The trembling of my body didn't stop despite trying so much to calm myself. The time by which I had to leave had already passed, but I still sat on my bed, scared of leaving. Matthew planned everything, and half of the execution was already done.
Matthew: Have you started?
I let out a frustrated sigh at his message. I tried to convince him so much that it was a bad idea, but he wouldn't listen. The arrogance and confidence in his tone were just like how people from wealthy circles would sound.
I replied, "In a few minutes."
Like Matthew planned, a few hours ago, I expressed my want about going out to buy a few things for Mira and spending some time outside, and Mr. Wolfe agreed to it without asking much after saying he'd accompany me. However, just a few minutes back, I got the text from him that he wanted me to take guards with me. Matthew was behind it.
Mustering up the courage, I went to the city's richest and most popular mall, where Mr. Wolfe always took me. The plan was simple. Going to the mall, spending some time buying puzzle books and innerwear for Mira, and then asking the guards to wait outside the spa while I sneak out and spend time with Matthew secretly.
Like we planned, I ended up in the clothing section, and after I paid the bill, I got the text.
Matthew: Turn around and look to your right. I am near the escalator.
I turned around and a gasp escaped my mouth when I saw Mr. Wolfe a few feet away from me and walking towards me talking to someone on the phone. My heart thumped in my chest while I switched my gaze between Mr. Wolfe and Matthew.
Matthew, who was watching me, understood the situation, and he quickly fled.
"Are you done with your shopping already?" Mr. Wolfe asked, noticing the shopping bag.
Even though the situation didn't turn out worse, my brain couldn't relax. It kept playing the illusion of what could've happened if we were caught by him, and I froze.
Snapping his fingers in front of me, he said, "I am talking to you."
"Um… yeah!" I came back to the reality. "I… I thought you wouldn't come."
"Why?" He raised his eyebrows. "I promised to accompany you, didn't I?"
"Yeah! But, you didn't come to pick me up and told me to take bodyguards with me, so I thought you were busy and wouldn't come."
"I was busy…" He took the shopping bag from my hands and gave it to the bodyguards after giving them the glare of 'It's your responsibility to hold it,' and then looked at me, saying, "But things can wait."
I did not want to believe he pushed his work back just because he promised to accompany me, but it was the truth. After learning his schedule, Matthew intentionally delayed him, keeping Mr. Wolfe busy while he came to the mall. However, neither of us expected him to not prioritize his work.
"What else do you need to buy?"
I shrugged my shoulders, saying, "Some puzzle books, board games…"
"Okay!"
He led me to the stores and waited patiently while I bought the things that I felt Mira would love.
Then as we passed through the spa, I stopped for a moment, recalling our plan. If everything turned out as we planned, I'd be spending some pleasant time with Matthew.
"Do you want to go inside?" Mr. Wolfe asked.
I shook my head negatively. There was no reason for me to go inside anymore.
"I wanted to…"
He interrupted me. "Then go. I'll be here."
He sat in the waiting area after saying he'd wait for me even though I didn't want to go anymore. As soon as I entered one of the rooms, Matthew entered out of nowhere, which startled me.
"Matt?"
He put his palm over my mouth, shushing me. He then took me to the corner of the room and said, holding my arms, "I expected you to come here. Don't worry, I arranged everything, and no one will disturb us."
Furiously, I freed my hands. "This is why I told you it was a bad idea. And now…" I held my head, frustrated. "What are you even thinking? You're putting our lives and Mira's treatment at risk."
"Now, nothing has happened. Chill, Elira."
I scoffed and looked at him in disbelief. "Matt! This is wrong. I don't want to be stressed like this. Let's wait until my contract ends…"
"Elira!" He held my forearms, pulling me towards him. "More than you, I'd be impacted. I'm risking my life, my career, and AcadM only to see you. Why are you hesitant to do the same?"
"It's not that I don't want to meet you, Matt. It's just that… I can't take this stress… it scares me…"
He pulled me into a gentle hug and patted my back, trying to calm me. "Okay! I am sorry."
It had been months since he held me so close. It didn't take much time for me to reminisce about our good old days. Like a familiar scent that could take someone back in time, it hit me, and I couldn't help but wrap my arms around him.
"I just wanted to see you and hold you like this… at least for a few minutes."
We both stayed in the same position for a few minutes, forgetting everything. Then I pulled myself back, asking, "Do you seriously want me? It might cost your life, career, and even AcadM…"
"I won't lose anything." He said confidently. "Even if something happens, what will he do? Stop being the investor? Just another six months and AcadM will become famous and profitable. Then I don't have to think about him. Apart from this, what else can he do?"
"Matt!" I held his hands. "We can't know. From what he said, everything related to AcadM belonged to him, and he could ruin it…"
"AcadM is mine." He said aggressively. "It's true that I idolize that man, but I won't sit back when he touches AcadM."
I kept silent, not knowing what to say. He was underestimating Mr. Wolfe, as he didn't know the monster he truly was.
"Okay! Let this be our last secret meeting. Please don't do things like this again."
I didn't let him speak. I told him to stay in the same room until Mr. Wolfe and I left, and I went to another room to have a basic massage so that Mr. Wolfe wouldn't doubt anything.
Later, we left the mall, and instead of taking the usual route, he drove the car to an unfamiliar place and stopped in front of a huge mansion.
Standing in front of it, with my wide eyes, I admired how gorgeous it was. "What is this place?"
And the genuine smile that appeared on his face told me he brought me to his personal world, erasing the line that I didn't want to fade.
"Home."