He smiled faintly. “I was waiting for you to have it together.”
I was stunned. “You know that I would have eaten while I was out.”
Grunting in acknowledgment, he settled me into my seat and served me food. He explained in a gentle voice, “I know you don’t like the food here. So, you must be hungry when you return.”
Camelia did take me out for local food, but I looked at him, stunned. “How did you know I went out for local food?”
The food on the table felt like it had just arrived as it was still warm. After serving me, he took a bite himself and replied plainly, “There’s a bodyguard watching out for you.”
Because of what happened last time, he had arranged for bodyguards to be by my side. I was aware of it but had gradually forgotten about that fact.
After a brief silence, I looked at him. “Did you see him?”
Anthony raised his eyebrows with an indifferent gaze. “Who?”
“Marcus!”
He grunted in acknowledgment as if it didn’t matter. “Let’s eat. Or else the food will get cold.”
With that, I buried myself in the food and didn’t discuss the matter further.
After dinner, it was already late. Anthony looked busy as his phone rang incessantly.
When the hotel staff came to collect the food, I was lazing on the sofa watching TV. However, I couldn’t focus at all.
After he ended his call, he took a seat beside me and pulled me into his embrace. He asked in a gentle tone, “Do you want to go for a walk?”
I shook my head. “What’s wrong?”
He smiled plainly. “I was worried you might get indigestion. Or perhaps we can try some other form of exercise.”
“Let’s go!” Getting up, he tried to pull me toward the bed.
“No, I want to watch TV!” I protested while keeping my eyes on the TV.
Bringing his lips close to my ear, he whispered, “We are going back to J City tomorrow. Don’t you want to go out for a walk?”
“No, I don’t.”
I didn’t feel like going out as I had just returned and it was cold outside. Although I know he meant well, I really didn’t feel like it.
Given how lazy I was, he decided to let me be and returned to his work. I laid myself in bed to finish my book as my aching back was still killing me.
Perhaps I had exposed myself to the cold for too long, my back felt exceptionally sore. I tried to massage it with my hands from behind, but it felt awkward to do so.
Anthony got up and came to my side. “Where does it hurt?”
“My back. It’s really sore!” He massaged the part underneath my scapula and asked, “Is it here?”
“Closer to the center.”
Probably because he had not done this for a lady before, he didn’t mind his strength when he massaged me.
Hence, his force aggravated the pain, causing me to flinch. Chucking my book away, I glared at him. “Do you think you’re kneading dough?”
He couldn’t help but laugh. “Did I hurt you?”
I pursed my lips. “What do you think?”
Reaching out, he pulled me back into his embrace and grunted, “Why don’t we try again?”
Why does he make it sound so provocative?
I tried to push him away but to no avail. His hug was too tight to break away from.
Noticing the physiological change in him, I couldn’t help but glare at him. “Anthony, you…”
“I can’t help it.”
How brazen can he be?
Pursing my lips, I kept a lid on my anger and snapped, “Dr. Crest said that if you don’t discipline yourself, you will inadvertently destroy it.”
He protested with a faint smile, “But it’s not within my control!”
I tried to push him away and told him sternly, “Be good and turn in early. We still have a long journey back to J City tomorrow.”
He did not budge and continued to keep me inside of his embrace.
“No funny business, Anthony!”
The man held on, but stopped misbehaving.
We stayed that way for a while more before he made his way into the washroom. He looked more like himself after he reemerged.
Perhaps it was his presence, that enabled me to sleep soundly. I awoke the next morning, greeted by an M Country shrouded by thick layers of snow.
I had half-expected that the flight would be delayed, but my concerns proved to be unfounded.
Joe did not seem happy to see me at the airport with my hand in Anthony’s. “You both are together twenty-four seven and could not even be apart for just a few days’ work-trip. You’re practically joined at the hips. Anyone would have mistaken you for Anthony’s mistress had they not known any better.”
My lips were pursed in embarrassment.
Anthony shot him a look. “If you have so much energy to expend, might as well use it to find yourself a wife.”
Joe pulled a long face before he turned to collect the air tickets.
Anthony led me straight to the boarding gate. The timing of our arrival was perfect as we did not need to wait long.
Once inside, we made our way to the spacious seats in first-class. He then asked the flight attendant for a blanket. Concerned that I might be bored, he had also the screen for in-flight entertainment lowered.
The man wrapped his arms around me while his body laid next to mine. “The flight would take ten over hours. Is there anything you would like to see?”
I was not much into show binging, but one particular series did come to mind. It was one that Macy would stay up all night to watch during our college days.
“Shall we watch some Koandrian drama? How about this one?”
His brows perked up. “Well, sure!”
We located the title on the menu and started from the first episode. It was a rarity that he would watch it with me, so I was not bored at all.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
Leave a Reply