CHAPTER THREE- krasotka

Josephine

“Jo?”

Mathew called out, cutting me from the predatory trap that the mysterious grey eyed man had on me. I cleared my throat, my ears burning in embarrassment of shamelessly staring at another man.

Mathew looked ahead, his eyes darting across the room to see what I was looking at. “W-what were you looking at?”

I place my palm on his hands with a tight reassuring smile. “It’s nothing, I was lost in thought.”

“Thoughts?..... I was speaking to you about my goals babe....” He clenched his teeth in anger.

My heart was still racing, I could tell that he still had his eyes on me but I forced myself not to give him the attention. Everything, the food, Mathew, my birthday....they all didn’t matter anymore.

I felt nauseous. “E-excuse me, I need to go to the ladies room.”

“What the hell? He whispered harshly.

Mathew called out but I was already up from my seat, ignoring all the stares thrown at me I walked quickly, following the signs leading to the women’s restroom.

“Fuck....”

I let out a breath that I didn’t know I was holding, my fingers were shaking from what I just experienced. Thankfully the bathroom was empty so it wouldn’t look weird to intensely stare at my reflection in the mirror.

“How the hell is it possible that this could be a coincidence?....” I mumbled to myself.

It was crazy, the effect that he had on me from just his stare. There was something about that man that screamed danger but he was too captivating to look away.

I reapplied my lipgloss and adjusted my dress. “Avoid that man like a plague, Josephine.....” I mumble to myself before walking out.

My strut was fluid as I made the long walk back to my empty table. Confusion etched on my face, where the hell is Mathew?

I glanced around but he was nowhere to be seen but his stuff was on the table. He probably went out for a smoke, a habit that I loathe about him but he wouldn’t even want to stop.

My feet ached in the strappy heels I wore, making my way towards the outdoor smoking area and I was right, there he was....

“Mathew, I thought you promised to quit smoking?” my exposed back shivered from the chilly night air.

He scoffs and takes a drag out of his cigarette without even turning back to look at me. “Cut the bullshit, don’t act like you care now....”

My brows furrowed, I inched closer to him. “What do you mean by that?”

“I saved up to spend my hard earned money on this fucking night only for you to ignore me like some piece of shit.” He sneered, sending a glare at me.

My eyes widen in shock, where the hell is this accusation sprouting from!? At this point, I didn’t even want to create an argument between us, not while the night wasn’t over yet.

“Let’s go inside....it’s freezing out here.”

I place my hand on his back gently but he flinches away like I’m infected or something. He gives me a look that I’m well too familiar with, a look of disgust and it crumbles my soul.

“Don’t touch me, go back and eat by yourself.” He hissed, crushing his cigarette down before storming off.

I swallowed thickly. “Mathew, I’m sorry okay?!”

He storms into the restaurant, leaving me out alone in the cold. My lips trembled and I clench my jaws holding back tears....I don’t know why he always creates fights between us...

“Shit...”

I scramble to cautiously wipe away a tear that escaped my eyes in an attempt not to smudge my birthday makeup. Such a shitty birthday it was for me, fuck my life....

“You should end things with him.” A husky deep voice echoes from the darkness.

I freeze in place, his thick Russian accent sent shivers down my spine. I could only make out his large form from the dim lights of the smoking area.

“H-how long have you been standing there?” I shivered, not from the cold but from an unsettling feeling.

He chuckles deep and richly causing my heart to beat faster as I watch a small flicker of light before smoke puffs out into the air. “Go inside, krasotka it’s too cold for that little dress of yours...”

My cheeks warmed, I was freezing but for some reason, I wanted to stay outside in the cold with him. “Did you follow me out here?”

He took another drag from his cigar and puffed out the smoke before clipping the end off. “It is a smoking area, so to answer your question, no.”

My stomach tightened, his quiet confidence was unnerving, I should’ve said something dismissive to him but I stood frozen on my spot.

“B-but is it a coincidence to meet again, like this?” I shivered.

He inched closer to me, the air between us sizzling as I could now make out his calculative grey eyes. “You’re shivering in your heels.....Go home or you’ll get sick.”

There was danger in his tone but it was also raw and magnetic. I couldn’t explain it but this man captivates me and I can’t look away from his intense gaze.

“Why do you care, you don’t even know me.” My voice coming out breathy.

He leans in slightly to my height, his presence overwhelming, his expensive cologne mixed with smoke- such an intoxicating scent.

A smirk stretched on his lips with a spark of amusement flicker in his sharp, stormy eyes. “Perhaps I don’t know you yet, princess. But I know him.”

I blinked, startled by his words. “You know Mathew?”

“Men like him, little boys who play at being a man then throw tantrums when nothing goes their way.” His Russian accent coming out thick.

The blunt words he uttered made my heart lurch. I wanted to defend Mathew but stopped myself, deep down I knew he was right in a way....

I cleared my throat. “A-and what about you....what kind of a man are you?”

His smirk faded and his cold grey eyed became dark with a domineering presence. “The kind you should stay far away from.”

A shiver curls down my spine from his unsettling presence. I took a step back, his aura was too heavy to be around and I was way too attracted to this dangerous man.

His commanding gaze held me in place, I felt trapped with my heart racing like I ran a marathon. Tension crackled between us like electricity and i was too drawn in to look away.

“Happy birthday krasotka.”

His octave voice spoke softly before brushing past me to the head back into the restaurant. I stood frozen in the cold night air, trying to wrack my head on what just happened before the biting cold hits me and I hurry back inside.