Chapter 23: Separation Anxiety


    Franco


    Being away from Saphira for a day was torture but what made it worse was the amount of time I spend


    dodging and hiding from Madeleine.


    The two times she saw me she insisted to have lunch or dinner.


    I thought she already epted that we can’t be together anymore but I guess I was wrong. She was


    being persistent and irritating to say the least.


    She even followed me in the café where I was working.


    “Franco, you have a customer waiting for you at table 3. She insisted that you serve her drinks.”


    “Aargh!”


    Honestly, I don’t care anymore if I was being rude but I am at work and I need to treat the customers


    with respect.


    “What can I help you with?”


    That’s when she pulled me beside her and she actually kissed me.


    Being in shock made me freeze on the spot and she took that as a sign to deepen the kiss. As she


    teased my lips with hers, her tongue seeking for entrance, I was momentarily brought back to the time


    when I wished that she kissed me that way. Seconds passed and I felt myself reacting to the kiss. She


    took advantage and shifted her position to straddle me. It was a good thing that the table where she


    was at was somewhat hidden and that the café was deserted with only a few customers else I may


    have been fired.


    Her hands were amazing and was grinding, groping and caressing me in ces I can’t even name.


    She knew my weakness and she used that to lure me in her trap.


    “Let’s. . . go. . . somewhere. . .else. I . . . missed . . .you.” Madeleine said in between kisses and her


    voice was like a bucket of ice cold water to me, which brought me back my sanity.


    I ended the kiss and tried to push her away from me.


    “Don’t fight it. I know you felt something. You still have feelings for me. I can make you remember how


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    much you love me.”


    “I’m sorry Madeleine, this is wrong. I shouldn’t have done this. Please let go. I still have work to do.”


    “Franco baby, please don’t be stubborn. I can feel your desire. I felt your heat. You still want me.”


    “How dare you use this to get me. Don’t go down to this level Madeleine. This is not you. Please, just


    let me go.”


    I saw her expression change and I knew I hit a nerve. She hated it when I criticize her orment


    about her attitude or ws.


    “Fine! But don’t think that this is thest time you will see me. And with my ns in motion, you will be


    begging me for more.”


    “Just please let me go.”


    She pulled me for one short kiss and even grinded her hips towards me before leaving me disarrayed


    and feeling sick about myself.


    How should I tell Saphira when she gets back? I knew I have to tell her. I don’t want to lose her trust in


    me and hiding something this big will have an effect in our friendship.


    -0-0-0-0-0-


    I tried to call Franco’s phone but he was not answering. When we got to the hotel, Rob took me to my


    room, which was just opposite of his . The hotel was pretty nice but I think he may have something to


    do with the rooms since I noticed that ours were thergest suite of the hotel. Pretty extravagant for a


    school conference. I guess being the son’s owner and only heir has its perks. I’ll just have to ask him


    why he upgraded my room too.


    I got ready and was actually excited and looking forward for today. Feeling positive in my red knee high


    skirt and white sheer long sleeved top paired with ck stilettos, I got out of the room and literally


    bumped into Rob’s muscr chest. I guess he was on his way to meet me from the way his hands


    shifted from almost knocking at the door to hugging me to ensure I don’t lose my bnce.


    “Hey. Are you alright?”


    “Yeah. Thanks for catching me.”


    “Anytime.”


    I looked up and with my high heels I looked straight into his blue eyes. It was mesmerizing, I can’t help


    but study the rest of his face, his nose and lips. He’s perfect. No wonder the girls at school and well,


    me at some time seem to lose their minds just looking at him. I heard him catch his breath when I


    looked at his lips. I looked back at his eyes and it was darker than it was before.


    I realized we were still hugging each other and I couldn’t help but blush.


    “Oh. I’m sorry.”


    I tried to break free from his hold but he stopped me. He pulled me closer and tilted my chin. To say


    that I was nervous will probably be the understatement of the year. I didn’t know what I was feeling at


    the moment but it was like my chest was about to explode from nervousness or was it anticipation?


    Then he caressed my face and tucked a stray hair in my ears. He leaned forward and I involuntarily


    closed my eyes.


    “We have to go Saphira.”


    His whisper brought goose bumps on my skin but of course I can’t let him know that I was affected by


    his presence, so I gently pushed him away and went out of the room with a nk expression.


    “Let’s go. I don’t want to bete on our first day.”


    I heard the door closed and his steps followed me down the hall and into the elevator.


    On our way down, I can’t look at him. I felt embarrassed for the way I acted. I don’t want him to think


    that I have the hots for him. I came here for the Student’s conference and more. If only Franco did not


    cancel on this trip. Things would have been easier if he was here with me.


    “Hey, Saphira. We’re here. Are you alright?”


    “Yes. Don’t worry about me.”


    “Come on. Let’s find our seats.”


    The first day of the conference was fun but nerve wracking for me. We had to introduce ourselves to


    the other delegates by a game called Social Bingo. There was a bingo card where we had to cross out


    a category and write the name of the person who describes that category until a certain winning


    For me when Rob asked me if I am a bookworm, I said yes. I asked him if he is a sports buff and he


    said yes. Of course it was obvious since we somehow knew each other, but for the other category like


    “can eat 1 whole chicken in 5 minutes” and “cross dresses during weekends” really? How can I ask


    someone that question? Thankfully after talking with seven people who seemed nice enough to write


    their names on my card, 10 winners were picked and so we all settled down on our seats.


    I must admit it was fun and I got to know that I looked like a model, princess, singer and beauty queen.


    Well, those were from the other delegates. They kept on asking if I was included in any of those


    categories.


    “Why are you smiling?”


    “Huh? I didn’t even know. Was I?”


    “You were. And it was a beautiful smile.”


    “Oh shut up.”


    “No, really you’re smile is cute and you are beautiful.”


    I blushed since I don’t normally hear anypliments about my looks.


    “Thanks. I guess.”


    “Can we have dinner together? I mean, after the conference? I know a good Italian restaurant here.”


    “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”


    “Why not?”


    “Can we just talk about thister? The lecture is about to start.”


    “Ok. But not for a second am I giving up on this invitation.”


    “Shhh.”


    And so I have more things to think about now. How will I talk to Franco now that I can’t even reach his


    number? Andstly, how will I survive with this person sitting beside me who is starting to make me feel


    conscious and confused?