Chapter 16 Mr Sleepless, Ms Bold

Past

Heart-melting is the keyword to describe Serena's smile for me. The relaxing feeling that courses in my nerves when I am greeted by her melodious laughter, as well as a smile, is something I can never get tired of. At one time, I hated the sight of any girl smiling, but with her presence around me, everything has taken a U-Turn.

And today as I held her in my arms, carrying her finally in my apartment, I realized I have been pretty anxious for her to shift in my home since the time, I asked her out two months back.

Two months!! Long time but it wasn't a big deal when it flew away in a blink of an eye. I wanted her to shift instantly, but at that time, she lived in the hostel with her friends; thus, due to the charges being paid for the time being, she couldn't just move out all of a sudden. Hence, we waited for the time to lapse up.

And finally, the day is here when my bold girl is in my arms, blushing to the color of a tomato.

"You know you don't have to pick me up. I can pretty well walk till your home". As usual, she opened her smart mouth as soon as we were alone in the privacy of the elevator. Her big eyes were eyeing me keenly, but I kept my face absolutely straight; not giving the slightest idea of his annoyance to her words.

"I am talking to you!" She poked her long nails on my chest, whilst her one arm was draped around my neck.

"And I am listening to you!" I replied with a blank look. Why can't she get the fact that I love holding her? So, what if people in the building are staring? I am least bothered about them because they all were well aware of my temper to not leak my information outside the building. And even if they did, so well I have made up my mind to introduce her to the world as my future wife.

"But you are not paying attention!" She complained. Her lips pouting at me sweetly as I saw by lowering my eyes for a second but instantly, I raised them back to my original position.

Sighing, she started trailing her index finger on my entire face, and as soon as she came on my lips, with an evil smile trying to break free on my lips, I bit her finger, shocking her.

Grinning, I kissed her finger while she wrapped another arm too around my neck, getting comfortable on my chest.

"Wait! Your home is on the ground floor, then why are we going up on the terrace?" She inquired pulling back her head from my chest. I bit my lip because I thought I will give her immediate surprise, but who was I kidding, it was Serena, the overactive mind.

"We are going to watch something on the terrace". I managed to reply because the elevator doors already opened making my work easier.

Shaking her head, she looked ahead whilst I walked with grace with my Serena in my arms. If it was possible to fall in love every millisecond, then I would like to confess that I was actually falling in love all over again. Her beauty, her innocence; Everything was like a magnetic pull in her.

"Ohh My Gosh!!!! This is so freaking gorgeous, stunning and what not!" I heard her squealing like a child in my arms as we reached the railing side of the terrace; from where one can view the sunset and the large building that shone in the beautiful colorful lights in the evening, making the waters around them shine in their glory. It was like a golden moment on a silver platter and the sight was worth watching in New York.

Making her stand on her feet, I stood back and by now Serena had already run towards the iron railings, totally lost in the sight.

But I was lost in watching her. I didn't realize when I had reached beside her, but now I was cupping her one cheek while she was looking ahead excited like a small child. Turning towards my side, I was greeted by her big smile which managed to skip my heartbeat. Removing her strands of hair behind her ears, I leaned in near her face, pecking her temple softly.

"I love you". I confessed again while she lowered her eyes out of shyness for the first time; otherwise, she was always so feisty that at times, I was scared of her wrath but at times like this, I loved her shyness.

It was a first and that made it all the more special moments for us.

She hugged me suddenly, and I was taken aback by her sudden action. I wrapped my arms around her waist, while her hold tightened around my neck. I felt her soft lips touching the skin on my neck, whilst my fingers traced her waistline beneath her short top.

"It still feels like a dream that we are going to live together now, and my parents have no objection on it." She whispered against my neck while a smile tugged at the corner of my lips; but instantly it was replaced by the serious look as I realized that I have to prepare her for few things.

Kissing her hairs, I parted from her with a serious look, while her face which was adorned with a smile till now was replaced with a frown on her forehead.

I planted a soft kiss on her forehead, feeling her skin against my lips. She held onto my arms as if trying to assure herself that I was there for her.

"You know right that I love you?" She nodded her head instantly as I parted from her and posed my immediate query. Her eyes reflected confusion as well as a curiosity because I can see that she was trying to figure out my mind. But I was sure, what I want to tell her wasn't what she might have hoped.

"Serena, we have been dating for two months now. In this much time I hope you have realized that I am not a normal man to deal with. I carry a baggage with myself at every second of my life; thus, before I take you to my house, I want you to give me your word on a few things." I began stepping back from her a little. She was staring at me blankly.

"I know you might be thinking that if I wanted to step back only then why did I asked you to move in? But the truth is I want you to live with me more than anything, but I also realize that it might not be easy given that you have always got a dream life whilst I don't even see dreams. Thus, before you decide anything; I want you to give me your word that you will never ask me about my family nor you will ask me anything related to my past life, because these things are complicated for me to reveal to you or anyone else and I don't trust myself to even tell this to anyone. And lastly, we might live together but we won't take our relationship to another level just yet. I am not ready for that kind of intimacy and I hope you understand that this baggage which I carry has to do everything with it. But I can't reveal. Choice is yours, whether you want to move forth, or you want to step back?"

I know I sounded like a most selfish bastard of the planet Earth, but I had to take certain precautions beforehand only. I can't reveal everything, but I can at least give her insight into myself. The pain was evident in my tone, and staring into her eyes, I knew that I had put her in a dilemma from where she can't decide anything.

"Your answer!" I demanded after few minutes, while she was simply staring at me with a dumbstruck look. Forwarding my hand towards her, I waited for her to clasp my hand in hers and give me an assurance of her love.

I kept on waiting for several minutes while her gaze was piercing in mine. My heartbeat was deflating at her rejection and before I knew it, a tear slipped down my eye.

Present

A week! Exactly, seven days have gone by since the last time I dictated my horrible decision to Serena literally tearing our hearts apart. She hadn't uttered a word to me, instead, she just walked out of the church giving me a defeated look but that wasn't what was troubling me!

She wasn't someone to give up so easily. She was a ball of infinite shocks and I can exactly say this because I still remembered how she took my tear in her hand on the terrace that evening, two years back. And then she stored that tear in her heart shocking me.

Then with a beaming look, she held my hand and pulled me towards herself, claiming my lips. That evening I realized how much she meant to me and how much I was scared to lose her.

But I did lose her if not that day then after two years. I failed the test of love.

I was suddenly shaking, and I realized my mischievous son was the one trying to gain my attention. I eyed him first then at his bowl of milk and cereals, which were untouched. He had a sulking look on his face and I didn't have to guess much as to the reason for this look.

"I don't want to eat this cereal. It's yuk". He cribbed his regular line for seven days now.

"Not again, buddy. You will have to eat this because it's healthy and you need proper diet". I tried to feed him, but he pushed my hand towards his big teddy bear, which he won't leave since the time I bought him.

"Feed Bunny!" He giggled clasping a hand over his mouth making me sigh.

"What do you want?"

"Burger, pizza, French fries, coke and muffins.” He blinked his eyes sweetly at me. I rolled my eyes at his wish list, which was going on for the past week now and it doesn't seem to end.

Boy, if he will eat so much junk, how was he going to grow up?

"Nathan!!"

On my one call only, he knew that I wasn't pleased by his choice at the moment, and he immediately, stated, "Promise will eat these cereals from tomorrow, Dad.” He held the skin on the middle of his throat sealing the promise while I chuckled, picking up my cell to order his food.

Once I was done ordering the food in the restaurant, I got back to eating while Nathan played with his cars.

"Nathan, you need to prepare yourself for school now. We are going for the admissions tomorrow". His face fell and I was actually pretty confused because I remembered he was happy last time I mentioned him making friends.

"I don't want to go to school". He huffed crossing his arms over his small chest, sitting on the couch now. Leaving, my breakfast, I sat down beside her, but he didn't turn towards me. He continued to look straight with a sullen look.

"What's wrong?"

"I saw in TV, that when new kids go to school, all make fun of them. They don't become friends, with new people but get them scolded". He put forth his fear by resting his head on my lap. I managed to smile even in that state because he was finally letting his guard down and sharing his fears with me.

Ruffling his hairs with my fingers, I explained calmly, " Nathan always remember in life, that on basis of what you see on the television, never form assumptions on the entire world because everyone is born differently. You might think, someone doesn't talk to you, because you are poor, but you never know their point of view. Maybe, they are going through something critical, and they are not able to confide in anyone.

Instead of being judgmental, wouldn't you want to give it an effort first and then reach to the conclusions?”

"Then in that case, you should be doing the same Mr. Daniel Price!"

My heartbeat stopped right there, whilst my body went stiff. I wasn't able to move a limb, while my eyes were rooted on the girl standing right in front of me; with a smirk plastered on her lips.

Serena Waldorf!! My beautiful dream as well as my lady Bond won't stop showing me nightmares.

Every word I spoke to Nathan was from my heart. It defined my long-sustained pain and feelings which I was trying to fight, but I wasn't able to do so, and now she was throwing my words back at me.

Nathan got up startled, while I followed his league keeping my eyes now fixated on the woman in front of me, whose eyes were dancing in amusement.

"You know what Price; you should preach what you practice not what you run away from!" She mocked, showing me her index finger, taking steady steps towards me. Her high heels of the black boots were quite distracting for me, while her eyes were murdering me literally.

"How did you enter my home?"

"I still have the keys!" She batted her eyelashes sweetly at me while replying to my stern question.

"How did the day with John go yesterday?" She inquired in a professional tone, standing right in front of me. Totally appalled by her sudden query, I crossed my arms over my chest, and I saw her eyeing the wound on my biceps which was the impact of my heavy work out of four days.

Sudden pain engulfed her, but instantly she looked away.

"Nathan, go inside. I will be back.”

"Wait baby. Here I got you some chocolates. Enjoy. Mommy will be with you soon". She kissed his forehead then, making me gasp at her endearment. What was she doing?

Once Nathan was out of my sight, I gripped her one elbow tightly making her wince, but she didn't try to pull back. Not able to handle her pain, I only pulled back my hand, with a frustrated sigh.

"Have you been stalking me again to know that I visited John yesterday?" I asked in pulsating anger.

"I don't have to stalk you again, to get my place in your life. I have maintained such relations with that doctor that he himself thinks necessary enough to inform me about you because you are too arrogant to do that. But you will only act like a selfish freak to push me away because you can't face your flaws!"

"I am in no mood to hear your nonsense. Tell me, what do you want?" She stared at me first, and then she started laughing like a retard sitting down on the sofa leisurely, taking me by absolute shock.

"You!"

She replied in one word while my jaw dropped on the ground. "Come again!!"

"I said I want to be with you. And if you can't hear it, then let me tell you a theory of my mother.”

I was least bothered about her theories, but I knew, if it was in her hand, then she will even dig Carolina out of her grave to only kill her again.

Clearing her throat, setting her hairs properly, legs crossed over one other, she began in her sugarcoated yet emotional voice, "My mom says that when you love a man, don't just love him for his good habits, but his flaws too. If he is not able to get rid of his flaws, become his strength for him to take an effort towards a new life. But don't give up, because a woman isn't born on the earth to give up, but to set things straight with her emotional power over life as well as her certainty to bare the pain.”

Eyes welled up; I was looking at her dumbfounded. Somewhere I knew that it was her belief, not her mother's because as far as I remember, Serena didn't spend that much time with her parents ever because she had lived in the hostel all her life. Her parents were always busy at work to give her their time of the day.

Though they agreed to our relationship, because it was only based on the fact that I was the owner of the top restaurant otherwise I don't think Serena was given any choice. Her eyes were too teary now to look into mine but still, she raised her teary lashes, to peek a look at me.

Standing up again with new build up confidence and determination, she added, " Before it was only me, who was trying to pressurize you to try to get rid of your past, but after the little lesson I have given you, you are taking that effort by going to John again. So how do you think honey, I will leave you alone?"

"You let that vampish bitch Carolina to play with your mind for years, now Serena Waldorf's Fourteen Version Plan will help you to get rid of that life spoiler in seven days. And that's a promise.” My mouth opened wide at the intensity of her newfound confidence. It was the first time she had taken Carolina's name after I had ended up screaming it one night absent-mindedly.

It was the first time; she had got a glimpse of my vulnerability, but she didn't question me ever apart from the time in my office.

But wait! What the chunk was Fourteen Version Plan! "What plan are you talking about?" I asked eyeing her curiously.

Plan to make Daniel's Price, life a living hell!