I’ll Sing To You, Mr. CEO

CHAPTER 7: COURTING

It was 9:30 when she was awakened by her ringing phone. Her hands searched for her phone on the bedside table. Still very sleepy, she answered the call.

"Hello?" Lhan answered the call without opening her eyes to check her phone.

"Are you still asleep?" Dunce heard her quavering voice hinting him the she just woke up.

Lhan immediately opened her eyes and checked the caller ID before speaking, "Mr. Ardunce...?"

"Dunce. I said call me Dunce. It's almost 10pm. Why are you still in bed? Are you sick?" His sense of worry can be felt from his tone.

"No..." she sat up instantly. As she answered he heard him sighed.

"I'll wait for you downstairs. Hurry and dress up." He commanded as if she was his subordinates.

"Why are you here again?" Lhan asked however, Dunce ended the call without responding to her question. Lhan felt problematic. 'Arghh! Why did it turn out like this? So annoying.' She blurted out helplessly.

It took her 30minutes to shower, put on make-up and dress up.

She was wearing black haltered cropped tank top over a loose sheer-through cerise pink blouse. The blouse was half-thigh long so she just wore a thick black legging paired with Grey Nubuck 6-inch Timberland boots. Her hair was tied in a bun with loose curled hairs on the sides. Her makeup was almost similar to an emo type: smoky eye, heavy dark cat shaped eyeliner, and black lipstick.

She was greeted by Dunce with furrowed brows. 'What's with the unpleasant look?' She said to herself but not so daring to ask him directly.

"Do you really need to dress like that? I can see your bra." He straightened his back from leaning on his car when Lhan approached.

"It's a cropped tank top." She corrected him.

"I don't care what it's called. I’m not interested. Get change!" Dunce annoyingly ordered.

"Tonight's theme is Black and Pink. Ahhh! Why do I have to explain to you? I didn't ask you to come here and check my clothes nor pick me up. Why did you suddenly appear? I'll take a cab." Lhan matched his annoyance by raising her voice.

"Fine. Get in. Here! Wear my coat." Dunce gave in and didn't force her to change when she was about to hail a cab. He handed her his coat as he felt the she was a little dressed.

"No. I'm fine, I'll take a cab. I don't need that coat. The weather is already hot." She complained eagerly.

Honestly, she doesn't like to ride in his car but she still dressed up immediately as he hanged the call. Although she wasn't comfortable with him and they just parted at 7pm, seeing him tonight gave her a little bit of excitement. Totally weird, again. She was new to this feeling so she planned to disregard it.

"Get in or I'll carry you inside." Dunce open the passenger seat.

Inside the car.

"You don't bring guitar?" He asked as he started the car engine. He was about to pull the seatbelt for her but Lhan had stopped him.

"No. The bar provided us with the instruments.” Lhan replied as she pulled the seatbelts. “Although we can use our own, I think it's a hassle to bring mine. Anyway, the ones at the bar are of highest quality available in the local market."

"Mmmn." He paused for a bit then he said staring at her straight, "I don't like black lipstick."

Lhan was dumbfounded.

E"Mr. Ardunce, I don't know what you are playing. But I am really not comfortable being with you. I don't care if you don't like what I wear or the shade of my lipstick. Why do you have to pick me up?" She said calmly even though she was annoyed. Lhan propped her right cheek, her elbow on the window side and looked seriously at Dunce waiting for his answer.

"Isn't it obvious?" His eyes focused on the road.

"Would I ask if it's obvious?" Lhan still confused at his actions.

"You're IQ is sure low. How did you get into Imperial University?" He glanced at her for a moment then focused his sight back to the road. "I'm courting you."

Lhan's elbow fell out of shock. "What!? Are you serious?"

"Do I look like the type to play courting games?"

"We just met twice. Ahmmm...Mr. Ardunce..."

"Call me just Dunce! Do you love my name so much that you cannot even omit the AR? We met thrice. Is it hard to call me just by my name?"

"No! Mr. Ardunce, I have no intention of being in a relationship. Right now, I want to be single."

"Then be single. You have the right to choose whether you stay single or not. But I also have the right to pursue or not. And this will be the last time you call me Mr. Ardunce.” Dunce with a hint of threat.

"This is harassment." In disbelief, she shook her head. How did she met this unreasonable person? Was God punishing her? For what reason? She believed she had always been a good girl.

Dunce continued. "Did I touch you? Point gun at you? Forced you?"

"Mr. Dunce, please stop."

"Remove the mister. How will you know that I am serious if I suddenly stop?"

"Whether you are serious or not, it doesn't matter. I will not be in a relationship."

"Soon you will change your mind." Dunce was calm and sure.

Lhan shut up. She thought that he was so unbelievable. She knew that arguing with him was useless. Quietly they arrived at the bar. Lhan walked ahead of Dunce. They parted ways as soon as they entered. She headed to their resting room to meet with her band mates without saying any parting words. Dunce treaded to the VIP balcony.

At the balcony, Jaden whistled when he saw Dunce walked in behind Lhan. Thedd and Aljun followed his gaze. As they met each eye, Jaden winked at them smilingly.

"Making your move!" Aljun said as Dunce approached their seat.

Thedd gave him a glass of wine. He seated, gulped the wine and turn to Aljun. "Is it necessary for them to follow a dress code?" He asked Aljun instead of responding to his statement.

Aljun was caught off guard.

"Ahm, that's their band's decision. Some kind of unity for their group to wear with a theme." Aljun explained after drinking his glass of wine.

"You should have not allowed women to wear revealing clothes." Surely, Dunce was irritated. He could not force Lhan to change her clothing style so he vented out his anger to Aljun.

"For Pete's sake! Which part of Lhan's body is revealed! Only her shoulders and arm. Although the sleeve is wide but you can't see her body at all. She is wearing a tank top inside. This is bar, not a church! Do you want them to wear an overall?" Aljun was trying to convince him.

"I don't care! There are band members that wear long sleeves." Dunce insisted.

"Seriously Dunce? Long sleeve?" Jaden followed his words with a big laugh.

Not long before, Lhan's group appeared on the stage.

"You are using my girl as commodity to attract frequenters, don't you!" Dunce said while his gaze was fixed on Lhan.

"Hell no! This is not a prostitutes' den. And I am more afraid of my girl than your jealousy. She will kill me if I use her friends to attract lustful frequenters." Aljun gagged on the wine. He felt so helpless.

"But honestly, we all know that Lhan has a huge fan base here. Most of them are shouting Lhan's name. Hear that! I myself can't help but get excited. Look how sexy she is." Thedd said pointing at the crowd.

Some guys were shouting, I love you Lhan! You are my goddess Lhan! Marry me Lhan! Warm my bed! Some even whistled. Though some were shouting Elise' name as well, majority shouted Lhan's.

Aljun glanced at Thedd. He kicked his right leg. Aljun was trying to pacify Dunce but Thedd destroyed it. He glared at him trying to silently communicate his mind, 'Do not unleash the devil!' Thedd just nodded smilingly as if saying, 'You're dead!'

Dunce was so mad at the guys shouting Lhan's name that he broke the wine glass. His darkened aura earlier turned murderous.

Jaden interjected trying to quell Dunce' anger. "Don't be livid. Look at Lhan, she is not bothered. I know she doesn't care about them at all! If you keep frowning like that you will not enjoy your girl's performance."

Dunce sighed heavily as if releasing the furies that stockpiled inside his heart.

Aljun also sighed in relief. He threw Thedd a warning. Thedd just laughed it out.

"Phew!" It was Jaden who wiped his head as if a ton of sweat appeared.

Days passed and Dunce continued to pursue her nonstop that made her suffer from complicated feelings. She wanted to consult Fleur but she decided to just wait for her. Fleur, on the other hand, was updated because Aljun reported to her.