•Colson•
"You're hurting me," she says softly, her tone low and quiet.
Her face is red, eyes squinting like she's enduring real pain. Her lips are pressed together, cheeks puffy like a child sulking.
If I didn't know her, I would've fallen for this act of hers because it seems so real. But…
How can she make such a face in public? Saying I hurt her with such a face, does her shamelessness really know no bounds?
My face instantly turns stern, irked by her shameless behavior.
"You don't have to lie so much," I fire at her. "I wasn't holding you so tight."
I free her and balance her on her feet. Then she rubs her wrist for a brief moment before she continues walking to the elevator with me.
So dramatic.
The ride up is silent. I glance at her to see what she's doing and she's just standing there, face a bit pale and turned away.
Is she already looking so miserable to earn my grandmother's pity? My subconsciousness wonders.
I wonder why she doesn't go into acting. She'd become a top star in no time with that talent.
We reach the top floor and go straight to my grandmother's office.
As always, she's frigid behind her seat.
"Welcome back, son," she says in her sharp voice.
"H-hello grandmother," Leiara greets.
I cringe at how innocent she sounds, and how she's trying to appear meek in front of my grandmother.
My grandmother glances briefly at her, then without a word, returns her gaze to me.
"I know you've sent me the reports already, but I still want to hear from you. Didn't Mr Oltz protest at all?" She questions.
"He did. Since he is always cranky, as you know. But when the majority of the vote was in my favor, he had no option than to comply."
We talk about business for a while before she turns her attention to Leiara. Her professional business face changes into an angry one.
"I only asked you to be diligent in everything you do, but you still screwed up," she starts coldly.
I dart my eyes to Leiara to catch her reaction but her gaze is cast low and she is quiet.
"Goodness! What dutiful wife leaves her husband stranded in the airport?!!"
Leiara's eyes dart here and there awkwardly. I remain silent, a bit curious to know the reason myself.
"S-sorry, I—"
"Excuses!!…" My grandmother interrupts sharply.
"I'm not exactly fond of those. You of all people should know result is the only feedback I desire when I give a task!"
"I'm sorry," Leiara lowers her head and apologizes.
Tsk! What was she going to say? What fabricated lies was she going to use as an excuse?
She was at home doing nothing when I arrived. In fact, she seems to have just woken up and forgotten about my schedules that day.
Yet she was about to give an excuse.
Why does she lie so much? It infuriates me! She's always trying to seem innocent and good in front of my family and that irks me to the roof.
Unable to bear her presence any longer, I hiss and leave the office.
Leiara•
As Colson abruptly walks out the office, I don't spare a glance. My gaze remains cast low as Helen scolds me.
"Thanks to you, we are making the headlines for the wrong reason," she continues.
"You should thank your stars that it didn't draw much attention and that there are more dire matters making the headlines so it will soon be drowned."
"I'm sorry," is all I say.
"I will not tolerate another mess up."
"Yes."
Her gaze scrutinizes me from head to toe.
"And what is with that classless looking footwear you're wearing?" She questions in disbelief.
"Have I not always told you to maintain class and elegance? What's this now?"
"I'm sorry grandmother. But I injured my legs so I couldn't wear heels today."
"It's always excuses when it comes to you, isn't it? You always have one to cover up your incompetence."
I don't say anything and just maintain my low gaze.
She lets out a long sigh, then continues.
"As you already know, the function will be held from 7pm. Make a list of all the important guests, the investors in this project and commit them to memory because you'll have to greet them and make some connections with them."
"I already did," I reply.
When Colson locked me out yesterday, I did my work on that.
She rests back on her chair.
"Well, you can be quite diligent when you put your mind to it."
"Get that injury checked. I don't want anything hindering or ruining the party."
She waves me off without looking. I bow and leave.
As I head outside, the judging eyes of the workers come so piercing. Almost as if they are stripping me bare as I walk.
Without Colson by my side, it is harsh and humiliating. It makes my steps feel too heavy to lift, faltering my steps.
When I reach outside, I exhale in relief.
I don't find Colson anywhere so I start heading to the parking lot. From the entrance, I see him waiting beside his car.
When he sees me, he gets into the car. As I continue walking toward him in limps, I hear the car engine rev and he starts driving toward me in no time.
"Get in," he orders when he reaches me.
I don't say a word and get in. Then he speeds off.
The drive is so rough it scares me. I hold onto the safety handle just for safety. I can't help but wonder what has him so agitated that he wants to cause an accident.
I glance at him, but he doesn't even look my way.
As we go far, I realize we aren't heading for home. My survival instincts kick in.
If this man is taking me somewhere to kill, I swear…!!
With a pounding heart, I brace myself.
His tight face makes it hard for me to even question him. So I can only stay alert.
After minutes of driving, he slows down and pulls into a corner.
My heart finally calms down and my muscles unclench. My hand, now red from gripping the safety handle too tight, comes down to rest on my chest.
PHEW!
Really thought he was out to kill me there, geez!
As my nerves calm, I look forward to see where he has brought me.
When my eyes meet the word 'hospital' written in bold letters, my gaze snaps to him in question.
He brought me to a hospital? Why?
He gets out of the car without saying a word to me. Then he makes a round and comes to my window.
Gently, he taps.
"Come out," his deep voice orders yet again.
He moves aside and I open the car door to go out.
"Get your leg treated. I don't want you blaming all your shameless actions to get attention on this fake injury. So get it treated."
His tone is harsh and sharp.
He goes back to his seat after talking.
I only stare briefly at him before I limp toward the hospital to get treated.
Minutes later, I come out with a bandage around my ankle and the bag of medications prescribed.
Colson's brows wrinkle at this, but he doesn't say anything.
I walk to my side and get inside the car.
As he reverses to pull out of the parking space, he asks.
"With such obvious bandages, do you look to be the center of attention at the party?"
My face turns bitter.
Must he always talk like that? Always connecting my actions to attention seeking.
I turn to him, a forced smile on my face.
"Don't worry. I plan to cover it with my dress so no one will notice."
He doesn't say anything or react but I catch his jaw clench and unclench briefly. He finds my reply displeasing.
To ease a bit of the tension, I decide to show my gratitude. After all, the Colson I've known for seven months would never have done this for me.
"Thank you," I say in a whispery tone.
I meant for it to come out bold and loud, but nervousness overtook me.
I glance at Colson to see his reaction and I catch his temple clench, and a visible pulsing vein. He doesn't say anything, he keeps his gaze forward on the road.
Just what about me angers him so much? I wonder inside me.
We drive back home in heavy silence.
I get down on the pathway while Colson pulls into the driveway to park.
With careful strides, I head inside. When I push the door open, I see Willa snap from the couch and toward me in an instant.
"Where the hell did you go?" She demands sternly.
"Did you go out with him? Did you take the moment I was asleep to seduce him? Tell me, did you?!"
She yells, clearly agitated. I don't get a chance to respond when Colson appears beside me at the door.
The instant he comes, Willa's demeanor transforms. The frigid air around her turns fluffy and a smile appears across her lips.
"You're here," she says softly and throws herself into his arms.
But Colson's response isn't the warm welcoming type. Instead, his gaze is cold—not at me for once—but at Willa.