Chapter 84: Chapter 79

Song: 'Tiny Moves' by Bleachers

The tiniest moves you make

The whole damn world shakes

Call it a "Bloodlust crisis of faith"

Been changing enough for us both, babe

Whoa-oh-oh

Watching it all come down

Watch it go 'round and 'round

The tiniest moves you make

Watching my whole world shake

Look who's on the edge again

On the edge again (whoo)

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HANNAH'S POV

We stood silently after that; neither of us said anything for a while. It was tense but peaceful.

“I’m sorry,” he gave me a puzzled side-eye. “You saved my life today, not once but twice, and in return, I slapped you. Not that you didn’t deserve one, but maybe not today. But if it wasn’t for you, I don’t know what would’ve happened.” I said sincerely; a bile of bitterness rose in my throat at the mere proposition.

“Nothing would’ve happened.”

"Yeah, but if you didn't..." Straightening up to his full height, he turned towards me.

"Nothing,” he emphasized. “Would’ve happened,” he cut me off. “You understand that?” His gaze was so piercing that I believed his conviction and nodded.

“I think we should head home,” I said, avoiding his penetrating stare. I was about to turn around when he stopped me.

“Hannah, wait,” he held my arm lightly, his touch causing a frenzy within me. “We need to talk.” When he removed his hand, I instantly felt the lack of warmth.

Today’s events have drained my energy for the day, yet I stood before him like my body wouldn’t shut down any minute now. I wanted to hear what he had to say.

Moreover, now that the chaos was over, I liked being here with him, the two of us alone in a dark, chilling night.

I nodded at him and waited for him to start talking.

He didn’t start talking right away; he rather took his time. I think it’s the first time I’ve seen him hesitant and short of speech.

“Do you really want to resign?” He tried gauging my reaction, but I didn’t have any.

“It’s for the best,” I tightly held his oversized jacket over me, feeling cold all of a sudden.

I don’t know whether it was the effect of the cold wind or the direction in which we were heading.

“That’s not the answer to my question,” he shoved his hands in his pockets.

“Some things don’t have answers.”

“Since when do you not have answers? You have arguments for everything.” he scorned lightly.

"What answer do you want to get?” I had a question of my own.

“The one where you’ve changed your mind. What if I tell you I don’t want you to leave?” His gaze pierced searching for the truth.

“Isn’t that the reason I’m here?” I chose rather to concentrate on the floor than to meet his deadly gaze, “For you to convince me so you’re not laid off from your projects.” I shrugged with a heavy heart.

“I don’t give two fucks about that,” he answered back with surety. “Dad can threaten me all he wants, but he knows there’s no business without me; he’s not that stupid. I’m too important for the company,” he said arrogantly.

It doesn’t count as arrogance if it’s true.

“But I do want to convince you,” my heart skipped a beat. “Don’t leave, at least not because of my stupidity.” I resisted the urge to look at him.

“I thought it would make you happy.”

“I thought so too.” He almost sighed, “You’re exceptionally talented, Hannah; don’t listen to what anyone says... what I say.”

My heart did a summersault.

Did he just compliment me?

Bloody hell! Why is no one here to hear this? Dammit.

“Is that the only reason you want me to stay, that I'm good at my job?” I asked, putting myself out there once again as both of us stared at a far distance.

“Would that be enough for you?”

I’m afraid not; I wanted to say but didn’t. His reason for this is still the benefit of this company and the merger.

My heart sank. Why do I torment myself by thinking otherwise?

“Should it be?”

He went quiet.

“I remember everything I said that day, Hannah.” He started after a while, “I wasn't that drunk. And I meant every word,” my eyes shot back at him in surprise.

He remembers? I don’t know how to react to that.

“You want me to believe that?” I retorted.

“Yes.” He asserted.

“Okay.” I challenged.

“Really, that’s all you have to say?” He asked agitatedly.

“Why are you saying all this, Elijah? What’s the point of it all now?”

“I wish I had an answer to that,” he whispered, his hands once again encasing my cheeks, his light caresses burning up a fire for more. “All I can say is that I want you to stay.”

“It’s not that easy, Elijah. It wasn’t an easy decision, but it was something I had to do. You can’t imagine the humiliation you put me through,” I said truthfully, “not once but time and again. I don’t want to hold grudges, but as of now I’m not ready to let go.” I held his hands which were still providing warmth to my cheeks. He didn’t let go when I tried to remove them rather they stayed affirmed.

The urge to relax and lose myself in his hands was stronger than ever, but I had to hold my ground.

It’s not that easy to let go of everything I’ve believed all my life—the boundaries I’ve set to protect myself. I can’t be swayed by the timely comfort his presence provides, putting myself out there at his mercy again. Who knows when the moment is over and he goes back to being mean to me?

It’s a risk I don’t want to take; I’m not that brave to let my heart take the lead.

I’m a coward.

And more so, I don’t trust him; there’s a long way to get there, and we haven’t taken that road yet.

“You’re so stubborn,” his deep voice didn’t hold resentment but the opposite. “But take your time, no pressure.” He tucked a stray strand of my hair behind my ear; his eyes lingered, penetrating beyond the layers of my restraint.

I nodded relishing in his closeness, trying to keep my erratic heartbeat at bay.

“God, you’re something else,” he said, putting his forehead on mine. The act forced both of us to close our eyes. “The more I try to stay away from you the harder it gets every time, It takes everything in me not to act the way I want, but I hold back. Do you know why? Because you're harmful to me, even dangerous. I can’t have you near me, Hannah. Because if I did…”

“What, you think I have STD or something?” I interrupted, “Just because you think I'm a slut doesn't mean I am one.” Pushing him away, I scoffed angrily.

Is he for real? He had to ruin a perfect moment, of course.

And what was I thinking?

He will change and start seeing me differently?

Yeah, right, Hannah. Dream on, idiot!

“What are you talking about?” He dared to act confused.

“You’re such a fucking jerk! Just when I thought... urgh, forget it.”

“Stop it, Hannah; I didn’t say that.” His stern tone was back. Like that’ll affect me.

“Of course, you didn’t,” I said sarcastically. “No, don’t you dare touch me; who knows what transmitting diseases I must be carrying.” I shrugged his hand away when he tried to hold me.

“You’ve gone mad, do you know that?” I rolled my eyes. “Now, get in the car.” The car's alarm went on. “I’ve had enough. And for fuck’s sake, don’t start another scene now,” he exasperated in annoyance.

“As if I’m insane to go by myself at this hour!” I sneered.

I pulled the door handle of the car we were making out in front of a while ago but it didn’t budge. I tried harder and harder, but the damn thing stayed persistent to stay stuck.

Huh, what a cheap car!

With irritation, I kicked its tyre hurting my own foot, making the blaring alarm go off.

“That’s not our car.” So now he tells me? Jerk!

Wait, is he smiling?

I turned angrily to confirm; the smile wasn’t there, but a hint of amusement was.

Of course, my embarrassment is amusing for him.

………………………………………………………

ELIJAH’S POV

Soon after we got into the ‘right’ car, she fell asleep, still angry though. She dozed off instantly, considering how hard her day was. I stole glances at her throughout the silent car ride.

Looking at her, a faint smile made its way back onto my lips again, thinking back to how angry perhaps embarrassed she was that she didn’t notice how different the car was from mine; it wasn’t even the same color.

I admit I took my time to finally tell her, I was enjoying her dilemma a little too much.

Ah! What a day, man, what a day.

I mentally replayed all that she said to me tonight, and it got me thinking how big of an idiot I’ve been to her. There’s so much damage I’ve caused that rectifying it will not be easy at all. She’s not like other girls; even my bare minimum will be their holy grail but not for her.

I don’t want to recall what happened tonight, but it’s going on in a loop in my mind. Seeing her so helpless evoked something in me—an emotion, an instinct to protect her. And it definitely enraged the beast that I’ve suppressed all these years.

I can’t say I minded seeing him tonight. I’ve never been so controlled by emotions as I’ve been today. I swear I was ready to kill him tonight had she not stopped me.

Why did she stop me? It still doesn’t make sense. Didn’t she want to see him pay for his actions?

He touched her without consent, harassed her, and said humiliating things to her to make her cry. For goodness’ sake, how can she let a man like that get away with that? Can someone be that compassionate?

So, like, are you talking about him or yourself? Because by those means she’s definitely let you get away.

Do you know why?

Because she’s a good person. She didn’t deserve any of these behaviors, not from him and neither from you. Yet you both have taken her for granted, justifying your shortcomings by blaming her for things she’s not. My heart testified on her behalf.

I've had many firsts with her, and today I add being slapped for the first time ever to that list too. My parents had never raised their hands on me. I’m not saying I’ve never been in a physical fight, but this is different.

If it was anyone else, I would’ve chopped their hands off, but with her, I let it go. Why?

You know you deserved it, right?

You know you deserved it, right?

My heart and mind said unanimously, leaving no room for a debate.

We finally reached the beach house, all this while she didn’t wake up for once. I nudged her a couple of times, but she stayed as is. By now I know that she sleeps worse than a hibernating frog, and considering the toll today’s events must have had on her and how drained she must be, physically and emotionally, I understood her not waking up.

Getting out of the car, I opened her door carefully. I immediately put a hand under her head to keep it in place. I looked up close at her as she now sleeps peacefully; I didn’t have the heart to wake her up even if I wanted to.

Her eyelids are slightly swollen from all the crying, and hiding behind them are her beautiful hazel green orbs that I find myself lost in. Her lips are now without any lipstick.

You might have had something to do with that.

My hands shot up to her face, having the urge to touch her. I lightly caressed her lips, thinking about the kiss we shared not a while ago. How can a simple kiss have so much impact?

I smiled unknowingly at how beautiful she looked right now—messy but beautiful.

Taking her in my arms, I walked inside the house cautiously. It was after midnight and everything was dark, only faint moonlight guiding my feet.

I missed a step and tripped; thankfully we didn’t fall but only stumbled, which resulted in her waking up.

Fuck.

She blinked a few times, adjusting her drowsy eyes in the darkness. It took her a while to know where she was; her eyes widened when she met mine, and she wheezed sharply.

“What are you doing?” Her voice was groggy but alert.

I didn’t answer but resumed walking.

“Are you deaf now? Let me go, you creep,” she withered in my arms.

Not going to lie, but I’ve started liking it when she’s angry over small things; she’s like a feisty small kitten whose growls and jabs aren’t very effective, but in her head they are; it’s cute.

Cute? Since when has this word made it into your vocabulary?

“Elijah, I’m warning you to let go of me now.”

“Or else?” my voice echoed in the gigantic hall.

“Or else you don’t want to know,” she sneered.

“I do, actually.” I maintain my stoic tone.

“I’ll scream your head off." That’s her threat?

“Go ahead; I’m sure the sea sirens will hear you,” I mocked.

“I’m not a limp; let go of me, let go of me, let go of me..." She continued screaming at the top of her lungs, making my ears almost bleed, and kicked her legs in the air back and forth, though they were hardly causing any impact.

“Shut up, you’ll blow my ears off,” she was committing to her threat that I took lightly. “You want me to let you go?”

“What gave you that idea? Duh,” I can’t see properly, but I know she rolled her eyes.

“Okay, if you say so.”

With that, I removed my hands from her body and did what she asked for: let her go. Gravity did its work, and a muted thud echoed in the quiet room along with a shockingly high-pitched gasp.

“Ouch!” she groaned in pain.

Believe it or not, I really did drop her. Of course, it wasn’t a painful fall (hopefully), but it did catch her off guard.

“Hope you’re happy now." Smirking, I stepped over her while she was still lying down, soothing her butt. I left.

“I hate you, you asshole!” First, my poor jacket was thrown which landed near my feet and then a shoe flew past me, missing the target, aka me, as she cried out loud in anger.

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Author's note:

Who knew Elijah has a playful side to him too?

He's coming out of his brooding aura, something he's lived with for almost all his life.

Hannah is responsible for bringing out a whole new characteristic in his personality, one that matches her free spirit.

On the other hand, Elijah is being more open about his emotions and feelings than he's been before. He's ready to ASK for redemption too, he's not there yet but it's a start.

Who will realize first that they both have taken the same path without realizing it?

Write your opinions down, and let's see who's prediction will come true in the future.

As always don't forget to vote and comment.

I love you all for all the reads the story has got so far, I owe it all to you!

Enjoy. The next update drops soon.

Much love🥰