Ghost of My Heart

Chapter 24

Jennet took a handkerchief from her handbag and wiped the corner of her lips. After that, she straightened her back, coughed softly and shoved the handkerchief back into her handbag. "I was in a rush. I forgot to check my appearance," she answered, looking as calm and as composed as possible.

It was no use to cry over the incident anymore because it happened. He saw her messy lipstick and she can’t repeat the past. However, she was hiding the anger that put a flame in her heart.

As soon as she gets home, she will chase out the main culprit!

On the other hand, Luca smiled as he leaned his back on the sofa. He was surprised but at the same time, he felt oddly pleased with her answer.

“You surprise me, know you. But, I am happy because I got to see your other side that no one had seen before. Tell me, have you shown this unexpected side to another man?” He leant to the side, with an elbow on his thigh, close to the knee cap.

Jennet moved slightly away from him. She felt uncomfortable when he got closer. The goosebumps she felt made the hair behind her neck stand up steadily.

“I’m sorry because I wish not to disclose something private like that to anyone including you. I hope you can respect my request,” she answered unhappily.

Well, he would not believe it if she said that she had shown more of her sides to the man, who currently lodged illegally in her villa.

“What is it that you need to tell me?” Jennet changed the topic when she felt the atmosphere was getting intense because of her answer. Plus, she wanted to leave his office as soon as possible. She wanted to quickly ease the goosebumps that kept appearing on her body.

“I want to see you,” Luca replied and leaned back as he smiled, not feeling offended at all.

Yes, he meant what he said. He just wanted to see her.

Jennet glared at him, not hiding the truth that she was displeased. She felt that he tricked her into meeting him. That purpose alone scared her to death.

Without saying anything, she grabbed the handbag and was ready to get up but Luca grabbed her hand, stopping her from leaving. “I’m sorry if you feel uncomfortable. Forgive me,” he apologized. “I didn’t mean to make you feel that way with me.”

Jennet pulled her hand back and inhaled deeply. She was lost for words as her mind got drowned by all sorts of excuses that she wished to say to him.

Luca inhaled a deep breath as he stared into her absent eyes, “I’m wondering if you’re free tomorrow or the day after since it’s weekend.” He smiled again.

He had not given up yet ever since she declined his invitation to lunch. He had lots more up his sleeve into inviting her to spend time with him. If she declined him again, he would keep asking until she got fed up declining his invitation.

Jennet glanced at him, "I'm afraid, I have to decline again. I have to do housecleaning this weekend because I have no time to do so when I moved in."

Well, that was entirely a lie. Before she moved in, the villa had been kept so clean. There was not even a speck of dust found in the villa. She was just making an excuse to lounge alone and to get away from pestering bugs, like him.

“How about next weekend?” Luca asked, not giving up.

The persistent she was about not going out with him, the persistent he will be to chase after her until she waved the white flag. It was a good plan in a long run.

“I am not so sure about next weekend either,” Jennet replied flatly. She was showing how uninterested she was in going out with him.

Luca smiled as he leant back leisurely, not feeling offended at all. “Hmm, so does that mean our friendship is not important to you or do you wish to turn our friendship into a romantic relationship?” He turned the table as he picked on the delicate matter that triggered her conscience about backing away from him.

“I value the friendship but…” Jennet inhaled deeply to continue.

But, Luca immediately interjected, “Since you value our friendship then you must not reject my invitation because we both agreed to be close friends. Perhaps, you do want us to be in a romantic relationship but you are just too shy to admit it?” He chuckled.

“I don’t want to have a romantic relationship with you and if you remember it well, I did say I can’t promise you anything yet because I have some...something to do!” Her expression soured by the minute. She nearly blurted the word ‘someone’. It would be a problem if she does not watch her word because everyone knew she lived alone.

Why can’t he understand her worries? She tried her best to avoid the dangers of getting beatings from his fanatic fans by avoiding him as best as she could. But, he kept coming at her, charging at full speed like a mad bull.

“What is that something, Jennet?” He asked softly while mentioning her name. His smiling face made him look silly when compared to Jennet’s troubled expression.

Luca went out of habit by suddenly taking a liking towards a woman like her who everyone knew was a plain jane who probably lead a boring life. But, in his eyes, he saw her as someone who he must have at all cost.

Compared to his previous girlfriends, she was like a light that brought happiness into his heart. She hated even single attention and he found that behaviour as exotic. She was honest and direct with him, unlike the rest who would leech him out and try every sort of inappropriate behaviours to gain his attention.

Jennet coughed as she cleared her throat. “Ahem, if I have the feel of going out with you, I will let you know when. But for now, I cannot join you on any outing or whatsoever. I hope you can respect my request because, just to let you know, I respect you as my superior and nothing more,” she answered coldly as a means to put a wall between them.

She found him to be so demanding and she had never known if he had shown the same nature to anyone in the company. She recalled that when he was with his ex-girlfriend, he was not demanding and he was cool all of the time. His behaviour changed after she moved to the villa. He started to get her attention and the sudden change puzzled her.

“Well, I am glad to know that. But, I don’t wish to wait for so long because I may tend to bother you soon.” Luca smiled in mischief. He was relieved because he was able to say that cheesy words to her.

When Jennet stayed quiet, he added again, “You know what, I hope that you can feel what I am feeling about you. I am honest with what I told you before.”

Jennet felt goosebumps crawling up her skin again. Her lips pursed as she tried to control her feet from taking her on a sprint because she could not find in her heart to take him seriously. His words only made her scared and wary of him.

“Well, I better go because you have nothing important to tell me,” she wrapped up their conversation and left the office in a hurry. She was worried that he might stop her from leaving.

Luca who was left alone had a wide smile on his handsome face. He chuckled as he recalled the awkwardness that he saw in her behaviour.

“Well, your honest behaviour is what I love about you…” He mumbled alone and chuckled again.

…

As soon as Jennet arrived in her office, Marvina pulled her into the pantry. “What happened? Why did he call you to his office?” Her eyes gleamed as she eyed Jennet's sour face.

Jennet grunted and pushed her away softly. “Nothing happened. Quit being a busybody. I am tired.” She walked out of the pantry with an even sour face. Her mood had not improved yet.

“Hey, just once will do,” Marvina whined and followed her in long strides.

Jennet halted when Marvina pulled her by the arm. “It was all about work that I have not completed yet. He asked about it. Happy now?” Her tone was sarcastic.

She would not tell Marvina the truth because it would tire her out just to re-telling the story that she wished to bury.

Marvina pulled a long face. “Well, you know what, your tone and your words hurt me. You’re so moody now,” she said the fact.

Jennet sighed softly while looking at her friend who was pulling on a sulky face. “I am sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you with my tone of voice or my choice of words. I guess I have been too tired and I have so many things to think of. I didn’t mean to be harsh on you. I am sorry,” she apologized.

Marvina pouted but shortly after that, she sighed, “Well, I’m sorry too for pressing you with ridiculous questions. But, next time I want you to share with me all of your troubles so that I can help. Okay?”

“Okay,” Jennet nodded with a smile.

The promise would be a promise because she would not open her mouth about everything just yet. She needed time more than ever because she have to adapt herself to the drastic change that happened around her.

…

Later that evening, Jennet drove home feeling fatigue in both mental and physical. It was because, during the entire work hour, Mira’s spicy babbling soured her mood. Mira babbled about her ‘secret’ meeting with Luca during the morning. She wondered who had the gut to report to Mira about it because she was certain that no one was around when Luca talked with her while they were on the way to his office.

Jennet pushed the door open and entered. “I am home…” she said weakly. She kicked her shoes off after closing the door behind her.

As she put on house slippers, her nose twitched. A sweet and savoury smell of something meaty tickled her nose. The smell alone had her salivate unconsciously because she had already pictured a lump of savoury looking meat being roasted perfectly on fire!

“This smell is tempting my hungry belly…” She murmured when her stomach started to growl fiercely.

She ran to the living room and then stretched her neck towards the kitchen where a tall figure draped in a pink apron was standing at the kitchen counter,

working on the food with a frying pan. His long blond hair was tied neatly into a ponytail.

The woman’s eyes widened in awe. ‘Wow, I have never dreamed to see this moment. Am I seeing things that are not real?’ she questioned herself in disbelief.