CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 4

"Yes, Allison?" asked Hades' smooth, velvety, lust-laced voice. She looked at their whole selves once again when her stomach groaned in hunger. Hades released a low chuckle, "Hungry?" he asked with his eyes sparkling in amusement.

She nodded, her head hung low, concealing her tomato-red face.

"Come." Allison heard him said as his arm snaked around her waist. He guided her towards the massively soft bed. She shuddered when she felt a weird wet feeling between her legs, stiffening. Hades, seeming to feel her fall rigid, looked at her with worry in his face, "What's wrong, love? Are you not feeling well? Does anything hurt? Do you want me to bring you to the hospital?"

I never thought he would be this caring, she thought, almost smiling as the fear of him in her heart is slowly ebbing away. Seeing him disquiet for her health makes her feel warm and cared for, something that her parents fail to show.

"Uh, no. I just need to go to the bathroom," she answered stiffly but the worry in Hades' face did not abscond. She sensed the wet feeling again and shuddered.

"Are you sure?" he asked and she nodded reassuringly. He guided her to the white door of his room and opened it for her, she made her way in and closed the doors gently. She drew a deep breath before lifting up the heavy comforter. The sticky, icky wet feeling between her legs is bothering her.

Allison's jaw dropped at the sight before her: legs damp with sticky blood, a sign that her Aunt Flo has come to visit. She sighed in relief, so relieved that she's already close to tears. She couldn't believe it. Hades couldn't impregnate her!

But then, a thought agitated her. She needs tampons. A loud knock vibrated against her back, "Allison?"

"Y-Yes?" she replied stiffly, feeling like a little girl caught by her mother stealing cookies from the jar.

"Are you alright?" asked Hades, his voice was filled with worry.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I-I just need a few minutes," she answered dreadfully while roaming her eyes around, finding signs of any tampons. A sarcastic thought came right away: Mr. de Vries is a man, so how come he would keep tampons in his very own bathroom?

"What's the matter, Allison?" Hades seems to notice the hint of panic in her voice, "U-Uh no—" he immediately cut her off. "Don't say nothing, Allison. I know there's something troubling you," his voice was low though worry was evident.

"No, really..."

"Allison," his voice is now angry and dominating like he's trying to warn her to tell the truth or something bad will happen.

Allison gulped, hesitating. Should I tell him or not? But it's embarrassing! But he's already wa—

"Don't make me go inside there, Allison," his warned, his voice now uptight and menacing, rendering her to give up and obey in fear, "I-I'm..." she tried to make out the words but she found it difficult to speak, it was like there was a lump stuck on her throat, stopping her from saying anything, "I'm on my period!" she finally confessed.

"What?" she heard a low and delighted chuckle, rendering blood to come and rush up to her face in embarrassment. She was about to say an excuse but before she could, he already spoke. "Wait there, I'll get you tampons. Feel free to take a shower while you wait for me, love."

"All right..." she answered and in a matter of minutes, she heard the door was opened then closed.

Allison drew a deep breath before taking off the heavy comforter, she folded it and placed it on the sink. Her teeth clenched together and went stiff when the draughtiness embraced her.

Slowly, she stepped into the shower and turned on the shower knob, the cold waters rained upon her, touching her skin, enfolding her cold body, saturating her. She looked at herself through the steam in the glass and touched the juncture of her neck, the part that Hades had been nipping and kissing that he would almost eat it. She felt bare, vulnerable, and new, so new. Probably because I'm not a virgin anymore, she thought despondently. She heaved a heavy sigh before forgetting the thought and a new thought came, at least he wasn't able to impregnate me. She grabbed the liquid soap and smudged it on her hands, and then to her body, envisioning that the soap's removing Hades' sweet and congenial kisses and the prints of his hands that were roaming around her body. The mint scent and cool sensation made her feel relaxed and thought with her eyes closed, it's nice to have a shower like this for a while.

**After taking a shower**, Allison the shower knob off before stepping out. She looked around, finding for a bathrobe and found one hanging near the sink. She wore it and strode to the door open it but before she could, a loud knock was heard.

"Allison?" Hades called.

"Yes, I'm here," she answered.

"I've brought what you need," he said and she opened the door slightly, making a large hand, holding two paper bags enter. Allison gladly took it and said, "Thank you," before politely closing the door again.

She opened the first paper bag and revealed countless packs of tampons with different colors, sizes, and brands. She looked at them with aghast, she never thought that he would buy her tampons by himself. He could have asked his mother or sister or housemaid. She opened the second paper bag and divulged three pairs undergarments with different designs, it was conspicuous that they were from Victoria's Secret, a white jacket, blue long sleeves with a print "I Don't Give A Shit" and high waist jeans. They were all branded.

She never pondered that he would give her such things. Mr. de Vries would have probably given more than these to other women who are willing to go to bed with him, she thought as she pulled out a certain tampon and undergarment. Hastily, she wore the given clothes and left. She gasped in surprise when she saw Hades waiting for her at the door. He was wearing pajamas earlier but now, a black fitting T-shirt with matching jeans.

"You scared me," she said, clutching her chest.

"Did I?" Hades asked, an amused grin creeping on his face. "Come, love, have breakfast, I'm very sure you're famished." He offered and she nodded in response. His hand landed on her waist as he guided her to the bed.

Allison sat down on the edge of the bed as Hades placed the tray of breakfast beside her. She looked at the scrumptious fare before her. They're mouthwatering, she thought. Picking up the spoon and fork, she began digging in. A low chuckle soon came across her ears, making her look up and meet Hades' smiling grey eyes.

Those stormy orbs, she thought, mesmerized by them. Realizing what she was doing, she felt discomfited and hung her head low with a red face.

"Hey, love." a thumb held her chin and lifted her face, making Allison's mossy green eyes meet those smiling stormy grey orbs once again. She gulped, feeling the intensity of their gazes, her flustered green eyes against his calm, loving grey ones. Her mind was full of thoughts, what she should do, panicking of what's going to happen next but deep inside her heart, she knows that all she should just do is to stare back at him and feel his warm passion embrace her. She saw his lips gape open and his sweet words made her fluster even more.

"Please, love, don't hide your face. It's such a shame if you hide such a stunning face."

**"Thanks for the ride, Mr. d-"** Hades cut Allison off before she could continue, "Hades," his cold grey eyes piercing at her, making the terrified lady fall stiff.

"H-Hades," she couldn't help but stammer as she repeated, her ebbed fear, growing back again. His enigmatic and ominous presence was already enough for her to cower in fear what more if facing him near?

Her eyes widened in bewilderment when his lips etched into a smile as his eyes looked at her lovingly like she was the most beautiful woman he has seen in his whole life. He looks better when he smiles, she unconsciously thought.

"I'll see you around then," she said and was about to open the car's door when a strong hand grabbed and turned her around. She felt a pair of warm, soft lips touched hers.

Allison's whole body had gone weak as Hades wrapped his arms around her instinctively, possessively. The intolerable sensation of his lips against hers was making her fall under his menacing spell, though her mind was shouting and pleading that it was wrong and she should fight against him. She knows it's wrong. She knows it's wrong to let him touch her like this, to kiss like this, to let herself give in to him but the sensations were so overwhelming that it was making her crazy.

The mint and manly scent of his mouth infiltrated hers when she felt his tongue tried to enter through her lips, she kept her lips shut, fighting against the temptation of opening it. From her back, Hades' large hand cupped her butt. Her mouth gaped open out of flabbergast and he took the opportunity to invade her mouth with his tongue. She felt disgusted and rammed him away with all her strength. He looked at her with bewilderment and intensity that apprehension invaded the pit of her stomach and did the only thing that her mind is shouting, run.

Hastily, she opened the door, got on her feet outside and scampered as fast as she could. She heard his thunderous, commotion-causing voice summon her but she made herself deaf and instead, ran faster to the elevator. When she arrived, she hastily pressed the button to the penthouse and she felt the gravity getting heavy then light. Wheezing, she looked at her vague reflection at the elevator's doors, even though it was blurry, it was very vivid that she was pale. She gripped on the jacket that Hades bought for her and chided herself.

*What a filthy woman you are, Allison.*

She was idle, while the elevator rises up to the penthouse. Her mind muddled, both pondering and fretting of what Brent and her parents will think if they will be informed that she is no longer a virgin, that she gave herself freely to a man that she just met two times.

She quivered when a thought entered her mind once again, did Hades even used protection when they had sex? Did he? What if he didn't? What if she gets pregnant?

She bit her lower lip as she forced herself to shrug the thought off. The elevator made a small sound and asked for the passcode. She entered it and the doors opened, unveiling her humble abode with her dog, Jojo, sitting on the mat, waiting for his masters with his tongue out and his grey and blue orbs focused on the elevator's door. When he saw his mistress, he went on his paws and ambled to Allison with a wagging tail. A smile etched on her lips, she took off her shoes first before she scratched Jojo's fur. Jojo reached for her as Allison leaned down then touched her nose with Jojo's.

"Hey there, boy," she kneeled and scratched the dog's ear. It closed its eyes, relishing the soft sensation caused by her fingers. Allison roamed her eyes around the penthouse and noticed that there was no sign of Brent. She was expecting for him to be waiting at the elevator's doors, with his Adonis-like phizog twisted into a grimace, arms crossed on his chest and thin-lined lips, ready to reprimand her. She looked at the wall clock and realized that it's 7:21. Dawson's already awake before this time of the hour, she thought as she stood up and took off the jacket that Hades bought for her. She touched her neck that was swelling with hickeys and subconsciously, she imagined his strong, large hands roaming all over her body and his lips kissing and biting her skin gently but vehemently, she quivered out from a feeling in her gut and sticky, wet feeling between her legs.

Jojo turned and ambled to the living room to lounge on the mat while Allison sauntered to Brent's room to see if he is there. She knocked on the door and waited for a few moments for him to open it but there was no one to do so, she held the door's knob and twisted it to open the door only to be greeted by an empty room.

"Where could he be?" She asked herself as she walked to the kitchen to cook food for Brent, finding it eccentric that he is out of the house at this hour of daylight. If Brent's out of the house, surely, Jojo wouldn't be either since they both take it out if someone won't be left in the penthouse, and if he is out now, he'll indisputably come home for food since his father froze his accounts because he went his limit four days ago and he already spent his monthly allowance.

Allison wore her apron, grabbed a pan, placed it on the stove, and seized some ingredients from the pantry and refrigerator. I probably should cook him some stir-fry, she thought as she took a hold of the knife and minced and prepared all the ingredients then started whipping up. While cooking, her thoughts were flying and flooding of what happened to Brent when a notion crossed her mind, what if Dawson never came home since last night?

Instinctively, she turned when the elevator made a small sound and the doors opened, vomiting the person she is worrying about. He was still wearing his clothes from last night, his frame was still tall and built but it couldn't conceal that there was something wrong. There was something strange in his stance right now, his shoulders were drooped down and his face was dark like he's facing a deep dilemma.

"Dawson," she called his name as she turned off the stove and strolled towards him while he was taking off his shoes. Brent looked up and his blue eyes met hers, she almost gasped when she saw the sadness, panic, and anxiety in them.

"Oh... hey, hun," he greeted with a small voice and smile that made Allison more worried. It only happens once that he makes out that smile, she thought.

"Are you all right?" she asked and he nodded slightly like he wasn't in the mood to talk or answer questions right now.

"Come, have breakfast." Allison offered and went to the kitchen. He stood straight after he finally took off both of his shoes then followed her. He then sat on one stool and waited until Allison gave him a plate full of stir fry, spoon, fork, and a cup of hot coffee. Looking at her reluctantly, he muttered. "Thanks, sweetheart," then he began digging in.

Allison sauntered to the stool beside Brent and sat there. She gawked at him during the time he was eating until he finished. Finding out what's wrong in her thoughts. Wondering why his neatly ironed clothes are now rumpled, his fetching, panty-dropping, calm façade had gone into troubled and serious, and his sunny mood had turned into gloomy.

He took a hold of the cup of coffee and began sipping the hot refreshment. She recalled that whenever Brent has problems, he would choose to stay calm, smile, and find an easy way to solve the problem like a slothful cat. She gaped her mouth open but closed it again, hesitating if should she ask him or not. She looked at him, she made a few guzzles before giving in to her verdict.

"Dawson, where were you last night?"

He looked at her for seconds, Allison took the time to look into his blue orbs, reaching for him but then, he said looking away, "That's not an easy question, Drew," he took a sip from the cup.

"Dawson, I know there's something wrong," she said and he stiffened. She looked at his hand and noticed that his hand was shaking. He's nervous, she concluded.

Allison touched Brent's gelid, shuddering hand, "Dawson please, tell me..." she pleaded. He enclosed his hand with hers, tightly, like he's frustrated and he's blowing it off by gripping on her hand. It only happens once that Dawson is like this, she thought

"Dawson..." she invoked his name, reaching out for him. His face was dark but it was clear that he was angry and frustrated, his lips were trembling and his eyes were glaring furiously.

"I -I..." he stuttered. What has happened that made him stutter in nervousness?

She looked at him with full worry, urging him to go on.

"I-I had sex with Rebecca," he confessed, causing Allison's eyes to grow wide in bewilderment. She looked at him intently before opening her lips. She stood up, wrapped her arms around his shoulder, and made her breast clean, "Looks like I'm not the only one who lost their virginity last night after all."

**A month passed** and it was already December. Allison was driving to the mall to buy some groceries when a phone call disturbed her from driving. She halted to a spot and grabbed her cell phone from her clutch. She looked at the caller's ID to know who the caller is but it was labeled to be unknown. She gawked at the moment for seconds before answering the call.

"Hello?"

*"Hello, Ally?"* her eyes amplified when she realized who the caller was.

"Rebecca?" she stated in aghast with her voice as small as a mere whisper. She hasn't heard of Rebecca for a month after the night they partied at John's bar and the same night that Brent hates to recall. Even Johnsy didn't know about Rebecca's whereabouts.

*"Ally, I'll explain everything to you later but please help me. I need you now. I'll text you the address where I'm currently living,"* said Rebecca's crying voice.

"Alright. I'll be there ASAP," she answered before ending the call. Rebecca's text soon came just as the moment she turned the ignition on. She drove to the said address with full acceleration.

When she arrived there, a tall, wide, and luxurious condominium came before her eyes. I see that she's been doing fine, she thought as she halted into the parking lot. She made her way out of the car and fished out her phone to check the number of her condo, 3rd floor, room number 308. She went in the lobby and the guard greeted her and she reciprocated the gesture with full civility, then went to the elevator and pressed the third floor.

**"Ally!"** said Rebecca gleefully and widened the door's opening. Allison gave off a smile after realizing that after a month of severance, she's doing fine.

"Come in, please," Rebecca offered and she made her way inside. The lovely and amorous scent of lilies and roses greeted her, she looked around before taking off her shoes. The whole condo was spacious enough for a family with five children. She followed the former who sat on a leather sofa.

"Sit there, Ally," said her friend, pointing on the chair facing the sofa.

"Thank you," she sat down.

"Any refreshments you want? Coffee, tea o—" before Rebecca could continue, Allison spoke, cutting her off.

"Becca..." she trailed off, "I don't need anything. I'm already fine seeing you all right after a month of not knowing your whereabouts..." she stood up and ambled to Rebecca who also stood up and gave her a bear hug. A month jam-packed of worries are now forgotten and swept away as the present is full of relief. She can't help but feel like something heavy in her heart was pulled away as she could finally breathe freely. She heard a small sniff and she realized that Rebecca's crying.

"I missed you, Ally..." said Rebecca's thick, crying voice.

"I missed you too, Becca," she answered and they both pulled away then sat on the sofa. Rebecca, overwhelmed with joy, wiped her endless tears.

"Becca," she held the latter's hand, "Why were you gone?" she asked, looking into her eyes.

"Oh," Rebecca wiped a tear, "I think you already know what happened between me and Brent, right?" she nodded at her question.

"W-Well... I didn't intend to sleep with him, you know I've been desperate for his affection but I would never stoop that low. I didn't know how it happened too. He and I both took lots of shots, everything was swirling and my mind was blank. All I remember was us talking about sorts of stuff I can't recall. Then I woke up, naked and beside him. He was still asleep and I took advantage of it to get out. I moved and lived here with my cousin, Isla. I spent a month here, crying and forgetting Brent for a while until this happened..." Rebecca explained as she placed something on her hand. She took a hold of the thing and looked at it, realizing it was a pregnancy test containing two red lines. She covered her mouth in astonishment, "Oh God, Becca you—"

"Ally, please don't say it," Rebecca impeded her from finishing the statement, "Please don't say it because... it'll just remind me of Brent. I don't what will he say or do when he finds this out, but Ally, please, don't tell this to him or to anyone, even to Johnsy," Allison nodded at her friend's request. She knows that Rebecca doesn't want Johnsy to know because she'll probably just blow up and suddenly charge or ambush Brent and tell him to take responsibility, "A-And Brent... will grow mad at me... I don't want that to happen..." she whimpered another cry. She leaned over and gave Rebecca another hug.

"It's going to be okay, Rebecca," she comforted, "I'll help you raise your baby."

"Thanks, Ally," said the muffled voice of Rebecca. Moments later, she calmed down, the two chatted for a while, catching up after a month's separation and laughing together like there's no tomorrow.

Too bad, Johnsy's not here, she thought while they were talking. They made a few plans for Rebecca's baby, when will they visit the doctor, but for the baby paraphernalia and what are they going to name it, though they don't know what's the baby's gender yet. Their talk about the baby was making Allison excited. When it had gone almost evening, she left Rebecca's condo since she needs to go home. While walking the parking lot, she remembered that she's still holding the pregnancy test. She sighed, walked to the dumpster, and threw it, then she went back to the parking lot.

Hades looked at Allison who just left the stinky dumpster. He had been following for a week after the day he brought her home to her penthouse. He wasn't satisfied with the stolen pictures sent by Dario every day. He wants to see her in the flesh. He had a hard time stopping himself from going near her because he might scare her away. Seeing the fear in her eyes was already enough to hurt him. It hurts him that whenever she looks into his eyes it was like she was seeing a beast that should be feared by many, a murderer that should be avoided by loads of people.

When it was already clear that she was gone, he made his way out of his car and strode to the dumpster, the ugly stench almost made him puke but that wasn't the case. Right there, on the ugly, stinking dumpster is the last thing he wanted to see on Earth.