Partners In The Trap

Chapter 2. You Will Face What You Fear

"Yeah, why are you so surprised?"

"N-no, but I was with Jennifer and Regina!"

"So what if you were with them? Is there a problem?"

"N-no, it's not a problem. But, I'm worried about them telling my coworkers about this," I said. I didn't know if he understood my concern or not, because he seemed very relaxed and didn't really care.

"Are you worried about that?"

"Honestly, yes."

"If you're worried about things like that, how can I show you to the world that you're mine?" He said. I was speechless for a moment, feeling like a coward.

I had low self-esteem and a lack of confidence, making me far from worthy of holding hands with a great man like him. I was truly pathetic.

"Why are you silent? Did I say something wrong?"

"No, you're right. I'm such a coward that I feel utterly unworthy of being with you."

I felt a strange suffocation after saying that. But I realized that Mr. Henry was so special that it was hard for me to put it into words.

"Do you have anything planned this weekend?" He asked, breaking me out of my reverie.

"Anything? N-no, I don't have anything planned. Why?"

"I wanted to invite you to dinner at my house, but this time we won't be alone."

"Really? You're inviting someone else too?"

"Yes, I'm inviting Jake too. He'll be having dinner with us."

"What? Mr. Jacob?" I was shocked when he mentioned the name of that cold, annoying man.

Oh no, my life at work is already very difficult because he's the manager responsible for leading the division where I work. His perfectionist, cold, and sharp-tongued personality often gets me into trouble. If I have to meet him outside of the office, it feels like a bad day isn't on the calendar.

"What's wrong? Do you mind if I invite him?"

"W-Why should I mind? I know he's your cousin, and you two even share the same last name. So it's definitely okay if you want to invite him." I said in a tone that sounded somewhat annoyed even to my own ears.

The atmosphere was silent for a moment until he burst out laughing, taking me a little by surprise.

"Hahaha..." He laughed into the phone as if he didn't feel guilty at all.

"W-Why are you laughing? What's so funny?"

"You're so funny, really funny."

"Me? Funny?"

"I didn't realize your relationship with Jake was that bad," he said, seeming oblivious to how much his cousin hated me.

"Ahahaha—" I laughed dryly. Remembering how every morning I'd come into the office, that cold, intimidating face would always be fixed on me, as if watching my every move. I even had trouble breathing and felt stressed the entire time. That crazy man was really giving me a hard time.

"I want to help you mend your relationship with Jake!"

"You say that as if I ever had a good relationship with him."

"Hahaha...he'll be your family, no matter what."

"What?" I said. His statement took me by surprise. Family? Did he mean that annoying guy would be my family someday?

"If we get married someday, Jake will be your brother-in-law, right?"

"B-brother-in-law? Y-you and I will get married? S-someday?" I stuttered. That wasn't simple information I could easily digest. He was already planning a wedding with me? I never expected this at all, not even from the moment he started courting me, this ordinary employee who I don't know why he was attracted to me when so many beautiful, intelligent, and attractive women were swooning over him at the office.

"Why? You don't want to marry me?"

"N-not really, b-but I don't think I'm worthy enough to—"

"With me?"

"T-that-"

"You're more than worthy of being with me. Don't feel inferior like that."

"No, I just feel like you're too perfect to be with me," I said, holding my breath. Well, at least that's what I was thinking.

When he paid attention to me and approached me, I felt like he was simply curious about something inside me. I, who had initially closed myself off from all attention, was melted by his gentle and unassuming demeanor.

"Do you love me?" Henry asked. He asked me out of the blue. I didn't answer right away, not because I didn't have any feelings for him, but because I wasn't ready for everything I was experiencing to turn out to be just a dream and that I would eventually wake up. I wasn't ready for all of that.

My heart was pounding, and my face started to feel hot. Love? Do I love him? I don't know if I love him? Are the feelings I'm feeling right now truly love?

"Yes, of course. I love you," I said out loud. I answered him not because I was 100% sure of my answer, I just didn't want him to think that I was doubtful of my answer.

I could hear his smile through the phone, whether he was happy or thought it was funny. I hoped he believed it.

"Okay, then, see you at home. I love you too."

***

There's a saying that you'll face what you fear, and I guess that's true. Since childhood, I've been exposed to things I didn't want to see or encounter.

"Gosh, he could kill me with that stare," I thought to myself. I've swallowed hard several times since he started staring at me intently, sending signals that seemed to say, 'I don't like you, get out of my sight.'

Although I hated to admit it, he was incredibly handsome. His tall, athletic build, his fair, clear skin, his dark brown hair, and his dark, almost black eyes made him look like he belonged outside of this world.

"Hey, could you stop staring at me like that?" I asked, having to beg him to stop before I peed myself.

He sat across from me with his arms folded across his chest. Today he looked different than I usually saw him at the office every day, except for weekends. He was wearing casual clothes, a white t-shirt and jeans, instead of a smart shirt and glasses.

"That's unusual for him not to wear glasses," I thought. I was sure there was nothing wrong with his eyes, I assumed he wore them to protect himself from computer radiation.

Suddenly, my eyes fell on what looked like a tattoo on his right bicep. "He has a tattoo? Seriously?" I thought. I almost couldn't believe it, but the tattoo looked like a constellation or something.

"How long are you going to be here?" The sharp, piercing question finally escaped his lips. I shuddered in horror, dealing with him in the office almost every day was already tiring me out, if I had to deal with him again outside of work hours like this, I could die young.

"I-it's because I-"

"It's because she's your future sister-in-law, Jake!" Just before I could finish my sentence, Henry jumped in. He seemed to know I was too afraid to face this cynical, cold, and extremely antisocial superhuman, Jacob.

***