Lost In A Daydream

Victoria was mentally too occupied about the horrifying bet she had with Colton to give much attention to anything else the next few days. She kept thinking about why she agreed in the first place. Sofia's health wasn't improving and she found Davion's attitude towards his pregnant wife very irresponsible. While Sofia waited for his call every day, he was least bothered to do so. 

She had been trying to avoid any interactions with Colton for the last few days, going out only during the day when he was at his office. So far she had been successful but with the weekend coming up, she knew that he would grab hold of her again. 

It was evening and Victoria walked briskly towards Sofia's house. She had gone to the mall nearby when Sofia was sleeping and got late. She chided herself for losing track of time. Colton would be back from work and she didn't want to meet him again. No one knew what he would be having up his sleeve when he met her again. 

"Why are you running?" Came Colton's voice as she passed his gate. Turning he saw him sitting in his car outside the gate, ready to go somewhere. 'Thank God, he's going somewhere. He wouldn't be interested to bug me," thought Victoria with glee.

"I'm not running. I'm walking briskly," she pointed out. He climbed outside his car and walked up to her, looking extremely gorgeous in a pair of jeans and a black dress shirt. 

"It's the same thing. So who are you running away from, this time?" He asked with amusement in his voice. 

"Why should I need to run away from someone? Am I a thief or what?" Asked Victoria in return. Colton laughed. Of course she was a thief! She had stolen his peace of mind but he couldn't tell her that. 

"What's there to laugh at?" Asked Victoria, grumpily.

"Nothing! Come in. I have something to show you," said Colton. Victoria's interest was intrigued. 

"But aren't you going out?" She asked him with a puzzled look on her face.

"Nothing important. I was just bored at home being all alone," he shrugged, handing his car keys to his security guard at the gate and leading her inside. 

"What is it that you want to show me?" She asked curiously. Colton smiled as they walked down the driveway towards his building. 

"You'll see," he said softly. Victoria was confused by his tone. The Colton she knew was never soft, he was brutal and devilish in his ways. So has he started following the bet? He walked in through the sliding glass door and led her into the lobby of his building. There was a reception desk where a security guard and a middle-aged woman were laughing together. They immediately stopped and stood to attention. 

Colton lifted an eyebrow at them and they stuttered nervously. "Sorry, Mr Glenn, " said the woman, sitting upright at her desk. The security guard rushed to his position at the door. Colton led her towards the glass capsule elevator. This time instead to going to the first floor, he too her to the top floor. 

"Where are we going, Colton?" She asked with apprehension. Was he taking her to his bedroom to kiss her?

"You'll see," he repeated, much to her frustration. 

"Don't you get tired of saying the same thing again and again?" She asked with a frown. 

"No not with you," he shrugged. Victoria looked at him with confusion. 

"What do you mean?" She asked with a scowl. "Was that an insult or a compliment?" Colton smiled, his eyes taking her radiant face in. He found her naivety quite adorable. She might be portraying a rough and tough exterior to him but inside she was all soft, impressionable and quite innocent. 

"You aren't what you portray, you know," he drawled, making Victoria's eyes widen. Was he saying that she was a bad girl portraying being good? Her face fell and she looked away from his scrutiny. 

"Don't talk to me if I'm that bad, " she said in a hurt tone. Colton's mouth hung open. 

"I didn't mean it in a bad way," he said just as the elevator stopped and he led her outside towards a luxurious lobby which led to a few rooms. She could see his bedroom as he led her towards it.

"Why are we going into your bedroom, Colton?" She asked with horror. Colton stopped in his tracks and glanced at her with disbelief. 

"Why not?" He asked with an amused look on his face. Victoria turned around to run away. 

"Please, Colton. I don't want anything to do with you. I'm not what you think I am. I'm not the type who indulges in casual s*x. I'm saving myself for the one I fall in love with. I take back the bet. I'll go back to Las Vegas immediately after Sofia's better. There are many women who want you. You'll be better off with them," she said in one breath, running towards the elevator. Colton was stunned by her speech but he soon realized what she was up to and strode towards her and grabbed her arm.

"Are you crazy? It's not what you think. I'm not at all interested in you. I have far more attractive women more experienced and willing to fulfill my needs," he hissed angrily. Victoria blinked at his words. She tried to wrench her hand free of his hold. 

"Then why can't you leave me alone?" She screamed at him. How dare he call her unattractive? 

"A bet is a bet, Victoria. You cannot back away now. You've already agreed," he said with a brooding look on his face. "Come on, don't be a spoilsport," he prodded. 

"I'm not a spoilsport. You're the one who's contradictory. You're calling me unattractive yet you're forcing me to have a bet with you," she said angrily. Colton gaped at her. 

"I'm sorry. I take back my words. You aren't unattractive at all, only a little naive, " he said with a smirk. "You're too innocent for my liking. I prefer far more experienced women, " he said. 

"Yeah, I get it. You prefer the aunt types who have been having s*x all their lives, " she said with a toss of her hair. Colton was dumbstruck. Then he laughed out loud, his eyes lighting up with amusement. This girl was real fun to be with. She really was a talkative and he loved this cat and mouse game with her. 

"Wrong, baby. I love the young and desperate types," he told her, leaning towards her. Victoria moved away to put a little distance between them. She needed to be wary of Colton and hid motives. After all, he was a playboy and not to be trusted at all. He chuckled at her reaction and opened the door to his bedroom. 

"Come on, I won't eat you up," he said, leading her inside. Victoria's eyes widened seeing the huge, plush bedroom suite which had more than a person needed. Her glance fell on the huge king-size bed with beige satin bedspreads. It looked ro comfortable. Did Colton sleep here without his clothes on? Sinful thoughts of Colton's naked body wrapped up in the sheets invaded her mind and she looked away quickly, Colton led her to an adjoining room. As he opened the door, she gasped seeing where she had entered, 

It seemed like a painter's paradise with easels, painting stands, sheets colors, everywhere. There were huge paintings that stood in one corner of nature, objects, human forms as well as animals. "Wow! Is this painting studio yours?" She asked with disbelief. Colton nodded, watching her minutely. 

"Have you made those?" She asked, going towards the paintings and inspecting them. 

"Yes, do you like them?" He asked softly. Victoria was mesmerized by the painting of a tiger pouncing on its prey. It seemed as if it was real and would leap out of the canvas at her. 

"Amazing, Colton. You're such a fine painter. Why don't you exhibit them?" She asked, staring at the other paintings. There was a painting of a woman who looked exactly like Colton. Was it his mom?

As if sensing her course of thoughts, Colton came up behind her, his chest brushing with her back. A strange electric current coursed through her body at his touch.  "That's my mom, " he said, his mouth dangerously close to her ear. Victoria was overwhelmed by the beauty of the woman. Her loving expression made her feel as if she was real and not just a painting. 

"She's very beautiful," whispered Victoria. 

"She would have loved to meet you if she were alive, " said Colton. Victoria didn't understand why yet she didn't ask him anything. "Come, the thing i wanted to show you is there," he said, pointing at a huge canvas which was covered with a tracing paper. Victoria's heartbeats accelerated thinking of what it could be. Colton suddenly caught her hand in his and led her towards the canvas. He pulled the cover away without letting her go. 

Victoria gasped seeing a huge painting of her right in front 9f her eyes. She blinked with disbelief. Colton had painted her of all people on earth? But why?