Chapter 23

It took me two days and a nine-hour flight to remember that I haven't told Leo where I work. My dumb mind decided this moment to remind me that Leo didn't know I was working at his rival company. We were so carried away by the past memories that we didn't have time to talk about what I was currently doing.

I contemplated texting Leo right this moment but I felt like I would only trouble him. Even to this day, meeting Leo seemed like living in a dream that I would never get to repeat. Meeting Leo felt like I could live the good parts of my past. I intended on telling him about my employment when I returned to New York.

After nine hours of exhausting flight, we finally arrived at Weslan at exactly five in the afternoon. As soon as the rented car came, we got in Killian taking the driver's seat. I sat in the passenger seat enjoying the cool breeze from the window as we started our journey.

Weslan was a beautiful island surrounded by endless blue water. The green forestry was home to the diverse bird species that were the main center of tourism. Killian wanted to look around before we started our main job tomorrow. He was wearing dark pants and a black shirt that fitted perfectly to his chest. The asphalt road seemed endless with dense trees on both sides of the road. It was a nice view compared to the busy New York streets with forests of tall buildings.

I wanted to put my hand out the window and scream my head off because of the excitement of being in this amazing place. But my mind quickly reminded me of what Killian said the other day.

This is a business trip, not a vacation.

I scoffed at the reminder, crossing my hand across my chest. Killian's plan to look around this island was failing incredibly as all we were seeing were endless rows of trees. It was getting dark and we haven't yet booked a room. Killian stopped the car to the side when he saw a little clearance that led to a beach.

“Come on, let's see the sunset,” said Killian not even asking for my opinion and getting out of the car.

I wanted to refuse just to be opposites with him, but the eerie road made me get out of the car and hurriedly catch up to him. The closer we went, the wider the beach got. I took my flat shoe off when we reached the sand and let my feet enjoy the warm sand. Without a thought about Killian's existence, I played with the waves and just enjoyed myself before I finally sat next to Killian.

He was looking at my childish act all this time but I didn't mind as I was determined not to let this gorgeous moment pass me just like this. The sky was filled with hues of orange, red, and pink, which were reflected on the water below it. It looked like the sky and the water were one and in sync with each other, creating a mesmerizing scene that couldn't be compared to anything.

“What?” I said when I noticed that Killian was staring at me.

“Why do you always have your hair in a bun?” he asked my simplest habit baffling him.

“I don't really know, I guess I'm so used to it that I don't know how to style my hair another way.” I lied, staring off into the sunset.

Putting my hair in a bun to me was a sign of being closed off and having high walls. When I put my hair in a bun, it made me feel like I was all business meaning I wouldn't be approached for anything other than work or so I thought. Choosing this way of styling my hair made it impossible for people to know if I had straight or curly hair—they wouldn't know what my hair length was either—and that made me feel like I wouldn't be judged. I wanted to be the one who decided what they were going to think about me. It was a silly way of protecting myself from being hurt by people.

“Nicole...Was she really your crush?” I asked him wanting to know if he still had feelings for her.

“She was just 15 when she got adopted by the Wangs, she was lonely and took her time before she got close to me and Jason. We learned in the same school, and we were her only friends. Because our families were a close group, we were allowed to go anywhere as long as we were together, but of course, Daniel was forced to babysit us. I had a crush on her back then, in my defense, she was cute it was impossible not to. But she liked my bro so I had to let go of her. But you know what the funniest part is? Our parents still think we will get married one day. What a joke.” explained Killian telling things he didn't intend to tell.

Maybe it was the cool Weslan air or the mesmerizing sunset that made Killian confess about his crushed crush or his parents' expectations, but I was happy to know a little bit more about the man beside me. I wanted to stay here and ask him questions until I felt like I knew him well, however my wish was cut short when Killian stood up saying we had to leave.

Leaving the spectacular sight behind us, we went ahead and got into the car. Amidst our talk on the beach, it has gotten much darker than before. I put on my seatbelt as Killian started driving, both of us unbothered by the peaceful silence. But when the car made a weird noise and stopped, we were jolted out of our thoughts.

“What is it?” I asked Killian scared that we hit something.

“I think...the car broke down,” said Killian rubbing the back of his neck.

Oh snap!