Chapter 4

When I arrived at home, I didn't see Julian’s car. I walked to my room. I take a quick shower. And then I go downstairs. I made a fried chicken for dinner and cheesy potato. Julian always praise me for the skill. Besides, I love to cook. When Julian arrived home, dinner is served. I sat there and he walked to kitchen.

“How was your day?” I asked him. He kissed my cheek.

“So...so” He looked tired.

“Do you want to eat now?” I ask him.

“Yeah sure, I’m famished.” He didn’t started. Not yet.

I stand up quickly and serve him with hot tea. It’s his favorite. We sit and start to eat. I WAIT AND WAIT.

“So, are you having fun yesterday?” Oh here we go.

“Yeah sure. Jane insist me to stay over again sometimes. It’s fun to have a girl’s night.” I told him and avoid eye contact. He will know I’m lying.

“You should do that sometimes. Don’t just stay at home. Have some fun. You stay at home too much.”

“Julian, I don’t understand.” I narrow my eyes.

“I know what you think. But I really hope that you will go out sometimes with your friends. And I’ll try to lessen my protectiveness to you, okay. But still you have to be careful whenever you go. And tell me beforehand. And please control.” Ha! His old self come back eventually.

“Okay. And I’m sorry alright…..I make you worry.”

“It’s okay It’s my job to protect you.” I feel sad for him. He is trying his best for me. I love him.

I know that he tried to pull me out from the past. And since our parents incident. He used to follow wherever I go. To the bookstore. Study group. But if he knows that I was slept with some stranger yesterday. Oh my. I can’t even imagine what will happen.

When he’s done I clear the dishes. And go back to my room. I can’t talk to him tonight. Or I will misspoke. I can’t lie to him. Even now. But I try not to talk through everything with him.

“Good night Julian.” I said.

“Good night.” I kiss his cheek.

“Don’t stay too late.” I told him. He just waved his hands in the air.

Back to my room. I text Jane. Everything is okay now.

Everything’s is okay now. Julian told me to stay over again sometimes. It’s really freaking me out. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.

Good night.

C

I sit and think about last night. I sleep so peacefully, because I’m drunk. I sleep soundly when I’m drunk. It’s not like I have to be drunk every time I need a good sleep. My heart was rattle. But I’m not sure. Maybe I drink too much. It’s been a while since that incident. It’s like my heart slowing the beats. It’s feels empty. That’s one of the reasons Julian want to move here. He’s so happy when he knows I have a friend. But Jane and Aaron don’t know a thing about my past.

My phone is ringing. I saw the unknown number. I picked up the phone.

“Hello, good evening Chris.”

“Good evening, who is it?” I asked.

“It’s me, James.”

“James.” It’s him.

“How are you? What are you doing?” He asked me. My heart is beating faster.

“I’m fine thanks, I’m doing nothing. How do you know my number?” I ask. Maybe Jane.

“I just know. Did you have a good day?”

“Yeah. I have a good day.” I replied him.

“Thanks for yesterday and this morning.” I continued.

“Enough, how many times do you want to thank me?” He laugh.

“Do you have a time tomorrow?” He ask.

“Why?”

“I want to invite you out for lunch.” He want to ask me out.

“I don’t know.” I’m wondering. Why?

“Come on, I’ll pick you up tomorrow. What time do you usually sleep?”

“Like now.”

“This early?”

“Yeah. I have nothing to do. What to do other than sleep?”

“We can talk.” He wants to talk.

“About what?” I feel weird talking to him. My heart is unsettling. His voice so manly. And sexy. Oh god.

“Anything, we can talk about anything. Where are you come from? I don’t think you were from around here?”

“I’m from Los Angeles.”

“Los Angeles huh. I’ve been there for a business trip. It’s a nice place.”

“Yeah, it’s tolerable.” I told him.

“What usually you do before you sleep?”

“Listening, Reading, All boring stuff.”

“Listening? What kind of music do you like?”

“Classic, Country Pop, and Jazz I think.” But I don’t really listened to music anymore. It's feels tasteless.

“I love classic. What do you like to do Chris?”

“I like driving.”

“Me too. It’s nice to driving around. We can driving sometimes. Together.”

“You have nice car there.” I told him. I remembered his car this morning.

“I liked a fast car. Yeah, I’m a collector.” I see.

“What do you do?” I asked. He seems like a rich kids, just playing around with their parent’s money.

“I am a businessman.”

“Oh.”

“I worked from anywhere.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“Its means I can work at home, outside. Everywhere. I don’t like stayed at office. It’s boring.”

“True.”

“Am I boring you?” He ask.

“Not really.”

“Are you often go to the bar on the weekend?”

“Sometimes, with Jane and Aaron, Why?”

“I don’t want you to go alone.”

“I always go with Jane and Aaron.”

“You have to be careful next time then. You don’t always having me to shield for you.” He wants to protect me?

“You’re funny, I can protect myself.”

“Am I?”

“Yes, you are.”

We talked all night, he asked what kind of food I love or flower, movies. He said he wants to get to know me. I like him. I feel drawn to him. It's a weird feeling. It’s a new for me. It’s not love, I think, yet it felt good. We talked until midnight and I feel sleepy and he let me to sleep. He said He’ll see me tomorrow.

When I woke up the next day, my hands are shaking again, because of the nightmare. I calm my mind and next go to shower. I hope Julian haven’t wake yet. I wake Julian. He must watched baseball until midnight. I pulled him out of bed and told him to have breakfast. I made a sandwich for breakfast. And I go to work. I meet Jane at parking lot.

“Hey morning babe.” She is so lively today as well.

“Morning.”

“Why are you so tired this morning? You looks like want to eat someone.” She tuck my hair.

“Nothing, not enough sleep.”

We walked to office. And told her about my phone call with James yesterday.

“Aw, you silly girl. He likes you. Take this chance. Go out with him and have fun. It’s now or never.”

“You think? But I don’t know Jane. I think I like him. But I don’t know how to do this. It’s my very first relationship.” I shake my head.

“Just try babes. You’ll know what to do when the times comes. It’s what others do too.” I think about that. We arrived at my desk. And she borrow my phone.

“Thanks.” She said and go back to her desk with a grin. What’s going on with her?

I just received some noticed email. Some of it I forward to Elis email to let her know. At lunch time, Jane pulled me with Aaron. We walked side by side. Why is she so in spirit today? When we step outside and I sighed. Now I know.

“Hey sleeping beauty.” James waved from his car. He give me a big smile and I feel awkward. He is leaning on his car.

“Jane what have you done?” I hiss.

“I help you to open the door. You just need to step in.” She grab my hand to still me.

“I’m not ready.” I whisper at her.

“No one’s ready.” She reply me with a big grin on her face.

He’s looks hot today in his suit. He’s wearing suit. Black suit with black tie. And don’t mention the car. Audi R8. Black one.

“Cool car.” Aaron grin. He look at me with a surprised.

“James.” Jane gave him a big smile. Aaron shake his hands nervously.

“What are you doing here?” I frown.

“I thought we are going lunch together.” He seems confused.

“Yeah of course.” Jane push me to him. I almost fell over. And he catches me in time. I glare at Jane.

“Careful there. You okay?” He asked.

“Yes I’m okay, I’m sorry.” I flush.

“Alright then after you.” He open the passenger door for me. I climb in and I point to them. ‘I’ll count this later’. He smile and close the door for me.

“We’ll see you later babes.” Jane waving at me.

He nod to them. Jane waving with big smile with Aaron, happily. They set me up. James climb to driver side.

“What would you like to have?” He asked me. He stare at me. His gaze. I feel uneasy on my chest suddenly. I try to breath. It’s feels stuffy suddenly. He smells so good in here. Oh my.

“Are you okay?” He ask me. He holds my hand.

“I’m okay. I’ll be okay in a minute.”

“You sure? Do you want me to take you to hospital?” He asked worriedly.

“Yeah. Can I open the window?”

“Sure.” He open the window for me.

“Thanks. Let’s go. I feel fine now.”

“Alright, You sure?” He ask again. I nod.

He drive with open window on my side. I close my eyes at the moment. Breath. Breath. What happen just now?

When I open them. We arrive at his Apartment. Why are we coming back here?

“Are you okay now?”

“Much better.”

“Really?” I nod.

“Are we having lunch here?” I ask.

“Yes.” He smiles. I nod and flush.

He open the door for me. He held my hand without asking me. He throw his car key to the valet boy.

When we walked in, I saw some people bow to him. What kind of person is he? We walk in to the elevator. And he still holding my hand. I feel comfortable. He hold it tight. So I can’t let go.

He pull me and I saw him nod with a girl. Waitress. She led the way. We sit at corner of the room. The restaurant is great. It’s so fancy. And open, with a glass window.

He let my hand go and pull the chair for me. He sit in front of me.

“A glass of warm water.” He ask the waitress to bring. The waitress come back with a glass of warm water.

“Here, drink this.” He wait for me.

“Thanks.” I drink in slowly.

“How do you feel?” He ask. His eyes full with worry.

“Much better, thank you.” I try not to look at his eyes. I look down. He had some effect on me.

“Do you want to see the menu?” He offer.

“No. You decide.” I don’t know what to order in this kind of place anyway.

“Alright. I want two serving of steak salad. And orange juice and water.” He looks at me to get my approval. I just nod. The waitress go quietly.

“How are you today?”

“Great. You’re in suit today.” I told him. He looked really great in that suit. I don’t realize I’m nervous now.

“Yeah I had a meeting this morning.”

“You look great.” Oh shit. Stop it. Why would you say that? But I said what I think.

“Really? Thanks though. But I feel uncomfortable in this.” He takes off his blazer lie it on his chair.

I sit and stare to windows glass outside, try to relax. TRYING. Oh this is so awkward. Never do this before.

“Do you have a time on Saturday night?”

“I don’t know. Why?” I ask him back.

“So here’s the things. I need your help.” He said.

“What kind of help. I don’t think I can help much.” I look at him.

“My mother’s Birthday party. So I have to bring a companion. It’s on this Saturday night.”

“Don’t you have a girlfriend?” Why would I ask him that? You know he’s interested in you.

“No. She wants me to bring her business partner daughter, but I prefer you.” He frown.

“Excuse me.” The waiter come back with a lunch we order.

“You can thank me with this.” He’s smart ***.

“I don’t know. I have to ask Julian about that” I make an excuse.

“Your brother?” He narrows his eyes.

I nod.

“You can think about it. I’m really desperate now.” He frown and begging like a child. But I know he is faking it.

“Let’s eat first.” He sighed. He pout.

“Let’s eat first. I’ll think about it.”

Now he smile. I try not to look at him. But not like the other girl, fascinated by that handsome looks. I had a handsome big brother. But he had an effect on me. But I’m sure is not because his looks.

He slice his steak. When he’s done, he changes our plate. He gives me the one he cut.

“Here” A gentleman.

“Thanks.” I start to eat with only fork. And salad.

“You like it?” He ask.

“Yeah, it’s taste delicious.”

“Good. Eat.” He smirk. We eat and he told me about what food he likes. We had a same taste on dessert. When we’ve done I checked my watch.

“Let’s go.” He takes his blazer. And I followed him. He drive me back to office.

“Hey Chris, Please consider okay?” He raise his eyebrow.

“Yeah. I will.”

“What? You will go or you will think about it?” He look pleased.

“I will think about it. Thanks for the lunch.” I turn and I walk in to the building.

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