The CEO'S Forgotten Promise

Chapter 13

Sara Michaels

The building looked different in daylight, somehow less intimidating this time. Not that I had gotten used to it.

It made my palms sweaty and my tummy time in knots...All because of one person. Kingsley.

There was a medium sized , modern glass decor and steel, tucked between taller towers. I parked across the street, took a deep breath, and checked my reflection in the rearview mirror one last time.

I wore a pink top still neat and jeans still hugging in all the right places. My hair loose but tamed. I decided against makeup except the bare minimum, it was enough to hide the shadows under my eyes. I looked like someone who belonged here.

Someone who was building a future.

I stepped out, bag slung over my shoulder, and walked inside.

The lobby was quiet, clean, smelling faintly of fresh paint and coffee. A receptionist smiled when she saw me. “Mr Sara Michaels?”

I nodded. “For the app design class.” I had decided to use my names for this reason. I did not want anything typing me to Tom. The McCarthy name is something I wanted to leave behind.

“Second floor. He's already waiting..."The receptionist said firmly.

I took the stairs instead of the elevator. I needed the movement...i needed to feel my legs carrying me forward instead of being dragged. I made a mental note to visit my mom once my classes were done. The sneaky visits I always pay her felt like theraphy, I didn't want Tom knowing. Last time he almost caught me, he almost placed guards on the front ward door just to hurt me and keep me away. It was my own mother, yet he acted so cruel.

The classroom door was silent. No oices drifted out...Kingsley’s muscular physique moved steadily as he wrote something on the board .... something about user flows. I had researched a bit last night, and I was starting to fully understand.

I slipped in quietly, found a seat near the back.

He was at the front, sleeves rolled up and a marker in hand his drawing clean lines on the whiteboard. When he turned and saw me, something shifted in his expression. Not surprise. Relief.

He gave a small nod, it was barely noticeable and kept talking.

I tried to focus. I really tried.

He was good...loud and clear, patient when I couldn't understand something as he was breaking down complex things into simple steps.

I took notes fast, pen flying across my notebook. Every word felt like a brick in a wall I was building between me and Tom. Between me and that house. Between me and the woman I used to be.

But my eyes kept drifting to him.

The way his shoulders moved under the shirt. The way his tattoos peeked out when he reached high. The way his voice softened when he answered questions, like he actually cared if we understood.

And the way he kept glancing at me.

Of course not in an obvious and creepy way, but I felt it every time it pierced into my soul.

Before I knew it, class ended too soon at exactly 15:30hrs.

I packed up slowly, trying to ease my tense muscles. Kingsley stayed at the front, wiping the board clean. I lingered, pretending to organize my notes.

When I was about to take a step, he turned to me smoothly. “Sara.”

I stood, clutching my notebook like a shield. “Hi.”

He walked over slowly, calmly with a small warm smile on his face. He stopped a few feet away and reached into his pocket. He held out a single small red rose.

My breath caught the second I saw it. It was beautiful. But I thought red roses meant romance...Does he love me or he is trying to say something?

"Kingsley...You shouldn't have..." My eyes widened as saucers.

“I… saw it on the way in,” he said quietly. “Abd thought it might brighten your day. Don't you girls like flowers?"

I stared at the flower. It looked perfect with it's velvet petals and no thorns.

My hand shook when I took it, he is a guy...He probably didn't know what the red rose meant. “Thank you,” I whispered.

He smiled again, almost shy. “You looked like you could use something nice. And you look beautiful, more happy today.”

I looked up at him with a raised brow.

Those glacier eyes weren’t cold anymore. They were warm and safe.

I stepped forward without thinking and wrapped my arms around his waist. Pressed my cheek to his chest.

He froze for half a second then his arms came around me in a gentle and careful way... Almost like he was afraid I’d break.

“Thank you,” I said again, voice muffled against his shirt. “For the class. For the jacket yesterday. For… seeing me.”

He rested his chin on top of my head. “You don’t have to thank me for seeing you, Sara. You deserve to be happy.”

I closed my eyes. His heartbeat was strong under my ear.

'I deserve to be happy....'

I replayed the words in my mind over and over again as I was still in his embrace. I didn’t want to let go.

He didn’t either.

His hand slid up my back slowly, almost hesitant. His fingers brushed the nape of my neck. I shivered. Pushing back every bit of sense that was telling me not to hold on.

He tilted my chin up with one finger and our faces were close.

His eyes dropped to my lips and mine dropped to his.

I felt the pull...the same electric thing from yesterday. It was somehow stronger now. Why was I feeling this. It was wrong.

His head lowered at just a small fraction, meeting the corner of my lips. And then his phone buzzed in his pocket. Loud. Startling us both.

He exhaled sharply and pulled back.

“Sorry,” he muttered, fishing it out.

He glanced at the screen as his whole body looked tensed.

He silenced it. Slipped it back into his pocket.

I stepped away, cheeks hot. “You should answer that.”

He shook his head. “Later.”

A beat of silence.

Then he cleared his throat nervously. “Can I take you for a drive? I mean...There's a nice place I'd want you to see. I promise I won't bite."

I blinked. “Me?”

“Yeah.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Since we finished early today, we might as well take a drive. Think of it as something to refresh your mind as you find ways to answer my assignment.*

I looked at him. I had to visit mom, it was very important that I do. But this.....

He looked at me with pleading eyes.

And then my phone buzzed, it was a text from Tom. He was at the hospital making the other round of payments. My heart almost warmed up until I saw the last text.

"Get some lubricant for Emily on your way back from wherever the f**k you are."* Tom.

I scoffed in disbelief, before putting the phone back into my purse.

Kingsley's voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

"Is that a yes?"

I nodded slightly. "Yes, but you'll have to drop me off somewhere afterwards."

I forced a smile, but my blood boiled. How dare he, sending me to get him lube... Blocking me from meeting mom.

Sara had one thing in her mind, to sleep at the hospital. Whether Tom liked it or not.