WHEN LOVE FINDS YOU

CHAPTER FOUR

GRAHAM'S P.O.V

After she left with those men, I was worried. She looked scared and she didn't want me listening to their conversation.

I don't know why I felt troubled. I had never felt this way about any woman except for my mother and younger sister.

I decided to shrug the eerie feeling off and continued eating my food. The food was delicious... If I be honest, she was a great cook.

A few minutes later, I was done but she wasn't back yet and I began to get worried again. I checked my watch and she was gone for fifteen minutes.

I took up the serviette, wiped my mouth and stood up. I was going to look for her... I don't even know her name.

I walked to the door and stopped in my tracks as I stared at the man and her standing intimately close. I clenched my fist. The other two men who I guessed were body guards had smirks on their faces and I knew there was something wrong.

I took my phone out of my pants pocket and dialed Steve's number. It rang for a few seconds before he picked it up.

“Hello buddy!” he spoke up in greeting. “Steve can you do me a favour and send ten bodyguards over?” I asked. “Hmm--- Yeah! But wait where are you? Are you in a dangerous situation?” he asked anxiously.

“No, I'm not. And sorry I don't even know where I am, I will just share you my location. I need the bodyguards to save someone who I think is in trouble”, I replied, my blood boiling as I watched the strange man caressing her face.

‘How dare he touch what is mine?’. ‘s**t! Did I just say mine? Where did that word come from? I don't even know her name and I'm calling her mine God!!... I must be going crazy!!’

“A he or she?” Steve asked. “A she”, I replied wondering where this is going to. “Wow!!”, he chuckled. “I will send the bodyguards over now. Share your location immediately you get off the call”, he added

“Oh yeah! Thanks!”, I said and hung up the call. I shared my location to him instantly and then I opened the door carefully, coming out. They didn't even notice that I had walked near them and was listening to their conversations.

I heard her begging him not to take the restaurant away from her. I was confused about what was going on. Then the man said something while grabbing her waist that made my whole world stop. “Then have s*x with me- Use your body to pay up the debts”. And that's when I knew I had to interfere.

“What the hell is going on here?”, I asked my voice cold. I noticed she stiffened for a second before pushing the man away. She turned to look at me and I saw her eyes were bloodshot from crying.

Something inside me broke and it aroused so many emotions in me. I couldn't even figure out. But one thing was clear, I didn't like seeing tears in her eyes.

She quickly cleaned her face. “There's nothing going on sir. Please kindly go back inside. I will deal with this on my own”, she told me her voice sounding so small.

“Are they bullying you?”, I asked ignoring her pleading.

“What if we are bullying her? What can you do?”, the man that was holding her before taunted.

I clenched my fist in anger. “You don't know who you are talking to. I can---”, I didn't complete my sentence as I was interrupted by the man's words.

“What can you do? Huh? Just because you are wearing a suit probably worth some couple dollars. You think you are some hero with a flowing cape? Hell, no! You are just some two goody shoes sleeping for attention, arsehole”, he said sneering at me.

At his words, I lost my temper. I moved forward swiftly and threw my right fist to his face which created a sickening crunch. He fell backwards.

I heard a gasp from the lady. She quickly tried to push me backwards away from the man. When she touched me, I felt a spark of electricity run through me and I snapped my eyes towards her terrified gaze.

The other two men were tending to the man on the ground. “Please don't make this any worse than it already is. Just go back inside”, she yelled.

“I won't. I can't... I can't let them treat you this way. They need to learn how to treat a lady nicely no matter the situation”, I replied also angrily. I was focused on her that I didn't notice my opponent running towards me before landing a punch to my face.

She screamed and started sobbing loudly.

I only shifted back from the impact but my lips were busted and was bleeding. I cleaned the blood from my lips with the back of my hand.

The two bodyguards came to restrict me, each one holding one of my hands. The man gave another punch to my face and I was sure my nose was bleeding already.

The two bodyguards laughed- an evil one.

The woman screamed again. “Please stop... I beg of you. Just stop”, she said trying to hold the arms of the man. He flung her arms away and she almost fell down.

I seethed- ‘How dare he push her away like that? Doesn't he know she's fragile?’. I began to inwardly pray that the backup I had called earlier would arrive on time and save my damsel in distress.

‘Damsel in distress?’, I chuckled.

Unknowingly to my opponent, he thought I was laughing at him, and he landed another punch to my face.

And I growled. A raw animalistic growl.

“You all just signed a death sentence because you are hitting Graham Lockwood - CEO of Lockwood Enterprises”, A voice deadpanned.

I rose my head up to look at the person- “Steve?” I called. “Hmm--- Yeah! I'm the one. I came to save your ass buddy”, he said chuckling.

The bodyguards with him immediately seize the men holding me. Another was holding the man that hit me.

I turned to look at the young woman who was shivering slightly. I walked towards her gently and stopped just few steps away from her.

I bent my head to stare at her face closely.

“Are you hurt?”, I asked gently. She raised her head to look at me and shook her head.

I turned to look at Steve who was already staring at me with amusement in his eyes. “Take care of them. I need to talk to her”, I said to him. He nodded smirking.

I turned to look at her again. “Follow me”, I said softly while stretching my hands to her. She hesitated for a second before putting her hand in mine. Then I began to walk to the restaurant pulling her gently with me.

We sat at the corner where I had sitted before and I stared at her ready to start my interrogation.

NICHOLE'S P.O.V

I fidgeted as I stared at the man who was intently staring at me. It turned out he was the rumoured Billionaire people gossiped about.

His face was covered in bruises because of the punches he received from Mr Rodriguez--- All because of me.

I lowered my head staring at the table because I was feeling guilty he had to go through those things because of me.

“I'm sorry”, I whispered loud enough for him to hear.

“What's your name?”, he asked sounding soft and gentle.

I wondered why he behaving gentle with me when the rumours about him says he is ruthless and cold.

“Me?”, I asked bewildered. “Yes, you. There's no other person I'm talking to right?”, he said chuckling.

His chuckle was deep, rich and sexy. He still looked handsome with the bruises on his face— the dangerously kind of handsome.

“My name is Nichole— Nichole Smith”, I answered nervously biting my lips. “Nichole... Beautiful”, he said making me blush. My name on his lips sounded--- sultry

“My name is Graham Lockwood but you can call me Graham--- I don't mind”, he said shrugging.

“Now let's get down to business”, he continued. “Why are those men after you?”

I was stunned. ‘Why was he asking those questions? They are my personal matters’.

“Sir, I would appreciate it if you do not ask... It's my personal problem”, I replied hesitantly.

“You see---” he paused trying to find the right words to explain I think.

“There's nothing much I can do to help you right now. Those people would leave now and still come back later to harm you and I won't be there or worse still no one might be there to help you so I suggest you tell me the root of the problem so we can solve it once and for all....for your safety”, he said.

I blinked fast processing his words. He was right! ‘What if those people come back again? What would I do? I don't even have their money completely so they might harm me.’

I looked at the man in front of me grateful for his thoughtfulness. I took a deep breath. It was as if I was going to tell him my biggest secret.

“I am owing them a lots of money and they threaten to take the restaurant away from me”, I spoke up finally after a few seconds of silence.

“Lots of money? How much?”, he asked. “$5.2 million dollars”, I answered. “Wow! That's sure a lot of money for you”, he muttered surprised. “What did you use the money to do? If I'm allowed to ask?”, he said.

“Actually, I wasn't the one who borrowed the money from them. My parents did”, I said feeling uneasy.

“Then where are your parents? They should be the one taking care of this mess?”, he said confused.

“They are dead”, I deadpanned. His eyes widen for a second before he cursed under his breath. He stretched his big hands and captured my small ones in his.

“I'm so sorry Nichole... I shouldn't have broached the topic”, he apologized, softly caressing my hands with his thumbs.

They kind of fit perfectly against his: Like they were made for him? ‘What the f**k are you thinking Nichole?’, I scolded myself internally.

I shook my head. “You couldn't have known. You are not a psychic”, I said chuckling softly. “Yes, you're right”, he replied withdrawing his hands. I immediately missed his warmth.

“So you don't have the money to pay the debts am I right?”, he asked raising an eyebrow.

“Yes”, I replied. He stared at another place zoning out. I played with the hem of my dress while waiting for him to speak.

“Marry me”, he muttered after a while. My eyes widen in shock. “What... What do you mean?”, I asked stuttering.

He turned to look at me now, his expression serious.

“I said marry me. You have a lot of debt and you don't have any relative or someone to protect you. I am willing to do that if you marry me. It will be a marriage of convenience”, he said, his tone serious.

“What do you mean I should marry you? I don't believe this is just to protect me. We are both strangers, you can't just offer to protect someone you just met if there's no ulterior motive ”, I said getting annoyed.

“Yes you're right, I'm not doing this for free ”, he replied nodding.

“Then why would you propose such?”, I asked glaring at him. “Well, I need a woman woman by my side. Someone who would attend social gatherings with me as my date. And I haven't found anyone worthy than you.

I need your help to protect my image and to discard the rumours questioning my sexuality. That's the only motive. It would be a win-win situation. I get a partner, you clear your debts”, he replied honestly glinting to his eyes.

I processed his words unsure of what decision to make.

I watch him dip his hands into his suit’s inner pocket and brought out a card, he passed it to me on the table.

“This is my business card. I would give you time to think about it. Call me when you have your answer ready”, he said smiling.

He checked his watch and I heard him curse. “f**k!”. “It's getting late”, he said. “Let me drop you off”, he added.

“You don't need to sir. I can go home on my own”, I replied immediately declining his offer.

“I insist Nichole”, he said frowning. I shivered involuntarily. “Okay! Just give me a few minutes”, I replied standing up and clearing the plates. I took them back to the kitchen and cleaned them.

I cleaned my hands and came out. I went towards him and told him to step outside while I close the restaurant.

After locking the doors securing a few minutes later, I turned around to see him resting on an expensive black sports car. He stood up straight and opened the door to the passenger's seat for me.

“Thanks”, I muttered before entering. He closed the door and cross over to the other side before opening the door to the driver's seat and getting inside.

He turned on the ignition. He turned to look at me. “Your location?”, he demanded and I gave him. He drove me home, both of us silent lost in our own thoughts.

Half an hour later, we arrived at my house. I turned to look at him with gratitude. “Thank you so much for what you did today. I really appreciate your help”, I said and turn the door knob to open the door.

After successfully getting out, I slammed the door gently. I was about leaving when I heard his voice.

“Nichole”, he called. “Yes”, I answered turning to look at him. “Think about it”, he said with a smile and rolled up the window of his car.

I watched as he drove off before turning to go into the house.