[BL] CRAVING HIM: Addicted to His Voice Chapter 8: When Distractions Bloom

The morning light poured in through my half-open blinds, brushing warm fingers across my skin. I stirred beneath the covers, the weight of last night still lingering in my bones, not just physically but emotionally. I inhaled deeply. Today is different. Today, I had soone important to et.

A few weeks back, I received an unexpected call from a couple. They wanted to handle the food for their wedding, not just any wedding, but one that scread class and money from every angle. From the nu they selected to the way they spoke, I knew imdiately: these weren’t just clients. These were high-profile clients. People with influence. Power.

Back then, they hadn’t been in the state. We had spoken over the phone and exchanged emails. The tone was formal, almost distant but respectful. I rember the woman’s voice clearly. Calm, confident.

"We’ve seen your work, and we think you’re exactly who we need," she had said.

"The wedding will take place at our private estate. When we return, we’ll send the address so we can et face to face."

And now, that day had co. A ssage lit up my phone screen that morning with the location. A mansion. Of course.

I got out of bed and walked toward the window, pulling the curtain aside. The world outside looked bright, full of quiet possibilities.

I grabbed my phone and dialled Doreen, one of my chefs at the restaurant. "Hey," I said as soon as she picked up. "I’m heading to the estate today. The wedding clients I told you about... yeah, they’re finally in town."

"Finally!" she laughed. "We need rich drama in our lives. Go secure that money, boss."

"I just hope they’re not the controlling type," I muttered, already imagining the kind of demands rich couples sotis make.

Before heading to the estate, I made a short stop at the restaurant to check in with the staff. The kitchen slled like roasted garlic and herbs, comforting and familiar.

"You look sharp today," Doreen teased. "Trying to impress the millionaires?"

I gave her a quick smirk. "Always gotta dress the part."

After making sure everything was running smoothly at the restaurant, I grabbed my tablet with the draft nu proposals and got in my car.

The mansion address was only twenty-five minutes away, tucked inside one of those secluded estates where the gates alone could pay soone’s rent. As I drove, my mind drifted, not just to the nu or the eting, but to how this one event could change a lot for . If it went well, this wedding might be my ticket into an entirely new circle of clients.

And maybe, I thought, gripping the wheel tighter, a new Chapter of my life too.

I got there, and soone ca to pick up from the living room. The place was massive—like sothing out of a luxury real estate catalogue. Marble floors, chandeliers hanging from high ceilings, walls dressed in art I didn’t dare estimate the price of. It was elegance dipped in quiet wealth.

Not long after, the groom ca to et . He must’ve heard I’d arrived. Polite. Charming. He shook my hand firmly and ushered into a quieter lounge to talk about finalizing paynts and confirming the wedding date. Everything was smooth—professional.

Then, as we were about to wrap things up, I saw soone coming down the grand staircase. I paused. No. It couldn’t be.

But it was.

The bride.

One of my exes from university—first year, to be exact. We had a brief but intense thing back then. She had always dread of marrying rich, and clearly, she’d made it happen. She greeted like we were old friends reunited. Polished. Smiling. Like the past didn’t matter anymore. I played along, of course.

Business is business.

After sealing the deal, I stepped outside to head back to my car, needing air more than anything. Just as I was about to open the door and slide in, a sleek black car pulled into the driveway. My chest tightened.

That car looked too familiar.

I squinted. Focused.

Shit.

It was familiar.

And when the driver’s door opened, there was no denying it... Evric.

Of all people.

I froze, standing halfway between disbelief and annoyance. The groom imdiately walked up to greet him, all smiles and surprise. Turns out they weren’t just acquaintances.

They were cousins.

Fucking great.

I turned to get into my car, pretending not to see him. But of course, he wouldn’t let that happen.

"Well, well, Mr. Smith," his voice teased from behind. "Why are you always showing up wherever I am?"

I turned slightly, enough for him to see the irritation on my face. "I ca here to work," I said coolly. "Unlike you, I don’t have ti to stalk people."

The groom looked between us, obviously sensing tension. "Wait... you two know each other?"

"I don’t," I answered flatly, brushing past and slipping into my car.

Before pulling away, I glanced in the rearview mirror. Evric was still standing there, watching with that unreadable expression of his. I didn’t wave. I didn’t smile. I just nodded to the groom and drove off.

But as the mansion faded behind , one thought scread in my head:

What the hell is happening to my life?

Why is everything I’m doing lately sohow tangled up in him?

I said to myself, "What cri could I have possibly committed to deserve this?"

This isn’t right. It’s not normal. How is he everywhere I am? He’s a very busy man, wealthy, powerful, unreachable. So, how is he managing to pop up like fate’s cruel joke?

No matter what good happens to lately, it always ends with him. Like a curse. A perfect day ruined. A promising deal was shattered. And still, despite all of it, my body... still wants him.

Why?

Why does he linger in my mind even when he doesn’t show up? Why do I catch myself searching every face in the crowd, every car that passes by, just hoping no, fearing it might be him?

I shook my head, dragging myself out of the spiral, and started the engine. I had to get to the restaurant. Work would distract . It always does.

When I arrived, the familiar scent of spice and roasted garlic cald a little. My waiters greeted with cheerful smiles. I forced one back.

"Boss," one of them called out, walking over with sothing in their hand, "you got a package. It was delivered a few minutes ago."

I froze for a second. My heart skipped.

A package?

I didn’t want to look. My first thought was Evric. What if it was from him? What if it was just another way to ss with my head?

But curiosity won.

I took the box and carefully opened it. My breath caught the mont I saw what was inside: a sleek, expensive designer watch, definitely not cheap. Beside it, a single red rose, fresh and perfectly blood. And a card.

I opened it slowly.

"From your admirer from afar. Nitammi."

I blinked.

Then, unexpectedly, I smiled. A real one.

It had been so long since soone had sent a gift like this. Not for business. Not for manipulation. Just... admiration.

One of my waiters noticed the expression on my face and grinned teasingly. "Whoa, Boss. That smile... Who’s the mystery sender?"

I rolled my eyes, trying to keep it casual. "No idea. Just soone admiring from a distance."

But deep down, the warmth lingered.

And for the first ti in a while, that warmth didn’t co from Evric.

The mont I sat down in my office, I reached for the box that had been sitting on the edge of my desk. I hadn’t dared to open it earlier, mostly because I assud it was from him. And if it was, I didn’t think I had the strength to deal with whatever twisted ssage Evric had decided to leave this ti.

But curiosity finally won.

I pulled the lid open.

Inside was a sleek, silver wristwatch luxurious, clearly expensive. A small white card. No na. No signature. Just a single line written in neat, feminine handwriting.

"Check up if you’re single."

A phone number followed, simple and direct.

I stared at the note for longer than I’d like to admit.

Was this a joke? A trap?

Maybe it was crazy, but for the first ti in weeks, I felt a flicker of sothing I hadn’t felt in a long ti. Hope? Distraction? Whatever it was, it was enough to make reach for my phone.

I need this, I told myself.

I need sothing, anything to pull away from Evric’s grasp.

Because even when he wasn’t around, he was still in my head. His voice. His scent. His mory. The ghost of him lingered, haunting every corner of my mind. Maybe if I gave soone else a chance, if I threw myself into sothing new, I could escape the ga he kept playing with my heart.

So I did it.

I texted her.

At first, no response.

I stared at the screen, suddenly filled with regret. Maybe I was being desperate. Or foolish.

Then my phone buzzed.

But it wasn’t her.

Evric.

His na flashed across the screen like a slap.

I let it ring.

Ignored the first.

Then he sent a ssage.

Then another.

Then one of those stupid stickers he always used when trying to break the tension.

I didn’t respond.

He called again. This ti, I picked up, if only to stop the noise.

"I’m busy," I said coldly before he could get a word out.

Then, I ended the call without waiting for his reaction.

My heart was pounding. Not out of guilt. Not out of sadness. But out of anger, anger at how easily he still made feel weak.

I tossed the phone aside, trying to breathe.

Another buzz.

I groaned and reached for the screen, ready to ignore him again.

But it wasn’t him.

It was her.

Nitammi.