The billionaire's lost game

Chapter 25. Long night

“Are you okay?” Derek asked Marie, tapping her by the hands, when he noticed her discomfort.

“Yes……actually, I thought I saw something but it's fine, I guess I'm just tired and exhausted.” She replied softly pressing her forehead in confusion.

Derek smiled, he had noticed her immediate change few seconds after she blushed. He followed her eyes but couldn't get hold of anything, “so truly she must be stressed,” he thought to himself.

“Let me give you a ride home, I enjoyed the night and I hope we see more often like this, if you don't mind,” Derek said taking up her both hands again, Marie just smiled and nodded without saying a word. Derek held her warm hands firmly, and pressed them gently. He stood up still holding one of her hands, leading her up from the seat and taking her to the car. He opened the car door for her.

Marie had been stunned since she saw Vincent's face and didn't see it again. But it was still as if she didn't see clearly. Before she entered Derek's car, she turned to look around the place but there was no trace of him or his car. She entered the car and Derek went to seat on the other side, unsure of what the problem is.

“You don't seem okay at all, did you see someone or maybe a ghost?” Derek asked her as he wore his seatbelt. Marie smiled without looking at him.

“Really! Ghost?” She asked him. “Do you believe in those things? They seem so fictional, I don't actually believe in ghosts,” she continued, this time laughing.

Derek smiled, “I'm happy you are laughing after a while, you actually behaved like you saw a ghost. You know, all stunned and speechless,” Derek chuckled, placing his hands on top of hers.

Marie was so happy, she hadn't seen someone care for her this much in a long time. The butterflies in her stomach were roaming up and down, jiggling her heartbeat at the same time but still something felt off. She directed him till they were just in front of their estate. He drove into the estate and stopped right in front of their mansion.

“Finally! We are here. It's late already, I would have asked you to come inside. But you will surely get to meet everyone with time,” she murmured, while unlocking her seatbelt but he could still hear her. She was about to open the car door and leave when Derek held her hand.

“No goodnight hugs and kisses, or even pecks,” he whispered moving close to her but Marie didn't flinch. He stopped just close enough, “ it's fine if you don't want them,” he continued staring deeply into her eyes, from her eyes he moved his eyes down to her lips. He used his other hands to clean food particles stuck besides her mouth.

Marie froze at this point, her heart racing so fast. She quickly turned her face from his, opened the car door and stepped out without saying a word. “Thanks for tonight, I really enjoyed every moment with you,” she said as soon as she stepped out of his car and walked into their compound.

Derek laughed, thinking she was shy. He started off his car and reversed. As he moved out he saw another car entering the compound. He didn't care that much, “It could be anyone though, her father, mother or maybe a sibling. She didn't tell me all about herself, I guess we will discuss that next time.” He thought to himself.

“They are so shameless,” Vincent muttered angrily, tightening his fist as he watched Derek's car move out of the estate.

Marie noticed that Vincent's car was not yet in the mansion, “that means, he is somewhere out there, I could have seen him accidentally.” She was still in thoughts when Vincent's car drove in. She snapped out of her thoughts and headed inside. She did want to say anything to him. She clearly still remembers what transpired between them at the office.

Vincent saw her hurry inside, he wanted to go after her but on a second thought. He cleared the idea.

Marie's phone rang, she paused to answer her call. Derek's number was still not saved on her phone but she could tell it was his.

“Hi beauty, just got home now and am missing you already,” his baby voice came from the other end. Marie's heart melted, she smiled unsure of what to say to him.

“You have such a baby…..”

Before she could finish her statement, her phone was taken off from her hands. She turned angrily and there stood Vincent glaring at her dangerously. He looked at her screen and ended the call.

“So your sweet lovey dovey talk didn't end at the restaurant,” Vincent smirked, raising her phone to the Air. Marie folded her hands and watched him from head to toe without saying a word. She had wanted to avoid him but unfortunately she didn't.

“I guessed he has kissed you to silence, since you can't talk anymore!” He almost yelled but then lowered his voice. Marie still stood there without saying a word, she just watched him rant like a lost sheep.

“f**k! I'm talking to you,” he growled pulling her both cheeks together with his other hand. Marie just beat his hands off from her face. “Oh! Few minutes ago, you were there blushing and laughing like a shameless…….” He paused at his words, when he realized what he was about to say.

“You've said what I want to hear,” she whispered and turned to leave. Vincent stood there confused, with her phone in his hand. He rushed and squeezed the phone into her hands.

“I actually didn't see things, you followed me afterall.” She muttered and walked away.