Chapter 25: Be with Me Always

Several days had passed since the day I had the last talk with Henry. He kept busy with his work. His business had expanded across the world, so he visited several places at the same time. I didn’t know how his hand was because he didn’t give me a chance to glance at his fractured hand. If he ever had been in the house, I had not been there for him because of my teaching job. I would be lying if I said I wasn't missing him. On that day, If I hadn’t pushed him away, probably he would have kissed me. I didn’t want his touch, caress, and kiss because I knew it wasn’t real, or if it was, then it wouldn’t last long.

One day would come when I had to divorce him, one day would come when Ava, his girlfriend, would come back to him. His only first love. I often experience an ache in my heart whenever I imagine both of them together. I didn’t know what was wrong with me.

Someone’s footsteps interrupted my thoughts. The door creaked open, and a man stepped into my room. I lifted my eyes to see that person who was standing on the other side of the room. Henry looked gorgeous in his three-piece expensive suit. I moved my gaze to his hand and noticed he hadn’t cast around it.

“Do you want anything else?” I asked. I considered asking him how his hand was and how his day was. But I knew he didn't like small talk.

I looked back at his face. His expression was rigid and unreadable, like a mysterious close book and I wanted to read that mysterious book. He shoved his hand in his pants pocket and stared directly at me.

“Yeah, I want something,” he said, and I frowned with confusion. He came closer to me, filling the gap between us. “I want you.”

My eyes widened in surprise, and my stomach fluttered with anticipation. “W-what?”

He smirked. “I want you to come with me to dinner.” Now he has completed his statement.

I sighed and stared into his eyes. “You want me to come with you to dinner?” I emphasized his statement so that I could clear my doubts if he did the wrong pronunciation.

He nodded and glanced at his Rolex watch. “You have fifteen minutes. Get ready and come downstairs quickly.”

“B-but I am…” Before I could complete my sentence, he had already walked out of the room.

I was feeling happy and anxious at the same time. Happy because I was going to dinner with my husband and anxious because I was unsure if it was his other trick.

I picked out a tomato short red dress from my wardrobe. It had a very thin strap and a deep neckline showing off my smooth, and flawless skin. I applied a light foundation and nude pink lipstick. After wearing my wedge heels, I headed to the hallway.

I looked at him as he stood in the living room, fixing his suit jacket. He wore a crisp gray suit and a clean white collared shirt with a tie, looking beautiful as always. He had a desirable body and an even more beautiful face.

When he heard my footsteps, he lifted his gaze at me, observing my every move from head to toe, and made me blush hard.

When I approached him, he wrapped his arm around my waist and led me out without speaking a single word.

We climbed into his car. “Wear your seat belt,” he ordered me.

“Oh, sorry,” I said and grabbed my seatbelt, clasping it. I tried to clasp it but it didn’t work.

He sighed, annoyed, and leaned over me, and snatched the belt from my hands. “You don’t even know how to clasp a seat belt?” I forgot to breathe for a moment as he was so close to me that his hot breath was fanning across my bare skin. After clasping my seat belt, he returned to his seat and started the car.

An hour passed, and he was driving the car. In such a long time, he and I didn’t speak a single word. His eyes were focused on the road and I fixed my eyes on the window, watching the beautiful nature of the earth as he drove through the mountains. I did not know where he was taking me, but I could say that he was taking me somewhere beautiful. We passed through the mountains, the Valley, and the trees. I loved that kind of place far away from the polluted and noisy city.

His phone buzzed out, interrupting our silence. He received the call. “Hello.” He paused for a moment as hearing the person on the other line. “No, I'm not coming. Cancel all my meetings.” He glanced at me briefly. “Yeah, I know it is important, but I have more important things to handle right now.”

My eyes snapped at him, surprised. “Damn, Neena, cancel it and don’t make me ask you again. Is that clear to you?” He growled and disconnected the call without listening further.

I frowned. “Why did you cancel your meeting?” I asked him.

His eyes were still focused on the road. “Because it’s my business, not yours.”

I rolled my eyes. Arrogant jerk.

After thirty minutes of driving, we arrived at our destination. He pulled his car through the gray giant metal gate. The first thing I noticed was a large marble fountain stood in the center, graced with beautiful flowers, erupting water from the tip. It was a stunning view. A man in a black uniform was already waiting for us. We climbed out, and Henry handed over his keys to him before leading me to the building. We entered the restaurant, and the gatekeeper opened the door for us.

“This place is amazing,” I said.

“I am glad you like it.” He wrapped his arm around my waist and led me to the table.

“I just can’t believe that you brought me here,” I said and sat down on the chair across from him.

He stared at me and smiled lightly. “Let me tell you. I brought my wife here for a special dinner.” My heart filled with joy after hearing those words. He picked the menu for ordering the food. “What would you like to eat?”

“Whatever you order.” I glanced across the restaurant and noticed only a few couples were coming for a meal. “Why are only a few people there?”

“Because in this restaurant only a few people are allowed.”

I frowned. “Why?”

“A place like this has a limited table, so it needs to be booked three months before.”

“So you have booked in advance.”

“You think I need to?” He smirked.

The restaurant was in a hilly area. I could view the beautiful scene of nature through the glass window on the other side of our table. Henry had arranged the corner table for us so that we could feel the wonderful nature of the earth. I felt like I was sitting on the mountain and having dinner with my husband.

The waitress approached our table and gave a big smile to my husband. She probably recognized him. They both exchanged their conversation, ignoring my presence for a few minutes.

“Can I get a glass of water?” I quickly interrupted them. I wasn’t thirsty, I just wanted to interfere with their conversation. He ordered for both of us and looked at me. I rolled my eyes annoyingly.

He smirked, seeing me jealous. “Ok, tell me about yourself. Your schooling, college, and about your parents.”

My brows snapped together. “Schooling, college, and my parents? I haven't come here for an interview, Henry.” I was expecting him to ask me about my hobbies, my favorite color, and my favorite place instead he was asking me these boring questions.

“This is what I am, Alice. I don’t know how to talk casually and frankly,” he said, and I smiled. I could understand him.

*****

“Fuck.” Henry slammed his fist on the car hood when the car didn't start. I didn’t know what happened to the engine and suddenly the car halted in the middle of the road, leaving us no option to go anywhere.

I got out of the car. “What happened?” I asked him. His muscles were tense and a cold sweat was breaking out on his forehead.

“The wire burned in the car. It is impossible to reach home on time,” he said while checking the car.

I looked around the dark road; I noticed how utterly deserted the place was and how alone we were. It was completely dark; I saw nothing except the dark mountains and trees, not even a single house. “Now what are we going to do?”

He sighed in annoyance. “I don’t fucking know!” He removed his phone from the pocket. “I should call someone for help,” he said, and I nodded. “Damn it! No network.”

I did not know where we would go, but I was not afraid of anything as long as my husband was with me. I felt happy because I got extra time to spend more time with him, but he was pissed off at his car, looking angry. It wasn’t a good time talking to him. He checked out once again, but it didn’t work out.

“Let’s go. Staying here is not safe for us, we should find shelter somewhere tonight.”

I felt a pleasant flutter in my stomach. Staying the whole night with him made me excited. We walked on a deserted road, still; I was not scared because he was with me. He was walking beside me but didn’t hold my hand; we were walking like strangers. I rubbed my arms to generate some heat. It was a chilly night, not to mention I wore a dress that barely reached my knees.

Henry took off his jacket and gave it to me. “Wear it if you don’t want to die from the cold.”

“And you?”

He ran his eyes the length of my body before meeting my gaze. “I’m dressed twice as much as you.”

I wore his jacket and clutched it around me, smelling him. “You smell so good,” I whispered.

“What.”

I didn’t expect him to hear me. “N-nothing.”

We had been walking for minutes, but we couldn’t find anything suitable for our shelter and my heels gave me a hard time. “H-Henry, I can’t walk any longer,” I said between my breaths.

“What happened?” He came closer to me, examining my legs. “Your toes swelled.”

I sighed. “It was the first time I walked a long distance on high heels.” I smiled weakly.

“If you have no problem, can I carry you in my arms?” he asked and I snapped my eyes at him. He had a serious face, he wasn’t joking. He stepped forward and pulled me over to him, ready to carry me.

“No, no.” I immediately stepped back, and displeasure spread across his face. I could tolerate pain, but not in his arms.

For a few seconds he was annoyed with my action, but finally, he said, “Are you sure?”

I quickly gave him a nod. “It’s just normal to me.”

“It’s not normal, Alice. Just look at your legs. It is a serious injury,” he scolded me, but I didn’t flinch. He was not threatening me, but he was angry because he was worried about me.

After walking a mile, I saw a bright light. “Henry, look over there.” I shook his shoulder and made him look at a small house. “I think someone is living there.”

“I hope so, let’s go.”

Henry grabbed my hand and walked towards the house. He was walking at full speed and I couldn’t catch him because of my swollen toes. Suddenly my ankle bent and I fell on the grass. “Ouch!” I hissed out in pain.

“Fuck! Alice.” He immediately sat down on his knees. “I just forgot about your injury.” He scanned my legs and rubbed them slightly. He stared into my eyes. “Let me hold you,” he said softly and carried me in his arms.

I locked my arms behind the back of his neck and rested my head against his chest. I could feel his heartbeat. “Henry, your hand is not fully recovered yet,” I whispered.

“I just don’t care, and I won’t die while lifting my wife in my arms. And you’re not heavy enough to break my hands. Now shut your mouth and think of yourself.”

Why was he suddenly changed? Why was he behaving like a gentleman? Why did he care about me? My head was flooded with lots of questions, but I didn’t have a single answer. For that day, for a few hours, he was all mine and my real husband, but it didn’t last long.

“Alice,” I looked at him. “Does it hurt?” He asked softly and I shook my head.