Chapter 4: Frozen Knights, A Russian team

“What are his intentions?” she wondered.

Why?

Even if her instincts told her not to scream, she wanted to. What if he is a serial killer? What if he does cannibalism and worst of all.. What if..?

Her mind was filled with the most negative things ever but at the same time, his heat amidst that cold breeze made her feel secured as if it was nothing bad.

“Why do I feel so right yet so wrong right now?”

No one spoke. Not her, not him. As they kept on staring at each other in that proximity until she spoke, her voice barely a whisper.

"Why?"

Killian said nothing, did nothing, only looked at her with nothing as well. But there was something in his unreadable gaze she couldn't really name.

Suddenly, he grabbed her other wrist while she tried to yank it away and failed miserably. He kept her wrist in place and shoved something in, that she didn't quite notice due to her rage and gaze at him. But she felt it.

And just like that, he let go of her wrist and walked away without looking back. And she felt the warmth instantly disappear along with him, as if it was never there. She stood there, in confusion.

What was that?

She walked to the middle of the alley and looked in the direction from where he walked away. Her gaze lingered there as her hair waved in the cool breeze and the goosebumps on her skin rising.

She looked down at her wrist and her eyes slightly widened.

A bracelet.

Not just any bracelet.

It was made of large pieces of sapphire with pink diamonds around it in each sector.

It was beautiful. It looked beautiful on her wrist.

It was an expensive element.

Why would someone hand something so expensive over to someone he barely knew?

She looked back at the direction again.

She knew he was still there, watching, waiting for her to leave. For a moment she thought about going back and returning the bracelet. Because she couldn't keep it at any cost but then she noticed the time on her phone's lock screen and didn't bother. But she felt the heat of his gaze.

She turned around and went to the hotel car and hopped on.

She started the engine and all she heard was her slow breathing.

“Craziness.”

She decided to return the bracelet the next time she saw him. Because she knew, no matter what, they would meet again.

That night she said nothing to anyone. Didn't even meet her squad mates after her return. She went straight to her room and slept after freshening up. And the very next day, there was an event to welcome all the VIPs.

...----------------...

Things couldn't get more tiring and the event had to be today. She was exhausted but didn't make it obvious.

The management had a lot of energy.

She was at the hotel dressing room.

The hotel management offered her a dress since she had bought nothing more with her because she had no idea there were going to be this many formal events.

It was full white but different from a prom or wedding dress. It had nice details and hugged her body well.

She kept her hair open and looked behind her only to find her squad mates looking at her like they had never seen her before.

She rolled her eyes and looked back at the mirror one last time to check herself out and she was done.

“You look fascinating Morayna” Said Greta.

Even though they are squad mates, Greta has always treated her like a sister.

“What she said.” Says Levana.

“Damn! Who is this hot mama?” says Helena

“Okay that's enough. You all are exaggerating.” Says Morayna.

“Bro just take the fking compliment.” Says Bonnie.

She just scoffed and looked at Tracey who was silent all this time getting ready. As good as they were with each other, Tracey and Morayna used to be foes back in their days. Morayna doesn't spare shits to such matters but Tracey kept on making trouble she couldn't just let go off.

...----------------...

The event began and the players appeared in groups in the main hall that were decorated with rich elements.

Everyone waited for the VIPs who were still yet to come.

Morayna was with her teammates with a mocktail in her hand as they chatted. She was the only one in her team who hated consuming alcohol unlike the rest. Others had either Cocktail or Champagne in their hands.

The hall was filled with male and female teams from different countries. Morayna recognized a few teams.

She suddenly looked down at the clutch on her other hand and sighed. She put down the empty glass on the table from her hand.

Greta was explaining something but Morayna suddenly stilled. She noticed it. Not only her but Levana also noticed it.

Greta stopped and looked at her as she asked.

“What's wrong?”

“Nothing. Continue please.” Said Morayna.

Greta was about to ask her further but she suddenly gave a big grin as she looked behind Morayna and greeted someone.

“Oh hello, It's a pleasure to meet you.”

Morayna looked behind her only to find a man towering her who seemed to look like a Russian and backed away a bit. She didn't recognize him.

He smiled back and forwarded his hand to Greta and they shook their hands.

“The pleasure is all mine.”

Helena and Bonnie suddenly widened their eyes at him.

“Wait you're Ilya from Frozen Knights, team Russia, aren't you?” Asked Levana.

“Yes.” He responded.

“Oh my god. Such a successful man meeting with us?” Jolted Helena.

Ilya chuckled while Morana was still confused as she still didn't recognize the team.

“We actually watched your regional matches, you all were pretty good.” Said Ilya.

“We?” Asks Bonnie

“My team. All of us. We gathered and watched your regional match against Indonesia. The saddest part is that, we all bet on Indonesia to win but only one of us bet on you all that made us broke in a day. Nevertheless, I've never seen a female team perform that well against such strong opponents. Congratulations.” Says Ilya.

They all listened to him in daze. It's no offense, it's only normal to bet on the strongest team but what surprised them was the one bet that was from one of them.

“Thank you.” Greta said.

“By the way, I've already met him before in the meeting room with the management.” Says Greta like it was informative.

Morayna had nothing on her face as she still couldn't recognize a team so popular that her entire team knew about, but she didn't.

“Damien is looking for you Ilya.”

That voice made everyone turn their gazes behind Ilya. A new face. Helena had a pink tint on her cheeks as she looked at him while the rest of them were equally dazed except for Morayna.

That guy suddenly looked in front of Ilya and gave a little smile.

“You all might not know me but I do. Hi, I am Lev, it's a pleasure to meet you all.” Says Lev.

Lev forwarded his hand to shake with each one of them and looked slightly up at Tracey when they shook their hands which made her smile at him.

Helena noticed it.

Helena shook his hand after her and her gaze followed him as he shook with the others next.

Lastly Morayna, he smiled at her which she didn't return as they shook hands. After he let her go, she made sure no one noticed and wiped her hand on the back of her dress that she used to shake.

Not like he was unattractive or anything, she simply didn't support such flirty gazes from random men unless she didn't mind it.

She was tired already. She wanted to leave. The last thing that came to her mind was Killian Romanov whom she didn't see in the hall.

Does it mean he isn't a part of Esports then?

She had to return it.

The bracelet.

Suddenly a few more guys appeared alongside Lev. All of them seemed Russian, except Morayna didn't really look at any of them.

She just assumed they were all from the same team and shoved it off, looked away because she simply didn't care.

Male Tournament. Won regional. Going to represent their country etc etc , what's so special about that?

“Oh my god. It's our pleasure to have you all welcome us in your country.” Says Greta while the others stood respectfully.

“Hello, I'm Damien from Frozen Knights.”

He offered his hands to everyone for a handshake and lastly Morayna that took her a second to respond and wiped her hand on her dress again.

“It's a pleasure to meet you all, I'm Chrollo.”

He shook his hands as well. Morayna wiped it again.

Morana was in disbelief about how head over heels her squad mates were for these guys, meanwhile she can't even recognize them, less know about them. She just wanted them to get it over with all these formalities and rest in her room or practice with her team, she left her phone in her room anyway.

“I'm Edward, the pleasure is all mine.”

Sounds American. He shook his hands as well. Morayna wiped it again.

Just a last one.

Bonnie got closer to Morayna and whispered

“Why are you not excited girl? They are like the most handsome man present in this room.”

“Is that supposed to excite me? I just want to get it over with” Says Morayna. She finally looked up , doubtful about if she had even seen any of their faces. What were the names again?

Ilya, Lev , Damien, Chilli flakes and Eggs.

Chrollo and Edward but anyways.

Morayna suddenly stilled at a certain demeanor.

"I'm Killian Romanov.”

She didn't want to let it show. Not now. But she couldn't control her eyes from widening just the slightest bit. She looked down and tried to bring her normal look back. Oh no.

Why must our encounters be only unexpected?

Aren't all Encounters unexpected?

She watched this time but pretended not to as he shook hands with her teammates one by one. Levana then Greta then Helena then Bonnie then Tracey. But wait,

“You must meet me again.” Tracey whispered that to him in such a way no one could hear but she did because she was the closest to Tracey as they shook their hands. Killian in response, said nothing, did nothing, only twitched his mouth slightly which made Tracey grin.

What a bitch.

Her blood boiled, she couldn't even bear to see Tracey grin like that not when the entire situation is just hilarious. Well it's a guy, a man, obviously he flirts with every woman, randomly corners them and gives them bracelets. Although, that wasn't even a response.

Tsk. Not that I wasn't planning to return it but it's so hilarious.

Finally Killian turned to Morayna and offered his hand which she took and shook. She felt something graze her knuckles, it was his fingers.

What?

She tried to pull her hand away slightly to not make it look awkward in front of her teammates but in response he held her hand firm and brought it close to his mouth as he watched her and slightly kissed her knuckles and grazed his fingers on her knuckles again while returning his eyes back on her. Her teammates, his teammates, both were watching. Morayna went speechless,

how is she supposed to react?

He let go of her hand and she normally stayed there. She looked around her a little bit and her teammates were watching. Especially Tracey, even if what he just did right now wasn't her intention or expectation but Tracey's reaction gave her the satisfaction she needed for the night. But it didn't matter.

Killian was about to get back to his team as they all waved their goodbyes and gradually started to leave but before that

“We meet again.”

She didn't know what to say. She was just that speechless.

He got closer and spoke one last time before leaving.

“Not going to wipe your hand this time?”

Wait, What the actual heck? Was it that obvious? Did anyone else see it?

But then she realised, she actually didn't wipe it this time.

She didn't want to.

It made her question herself. Why was she disgusted with touching others but not this man who probably stalked her firstly, cornered her and kissed her knuckles like she wanted him to. It made her question every rationality she believed in.

Oh Wait! I need to return it.

She suddenly remembered the bracelet and looked around, but he wasn't there. Bonnie came to speak to her but she excused herself and walked out of the hall. She carried the bracelet in her clutch in the expectations of seeing him tonight.

He gotta be outside. She walked a little further away from the main hall room. The floors were empty as it was the arrival time of the VIPs. She walked further and further away from the hall and finally came to a stop when exhaustion hit her.

The hotel sure was huge.

She looked around and finally saw what she was looking for.

He stood there leaning against the railing while his blazer was on his one hand over his shoulder. He was on his phone not even acknowledging her presence.

She walked closer. His white shirt made him look majestic. He still didn't spare her a glance. She opened her clutch and took out the beautiful bracelet.

“I'm here to return it.”

He tapped on the power button and finally looked at her.

“Return what?” He asked, calm.

She showed him the bracelet.

He nodded

“You can either keep it or throw it away.” He said.

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