A/N: Not yet proofread so read at your own risk hehe
Chapter 1 - Stranger Danger?
Does she really have the guts to go and do that to someone?
Astraea sighed for the nth time as thoughts about what she had gotten herself into kept popping into her mind.
Seducing the playboy would probably result for his own good and welfare. It might be a good thing yet... she also knew that playing with feelings is not and will never be a good thing. After all, who is she to inflict that pain to someone? That is just plain cruel.
"
J'en ai marre (I'm fed up)", Astraea couldnt help but tap the water in frustration as she lays on the bath tub with her eyes closed in an attempt to calm herself.
"
Putain (F*ck)"
Damn it.
Not even her usual stress reliever of taking her milky bath couldnt relieve her off the thought of what she is going to do.
Yes.
For some coincidence, they heard that Kiara's brother is actually here in the island right now that Kiara and Malia had instantly forced her to go and pamper herself the minute they got off the plane as according to them, this would make things easier as the duo goes out to look for her brother to know his schedule.
Not she like needed more pampering but she's also dead tired from all the spying they have done that she didnt argue anymore.
However, now that she's already on her right mind, she's got to think about things more clearer now and thus, causing her a head ache due to her ongoing internal debate.
Seriously, all this is stressing her out. Damn.
All she wanted is a peaceful time away from all the trouble yet yet it wouldnt just leave her alone.
Will she ever have that in her life?
Spraying her face with water, Astraea closed her eyes for a while before an idea entered her mind.
What if- What if she just back out?
Maybe she can still do that? She's sure her friends would understand...
Right.
Gathering her hair in a bun, she got herself out of the bath tub while wearing her bath robe as she went outside and stood in front of the vanity table.
If the problem is to look for someone then she'll help. Maybe there are still people out there who's single and not have any chance of liking the dude. I mean, come on. He cant possibly be that attractive to have every single lady at his mercy. There should be someone, anyone who would be immune to his charm eh?
Yes. She'll do that.
Astraea took one look in her image and nodded in determination before she took a deep breath and absent mindedly grabs on the lotion in the cabinet. Raising her left foot on the stool, she pressed the lotion on her hand and lather her legs with it, her mind begans wandering on certain things as she took her time to look around on what would be her new home for weeks.
One thing that has gotten her impressed in all this and might be her only consolation is the cabin style design of the room Kiara had gotten her as well as the very good looking kitchen she saw earlier. Her friend really knew her weakness... This room must have been reserved for VIP's but oh well, good thing she is friends with the owner eh? Or Is it a bribe?
Urghh.
The things you do for friendships sake.
Andrea 'tsk' again while raising her other foot on the stool, contemplating on her misfortunes.
"Holysh*t", she heard a voice from somewhere cursed and she couldnt help but nodd her head and agree with the sentiment.
"Goodness gracious"
Ah huh.
"Forgive me for I have sin-"
Thats righ- Wait what?
Astraea's foreheaded knotted in confusion as her mind began to register the words making her quickly look up to find the imbecile.
And alas, her eyes went wide as saucers as she saw a suspicious looking stranger, well she couldnt really see him for half of his face is covered with mask and he is a wearing a hoodie while laying down comfortably on her bed. One thing she is sure though is that he is looking at her exposed legs with wanton eyes before he whistled as his sinful eyes went up and stopped short on the cleavage that shows on her bath robe when she bends down earlier.
"
Fils de pute" (Son of a b*tch)
Astraea could only breathe out a curse before she instantly goes over to jump the stranger without even thinking twice and welcomed him with her fists as she began hitting the guy wherever she could reach.
"Ouch!", the rascal shouts while trying to hold on her arms but with no avail, "Stop it baby!"
Astraea gasped at his words that she had almost paused with her assault for never in her life did someone dare call her something like that.
"I am not your baby", she screeched out, "
T'es rien qu'un petit connard" (You really are an asshole)
To her surprise, he stopped and stared at her before he suddenly spunned her around that the next thing she knew, he had her at his mercy as his weight pressed down on her, holding her down.
"You do know that speaking like that makes you sexier huh?" he said, smiling at her cheekily, "Not like you already are baby but-"
But Astraea already had enough, "I said do not call me that!" she exclaimed before proceeding to lean over and bite his shoulder that had him caught off guard, she was able to get him off and push him all the way outside her cabin even as he tried to speak and told her that he is not a bad person and he is only looking for a hiding place from someone.
He also said that is her fault she left her window open that he was able to jump in to which her only response is "
Connard!" (Asshole)
"Hey! My name is not Connard", the guy pouted at her as she tried to close the door behind her but the guy seems to never learned his lesson for he had quickly stopped her and only stood there looking at her like she had done something grave to him and not the other way around that she couldnt help but sigh again in frustration.
What the hell is wrong with the people nowadays? And why does she kept being associated with these kind of people?
Just her luck.
Damn.
"Dont you know?", he started raising his other arm, as if he is gonna take off his mask, "My name is Th-"
He never got to finish though for someone screamed or more like screeched rather that Astraea wince at the sound almost forgetting her current dispute.
"Ted!" she heard the voice called out, the sudden paleness of his face becomes very noticeable as he became obviously bothered, almost in panic that she and the stranger looked at each other for a second, an idea pops on her mind.
The guy however seemed to be faster than her though for the next moment, he had her already pinned on the door, his cold hand on her mouth to stop her from screaming.
"Shit!" he whispered while looking over his shoulder, fear evident in his eyes that had somehow made her stop short in her previous protest especially when cold sweats began to form on his forehead.
"Yoo hoo Teddy!"
Curiousity grows on her as she finds it silly that a guy this big looked kinda fearful as she remembered his words earlier, that he was just 'looking for a place to hide'
Could it be that someone who he is hiding from?
"You can not hide from me my soon to be hubby" the girl said with her shrilling voice that even she felt like something crawl on her skin, she involuntarily shudder at the thought.
"No sh*t", the stranger sighed problematically before whispering words she could not catch while she made a move to remove the hand that covered her mouth. He seems distracted enough though that she had neen able to get it off easily.
Although, she quite surprised herself at feeling sorry for the guy when she had connected the dots upon hearing the words 'forced' and 'marriage' that she was seriously at lost for words when a girl with heavy make up and skimpy outfit showed up on the far end aisle and walks towards her direction slowly while asking, "Have you seen my fiance?"
She and the stranger exchanged another look with no one wanting to speak before the guy sighed, seemingly giving up and posing to turn around when Astraea finally gave in. Rolling her eyes and internally wanting to smack herself for it seems like helping somebody from arrange marriage problems has already been her hobby.
Who knows that it is still common in 21st century?!
Holding on the guys hoodie, she pulled him close, burying his head on her neck to stop him from exposing himself and made it look like they were making out, hoping that the girl with the awful voice would ignore them now.
But alas.
It seems like the girl couldnt be deterred for she repeated her question after stopping a few meters away from them.
Sneaking a look on the guy to find him looking at her intently that for a moment she couldnt help but think that she had already saw that beautiful eyes somewhere...
"Hey!", the girl screeched out again interrupting her thoughts, "Im talking to you"
"Erm - nope?", she said her brows knotting in annoyance at the tone of the girl. "Sorry"
Is it just her cause she grew up in different culture where language always sounds calm or is the girl being haughty?
"Well if you saw my Teddy, tell him that I am looking for him understand?" the girl told her in a commanding tone that had her raise her brows now.
Seriously? Who is this girl exactly?
"Can I know your name first in case I've, erm- accidentally met your-", she started calmly but the girl's sudden screech had her jumping in surprise, she even heard the stranger who's standing still next to her let out a small laugh before he slowly wraps his arms around her waist.
"OMG!", the girl suddenly screeched, "You dont know who am I?"
Ironically, she couldnt help but think that the stranger and this girl would probably be a great match remembering how the guy earlier had the same reaction when she also didnt know his name.
Does she have to put a plaque on her forehead that says 'Foreigner here so please excuse my lack of awareness'
"Err- Am I supposed to?" Astraea couldnt count anymore how many times she had rolled her eyes ever since she had entered the situation, "Look I'm sorry if I offended you but you see this is my first time because of my friend-"
"So THAT explains it!"
Huh? She havent even finished speaking...
"E-Explains what?" she had to ask in confusion. What the hell is the girl on anyway?
"That you obviously do not belong with us hi-so?! My mistake dont worry" the girl said that had left Astraea speechless with her mouth hanging open as her mind couldnt seem to process the wavelength of this girl.
"Wait what are you-" She is seriously starting to get annoyed and somehow the stranger seemed to caught on her mood as he chuckles before whispering, "Calm down baby", raising his hand, he caressed the spot right below her ear just as she felt him pressed a kiss on the pulsepoint of her neck that had instantly caught her off guard and made her forget where she is as she let out an involuntary moan.
"Do continue with what your doing coz Im not gonna be blamed if you dont get paid", the statement of the other girl though breaks her free from the strangers spell as she quickly pushes him off her.
Thankfully, the awful girl had already left that she hadnt seen what happened next for Astraea stepped on 'Teddy's' foot earning a painful groan from him.
Without looking back, Astraea entered her cabin huffing and puffing in annoyance. Do people here really have attitude problem or what? First a guy trespassed her cabin, then gets insulted by an entitled infuriating girl and after all the help she did, the guy still have the guts to do that to her? How dare he?!
"
J'en ai ral le cul" (I'm so fucking fed up) she said as she took a bottled water from the ref and drank it, hoping that it would somehow cool down her head.
"What is your problem baby?"
Speaking of, Astraea turn around to find the guy invites himself again inside and sat himself in her couch while still holding his injured foot.
"
Quel salaud !" (What a bastard) she mutters underneath her breath. Honestly, does he really have to ask?
Why does it seems like he doesnt know that what he just did could be rather offensive.
But admit that you enjoyed it, her inner conscience whispers on her that she had to shake her head to dispel the unwanted thoughts.
Rolling her eyes and asking for more patience from the heavens above, she decided to change the topic for there seems to be no more hope for him.
"Is that girl really your fiance?", she asked instead, turning away from the guy to avoid doing something that might damage her clean reputation if she ever forget to contain herself as she busies herself instead with looking for coffee recipes on her cabinet instead, hoping that it would somehow calm her down.
"Yeah", she heard him answer with dismay "Unfortunately. Sorry for what she says to you btw"
An apology eh? Seems sincere enough.
"What the hell happened?" she couldnt help but ask with curiousity just by hearing the tone of his voice.
"Lets just say that my parents must have gotten enough of my lazy ass that they thought settling down is the only solution so they go ahead and found me someone to marry instead."
"Why did you ever agree?"
Honestly, she has always been curious at whats going on in the mind of the guy in this kind of situation. What are they thinking? Or are they even thinking at all?
Why didnt they back out in the first place?
She thought that men valued their bachelor life the most?
"Well, there are things that we have no control about. We have to do it even though we do not want to in order to avoid losing some important things."
"Hmmm" Why does she think it is the other way around? That by marrying someone you dont love, you will lose things that you value instead.
"Besides, think about it this way... if I marry just for the sake of what my parents wanted, I can still live my life like a bachelor without worrying of ever hurting the ones that I love"
"
Connard" (Asshole)
Is that how it is for men?
How gentleman. Not.
She wouldnt ever decipher how he concluded that.
Not marrying for the sake of love so you wont hurt the one that you love? Lame.
"Hey I told you my name is not Connard"
Here we go again.
"Yes I heard the girl called you Teddy Bear"
Astraea hid a smile hearing him sputter as she deliberately teased him just to get back on his so called values in life.
"Well that is not exactly my name but...", he started uncomfortably, pausing for a while before he continued speaking rather shyly, "But... you can call me Theo"
Theo? From Theodore? Sounds fam eh?
"You do know that Theo roughly translates to Bear right?" she had to ask, emerging from her recipes and looking over shoulder at his direction to see him playing with her polaroid camera as it covers almost 2/3 of his face while he looks through the lense.
cr: keaw_jung
"
Oui mademoiselle" (Yes, madame) he replied back to her teasingly in french that had her rolling her eyes again at his silliness that she had just had to take her revenge.
"Alright Teddy Bear-", she said casually before letting out a joyous laugh noticing from earlier how he obviously hates being called like that "Ooops sorry I meant Theo-"
Her laughter was cut short though when she was suddenly blinded for a moment by the flash of her camera, as he took a picture of her.
In other times, Astraea would have gotten annoyed at the thought of getting photographed without her permission but she is too shock to react at seeing his entire face when he looked down on the camera as it was printing the picture.
It couldnt be....
"
La Vache (crap) ", she murmured underneath her breath.
Is the universe playing a conspiracy game against her or what for there stood in front of her Mr. Theodore Levant Andrews, the brother of Kiara and the very same guy whom she is supposed to seduce.
But Mr. Andrews or Theo rather do not seem to notice anything was amiss even if her face could only look at him in surprise for he was all smiles and even goes to her to take a couple picture of them together.
"Souvenir", he said like the happy creature that he is "Here you go. One for you and one for me"
Theo must have finally noticed her strange behavior for he suddenly looked up at her and asked, "What is it?"
"N- Nothing.", she stuttered before looking anywhere but him and making up excuses, "I was just wondering why you're giving me this"
"Thank you gift for earlier?" his response though genuinely confuses her and made her raise an eyebrow.
What kind of gift is this?
Never in her life did she receive something like this as a gift, a portrait maybe but a polaroid film? Nah.
"I know its nothing to you right now but who knows? Maybe someday you're gonna treasure it?" he says convincingly while smiling that charming dimpled smile that she had to make face to stop the beginning of smile.
"Whatever you say Mr. Theo" she said while pushing him towards the doorway to let him know that visiting hours is over.
Damn him.
If she was just any other ordinary woman, she knew that they must have easily said yes to him but thankfully she had been surrounded with handsome men in her family that she is somehow immune to him.
Well, to some extent at least.
"Alright Mademoiselle Selene", his reply though manage to render her speechless again as they stop in front of her doorway for she never expected him to know her name...
"Your name is Selene right?" he asked again when she doesnt answer
"How did you-", she started asking before he caught her off by holding her wrist and examining her bracelet of moon and stars closely.
"I saw it engraved on your bracelet earlier" he said with a smile on his face just as her face turn red when he smiled at her again, his close proximity oddly affecting her insides that she had to take back her hand.
"Selene... the goddess of the moon eh?"
Holding her bracelet rather awkwardly, she stutters while explaining absentmindedly,
"Y-yes well, my f-father had this odd fascination with stars"
Silence followed her statement and the guy must have noticed her discomfort for with a sigh, he opened the door and step on the other side saying, "Well your father name you perfectly then coz I think it suits you"
Personally, she would like to call herself Astraea but he doesnt have to know that right? As the chinese saying goes, "Less talk, Less Mistake"
He doesnt need to know for he wouldnt stay and be a permanent figure in her life right?
"Erm- Thank you? Im not sure if you know the meaning of Selene though." she shakes her head and smiled at the thought for she never really associated herself with her second name which oddly, only her father and mother called her with.
To that he answered while looking straight into her eyes that she felt uncomfortable again as she felt an odd feeling in her stomach. "Wise, bright and Extremely beautiful. A total package"
He must have noticed her surprise at knowing the correct meaning underneath her name for he added with a cheeky smile, "You can say I also had the same odd fascination with stars as your family"
It was then that Astraea looked at Theo deeply as she felt that there must have been something more deeper inside this guy than what he is showing to everyone else. Her father once taught her that people who appreciates the stars are those who has a deep understanding of what they really wanted in life in able to appreciate even the smallest things as the stars where often overlooked by other people and is in other times, taken for granted until something spectacular is happening.
As her father words, being to appreciate small things is the true key to happiness.
"Well If you also had these odd fascination, You can come by my house and see my collection anytime", he said after the silence that ensued as she nodded with a slight smile, "Nice meeting you Selene"
Astraea she couldnt help but think about that something that she sees in his eyes. Maybe he was just really being forced to do things that he dont like? Maybe he just had no choice? Maybe he just needed a push in the right direction to know whats really important in life?
Maybe there is a reason why she is right here right now and why she met him just when she is about to back out from the deal.
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A/N: Soooo... who's more dangerous stranger?
@Darla Hopefully back for good until real life caught up again hehe
@Juying_ny Thank you vmuch!
You guys are awesome as always not giving up on this NY FF.
