MARRIED BY ACCIDENT

Chapter 24

Katherine

I cursed softly when I woke up in the morning with a headache. This is what I hate the most when I get drunk. My head hurts because of a hangover.

I got drunk last night and I'm sure Derek just took me home. Even if I didn't tell him, he would take me to my own house and not to Axel's.

I took my cell phone to call my friend and thanked him for taking me home. But just as I was about to press his name in my phone book, I noticed that I wasn't in my room at my own house but in my room at Axel's house.

"Why did Derek take me to Axel's house?" I couldn't help but frown. My friend is not reliable anymore. "Wait. How did he know Axel's house and how did he get inside? Or did he meet Axel last night?"

I tried to call Derek again to ask why I was at Axel's house. But before my friend's cell phone could ring, the door to my room suddenly opened and Axel entered. He was carrying a tray with a bowl of steaming soup, a glass of water, and a tablet. For sure, that tablet is for a hangover.

Axel carefully placed the tray on the small table beside the bed. "Drink the soup while it's hot and take that medicine to get rid of your headache," he told me.

I just nodded at him and didn't say anything. Then I got out of bed and went to the bathroom to wash my face and brush my teeth. I thought Axel was no longer in my room when I came out of the bathroom but he was still there, sitting on the edge of the bed.

"How long have you known Derek Castillo? Are you sure he can be trusted? Doesn't he take advantage of you when you get drunk?" he asked one question after another and looking serious.

I stared at Axel's face. So the two have already met. Maybe when Derek took me to Axel's house last night that's when they met each other.

"You have nothing to worry about. Derek has been my friend for a long time. He is a gentleman. And besides, he already has a girlfriend," I defended my friend. "He is very trustworthy," I added. If Derek wasn't trustworthy, I wouldn't trust him to represent me when I can't attend important events or sign projects for my company.

"You seemed to trust him so much," Axel commented. He frowned as if he didn't like something. "I don't want you to drink with him alone. If you want to drink, I'll accompany you," he added.

I stared at him. What's going on with him? Why does he look jealous?

I shook my head to get rid of that idea. It's impossible for Axel to be jealous because he doesn't like me. I think he can't wait to divorce me. Maybe he's just worried that someone might see me with another man instead of my husband. But who among his acquaintances knows that we are married? As far as I know, only his parents and his boss know that we are married.

"Yes. You're right. I trust Derek so much," I answered. I took the bowl of soup and started sipping it.

"Do you remember what you did to me last night?" he suddenly asked in an expectant voice.

I looked at his face and frowned. "What did I do to you?" I asked while blowing on the hot soup in my spoon.

"You just harassed me last night."

I was surprised by Axel's answer. I lost focus on the soup I was sipping from the spoon and my lips got burned.

"Ouch! So hot!" I cried out. I accidentally dropped the spoon and spilled the soup. Luckily, the spoonful of soup spilled on the blanket and not on my skin. Only my lips were burned by the spoon, nothing else.

"Are you okay?" Axel suddenly moved closer to me, worried, he quickly blew on my lips. I blinked and stared at him as I swallowed. Axel's face was so close to mine. Our lips almost touched. His breath touched my face. My chest suddenly pounded. In his worry, he didn't notice what he was doing. When he finally realized he was almost kissing me, he suddenly distanced himself from me. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to get close to you."

"It's okay. I know you were just startled out of worry. And thank you for worrying about me." I slightly turned away from him. I didn't want him to notice my face was so red. I wasn't blushing out of embarrassment, but because it suddenly felt hot in my room.

Axel approached me again and stared at me with a serious face. His hand rose and touched my lips. "Does it still hurt?" he asked in a soft voice.

I slightly nodded at him. "Don't worry, I can handle it."

Without a word, Axel blew on my lips again. His lips were as close to mine now as they were earlier. I just clenched my fists and closed my eyes. I let him do what he thought would help ease the sting on my lips.

I was strongly restraining myself from pulling his head closer and letting our lips meet. Our situation was very tempting. Perhaps both of us had strong self-control so neither of us made a move to do what was on our minds. "Us"? Why am I thinking that Axel is thinking the same thing as me? It would be embarrassing if he could read my thoughts.

I suddenly opened my eyes when I no longer felt the air from his mouth. I discovered that he had stopped blowing but was now staring intently at my lips. It seemed like he wanted to kiss me. But he was hesitant to do so, probably because he was worried about my reaction.

"Katherine," Axel whispered my name. He finally decided to make the first move. His face slowly approached mine so I closed my eyes again. I waited for our lips to meet. "Your cell phone is ringing."

I suddenly opened my eyes when I heard Axel say that. My face flushed even more when I saw him distancing himself from me and looking at my ringing cell phone. I saw Derek's name registered on my cell phone's screen.

"Ahm, I'll just answer Derek's call." I hurriedly grabbed my cell phone and answered my friend's call.

While I was talking to my friend, Axel left my room without a word. I felt a pang of regret in my chest for the interrupted meeting of our lips. For the first time, I felt annoyed at my friend for calling me. He called me at the wrong time.