CHAPTER4
1528 Words
Sarah’s mind couldn’t escape the fact Stephanie Wilde was the Mystery woman who sat at the back of the church during her husband’s funeral. She wasn’t sure how to interpret this information but one thing was for sure. The Wildes definitely had something to do with Henry’s death.
"Is she deaf?” Stephanie whispered audibly to Luke, loud enough for Sarah to hear.
"Hey, are you okay?” The sound of Luke’s voice like a gentle shake, rousing Sarah from her deep contemplation.
Sarah’s response barely above a whisper "I’m fine. Sorry…I didn’t see you there”. Her voice was faint and shaky.
Luke finally realizes he has been holding Sarah for a while. "Oh..sorry” he says, as he lets go. He was not typically the kind of person to be easily swayed by looks, but he couldn’t understand why he was so captivated.
"I’m Luke, Luke WIlde”
Luke proffered his hand for a handshake. Sarah's eyes met his, and she took it. "I’m Sarah”
Sarah already knew who he was but never realized how different he could be in person.
Stephanie's gaze darted between Luke and Sarah, her expression tightening as their handshake lingered. Though she had nowhere to be, her foot tapped impatiently.
"There are women all over the world, Luke, we can find you one to play with later. Move! We have somewhere to be,” Stephanie grasped Luke's arm, her grip firm, and tugged him forward, interrupting the exchange.
As Luke glanced back over his shoulder, his eyes locked onto Sarah's, and a soft smile spread across his face. "I hope to see you around," he called out, his voice tinged with sincerity.
Reluctantly, Luke allowed himself to be pulled away, his gaze breaking from Sarah's.
Stephanie's pace quickened, leaving Sarah behind. In Sarah’s mind, Luke has no idea how often they will come across each other.
***************
Andre had finally given a date and time for his and Sarah’s date, which was just a few days after their meeting.
In a surprising display of chivalry, Andre, not typically one for grand gestures, emerged from the driver's seat to open the passenger door for Sarah.
"Let me get the door for you,” Andre said, exiting his cherished Porsche 911. His gaze lingered on the car's gleaming paint before focusing on Sarah, whom he gallantly assisted from the passenger seat.
Sarah couldn’t help but be nervous, she knew what to expect from the night. But in order to get what she wants, she must withhold what Andre wants.
Andre's hand brushed the small of Sarah's back as he guided her into his apartment.
He swung open his apartment door and his place exuded refined masculinity: dark wood paneling, elegant artwork, and a hint of cigar smoke. Sarah couldn’t help but be impressed by the level of sophistication she saw.
As Sarah settled into the sleek, low-profile sofa, Andre clicked play on his favorite jazz playlist simultaneously as he effortlessly poured a glass of rich, full-bodied Cabernet, its crimson hue glowing in the fireplace's warm light . He handed it to Sarah with a gentle smile, holding another in his other hand for himself.
Andre sat close to Sarah, his arm stretching along the back of the sofa, his fingers grazing her shoulder.
"It wasn’t a coincidence meeting you a few days before we met officially, was it?” Andre said, laid back with a smile.
Sarah takes a sip from her glass. "I would really like to think it was. Otherwise, it would seem like you knew who I was before and stalked me”.
"What?!” Andre exclaimed with an air of jesting surprise, clearly enjoying the absurdity. "You cannot be serious. What reason would I have to stalk you”.
"The same reason you invited me over to your secret apartment, Mr. Wilde”
Andre takes a sip from his already almost empty glass of wine and smiles: "I told you, you can call me Andre. I’d prefer if you did” his voice deepened.
Sarah couldn’t help but be a little bit drawn into the atmosphere, although she thought she wouldn’t be. After all, it'd been more than two years since she had been with a man.
She placed her wine glass on the coffee table and turned to face Andre, her expression animated, her glass of wine half empty. "Now, I know you didn’t just get me here to talk, ANDRE.”
Andre set down his empty glass. "I just want to get to know you." His hand settled on Sarah's thigh, his fingers spreading gently across her skin.
His face inches closer, his eyelids lowering slightly as he leaned in, his breath mingling with Sarah's.
"Even you cannot believe that,” Sarah whispers, her lips half an inch across from Andre’s, her hand floated up, her fingertips dancing across Andre's lips before their mouths met.
Their lips met in a soft, gentle kiss, the warmth of their breath mingling as they savored the moment. Sarah, in her mind, asked her husband, Henry, for forgiveness as she kept convincing herself she was doing this for him.
Their lips moved in perfect sync, the kiss growing more passionate with each passing moment. Andre's hands cradled Sarah's face, deepening the connection. Sarah, feeling the urge of Andre’s body, knew how this was going to end if she didn’t do something.
"I feel like we need more wine,” Sarah pulls out from Andre. She picks both their glasses and walks over to the counter where the bottle of wine was.
Andre's heart still pounded from the kiss, but Sarah's retreat left him feeling disconnected, unsure what went wrong. His only consolation — he had Sarah all to himself for the night.
Sarah was about to refill her glass when her phone rang. "I’m sorry, let me get that.” She apologized to Andre as she took the call.
"What!?... What happened to him?... Is he okay?... Please don’t cry, I’ll be right over,” she says, as she acts in a haste to get her things to leave.
Andre stands from where he sat in confusion, wondering if she’s actually about to leave.
Sarah's hand grasped Andre's, her fingers intertwining. "I am so so so sorry, Andre, my best friend needs me,” she says with a low voice, her eyes brimming. "I wish I could stay.”
Andre’s free hand finds Sarah’s waist and draws her closer. "You CAN stay, I’m sure your…”
Sarah interrupts with a deep passionate kiss. "Be patient, Mr. Wilde. I want this, I’m not going anywhere,” her voice reassuring. "I’ll order a ride” She says, as walks out his apartment door.
She turns around to make sure Andre wasn’t coming after her. She brings up her phone to dial a number. "Hey babe. Thanks for the call, I knew I could always trust your timing. I’ll see you in a bit”.
***************
It’s been a few months now since Mr. Smith’s Level Investment Limited and Andre’s Wilde-Inc have concluded their partnership. Andre and Sarah have been seeing each other ever since and kept it a secret.
Both companies discourage workplace relationships and romance between staff, including with other partners, which was the main reason they kept the relationship a secret.
"I cannot believe you finally spent the night,” Andre said in a surprised tone, snuggled up next to Sarah on the couch in the sitting room of his apartment.
At that moment, Andre was fully present, letting go of worries, lost in the simplicity of being with Sarah. He focused on the gentle rise and fall of Sarah's chest, the soft rhythm of her breathing, and the warmth of her body against his
Sarah, with a smile on her face, replies "I cannot believe we stayed up all night just talking."
"Don’t think I’ve ever done that before. I have never stayed up with a woman overnight, just talking.” Andre's eyes widened as the words tumbled out.
This was part of Sarah’s plan. She had spent the last few months going out with Andre, who could never be with a woman for more than a month.
"I just hate the fact that we have to keep this a secret. I’m tired of sneaking around with you, Mr. Wilde,” Sarah says, trying to pick her words carefully.
Andre mumbles, "I think I agree”, kissing the shoulders of Sarah,
"But we have no choice, I guess. It’s not as if we could get married, and I'd just stop working for Mr. Smith...haha” Sarah's voice was laced with humorous exaggeration.
A sudden hush fell over the room, as if the air itself was holding its breath.
Sarah's expression softened, she reached out to touch Andre's arm, her voice gentle, letting out a soft chuckle. "Wait, you didn’t take that seriously, did you, Andre?”
His expression was unreadable as he remained still.
Sarah becomes agitated by Andre’s silence: "Andre, common. We’ve been going out in secret for just a few months now. Obviously it was a j…”
"MARRY ME, SARAH”
- Writer
