My eyes went to my phone again. The flashing screen told me some unknown number was again calling non-stop. Good thing I put it on silent.

I blocked his one number, so he got several new ones.

“Em? Are you listening?”

I blinked. “Yeah. Sorry, I was just thinking about something. What were you saying?”

“I said why don’t you show them to Caleb or your senior designers? I’m sure they’d love to add them to their next catalogue.” One of his brows raised.

I shook my head. “They’re for my collection, Warner. When I start my business, I want my best pieces to be available exclusively on display then.”

I threw another glance towards the phone again. My hands itched to grab it and receive the calls. But I knew better.

Something soared in my chest as Tess’s words flashed across my mind.

We saw him writhing in pain in his bed when he didn’t get his dose. We heard his screams from his nightmares.

My hands curled. Jaw ticked.

Why? Why…

Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath, calming the storm inside me that has been swirling since Tess left.

You don’t know what you mean to him, Em. That man is nothing without his Rosebud.

Sitting straight, I rubbed my face in frustration. The more I wanted to not to think of him, the more my mind was flooded with him.

“You all right? And please don’t sell me your lies again. I can see how restless you are. What happened?”

“Nothing, Warner. I—”

A series of furious non-stop honks of car stopped me. It came from outside of our home.

I frowned. What’s going on?

Then his voice froze me in my place.

“Emerald!”

Some more honking.

“Rosebud, please! At least come to your window!”

What the hell? He-he was outside again?

Warner threw me a perplexed look. Scrambling out of the bed, I ran to the window and peeked outside. There he was. Standing beside his giant black expensive car, in a three-piece suit with the tie loose around his neck and hair ruffled, he looked up at me with those intense gray eyes.

He let out a visible sigh of content as he watched me silently for a moment. While I just glared.

Tess was right. He looked miserable. The always perfect Mr. Valencian was a mess today. But he was Achilles Valencian, after all. He even wore the messy look in a perfect way. This look of his didn’t disappoint to have my heart skip like every other day.

“Rosebud,” his low voice reached as a whisper to my ears. I tried my best to ignore my pounding heart and his desperate eyes. Treacherous heart!

“What are you doing here? And what’s this? Don’t create a scene here, Ace! Go away!” My lips pressed tight as I glanced around in the neighborhood.