Chapter 6: An Absurd Bet

Victoria was mentally too occupied with 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 toward his pregnant wife very irresponsible. While Sofia waited for his call every day, he was least bothered to do so. Thankfully their parents were too preoccupied with a case to call them and Victoria was saved from the trouble of updating them about Sofia.

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. How would she resist the guy when he swore to impress her in any way possible? She was just a plain, simple eighteen-year-old with no knowledge whatsoever of the ways of men. This was unchartered territory for her!

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.

"Are you running away, trying to escape me?" came Colton's deep voice as she passed his gate. Turning, she 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 and neither am I escaping. I'm going to Sofi's house," she pointed out. He climbed out of his car and walked up to her, looking extremely gorgeous in a pair of jeans and a black dress shirt. Victoria tried hard to keep her eyes focused on his face, refusing to let it wander however hot he might be.

"It's the same thing. So if not me, 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 while Colton laughed teasingly. 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, wary of his next step.

"Nothing! Come in. I have something to show you," said Colton, and Victoria's interest was piqued. What could he have to show her?

"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, not looking bored at all.

"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 of going to the first floor, he took her to the top floor.

"Where are we going, Colton?" she asked with apprehension. Was he taking her to his bedroom to kiss her? Or was he going to force her to submission?

"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. He knew that she had no idea that he could actually see right through her.

"You aren't what you portray, you know," he drawled, making Victoria's eyes widened with astonishment and insult. Was he saying that she was a bad girl portraying to be 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 with disbelief.

"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 that 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, coming to her senses.

"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 and bring them here instead?" 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 who can satisfy me in bed, " he said.

"Yeah, I get it. You prefer the aunt types who have been having s*x all their lives. You're a disgusting manwho*e," she said with a toss of her hair. Colton was dumbstruck for a few minutes trying to grasp what she just said. Then he laughed out loud, his eyes lighting up with amusement. This girl was really fun to be with. She really was 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 his 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 unless you want me to," he said, leading her inside.

"I don't, so stop already," she hissed, looking around the luxurious suite. Her 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 so 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, empty canvases, and loads of 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 thought, 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 was alive, " said Colton. Victoria didn't understand why he said that, yet she didn't ask him anything. "Come, the thing I wanted to show you is there," he said, pointing at a huge canvas that was covered with tracing paper. Victoria's heartbeats accelerated thinking of what it could be. Colton suddenly caught her hand in his and led her toward the canvas. He pulled the cover away without letting her go.

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