GREG POV
Everything around me froze. The rustling leaves, singing birds, and the car honks called me back to reality but I still had my palm massaging my hurt tummy. Why was she so touchy and sensitive? All I did was take her hand lightly and she paid me back with a yank. I was the mysterious one. So mysterious that I had to change my name from Greg Sanders to Miles Connor but this woman was a hard nut to crack. The more I observed her, the more I got curious. There must be an explanation for her heightened sensitivity to physical contact.
"Hey! Calm down. I figured we should hurry up to the place before the rain starts," I said, trying to break the tension between us.
Her lips parted but nothing came forth. She was like a broken little bird that had been beaten by the rain. I smacked my lips and then peeped at her wavering gaze.
"My car's parked over there. We should leave now," I said. She followed me into my car and I drove in silence. She didn't share a glance at me throughout the drive. Deep in her eyes, all I had seen since I met her was a woman whom life had dealt a hard blow and refused to grant peace of mind. I also noticed that she had a swollen mark around her neck which wasn't visible the last time we met. A swollen mark that notified me of her unspoken woes, threatening to tear her apart. Her boyfriend or husband must be torturing her but from what I knew about her, she was single and unmarried.
"An art academy?!" her lips let out a grin that somehow lightened up the mood.
"You can cope with being a teacher, right?" I asked.
"I can cope with anything in the arts," she answered, and then I led the way into the academy.
I could see the shock on her face when the director of the academy raced out of his office to meet me. His hands shook aggressively and his face was painted with terror.
"It's good to meet you aga—"
"It's a pleasure to meet you as well. I heard you've got a vacancy for an educator here?" I broke in. The idiot was trying to blow my cover and ruin my plans.
The director looked in my direction and I rolled my eyeballs. "Yes, Yes! We do! We are in urgent need of an art instructor," he said.
"Great! Meet— ehm…"
"Lia Anderson," she replied.
"She's well-trained in the art department and I believe she'll be perfect for the job," I said. The director's lips parted but he paused before uttering a word. I shot him a death stare which got his attention and woke him to reality.
"Of course, I bet she is. Come, Miss Anderson. My secretary will see to all your needs," he said.
I stroked my hair then shot an intense gaze at Lia, "Why don't you get it done now? I still have a few places to visit with Miss Anderson."
I could see that curiosity had eaten deep into her. Goal achieved! A few minutes later, she was recruited as an art instructor with a sizeable salary. She walked through the door to meet me by the car while the director followed behind. His knees were making such funny moves exposing how much he feared me. Only I knew the reason for his awkward stutters and shaky legs.
"I hope we're good now, Mr. Miles?" he asked.
"Of course, we are. Would you mind?" I motioned for him to leave and he got the memo. When he had left, my eyes landed on Lia. She bit her lip and played with her fingers. I was getting more attracted to her than I should have. It was as though she had cast a spell on me. She wasn't the only red-haired lady I had seen since I arrived in New York.
"I'm grateful for the job. You took a heavy load off my shoulders," she said without a glance at my face. I chuckled lightly then hid my smile with an expressionless face.
"I'm delighted to help you. If you need me to do anything for you, let me know and I'll do it," I said and realized what I had just uttered. Am I losing it? Why was I being too nice to a girl I had just met?
"You're strange Mr. Miles. Have we met before? Why are you being too nice to me?" she demanded, maintaining a distance between us.
I shrugged then placed my hands in my pocket, "I've never seen anyone reject a nice gesture." I lifted the car door knob and pulled it open. "Hop in, let's get lunch and I'll answer all your questions," I said with an eye that begged for attention. She was unmoved by my desire to have a conversation with her. What could I ever do to attract such a cold woman?
The heavens must have heard my plea as the rain poured heavily, forcing her to follow me into the car. I drove to a nearby restaurant and ordered lunch. Her lips were sealed while I made the order so I tried to make small talk.
"Are you always so quiet? I'm sure you're a woman of few words but would you mind opening up to me a little? I don't mean any harm. I'm only here to help."
For the first time since she stepped out of the academy, she looked at me, her hazel eyes passing a message I couldn't decipher.
"We've only just met and you're here to help? You don't even know me. You don't know what I am or who I am. There's a lot going on in my head right now. As you might have guessed, I don't have a soft spot for men so let's just end whatever this is," she said without mincing words. While she spoke, I observed her steady eyes which roamed the restaurant and outside the transparent wall where we sat. Was she expecting someone? Damn! What's my problem with this woman?! I've just got to be honest with myself.
I intertwined my fingers and moved my thumbs rhythmically, "To be sincere, I've had a crush on you since I saw you wandering off at the park. You might have a thing against men but I can assure you that I'll make a difference." My words were not flowing too well since I never had the nudge to express my feelings to a woman whom I had just met.
My heart suddenly raced past the roof when she let out a funny laugh. That was the first time she laughed and it wasn't nice. "You men are all the same. Is that why you offered to help me? To find your way into my life, sleep with me, and dump me?" She yelled and made for the door.
Shit! I shouldn't have confessed my feelings so soon. Now, my plan's ruined. I was confident because I never foiled any plans. It was always smooth sailing into success. So confident that I thrashed everything with my hasty eagerness. Now, she wouldn't even talk to me anymore. I followed her into the rain and my hand moved over to her shoulders.
"Why would I ever think of taking advantage of you? I'll never do something like that. Give me a chance to explain what I meant," I pleaded with both hands on her shoulders.
She plunged her sharp fingers into my skin and threw my hands off, "stop touching me! I don't want you. I don't want any man. Please, let me be, I'm begging you."
I winced in pain but it quickly vanished when little drops of tears rolled down her cheeks. No, this wasn't because of me. Something was happening. Something deeper beyond the surface.
******
The moist ground romanced my sneakers, making it uneasy for me to go stealthily. I was lurking behind the shadows, watching the leaves play on the quiet street. I was there for just one person - Lia. I had more than just my feelings driving me and fueling my actions but the reasons were only known to me. Seeing her made me forget my purpose of approaching her in the first place. I was standing opposite her house when she appeared from the shadows of the dark night, in tears.
"Why?! Why does it always have to be me?! I'm tired! I don't want this anymore," she broke down by the steps in her front yard. Her dripping tears brought out an unexplored feeling inside of me so I took off my coat to shield her.
"Shit! Are you a ghost? Oh! I get it. Fred hired you. So he sent you here since Pat could not have his way today?"
Trust me, as calculating as I was, this was beyond me. Her story keeps getting interesting. Why were Pat and Fred, her father and brother hunting her down?