Chapter 44 — Maybe it's Just a Phase
1254 Words
I rushed towards the door, pulling it open.
“Lena.”
She rolled her eyes and pulled me in for a hug.
“I was so worried about you,” I whispered, holding her to my chest.
She began making dramatic choking sounds.
I smirked, tightening my hold until she started tapping frantically against my arm.
Before I knew it, someone ripped us apart.
“Christ…” I hissed, cradling my injured arm.
My gaze snapped up to meet dark blue eyes.
Fucking Samuel.
“It's alright, Samuel. We were just joking around,” Lena said, placing her hand on his shoulder.
“Piece of shit.” I murmured.
“Is everything alright?”
I glanced at Henry as he strolled down the stairs, glasses perched on his nose and a book in hand.
“It's Lena's stupid bodyguard.” I growled.
“Ahh… Samuel. Lena. I didn't know you both were coming around.”
“Hi Mr Gareth,” Lena said, waving slightly.
I ground my teeth together, to stop from spewing curses at the i***t.
That f*****g hurt like a b***h.
“Let me see,” Henry said, bringing my arm closer to his face.
He frowned slightly.
“You don't know how to be very gentle, do you, Samuel?”
“She was choking her—”
“I'm sure if she had any intention of killing her best friend, she'd have done it years ago, don't you think?” Henry murmured.
I glared at Henry, as he twisted my arm from side to side.
Then back to Samuel, standing in front of Lena like a f*****g human tank.
“You should apologize,” Henry said, letting go of my hand before turning his gaze to Samuel.
One hand in his pocket.
“I was just doing my job—”
“Hurting an unarmed civilian with zero ill intent inside their own home is considered a violation under state security law.”
I smirked.
“Not to mention that you are an illegal bodyguard hired by Mr Duncan who…” he drawled, c*****g his head to the side.
“Might I add, is currently on the run from both the state and very dangerous people.”
“What?” Lena echoed.
I pursed my lips.
Henry turned his gaze to Lena.
“Don't worry, it's not official yet—but your father is in a lot of deep shit.”
Lena scoffed bitterly.
“No wonder.”
“Not to mention the fact that I actually do know where he is…”
Henry turned back to Samuel, a hand in his pocket.
“Unless you'd like this situation brought not only to the state but to the very people searching for Jacob… I'd advise you to apologize.”
“Mr Gareth—”
“I would not tolerate disrespect in my home, Lena,” Henry deadpanned.
“But it hasn't gotten that far—”
“You’ll find that I can go to extreme lengths to prove a point.”
Lena clamped her mouth shut.
Although the reply was meant for Lena, his gaze never strayed from Samuel's.
Both men held each other's gaze.
Neither willing to give in.
Then—
“I apologize,” Samuel said, bowing deeply. “My social skills are a bit lacking in most cases.”
“Very well,” Henry said, before walking away. “There's creamy pasta if you're both hungry.”
He stopped just at the stairwell.
“I will be in my room if you need me, Rosie.”
“Yes, Daddy.” I said, my gaze shamelessly lingering on his ass.
He shook his head, before pulling his door open and closing it behind him.
Whoever thought intelligence wasn't sexy had obviously not met Henry.
Henry didn't need to be some martial artist or some gun-wielding maniac to intimidate people.
He didn't even need to use a gun.
He used intellect and the law as weapons, and somehow that was even more dangerous.
And damn me… if my heart didn't stutter and my p***y clench for him over again.
“You're drooling,” Lena said, pinching my ear.
“Ouch.” I whined, slapping her head.
“Bitch.”
I stuck my tongue out as I ran upstairs.
I heard her say something along the lines of ‘I'm fine, Samuel’, before she bolted after me.
I opened my door, heading for my bed.
Soon after, she ran in—slamming the door behind her.
“Macho man isn't coming after us?” I teased.
She rolled her eyes before plopping on the bed.
“Don't you think it's high time you tell me what's really going on between you and Mr Gareth?”
I exhaled, lying on the bed too.
“I don't know…” I drawled, staring at the ceiling.
“There's a lot of tension between both of you.”
“You don't say.” I murmured.
She hummed, eyes locked on the ceiling too.
“Would it make sense if I said I'm attracted to him?”
“Try again… a lot of girls are—”
She scoffed, shaking her head.
“Scratch that, a lot of women are.”
I giggled.
“Well… until I find something better, let's stick with attraction for now.”
“I know you've never liked him in that way, so… since when?”
I stayed quiet for a moment.
Searching.
Since when did I become attracted to Henry Gareth?
I didn't have to search long though.
I knew when.
Although, it's been long.
I'd always been attracted to Henry Gareth.
I wasn't quite sure when I started fantasizing about marrying him.
But I was sure of when my attraction started… and it had been—
“From the first day he walked into Eden college.”
To me, Henry Gareth was an enigma.
Different.
Layered.
Like a puzzle worth solving.
“That long?” Lena asked quietly.
“Even when he left… I never stopped thinking about him, Lena.”
I paused, as my heart constricted painfully.
“Those dreams… the ones I used to have after he left—”
A sad smile curled on my lips.
“They stopped as soon as he came back.”
“That bad?” she murmured.
“That bad,” I replied, voice low.
We both stayed in that position.
Just gazing at the ceiling like it had the answers to all our questions.
“Do you think…” she trailed off.
I swallowed hard.
“I don't know… I've never experienced it before, so I don't know what it feels like.”
A pause.
“I don't know… what love feels like.”
She exhaled heavily.
“What are you going to do? He's engaged to your mum, Rosie.”
“Mum doesn't love him.” I argued, brows furrowed slightly.
“And you think you do?” Lena shot back. “He's forty-two years old, Rosie. Are these feelings still going to be there—once he's wrinkly and old?”
“I—”
“Will it?” She pressed.
I closed my eyes as frustrated tears built up.
“Rosie…”
“I don't know...”
God, Rosie. What are you even saying?
“Then maybe it's just a phase,” Lena said, voice gentle.
My heart clenched painfully.
It felt like someone had driven a rod straight through my chest while they kept on twisting and twisting…
Till all I could do was wheeze hopelessly.
- Writer
