Hot Pursuit

Chapter 7

[Georgina's POV]

Let's not get too ahead of ourselves here.

Just a recap for my sanity's sake, okay? So earlier this night I was in the middle of my mission to chase Kieran Locke around in the city and get a clue about his real affairs. But I just ended up winding in a club where he had spent the remaining hours of his free time with a few of his friends, drinking and flirting with women. 

Finding no other way but to relax, I chose to have a drink as well in the same place, right? But then I lost track of time and got easily drunk. Until for some inexplicable reason, Kieran saw me and offered an interview with him... OUT OF NOWHERE. Literally, I could not believe it. Even until now. I mean... Why in the hell would he? I can't believe this was totally happening. But then, the better part of me knew that it all could be just a trap, and still I agreed to it and did not want to pass the chance of ever getting such an opportunity.

That was how I found myself entering his place. Just the two of us, that late evening. He gave me a drink that I chose not to take a sip, still doubting his intentions as we start the whole thing. And now... I gave in for some coffee and somehow, we were laughing together. And right now, I am still a little bit confused. Just as I figured, something was definitely wrong here but I could not pinpoint it all yet.

Don't overthink.

I told myself that as I try to weigh the scenario. I still want to get to the bottom of this entire bizarre situation. I slouched on the loveseat, still trying to wrap the whole thing in my head. I wanted to get some transparency here. The recap was over, I still don't want to acknowledge the big elephant in the room yet. I knew that if I directly ask him the question I badly wanted to ask, he might try to deflect it and reverse the entire scene. He was quite clever, and that had me putting my guards up as high as possible. With that seductive grin, and that lazy smirk? I mean, I should totally prepare myself for whatever might happen.

Who knows?

I don't want to act too confident but I still have a celebrity crush on him, that was a part I am embarrassingly guilty of. So as we held each other's gaze, which was not even more helpful for me to remain calm and cool as well, I instinctively took a deep breath and decided to fire another question again. This time, I chose to be a little too blunt.

"Are you dating anyone right now?"

He had been asked that question too many times, he must have lost count, and he all told them the same thing when they did. He would simply answer them with a straight face that he is not interested in going out with anyone and that he was just too focus on his career. Which was all just bullshit. Come on. Who even believes that? All celebrities tell that lie until they are caught redhandedly holding hands with someone by some paparazzi. I have seen this happen a hundred times, I no longer believe those stupid statements anymore. So when I asked that question to Kieran, I was already expecting him to say that repeated statement he would always give to all of his interviewers. I was even smirking as I matched his stare while waiting for him to speak.

In a split of a second, I also quickly noticed how his pupils had dilated as he took his time to give me an answer.

He suddenly changed his stance, shifting in his seat as he sighed loudly and as he opened his mouth to let some words out, I was already leaning forward to make sure I will hear everything clearly.

"I have someone..." he started. For a moment, the eerie quietness that followed him as he paused made me doubt what I had just heard. Then he soon added, "Special. I do have someone in my life for quite some time."

I held my breath. I don't know what to say after that. I think my mind had gone blank trying to process what he just said. Did he really say that? Was he serious? I could not tell if he was joking or maybe he was trying to prank me. There was no way he would just admit to it this easily, right? I mean... why now? Why to me? What the hell?

"No way," I refused to believe, laughing at my expense, thinking that it was all too real, "You're kidding, huh?"

I was shaking my head at that as I put the mug with the lukewarm coffee on the table between us. Feeling like I was in for some kind of a joke, I felt defeated.

"Don't make fun of me, seriously."

"I'm not joking," Kieran pressed on, his voice not even changing its tone. I looked up and our eyes met. His gaze was a little bit hypnotizing as I tried to read through his serious face. He was not flinching, not even a ghost of a smile. He was just staring at me with those sunken blue eyes and chiseled jaw. I felt nervous. He was telling me the truth, wasn't he? He really has someone.

"Who is she?" The wheels inside my head started turning, I no longer had any control over my mouth as it spoke in a whispered voice.

Kieran's lips thinned as he hesitated to answer. He averted his eyes and sighed loudly again. I was expecting him to ignore my question but he did not. And when he turned again, I could tell the sadness portrayed in his eyes.

"Nobody," he vaguely told me, licking his lips as if he could no longer tell me more, "That's all I could ever really say."