A month without seeing her, and she appeared more beautiful than before. Her lips were still pouty and inviting, her skin flushed in accordance with the rage that burned behind her eyes.
Frantz just couldn't understand it. How did Liliana keep resisting him? The days he spent at his mother's were a blur because all he thought about was Liliana. He missed her fire, her spunk. He missed her pride, and the fact that she was resilient. He missed that she made him work for her attention, and he missed that she kept him on his toes and did not give into him so easily. But now his patience was running thin.
When he came face to face with her at the door, it took all his resistance and willpower to not kiss her right then and there. Frantz spent day and night fantasizing about his romance with Liliana. There was always this ocean like struggle between them, where she would pull him in, just to push him back out again. Frantz had warned her, he didn't want to be the bad guy. He didn't want to force her to love him. He didn't want to blackmail her or manipulate her into falling in love with him, but now that she was once again in his presence, he didn't think he'd be able to let her go.
The tense and silent car ride soon ended when they reached the airport. Armagio opened the door of the limousine, and Frantz stepped out first. He turned and offered Liliana a hand, but she simply ignored it, and got out of the car without his help. She walked past him and headed straight for the jet without a word, with her head held high, and Frantz shook his head. It was going to be a long ride. Armagio brought the car to a private parking area, then joined the couple on the plane.
Liliana sat down silently and buckled up. She had to admit, it felt strange being on the jet as a passenger rather than the hostess, and she didn't think she'd ever get used to having Mr. Cavalier sit in the same area as she. When Mr. Cavalier sat down, he turned to Liliana and asked, "where to?" and with a sigh, Liliana replied, "Atlanta." With a nod of Mr. Cavalier's head, Armagio headed to the cockpit to tell Paul of their destination, and assist with the flight, leaving Frantz and Liliana alone for the next hour and a half.
As the couple waited for the plane to take off, Liliana began feeling the usual nerves that would overtake her system and send her into a flustered state. Frantz watched her carefully, as she held tightly on to the armrests, and began muttering a soft prayer on her lips, while her eyes were shut tight. He found her reaction to be adorable in a sense, and he smiled to himself, enjoying the current vulnerability that vented from Liliana.
When they were finally settled in the air, and Liliana could breathe normally again, she decided to address the fact that Frantz had not stop staring at her since they got on the plane.
"You know staring at me for so long makes you a creep right?" Liliana fired, unable to stop herself from sounding mean and snarky. There was just something about Frantz Cavalier that brought her guard up.
"I've asked, you this once before, and I'll ask again, what makes you repulse me so much? What about me that makes you want to steer clear of me?" Frantz asked, his ego unable to heal from Liliana's constant rejection.
"How about the fact that you're so arrogant, you can't accept the idea that I don't want to sleep or be with you?" Liliana pointed, and Frantz nodded, then frowned as he asked, "anything else?"
"Guys like you Frantz are known womanizers. Never settle with a girl for more than just a one night stand. I don't want that. I want something real, something strong, something that should definitely last longer than one night stand." Liliana admitted, then she shook her head, as if tired of the redundant conversations.
"Right," Frantz nodded, then his frown deepened as he questioned after a pensive moment "so what makes you think that you couldn't get what you wanted with me?"
"Because I just know that you're not one to settle down, so I don't see the reason why I should waste any effort or energy on a relationship that wouldn't last." Liliana determined, and Frantz shook his head in disbelief as he demanded, "so what, you're basing this decision all on the fact that I fit a specific stereotype? Billionaire living the bachelor's life?" Frantz had to admit, he was offended. He was human, he was able to love. Heck he had fallen in love before. Yet Liliana made it seem as though he was a heartless robot, simply humping anything in a skirt for the sole purpose of an orgasm.
"Trust me Mr. Cavalier, I've seen men go to great lengths just to have a one night stand with a woman they're interested in, so don't blame me if I question your every move and intention." Liliana argued, holding her chin high and proud. She had to set the record straight with Frantz once and for all. She had to make sure that he understood that even though she accepted his help, it didn't change anything.
"So you believe that everything I've done lately, was solely based on the intention of sleeping with you?" Frantz asked, not believing his ears. Just how thick and proud could this woman be?
"Yes, actually, I do." Liliana declared, and Frantz released a dry chuckle then shook his head and drew in a deep breath as he said, "glad we cleared that up," then he unbuckled his seat belt and stood to his feet. He made a show of stepping away, only to return and declare, "Liliana babe, you may be a pretty face, but with that stuck up attitude of yours, you should never expect a man to chase after you for so long. No amount of sex or pleasure is worth a man getting his ego destroyed by a pompous princess like you."
"Oh?" Liliana questioned with a raised eyebrow, her suddenly feelings hurt, and needing a form of consolation, she took a bite at Frantz's pride, "and yet you keep coming back like a lost puppy looking for a treat."
At her words, Frantz's eyes widened in shock, right before he settled on his usual cold mask.
"No Liliana. I came back because I cared, but I can see that you're willing to fare on your own, so after I help save your parents, you need not worry about me coming back. It's obvious you were never willing to give me a chance, but you only kept it interesting enough to entertain the idea that you could have a Billionaire chasing after you. Trust me Ms. Chavez, I finally get the message." With those words, Frantz headed to the kitchenette, and poured himself a drink, then he headed to the small bedroom, leaving Liliana speechless, hurt, and dumbfounded.
She had never expected Frantz to lash out the way he just did. He spoke the harsh reality of her actions into existence, making the tension that often surrounded them and the chase, seem toxic. Liliana frowned and wondered whether her actions had really put out that energy towards Frantz. Or maybe his ego was so damaged by her rejection that he wanted to project his hurt towards her.
Oh well, Lili thought, at least they had reached an understanding, and though she wasn't sure why he decided to stick around and help her save her parents, she was still grateful to not be alone in this.
As the time went by, Liliana became more and more bothered as Frantz's words echoed in her mind. She sucked her teeth and pouted her lips, as she engaged in an internal argument with herself. This argument was solely focused on convincing herself that she had not been acting proud, or pompous, but instead, she was justifying her actions with the reasoning that she was protecting herself, and holding out, instead of giving into the seductions of a man who most likely would have evaded her the morning after.
It was obvious that Mr. Cavalier was that sort of man... right?
With a sharp tsk, and a shake of her head, Liliana told herself to stop doubting her earlier actions. She tried to convince herself that Mr. Cavalier lashing out was a form of tantrum because he didn't get his way, which means that she in fact, succeeded in her mission, and did not give into Mr. Cavalier.
A few feet away from where Liliana sat, separated by a thin wall, Frantz laid on his back, and began scolding himself for attacking Liliana. She didn't deserve him lashing out, but in the heat of the moment, where she had taken a bite of his ego, chewed it, and spit it back in his face, he couldn't help but to resort to immature bickering, almost as if he was back in high school. And while a part of him wanted to rush out there and apologize for what he had said, a small part of him told him that if he returned with an apology, he would definitely satisfy her description of a lost puppy always coming back for a treat. Frantz had to admit, Liliana had a colorful imagination, and it made him wonder why he kept coming back to her, even after the countless times she had rejected him and insulted him.
Frantz even wondered why he wasn't aborting this mission of saving her parents, then he remembered his mother had made him promise to at least try to win over Lili's heart by saving her parents. This came right after he received the phone call from the deputy, and while he rushed out, his mother stopped him and made him promise that he would try his best to win Lili's favor. But that hope had now flown out the door. Liliana made it obvious that she couldn't picture Mr. Cavalier as anything other than a man stuck in the bachelor phase. And as much as he longed to prove her wrong, Frantz didn't think he could handle another harsh rejection or insult from Liliana, because after all those times spent studying her, arguing with her, kissing her, and just having her in his sights, he had managed to fall in love with her, and the thought that she couldn't imagine building a potential future with him broke his heart. Frantz figured it best if he pumped the brakes on his feelings before he got his heart broken once again.