The Crimson Affair Chapter 8


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(Shadow's POV)

Bat girl stood in front of me with her mouth gaping wide open after hearing my invitation. She had the same look of those people who just learned that they have won the lottery.

I waited patiently for her answer, hoping that she doesn't decline this time.

"I…I…I'm sorry Mr. Hedgehog. You know, I think you've sniffed enough essential oils for today" she uneasily remarked as if I just made a ridiculous statement. "T-thank you and come back again another time when you're back to your normal self, alright?" she added, gesturing towards the door.

Unfortunately, she declined once again, but the uneasiness in her voice caught my attention, she appears to be in a dilemma.

But that didn't stop me from getting what I want this time. I can be more persistent if pushed to the edge and I'm gradually losing my patience.

"It's Shadow and no, the scent of those oils didn't affect me at all. I'm still me" I faced her and walked towards the spot where she stood as she backed away slowly. Doing so only made her attempts of escaping more futile for she had ended up with her back against the wall.

I caught her and I won't let her get away this time until I persuade her to go out with me just for one night.

"Fine, I'm keeping the tip, then" she spat back

"You know what? I've changed my mind. I don't care what happens to that tip I gave you. Rip it, throw it, it doesn't matter"

I heard her gasp after that.

"But it's a waste to just throw it away, so…" I took the money from her hand and gently shoved it inside her pocket "Keep it"

After teasing me and testing my control on that table a while ago, it's my turn to get even with her.

I may have made a mistake in pulling my guard down for her to take advantage of my weakness with her charms but I forgot to tell her one thing: I always learn from my mistakes.

"Let's be honest, I like you and I have a feeling that you feel the same way, too" I boldly told her as I leaned a little bit closer until I could get a perfect view of her bright teal eyes.

This is wrong. It is so damn wrong to be crossing the line especially in this setting but it's not harassment if she's allowing me to get this close.

She could've punched me, kicked me, yelled at me and even pushed me, but no, I could feel her waiting for my next move, silently directing my actions of what she would have wanted to happen in this room.

I've read in a book somewhere that most women preferred men who are direct, confident and dominant, someone who would make them feel protected and safe, and from the look in her eyes, I believe she just saw those three qualities and is silently denying that fact by trying to avoid me.

Being the stubborn bat she is, she immediately avoided my gaze and cautiously looked at her sides, looking for a place to flee.

Seeing such gesture, I quickly hindered her attempts of escaping by placing both of my hands against the wall on each of her sides.

She's trapped, she can't run away from me now.

"So, why prolong the agony?" I asked her

She froze at my statement then I saw her biting her lower lip, perhaps I came out too persuasive.

Her eyes met mine, our distance shortening every second and I couldn't help but take in the scent of the same perfume that she used the other night dominating the scent of the essential oils that she used on me.

Ice cream, biscuits, cakes, they all have that sweet, light and delightful fragrance that I adore, the scent of vanilla, which happens to be her favorite perfume.

Maybe it wasn't the essential oils that I sniffed too much, maybe it was her perfume all along that got me intoxicated.

"I thought you said you wanted 'someone' that would make your life a 'hell of a challenge'" she raised a brow and gave me a calculating smirk.

"Well now, I guess you've just met her" she tried to escape from my little trap by shoving me once again but she got startled when it didn't work this time.

Seeing this side of her sealed the reason why I chose her as my damsel. She is a damsel who doesn't need a knight for she could slay her own dragons to escape from her own castle.

"One thing I learned after being pushed last night is maintaining a strong base of support at all times…" I smirked at her attempts in pushing me off.

She gave me a piercing glare and I could tell from her breathing pattern that she's enraged with my stunt.

Something about bat girl kept me intrigued, I have a feeling that she hates getting her pride crushed into million pieces and I believe I just crushed it and paying for the damages won't work on her so I decided to bargain instead.

"There's only one way to get out of this, you know" I gently lifted her chin up for her to meet my gaze "Just say yes for tonight then decide whether you want to stay or not…If you stay, I'll give you my heart and I'll be devoted to you, but if you won't, you're free to leave and I won't bother you anymore"

As an introvert, once we find the right person in our lives, we give our all and become knights who will slay anything to protect those we love. Giving her an option to be free felt like eating a very hot soup as soon as it's served on the table. The pain rushed into my tongue like a thousand needles piercing it in every angle, it burns.

But isn't that the point of bargaining? Offering something in exchange of something that both of you could agree with?

It should always be a win-win situation…but why does this one feel like a win-lose situation for me?

This was the hardest thing I had to offer that it made me question about the previous bargain I did on a business meeting last week with a very stubborn echidna at the Emerald Industries.

This one felt like my life depended on it, is this what it feels like to fight for something you really want?

I guess fate is really teaching me that I can't always get what I want when I want it.

However, until now, my inner child still screams like a spoiled little boy who wanted a toy so bad that he would resort into emotional tantrums and yet I keep reminding myself that I'm mature enough to do such a thing.

"Give me one good reason why I should agree with this invitation" anger may be evident in her voice but her eyes no longer did which is why I value eye contact the most, I could easily tell whether someone is lying or not.

"It's just a friendly dinner, Ms. Bat. What happens after that it's up to you. And don't worry, I've got everything covered. All I need is a 'yes' coming from you"

I saw her calming down a bit.

From that look, I withdrew my hands from the wall and placed them both inside my pockets, trusting her enough that she won't run away leaving me unanswered.

"A friendly dinner…" she heaved a heavy sigh "Alright, Mr. Hedgehog, you convinced me" she had a barely visible smile on her face.

Finally, she agreed. I've never felt so relieved.

"I'm thankful for that" I remarked "And please, refer me by my name" I insisted.

The truth is, I despised being referred to as 'Mr. Hedgehog'

It's not like I got used to being called by my name, it's just the fact that it gives a similar vibe whenever someone addresses my father. And I never wanted to be like him.

"Alright, Shadow. And by the way, it's R-"

A knock on the door interrupted her before she could even tell me her name, just my luck.

"Hey girl, is your session over? Felicia wants a word with you, ASAP" the voice from outside spoke.

"I'm done, I'll be there" she answered back.

I saw the frown on her face emerged once again. I was about to stop her from leaving when she handed me a small card and immediately left the room without saying a word.

Looking at the card she gave me, I noticed that it was the Massage Parlor's business card but when I flipped it over I was surprised to see her name, mobile number and address written in pen behind it.

A smirk lifted at the corner of my mouth. Not only did she accepted my invitation, I finally learned her name at last.

Rouge, such a sweet and lovely name and yet how ironic that her name depicts an aggressive color and also bears a similarity to a certain grape that created the bold and assertive red wine, Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine that she had been drinking last night.


(Rouge's POV)

"So, the queen is pissed again" I asked my co-worker who seem to be more stressed than I am.

"Since when is she not?" she responded

'She's out to get me again' were the only words that came inside my thoughts when my co-worker called my presence.

However, my mind kept distracting me with thoughts about that hedgehog. His well-disciplined stance, those intimidating red eyes, his deep, calm voice, I couldn't get it out of my head as I walked along the hallway towards the front desk.

Why is he so persistent in asking me out when he doesn't even have a slightest clue who and what I am?

And here I am, complaining about how silly he is when in fact, I'm foolish as well for accepting his invitation.

It's not like I'm interested in him or anything, but why is it bothering me in some way?

Finally, I reached the place where a female lioness stood just beside the front desk.

Felicia the lioness, the self-proclaimed 'alpha' in this establishment.

Ever since our boss promoted her as an assistant manager, she had been treating us like a bunch of slaves.

According to rumors, she only got the position because she slept with the manager using her charms. I didn't believe that at first thinking that it was just nonsensical rumors that the staff made up in order to ruin her image but as the weeks went on, I'm starting to believe that those rumors were indeed true when I saw the way our manager and her look at each other with fire burning in their eyes.

It was kind of disturbing since our manager looks more attractive than her but at least I found something to laugh about every time she makes my life here a living hell.

I could feel how much she hated me since I started working here because my co-workers had always admired how I make my clients satisfied after a session and now that she had stepped a little bit higher than I am, I'm definitely doomed for the rest of my life working here.

"Rouge, Rouge, Rouge…tsk. Do you know the reason why I called you here?" she asked me in her usual high-pitched irritating voice.

"No ma'am, I don't know why you called me here, may I know the reason why?"

Sometimes, it's difficult to feign politeness when all you want to do is slap the hell out of the bitch who's making your life miserable.

"What room are you supposed to be working on?" she asked me

"Room 2" I answered straight, failing to see the point of her queries.

"Check again in the white board" she sternly pointed at the small sized white board hanging on the wall just behind the front desk. I walked towards the board to check it and was bewildered with what I saw.

My name tag is in Room 5.

"That's outrageous. I'm always in Room 2!" I raised my voice the moment I saw that.

This is plain bullshit if this is her way to kick me out of my job.

She rose her eyebrow at me.

"That alone won't save you, bat girl. It's your fault for not checking the board whenever you time in" she had that devious smile, a smile that suggests that I should just give up and accept my mistake and she knew very well how I feel whenever somebody messes with my pride.

This isn't the first time that this had happened. At first I thought it is I who is at fault for being careless, but this time, I'm quite certain she did this on purpose just to humiliate me.

"Is there a reason why I was changed to Room 5?" I was holding back my anger as much as I can in order to save myself from losing my job but she kept lighting the fuse of my patience to test how much I have in me to start making a scene in this place.

"And you didn't even know the reason why? Gosh, Rouge, I thought you are better than that"

Same answer as always.

That's it, I can't take it anymore, goodbye three years of work, time for a new beginning.

I was about to spat back when all of a sudden, I heard a deep familiar voice spoke behind me.

"What seems to be the problem?"

Looking behind me, I almost bit my tongue at the sight, it was that black hedgehog with the crimson stripes again.

"Shadow?" I almost said in a whisper.

How long has he been standing there? Was he listening to our little commotion?

There he stood with an enormous aura of pride surrounding him.

Looking at this hedgehog now made me wonder: Is this the same hedgehog that I pushed last night? Is this the same hedgehog who just asked me to have dinner with him?

It's like something had possessed him all of a sudden. He looked so cold and intimidating, his eyes alone made my knees tremble the more I look at it.

"M-Mr. Hedgehog" Felicia's tone suddenly changed upon seeing him.

Three years in this job and this is the first time that I saw her in her most vulnerable state. She looked like a lioness who just saw her lion-tamer.

What does this hedgehog have that tamed this vicious feline?

"We're very sorry sir. We were supposed to provide you with a more experienced and skilled masseuse but one of our incompetent staff had made a terrible mistake in entering your room. Please forgive us for the inconvenience" Felicia mumbled lines that she seemed to have rehearsed all day to deliver it in perfection.

"Incompetent?" I heard him ask then his gaze swept towards me.

I felt a gasp escaped me when his once fierce look abruptly turned into a gentle gaze the moment he met my eyes "You must be mistaken, the masseuse who tended me was proficient and let me emphasize that the session was very satisfactory"

It was barely visible but I saw the corner of his lips forming a smile.

That smooth talking idiot, he even had the guts to discreetly act like my knight in shining armor.

I wanted to laugh but the current situation prevents me from doing so.

"I-Is that so, sir? We're glad we were able to make your first time a satisfactory experience" she laughed nervously as she forced a smile. I could feel the shame emanating from Felicia's form and the sight is strangely satisfying.

I guess Shadow does know how to play his cards right. If we ever played a game of strip poker, I would lose all of my clothes in only a few turns but I doubt he had ever played that game before, perhaps it would be the other way around.