Tangled love Affairs

He has gone mad

Joshua's POV

Present

Even now, I remain clueless as to why she agreed to this arrangement, and I've never had the inclination to inquire about it.

Joshua watched the fleeting figure with a sigh, pondering the implications of their unconventional relationship. It had been five years, yet they had only ever regarded each other as bed partners, maintaining a facade of strangers in public. Despite his efforts to draw a clear boundary in their relationship, he couldn't deny the growing influence she had over him with each passing day. This realization prompted him to reflect on his motivations; was his desire for her merely driven by lust, or was there something more profound at play? His actions contradicted his intentions. Why had he gone to the lengths of purchasing an entire floor in the apartment building and converting it into two separate residences for them, all to conceal their affair? Yet, in truth, it wasn't solely about secrecy; he found solace and comfort in her presence, succumbing to his greed for their nighttime togetherness.

Now, however, circumstances had changed. He recognized his priorities and yearned for a sense of family and stability. Olivia was the one person who had the power to influence him positively, bringing warmth and happiness into his life. It was clear to him now. She should be his life partner.

Olivia's POV

I finished my bath at last and came out after stabilizing my unsettling mood. I was surprised to see that Joshua had already set the table. Breakfast seemed simple - bread toast, scrambled eggs, bacon, and orange juice. But the fact that these were prepared by the sought-out CEO made the dishes appear extremely lavish and expensive.

"Sit down and eat," I heard his charming voice say. I obeyed and began eating. "Thank you," I said.

"Eat more," he urged, placing some scrambled eggs on my plate. Surprised by his gentle action, I forgot to swallow and ended up choking. He quickly poured a cup of water and handed it to me. "Be careful, eat slowly," he said in the gentlest voice, showing genuine concern as he patted my back.

"Now I am certain he has changed," I thought. "Has he gone mad?" I pondered further. Knowing a cold person like him would never show such a gentle side and care for no reason, I couldn't contain my thoughts any longer. "Just say it directly," I urged, setting my glass down. He raised his eyebrows in response.

"I know you're doing all of this for a reason. Instead of being tricky, just say it. What are you planning, and what do you want from me?" I inquired.

He chuckled softly, crossing his arms and assuming a relaxed yet serious posture in his chair. "Okay, I also prefer to deal with this issue straightforwardly."

I knew he needed something, but what could I possibly do for him? He was such a powerful man and had gone to such lengths. I was even curious. "So, what is it?" I prompted.

"I'll help you if it's possible. You've helped me a lot, so I should return the favor," I said. "Of course, it's an easy task for you," he replied with certainty. Then, he took a pause. The tension in the room grew palpable. Damn it, this silence was killing me. Just then, I heard him utter those words. No way. Did I hear it right? It must be a mistake, a misheard or hallucinated. There was no way he would say that. How could he say "MARRY ME"? Before I could come back to my senses, I heard him ask again, this time crystal clear and stern:

"Miss Olivia, I just asked, will you marry me?"

Darn, he had truly gone mad.

Ringg.. Ringg..

As the ringing of my phone shattered the awkward silence between us, I glanced down to see "Assistant Lisa" flashing on the screen. Breathing a sigh of relief, I swiftly answered the call without hesitation, knowing it was my ticket out of the uncomfortable conversation with Joshua. "Hey, what's up? You're waiting for me downstairs? Oh, don't worry, I'll be right there," I assured my assistant, not bothering to wait for an explanation of why she was calling. With a swift goodbye, I hung up and turned back to face Joshua, who sat with a somber expression.

"Um, Mr. Joshua, excuse me, but I just received an urgent call from my assistant. It's regarding a rescheduled ad shoot this morning, and I really can't afford to delay it," I stammered, trying to keep my composure. "Shall we postpone our discussion for later? I really have to go... Take care," I added hastily, rising from my seat and grabbing my phone, bolting towards the door.

Just as I reached for the handle, Joshua's voice stopped me in my tracks. "Are you sure you're heading out in that attire?" he inquired suddenly. My heart sank as I glanced down, realizing I was clad in comfortable home clothes: a loose white t-shirt adorned with panda prints and baggy shorts. "Damn it," I cursed inwardly, knowing that if I were photographed like this, I'd become the laughingstock of the country. But escaping Joshua's scrutiny was my priority at the moment. "Oh, it doesn't matter. My assistant will bring my clothes, and I'll change in the van," I replied, forcing a casual smile and pretending not to care about my attire. With that, I hurried out of my home, determined to put as much distance between myself and the uncomfortable encounter with Joshua as possible.

Joshua's POV

As I watched her dart away, it dawned on me that this was the second time today she had fled from me in haste. Was I really that intimidating? I couldn't help but wonder. Sure, my abruptness might have caught her off guard, but as she herself said, being direct was preferable. I had already laid my cards on the table; now all that was left was to wait. How long could she keep running? Eventually, she'd have to return home. We had plenty of time ahead of us. With a mischievous chuckle, I muttered to myself,

"My little rabbit, run as much as you want, but I'll catch you in the end."