Toxic, Addictive, Possessive

He watched.

With a drink in his hand, he watched.

Tiny droplets of condensation ran down the glass surface. But he didn’t bother with it.

His eyes, his mind—they were focused on one thing.

She was smiling—nay—laughing. Just watching her, he could hear it. That melodious tune. The most precious voice in the world.

And it wasn’t for him.

His grip tightened. A crack ran up the entirety of the glass. Yet, the golden liquid didn’t seep out. The glass held.

His eyes narrowed on the man standing beside him. He was tall, towering over her by a head. She had to crane her neck to look up at him. And she was, her attention focused entirely on him. Mirth played across her figure.

And annoyance played across his face.

She was wearing a gold dress, a slinky one. It draped across her figure like a moth sticking close to a flame. It accentuated her curves in ways that made his mouth water.

And other men’s too.

He could see the way they were looking at her. Their eyes slinging downward for a quick glance when they thought they could get away with it.

Even the man she was talking to. He would take a drink, half-closing his eyes. But he knew where he was looking.

She turned towards him. A smile lit up her face.

It made the whole room brighter.

He smiled back, despite himself. The man turned towards him as well, a smirk on his face.

His smile turned forced. If the man were close, he could have seen the hatred pouring out of him.

She said something to the man and then started walking towards him. Each step she took made his heart beat faster. His mouth was going dry.

She was so gosh darn beautiful. More beautiful than any creature he’d come across.

She leaned across the bar, raising her hand. The bartender served her a drink immediately. She picked it up, parting her cherry red lips—so delectable—gulping it down in one go.

“Having fun, Adrien?” She turned, that smile still playing across those lips.

He wanted to kiss them so bad. It was an urge that boiled within him frequently. Yet, the man’s visage in his periphery soured his mood.

“Hmm…” He grunted, taking the first sip of his drink. It tasted sweet.

Too sweet for his taste.

She turned back, her face up. “I know, I know. I’m sorry for dragging you to my company party. I wish we could’ve stayed home, too.” She leaned across, her breath so tantalizingly close to him. He felt himself react to her. He always did. “I miss our bed.” She whispered.

“Who’s he?” He asked abruptly.

“Who?” she frowned. Somehow it even made her prettier.

And made Adrien even angrier.

“The one you were laughing with, Abigail.” He still stared straight ahead.

Abigail leaned back a little. She gulped. “My boss, Adrien.” She placed a comforting hand on his arm. “I had to laugh, Adrien. It meant nothing. Don’t be jealous, please.”

He shrugged off her touch. It made him boil. Not in a good way.

“You’re my girlfriend.” He took another swig and immediately regretted it. He left it at that.

Abigail took a deep breath, calming herself. She smiled at a colleague who passed by, exchanging a few words. “I’m your girlfriend, not your property. Now when you can stop being a jealous arse, you can join me for a dance.”

She got up and corrected her hair, making sure it was still properly styled. She glanced at him again and then marched off into the crowd.

Adrien stared straight ahead. At Abigail’s boss. The drink was still in his hand.

“You have to leave him. He’s not good for you. He is toxic.”

It was a girl in a black dress who was speaking to Abigail. They were standing at the edge of the party, away from prying eyes.

“I don’t know, Anna.” Abigail sighed, clutching her drink in both hands. She felt a bit lost. And a bit lonely without Adrien by her side. His presence always made her feel warm and comforted. She rubbed her arm. The night was getting chilly.

“Don’t be stupid, Abby.” Anna used her pet name for her sister, “You’re enabling him by acting like that. You’ve been only dating, for what, a year now.” She gestured wildly. Abigail flinched, grabbing her arm and pulling it down. Anna always had a habit of gesturing when she got animated.

A few heads turned towards them. Abigail gave them an apologetic look.

“Sorry.” Anna smiled sheepishly before she cleared her throat. “What I meant to say is, you don’t have a future. Just think of how bad he’ll be if you get married. He’s already getting mad at you for talking with other men. Most others wait a few years after marriage before they get this bad.” Anna took a sip.

“You’re the expert, aren’t you?” Abigail murmured.

“What does that mean?” Anna, twice divorced, with a child from each marriage, asked defensively.

“Nothing.” Anna shook her head. “Sorry, An. Just feeling a bit stressed.”

Anna placed a sympathetic arm on her younger sister. “Take it from me. You’re lucky he is showing his true colors so early. No baggage.”

Abigail gave her a weird look.

“I’m not talking about the children.” Anna answered her nonverbal question with shock plastered on her face: “Emotional baggage. You get attached. Like a pet dog you have to put down.”

Suddenly, an image of Adrien—tall and broody—with dog ears flashed across her mind. Abigail snickered.

“You think it’s funny.” Anna misunderstood her mirth. “You won’t be laughing once he’s trapped you in marriage with three children. And then you’ll be drowning your sorrow in cheap wine and daytime soap.”

Three children. Abigail thought. With Adrien’s brown hair and her hazel eyes. Two boys and one girl. Her heart fluttered. That seemed so perfect.

“Listen to me.” Anna was shaking her shoulder with a hiss. “Take my advice. He’ll only bring you trouble. Nothing more.”

Just then, they heard a commotion. Together, the sisters turned their heads in unison.

It was in the direction of the bar.

Where she’d left Adrien.

Her heart leapt in her throat.

Anna gave her a knowing look. “I’ll bet all my savings that’s Adrien.”

Abigail didn’t have the patience to stomach her sister’s smug face. So she hurried towards the crowd. She parted them with her hands and her shoulders, uttering a word of apology here and a look of sorrow there.

Till she was in the middle.

Where she found her boss sprawled on the floor. His nose was broken, blood flowing profusely all over his lips and down his shirt.

And Adrien was standing over him, his hand bleeding. The way he looked—like a crouching tiger—she was sure he would jump the man if he got up.

Maybe he wouldn’t even wait for that.

Anna rushed towards her boss, kneeling by his side. The blood didn’t faze her. She had had enough nosebleeds and scraped knees in her childhood. Two close sisters were always a recipe for disaster for the parents.

Abigail pulled out a handkerchief, dabbing the man’s nose. She turned towards her boyfriend and glared at him.

“What did you do, Adrien?” She asked.

Adrien leaned over them, his lips taut in defiance, his eyes taking in as his girlfriend fussed over another man right in front of him.

His hand bled.

“Nothing he didn’t deserve.” Adrien answered.

“Hell, Adrien. Can’t you control your temper?” She turned back towards her boss. His eyes seemed to be fluttering open. The nose had stopped bleeding by now.

Adrien took a giant stride forward. For a moment, Abigail feared he was going to assault the man once again.

Instead, he grabbed her arm.

“Let’s go.” He whispered, gently trying to pull her up.

“Where?” Abigail asked, stubbornly staying where she was. She was aware all the eyes were on them.

“Home.” He gave her an earnest look. “C’mon. You just told me you missed home.” He tugged at her arm again. “Let’s go.”

Abigail shrugged off his arm, turning her back resolutely towards him. “I need to stay here and apologize for your behavior. You can go home alone.”

Adrien straightened. He took a deep breath.

Abigail gasped as she felt his hand close around her arm once more. This time, firmer. He picked her up like a doll.

Abigail tried to protest, but one look at him and she fell silent.

His eyes—they spoke of a wild animal. A wild animal held back by the flimsiest of rope.

For the first time in her life, she was afraid of him.

“We’re going home.” He informed her more than he told her.

Abigail, aware of all the eyes on her, let Adrien drag her towards her car.

Among them was her sister; her eyes screamed, ‘I told you.’

Abigail resolutely ignored her.

She didn’t want Anna to have the satisfaction of knowing she was right.