Loving My Enemy

Chapter 4 - A Mysterious Woman

Eleanor choked on her drink as she took in Rickard’s face.

Out of all the bars, he had to be in this one.  

Rickard noticing the sound turned towards her and asked, “Are you okay?”

Eleanor looked away quickly so he wouldn’t see her face and tried to suppress her cough as the liquid was blocking her airway. She felt digging her grave right there and hoped he wouldn’t see her. “I am… fine…” She held up a hand to him so he wouldn’t press further and go away. With wide eyes, she searched around the bar for Rebecca but she was nowhere to be seen.

Just when Eleanor needed Rebecca, she had disappeared. Before coming to the bar, she had a feeling that this was going to be bad. Now she regretted coming to the bar.

What do I do…? I can’t let him see me…

Eleanor got up from the stool and went in the direction of the dance floor, quickly making herself part of the crowd. She tried to search for the neon-colored dress which Rebecca was wearing but found none.

She must have found some guy.

Taking in a deep breath, Eleanor decided to walk away from the dance floor when she spotted the familiar eyes she was dreading to be seen with, looking her way with a smirk on the face. Her eyes widened further when she saw him coming towards her.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Oliver Hansen saw his brother, Rickard Hansen dressing up and went to inquire. “Where are you going to, Rick? You know we have game night today with the boys.”

They were four brothers Rickard, Oliver, James, and Matthew and it was a family tradition to have a game night once a month at least among the brothers. Their parents believed it kept them attached to each other. At least it kept three of the brothers attached to each other, but not Rickard. He had a world of his own and Oliver was hell-bent on exploring it.

“I am not interested,” Rickard said with indifference. He took his perfume and sprayed it all over himself. Oliver who was closely mixing the sauce in a bowl jumped away.

“Hey, I am making sauce over here. Be careful.” He exclaimed. He tasted the sauce from the spoon, making sure it wasn’t spoiled from the fragrance.

Rickard looked at him from the mirror. “There’s a kitchen for that.”

“Don’t avert my question. Where the hell are you going?”

Oliver asked with a raised eyebrow but Rickard stayed silent. All of a sudden Rickard’s phone rang and he picked it up quickly.

“Yes,” he said and Oliver frowned, knowing it was a business call.

Who’s calling at this hour? Oliver thought.

“You’re sure about that?” Rickard said into the phone. Nodding, he then said, “Fine, I am coming. Keep an eye on her.”

After listening to that, Oliver’s eyes were shining with interest. He put aside the bowl on the showcase in Rickard’s room and held up his hand. “Wait for me,” he said and then ran to his room. There was no way he was going to miss that. He would deal with the repercussions of missing the game night later.

Quickly he got ready, brushed his hair in style sprayed some perfume but knew that he wouldn’t look as sophisticated as his brother Rickard, not that Oliver wasn’t handsome but Rickard was on another level of sophistication and business.  Finally satisfied with himself, he strutted out of the room and caught up with Rickard who was already going towards the door, leaving for wherever he was going.

“I am coming with you,” Oliver said catching up to Rickard.

Rickard frowned. “I am going for business.”

“Yeah, I don’t care,” Oliver said and sat after Rickard inside the car.

They reached the destination and Oliver found out it was a bar, not like somewhere they used to go but a mediocre bar. He glanced at Rickard who was going inside and followed him.

Curious, Oliver followed Rickard quietly inside and saw him making his way towards the bar. For a moment, Rickard paused and searched the bar and he stopped as he glanced at a certain angle.

What has got his attention? Oliver thought wryly. This is going to be fun

He then saw Rickard moving and standing up beside a woman in a red dress. She was cute with brown hair and gray eyes. But Oliver couldn’t imagine her with his brother. She looked innocent and sensitive, a girl who would care about others. On the other hand, Rickard was a shark. He lived to earn and make a name. No way. They could be suitable for each other. They appeared to be worlds apart but they sure would make a hot couple, Oliver thought.

She was lightly sipping on her drink as Rickard approached the barista. Rickard was ordering a drink but the woman looked at him and shock was evident on her face. A laugh bubbled up in Oliver’s throat at the woman’s expression seeing his brother. She knew him.

Oh, this is fun.

Oliver quickly went towards Rickard, who had ordered a drink and Oliver ordered one for himself but saw the woman disappearing into the crowd. “Well, she left. What are you going to do now?” Oliver smirked at Rickard who was sipping on his drink while glaring at Oliver.

“I don’t care why you are here, just don’t interfere.”

“I am not going to,” Oliver held his hands up and smirked to himself. “But she saw you and I think that’s why she left.”

Rickard halted and then frowned. “What?”

“She was shocked like having seen a ghost,” Oliver said and sipped on his drink. Rickard sighed and closed his eyes as if trying to control himself.

Quietly, Oliver observed his brother’s expression and wondered what was it about this woman that made Rickard act differently. He was not one to poke his nose in other’s matters but this time he was intrigued and Oliver wouldn’t sit behind like the audience. Oh, he was going to be a part of the play.

He then saw the same woman coming out of the crowd and halting as she looked in their direction. Her eyes widened as she stared at Rickard. Before Rickard could do anything, Oliver grabbed the chance and went in her direction.

Oliver blocked her view and she came out of shock, looking at Oliver who was standing in front of her, blocking Rickard’s path as well.

“Hi, beautiful. I think I have seen you somewhere…” It was a pickup line but Oliver could swear he had actually seen her somewhere. Oliver narrowed his eyes and there he got it. He had actually seen her outside the restaurant crying as Rickard was shouting at her for spilling a drink over him.

He tried to connect the dots but couldn’t. Why was Rickard following her? Some sort of revenge? But he didn’t have that much time. Did he want her for himself? Instead of pondering aimlessly, Oliver decided there were ways to find out.

“Would you like to dance with me?” Oliver asked.

The woman glanced around for a moment then nodded.

Oliver almost laughed at the expression on her face. She was so scared of his brother. It was no surprise, Rickard had a personality that made people scared of him.

As they danced together, Oliver glanced at his brother from the dance floor and found him glaring daggers at them. He looked furious. Oliver just wished he wouldn’t be the receiving end of that anger.