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.727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCudDYeo38
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.727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpw5dUuI4O5
“Henry Temples is here sir,”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXbXpqekVzS
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,”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8wY3QaN2y
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.727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMYywuMYApW
“What are you doing here, man? We weren’t supposed to meet each other till Friday,”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFwVxZWNs9N
“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?”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XgaslVcqP
“Why?”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUYrodu3VC9
“I want to introduce you to someone special,”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQzpV2whffO
Cole wiggled his eyebrows childishly “A girl?”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfpZHa0gZF
“Yeah,” Henry looked away, the blush all over his face.727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡen16WejBTn
“It must be pretty serious for you to come here and ask me to see her,”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv28lI4Td09
“Serious, indeed. So are you available?”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8jhMzgAri
“Yep. Where shall we meet?”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRFOpScLON
“Manolo,”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3z2zGSPT82
Cole lifted his brows at the naming of the fancy Italian restaurant.727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDMdwOhQwI
“Sounds like someone is determined to impress,"727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUo2055HuYe
“She’s marvellous. She needs to be in place that suits her greatness,”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8bBrK4ZGeV
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.727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqlzWOZhGP
“You like her a lot, don’t you?”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTJxCp3xx3
“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,”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoClN7TtpMC
“What kind of bad news?”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyY0rhT6ihH
“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.727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZaD2Vy9Gm
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.727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvARkdwW4Z
“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.727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhJHEMPMNR
“Isn’t it the point of this date?”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzS6WAv7NQ0
“It’s not a date, Ally. We’re just...going out as old high-school friends who want to have fun together,”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJns4rUam5
“Yeah, have fun,” Alyssa said pushing her arm playfully.727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUDOTsOO1X
“Hey, get your dirty mind away from me,” Bexley laughed discerning the innuendo behind the comment.727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDeHAnzj8OT
“Anyway, where are you guys going?”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ18aIZWH6Rh
“I don’t know, he keeps it from me saying that he wants to surprise me,”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKfktYpmHQ
“Yeah, that’s definitely a date,” Alyssa nodded to herself.727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeDlZBhd8vf
“No, it’s not,”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxPAky1uaJ
“I’m sure he’s in love with you,”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKaFSjoiEMI
“Can’t be,”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vBQwoV86Y
“How can you be so sure?”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDcy2d4Oj9Z
“Because. He never asked me out or show me any kind of special treatment to make me think otherwise,”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfPYdl1C50
“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,"727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWfkw1sLZD
Then the bell rang cutting short their random conversation.727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP58avQK1ck
“Guess it’s your prince charming,” Alyssa shouted rushing to the front door.727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0PnqpgMhS0
“Ally!” Bexley said angrily leaving her bedroom for the door as well.727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIirea5kHze
“Hey, Ezra,” Alyssa greeted the smiling man who was standing in front of her with a splendid blue orchids bouquet in the hands.727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZ4DYZpj6R
“Hi, Alyssa. How you’re doing?”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEctdxrwz5S
“Good, good,”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYp1QtO4YJ
“Hi, Becks,” he grinned to the young woman staying in the back.727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZMMxSMzLz
“I got to go check my pie in the oven,” Alyssa professed then walked away.727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡef6vpkkEaS
“You look...breathtaking,” he blurted out, his eyes roving her body.727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡStgTP7hIwP
“Thanks,”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjVP2Y5HZg
“I remembered you love orchids,” he handed her the bouquet, “Blue are favourite, right?” 727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUr5sIl4On
“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.727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNXSPhZd4Qg
“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,” 727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAACxqDLdYw
“Likewise, and please call me Cole,”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJl9eFGTTy
“Then call me Leighton,”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHEtPzGVZM
“All right, now that the presentation are made, let’s order something to eat. I’m starving,”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyZxHLCbXk
“Good idea, I’m starving too,” 727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM6th8HGtMU
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!"727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqGiGGMh3kr
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?"727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwyGR2cLzmM
"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.727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdRcRIlwPI
"I didn't know you loved those kind of places. And who is this gentleman with you?"727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhG9OAU7sy
"Ah, it's-" 727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPIirbGs7lW
"Ezra Simmons, her boyfriend" he introduced himself.727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeD2sJcfcnK
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.727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7EniWzLzHM
“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,”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkgF52sB0R0
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.727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXmegK0V25
“Who is that bloody boy?” Cole whispered to his friend’s ear, the annoyance clearly audible in his voice.727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrWu5IdSTD1
“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,”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUifJmEgjaf
“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.727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqBddfc6vYT
They summoned a waiter who quickly typed their orders on the mini-tablet and left. 727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd4eJnG3pwi
“This place is very nice,”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLApDHh12l7
“Glad you like it,”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ66NxfamSDi
“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?”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhsT8fXaoGj
“No, I just wanted a change. I wanted us to spend some time together in a background different from fast food and attraction parks,”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkijgcSlie3
“Well, thank you for this initiative, Mr. Simmons,” she thanked him.727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSGABiO9Aj
“You're welcome, milady," 727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeRFCs9jKpH
They stayed silent for a moment but Ezra quickly broke the awkward quietness between them.727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCgYWiByNd
"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,”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMYfiLPkkNz
Bexley looked down at her napkin to hide her reddened cheeks.727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5gc90ZkZaB
“You shouldn’t say things like that,”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVfTjNwrVMZ
“Why?”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ947ehJAx33
“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.727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVU4Ak7zik
“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.727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ltOmlqURO
“Is everything okay, Becks?” Ezra suddenly inquired worriedly.727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEdjxlhBSWt
“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.727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwfPkSyCLjD
“Why didn’t you tell me, I would’ve ask for a change,”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPL0OkgISJ8
“No need. I’m too lazy to move already,”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8NGQX15kmB
“Are you sure?”727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGIcCMPyrn9
“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.
