CHAPTER NINETEEN: HE’S WATCHING
1626 Words
LIORAÉ
"But you don't have to worry; I won't pressure you into anything until you have fallen for me."
"Until I have fallen for you?"
His words of reassurance didn't sound like one; it was almost as if he knew what was going to happen soon. How I wished it would end, but knew fully well it couldn't.
"Yes," he nods, and his courage is quite impressive and scary at once.
"Soren, you seem too brave."
"Because I know," he shrugged and then motioned to me. "My favourite colour? I don't really have one. What about you?"
I stared at him. How was he so skilled? One minut,e we were talking about one thing; the next, he had us saying another.
"I thought we'd discuss random facts about our lives so our stories match up for the client."
His explanation made sense, but I just had to make sure we were on the same page.
"This is just to get the client on board."
"I would appreciate it if there were more, but yes, just the client."
"And it ends the moment we drive back to the city."
"However we can't say no to doing what normal couples do... " He trailed off oddly, trying to build tension, and it was working. He turned to me; his eyes on me for that brief moment was enough to make my toes curl up and sweat.
"...because we are trying to be a normal couple," he finished. I nodded because what else am I supposed to do when he was looking at me like that?
I'd answered all his questions, and then I was going to be giving him personal information for free but I knew I couldn't sabotage his business deal, so I answered.
"I am more of a pastel girl."
"And what is that supposed to be?"
"Warm tones and soft colours"
The rest of the ride he asked questions I never heard Evan ask me once in three years. I begin to question everything I know about dating. Evan had been my first and had shaped everything I knew about dating. How much of it was wrong?
I didn't do well wide awake in moving cars, so when I yawned the seventh time at once, he chuckled.
"Are you sleepy?"
I shook my head, trying to act as if his warmth wasn't a little too shocking for me.
"No, of course not..." I said, shaking my head, and a yawn took over my words.
"You know it's okay to sleep; it's a long drive and I'd wake you up when we get there."
"How could I sleep when you are busy driving us?"
"You feel guilty."
Of course I did. He was at least supposed to have a driver take us, but maybe he didn't want to discuss all of this in front of the driver. Gossip could spread, especially with the staff.
"You don't have to; I'm your boyfriend. You should be used to me driving you."
"I think you are getting too immersed in your role as a fake boyfriend," I added with another yawn.
"Just please sleep."
My eyes could barely stay open, and I wondered why I was so exhausted when it wasn't even nine am yet. I had slept late but it wasn't the first time, and these days I was getting more and more tired. Maybe because I switched jobs?
"Do you need some special fancy gear to sleep?" He asked when, and instead of closing my eyes, I tried to make sure they stayed open.
"No..."
"The light," he said without me explaining to him. How much more was he going to do to get me to compare him with Evan?
"There is a pair of eye mask in the glove compartment; thankfully, I always keep a pair handy."
I didn't dare ask why; I just took it and muttered an apology for sleeping early before I slipped it on and fell asleep. By the time I woke up the road structures were all different.
"Is my sleeping beauty finally awake?"
"Don't call me that," I said, feeling a bit refreshed. It was a few minutes past eleven am. I guess I needed just about an hour more of sleep to feel better.
"What then do you want me to call you because your name won't do for this weekend?"
"Why not?"
"Oh, trust me, I love the way your name sounds and how unique it is to you. One of a kind."
"Lioraé," he said my name and let it linger in the air.
I had never thought too much about my name before; in fact, there was a time I did hate it because my mom confessed to naming me that because she was sure I'd stand in a room full of rich men one day and probably bag one of them.
"My prophecy has come true," she said when Evan took an interest in me. Almost like she has seen the future and prepared for it.
Evan never for once cared what my name was or what it sounded like but here was a real-life rich man telling me how much he liked my name.
"Don't get me wrong, I just think an endearment would be better."
He was really milking this for all it was worth, wasn't he?
"You can just call me whatever you want, and I can call you..."
"You have to pick one too," he shrugged as he turned into a road less busy than all the main roads but beautifully kept nonetheless.
"Those are the rules."
"And who the hell is making these rules?"
"I am."
"Then that means I can throw in one of mine, isn't that right?"
I watch his eyes narrow as he realises that I am playing his game. He nodded and threw another smile. I tried my best not to be captivated by the surroundings and tie up all loose ends. I didn't want to do this but there was no way I was going to allow this to fail.
"No unnecessary closeness. I understand we might need PDA, but it ends there."
"If we don't have an agreement, then I'd have to..."
"I agree," he stopped my threat to leave. I could see how important this was to him and as his staff, it was my job to ensure it was not messed up.
The road led us to a large gate at the end of the road. The gates opened as if they had been expecting us. The roads that led to the main house were made with bricks, making the journey smooth and rugged at the same time.
There were a lot of trees, different kinds, even endangered species. What kind of man lived here?
"You'd do great," he said. 'When my head snapped at him,' he added. "You are nervous."
I didn't even know I was nervous, but his sudden revelation made all of my nerves unravel like a gift being opened.
Finally, we slowed down in front of a huge palace-like-looking house. It looked like it was built as a fortress years ago. Two men dressed in tuxedos opened our doors at once. Before Soren slipped out, his hand gripped mine for a moment.
As I got out of the car, the only thing I could think of was how we hadn't settled on what we wanted to call each other, which meant anything was fine.
We were led inside and met by an old man dressed in plain clothes, but who had a cane to help him stand up straight. He had a woman sitting by his side; she looked younger, but it was obvious she had seen her fair share in life.
"Soren Vale, it's finally so good to welcome you to the Campbell fortress," the man said.
Soren held mine as he pulled me closer. One handshake and they were both content.
"This is my lovely wife, Lora Campbell," he explained, gesturing to the woman by his side.
She must be a master of hiding her emotions because I could not tell not only what she was thinking but also what she was feeling.
"Hello and welcome."
"And who is this delightful woman with you?"
My breath hitched as he pulled me closer, looping my hand through his. He parted my hand and spoke.
"This here is the love of my life and possibly one day my wife and mother of my children," he said without taking his eyes off me.
'This is for show; none of it is real.' I kept on chanting to remind me not to fall for Soren. He must be a Playboy who had been hibernating for too long.
"Lioraé Alcott," he announced, like I had won some grand prize.
"You hear that, honey? Romance isn't dead after all," this man whose name I was yet to know said.
He got up suddenly, tapping his cane against the marbled ground gently.
"You have driven such a long way, so you must be tired. Why don't you take a rest, and we'll have lunch together later?"
He helped his wife off before they left us alone. My brain began to put the pieces together. If we were having lunch here, then it meant that we were going to be here all weekend under his watchful eyes.
"Soren," I whispered.
"Shall we retire to our room?"
With his smile, I knew he was loving this a little more than he was supposed to.
"Soren"
"Oh, come in, Lioraé, you have to play along."
He winked and intertwined our fingers; when I tried to pull away, he looked around frantically and leaned in against my ear. His lip brushed against it intentionally.
"He's still watching."
- Writer
