Chapter 17

The next minute Axel and London were both on the ground. I started to panic, I was not sure what to do. I became instantly sober and I was aware of my surroundings. I looked down at them.

"Stop it please!"

They carried on, I don't think they could hear me. Axel got up faster and he pinned London down, he was about to land him a huge blow when I ran up to them and I knelt in front of him.

"Please don't do this" As I was crying now. Then Axel's eyes flickered onto mine as he was hesitating with his fist in the air. Then He got up from London and he walked away, I ran after him. "Axel wait".

When I turn back into the mansion, I can't see Axel at all. I finally go to our room, but he isn't there too. I decide to ask the guard by the door. "Sorry, can you take me to Axel" the guard just nods, and he leads the way. I get to the lounge, and as I open the door and there I see Axel watching strippers dance and there were a couple on his lap.

I close the door and I ask the guard to take me back to the room, he nods and he leads me back. I enter the room and I decide to shower, and I dress into my pajamas. I can't help but replay the kiss I had with London but every-time I did, I would see Axel's face, his face had looked broken. I couldn't help but also remember his cry of rage, it pierced through me.

We really did hurt him. I never thought I would see Axel broken, but why did it hurt me a bit that he seemed like that.

I shower for a very long time. I feel too conflicted, I'm hoping Axel does come, and he doesn't sleep out. I really wanted to clear the air amongst all of us. Why had I gotten so drunk to that point? I should have stayed in the room, now I felt very uneasy.

After the shower I felt much better, I had even sobered up and I started to angry at myself as to what I was thinking when I had shared a kiss with London as he was obviously Axel's best friend. I wonder if they're going to talk it out or what.

I was relieved that Axel had actually listened to me and he hadn't punched London.

I felt bad too that I had also left London like that, I hoped he wouldn't be upset with me. I could have at least checked on him before I ran after Axel. That was really inconsiderate of me, but when I had seen Axel's face, I couldn't help but think about anything else, so that's why I ended up going after him.

Now I felt very heavy and unsettled, what would happen now? I hoped he wouldn't later on take it on London, or even worse what if he might sell me, as he was very upset at the fact that I had done that. I really needed to talk to Axel so that I could at least put my mind to ease.

But now what bothered me was the possibilities of what he might be doing with all those girls in that room. I tried to blur it out of my mind as it kept on making me pace up and down. I kept on waiting for the door to unlock and him to come in.

But I knew he was busy with strippers, he might not come in for the whole night and that made me feel very unsettled, why did he have to unleash like this?

Axel's Pov:

When I had gotten back earlier from work today, I immediately went to check in on Talia. She was on my mind the whole day, I had to make things right between us, I wanted her to understand that this was what I also do. I would take her dinner and have a proper conversation. When I got to our room and I opened it, to find the maids cleaning a huge mess. "Sir, London took Talia to the garden she wasn't doing so well" As one of my men who was also guarding her came behind me.

I'm a bit relieved as I know that she is in safe hands and that she didn't run away.

I leave the room to find them. Why hadn't London called me to tell me about Talia's situation.

I hoped she was okay, I trusted London to take of her, so she should be fine. I immediately go in search for them, I knew they had to sitting at her favourite garden, that's where she loved to sleep and spent most if her weekends there.

When I turned, I didn't expect to find my best friend kissing my girl, she was mine and she belonged to me. I had never felt such rage.

"GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM HER" as I roar at him.

Next thing, I automatically ran up to him and I tackled him to the ground. All I saw was red, he would pay for this. When I recover faster, and I go on top of him as I'm ready to punch him.

Then the next thing Talia comes and kneels down, and I see she is begging for his life, she is crying for him! I feel shattered the most. Why can't I bring myself to hit him, I look into her pleading eyes and I know that I won't hit him. I actually find myself very sad at the fact that she is crying, I want to wipe her tears away and hold her, but I know I'm not the one she wants. I'm just a monster to her and nothing else.

I simply get up and I leave. I'm sure that they want more time to themselves, they probably wanted to carry on with it. I had disturbed their romantic evening.

I stormed into the lounge and I tell Marize to bring in some strippers for me.

"Yes sir" as she hurries.

This is what I always did when I found myself in such a situation.

The strippers come in and the music starts playing, I'm hoping to forget this night and get lost in the alcohol and the girls.

I start to drink very strong whisky. I watch the strippers perform but I all I see is my best friend and my girl kissing. I had really trusted Talia with all my heart, and London was like a brother to me as I had known him for years. Did everything mean nothing to Talia? I wanted to let her go, yet I couldn't just throw her away. I didn't even want to send her away to a different room.

I still wanted to protect her and know that she is sleeping okay and that she is safe and sound.

She was my hope after all.

The worst thing is that I still longed to see her, I wanted to speak to her.

What was going on with me, Why I was turning like this?

I drink more, so I can forget what happened.

And then London, I don't know why he would do that to me.

I make up my mind and I know what I'm going to do for a fact. I know that it will shock the both of them, but it had to be done and once I make up my mind, I never change it as I look at the golden liquor.

When I feel really drained I decide to call it a night, I dismiss everyone.

It's really late when I get to the room and I don't know if I want to see her at all. I contemplate going to the guestroom or if I should have taken one of the strippers with me for the night. I could have relieved myself.

I dismiss the guard at our door and he lives.

I turn the knob and I realize it's locked, so I take out my keys, then I open the door and I get in, then I lock it again. When I turn around I am met with a slap on my face.

Talia's Pov:

I have been waiting for Axel to come back, I'm standing by the door in the dark. When I hear the knob turning I take a step back. When he enters, and he locks the front door, I can smell strippers all over him. I don't know what got into me, so I decided to slap him.

Yet I was to blame as this all took place because I had kissed London, so what right did I have to be upset with him?

I first saw the disbelief in his face and then he tilted his head as if nothing happened.

He doesn't say anything as he walks past me, and he goes, and he changes. I wait for him to come out, when he does, I see him walking towards the bed. I decide to run in front of him and block his path. He looks down at me with solemn eyes.

"move out the way Talia, or else"

"Or else what? I want to talk to you about tonight"

"Go to London and talk to him, you know Sophie was right, you are a slut!"

I slap him again "A slut! For what? I was drunk Axel, I wasn't in my right mind! I just witnessed you kill a man for the first time in my life. Now all of a sudden, I'm a slut, and you are a man whore! I saw you with those strippers and you have the nerve to call me out over one mistake, I made when I was not of the right mind" I don't even know why I want him to understand me so badly, why did I care?

Suddenly his hands grip my waist and he pulls me a bit closer "I've been to nice, haven't I?"

He throws me on the bed. "You forget you are one of them, don't you? Strip for me"

My eyes are wide as I see that he is serious. "Please I'm sorry I didn't mean to say that."

"Don't make me tell you twice, Strip" as his voice was dangerously low.

I swallowed a lump in my throat, I looked at his face and I saw that his serious, my hands were shaking as I took off my pyjama top and I was left in my bra. I saw Axel look at me hard. When I was about to take off my pants "get up and do it whilst standing up so that I can have a better view" My eyes widened as I couldn't believe he was really doing this to me.

I stood up shakily and I took off my pyjama bottom, and I was left in my bra and underwear. "Do I have to tell you what comes next, start dancing" as he motioned for me to carry on. I couldn't believe Axel was actually doing this to me.

I start moving my hips and swaying a bit.

"Touch yourself" as he says it slowly.

I look at him shocked as I begin doing it, I touch my neckline, then down to my breasts and I go lower,

"You can stop now" I sighed in relief when I heard those words.

"thank you"

"Don't thank me yet Talia, because I will see you in full soon"

I look at him as I don't understand what he means by those words.

"huh" I reply to him

"We are getting married tomorrow"