Rabbit Hole (Romantic-Suspense)

Chapter 17: Rook

Chapter 17: Rook

3rd Person's POV

"Hey…Lennox," Alice called to him, lifting up her eyes to meet his.

"Hmm?" Lennox asked, seeing Alice's subtle spasms. He sensed another tingle of excitement because of Alice's sudden shift of tone. Just like an engine, he moved his gear to prepare himself for what was to come.

"What are you up to?" She asked, as her anxiety crept behind her ear when Lennox seemed more into it. Her heart was beating fast, she anticipated his response.

"What do you mean, Alice?" Lennox asked, who still kept his smile on his face despite the ominous oozing aura crawling from him.

Alice, sensing this, sighs heavily.

"Drop the whole pretense. Tell me, was approaching and hiring me were all just a façade to get closer to me? Because I don't understand—after the feat I threw earlier, you shouldn't be acting like this. I said I was quitting and even cussed in your face. Seriously, what are you getting from involving yourself with me? You even went as far as keeping me in a deal, tsk." Triggered, Alice burst out.

Lennox, blinking at the sudden outburst, looked at Alice like he seemed quite bewildered.

Oh, I see. I got too excited and ended up pressuring her.

Hmm, should I have let her found my firm on her own instead?

Lennox thought deep deeply into himself, thinking of every day he attempted to approach Alice for the past few days in the office and every chance he got.

"I know I sounded narcissistic. But I don't care. Indeed, with an outstanding firm you have, my less than a year's experience and portfolio weren't enough to impress you—"She continued but was immediately cut off by Lennox's firm refusal.

"But it did," Lennox said, a smile falling off of his face, which made Alice confused.

Huh? Even so, that wasn't enough for you to follow me around— Alice was about to speak her thoughts when Lennox said it first.

"Alice, why do you keep looking down on yourself? Is this by default? Doubting on yourself—or me?" With the last part correction, it just needed Alice's dead stares and nod as confirmation for Lennox to understand he was right.

Chuckling, he sighed and shook his head casually. Looking back at Alice, he smiled slyly.

"Alright, I know. It's my fault for being too nosy and persistent but, Alice." He said, as his soft chuckles fell when he called her name, which, sends alertness to Alice's senses. Looking at how his face turned stern, her full attention focused on him.

"While you're on it, thinking if you can trust me, remember… I'm Lennox Perez. One of the youngest and most successful architects, yes. I sounded like narcissistic there." He said, mimicking Alice at the end. Luckless, she just stared at him.

"My point is whatever I laid my eyes on and invested my interest in, no matter what and whoever they are. Means, I see value and reason to keep them." He said that made the blowing breeze colder.

Colder than for Alice, hearing those words from Lennox himself left her more torn.

Should I take that as a compliment? Or as an insult?

Looking down, she thought sarcastically, but as his words synced deeper in her mind, she realized the wide gap of experience Lennox has in the architecture industry.

Truly, standing on top of individuals with talents and riches, Lennox is one of the people who made it on top in his early twenties. With exceptional skills and mindset, he manages to build a domain of his own.

Imagining she's in the presence of a king who has been gracing her with his endearing favor, she felt small as the reality stings her insecurity.

Founding a top-tier firm that certainly is remarkable, especially with his age, Alice couldn't deny the fact that he's worth praising. Still couldn't utter a word, there she sits and grasps how great of a person Lennox has become. It's as if he had claimed a throne no one could rival.

Raising her eyes at him, the longer she looks at him, the longer she understands how envious she is of him. Alice understood that she had to become the person who be in front of him. So that her nemesis—the person behind the stalking incident she suspected to be—won't dare to come near her again.

For a woman who has an ambitious dream of getting out of her brothers' razor-sharp glares. She ironically sees a glimpse of hope from the person in front of her. Lennox seemed to stretch out his hand to her. Nonetheless, seeing this point of view still hasn't erased the doubt and wariness towards him.

Looking hesitantly at Lennox's calm and composed demeanor, she bit her trembling lower lip. Thinking of how unpleasant it feels to take a helping hand from someone who still hasn't cleared off her suspicion, she kept looking at him, who does the same.

Examining each other until a moment passed and Alice still couldn't respond, Lennox stood up, smiling gently. He sighed.

"Looks like we have to adjourn the game…you look tired. You should get some rest." he said.

"Game?" Alice asked, confused.

"Mhm, weren't you just thinking of chess?" Lennox said, turning his back from the baffled Alice.

Feeling guilty and surprised, Alice stood up hastily. How did he know that?! Am I that easy to read?! But to even see that I saw it as chess play—what is he?!

"Hey, how do—are you some sort of psychic?" Alice asked, catching up with Lennox, who was chuckling. Almost near the door, he stopped.

"Pfft!—what?! You're funny, Alice." Lennox said, glancing over Alice.

Little did she know, Lennox had his way of knowing that. A secret that she's not yet ready to know.

"Hey! We're not done yet—"Alice, who was about to touch Lennox, almost tripped but was immediately caught in Lennox's arms.

Huh? Why do I feel so dizzy now—aack!- Alice thought, feeling her remaining strength fading and seeing Lennox's holding her. She startled and quickly tried to get up, but Lennox didn't let her and carried her up instead.

Being carried in arms for the first time by a man, Alice instantly felt her heart beating fast. Not because she's anxious, but surprised. Embarrassed and flustered as she felt her face heating up, she stood there obediently, as Alice couldn't, refute more because she knew that she hadn't enough strength to do so.

"Ah-uhm—you can just put me down on the sofa—"

"Is that the door to your room?" Lennox asked, ignoring Alice in his arms.

"Huh?! Hey—no! You can just put me down here—"

"No, this won't do," Alice said, full of refusal, but Lennox again didn't listen and decided on himself.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Confused and feeling weak, Alice asked.

"Hey?! Why are you turning—hey stop walking—"She asked when he ignored her again. Then, as soon as Alice sees which direction Lennox has turned, she immediately tries to push him off her.

But, her weak attempt didn't budge Lennox's firm build. Instead, it only got firmer.

"How can I just leave you here alone? Defenseless and tired, at this rate, anyone who barges in here will have the chance to harass you." Lennox said, not sparing her a glance. Yet, at that very time, she felt a strange rush of emotion for the first time.

Feeling odd, she couldn't point out what emotion she felt at the moment, as for the first time she heard and feels someone taking care of her.

"I-I won't let anyone do that." Catching her consciousness when she sees that they're about to get out. Alice holds the corner near her unit's porch, making Lennox stop on his spot while carrying Alice.

"Hey—what are you saying?! What're the passcodes for?! The security?!" Alice asked, still trying to struggle free from Lennox.

"Didn't you just give your passcode to Mae earlier? Also, for the security to get tighter, it will need a day or two to do it. Don't tell me you don't know how management and planning work?" With Lennox stating the fact, Alice tries to find more reasons to stay but—

"Ah…but—"

"Seeing she was gone when we arrived, there's the possibility that those people already got her before we arrived. If that's the case, the person behind pulling strings already has her and your passcode. Anytime soon, whoever that person is can barge in your place. Do you understand how serious this is? Girlfriend?" Lennox kept on stating more possibilities, feeling convinced. Her grip grew weaker.

Seeing how her grip loosens, Lennox gently assists her and walks out of her unit.

Cautious, Alice looks around the hall as Lennox walks straight to the elevator, but not because of a possible ambush, but because she's worried and ashamed if people will see her in Lennox's arms.

Finally making it in front of the elevator without anyone around, she releases a sigh of relief. But, what she saw on Lennox's face wasn't a sign of relief.

"Also, don't you think you're missing the most important thing, Alice?" Although he was smiling, Lennox asked, the evident seriousness in his tone was enough to make her worry.

"Most important thing?" She uttered, looking confused at him.

"Yes," he said, glancing down at her.

"What is it?..." She asked, looking at the dead abyss-like eyes looking at her.

"The most important thing is none other than the anonymous person who sent the pictures to you. If you ask me, that person shouldn't be overlooked. Who and why did that person do that? Is that person helping? Hmm, I don't think so. Because if that person is helping, shouldn't he tell you this issue much earlier?" Lennox said, just when the elevator opened. Revealing them in front of the ladies inside, Alice's concern wasn't in the people's opinions and she didn't care anymore.

"Yes…" Indulge in the realization that she had thought the same, she looks down and thinks about it deeply.

On the other hand, Lennox lifted his eyes on them and smiled gently, making the ladies inside uneasy and embarrassed. They just stood there watching him, walking in with Alice in their arms. Alice, who was concerned about being seen, now did not mind the people with them. After pressing the penthouse floor number, he looked at Alice.

"And, the next question now is, what that person is up to? What will he gain from spoiling other people's crimes to the unconscious victim?" He uttered, just when Alice on thinking about the same thing.