Even after we returned from Paris and a week passed, my mind was still stuck at the moment when we hungrily devoured each other. Every minute, even when I kept myself busy only to distract myself, I kept remembering it. I had no idea what had gotten into me at that moment that I lost myself. I was not even drunk to put the blame on it. I was totally in my senses and chose to do it. I could never forget and forgive myself for everything that happened.
Along with it, my heart couldn't take the fact that I slept with Mr. Wolfe willingly when all the issues between me and Matthew resolved. I had loved him for years only to ruin it in a single moment.
"If you are planning to visit the hospital, tell me…" Mr. Wolfe's words interrupted my thoughts, and I raised my head to look at him standing in front of me in the main hall. "I'll free some time today from my meetings."
From the moment we returned, I had been keeping some distance from him, as the embarrassment still didn't fade. He too didn't force anything on me but let me have my space after noticing my nervousness and embarrassment. We both didn't bring up any topic related to Paris and continued with our daily lives as if our trip never really happened.
But one thing was sure. We both couldn't forget it even though we didn't talk about it again. And the cheap bracelet that he still wore around his wrist made me realize he was as conflicted as I was.
"This looks so good. I love it. Too bad, it's a men's bracelet." I looked at Mr. Wolfe. "It will look good on you, but you hate cheap things."
Surprisingly, he put on the bracelet before holding my hand and taking me to the Eiffel Tower.
Looking back, I couldn't understand why I didn't think about Matthew at that moment and buy the bracelet for him. Why did I even think about how good it'd look on Mr. Wolfe?
"Elira!" Mr. Wolfe shouted, snapping me back to reality. "Are you planning to visit Mira? I am asking you."
I shook my head negatively. "Not today. Maybe tomorrow."
He nodded and started to leave, but I held his hand, stopping him.
"You don't have to free your time or cancel your meetings for me or my sister. Your bodyguards will accompany me. They also report each and everything to you, so I don't see any need for you to free your time only to drive me to the hospital."
It was my last futile attempt to again draw the line between us, which was already erased.
He didn't say anything but looked at me for a few seconds as if he was trying to understand what was going on inside my head.
"Cancelling a few meetings or freeing some time won't cost me anything. I am the great Wolfe, after all."
He probably felt his answer came out rude, so he smiled at me only to let me know that he was still the same person who roamed all around Paris along with me.
"So, tell me if you plan to visit your sister."
He then walked away, leaving me all alone to again rot in my thoughts and worries, and in the evening, while I talked to Matthew on the phone, a sharp pang of guilt hit my chest. When I tried to talk to him about it, he dismissed my words, saying he didn't want to hear about anything that was related to Mr. Wolfe, and didn't let me speak. He decided to be with me after the contract ended, and he didn't want to hear anything that'd hurt him or anger him.
He also added, "Remember Elira! Everything that happens during this contract period is just business and nothing personal or real. I don't care about fake things, and I don't want you to think more about fake moments."
Fake? If it was truly fake, then why did my heart race?
"Elira! Only you and me… we are real. Don't ever forget it. Just… just remember our school days and our every moment. Those are personal. They belong to us. Both of us."
"I know, Matt." I said, recalling our old days. "Okay, forget it. Just tell me, how's AcadM going on?"
We then talked to each other until the moon waved at us.
Days passed, and like Matthew wanted, AcadM started to boom with success. In social media, news channels, and even in business circles, AcadM became the mandatory topic to talk about and how Matthew's intelligence, backed up by Wolfe's Enterprises, made it hit the headlines.
I was genuinely happy and impressed by Matthew's hard work and talent, but it still bothered me that Mr. Wolfe was the main reason for everything.
As I lazily fell on my bed and scrolled through my cellphone, reading the latest news about AcadM, Mr. Wolfe entered. Quickly, I stood straight and looked at him, wondering the reason for his entry in the afternoon when the sun was letting out its anger on people with its bright rays.
"I am going to the North for some work. In my absence, don't even think about doing things that'd put you or your sister into trouble. Behave, Elira! Like always."
Whenever he said words like "west," "north," or "sest," it was related to mafia work. If it was normal business, he addressed the places with the country or city names.
"Okay!" I nodded my head. He didn't have to particularly tell me to behave. I knew it better.
"I will be out for fifteen to twenty days."
Fifteen days of freedom normally would've made me dance in joy.
Strangely, I wasn't happy. I said, "I will be waiting for you."
Only after the words that escaped my mouth did I realize what I said. Waiting for him? Why would I even do that?
Then he stood before me and pulled me into a hug before saying, "I'll be back before you miss me."
He broke the hug, and it didn't even take me a minute to start missing him.
Such a liar! Instead of coming back to me when I missed him, he started to go away. Just like how he had gone, slowly and quietly, the days of waiting were also gone, and I expected his return to the Villa, but I only got the message.
Mr. Wolfe: I might stay here for some more days.
During his absence, even though Matthew planned a lot, I didn't dare to meet him. I spent most of the time with Mira or in the garden for my leisure walks. I didn't want to make any mistake, and I only behaved like how Mr. Wolfe expected me to.
After watching a movie, I fell on the bed, trying to fall asleep, but the ringing of my cell phone jolted me awake.
"Mr. Wolfe?" I mumbled as I took the cell phone into my hands, but it was not him.
"Hey Matt!"
The peace and calm that surrounded me vanished in an instant, and I froze after hearing him.
"Elira! I am here. Outside the villa."