Chapter 43: Chapter 41

*Surprise, surprise! 2 chapters back to back, now that's what I call a party.

Also, I have a feeling this might be my new favourite chapter and hopefully yours too.

Hope you'll enjoy reading this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Seems like they're getting somewhere 😍*

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Song: 'When you say nothing at all' by Ronan Keating

It's amazing how you can speak right to my heart

Without saying a word, you can light up the dark

Try as I may, I can never explain

What I hear when you don't say a thing

The smile on your face lets me know that you need me

There's a truth in your eyes saying you'll never leave me

The touch of your hand says you'll catch me wherever I fall

You say it best, when you say nothing at all

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ELIJAH’S POV

I was driving in deep thoughts when I realized I’d reached home.

Home where she lives now and I don’t.

Why am I here you might ask?

To pick her up to go to my parent’s house.

Why am I going you might ask when I denied in the first place?

Because it’s her way of ranking up in their good books and making me look like an asshole that their son didn’t show up for a dinner his mother hosted, I don’t mind being considered an asshole, probably I am one already, but just not the way she wants it.

Who knows what other lies she’ll tell my parents? I can’t afford not being present there while she is, who knows what she’s up to this time, what ulterior motive she has up her sleeves.

I change before I came here, I wore a charcoal grey sweater with brown trousers and sneakers as it was a family dinner.

I just hope she has the decency of not wearing something atrocious as she does in office. It’s always jeans and t-shirts of some sort breaking the office dress code, her face always devoid of makeup. She’s neat and clean though, but raw. She’s not in a league of dress to impress, not worried one bit how what others might think of her. She’s more like a tomboy, contrary to my initial beliefs about her.

You like it, don’t you? It sets her apart from others. She’s in a league of her own.

A thought tingled in the back of my mind with which I didn’t agree. To be honest that’s an absurd thought because it’s not like I don’t like her in comparison with other girls. I just don’t like her, period. In fact, hate her.

Regardless, here I am now waiting for her to come down so we can go. I know she left the office early and hasn’t left yet from the house yet.

But she doesn’t know that I’m here so who knows how much time she’ll take to get down.

While I waited, I decided to call my secretary so I could brief her about an informal meeting we had on Monday with a new potential client. The office isn’t operational on weekends so mostly it’s only I who’s there unless there’s some emergency.

But you weren’t the only one in the office for the past month, were you? She was there with you at that time. But from now on she won’t be because she doesn’t work under you anymore and no more late nights either. Don’t you think it’ll be lonely now?

I ignored the voice once again and called Casey. I was pacing the floor back and forth while talking when I heard some footsteps descending the stairs and I turned around. She’s stopped mid-stairs as she’s also taken aback by me, for a different reason, I guess.

This is the first time I’ve seen her like this. She’s wearing a simple blue knee-length dress along with silver heels, half her hair is neatly tied cascading below her shoulder and minimal jewelry, and her face has just a hint of make, nothing drastic but enough to highlight her features. She looks… different.

Different enough to captivate you?

Different from what I’m used to seeing her like.

But you agree it’s a good different, no?

I kept staring at her as if seeing her for the first time in a different world altogether. For the first time, I'm not being overwhelmed with the hatred I have for her, nor am I disgusted by her presence. It's quite unexplainable how I'm feeling, it isn't too strong, but it's there I can feel it in my ever so slightly raised pulse.

“I didn’t know you were coming?” her confused voice pulled me out of a trance I didn’t realize I was in.

Damn, what was I even thinking, where is all of this coming?

Only then did I realize Casey was still on call and was calling my name.

“I’ll call you back later.” And I cut the call. Embarrassed by what just happened I recovered myself as she reached in front of me.

“Yeah, I tho.. ” my words came out a little stuck, I don’t know why I’m finding it hard to keep my eyes off of her, they kept averting back to her face, “I thought it’ll be better if we go together.”

“About time,” she rolled her eyes a little but didn't question further,“Hey wait, are you okay, tough?” She looked up at my face with all seriousness.

“Yeah, why?”

“No, at first you answered my question and also you aren’t seething with anger at my mere existence, neither trying to kill me with your eyes. You got me a little worried there,” she shrugged her shoulder.

“Stop getting on my nerves and let's go,” I said ignoring her and trying to get back to myself which wasn’t hard after she opened her mouth. Her cleanup only worked on her face and not on her personality which she has none or so was I telling myself.

“Ah, there it is, he’s back,” she gave me a fake smile. Shaking my head I moved past her.

“Hey, wait for me,” she called from behind, “Ah, shit! If not your looks these heals will definitely kill me,” I can sense her struggling to walk without looking behind.

I was already in the car when she got there  knocked on the passenger side window, I rolled it down.

“Um, Your Royal Highness,” she bowed down a little, “I wanted to ask if this peasant is allowed to sit next to you in this luxurious car or should I sit behind? But hey, that would make you my driver, won’t it, hmm, what to do?” she fake wondered as she tapped her chin.

“Just get in already,” I gave her the look, but the intensity I felt before just wasn't there, “Don’t waste my time.”

“Yes, Your Majesty, it’ll be my pleasure,” she said in the softest voice as she curtsied, I mentally shook my head. Mused by herself, she laughed heartily and got in.

Once again my eyes caught her face but this time it was her genuine smile.

“You’re staring a lot today,” she called me out bluntly but before I could overcome my embarrassment for being caught, she added further, “Is this because I’m looking gorgeous today?” and flipped her hair dramatically. I didn’t respond.

“Never mind, I know I am,” she almost bounced off her seat and turned towards me fully.

“But you know what,” she questioned but didn’t wait for an answer, looking up and down at me she said, “You’re looking good too! Quiet handsome in fact.” It caught me off guard.

Which girl compliments a man without being complimented first or without expecting one in return?

The one who’s not insecure, maybe? Or maybe one who has no hope of getting one.

“What?” she asked seeing that my gaze hadn’t shifted from her since then, “If I like something, I compliment it, quite generously. Why hold back the positives and spit out negative ones?”

But I wasn’t ready for what she said after.

“Just like right now, I think we’re making one hell of a sexy couple, don’t you think?” she said with pride but instantly her eyes went wide and she broke eye contact, I for some reason still couldn’t do that.

Wait!

Did she just flirt with me?