Taming A Billionaire

The third point of view:

Akim was startled when the chair beside him squeaked when pushed out and was taken by someone. He turned to see it was no other than Anika who flashed her usual smile at him.

He sighed, it seems they had the last class of the day together. It wasn't that he was wary of her company but he had a reason to be wary.

Anika was a wildfire while he was a caged bird and though he liked her, a bit? Yeah, just a bit. He can't give her the kind of attention she wants. So he has to kill off any attraction he has for her before it develops into deep affection.

"You don't want to talk to me?" She said, her chin propped up by her hand on the desk with her whole attention on him.

"I wonder how you became an honor student when you don't even listen in class," He replied, all of his attention focused on the textbook in front of him. He raised the textbook's jacket such that he used it to shield his face from her curious gaze.

"Because I'm naturally intelligent and you're intentionally trying to change the topic at hand," she pulled the book jacket down only to see that Akim was just watching a video from his phone.

She recognized that video, it was a documentary done earlier on Lincolnshire and their culture. Her brows furrowed, why was he watching such a thing while class was ongoing? It was not like he was a newcomer enthralled with the beauty of Lincolnshire.

Then she watched the video featuring places of attraction in Lincolnshire and she began to glue the pieces of the puzzle together, having remembered that night he sneaked out of the palace with his sister. Anika smirked, so that was the problem?

"Instead of just staring at the outside world from your phone, why don't you go experience it by yourself?" she said to him.

Akim's head whipped around immediately, his intense gaze glaring at her. How had she figured that out? Oh right, she claimed she was highly intelligent? Great! Another person to annoy him at school, as if his parents back home were not enough?

"Stop glaring at me that way, Akim," Anika rolled her eyes, he was being kind of childish right now. 

"It's Prince Akim!" He growled at her, "Who gave you the right to call me by my name?!" He was wrongfully transferring his aggression on her. Akim was feeling helpless in his situation and the fact Anika knew and was rubbing it in his face kind of pissed him off. 

"Oh," Anika raised her brow at him, "We're observing decorum now, your highness?" There was pure sarcasm in her tone.

Akim hissed at her, brows drew together and jaw clenched. For some reason, he wanted to argue with her but that was not the way he was brought up. It was not prince-like. So he remained mute and closed the textbook, with the phone in it, signifying the end of the discussion. However, Anika was very stubborn and was not through with him. 

"I thought you were brave but you are nothing but a coward!" 

And that did it! Akim banged his hand on his desk, "Say that again and I'll have my....." he trailed off realizing he just proved her right. 

Anika sneered, "You would have your men punish me?" She helped him finish the sentence, staring him straight in the eyes. Anika was bold and fearless, she was not afraid of what he would do to her because he was nothing but a paper tiger - at least for now. 

Akim's mouth opened and closed, unable to speak for a while. Thankfully his face was saved when the teacher came over to their desk and asked, "Is anything the problem here?" 

At that question, he and Anika looked at each other and answered simultaneously, "No!" 

"Very well then," the teacher observed them once more before returning to the front of the class and resumed her teaching. 

"You could leave after school?" Anika suggested to him as soon as they were left alone once again. 

"Are you crazy?" Akim whispered-yelled, "You claim you are so smart yet you don't understand that the outside without the protection of my parents is dangerous!" 

Anika drew closer to him, "You forget that you didn't need your parent's protection the day you sneaked into the town square and nothing happened," 

"We were just lucky that night," Akim countered. 

"Then you forget that the most dangerous place is also the safest place because that's the last place your enemy would expect you to be," she made her point. 

"That would be playing with fire. Moreover, even if I changed my mind, how would I escape my men, they're always beside me, I can't shake them off?" 

"You don't need to worry about that when you have a great genius by your side," She grinned at him. 

He narrowed his gaze at her, "You have a plan or what?" 

She shrugged, "That would depend on your acting skills," 

Akim was stunned, looking at her as he considered her offer. But then, the more he thought about it, the crazier it seemed. 

"No, I can't do this," He shook his head, "This is pure rebellion against my parent's rules and they would be disappointed in me," 

"For sure, they would be disappointed in you but by then, you've made your statement. Sometimes some situations need to be changed by a leap of faith," 

"Moreover…" Anika's voice was husky as she drew nearer, such that she could stare at his lips, "Rules are meant to be broken," 

Akim noticed her move and gulped. If they weren't in class right now, he would have thought Anika was trying to kiss him like she did the other day. However, that was a dangerous thought because his heart began to pound loud in his chest. He must be crazy. 

So he drew closer as well, trying to prove to Anika that he wasn't as innocent as she thought him to be. He had seen stuff too - although he hadn't done them - he had been taught to be the man in any situation and that meant to be in charge. 

"How do you know so much?" He asked, regarding her carefully to notice any change in her reaction,"Sometimes, I wonder if you're an enemy or an ally and if I should trust you?" 

However, Anika didn't even react, she simply kept her gaze on him. 

"Then the question should be…" She reached out to cup his face, caressing his smooth skin, "Do you trust me, your highness, Akim?"