Chapter 36
“Stop!” Alaric commanded, and Easton immediately hit the brakes as if he'd been waiting for the order.
The sudden halt sent the cab driver rolling forward a few inches before he managed to pause. As the cab skidded to a stop on the roadside, Cressida flung open the door and, forgetting to settle the fare, sprinted out of the car, racing toward Alaric’s vehicle.
The driver quickly shed his seatbelt and leapt out of the cab, calling out, “Ma’am!” He waved his arms to catch her attention, but Cressida was oblivious, her focus fixed on Alaric.
The driver swiftly caught up with her, grasping her arm from behind and spinning her around. “You haven’t paid me, ma’am,” he said, extending his left hand expectantly.
Cressida’s eyes widened in surprise. “Huh?” She uttered, patting her jeans pockets in a panic. She checked again, but her pockets were empty.
The driver’s finger jabbed toward her face. “You’re paying before you leave here!” He said, his voice escalating. “How could you hail a cab without the fare?”
He continued, his tone growing louder. “You should’ve used your feet if you were in such a hurry!”
Alaric’s expression darkened as the commotion reached him in the car. “What's going on?” He asked, his voice firm. When Easton hesitated, he ordered, “Go check.”
Easton quickly exited the vehicle and approached Cressida, whose face was downcast. “What’s going on there?” He inquired.
The driver, still fuming, pointed at Cressida. “She owes me! She got into my cab, knowing she had no money. I asked for payment, and now she's trying to spin a tale I won't buy.”
“She even told me to drive faster, and I did, thinking I’ll have a hefty sum, and now she’s trying to dodge payment.”
Easton’s expression remained calm as he turned to Cressida. “You can go to the car, ma’am,” he said soothingly, his tone a gentle plea.
The driver scoffed. “She’s not going anywhere until she pays me!”
Easton’s patience was wearing thin, but he kept his cool. He pulled out his phone and offered to settle the fare. “Your—”
Before he could finish, the driver’s hand shot out toward Cressida, prompting him to grab his wrist. “How dare you?” He growled, his voice low and menacing.
The driver winced, struggling to free himself, but Easton’s grip was tight.
Cressida stepped forward, her voice soft but authoritative. “Let him go, please.”
Easton released the driver, pushing him backward. “Go to the car, ma'am,” he repeated, and Cressida nodded, walking away.
Easton watched her for a moment before turning back to the driver. “Your account number, please...”
As Cressida approached the car, her hurried pace slowed, and she came to a standstill beside the door. She lingered for a moment, as if awaiting permission to enter.
Alaric watched her expectantly, but when she didn’t move, he rolled down the window on her side. “Waiting for an invitation?” He asked, his tone laced with subtle amusement.
Cressida remained silent, her gaze fixed on some point outside the car. “Get in, so we can leave.”
Cressida’s eyes flickered upward, and she slowly opened the door, her movements sluggish. She slid into the seat, her gaze drifting out the window, avoiding eye contact with Alaric.
“If you don’t want to talk to me, why did you chase after me?” He asked, his voice cool.
“I thought you’d changed this time,” he snickered, his voice barely above a whisper. “I thought you hadn't given up, but I guess I was wrong.”
His words struck a chord, and Cressida snapped, her voice icy. “I didn’t give up on you,” she said, her tone unwavering. “If I had, do you think I’d go to such lengths to catch up with you?”
He countered her with a question. “Then why are you silent?”
Her response was swift. “What’s the point in talking when you won’t listen?” She questioned, staring at him in the eyes. “I asked what you’d do if I asked you not to go, and yet you left,”
Her gaze dropped, and she clenched her hands on her thighs. “If I can stop you from doing what I say, the least I can do is follow you. Maybe my presence would calm you down and prevent chaos.”
Alaric’s eyes locked onto hers, his expression unreadable. “If you don’t want me to go, I won’t,” he said, his words sending a spark of surprise through Cressida. She raised her head, her eyes meeting his.
He continued, “I didn’t respond earlier because I wanted to see how you’d react. I wanted to know if you’d give up on me again, like you did at the event. It was a test, and you passed.”
Cressida scoffed softly, her gaze drifting downward before returning to Alaric’s face. “If I’d failed, what would you have done?” she asked, her nose lifted slightly.
Alaric shrugged, his response simple. “Nothing. Whether you stayed or came after me, I wouldn’t have gone to him. My mind changed the moment you said you didn’t want it,”
His eyes intensified, his voice dropping to a low tone. “Maybe… who knows? I’d have gone home or to a hotel, spent the rest of the day alone, and cried until I had to return home,”
He shook his head, his voice laced with a mix of sadness and determination. “No amount of tears could help, but I’ll stop because I need to act strong.”
Cressida’s eyes locked onto his, her expression a blend of confusion and concern. The intensity of their gaze hung in the air for a moment before she broke free from the thought, her gaze dropping as she turned to face forward, tapping him on the shoulder.
“It's the first time you’re joking and—” she began, her tone light. But Alaric’s expression turned incredulous, his eyes widening in confusion.
“A joke?” He exclaimed, his voice rising. His lips trembled as he struggled to form words, and finally, a question burst forth. “Do you think everything I just said is a joke?”
Cressida’s face lit up with a gentle smile. “Of course it is,” she said, glancing at his face. “Why’d you cry because I didn't follow you? You’re funny. I never knew you’re this funny.”
“It’s not a joke,” he whispered, his voice barely audible.
Cressida glanced at him, but before she could respond, he gulped and nodded toward the glass, signaling Easton to come in.
Easton got into the car, fastened his seatbelt, and inserted the key. He met Alaric’s gaze in the rearview mirror. “Where to, sir?” He asked.
“Home,” Alaric replied hastily. “I need to get home. Let’s go, please.”
Cressida’s expression twisted in surprise, her eyes fixed on Alaric as she wondered what was wrong. Her curiosity got the better of her, making her raise a question. “Is everything okay?”
His response was enigmatic. “Nothing has ever been okay… at least from my side.”
She didn’t fully grasp his words, but Alaric’s fidgety movements betrayed his unease, revealing that something was amiss.
She licked her lips, her face lighting up with a gentle smile as she leaned in, her skin brushing against his. She wrapped her fingers around his hand, and his eyes widened slightly.
A soft smile crept onto his lips, but he feigned indifference, his gaze drifting out the car window.
As she rubbed his hand, he remained still, but when she went to release him, he grasped her hand instead. “Gave up already?” He asked, his eyes locking onto hers.
“No,” she replied, her smile unwavering. “I thought you might not like it. I didn’t want to make you uncomfortable. But if you want, we can keep going.”
He scratched the back of his neck, his voice barely above a whisper. “I… want.” The words felt foreign on his lips, but a deep-seated longing had taken over. He hadn’t expected to admit it, but the tender touch awakened a part of him he’d long suppressed.
A delighted grin spread across her face. “Okay,” she said softly. He released her hand, and she resumed her gentle ministrations, her fingers tracing soothing patterns on his skin.
“Enjoying it?” She asked, her voice soft and gentle.
With his head resting against the seat backrest, his eyes half-closed in relaxation, he gave a slight nod. She continued to rub his hand, the gentle motion calming.
Minutes passed, and his eyelids grew heavier, finally closing altogether. Assuming he had drifted off to sleep, she slowed to a stop. But his eyes snapped open instantly.
He lifted his head, a hint of disappointment in his voice. “Why did you stop?”
Before she could respond, he added, “I’m not sleeping, and even if I were, don’t stop.”
She nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. “Okay, sir,” she said, her tone playful. She picked up his hand, cradling it on her thighs as she resumed the gentle rubbing.
“As your lordship wishes,” she teased, her words dripping with mock formality. “Until whenever you want me to stop.”
‘What if forever wasn't long enough?’