Chapter 41: Awkward silence

Tyler watched her as she approached the car. The look of confusion on her face. She still looked cute though, with her hair tied up in a ponytail.

He still regretted not flying in with her last night in his private jet. But that was short notice. It was only yesterday that he sent out the bouquet and ticket to her.

Only God knows how much he prayed for her not to bounce his invitation. And when she scanned the QR code, half of him knew that she was going to make the trip.

Of course the other half was sure when Bruce confirmed it when he picked her up in the morning.

The driver put her luggage in the back seat. The box looked really heavy. Not that she would need any of the things she brought.

He had plans for her. Plans for the week ahead. Some he might want to keep to himself for the meantime.

He had expected her to notice him right away when his chauffeur opened the car. Still, it took her a minute or two to register that someone was seated at the back of the car with her.

He held her gaze wondering what was going through her mind, since she hadn't uttered a word to him.

“How are you, Miss Lauren?” Tyler Gray asked, breaking the silence.

“Mr Gray,” her voice was shaky yet solid. “Sorry, I didn't see you there,” Lauren added, clearing her throat afterward.

“I thought as much. Do you need something to drink?” Tyler offered, stretching a bottle of water across the seats.

“Yes please,” Lauren responded, receiving the bottle.

The gentle touch of his fingers against hers, sent goosebumps up her arms. She knew that feeling all too well. She retrieved her hand from its familiarity.

Their hands touching was no breeze for Tyler either. He was clearly struggling to maintain his composure. After all, he brought her on this trip just to make sure he didn't have any feelings for her. If that made sense at all.

Lauren took a sip of the water, unable to maintain eye contact with him. For a second, she thought his coming to pick her from the airport was a courtesy thing to do.

Then again, she wasn't really enjoying the awkwardness of this ride. Especially when his eyes were piercing through her like that.

Where were they heading to anyway? She wanted to ask so badly but she couldn't. That's what she gets for jumping at free tickets and coming on this trip.

Her best bet was to relax, and leave everything in the hands of Tyler. Then again, when had he ever gone wrong with picking locations. She was sure he wasn't going to put her in any compromising position this time.

“And how was your trip?” Tyler asked, waiting patiently for her to finish drinking the water to respond.

“My trip was nice, thank you. I had enough time to rest,” Lauren responded.

“Did you get here today?” She asked, trying to hold the conversation with him.

Tyler's neck stiffened. Almost as if he didn't want to answer the questions.

“Not at all,” he struggled to respond.

“I got here…” unable to complete his sentence, his breathing ceased and he started coughing.

His face went pale almost immediately. Struggling to breath through the chaos.

Lauren panicked immediately, not sure of what to do next. She rushed over to his seat, still with the bottle of water in her hand.

“Are you okay, Mr Gray?”

That was dumb of her to ask. He was obviously choking and couldn't speak. He needed help right away.

Help that she obviously couldn't render. What to do now? She thought to herself.

Calling out to the driver would be of no help, judging that there was a mighty wall in between the front and back seat.

She lifted the water to his lips, while

rubbing the back of his coat gently.

“Here you go Tyler. Drink this,” she said.

Tyler was able to control himself and swallow the water. Curse the spicy chicken stew he had earlier. That was such a terrible heartburn.

Lauren noticed that the coughing had stopped. “Is everything alright Mr Gray?” She asked, wondering if he had come down with something or if this was a regular occurrence.

“I'm fine. It's just a heartburn,” he responded.

And what did she really think? At the back of her mind, people like Tyler Gray didn't feel chest pain? Or that they didn't even fall ill?

Seeing him in that vulnerable position showed her that he was just like everyone else. Soft, fragile, and supposed to be cared for.

Lauren forgot her hand, still very much rested on his back, and going round and round in motion.

Tyler peeked at the arm. She was so close to him. Still holding the bottle with her other arm around him.

It was the way she jumped to his aid without thinking twice. Without even knowing what was wrong with him.

He held her gaze, staring past those blue oceans she had as eyes.

Lauren didn't know why she didn't move. All of a sudden she felt glued to the seat. Leaning forward without hesitation. Rachel was right, she was into this man.

Was this how she was going to kick-start this one week long vacation? Kissing Mr Gray at the back of his SUV?

Tyler's next move brought her back to face reality.

He cleared his throat, fighting himself not to make a move on her. At least, not now.

For a brief moment, he liked that she wasn't scared to lean in for a kiss. It showed that she was just as attracted to him as he was to her.

Now that was embarrassing, Lauren's inner voice screamed. What was she thinking of making a move?

“No Miss Lauren,” Tyler said, snapping her out of her thoughts.

“What?” Lauren asked, confused as to what he was saying

“You asked if I got here today, and I said no,” Tyler repeated, fully aware of how she felt at this moment.

“Oh okay,” Lauren responded, dropping her hand slowly and making her way back to her seat across from his.

There was absolute silence after that. How far was the hotel they were headed to from the airport? For all she knew, she could jump out of the window right now.

“Would you mind stopping to grab some gelato?” Tyler asked.

What a casual way to ask if she wanted to try out the world's most expensive ice cream. Of course she was open to that. Excitement welled up inside of her, but she didn't show it.

“Sure Lauren responded, staring down at her phone.

Tyler Gray tapped a buzzer behind him before speaking.

“Can we stop for ice cream?” It sounded more like a command than a question.

Oh, so that was how you were supposed to communicate with the driver, Lauren said, taking notes. Who knows, she might own one of these babies soon.

“You didn't say where?” Lauren asked.

“It doesn't matter. There's only one place on our way to the hotel, and he is aware of it,” he responded casually.

Of course. Silly her, trying to describe location to a native driver. Instead, what she should be doing is checking Google Maps.

Maybe if she could find out the closest I've cream spot, she could trace the nicest 5 star hotel around. That would give her a glimpse of where they would be staying.

Just before she could turn on her internet connection, Rachel's call popped up.

She had been buzzing her phone since she landed with messages, and now she decided to call.

Unintentionally, Lauren tapped the receiving button on the screen.

“Finally girl!” Rachel screamed on the other side of the phone.

Laureen was physically struggling to turn off the speaker and hang up.

“Don't tell me you're already getting dicked down that you can't reply to any of my texts?”