章 13: CHAPTER 13
LARA
"And gather five of our men to go with us." I frowned when I heard Scott's voice. He sounded like the boss of some gang or like a mafia. He said men, not employees.
"Who're you talking about, and what men are you talking about?" I asked, picking up the paper bag of food and taking it into the dining area. I pulled two plates from a cupboard, placed them on the table, and took out the food Scott had brought from the paper bag. It's garlic rice with fried bacon, egg, spam, and sausage.
"That's why I'm here early in the morning." He said, and I felt his arms wrapped around my waist, then planted a kiss on my neck. I blush but try to keep it cool. His smell wafted around me, and his warm body pressed behind me. He kissed my hair before he pulled away and settled on one of the seats.
I took out two glasses, poured an orange juice on them, and settled in my seat opposite him.
"I like the food. Thank you." I said, smiling, and put some rice on my plate and some on his.
"Thank you. I'm glad that you like the food. I don't know what you like to eat for breakfast, so I only guess."
"Don't worry, I'll eat anything," I replied, smiling. "So, what about the men?" I asked, bringing back the previous topic.
"I came here because I want to tell you that I'm leaving later for business for two days. I'll be back on Monday night, but if I'm done with my meeting earlier, maybe on Sunday night. And those men I am talking to, I asked James to tell some of my employees to prepare to come with me." He explained. I pouted. Just thinking of not seeing him for two days; I missed him already. I sighed and just ate quietly.
"I will miss you." He said, smiling, and it made me giddy to the highest level with his knee-dropping smile. I covered my blushing face with both palms and wanted to scream, but of course, I didn't do it, or I'll embarrass myself as if what I was doing right now was not embarrassing. I heard Scott chuckle, but don't comment on how I behave now.
I cleared my throat as if I hadn't done anything embarrassing and resumed eating. God, why did I feel so giddy? I turned into a beetroot whenever he said a sweet word to me. It was so embarrassing, but I couldn't stop myself.
"I will miss you too." I timidly answered after a few minutes had passed, still blushing. I don't know when I'll stop feeling giddy and a blushing mess in front of him. Maybe after a few weeks, I will get used to it. I hope so.
"I know you will." He said, with a teasing smile on his lips. I pouted and shoveled a spoonful of food into my mouth. Maybe this is the only thing I wouldn't get embarrassed about in front of him, the way I eat. Regarding food, I don't care who my company is. I eat the way I am, I eat a lot, and I don't feel embarrassed about it.
I don't want to be like other girls, who, every time they are together with their boyfriend, always order a vegetable salad, but when they reach home afterward, they will shove any available food in their mouth. They are hungry to restrain themselves from eating during their dates because they want to look prim and proper in front of their boyfriend. You're hungry. Why restrain yourself? If your boyfriend loves you, he will learn to love your good or bad side.
I heard Scott chuckle after I finished my food, and he handed me his leftovers. I took it without hesitation, and he just watched me sipping his orange juice while smiling.
"You seem very hungry." He commented after I finished all the food.
"Not really. I have a big appetite." I smiled. He chuckled and softly poked my nose while drinking my orange juice.
"I should order an extra then if I know," he said. Plus, point to Scott. I thought with a broad grin on my lips. He stood up and gathered our plates. I stopped him, but he insisted.
"You prepared the food. I wash the dishes." He said with a knee-dropping smile. Another plus point for Scott. God, this guy makes me fall for him over and over again. I just pursed my lips, which earned a kiss that made me giddy again, and my finger quickly went to my lips as soon as his lips left me blushing. He laughed and pinched my cheeks but didn't comment about it.
That's one of the many things I love about him. He doesn't comment on the embarrassing things that I am doing because once he does, I'm sure I'll hide under the table because of embarrassment.
I sat on a barstool, watching him, admiring his back and every movement he made while washing the dishes. I sighed with a dreamy look on my face. My elbow propped on top of the table, with my palms under my chin. I'm sure my eyes turn into a heart shape right now while looking at him. I sighed again, smiling, but I was startled when he instantly looked back, causing me to fall together with a stool.
"Ouch!!! I winced.
"Are you alright?" Scott quickly rushed to my side and helped me up. I bit my lips to see a bruise on my elbow. Luckily my skin doesn't have a scrape. "Why did you fall?" He asked, and picked up the stool, arranged it, and helped me to sit on it.
"I've just been startled," I timidly answered. God, I am so embarrassed. I thought, biting my lips. He went to the fridge, took out an ice pack, then put it on my bruised elbow.
"This is the only part hurting?" He asked while checking my arms.
"Yes," I replied shortly, not looking at him.
"Be careful next time, love. We don't want to break your arm, do we?" He said, with a teasing smile on his lips. I know he knows why I fell, and I'm so thankful he didn't mention it. He pulled my face to his chest when I twiddled with my finger and kissed my forehead.
"So adorable. I love it so much." He murmured. I smiled this time and wrapped my arms around his waist. He kissed my forehead again, and I melted into a puddle of goo.
"What time are you going?" I asked. I feel a little calmer now.
"One in the afternoon," He replied, looking down at me. He placed the ice pack on the counter and cupped my face with both palms. He caressed my face and tucked my loose hair behind my ear.
"My girlfriend is so beautiful. Did I ever tell you that?" He asked, with the back of his hand caressing my face.
"Umm!!! I don't remember."
"Now, I'm telling you." He smiled, leaned down on my level, and brushed his lips on mine. I closed my eyes when I felt the tingle caused by his kiss. I felt his lips touch mine again for a second, then on my cheeks. I giggled when he pecked my nose, as well as both my eyes. I opened my eyes, greeted by his warm smile, and his lips captured mine. This time it wasn't just a peck, his lips moved on me, asking for entrance, and I gladly parted my lips.
"What are you two lovebirds doing?" I quickly pulled away from Scott, and I gritted my teeth to see Owen at the entrance of the dining area with his arm crossed over his chest and a smirk plastered on his lips.
Why is he always doing this to me? I mentally shouted and mentally killed him. This is embarrassing. I'm sure he won't stop taunting me.
I buried my face in Scott's chest, embarrassed, but he just chuckled.
"You don't need to ask. You see it by yourself." He replied without any hint of embarrassment.
"Yes, I'm positive you're sucking each other's breath." He teased us. I quickly looked at him, throwing him the most deathly glare I could muster. He chuckled, then raised her hand in surrender while Scott shrugged his shoulders.
"You don't know how to knock? And why are you here early this morning?" I said, glaring at him.
"I thought you were still sleeping. I know you wake up late on weekends, so I don't knock. I didn't want to disturb your sleep, so I used my key. And why don't you question Scott for being early and disturbing your sleep?" If I'm the one doing it, I'm sure I'll have black and blue patches on my skin already." I blushed and mentally killed him in the most gruesome way inside my mind.
"Get out." I softly said, but I was furious inside, knowing he knew it. He huffed this time, went into the living room, and sat on the couch. Scott chuckled beside me, but I glared at him.
"It's too early to get mad, love." He whispered and kissed my forehead. And, ladies and gentlemen, I become a puddle of goo on the floor, anger forgotten and feeling giddy again. That endearment, love, is going to be the death of me.
He smiled and pinched my cheeks when he saw me twiddling my fingers again, head hanging down.
"I'm leaving. I will return later when you're done pinching each other." Owen said a few seconds later, and we heard the front door close.
"Better, now I can have my love by myself," Scott said, grinning. "Gahhhh!!!! I'm dead." I mentally screamed. We went into the living room and settled on the couch beside each other. He pulled me into his embrace and kissed my forehead.
"I will call you later tonight," he whispered. I nodded, leaning my face on his chest. I can feel his calm heartbeat compared to my pounding heart, and I'm sure my face is red again.
I closed my eyes when his fingers ran through my hair repeatedly and kissed the crown of my head occasionally. I noticed he always touched my hair and kissed me when we were beside each other in comfortable silence. And that's another thing that I love about him.
We stayed like that for how long, I don't know, and I was startled when Scot scooped me up from my seat and put me on his lap. I didn't notice that I had fallen asleep.
"You sleep on me." He whispered.
"I didn't notice, sorry. What time is it now?" I asked, leaning my head on his shoulder.
"Twelve thirty. I'm leaving in thirty minutes." He whispered back and kissed my cheek.
"That was fast," I murmured. I wrap arms around his neck and buried my face in his chest, inhaling his scent that I was sure I would miss within two days.
"I love you." He whispered, and I smiled.
"I love you too," I whispered back and kissed his shoulder.
"I will miss you."
"Me too."
"When I come back, I want to tell you something. One of my deepest secrets. I hope your feelings for me won't change."
"My feelings for you won't change, but I can't guarantee that I wouldn't get mad if that secret of yours would affect what we have between us."
"I understand. I just hope you won't murder me." He chuckled, but I heard the nervousness in it. I pulled my arms around his neck and looked at his face, and I was right. He looked nervous.
"Is the secret that you are saying big enough to feel nervous?" I asked and cupped his face.
"I think, but I'm hoping you'll understand. I love you. I love you so much, and I'll do everything to protect you."
"Scott, you're scaring me." He smiled and pecked my lips.
"No one can harm you while I'm alive. I promise you, with my life."
"Why are you saying all these things? Scott, we had just been official last night, and now you're saying about giving up your life."
"I just want you to know how much I love you. You meant a lot to me," he whispered. I caressed his face and kissed both of his cheeks. I felt touched by everything that he was saying, but at the same time, it scared me.
"I love you too." I smiled, hoping to ease the tension in the air. He smiled and captured my lips with him. I parted my lips and let him do whatever he wanted with my mouth. I didn't know how to kiss anyway, so I let him lead the way. We both panted when we pulled apart with a smile.
"God, I missed you already." He murmured on my lips, then pecked it. I giggled and leaned my head on his chest.
"I need to go," he whispered. I quickly scampered away from his lap and stood in front of him. He also stood up and pulled me into his embrace.
"Call me." I nodded my head.
"Can you kiss me goodbye? I was always the one who kissed you." He smiled. I stood on my tiptoes and placed my lips on him. His arms quickly wrapped around my waist and deepened the kiss. A minute later, we pulled apart.
"Bye, love. Take care while I'm away." I smiled and nodded my head.
"You too," I murmured.
"I will." He replied, wrapped his arm around my shoulder, and led me toward the front door. He opened it, and I saw James was already outside with another guy. Scott led me toward them, and James quickly waved at me.
"Lara, this is Mark, my secretary." I smiled at him when he coughed, looking at Scott, then he extended his hand for a handshake.
"Hello, Miss Carter." He smiled. I shook his hand, smiling.
"Just call me Lara. Miss Carter is too formal."
"As you wish, Lara," he said, smiling.
"And you know James already, right?" I nodded my head. "He is my PA," Scott said. James also coughs but smiles at me.
"Yes! I am the PA." He said, chuckling as if he was just convincing himself that he was Scott's PA. I shook that thought and smiled at him.
"We need to leave now, sir," James said. Scott nodded his head, and they both went into the car. Scott pulled me into his embrace, then kissed my cheek.
"Bye, love." He whispered.
"Bye!" I whispered back. He pulled away from the hug and kissed my forehead before getting in the car.
"Go inside." He said, rolling the car window. I waved one last time, smiling, then went inside. And I watch them drive off as soon as I close the door. I miss him already.
***
The next day, I woke up around three in the afternoon, very late, I know, but last night, I talked to Scott over the phone around five in the morning. We talk about anything that comes into our minds, laughing and forgetting the time.
I smiled, went into the bathroom, and took a bath. After that, I changed and left the house in my car. I want to buy some groceries, and I'll eat my brunch at the fast-food restaurant near the grocery store. I drove to the grocery store with Ed Sheeran's PERFECT song playing. It's my favorite song right now. I hum the song with a smile on my lips, it reminds me of our first date, as well as our first dance, and it warms my heart.
I don't need to tell Owen where I am going every time I go out because I know he has a tracking device on my phone, and my car and one of my guards are always following me. I let out an annoyed sigh seeing the parking lot was packed. I rounded at the back, and I let out a sigh of relief when I saw two vacant lots. It was secluded and dark at night, but I had no choice. The fast-food restaurant is just across the street, so I walked from there.
I stepped out of my car and locked it before running across the street to the fast-food restaurant. I quickly order my food and eat. I'm starving because I haven't eaten breakfast, and it's already a quarter to four.
After eating, I cross the street again to the grocery, humming with a smile plastered on my lips. I pulled my phone from my pocket and smiled to see the text from Scott, saying," I miss you. I started to type my reply when I was startled by a car that instantly stopped beside me, and I dropped my phone. It happened so fast that two men stepped out of the vehicle, and a cloth covered my mouth. I was shocked for a few seconds but snapped it out. I quickly elbowed and kicked the man covering my mouth, and he fell, but I staggered backward. Whatever chemicals in the clothing were strong, draining my strength fast. I threw a kick at another man, and he fell to the ground, but I also fell to the ground, and slowly everything faded.
Someone lifted me from the ground and thrown into the car.
"Stop!!! I heard someone scream. "Lara!!!! That was the last thing I heard before everything turned dark.
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