Alexia was still in shock even though it has been a few minutes after Elijah left the compound. She was still where he left her and his words still echoed in her mind.

This could not possibly be happening to her right now. No, not now: not when her business was finally starting to flourish and gain recognition. Not when she had made up her mind to focus more on her work and not get into any romantic relationship. Not when she was, finally the self-made, independent woman she had always dreamed of becoming.

She did not need two men fighting over her. Did not need any pressure on her because right now, she already had enough pressure to deal with; pressure from her employees to increase their salaries, pressure from individuals and companies and see to their decorating needs and pressure to hire more people into the company because they were getting many job offers.

“Alexia,” she snapped out of her trance when a hand fell on her shoulder. Turning around she faced Samantha. “Are you alright?” The woman looked concerned and she tried to smile.

“Yes, I am fine. Thank you very much.” Samantha’s gaze moved down to her hand, which she was rubbing.

“We should get some ice on that, and after breakfast, we shall discuss the reason why you’re here.” Alexia sensed that the woman already knew the events that transpired in her house, so she quickly apologised.

“Samantha, please accept my deepest apologies.”

“Apology accepted.”

Breakfast was scrambled eggs, bacon, toast, pancakes, juice, milk, chocolate chips cookies, and coffee for the adults. Alexia drank coffee, ate pancake and a few chocolate chip cookies, after Sofia insisted. Colin barely spoke through breakfast, but did not remove his gaze from the bandage, wrapped around Alexia’s wrist.

When breakfast was over and after the dishes was safely in the dishwasher, Sofia went out to play in her dollhouse, while Samantha and Alexia drove to the house she would be decorating.

It was a few kilometres away from spring bird. This house was made of bricks and built with arcs with no upper floors. There were separate compartments coming together to form one huge mansion. Samantha showed her around the place and gave her suggestions on what she wanted. Alexia noted them down and after she did a thorough investigation of the place, they set back to Spring Bird.

“I can’t wait for you to start working on that house.” Samantha said and looked into the rear-view mirror to have another look at the house, which was slowly shrinking with every distance they moved.

Looking up from her sketchbook, Alexia said. “Me too. I have so many plans for it.”

Samantha glanced at the few sketches on Alexia’s book and a smile formed on her lips. She loved how serious and passionate Alexia was about her work. “I admire that house so much.” She stated and then Alexia smiled.

The rest of the drive was in silence. Samantha did not want to disturb Alexia while she made her sketches, and Alexia was too busy to think of a conversation. Samantha’s black pick-up truck pulled to a stop by two sports cars by the fountain and the duo stepped out. The mess which was made earlier on was cleaned up and the place was back to being beautiful.

“I wonder who is here to visit.” Samantha said as they walked to the front door. She opened the door, and when they stepped inside the house, loud, ecstatic voices echoed into the hall from the kitchen.

“I will be in my room.” Alexia told Samantha.

“Alright, go ahead.” She said and before both of them took another step, they heard it.

“Dude, what do you mean by you haven’t slept with Alexia yet?” That voice sounded upset, frustrated, and very familiar.

“She is in your house for goodness sakes. Her bedroom is right next to yours. What are you waiting for, an invitation?” Another voice blurted out.

“Guys, shut up. Leave Colin the heck alone. There are still two more weeks and a couple of days before the end of the month. He would be able to sleep with her by then. As for now, let him be.”

“Yes, the deal was one month.” Colin spoke this time.

A gasped left Samantha’s lips and she threw a hand over her lips. Alexia’s sketchbook slipped out of her hand and fell to the ground. Anger boiled in her chest and flashed in her eyes while she fisted her hands. Without wasting any more time, she stormed into the kitchen, preparing to rain on him the nastiest words she has ever heard.

Three men were leaning against the counter –one of them, Alexia recognised very well, Bernard Wills- while Colin was standing with his back to the door. As soon as she entered the room, the boys stopped talking at once, one of them even dropped a glass, and it shattered on the floor.

Colin, who had no knowledge of what suddenly made his friends go silent, because his back to the door, asked. “What’s wrong guys? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“And you’re about to become one.” Alexia replied and then he quickly spun around and met two angry women. Colin was speechless. In fact all of them were. The men stared and the women glared.

Alexia was first to move. With a quick hand, she gave him a slap as hard as she could. His cheek was hard, so it hurt her hand, but he did not flinch. She took a glass of water, which was on the counter and threw it at his face. The boys oohed and one of them even chuckled. Immediately Alexia threw them a look, they fell silent. Bastard, asshole, jackass, sonofabitch, idiot and all the many bad words floating through her mind, “Jerk” she was the only word she brought herself to blurt out, before turning around and storming to her room.

Alexia locked the door behind her and flung herself down on the bed. Anger, anger and more anger boiled inside her. She was so angry that she began to tremble. Their words echoed through her mind and she buried her face into her pillow and screamed. Colin was a liar! Everything he said were lies. He never wanted her heart. He was after her to win a bet!

“Argh” Alexia screamed and sat up in bed. She could kill him with her bare hands this instant. Colin was a liar and she could not believe she had almost believed his words. He had deceived her so brilliantly she would not have known he was lying. Elijah was much better than he was. In fact, Elijah was a gentle man. It might be true that he broke her heart years ago, but he never lied to her. He was not after her right now to get into her panties. He really wanted to win her back. She saw it in his eyes this morning. If she were to choose between the two of them right now, her choice would be Elijah.

The rest of the day, Alexia spent in her room. She did not stay in there to hide away from Colin, oh no, she was busy coming up with decorating designs for the house. Moreover, she had done very well, because she had finished her sketches and even made some calls for the home equipment. Her secretary would be delivering them to Spring Bird tomorrow, if everything went well.

It was after twelve am she took a bath and changed into her nightie. She got in bed, but could not fall asleep. After tossing and turning for hours, she sat up. Her body wanted to rest. However, her mind was restless. It was moments like these sleeping pills came in handy.

Alexia threw the sheets to her side and before her feet touched the floor, a bright light shown into her room through the silky curtains, then the humming of a car engine disturbed the peaceful and quiet night. She looked at the clock on her left, 01: 54 AM. “Who is coming in so late?” She asked and moved to the window. After parting the curtains, she saw Colin’s Ferrari parked by the fountain.

The front door opened and closed, and then his footsteps echoed as he entered the house. She listened to his footsteps as they took the stairs to the next floor and then they became louder by every step he took. They walked right to her door and then he knocked.

Alexia left the curtains and went to open the door. Right there, stood Colin, dressed in nothing but black jeans and boots. He was shirtless and looked very sexy. She has only seen abs like Colin’s on TV. His chest was massive and his nipples were hard and pointed. His stomach was flat and divided into many squares. Her eyes wondered back to his face and then she frowned. No matter how sexy and hot he might be looking right now, she was still mad at him. Moreover, she was not about to let the shivers running down her spine, or her rapid heartbeat stop her from hating him.

“What do you want?” She asked.

“You,” He said, looking straight into her eyes. Her knees trembled from the intensity of his gaze, as he looked at her. His eyes moved over her body in a slow, torturous movement. Moving from her exposed collarbone, to the low cut V-neck of her nightie and her cleavage, to her hips and lower. He could see the pink straps of her panties under her nightie. That dress was just too light and he was glad he had seen her this way. Just like this morning, he was stunned as to how beautiful and sexy she was.

Without asking, he walked into her room. Alexia left the door open and spun around. Colin walked to the window and stood there. “I said I want you.” He repeated.

Alexia cleared her throat before speaking. “I heard you.” She folded her arms to give her some kind of confidence.

“I know.” He said and copied her pose. His muscles flexed and his chest rose and fell as he drew in a deep breath. “I only repeated myself, so you will know that I’m serious.”

“I heard it loud and clear in the kitchen.” She narrowed her eyebrows at him as her anger returned.

“Right, you did. I paid a hefty price for it though.” Colin placed a palm on his cheek and chuckled. “You are stronger than you look.” His eyes trailed over her once again and that protective wall she built around herself begun to scramble. He had a mischievous look in his eyes, which startled her.

It was a good thing she was standing by the open door. If he tried to do something, Samantha would hear her scream and come to her rescue. “Get out of here if you didn’t come to apologise.” She said and gripped the doorknob.

“Oh right, I did come to apologise.” Colin said and started taking slow steps towards her while holding her gaze. “I came to apologise for what you heard. You shouldn’t have heard it.”

Alexia stared. His figure towered over hers and hence intimidated her. “That’s it?” She asked.

“Alexia,” Colin sighed her name and stepped closer. She had nowhere to go. The door was behind her and a handsome devil was in front of her. “I am going to speak the truth from now onwards, Okay?” She nodded. “So here it goes. No, I did not come to apologise for the other thing. I am still going to go on with my initial plan.”

“You bastard,” Alexia pushed him away.

“It’s the truth Alexia. I accepted a challenge to sleep with you before the end of the month and I am going to go on with it. Colin Knight never backs down from a challenge. Alexia you should know that. I shall have you in my bed before the end of the month, that’s a promise.”

Alexia’s hand left her side and headed for his jaw, but he caught it midway. “You are despicable and unscrupulous and a good woman like Samantha does not deserve a disgusting son like you.”

Colin smiled. “I’ve heard worst things however they never stopped me from my goal.” He told her.

“You have never lost a game have you?” She asked.

“No even once.”

“Then expect your first one, Mr Colin Knight.”

“I think you don’t know who you’re dealing with here. I am Colin Knight, the master of charm and seduction. I will make you surrender.”

“No, it’s you who do not know who you’re messing with. I am Alexia Brooke, the woman who will make you count your first loss.”

They stared in silence for some time, before Colin let go of her hand and stepped out of the door. “Game on.” He said and opened the next door. After he entered his room, the door closed, leaving the house in silence once again.