Harieth

I drew the seatbelt but just as I was about to reach for the buckle, it stopped. I attempted again but to no avail. It seemed stuck so I pulled harder once more but the result remained the same. I pulled and pulled and pulled.

Damn seatbelt!

“Harieth.” His voice startled me a bit, reminding me that I wasn’t alone and so I look up to him.

“Let me help you.” He offered quite politely that I was a bit taken aback by his suggestion. He had never offered to help me in the past.

Unable to speak, I watched wide eyed and a bit frozen as he reached out for the seatbelt, drawing too close for comfort. There, my heart started what now seemed to be its favourite rhythm.

Involuntarily, I silently drew in a deep breath, making normal breathing a bit hard for myself as if it would disrupt whatever insanity that seemed sane going on right now but not for one second did I take my eyes off him. I watched every sight of his face, taking it in while it lasted and only when the click sound of the buckle emitted and he looked up to meet my eyes did I realise how truly close we were.

He looked deeply into mine that I felt for the first time, we were having... a true connection. It felt as if... as if we were on the same page. His eyes were softer, and not as filled with hatred as it normally portrayed. Wait... am I reading this wrong?

Suddenly, he looked away.

“All good.” He stated as he backed away, fixating his eyes on the sight ahead and starting the car, simply pretending like we didn’t just have a moment. Wait... did we?

Slowly and silently, I let out the breath I seemed to have held in for quite a while as I looked away, fixating my eyes on the view through the window. My hands clenched tightly together on my laps as if doing that would get my entire being in control. This has to stop. Not only do I feel this way, I’m also starting to read a different meaning into every gesture of his. I’m in this alone. Just me. I wonder when I’ll get to understand that.

Christian

While she wasn’t looking, I stole a glance at her.

Nothing special just happened.

I told myself but the more I convinced myself, the more I realise something at least different actually happened. Okay, maybe having seen a different side to Harieth not too long ago, I might have developed a tinny bit soft place in my heart to be able to tolerate her as whole. After all, everyone deserves a chance to be treated as humanly as possible and in this case... this was her chance. Yes. That’s what... that’s what this is, her chance.

I drove the car to a stop once within the compounds of my home and waited for her to get off but when I heard no sounds of that happening, I had to look her side and caught her staring at me. I stared back, hoping she would read meaning into my silence.

“Are... aren’t you coming in?” She finally spoke up.

“No. I have to get back to the office.” I replied, looking away from her as I did.

“Hmm... but isn’t it late? I mean, I’m pretty sure office hours are over but knowing you, I’ll presume you just want to work yourself to perfection or possibly just get away from me as much as possible...” I shift my eyes to her to find out her eyes laid anywhere except on me as she spoke and for some reason; I just sat there, watching her chatter away.

One look to my side and her words trailed away. After a second or two, a sigh eluded her lips as she looked away from me for a moment. Suddenly, her eyes were back on me but this time, with a simple smile on her face that says everything’s fine.

“Goodnight Christian.” Her words came out calm and comforting before she made her way off the car, shut the door and began treading her path towards the entrance into the mansion.

I watched as she kept walking, a strange feeling of sympathy slowly engulfing my being. Mentally, I shrugged it off as I looked away from her. Without wasting a moment more, I began driving, heading my way towards the gate.

Harieth

Almost at the entrance, I heard the engine of his car rev up a bit, tires screeching and I well knew he was on his way out as stated. I stopped and made a turn back. There, I watched till his car was no longer in sight. Only then did I let out another sigh and broaden up my smile.

“It’s just normal Harieth, just normal.”

I guess that sentence might have been enough for me to try and get my mind off whatever regarding Christian that have been troubling me lately. For the rest of the day, I busied myself with one thing or the other; jogging around the house, binge watching movies on Netflix, attempting to stalk the neighbours’ whereabouts which was pretty hard because almost everyone living in this estate seems to love being a ghost.

To find a soul on the street is like begging Santa Claus to let you catch a glimpse of him while he delivers gift at your home. It’s quite hard. Well, perhaps, since they’re all so rich and famous, security and privacy is their optimal goal. I guess that’s understandable so in the end, I drifted to another activity, anything to keep my mind from wondering too far.

I ate dinner alone while a part of me wished he would walk in any moment but that never happened so finished up and retired to bed without a word from him. There on the bed, I kept turning, unable to fall asleep. I took a glance at my phone and saw how late it was.

“Does he plan on spending the night at the office?” I questioned as I sat up at once.

I was so filled with worry to the extent that fact alone worried me. Why should I be worried about another human being? I’ve got the rule of my life planned out, never worry about another. I know, it’s pretty selfish but it has kept me going hale and hearty for a long time now.
My eyes shifted to my phone in my hand.

Do I call him?

Almost right away, I shook my head violently in disapproval with my own thought but less than a moment from that point, my eyes shifted back to my phone. This time, my gaze lingered on it.

Soon, it was in both hands, closer than before, my fingers itching to just fulfil my heart’s desire but I hesitated.
The sound of tires screeching and the engine of a car caught my attention. Without wasting a second more, I rushed to the window and caught sight of Christian driving into the compound.

A wide smile played out on my face and before I knew it, I was halfway across the room, hurrying towards the door. A hand on the door knob and I froze. The smile on my face slowly faded away.

What am I doing?

My hand dropped to my side as I turned away from the door. My heart ached in a way different from a medical condition. I felt sunken and ridiculous. I recalled all the moments my heart skipped a bit or threatened to jump out of my chest each time I’m by his side or from his very touch. I threw my back to the door behind me and slid down to the ground.

Finally... finally, I admit to myself that I... I’m falling in love with Christian Hendrix.

Christian

Once on the last staircase, I stopped for a moment and looked Harieth’s room direction which was opposite mine. I saw no sign of her since I stepped into the house so I guess she’s probably asleep and after letting out an exhausting exhale, I turned the other way and made my towards my room.

Harieth

Elegantly and with a bright smile, I made my way out of the elevator and towards his office. His secretary caught sight of me and couldn’t look away regardless of the phone she had stuck to her ear. I know, I get that a lot. The humble and innocent expression now portrayed on her face, in her eyes told me she knew exactly who I was and therefore quickly hung up on the call she was on.

“Mrs Hendrix.” She called with a dash of surprise and... Excitement?

“Please, just call me Harieth.” I corrected with a wide smile and she nodded in accordance.

“Christian is in, right?” I questioned as I made my way towards his office without really waiting for her reply.

“Um, yes. N-No, I mean no, he’s...” Her words trailed away as I pushed open the door and made my way in regardless of her ridiculous attempt to stop me. We both drew to a stop as our eyes fell on Christian seated behind his desk and the two guests in front of him whose eyes rested back on us.

To ease the awkwardness, I brightened up my face with a smile.

“Hello everyone!” I greeted enthusiastically.

“I am so sorry sir. I tried to stop her...”

“That’s okay Miss Larson. You can leave.” He assured her and without wasting a second more, she hurried her way out of his office and my eyes followed her all the way.

“Excuse me gentlemen.” At the sound of his voice, my eyes were back on him and I watched as he got up from his seat, looking as handsome and smartly dressed as always as made his way up to me. He placed a hand on my lower back and the very touch freezes me up.

“Let’s talk there.” He suggested as he led me to a corner of his office, a bit out of hearing for his guests.

Once secured at our spot, his hand on my lower back fell to his side, easing me up a bit and at the same time feeling rather, regretful. Looking up, our eyes met and his stare was rather hard to match. It entailed a bit of disappointment.

“What are you doing here?” His questioned jogged me out of my thoughts.

Come on Harieth, you made a promise to yourself, to keep living like nothing has changed.

He cannot realise I’m developing feelings for him and so brought back the old me. A smile on my face, I raised a hand in which I held a bag.

“I brought lunch. How about we share it together?” I suggested like the very sentence held no sentimental meaning to me.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to have a real thing with him. I’m just trying to hasten up father’s plan, to make his suggestion come to reality. That way, this all ends as quickly as possible. After all, this might as well be just a crush. Every girl has a crush once in a while. It’s no surprise mine just happens to be my husband.

The sudden light frown that surfaced between his brows for a moment told me he didn’t very much like my suggestion.

“I don’t need lunch. I’m busy right now and besides if I get hungry, I can help myself. You didn’t have to leave the house and make it out in public. You’ll just create more problems.” His words stab me in each sentence causing the smile I had tried so hard to display slowly begins to fade. Disappointment washed over me.

“Is it really so hard Christian to smile and say thank you?” I questioned with a straight face and he just stared back at me, his eyes still a bit impossible for me to understand.

“I told you... Our marriage is just for public display. Sharing lunch, getting to know each other... that wasn’t part of our agreement. The deal was to stay clear of each other’s path so don’t do this again. Don’t come to my office and create a scene. Don’t mind my business.”

I gulped down, withholding the slump my consciousness threatened to fall into. In the past, I barely felt any pain each time he said something threatening or disrespectful to me but now... now, it just hurts, hurts in my heart. Who knew words could hurt so much?

A scoff eluded my lips as I looked away and blinked continuously to stop any kind of tears that threatened to trickle down my cheeks.

“You know what?” I rhetorically questioned before pushing the bag onto him quite violently and he quickly had to hold onto it as I immediately let go. I could see the surprise look on his face.

“Eat it. Trash it. I really don’t care.” I declared before making my way out of that office and slamming the door behind me.

I really couldn’t care what his guests or employees might think. Christian was such a jerk. Urghh! If only I could strangle him. Seriously, I don’t even know why my heart feels the way it does towards him. This is ridiculous.

Angrily, I pressed the button to the elevator repeatedly and finally, it opened. I stood still as I stared at the person in front of me. She stared back, quite surprised to see me as well. A pretentious smile played out on my face.

“Emerson.” I called as I made my way into the elevator and pressed the close button.

“Right?” I asked as I look her side and she nodded after a moment of hesitation.

“It’s nice to see you again Harieth.”

“Really? I thought you didn’t like me.” I told her with a light frown between my brows and watched as her face went sour for a moment and her warm smile was back on.

“No. N-No. Why wouldn’t I like you? I like you. You’re very pretty and... and we’re family.” She explained and in the end, I raised a brow at her.

“Sounds like you’re trying hard to convince yourself.” I stated the obvious as I looked her in the eye. She tensed up and I noticed that. I’ve met Emerson’s type lots of times. They’re too much of a good girl to say what’s really on their mind.

Suddenly, I drew up a wide smile as I looked away from her.

“I’m just joking. Actually, I don’t care what the world thinks about me so it’s okay if you don’t like me.” I told her my honest opinion and silence followed thereafter.

“What brings you here? Do you work here?” I had to ask.

“No. I brought Lucas lunch.”

“Oh.” Only after that word left my lips did I realise how jealous I sounded and I hated sounding like that. I just hoped she didn’t take notice.

Silence fell once more and it felt like the ride down was taken longer than normal. The atmosphere grew awkward by each second. The thought of going back home to stay by myself didn’t sound like much fun.

“Do you want to hang out? I mean, like you said, we’re family and we barely know each other. How about we start somewhere? There’s this really good spa I usually frequent. Their treatments are amazing. We should go there, right?” I persuaded in all excitement as I turned to her hoping she would give let me have the desired reply.

“Uh... Um, my son... the babysitter doesn’t expect me out too long...”

“You can call her and let her know you’ll be out a little longer. Come on Emerson. I’m pretty sure you haven’t had you time since you gave birth. This is an opportunity to have that.” I persuaded even further refusing to take no for an answer. I’m not an idiot, I can see she doesn’t really want to do this but I do so... she just has to say yes.

The door to the elevator opened and I look her side with a wide smile and hopeful eyes. She just couldn’t look away and just like a person who just got hypnotised, she said the word I desperately needed.

“Okay.” She agreed with a smile on her part.

“Great.” I stated in excitement as we made our way out of the elevator.

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