Hot Pursuit

Chapter 21

[Kieran's POV]

Was she actually trying to threaten me this time?

I can't really tell if she was bluffing or what, but when she said those words, I just immediately felt too anxious that I could not even hide the panic on my face. I wanted to know what exactly she knew about my life and how much she had found out. And how did she even get the idea that I was married? Only the trusted people knew about that. Did she just try to test if I was going to react strangely from that? If she was just trying to get a rise out of me, then that was totally working now. I can't keep myself calm anymore—not when I could see how she was so confident in what she had on me. I just hoped no one out there had heard her say that. If those people heard the words she just said now, she would definitely be in serious trouble after this.

Her life would be terribly affected.

Hell... If she was just really joking, I would definitely shake the hell out of her. This was crucial, damn it. I can't still think of how to make her leave without making her feel I was desperate to get her away from me. I can't risk spilling any more of what I was hiding. But I guessed, this was not going to be easy anymore and I just have to do it by force. You can't possibly just kill the fire by blowing on it alone. I had to do total damage control. I had to remove the doubts in her head and make her keep whatever she was saying she knew about me if there were really any. All I had to do was to make her not move another step further into the danger.

"I got a proposition," I started telling her, and this time I was really hoping I could settle this properly without having to prejudiced this woman's safety. She can be annoying and frustratingly stubborn sometimes, but I still did not want to see her get hurt or be in danger. And when my words finally hit her, I saw the spark in her eyes as a smile spread across her face and she leaned over the table to get closer to me as if they were now in on a little secret.

"You have my attention now," she even stated the obvious, looking like an excited kid ready to hear an interesting story. I could not even stop myself from smirking out of amusement. She could also be too adorable, huh? She had so many bizarre sides and I still could tell what exactly she was ever since I met her. She always surprised me.

"I will let you into my private life and know more about me," I said in a lower voice, trying to sound pleasing and even more mysterious to lure her into giving in to my offer, "On one condition."

When I said those words, her face scrunched up into a frown and she doubted me for a few seconds. Well, I already expected she would be that way. After all, we had been circling around the real issue here since the time we talked in my place a few nights ago. But I already knew her enough to never pass up this chance as well. She would eventually take the bait and agree with me and I can just control her over after that. This was for her sake, anyway. So I just have to play the trick effectively and much more believable this time.

She hesitated for a while, leaning back on her chair as she scrutinized me with her eyes. Her lips thinned as she squinted her eyes, probably still weighing everything in her mind. She really loved thinking things through and that was why I found it difficult to handle perfectly well. But I could still learn how to manage her spontaneous attitude. I just have to play the part of someone who wanted to risk this chance with her. If I had to play dirty, I definitely would.

Then after a few more seconds of just mulling over it, she finally said, "Tell me the condition first."

Ha. She was totally going to bite into it. I felt triumphant after hearing her say that.

"Just make sure it isn't going to be as complicated as the recent one," she then added consciously, raising a brow at me, "If you know what I mean."

I totally know what she meant, alright. It was not like I was drunk when that happened but I already decided not to do that again if I didn't have to. And as I gathered myself to finally say what I was planning her to do, I suddenly felt my phone vibrating from my pocket. It was definitely a call from someone important. Too bad I can't really ignore that now. Damn. I was just about to get into the good part here. But then, it did not matter. The important thing was she was going to agree with me no matter what I would tell her now. The condition will definitely be too tempting for her to refuse it at once. I just need to make it sound very profitable for her.

I then paused and held my hand up at her for a second, gesturing to my phone after I fished it out of my pocket. Georgina tilted her head at me and crossed her arms over her chest.

"Sorry about that," I told her as I smiled with my teeth showing then said, "I just have to get this, do you mind?"

She just shook her head and let me do what I had to do, saying, "Take your time, Mr. Locke."

Then she grinned as if she had all the time in the world. Well, she was definitely willing to wait. So I excused myself and walked my way towards the privacy of the restrooms at the back of the lobby. I made sure that she was not going to follow me around anymore and I cautiously peered behind me just to see if she stayed at our table. She did. Then as soon as I got inside the spacious men's comfort room, I made sure as well that I was alone before finally answering the call.