other shareholders in style, in order to win them over. A launch party, if you will. He thought the best way to do that would be through the company's charity ball. But since you are the person responsible for the ball..." Nic's jaw clenched.

"My father wants me to launch you." Cess finished.

"Not for you to launch me," Nicolas scrunched his face in disgust, causing Cecilia to bristle. "For you to help me arrange the launch."

"Now, just a minute here!" Cecilia burst. "This is my party, A.K.A. I organise it. I always have, and always will!"

"Nobody wants to take over your little party planning business," Nic sneered. "But this is my future, so I will accept no third grade quality."

"How dare-"

"I will oversee everything myself," Nic spoke over her with no compunction. "So there is no need for you."

"No."

"So you need to tell-" Nic broke off in the middle to stare at her. "What do you mean 'No'?"

"I mean 'No'." She stressed playfully. "Don't you know what that means? Oh, wait, don't tell me, the word isn't in your dictionary? Well, let me educate you: No, spelt N.O. Most commonly known as a negative, used to express dissent, denial, refusal or rejection to a question or request."

"I know what 'No' means." Nic gritted out. "What I'm confused about is why you are saying it to me?"

"Well, Mr. Freire, I'm saying it to you, because I reject your proposal. I will not tell my father that I can't help you, because I will be helping you."

The silence could have frozen ice.

"What did you say?"

"I had not taken you for a man hard of hearing? But, just in case, I will explain myself for you. I will not leave you to plan the ball alone. I will plan it with you, just like my father wanted me to." Cecilia smiled at him innocently, careful not to let him see her glee.

"You! You are just doing this because I asked you not to, aren't you?" He ground his teeth.

"Um, no, I'm not, because you never asked me! You just told me, so now I'm telling you."

"So this is your revenge?"

"What revenge? I'm just being a good girl, like you wanted me to be the whole time, and following my father's instructions. That is what you kept reminding throughout the evening isn't it? To be mindful of my father's feelings and his reputation?" Cecilia cackled on the inside, as she thought of what she had in store for Nicolas Freire. He won't know what's hit him!!

"You? Innocent?! You are just a spoilt, overindulged little brat!" His ocean blue eyes flashed contempt, his lips curling in disdain.

Cecilia finally felt her composure breaking in the face of his outright insults.

"And you are a rude, arrogant, chauvinistic brute!" She spat, tossing flame coloured curls over her shoulder so she could flay him with the full force of her incensed gaze.

"Then we have nothing further to say to each other!" He sneered.

"No!"

"Good! Goodbye!" He turned back down the hallway, in the direction they had come from.

"GOODBYE!" She screamed after him, voice carrying down the corridor, before she turned and strode off in the opposite direction.

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AN: Hey! It's been a while, but have just been really busy with exams! Anyways, I hope you like the chapter! As always, please please let me know your thoughts. I always read and appreciate all of your comments and feedback. Your votes and comments make my day! 😍😘😍 Also, please share this story if you like it! Xoxox

P.s. Isn't the picture above really HOT?? #ChristianGrey... Mmmm... What I imagine Nic's personality to be like! (Minus the bondage) 😉😉😉 Also, loving Zayn's album, especially this song!!