La Flamme de l'Amour - Chapter 5
Summary: In the glittering City of Light, Anita embarks on a journey of self-discovery and adventure. But fate has other plans when she meets Kylian, a man in a complicated relationship with Marie. Despite their attraction, they must keep their feelings hidden as they navigate a dangerous game of love and loyalty.
Chapter 1 , Chapter 2 , Chapter 3 , Chapter 4
Word Count: 4.9k
Quick note: I just wanted to update you all on the status of my story. Unfortunately, it seems that there hasn't been as much interest in it as I had hoped, and as a result, I have decided to wrap up the story in the next chapter. I want to thank those of you who have been reading and supporting me throughout this journey, and I hope that you'll join me for the conclusion of this tale. Your support means everything to me, and I am grateful for every single one of you.
Knocks felt like slaps on her face and Anita opened her eyes to see the morning light illuminating in her room. She sat up on the bed and rubbed her eyes, trying to remember things from last night. Kylian’s concerned face flashbacked into her mind and she panicked, looking around. There was a half empty glass of water on the nightstand, a dried washcloth and medication, but there wasn’t anyone in the room. She dragged her feet to the door and opened it.
“Morning, Anita. Are you feeling better?” Mrs. Lucia smiled at her, holding a laptop in her hands.
“Yeah… Yeah, I feel better. The headache is gone.”
“Great! You can join us for breakfast downstairs and then we’ll get to work later” Mrs. Lucia’s words cleared Anita’s mind from her sleepiness, making her realize where she was and what she’s doing here.
“Of course, I’ll be down in five minutes.” They smiled at each other and Anita shut the door, leaning against it with her hands on her back pressed against the door. She shut her eyes and sighed, last night felt like a bad dream, or a good one. She could see the signs in her room of Kylian being there. There was a blanket and a small pillow on the sofa in the corner of the room where Kylian dozed off last night, watching over Anita. His smell still lingered in the materials.
She dragged herself downstairs, still a little drowsy from last night, and entered the cafeteria trying to avoid making eye contact with a specific person. She saw Charlotte waving her hand in the air, signaling for her to join her table. She walked slowly towards the empty chair, looking down. She sat on the chair and Lottie put a cup of coffee in front of her, smiling.
“Here, drink this. I hope you’re feeling better, we have a busy day ahead.” Anita sipped the coffee and nodded at her. Her mind was still somewhere else. She tried to recollect everything that happened last night and wanted to mentally experience that moment with Kylian again, the same way a girl would discuss with her best friend an eye contact with her high school crush multiple times. Did he look at me? Did he smile? You look at him while I pretend I’m not looking. Anita suddenly got homesick. She wished Helen was here to help her overcome this situation.
As Anita dragged herself down the stairs, her mind was consumed with thoughts of Kylian. Her heart ached as she replayed every moment of their encounter last night, wishing she could relive it again and again. But as she entered the cafeteria, she tried to keep her emotions in check and avoid the piercing gaze of the man who held her heart in his hands.
Then, she saw Charlotte. With a wave of her hand and a smile on her face, Lottie signaled for Anita to join her at the table. As she sat down, Lottie placed a steaming cup of coffee in front of her and offered words of comfort.
“Here, drink this. I hope you’re feeling better, we have a busy day ahead.”
Anita nodded at her, smiling softly, but despite her best efforts, Anita's mind remained lost in thoughts of Kylian. She tried to recall every detail of their brief but unforgettable encounter, desperate to relive the moment once more. It was like she was a lovestruck teenager again, constantly searching for the approval of her crush. Suddenly, she longed for the comfort of home. She wished her dear friend Helen was by her side, offering guidance and support during this trying time.
Anita grabbed her camera and headed out to the field with Lottie. As they walked towards the players, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of excitement in her chest. She had always loved capturing moments on camera, and this was the perfect opportunity to do so.
As she started taking photos, her attention was drawn to Kylian, who was training with the rest of the team. She couldn't help but admire the way he moved, the grace and agility he possessed. Suddenly, he turned towards her and caught her gaze. Suddenly, he turned towards her and caught her gaze.
Their eyes met, and for a moment, time stood still. Anita could feel her heart beating faster in her chest. It was as if he could see right through her, into her soul. She smiled softly, feeling a warm rush of gratitude towards him. It was as if he knew how much she needed that moment last night, and he was silently asking if she was feeling better.Anita nodded slightly, feeling a blush creeping up her cheeks. She mouthed a quiet "thank you" to him, and he smiled in return. It was a small gesture, but it meant everything to her.
“Hey, Anita. Take a picture of us!” Hearing her name being called, she quickly turned her head to look at Ramos who practically jumped on top of Neymar, holding up two fingers and goofily smiling. She felt surprised at how he knew her name, she doesn’t remember introducing herself to him. After a few clicking sounds, she gave Ramos a thumbs up and smiled.
“Done, they look great. I’ll send them to you, so you can post them if you want.”
“Thank you, Annie.” She chuckled at the nickname he gave her, no one called her like that before. .Anita glanced over at Kylian, she saw him looking at her with a soft gaze, she thought that maybe he told them about her. She felt her cheeks heat up as she realized he had been watching her the whole time. She couldn't help but wonder what he was thinking, what he was feeling. Anita took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. She knew that she couldn't let her emotions get the best of her. She had a job to do, and she couldn't afford to mess it up. Anita still felt a little nauseous. She excused herself to the bathroom multiple times to throw up everything she ate, high fever was still present.
“Let me see the photo” Lottie came behind Anita, looking at the camera screen, smiling goofily. Anita could tell that she had a crush on Sergio since she first started taking photos on the field. They seemed to be friends, chatting multiple times throughout the day, anytime they ran into each other.
“Hmm, I think he looks hot.” Lottie looked at Anita surprised to hear her say those words about him. Anita tried to contain her laughter but failed and smiled.”I’m just kidding. I think you guys could get along very well.”
A few hours before the game, she sat in the corner of the bustling cafeteria, her fingers gliding over her laptop touchpad as she posted pictures on the official Instagram account. Her task, assigned by Mrs. Lucia, was to take care of the page and keep the followers updated on the team's training sessions.
As she scrolled through the pictures from that day's training session, her heart skipped a beat every time she came across Kylian's handsome face. His chiseled jawline and captivating brown eyes made her heart flutter with an emotion she couldn't quite explain. Anita's mind wandered to thoughts of what it would be like to be with Kylian. She imagined the way his strong arms would feel around her, the sound of his deep voice in her ear, and the way his eyes would light up when he smiled.
But as quickly as those thoughts came, Anita felt a pang of guilt. She knew that she shouldn't be fantasizing about a man who was already in a relationship. She tried to push those feelings aside, but they lingered in her mind.
The game went well. A lot of goals had been scored and everything was going well. She was never really this close to football players on the field before and she felt the adrenaline of everyone present there, of every fan. During the last minutes, the coach decided to substitute his three best players Kylian, Neymar and Messi considering this was a friendly game. There was a trophy and a happy celebration after the game. Anita snapped some amazing photos for the Instagram account.
Anita lay in bed, her body still weak and her mind dizzy from the after-effects of her recent vomiting spell. As she lay there, she heard a soft knock at her door. Should she ignore it and pretend to be asleep? Or should she get up and answer it?
The sound of Charlotte's voice calling out to her made the decision for her. Anita slowly rose from her bed and made her way to the door. Charlotte, dressed in her comfortable pajamas, greeted her with a smile that lit up the room.
"An, come on, we have plans!" Charlotte said excitedly, her voice filled with the promise of adventure.
Anita was hesitant at first. She didn't remember making any plans, and she certainly didn't feel up to anything after her recent illness. But Charlotte was insistent, and her infectious enthusiasm soon won Anita over.
"What's going on?" Anita asked, still unsure.
"Game night," Charlotte said, bouncing up and down with excitement. "Sergio is hosting, and we're all invited."
Lottie went inside the room, pushing past a surprised Anita that shut the door after her. The excitement was evident in her friend’s voice, specifically about having to spend a game night with Sergio. Anita could understand her excitement about spending a night with Sergio, but she couldn’t understand why she was being invited.She didn't share the same bond with them as Charlotte did, and the thought made her anxious.
“Lottie, I’m not feeling that well. Besides, I don’t really know the guys.” Anita said as she sat close to her friend on the edge of the bed. ” Who are ‘the guys’ specifically?”
“Umm, well, you know, the guys. Sergio, Ney, Presnel and Kylian.” Anita’s heart skipped a beat at the mention of his name.” Oh, right. You know Kylian. That’s great, you’ll feel less anxious.”
If Lottie only knew that Kylian being there is exactly what would make her feel more anxious. Charlotte stood up and went to her suitcase to find a ‘cute’ pair of pajamas for Anita. “Here, wear these. They match mine.”
Anita walked into Sergio’s hotel room, her heart racing as she looked around for a glimpse of Kylian. But as she scanned the room, she couldn't find him. Sergio’s eyes gleamed with excitement as he hugged the two girls, his hand resting on Lottie’s waist.
As they settled in, Neymar and Presnel were engrossed in their game of Uno, paying little attention to the girls. But Sergio was a gracious host, offering them drinks and making small talk.
Anita couldn't help but feel a little disappointed that Kylian wasn't there. Hanging out with him in a crowded room didn’t feel as wrong as opposed to being with him alone, since he has a girlfriend. She longed for his company, even if it meant being lost in the sea of people. It was better than being alone, thinking of him, dreaming of him, and wondering what could have been.
“Isn’t Kylian here?” As if she could read her mind, Lottie asked the guys about the missing one, her words ringing like music to Anita's ears.
"He was here a few minutes ago," Neymar said, "but he left because his girlfriend surprised him with a visit."
The words were like a dagger to Anita's heart, piercing through her chest with an unbearable pain. She couldn't help the hurt that showed on her face. She tried to mask it, to pretend that everything was okay, but deep down, she knew that it wasn't. Her heart felt heavy, and she knew that no matter how hard she tried to deny it, she was in love with him. The ache in her chest was proof of that, and she knew that it would never go away.
Anita sat in the corner, her heart heavy with a mixture of emotions. She had been feeling a little sick from the previous night, and as much as her friends had insisted on her joining their card game, she was content to watch from the corner. The sounds of laughter filled the room, but her mind was elsewhere. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing.
The night wore on and Anita's eyes grew heavy. She wasn't quite asleep, but merely resting them, when she heard the door open. She didn't need to open her eyes to know who it was. She could smell his cologne from across the room. It was Kylian.
She kept her eyes closed, listening to the sound of his voice as he joined the others. She could feel the energy in the room shift as he entered, as if everyone's attention was suddenly focused solely on him. And yet, despite the commotion, Anita found herself feeling more calm already.
“Sorry, everyone. I was with Marie until now. What did I miss?” Anita heard Kylian’s voice, still keeping her eyes closed.
“We are bored. An is dozing off and Presnel is tired. Me, Sergio and Neymar are the only ones still good.”
Kylian’s heart raced as he approached Anita, his gaze fixed on her delicate features, his eyes couldn't help but feast on her beauty. Even in her weakened state, Anita looked stunning to him. With a gentle touch, he traced his finger down her cheek, sending shivers of pleasure down her spine.
"Why didn't you put a blanket over her? She seems cold. Is she feeling better btw?" Kylian asked, his voice growing louder as he drew nearer. He carefully draped a blanket over her, tucking her in like a precious jewel.
Anita slowly opened her eyes and looked at him. She couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by his touch. He was kneeling before her, his handsome face etched with concern.
"Hey, An. How are you?" Kylian whispered slowly, his voice filled with tenderness.
Anita's heart skipped a beat as she gazed into his deep, caring eyes. She felt safe and loved in his presence, and she knew that she could trust him with her heart.
"I feel better than yesterday, still a little drowsy though." She sat up on the sofa she was laying on and held the blanket closer to her chest.
"I'm glad you're improving. Can we have a little chat?" Kylian asked, his gaze never leaving hers.
"I heard Marie was here. How is she?" Anita intentionally asked, changing the subject and hoping to remind Kylian that he still had someone in his life.
Kylian couldn't believe what was happening to him. His heart was pounding in his chest, and his mind was racing with thoughts of her. He had never felt like this before, and he didn't know what to do about it. As he sat on the edge of the bed, he closed his eyes and tried to make sense of his emotions.
But then Anita stood up and announced that she was leaving. He couldn't help but wonder if he would ever be able to express the feelings that he had been suppressing for so long. His mind was consumed with thoughts of her, and every time she was near, he felt himself growing weaker.
As he sat there, lost in his own thoughts, he felt a wave of emotion wash over him. He knew then that he couldn't keep his feelings hidden any longer. He had to tell her how he felt.
Anita walked down the dimly lit hallway of the hotel, her heart felt heavy with uncertainty. She couldn't help but wonder what her life had come to. Moving to France was supposed to be the beginning of a new and exciting chapter, but instead, it seemed as though she was only facing more challenges than ever before. Feeling the need for some solace, Anita decided to make her way to the hotel cafeteria and enjoy a soothing cup of tea.
As she sat on the bar stool, her delicate fingers curled around the warm teacup, her mind wandered to the tumultuous emotions that were churning within her. She had come to this place to escape, to find solace in the soothing warmth of chamomile tea, but fate had other plans.
Suddenly, a familiar voice drifted over to her, like a soft whisper in the wind. Her heart skipped a beat, and she felt a familiar ache in her chest. It was Marie. She could feel her presence behind her, but she dared not turn around, fearing that the flood of emotions that threatened to overwhelm her. She questioned why she was here alone and not with Kylian.
For a moment, she prayed to the heavens above that Marie would not approach the bar and face her. Marie ordered a glass of wine and sat there unaware of Anita’s presence behind her. Actually, she couldn’t care less about Anita, because she was lost in her own thoughts.
As she pondered over these questions, Marie's phone rang. Anita watched as Marie answered the call. She seemed stressed over something judging by the sound of her distant voice. For a moment, Anita contemplated leaving the cafeteria, but something kept her rooted to the spot.
Eavesdropping is a thing Anita hated the most, but in that exact moment she couldn’t escape that situation for different reasons. One of them being the fear of being noticed by Marie while leaving.
“I don’t understand what’s going on, honestly. He seems distant and zoned out. I literally traveled all the way here to surprise him and he left me alone to ‘rest’ because he had a game night with friends.” Marie stopped her speech to order another glass of wine. Anita realized she was talking about Kylian. “ We haven’t slept together in a while. I think… I think he’s seeing someone else. This wasn’t supposed to happen.”
Fear washed over Anita as she heard those words. She didn’t realize Kylian was ignoring Marie because of her and she felt bad. What Marie said next confused her.
“You need to take care of this. If there’s someone else in his life, you need to find her and get rid of her. I’m not going to waste all this time for nothing. Don’t forget that you were the one who asked me this.”
Anita slowly stood up from the chair and made her way to the room, still shocked at what she heard. What did Marie mean when she said ‘Don’t forget that you were the one who asked me to do this’? She doesn’t even remember how she got into her room and straight into her bed, everything was a blur. The conversation she heard a minute ago, more exactly eavesdropped, changed her way of thinking. Was Kylian being used by Marie?
While trying her hardest to brush off these thoughts, Anita fell asleep thinking about whether she should tell Kylian about this or not.
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Kylian's heart was pounding in his chest as he faced the woman he once loved. He tried to swallow the lump in his throat and muster up the courage to tell her the truth. It was a painful realization, but he knew that it was time to be honest with himself and with Marie. He paced around the living room, trying his best to make this situation as easy as possible. A week ago, when Marie visited him at the hotel in Qatar, was the exact moment Kylian realized he doesn’t feel anything towards Marie anymore. The thought of Anita hanging out with him for a game night was more important to him than making love with his girlfriend who flew in to surprise him.
One thing was for sure, no matter if Anita felt the same way about him or not, he knew that Marie wasn’t the one for him anymore.
“So, you’re breaking up with me?” Marie stood in front of his face, completely baffled about what she heard.
“Marie, things aren’t working out between us anymore. I just don’t feel the same way about you anymore. I’ve never in a million years thought that I would be the one to do this.” Kylian confessed everything to the shocked woman standing in front of him.
Marie sat on the couch, looking defeated. She wasn’t crying, only screams came out of the mouth. “ Is there someone else?”
Kylian didn’t answer, but Marie already understood the answer. She stood up and got closer to his face, staring him dead in the eyes, trying to contain herself. “ I hope she’s worth it, Kylian. Because you just lost a very important person in your life.”
No matter how many times Kylian tried to hug her, she backed away. In two minutes she was out of his apartment, slamming the door shut.
Even though he just broke up with his girlfriend, Kylian was mostly calm. He sat on the edge of his bed, staring out the window as the soft rays of the sun filtered through the curtains. He couldn't shake the feeling of guilt that gnawed at his insides, the knowledge that he had caused pain to someone he once loved.
But at the same time, he felt a sense of relief. It was better to end things with his girlfriend than to continue living a lie, pretending to feel something that he no longer did. He knew he had made the right decision, no matter how difficult it had been.
Yet there was someone else on his mind, someone who had captured his heart in ways he couldn't explain. Anita. Her name was like a sweet melody that echoed in his mind, a symphony of emotions that made his heart skip a beat. He closed his eyes and breathed in deeply, trying to calm his racing thoughts. The memory of Anita's smile, her touch, her voice, filled him with a sense of peace that he couldn't find anywhere else. Her beauty was not of this world, it was a reflection of the divine. Her mere presence ignited a fire in my heart that burned brighter than the sun
Kylian didn't know if he should tell Anita about the breakup yet or not. But the thought of not being honest with her made him feel uneasy, like he was hiding something important. He knew that Anita was different from any woman he had ever met before. Anita was no pushover. She wouldn't simply jump into his arms because he was suddenly single. Kylian would have to tread carefully, to earn her trust and her love.
Kylian began to notice how often Anita seemed to cross his path at work. He found himself making excuses to be near her, just to catch a glimpse of her smile or hear the sound of her laughter. Everytime he engaged in a conversation with her, he could tell there was something she was holding back from telling him.
He saw a glimpse of hope once Anita accepted to take the ride home with him. During the ride, he admired her beauty and shyly held her small and fragile hand. Fireworks went off inside him anytime she looked back at him with the same lovely look.
As they both stepped into the elevator, Kylian found himself unable to resist the urge to talk to her. He cleared his throat, hoping to break the silence.
"An, I have something to tell you," he said, his voice quiet and hesitant.
She turned to look at him, her eyes curious. "What is it, Ky?" she asked.
"I... I broke up with my girlfriend," Kylian said, his words coming out in a rush. "It was a while ago, but I didn't know if I should tell you or not."
Anita nodded slowly, the situation with Marie at the hotel flashed into her mind . Maybe Kylian found out whatever Marie talked about on the phone that day. Or maybe, they broke it off because of her. "I see," she said. "And why did you feel the need to tell me?"
Kylian took a deep breath, gathering his courage. He pressed his forehead against her and closed his eyes, holding both her hands tightly. "Because I want to ask you out on a date," he said, his voice low and earnest. “ I want to get to know you more. I want to tell you how I feel, how much you’ve changed my life since I first saw you.”
She leaned in closer to him. "Kylian, I’m scared" she said, the fear and desire were both evident in her voice. And with that, Kylian placed a long kiss on her forehead. He knew that the road ahead would be full of challenges and obstacles, but he was ready to face them all for the chance to be with her.
“You have nothing to be scared of, An. Trust me, even if you say no to being with me, that doesn’t make me regret breaking up with Marie. We ended because the love was gone.”
“Kylian, there something you do-”
“Do you feel for me?”
“I do.” She confessed, giving herself all to him. A single tear rolled down her cheek, Kylian was quick to wipe it off her face. “I really fucking do.”
“Nothing will happen. I’m all yours, Anita.”
“Okay, Ky. I will go on a date with you.” She smiled for the first time after he told her about the breakup. She decided not to tell him about the conversation Marie had on the phone, it was none of her business. That was something between him and Marie.
The elevator door opened to Anita’s floor. “I will text you the details.” Kylian said, hugging her goodbye.
Kylian stepped into his apartment and tossed his bag aside, a euphoric smile spreading across his face. He couldn't help but feel like the luckiest man alive. Anita had finally agreed to go on a date with him, and he was determined to make it a night she'd never forget.
As he basked in his joy, his phone rang, breaking him out of his reverie. "Hey dad, what's up?" he answered, still beaming from ear to ear.
"Hey there, Kyky. I'm doing well, son. And how about you? How are things going?"
Kylian eagerly recounted all that had happened to him recently, from the painful breakup with Marie to the exciting date with the gorgeous Anita. His father listened intently, a smile on his face as he offered his son some sage advice.
As Anita stood before the mirror, carefully selecting her attire for the special evening, her heart was aflutter with excitement. She couldn't help but smile, knowing that Kylian had planned everything down to the last detail.
Just as she was about to leave, there was a sharp knock at the door. Anita frowned, wondering who could possibly be bothering her at a time like this. When she opened the door, she was met with a stern-looking man she had never seen before.
"Hello," she said tentatively, trying to hide her confusion. "Can I help you with something?"
The man didn't even acknowledge her greeting. Instead, he simply looked her up and down with a cold, calculating expression. "I'm Kylian's father," he said brusquely. "And I've come to tell you that you need to cancel your date with my son."
“I-I don’t understand.” She wasn’t able to form a sentence, everything was a shock to her. ” Why is that exactly?”
"Because my son belongs with Marie," the man replied, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Not with you."
“Does Kylian know you’re here?”
The man's expression became angrier than before. "Look, I know you think you love my son," he said gruffly. "But the truth is, you're not the right person for him. He needs someone who can support him in his career.Someone like Marie. If you go on this date, you’ll create big problems that will also affect you, your career."
Anita was speechless. Was that a threat? Is his dad the man behind Maria’s phone call?
“I hope I’ve made myself clear, Anita.” He said gruffly and left her standing there at the door, unable to form a sentence.
Kylian's heart was beating faster than ever as he sat at the restaurant, eagerly waiting for Anita. He had planned this dinner, hoping to spend some quality time with the woman who had captured his heart. He had been counting down the minutes until her arrival, but as the clock ticked on, his anticipation slowly turned into anxiety.
He reached for his phone and sent a message to her, hoping for a quick response. When he saw that there was no reply, he felt a sinking feeling in his chest. Was she okay? Had something happened? He tried to shake off the feeling of worry and told himself that she was probably just running late.
But as the minutes turned into hours, Kylian's worry turned into panic. He called her phone over and over again, hoping for some sign of her. But each time, there was no answer. It was as if she had disappeared from the face of the earth.
Kylian's mind raced with questions. Had he done something wrong? Had she changed her mind about him? He couldn't bear the thought of losing her before their relationship had even had a chance to blossom.
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