Chapter 9

Maria

Dressed in black pants and a half-button shirt, sleeves rolled up to his elbow. He stood in front of me, with his black umbrella over my head, glaring at me, not as though he hated me but worried about me.

He didn't repeat himself, instead he got closer to me, placed his wide wet hand which was exposed to the rain due to him tilting the umbrella so it could cover me, he placed it on my back and guided me to his car, he opened the doot and urged for to go in.

He grabbed my box, waited for me to get into the car before opened the back seat and gently placed my bag inside even though the bag was wet from the heavy rain.

He got into the car and drove, without saying a word or sparing a glance at me. I wanted to ask how he found me, what he was doing here when he was supposed to be with his son since today was his wedding.

But the tension couldn't make me speak. My lips parted, wanting to break the silence but each took a glance at his face, I felt a lump stuck in my throat and I swallowed everything I wanted to say.

His he angry because I left without waiting to express gratitude for allowing me to stay in his house? Oh shit, .. Is he taking me back as a slave?

I tilted my head again to look at this man and then everything about the way he sat, the way he held the wheels with one hand, his eyes focused on the road, the way he led me to his car, the way he asked me to come home with him, everything tells that he wasn't the type to use me as a slave.

We got to the house, he carried my bag for me, without saying a word, without sparing a glance, he guarded me back into the house.

“Ria!” Rose yelled my name as I walked in soaked, worry plastered on her voice, relief ok her face as she ran towards me.

She was going to hug me so I stepped back a little, bumping into the man standing behind, I lifted my head to look at him and he looked back at me, worried, relieved, better than he looked while he drove me home.

Home? Did I just say home?

“I’m sorry, I’m soaked.” I apologized to Rose, while I tucked my hair behind my ear, burying my head to the ground.

“Did you know I worried I was! Why would you leave like that? I thought Lan’s enemies had snuck in and kidnapped or something… Please don’t scare me like that again!” She scolded, her words, stern, firm yet filled with affection and genuine worry and relief.

This feeling, having someone scold you out of love, out of concern. The last time I felt this way, Mum was still alive. I had gone to hang out with my friends and I forgot to tell her before leaving.

I felt a sharp pain in my heart, and unshed tears stung my eyes. My grip on my wet cloth tightened.

“I’m… I’m sorry.” I muffled, my voice breaking, my head buried in the ground. “I didn't mean to cause you distress.”

There was silence in the room, Rose was speechless, taken aback, and the man just looked at me… It’s weird, I can never tell what he is thinking whenever he looks at me like that.

I guess older men are vast are hiding their feelings, wearing a mask to prevent people from knowing their true feelings.

Rose smiled and shook her head, “If you need to leave, just tell me ahead, okay? Maria?”

I nodded like a lizard, She cupped my cheeks, smiled, and excused herself, “I’ll make you a bowl of soup. Go to the room and change into some dry clothes.”

As soon as Rose was out of sight, the man walked away as well, heading to my room, he dropped the bag and left without saying a word to me.

I wanted to pull him back, ask him not to give me the silent treatment but instead I stood there and watched him walk away, watching his broad back.

Is it normal for an older man to have such a captivating back? Is it normal to look that good from behind?

Huh? What am I thinking? What am I saying?

I went downstairs after taking my bath. I went to the living room to wait for the soup Rose was going to make. The man was there, sitting on the couch in front of me, his eyes glued to his phone. He didn't even act like I was there, his eyes were so focused on the phone that it was almost as though I didn't exist.

“Take the coffee while it’s still hot and use the heating blanket, cover yourself, I don’t know how long you were under the rain for. You need everything hot to prevent you from getting sick.” His voice came off stern, not harsh, not mean, yet not caring or bothered.

I looked down at the steaming creamy coffee in front of me as well as the blanket. I did as he instructed like a good girl.

“I thought you were mad at me.” I pouted, picking up the coffee, bringing it closer to my lips, while sneaking a peek at him.

“I am.”

My eyes were flipped open, and shock spread all over my face. I was about to ask why, what I did wrong when he suddenly dropped his phone and turned to me.

His brows were furrowed, not upset, worried.

“You left.” I blurted, not angry… worried.

“I… I…

“You what?” he cut me off before I could finish stuttering, I’m glad he did because I had nothing to say. “I was worried. Where were you?? Why did you leave? Was I mean to you? Did I do something wrong? Did you have any idea how worried I was?”

Worried?

He was worried?

Why was he worried?

Hold on, why is he looking at me like that? Like I am his most prized possession that almost slipped off his fingers, why does he look like he almost lost me?

Hold on, this man is old enough to be my father, but how come? How am I seeing him as a man rather than an elder? Why am I looking at him as though I? I what?

What am I saying? What is this feeling in my chest?

“I wanted to speak to my sister, I wanted to know why she did what she did, I wanted to know how long it had been going on… I wanted to know.,. She is my only family, I didn't want to let her go just like that but then she was home, she locked our apartment and left… And that was when I realized I had nowhere to go… I was going to book a hotel when..

“You should have come back home, Maria.” He cut me off, his voice was low, barely audible. His eyes.., his eyes… So warm… so beautiful… why does he keep looking at me like that? Does he know what those eyes do? Does he know how much they make me weak?

“I brought you here that night because I figured you needed space from everything.” He paused, “You can stay for as long as you want… I’m the only one that stays in this big mansion anyway, it won't hurt to have a housemate.” He winked and grinned.

Why does the thought of living in the same house with him bring me so much joy?

“Are you… Sure? I don’t want to be a bother.”

“Maria, you are not a bother.” He muffled.

I bit my lips and smiled.

A question suddenly popped into my head.

“What is your name?” I asked.

It’s late but better late than never.

“Declan.” He muffled.

His name is just as beautiful as those sexy eyes.