As promised, here's the sixth chapter, hope you'll enjoy it. Please don't forget to comment and share :D I'm open to any kind of advice and critics so enjoy yourself. Kiss Kiss ~
“Come in,” Cole answered the knocks at the door, his eyes glued on the screen of his laptop while his fingers swiftly ran over the luminescent buttons of its keyboard.781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0uFVoYTLVk
He heard the unframed frosted glass double-doors swung open and footstep filled the quiet room, their sound stopped dead near him as a shadow blocked off the light to his desk.781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8WOE1n0BqH
“Henry Temples is here sir,”781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunztkvRqOc
Cole furrowed his brows at the mention of his friend’s name and stopped typing away. The two men were not supposed to meet up before Friday since their little chat about the housekeeper, so useless to say that the accomplished businessman was surprised by his friend’s unplanned visit. Cole resettled the reading spectacles on his nose and eventually looking up at his newly hired personal assistant - a dynamic and skilful twenty-three year-old young man of an epicene beauty - he said, “Let him in,”781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKjkEvqEdC
The young man nodded and left. Cole put his laptop on hold and removed his eyeglasses putting them down on his desk. He rubbed his eyes as he slumped into his seat releasing a heavy sigh when his back touched the backrest, then the door opened again and a clean-shaved man with thick dark brown brows and matte ebony eyes showed up. Cole got up and both men walked to each other, grins brightening their faces as they shook hands in a way proper to them.781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZxRYOA4MD
“What are you doing here, man? We weren’t supposed to meet each other till Friday,”781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzp3MXidi8P
“Yeah, I know,” Henry said sitting down on one of the chair in front of the desk, “but I’ve got few things to talk to you about and I couldn’t say them simply on the phone. Are you free on Saturday night?”781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdwLvW6Q4ID
“Why?”781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjI4vrCfJD2
“I want to introduce you to someone special,”781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlqCKgUix6S
Cole wiggled his eyebrows childishly “A girl?”781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQq3K3Kny2
“Yeah,” Henry looked away, the blush all over his face.781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPbz6XlJhTm
“It must be pretty serious for you to come here and ask me to see her,”781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLrvV6wE6QN
“Serious, indeed. So are you available?”781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZHH5EOqpz
“Yep. Where shall we meet?”781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL9zulgP5Fh
“Manolo,”781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Op7VL10ez
Cole lifted his brows at the naming of the fancy Italian restaurant.781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyX3fwVMo5P
“Sounds like someone is determined to impress,"781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq32ZzNpuDW
“She’s marvellous. She needs to be in place that suits her greatness,”781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTDwHq8Ceso
Cole smiled. Henry was a man full of contradictions and once again, he proved it to Cole. Henry was a man with sturdy and dominating physique that often scared people away, but his looks was far to go with his personality. In fact, the man was a shy and thoughtful romanticist who didn’t believe in one-night stands but in true love, a belief that Cole already gave up on years ago. Henry always took the time to know more about the woman he was dating, unluckily the poor man who cherished the concept of chastity before marriage regularly fell on shallow nymphomaniacs or vile greedy women. However it seemed like for once the woman he had bumped into was not as crazy as the others. Now that he thought about it, Cole realised that Bexley had few things in common with his friend. They were both reserved, intelligent and foremost, they shared the same point of view regarding the sacredness of marriage. Maybe those two could get along with each other.781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3s73YKA8lV
“You like her a lot, don’t you?”781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡasftxU4Xnk
“Yeah, we can say that,” Henry laughed timidly, “Now that this matter is settled, I’m going to tell you the second reason why I came here. I’ve got bad news for you,”781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2FDB8CCzH0
“What kind of bad news?”781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFpEuxtKu0
“I didn’t find anything dirty about your girl except few fights in high-school but there's nothing to be excited about. However, I’ve put my finger on something that might interest you, but it regards her so-called sister,” Henry finished his sentence emphasising on the three last words then brought a large brown envelope out from his computer briefcase and passed it to his older friend.781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUDYIQPZa3Y
Cole opened the envelope and as soon as his eyes read the first lines of the report before him, his grey eyes lightened up with guile and a smirk made its way on his face.
***
“You’re stunning in this dress,” Alyssa complimented her little sister as she helped her to put her favourite golden chain necklace on.781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjN0Gs8vkc2
“Thank you, but don’t you think it’s a bit too much? I don’t want Ezra to think that I’m trying to entice him,” Bexley told her peered at her reflection on the full-length looking-glass.781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡepVFNdR7Yz
“Isn’t it the point of this date?”781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSmPCfav3wo
“It’s not a date, Ally. We’re just...going out as old high-school friends who want to have fun together,”781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQSMUhKvlv
“Yeah, have fun,” Alyssa said pushing her arm playfully.781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbDDrfoVM6C
“Hey, get your dirty mind away from me,” Bexley laughed discerning the innuendo behind the comment.781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0B81uwJO0Z
“Anyway, where are you guys going?”781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29EBNDir2u
“I don’t know, he keeps it from me saying that he wants to surprise me,”781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdl7FTbVV1N
“Yeah, that’s definitely a date,” Alyssa nodded to herself.781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqeLhiaEYP
“No, it’s not,”781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4129zFv5zd
“I’m sure he’s in love with you,”781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlW5sUoufAB
“Can’t be,”781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9bqo2eEeUV
“How can you be so sure?”781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIIle5ie23F
“Because. He never asked me out or show me any kind of special treatment to make me think otherwise,”781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG11a5Y2TNf
“That doesn’t mean anything. I saw the way he looked at you, Becks. Trust me, Ezra is not seeing you as a mere friend,"781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmdAVvZKy7
Then the bell rang cutting short their random conversation.781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGGH6NygUtN
“Guess it’s your prince charming,” Alyssa shouted rushing to the front door.781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPVUF2JVwm
“Ally!” Bexley said angrily leaving her bedroom for the door as well.781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVdsOrHvC9
“Hey, Ezra,” Alyssa greeted the smiling man who was standing in front of her with a splendid blue orchids bouquet in the hands.781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxMn6oWu372
“Hi, Alyssa. How you’re doing?”781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtCbcKXFayI
“Good, good,”781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOSQWBTwVw
“Hi, Becks,” he grinned to the young woman staying in the back.781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7NTaFq5FWZ
“I got to go check my pie in the oven,” Alyssa professed then walked away.781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQMLAdOWT9
“You look...breathtaking,” he blurted out, his eyes roving her body.781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡepXrvY9glr
“Thanks,”781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjVjgKYItG
“I remembered you love orchids,” he handed her the bouquet, “Blue are favourite, right?” 781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLT126uPMw
“Yes. Thank you, Ezra, they’re beautiful,” Bexley smiled looking down at the flowers burying her nose in them to sniff their dainty scent.
***
“Cole, let me introduce you to my girlfriend, Leighton Sullivan. Darling, this is my oldest friend, Cole Ramsden,” Henry presented them formally to each other.781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQ7C1Q2YmH
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Ramsden,” the blonde-haired woman said with a smile, her arm wrapped around Henry’s, “I heard some much about you,” 781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7l1EaNsuOL
“Likewise, and please call me Cole,”781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg1DkmOO6m3
“Then call me Leighton,”781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡULKoYvyKxh
“All right, now that the presentation are made, let’s order something to eat. I’m starving,”781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH26rpREAWo
“Good idea, I’m starving too,” 781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZSq7tO7O5Y
They all sat down, browsed through their menu for five minutes or so and making their final choices, a waiter came to them. The orders taken, the three people exchanged small talk, jokes and few laughs in the charming ambience of the restaurant. Briskly the establishment doors slid open and a balmy wind that carried the familiar scent of ylang-ylang blew to him, Cole turned his head furtively toward the entrance and he saw her ; Bexley. Cole blinked in disbelief. He eyed her up and down, barely able to recognise the young woman. She had nothing to do with the nun-like housekeeper he was with few hours ago. She was actually the reverse. Her hair was down in big loose curls that fell up to the crook of her back and she had put some make-up on her ethereal face. She was dressed with a white laced crochet dress that uncovered her shoulders, underlined her thin waist and moulded her wide hips with elegance and fluidity. The dress stopped to her thighs showing her outstanding long, fine and firm legs to the greatest pleasure of his eyes. On the top of her low-heeled summer sandals, Bexley walked in closely followed by a bespectacled man. They stopped at the reception and afterwards, a waitress lead them toward their table. Cole couldn't take his eyes off of her as she stepped slowly to him, her hips swaying at her steps. She looked on her left and that was when their look met. Her eyes opened wide with awe for a second then she looked away ignoring him. Flabbergasted and somehow vexed by her bold ignorance, Cole refused to let her go so easily. A lopsided smile made its way on his face and he exclaimed as they passed by, "Oh! Ms. Hamilton, what a surprise!"781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDoy1K2ySBG
He noticed her shutting her eyes cursorily and mumbling something. The bespectacled man - who was now in front of her - halted and whirled around to face her, "Do you know him?"781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WXELpBfgi
"Yeah, it's my boss," she responsed "Mr. Ramsden, good evening," she made her usual bow and Cole couldn’t help but ogle her again.781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbw5MxiK7Tj
"I didn't know you loved those kind of places. And who is this gentleman with you?"781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXxRZqu8W4
"Ah, it's-" 781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Ei9QoWAWk
"Ezra Simmons, her boyfriend" he introduced himself.781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73XASTeFAh
Cole leaned back as if the young man had slapped him across the face. He peeked at Bexley and the young woman looked as much stupefied as he was.781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0e4LLiScCJ
“Oh. Now I understand why you asked me to finish work a bit earlier,” Cole addressed her curtly, “Well, I won’t bother you two any longer, enjoy your meal. Nice meeting you, Mr. Simmons,”781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnnJgUw5z0x
Ezra nodded and took Bexley by the hand and they both left to a table not far from them. Actually, the young couple’s table was right next to theirs and to Cole's happiness, Bexley sat on the chair diagonally opposed to his, giving him a full sight on her, something the young woman realised only after she sat down and met his gaze again.781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYoQZkltbhP
“Who is that bloody boy?” Cole whispered to his friend’s ear, the annoyance clearly audible in his voice.781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQqEuq6qVQ
“Her high-school friend, but I didn't know they were dating, my source didn't inform me about that,” Henry replied in the same tone “Look, I think it's time for you to react before it's too late,"
***
“Sorry about earlier. I shouldn’t have told him I was your boyfriend, but the way he looked at you pissed me off,”781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6lraO3SVH
“It’s okay, don't worry” she smiled at his protectiveness, "Come on, let’s order. I’m hungry,” she changed the topic baulking at having her employer as the subject of their conversation.781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLwGexr9nE
They summoned a waiter who quickly typed their orders on the mini-tablet and left. 781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4c4IE4iO6h
“This place is very nice,”781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr534bZ1o4h
“Glad you like it,”781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4OVBTC41WT
“But hey, why do you bring me here? I mean it’s quite expensive and you know, we usually go to fast food. Are you hiding something from me?”781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGwlN2D5hUE
“No, I just wanted a change. I wanted us to spend some time together in a background different from fast food and attraction parks,”781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTeTJpdcn84
“Well, thank you for this initiative, Mr. Simmons,” she thanked him.781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnaRST25O1P
“You're welcome, milady," 781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9l6zlmJRb
They stayed silent for a moment but Ezra quickly broke the awkward quietness between them.781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2c4IFwtnX
"I never told you that before but I feel like the urge to tell you right now so, you're beautiful, Bexley" he blurted out, "I mean, not that you look ugly on other days but today you’re just...ravishing,”781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxh6HnHI0y
Bexley looked down at her napkin to hide her reddened cheeks.781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYfdy9VtjE
“You shouldn’t say things like that,”781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiuwLOhEgpw
“Why?”781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRZ59ZLZHE
“You don’t know it but your words have a strange effect on me and I’m scared that with those ones I might imagine things that I shouldn’t,” she confessed with a scrupulous honesty.781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIacnkmvDzB
“Have you ever thought that maybe I want you to imagine those things?” he retorted gently. Bexley looked up at him unsure of the meaning behind those words, but her doubts vanished immediately when the young man reached out for her hand and intertwined her fingers with his. Bexley shivered at the coldness of his firm yet soft hands. Then, she felt an intense piercing gaze on her. From the corner of the eye, she glimpsed on her side and caught him staring at her. She had been longing for this moment with Ezra for ten years and now that it had finally come, she was incapable to enjoy it fully with Cole’s constant piercing eyes that seemed to accuse for something she didn't do.781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyGgTxOklWa
“Is everything okay, Becks?” Ezra suddenly inquired worriedly.781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHbA15vURI
“Yeah, I just don’t like this spot,” she lied. All she wished for at this instant was to get away from Cole. She knew the man too well. He looked calm and collected on the outside but from where she seated, she could sense his ferocious indignation toward her and she was sure that this powerful feeling was related to her rejection to his proposal.781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsI5PXmfKjE
“Why didn’t you tell me, I would’ve ask for a change,”781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbxl0z4yVMk
“No need. I’m too lazy to move already,”781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzAnlKJhyM
“Are you sure?”781Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHufdmcBpho
“Yeah,” she assured him but deep down, she was fretting. Cole Ramsden was known to be the type of man who never gave up on his objective whatever and whoever it was and from some reason, Bexley had the feeling that tonight, the man would try to get what he wanted from her at any cost.
