The Couple novel Chapter 20

Celia

I rarely slept that night after returning home. It was our first date and probably last too. Whatever we had ended and now I don’t have anything to do with him. He is just Jeanne’s brother to me.

I had a day or two in daze. Met J on monday while I ignored her brother’s call all day. Although he didn’t call before noon but still didn't want to talk to him.

I was invited by Mary for dinner yesterday at the cafe as she wanted to have something different and since Jeanne was busy with Greg and Ethan was busy with some office work, she asked me. Christian showed up in the name to pick up Mary for home.

I don’t want to talk to him without an appropriate excuse but all I got in messages was “I had to go.”, “Talk to me.”, “Something needed my attention.”, yes maybe another girl needed your attention.

How did I even think that a playboy will turn into a loyal lover for me? What happened to Shelly, isn’t necessary will happen to me too.

I was foolish to trust him in the first place, I should have pushed him the first time he came to me. All this mess started back in New York and I still regret having that party.

Jeanne called to inform me that grandma wants me for dinner at home today. Her aunt will be there and she wants me to meet her. I doubt that its Christian’s plan too but be careful as he will definitely take it as an opportunity.

I will make sure to be surrounded by one or another there so he can’t dare to talk to me or even come near to me. I want him to stay away from me the way, he left away that night.

I can’t deny grandma and her invitation anyway so I had to show up. I left the office and went to change from my office clothes when I saw Harris coming from the office maybe. I tried to avoid him and started a mission to find nothing in my bag.

After that dinner on friday, he changed slightly and always wants to be around. Sometimes he wants to have coffee or wants to discuss some more details alone after the meeting.

“Going on a date already?”, he asked as he saw me coming. I flinched as he spoke.

“No, grandma called me at dinner.”, I replied smiling.

“You look pretty, I must say in this green dress you will be an assault on men.”

“Thank you.”, what a weird way to compliment a girl for looking good.

“Let me drop you there.”

“Oh no no. Don’t bother, you just returned from the office, please go and have rest. I have my car. I will drive there myself.”

“No big deal, I will rest after dropping you there. And there I will catch up with Christian too.”

Before I could speak more to deny his offer once more politely, he grabbed my hand and dragged me towards his car. He made me sit on the passenger side and returned to the driver's seat.

“You don’t need to go all the way just to drop me.”

“No worries, I was free this evening and I will catch up with Christian and Ethan too. It has been a long time since we haven’t had drinks together.”

I didn’t speak much after, just replying to his questions of how it is here, if I am liking working with him, or if I need anything. He told me to inform him if I need anything.

We reached there and as he pulled in the driveway, Jeanne came out jumping and smiling. I guess things are working out between her and Greg.

“Hey, J”, I came out of the car and gave her a hug. Harris came out and stood beside me.

“Hello lady, it was a pleasure meeting you”, he spoke even before I could introduce them. She looked at him and back to me and then again back to him, shook his extended hand and said hello politely.

Ethan came out from the house with a hard look on his face, well it was scary that I took a step back.

“Hello Harris.”

“Hey Ethan, man long time no see.”, Harris took a step forward and gave him a hug. Ethan tightened his hands on his back and said something in his ears and pulled away from the hug.

He definitely threatened him and looking at Harris’s pale face I can tell it definitely worked. He turned and left after politely saying bye to me and Jeanne.

I thought I saw anger and fire in his eyes but with the speed he left I am not sure. As soon as he left, we broke into laughter.

“Ethan, what did you say to him that he got so pale and left?”

“If you need a lift next time, tell me I will come or arrange someone to drive for you.”, Ethan told me.

“Do you really think I will ask him for a lift? He literally grabbed my hand and dragged me to his car after I refused politely.”

His eyes went to my hand and growled with that angry look.

“Did you just growled?”, did I just hear him growling.

“Come inside, grandma is waiting for you. She prepared this many dishes for you and isn’t letting me have any.” Jeanne pulled me into the house.

We went directly to the dining room where everyone was already there with a lady probably in her forties and a young man in his early twenties. Do I know him?

Ethan walked behind us and took his place. Fortunately,Christian isn’t here. As I was looking at his empty chair across the table.

“He will be late, or even may not come for dinner.”, it was Mary. It was like she knew I was ignoring him for two days and teased me that I won’t get to look at his beautiful face tonight.

“Celia, this is my aunt Karen and my cousin Bryan.”, Jeanne introduced me to the lady and man.

One more look and I remember where I saw this guy. I saw him nearly everywhere I went in the last 2 days. He was under my building or at the restaurant when I met Mary. Did Christian appointed his cousin to follow me around?

He looked away from me, as if hiding his face. Yes, definitely he was following me and Christian appointed him. I will kill him if I see him.

The food was served when my phone rang in my purse. It was Tyler from the office. I excused myself and went into the living room to talk.

He wanted me to send him a few sketches for tomorrow’s meeting with Dante company. He needs to share them with Dantes as we’re sharing the project with them.

I told him I will send him by tonight and turned to leave for the dining room when a hand came on my mouth and another grabbed my waist. The person dragged my body while I threw punches and kicks at him carelessly.

I tried grabbing a few things or tried to resist him but he was too strong for him and dragged me all the way down to hall and then to another room, by the looks of it was a store room.