Chapter 9: Chapter 9
Kelsey walked out of the tour agency office with a sigh. It was not because she was tired or annoyed, she sighed because the guy walking next to her would not stop complaining about an hour ago. Sure, the tour agency had been incompetent and messed up the documents but people made mistakes and that was normal. At least it was normal for her, who evidently was more understanding than him.
"So," said Flynn as he leaned on his motorcycle that had a resemblance with what Valentino Rossi rode. “Do I have to charm you to get you on my bike?”
Kelsey scowled. It was true that he had spent twenty minutes persuading her to get on his bike so they could reach the tour agency office faster but it didn't mean that she liked to be reminded how childish she had been. “Why do I need to get on your bike?”
A playful smirk appeared on his ridiculously handsome face. "So can we go on with our date?"
Kelsey rolled her eyes. "What date? We are not on a date or whatever you have in mind."
"Oh, really?" Kelsey watched him straighten his back and walk towards her. His lips curled into a charming smile, one that made her more nervous as he drew closer. "Then why is my heart beating so fast as if it is our first date?"
Kelsey knew how good he was with words. She was well aware of how charming the notorious bad boy could be, and there was no way she would let him get into her. If anything, his words only made her put her walls up.
"I don't know. Go to a doctor, maybe you're suffering from Tachycardia." Kelsey shrugged and walked towards the bus stop nearby. She only managed to take three steps before he caught her wrist and spun her around until they faced each other, causing their chests to bump.
"Or maybe I am suffering because of you," replied Flynn as he put her hand on his chest.
A sudden downpour drenched them from head to toe. A man wearing a black suit came out of a Rolls Royce parked behind Flynn's motorcycle with an umbrella in his hand.
“Give me the umbrella," said Flynn as he stuck out his hand and the man handed him the umbrella. He opened it, and saved Kelsey from getting any wetter. With one hand holding the umbrella, he snaked his free hand around her waist, making her gasp, and pulled her against the side of his body. "Let me get you home." Without wasting any time, he escorted Kelsey to the car and helped her get in before he got into the driver's seat himself.
If it was not because of the fact that she was soaking wet, from the first outer layer of her clothes to her underwear, which caused her to tremble, she would have objected to his offer.
Out of the corner of her eye, she watched the window slide down on Flynn's side and heard him say, “Dude, give me your key." The man reached into his pocket, pulled the car key, and handed it to Flynn who then tossed his motorcycle key to the man in return.
He put the key on the dashboard and pushed the ignition button. The car's V12 engine roared to life.
Kelsey frowned as she moved her gaze from his motorcycle to the guy sitting next to her. "I know you are filthy rich but you can't just take someone's car!"
He turned to face her, smiling. "This is my car." He licked his bottom lip and Kelsey had trouble keeping her eyes anywhere else but his lips. "Well, technically it is a company car but since I am an Ascott, I guess in a sense it belongs to me.”
Of course, it is his, Kelsey scolded herself. How could she not know such an obvious thing? Maybe because she had never thought that someone would waste their petrol by bringing their car and motorcycle together when they could simply bring one or the other, not both. Angry at her own stupidity, she ducked her face and stared at her hands on her lap.
Feeling his heat on her neck, she looked up to find his face only five inches away from hers. "W-what are you doing?"
His answer was short. "Seatbelt." His hand reached for the seatbelt on her right, brushing her shoulder slightly, then pulled it over her front before buckling it up.
He drew back to his seat, finally letting her breathe, then turned the heater on. "I think we both need a hot cup of coffee, Luv.”
“We have no audience to convince, you can drop the nickname,” commented Kelsey as she leaned back in her seat.
“No way,” replied Flynn with a deep chuckle. “I have looked forward to the day I could use that nickname on someone.”
Kelsey pursed her lips. She wanted to comment but she refrained herself.
“Now I get to use it on you,” he added with a smirk.
“Well, you could have used it sooner if you seriously dated someone,” she blurted the words out before realizing it. Now there was no way she could take it back.
Flynn nodded, his eyes were focused on the road. “That is true.”
“This is obviously none of my business but call it curiosity or doing a service to those girls whose hearts you have broken,” she said then sighed as if her next sentence would be such a chore, “but here goes: why didn’t you date them?”
He shrugged his shoulders. “Why should I? If I can get what I want.”
In an instant, she regretted ever asking him. Anger flared inside of her. She was pissed on the behalf of those girls. “I suggest you think your next words very carefully because I am not sure how much longer I could restrain myself from slapping you and I do not even give a damn if that is animal abuse!”
He glanced at her for a brief moment then turned back to the road. “That was an asshole answer, I am sorry. But let’s put it this way. I learned it from the first girl I made out with, which was five years older than me when she told me that it was just a kiss and no strings attached. She has told me before she kissed me and I accepted it so when the fun was not there anymore and it was time to move on, we both did. It is the same as the girls I have been with. I have told them beforehand that it would be no more but a hookup yet somehow they got it into their heads that we were an item or in some kind of relationship.”
Kelsey did not realize that they had arrived at their destination until Flynn took off his seatbelt and shifted in his seat to face her. “K, I am not a saint. But I have never been a liar. I told them before we kissed or went anywhere further that whatever happened, we would never be an item and I accept negative confirmation.” When a crease started to form on her forehead, he explained, “You know, since they did not object so I would take it as an affirmation that they agree to it.”
“You dated Rachel though.” She suddenly recalled a few months ago when Rachel and the cheerleaders had talked about Flynn during lunchtime.
He lifted one brow and asked, “Rachel who?”
“Goodness, how many Rachel have you been with?”
Flynn laughed then grinned from ear to ear while wiggling his eyebrows. “A lot actually.” He leaned forward, his dark hazel eyes sparkled as he added, “But I have never dated a Kelsey before.”
“Stop with the flirting, there are only the two of us here.” She rolled her eyes. “Anyway, I was referring to Rachel Matthews.”
“Oh, the annoying Rachel with pompoms.” He nodded, seemingly remembering her now that he could mention details about Rachel being a cheerleader. “I did not date her though no doubt she wishes I did. If I remember correctly, I hooked up with her thrice then hooked up with her friend, the girl with blonde hair, and then hooked up with Rachel again three more times and that was it.”
Kelsey looked at him incredulously. “That was it?”
“Yep, pretty much.”
“I meant that as sarcasm. You truly are such a man—” She quickly stopped herself then added, “Player.”
“Man player?” Flynn gave her a hard look. He clearly knew what she had been meaning to say. “You mean man whore? It is fine. People can say what they want but I have never two-timed anyone. I told them beforehand that it was not a relationship. They were free to hook up with whoever they wanted to. No strings attached.”
She shook her head, sighing. “Maybe it is a good thing we have the arrangements so you can not hurt those girls.”
“Maybe.” A small smile formed on his lips then he turned around and opened his car. “Let’s go.”
* * *
In the midst of a crowded café, Flynn took a sip of his black Americano and watched Kelsey sit in front of him over the top of his cup. She had been quiet the whole journey, gazing at the road but never at him. No girl in their right mind would deny his charm, yet this girl, Kelsey Leah Ferreira, did exactly that. Not only had she denied his charm, but she had also thrown words back at him without a care.
Never in his eighteen years of life had a girl told him that he suffered from heart disease just because he had said his heart was beating fast. Maybe Kelsey Ferreira was not on her right mind or maybe she still loved her stupid ex. Whichever the reason was, he decided that he did not care. He would win her heart no matter what. He would make her his, then break her heart.
Game on.
Flynn placed his cup on the saucer then put on his most charming smile as he leaned forward, ready to steal her heart. But before he could say or do anything, she put down her empty cup and promptly stood up.
"Flynn, thanks for the coffee and letting me stay at your place last night but I have to go now." She gave him a small smile then started to walk away. "Have a good day!"
"Have a good day?!" Flynn could hardly believe this. His mood shifted as gloomy as the Seattle skies. Without finishing his coffee, he walked outside and found his driver ready with the car.
* * *
Once Kelsey had left the cafe, she did not go straight to her workplace. She made a short trip to this corner salon that she had always gone to whenever she dyed her hair. This time, though, she wanted to get her platinum blonde locks back. Even if she had to bleach her hair and then color it blonde.
Unlike other salons, this salon was owned by a woman called Marie, who claimed to be her mother’s friend. Marie always had a good price for Kelsey.
“Hey there, Dearie,” greeted Marie as Kelsey walked into the salon. “Your hair still looks great. What do you need me to do?”
“Hi, Marie. Um, I want to get my natural hair color back,” answered Kelsey with a hopeful smile.
“Why? I thought your boyfriend likes brunettes.” She leaned forward with a smile on her face. “Did you manage to convince him otherwise?”
“No.” Kelsey tried her best not to grimace. Although it did not hurt anymore, it was still odd to talk about Shane and Bryson. “He is actually dating Bryson now.”
“Oh, damn.” Marie winced. “Well, it would be challenging to get your hair color instantly. There will be no damage-free way to color your hair lighter. You will need to bleach bath your hair and then use a toner to match your natural color. And since your natural color is extremely light, it may take some time to get back and you may have to settle for a lighter version rather than your natural platinum blonde color.” She motioned for Kelsey to sit down then started to check her hair. “Then we could regularly trim it, cut off the ends which would probably be damaged from the bleaching process.”
“Yeah, I think that would be alright, Marie.” She paused and tried to recall how much money she had actually brought with her. Kelsey secretly worried that it might not be enough. “Um, sorry, how much will it cost?”
Marie put both hands on Kelsey’s shoulders and smiled. “You have come here so many times, Dearie. This time, it is on me.”
* * *
Ace closed the door and started driving. He drove around the block, not knowing where to go but he knew asking his grumpy boss behind would only provoke another havoc. About two hours later, his boss finally opened his mouth.
"Ace."
"Yes, Sir?"
There was a sigh. “I have told you before to call me Flynn.”
"Forgive me.” There was a pause before he muttered, “Flynn.”
“Ace, have you ever found a girl who is as frustrating as she is interesting? Like you could not quite understand what is—” His phone rang and Flynn pulled it out of his front pocket. "Never mind. Take me to this new club in downtown Seattle.” He fiddled with his phone then continued, “Pièce de Résistance. I've sent the location to the GPS.”
"Right away, Sir." Ace observed his boss lean against the back of his seat, one arm covering his eyes as he groaned. It seemed that whatever troubled him this morning has not been resolved.
Ace could only hope this new club had a mood-changing machine.