Chapter 10 His Suspicious Thoughtfullness
We were halfway at our destination when suddenly a sharp pain seared through my stomach, making me lurch over in horrible pain. I wrapped my hand around my stomach, trying to somehow lessen the painful sensation.
“Ayesha, what is it?”, I felt Daniel’s hand on my back, patting slowly. “Does your stomach hurt?”
I tried to take in deep breaths as my insides twisted around painfully.
After a few excruciating minutes had passed, the pain finally subsided.
Letting out an audible sigh, I leaned back in my seat.
“What the hell was that? Do you need a doctor? I can stop the bus and….”, Daniel’s panic was visible as he looked me over from head to toe. I didn’t like how his concern made me feel, all mushy and soft inside, absolutely breaking any guard I’d ever put up.
“It’s fine. Just a little pain, that’s all”, I tried to pacify him but he wouldn’t listen.
“That wasn’t a little pain”, he fixed me with an accusatory stare, like he knew I was trying to downplay it. “Either you tell me why you were just clutching to your stomach for dear life or I stop the bus.” He started to get up when he realized I wasn’t taking him seriously.
“Sit down”, I defeatedly told him, pulling him by his arm.
“I didn’t eat in the morning”, I told him in the smallest voice possible.
“You what?”, he scream-whispered. “Why would you do that? You’re already so frail.” His worried tone made my heart leap in my chest. But I ignored it as best I could. He was just worried about my health as a supervisor. Yup, that’s what it was.
“Someone stole my credit card”, I admitted, shame-faced at my circumstances. He waited for me to go on. Like he had read my mind and knew there was more.
“And the little cash I had…” I took a pause. “And my phone.”
“When was this?” He asked in a deathly calm voice.
“Last night probably, after we left my dorm room”, I answered, digging my nails into my palms to keep from crying. Earlier, I’d been too wrapped up in dreading my future and marriage to his uncle to pay any heed to the monumental disaster that someone had ransacked my room. And then there was the ordeal with Rosalind.
I quietly watched him. He pressed a hand to his forehead, closing his eyes, a vein dangerously popping in his forehead.
“Let’s go,” he said, sliding the strap of my bag from the hook and slinging it over his shoulder. Everyone turned to look at us. Just what I needed. Another public confrontation.
“Unless you want me to make a scene, you better get up”, he gritted his teeth, throwing me a look which clearly said that he’d reached his limit of entertaining my unwillingness to do anything he said.
I hold my head down and as un noisily as possible I follow his lead, aware of everyone’s eyes on us. Great, another thing for them to gossip about.
He signals to the driver to stop. The Professor who’d been accompanying us looked like she was about to say something but one stony glare from Daniel was enough to shut her up.
“We will meet you there”, Daniel grumbled and I sighed as we got off when the bus came to a stop. At least he’d shown some semblance of courtesy.
“Where are we going?” I gathered the courage to ask when he seemed to cool down a bit and his tightened shoulders ever so slightly relaxed.
“One word”, he menacingly replied,” Not one more word out of you.” He was still angry for some reason. I considered it better to not anger him further or he could possibly leave me stranded here on this sidewalk.
He stopped a cab and we both got in. He told the driver our destination and a few minutes later he was leading me into what I presumed from its lavish structure and size was a five-star hotel.
I kept my mouth obediently shut as Daniel exchanged a few words with the manager.
Once we were seated, he said,” Order whatever the fuck you want.” Him and his crass words never failed to surprise me.
“You brought me here to feed me?” It was almost like I’d asked the question in my head. Why would he do something…. so thoughtful? I felt moisture in my eyes when I realized I’d almost forgotten what it felt like to be cared for or have someone worry over you. I covertly tried to blink the tears away, fear hammering into my heart, warning me to not get used to him being this kind to me.
It’s all an act! My brain screamed at my stupid heart.
“No, I brought you here to tap-dance”, he deadpanned, shooting me a dry look as he looked over the menu.
I would’ve laughed if not for my treacherously hurtful thoughts warring in my brain.
“Why are you so quiet? Does your stomach hurt again? Should we go to the hosp..”, he started ranting.
“I thought you were angry with me”, I interjected, looking up at him through my lashes.
“I was angry. But not at you”, his gaze softened, no trace of anger present, much to my relief.
“Oh! Okay. Good”, I stumbled on my words, scanning the menu. Hyper-aware of everyone watching our every movement. I felt seriously inadequate in front of these women clad in Gucci Prada cocktail dresses which looked like a second skin on them.
“Don’t worry about them. They’re so fucking vain that they have to look prim and proper all the fucking time yet still hate themselves to the core”, he said, putting a hand over mine on the table. “Relax.”
“How can I relax with so many millionaires around me?” I said, nervousness gripping me, very much aware of the way he gently held my hand in his, drawing circles with his thumb on my wrist.
“You do realize I have more money than all of these fuckers bank balances combined, right?” He arched a brow at me, a slight smirk growing on his lips as he watched me get flustered.
“Yes, Mr Billionaire”, I played along and just like that my nerves relaxed.
“Are you ready to order, sir and mam?”, someone asked.
I realized it was the waiter….
“Wait, is that you Ayesha?” Surprise laced his voice and for good reason.
And not just any waiter, it was a 3rd year student, John, I’d met him through Chris. He was one of the few scholarship students at Harvard.
I nodded in a yes and we just started chatting. It’d been a few minutes and I’d almost forgotten about who was sitting next to me.
“It was really nice catching up”, I ended our brief conversation, aware of Daniel’s growing annoyance.
“Yeah, you too. I hope we can meet up some other time”, he replied. “You’re looking really great by the way.”
He just had to add that, didn’t he?
A rude cough sounded, making John aware of who was sitting next to me.
“Oh! Mr Kane. I…uh, didn’t see you there.” Poor John crumbled beneath Daniel’s glare.
“Oh I understand. Ayesha can be very distracting”, he said, his tone indicating that he was anything but understanding right now.
He made a show of placing his hand on my thigh, making my breath catch in my throat. I blushed profusely, embarassed to my very core when I realized that the bastard had made sure that John knew where his hand went under the table as he looked at him pointedly. A devious grin etched on his face.
“I’ll.. um, I’ll come back in a minute”, John practically ran away.