"Please Brandon no!" She even grabbed his arm to stop him.

He turned to her. His lips were a thin line.

"He is my cousin's friend! You can't hit him!"

She was ready to say and do anything to stop him hitting Lander. She didn’t want any scene. She had been avoiding such situations but Brandon’s expression wasn’t encouraging. She needed to do or say something before he smacks Lander.

"I will do anything! Just don’t hurt him. I don’t want my cousin to get mad at me!” she said desperately.

Then she saw his eyes glinted and his brows creased.

"Anything?" he asked in a raspy voice.

Her eyes narrowed. She wanted to take back what she said but she couldn’t. It was true that she didn’t want any rift between her and Andrew but the way Brandon is looking at her now and that tone of his voice, she was having cold feet. He was now smirking.

"Anything but sex!" she hissed.

His smirk became broader. The look on the perv’s face was r worrying her. She turned her head where Lei was a while ago. Thank goodness she was gone. .She didn’t trust Brandon and the words that would come out of his mouth.

He pulled her by her waist then lowered his head to say in a husky voice, "Are you sure baby? You will do anything?”

She nodded. His touch was sending shivers down her spine. One of his hands was rubbing her back which caused her to have goosebumps.

"Sex is out!” She wanted to clump her lips because looked like he'd kiss her again.

His lips twitched to one corner. He was really a walking temptation! Her body was reacting so she scolded herself.

She would start dating tomorrow/ All the guys who like her were good men. Brandon might be way richer and hot than them, she was better off with any of them. She won’t ever want to be Brandon's woman. He was a womanizer and had no scruples in getting what and who he wanted. But her forehead creased when she remembered that he told her no other men could go near her. She almost groaned when she felt his warm and pleasant breath fanned her face. She was lost in her thoughts and hadn’t realized that their faces and bodies were very close now.

"You and your buddy are alike eh? You don’t even choose the time and place to act disgustingly!?" she said sarcastically when she felt his arousal between them.

He chuckled without breaking the stare.

"Contrary to what you think baby, my buddy doesn’t react to just any female. But you are a different story. It hardens when I see or smell you. Much more when we are this close. So just say yes so it won’t be disappointed. My buddy never wanted any woman so much until now. The mere sight of you makes it throb." he whispered.

"Is sex what you always think about? You seem to be talking about nothing else but sex! The level of your lust is something else!" she hissed.

He ignored her and instead moved his face closer to hers. Their lips were almost touching.

"I won't smack that photographer but you will let me kiss you. And you are not going with him! We will go to lunch together! " he said sounding firm.

She turned her head to the other side to avoid his kiss. She felt she couldn’t do it. The way he sounded made her feel that he was not talking about a simple kiss. Having lunch with him didn’t sound as scary as the kiss he was talking about.

"Let me go! I can’t breathe!” she complained and tried to push him from her.

She was lying of course. She just wanted a space between them because she couldn’t think clearly in that position. She was glad that at least he did let her go immediately.

"Listen baby. I won't do anything you won't like. And I promise that we won't go all the way without your go signal." he said.

She almost cursed at him. What did he think? That she was excited to have his hands all over her? She was about to voice her protest but they heard footsteps. It could be Lander.

She hurriedly whispered, “ Do what we agreed on!”

He winked and smirked. "Scouts honor.” He replied and he raised his right hand and crossed his fingers

“I will do what I told you and you would do the same baby,” he added in a serious voice. His expression became serious too.

She pushed him away from her. But before he totally released her, he gave her lips a quick but firm kiss. When he released her, she quickly put a distrance between them. The footsepes were nearer. And a few seconds later, Lander appeared.

"Liv?" his brows creased when he realized that she wasn’t alone.

She was thankful that the distance between her and Brandon was far enough. She didn’t want Lander to realize that Brandon had just kissed her before he came into view.

Brandon clenched his fists which were on his sides when he saw the other man’s face. He was pleasant looking and though the bastard looked surprised when he saw them, he seemed to be really glad to see Olivia. The trash and Olivia deemed to be almost the same age. He on the other hand was already thirty three and he was ten years older than her but he didn’t care. Their age gap didn't matter. But seeing another man who was nearer Olivia’s age and who was obviously very interested in her, really pissed him big time. Slowly, he felt heat ffrom his neck was going up to his face but had to control his anger. He promised Olivia that he would stay cool. He tore his eyes from Lander to look at her.

"Have I kept you waiting Lander? I’m sorry. Mr. Lopez and I were discussing about work. I did the photo shoot with him,” Olivia said to Lander. She was smiling.

Brandon didn’t like that she was smiling at the Lander but he shut his mouth. This would be the last time that he would allow her to smile to *ssholes. He would tell her that later.

"No I just came in. So are you ready to go?” he asked Olivia and he was looking at her intensely.

Brandon gritted his teeth. He had to leave them for a while before he would lose his control.

"I will wait for you outside baby. Don't forget what we talked about,” he reminded her while his eyes came back to Lander.

Olivia almost grunted. What Brandon just said and how he said it sounded threatening. Lander knitted his brows and looked at Brandon. Much as Olivia didn’t want to transfer her eyes at Brandon, she had no choice. She wanted to glare at him and say something sarcastic because he used his endearment for her in front of Lander. But when she saw his face, she just chose to shut her mouth. He had a scowl as he glowered at Andrew’s friend. Slowly, his narrowed eyes went to her.

He leaned towards her, without touching her , he whispered in her left ear in a very cold voice , " Don't let him touch you or else..."

After a few seconds, he straightened then transferred his eyes to Lander again, "Be out in three minutes baby. I hate waiting." He was talking to her but his eyes were on Lander.

She stayed silent but she would definitely talk to him later. He finally turned and left with a straight back. She could sense that his muscles were tensed. She knew he was doing his best to control his anger. It was kind of awkward between her and Lander after Brandon left.

" I didn't know you were an item." Lander commented. He looked poker-faced but his tone is a little cold.

She let out a light laugh. "Of course not! He calls all women baby," she lied.

"I know what I saw Liv," He added but he shook his head after he realized what he said. He now looked apologetic.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to sound as if I am prying. But from what he said, I reckon that you are going out with him? Does that mean that our lunch is cancelled?" he asked disappointedly.

She circled her lips with her tongue. " S-sorry but it slipped my mind. We have a briefing with Graciella and the designer. We can re-schedule our lunch.”

He heaved a sigh and in a sad tone said, " Okay. That’s no problem, Liv.”

She smiled apologetically again before asking him to walk with her to the door. She checked her watch then walked ahead of him. Their three minutes was almost over. Knowing Brandon, she was worried that he might cause a scene if they won’t come out immediately.

When she was almost near the door, it was flung open and Brandon stepped in. His face was wooden as he glared at them.

"I will call you Liv." Lander whispered so Brandon won’t hear.

She just nodded and turned her head to him. He released a small smile before he left. He even nodded his head at Brandon but the latter just continued glowering at him. She almost rolled her eyes. When Lander closed the door behind him. Brandon pulled her by her arm and e leaned her back on the wall.

Before she could react, he said," Time to claim my kiss!"

He pinned her hands above her head as he pushed his tongue inside her mouth. He was really an expert in the art of kissing that felt felt lost. One advantage of him being a manwh*re was he was a great kisser. His kissed were making her lose her mind. The movement of his tongue inside her mouth caused her legs to wobble. If her back wasn’t against the wall and Brandon wasn’t holding her, she would have probably been on the floor already. Her legs felt like jelly.

Frigid my ass Olivia! She scolded herself when she couldn't help but let out a moan.

He was rubbing his body against hers and it was really a shock that her body could only react to him. She was dead meat! Her body’s reaction was ruining her sensible thinking.

Brandon was kissing Olivia as if he really couldn't get enough of her. He had tasted a lot of women's mouths but she had the softest lips and the sweetest saliva . His desire for her was sky-high. He would have her very soon. He didn’t think that he would last longer without possessing her. He would totally lose it if he had to wait for long.

"You are driving me crazy baby...." he murmured when he removed his lips from hers for a few seconds.

"Sorry!” the voice sounded like the make-up artist’s.

"Go out and close the door!” he ordered Lei without turning his head to look at her.

He saw Olivia’s mouth slightly open to say something but he kissed her again without caring of Lei’s presence.

Olivia just heard the door closed while Brandon was still devouring her sweet mouth. She was wishing hard that Lei wouldn’t tell anyone. But she doubted it. News spread like fire. When Brandon finally tore his lips from hers, they were swollen and numb. She pushed him from her.

"You took advantage again!”

He just let out a sneer. He touched his own lips with his index finger as his eyes were on her. He seemed to be savoring the kiss they shared.

"I like kissing you so much baby and honestly, I can kiss you forever. But I want to do something more satisfying to you. Much more satisfying than just kissing your sweet lips," He said throatily which made her raise a brow.

"Excuse me?! We had a deal that it would just be a kiss! Actually what you did was more than that! " she accused.

He didn’t reply. He was just looking at her with a naughty smile on his lips.

***

Brandon tried to convince her to ride in his car but she refused. She had to do some grocery shopping after their lunch and before their briefing . She didn’t want him at the grocery with her. His female fans would flock to them.

She was surprised to see Graciella Ignacio with the designer of AFC already in the restaurant and talking to Brandon . They probably arrived at the same time. She on the other hand had to find an ATM machine. Now they were all seated around the table. She found out that Brandon asked Graciella to have the briefing earlier since he would have an emergency meeting with one of his business partners so he won’t be able to come to the AFC office after, She was curious abut what kind of business he was talking about. They were probably all monkey business anyway. She told herself that soon , she will get information about those.

The designer was explaining about the clothes they would wear for the shoot while the waiter was serving their appetizer. All was going well though she was sitting next Brandon But she spoke too soon. After a while, she almost dropped the glass she was holding. She felt his warm hand on her thigh. She was in a skirt which was above her knee. She glared at him but his eyes were on Graciella. The other woman was talking about the new concept her husband wanted to have with the new ads for their products. Discreetly, she tried to remove his hand on her thigh but it tightened.

"So how was the shoot with Brandon, Liv?" Graciella asked her.

"It was okay." she replied expressionlessly.

She pinched his hand but it was useless. It even went higher.

"Did you already tell her Brandon?"

"Tell me what?" she asked with a creased forehead.

Brandon had his eyes on her and she felt nervous.

"I haven't." he told Graciella but his eyes were never leaving hers. He was now rubbing her upper thigh gently.

She tore her eyes from him to look at the other woman. If she didn’t do that, she would throw the liquid in her glass at him.

" Brandon agreed to be our business partner. He agreed with a partnership between AFC and Sport It Up which he owns. He is now your boss too."

She stopped from groaning. Her brain hadn’t yet fully absorbed everything. She was perfectly aware of the consequences of what Graciella just said. Slowly, she transferred her eyes to Brandon. She swallowed when he smiled knowingly at her. She felt his hand squeezed her thigh. She gritted her teeth and wished herself good luck.

"It will be very nice working with you Olivia." drawled Brandon. He squeezed her upper thigh.

Graciella and the gay designer beame then she suddenly stood up.

"Excuse me. I will just go to the restroom."

Brandon got up from his seat too, "I'll go with you."

"NO!"

She saw shocked registered on the faces of Graciella and the designer..

So in a lower tone, “I’ll be fine. Please continue your meal.”

With appreciation in his eyes, Brandon looked at her sexy backside. He raised his hand to his nose. She smelled like lilies. He had found a gem in her. She was almost perfection.

He heard Graciella asked the designer to leave them for a few minutes. The latter nodded and immediately left. He turned to her and leaned on his seat. He crossed his arms on his chest.

"Are you sure that you’re leaving all the decisions to us? You can always change your mind. Denny and I would welcome your opinions. We both know how good you are when it comes to business."

“ I trust you and Denny. You have been doing well so far."

Something behind Graciella caught his eye.

"Okay. Well since you are really rich, I don’t think the hefty amount you invested in AFC would matter to you. I am just amazed that you are all doing all these for Olivia. She doesn’t have any clue how lucky she was,” she said with a smile.

Brandon’s full attention was not on her. He was still looking what was behind her.

"Well since you know my intentions, I guess there won’t be any problem right?" he asked.

"Of course. You don’t care about other things regarding AFC except for Olivia’s contract, projects and schedules. No worries. By the way she has a two-year contract with AFC so best of luck. Not that you need it,” Graciella beamed.

He nodded and excused himself. “I have to deal with something. Hold on.”

***

Olivia was relieved that Brandon didn’t follow her and she got the toilet to herself. She leaned forward to the sink with her hands flat on its sides. Everything was going so fast. Since she met Brandon, her life had been in a chaos. She avoided being in the news for a long time. Last time she was on the headlines was years ago.

Will the plain-looking and skinny teenager turn into a beautiful woman just like her lovely mother Carolina Montreal Castillo?

Even when she became a beauty queen, she wasn't spared from negative write-ups.

Carolina Castillo is disappointed that her daughter didn't get the crown. She will never be like her beautiful mother.

Maybe her mother paid the reporters. Her mother wanted to be always number one. And never cared about her. She wasn’t a good mom to her while she was growing up. She married her dad for his money. Her grandmother witnessed how her mom was with her, so she became her protector. But when she got sick, years after her dad died, she told her to be strong. She said that someday she would meet her prince who would save her from her mother’s claws. She was teary-eyed upon remembering her past. Then an idea came to her. Brandon and her mom together! They were a perfect match! She was startled when she heard a voice.

What is taking you so f*cking long?!"

She couldn’t believe her eyes. He was in the female's restroom!

"You can't be here for Chrissake !!" she angrily said.

He raked his fingers through his hair then cursed.

“ I wass so damned worried about you! An *sshole was looking at you with interest so I thought he followed you her! "I thought he did something to you! You have been gone for three fucking minutes!" he rasped.

She looked at him incredulously. What was his issue with three minutes?

"Not all men are like you!”

His eyes narrowed. "No one touches you but me! And since I’m your boss, I will hire a bodyguard for you! I don’t want to worry when I’m not with you!”

“What? You are really crazy! Just get out!” She was pissed, shocked and flattered? She shook her head. She wasn’t used to anyone getting worried about her. And what this man was doing and saying weren’t normal.

" Why the hell are you acting like my keeper? I just met you a few nights ago! Are you out of your mind?”

He advanced towards her to hold her arms. "Because I can't forget your face, your body, your taste and your smell! And yes! I am out of my mind so don't f*cking make me so damn worried and pissed!” He pulled her to him. "Listen to me baby! This is the first and last time I will say this! I never felt this much desire for a woman! I have never been territorial! I get what I want! I’m very aggressive and I fight hard and sometimes if it's needed, I fight really dirty! So don’t anger me!”

"Oh yeah? Excuse me but you aren’t getting me!”

"You wanna bet baby?" he asked in a breathy voice. Then they heard knocks.

"Is anyone here? Why is the door locked?" came a female’s voice.

"Open the door!!" she ordered Brandon in a panicky voice.

He gritted his teeth and walked to the door to open it.

"Use the f*cking toilet near the parking area! You are disturbing us! " he rasped while the two women outside stared at him. He then slammed the door. She groaned in dismay with what he did.

"Now where were we baby?" he asked huskily.

“I told you to leave me alone!”

He shook his head. “That’s not going to happen. By the way, I will be out of the country for a few days but I will be watching you! Don't forget what I told you! Steer clear of men! I can’t postpone my flight. Consider it like a little space between us. I will let you miss me. We will start dating when I return.”

"Wow you got it all planned? But no! You will never be my boyfriend so don’t act like you own me! I don't want to see you again so you better not come back!" she hissed.

Heat came up his neck and face. He was willing to woo her but he didn’t like her reaction and words " I will be your lover with or without your consent! The sooner you accept that, the better! Be very afraid of the real me! They didn't call me the baddest UFC champion for nothing so don't even think about provoking me, baby."

"Liv delivery is here,” said Jane. Olivia’s business partner and friend.

She nodded. She was expecting Kent, their supplied and owner of the flower farm with his delivery men.

"Good morning Miss Beautiful,” he greeted her. He handed her a bouquet of red roses.

Jane made a funny sound as she made faces at them. Her friend knew how much Kent liked her.

“I came early because I’ve been wanting to see you,” Kent said with a smile. “ Can I invite you for coffee, Liv?"

"Aren’t you busy today?” she asked with a smile as she smelled the flowers.

“It’s a Saturday so I don’t have to go work. Besides my men can finish all the deliveries today.”

Kent was a bank manager and on weekends, he helps with his family businesses including the flower farm.

“Go Liv. Lea and I will take care of the shop. Kent has been asking you for coffee for ages,” came Jane’s voice with a hint of a teasing smile.

She jokingly rolled her eyes at her. Her friend liked Ket for her.

“Heard that Liv? So come on! Let’s go to the new coffee shop nearby. We can walk there,” beamed Kent.

She just nodded and smiled wider too. She welcomed his company. Today she just wanted to be stress-free. She was glad that at last Brandon wasn’t in the county. Her life was back to normal. She hoped that he would find another woman wherever he was now so he won’t ever come back. She felt a small pain inside thinking about that. She shook her head to clear it then walked out with Ken. The coffee shop was a 5-minute walk.

"Are you sure you only want coffee?’ Kent asked after giving the waiter their order.

"Coffee is fine. I am on a diet." she said with a smile which made him chuckle.

"Come on Liv. You don’t need to go on a diet . You look perfect," he said while looking at her appreciatively.

"You are such a flatterer!” she joked and he chuckled.

“Really Liv. You are very beautiful,” he said seriously.

She bit the inside of her cheek and smiled shyly at him.

“So how’s your work?” she asked him to remove the awkward feeling she had. She still felt uncomfortable receiving compliments. She was relieved that he let her change the topic. They started to exchange stories. She discovered that he was fun to talk with. They had a lot of things in common. In other words, they were compatible. The half an hour they set for their breakfast became one and a half hour.

Now they were heading back to the flower shop. They were both smiling.

"Thanks Liv. I am really glad that you accepted my invite at last. I hope this won’t be the last,” Kent said, sounding hopeful.

She smiled wider “I’ll think about it,” she joked and he scratched his head.

"You look cute when you do that,” she complimented him.

She almost giggled when he blushed. She just shook her head and continued walking with a happy smile. She would go out with him again.

"There’s your car. You don't need to go back to the shop with me.”

"No. Let me walk you to the shop.”

They both looked at his car. He frowned while her eyes widened when they saw an irregular line along the side of his car. There was no dent. Just the ugly deep scratch.

"Kent! What happened to your car?"

He didn’t reply but he came closer to the car to check the damage.

***

"Gosh Liv! I couldn’t believe that someone would do that to Kent’s car! He was really nice that he just let what happened passed. If it were another man, he would have gotten violent!” Jane said with a shake of her head.

“I know. I told him next time he should park nearer the shop,” she said sounding a bit sad with what happened.

"Well I’m sure that won’t stop him from coming here. Anyway how was your date?” she joked.

Olivia made a face at her. “ What date? We just chatted over breakfast.”

“Come on Liv! Kent has been pursuing you for a long time now. He’s a good man and obviously he more than likes you. Just give him a chance girl! He’s a good catch!” her friend said with a silly grin.

She let out a light laugh. “Don’t worry. He invited me to watch a concert next week and I said yes,” she gaped when Jane made a happy sound and grabbed her hands and started to jump up and down in glee.

***

Brandon was in Singapore to support one of the UFC fighters who had a match in Marina Bay Sands last night. He hired his trusted bodyguard Charles to watch Olivia while he was gone. When he got back at the hotel he saw his message which was an hour ago.

Charles: Sir, Miss Olivia left with a man.

He cursed and dialed his number.

"Where the f*ck are they?!" he asked furiously as he paced back and forth in the living room of his suite.

"At the café near Miss Olivia’s flower shop sir.”

"Do you have your eyes on her now?" Brandon asked.

He ordered him not to stare at Olivia. He couldn't find a good female bodyguard immediately so he had no other option. His bodyguard was his most trusted but he was a man and Olivia was gorgeous. He didn't want any man to look at her with admiration.

"No sir. I’m looking at the man she’s with,” the bodyguard said courteously.

"Just make sure you’re telling the truth! We will do the lie detector test when I get back!” he threatened.

"Copy sir."

"You know what to do with the trash she’s with. Don’t hurt him. Just scare him,” he ordered.

“Okay sir.”

"Do your job discreetly or suffer the consequences!”

"Noted sir.”

He was furious. He told Olivia to stay away from men and now she disobeyed him. Seems like she wasn’t taking what he said seriously. She would suffer the consequences of what she did.

"You are testing my temper baby,” he murmured as he blew out a smoke.

***

Olivia was the last one to leave the flower shop. She told Jane that she would tidy up first. Now after an hour, she was finally done. She felt hungry and tired. It was almost 7 p.m. She would buy food and take a warm bath to relax.

She was about to go to the toilet when her phone started to ring. It was an unknown number. With a frown, she took the call. "Hello?”

"Hello baby."

That deep voice gave her goosebumps. She felt her heart skipped a beat. She won't ever forget his voice. Obviously he got her number from Graciella.

"Have you been good baby?" he asked in a cold and emotionless voice.

" Are you talking to me? You got the wrong number Mr. Lopez,” she said trying to hide the fear in her voice.

There was silence for a few seconds. She was ready to hang up but he spoke again.

"You are the only one I call baby.”

"I don’t do inappropriate things. So your question if I have been good is nonsense. Stop pestering me Mr. Lopez. Goodbye!”.

She sighed and calmed herself. She won’t let him affect her. She had been fine while he was gone and she won't let him ruin her night. She was tired and badly needed food and rest. She sighed and walked to the powder room.

She wouldn't freshened up a bit before leaving. Since it was a weekday, most establishments around her close earlier but she wasn’t afraid. This was a safe place anyway. She was locking the door from the outside when something caught her eye. She almost screamed because Brandon was leaning on the wall of her shop near the display window staring at her. He was smoking. She looked around her and saw no one else. She wasn’t afraid moments ago but finding Brandon here and the way he was looking at her was giving her the creeps. Unluckily, her car was at the back of the shop.

“Baby have you been good?” he asked and she heard his footsteps behind her. “Have you forgotten what I told you before I left?”

She was scared as hell so she didn’t snap at him. “Oh God!” she murmured when she heard him cursed.

She was almost running. Her heels made sounds against the road as she hurriedly headed to her vehicle. She shrieked when she felt him grabbed her by the waist from behind. Then a hand with a hankie covered her mouth. She tried to scream but she couldn’t. He had his other arm around her so she couldn’t move. A chill ran down her spine when he spoke.

"You have been a bad girl baby,” he whispered in her left ear.

Her hands are pinned on her sides. He seemed to be inhaling her skin and hair which was making her feel different types of emotions. Fear and excitement.

" Do you know what I do to bad girls baby?" he asked.

She just continued trying to wriggle free but then she suddenly felt dizzy.

Before she passed out she heard him say, “You will soon find out.”