LOVE-START
Back to what happened. They had both gotten to the hospital, just in time. Thanks to Reid’s private jet.
She walked to the ward where her mum was admitted with Reid walking right behind her. Her heart sank in its place as she saw her mum fixed on oxygen with a ventilator attached to her. It broke her heart more when her eyes were shut firmly without bulging at any sound, not even a movement from her was registered.
She moved closer to her with a devastating look plain on her face. She held her hand in her hands gently as tears rolled down her cheeks for the hundredth time.
“Mum,” she called as though she could hear her.
“I’m here. You were clamouring for my visit, now I’m here. Look at me,” she sobbed loudly and Reid who knew not what to do in a situation like this tried his best to soothe her by holding her shoulder.
“I want my mum to look at me. She wanted me to come to visit so bad,” she sobbed again, looking up at Reid who wasn’t certain how to tale in the situation.
“Come on, Maria,” he managed to pull her up and walk her out of the ward.
They got outside and it appeared to be a more befitting space for her to whimper. She rested her face in her palm, crying a little louder than a few seconds ago without minding how she had messed up her makeup.
Reid pulled her into a hug, holding her firmly in his embrace and she welcomed his hold.
“I wanted to go visit at home not here,” she said, still whimpering.
This attracted a few eyes to them, causing him to pull her towards the car.
He allowed her to have her time and let it all out by letting her cry out. He handed her a few wipes in between for her to dry her face. After she seems to have let it all go, she spoke softly.
“She’s the sweetest,”
“Making you the sweetest yourself,” Maria stared at him for a while and her eyes darted to his lips which she shook up by looking back up at his eyes.
Reid seems to have caught the meaning behind the glimpse even though it might not exactly mean what he had in mind. He pulled her closer to him and she didn’t decline as he held her face in his huge palm, cupping her cheeks in them before claiming her lips in a slow but rhythmic kiss that blew them both away.
She seems to be back to her senses as she withdrew abruptly from the kiss.
He flushed, rubbing his lower lip with a downcast look apparent on his face. Maria as well as red as a tomato.
“I’m sorry,” he muttered without looking up at his face.
“What?” Maria looked at him.
“I’m sorry,” he repeated as he raised his head to look at her. “I’m sorry for what just happened now…” he was interrupted again with a kiss that seem to last for the entire day.
****
Fast-forward to the short trip to the art gallery. A few minutes later, they were pulling up in front of a huge building that held luxury in its appearance.
They walked in and were greeted by numerous eminent art paintings that took her breath away.
There were countless of them that caught her attention but there was one that Reid had pointed at to fit the atmosphere of the restaurant.
It was a painting of a silhouette lady with her legs spread wide apart and a man delving with a chopstick on her vagina as though he was eating a plain meal or a ramyeon.
“Oh no. That’s too erotic,” she commented and Reid gave her a subtle look that could be interpreted to mean “just how I’m going to delve into yours”
“Looks just fine to me,” they all turned back at the masculine voice behind them.
It was Kyros.
“Hey, what’re you doing here?” Reid asked as Maria looked at him in admiration.
“I invited him over. It’s reasonable to have your lawyer prepare the necessary documents,” Gen replied with a smile before looking back at the painting and Reid nodded.
“Hi,” Kyros said to Maria quietly and she smiled.
“I’m good,” she answered, more in a whisper.
A few hours later, after walking around the gallery, they all went for dinner.
Kyros pulled out a chair for Maria to seat, causing Reid to look at him weirdly.
“So, Maria. Are you vegetarian?”
“No, No. I love meat too much to be one,” Maria answered with a very broad smile which made Reid a little uncomfortable as he stared at her even though she seem oblivious of that.
“Oh yeah? Are you one of those who think of Salmon as being just raw fish or more to your non-vegetarian taste?” He furthered.
“I’m sorry, ” she smiled awkwardly. “Salmon is raw fish. Plainly that. I love my meal cooked,”
“Ouch. You broke my heart,” Kyros said with his hand on his chest, feigning to faint.
“Can we have a bottle of champagne, please?” Reid managed his irritation by asking the waiter. He gulped down the glass of water in front of him and Genevieve laughed.
It took them about an hour to be done with their meal with uncomfortable stares and laughter in between. They had a little chat about work and the restaurant while Kyros never stopped asking questions to know more about Maria.
Reid was starting to get more glimpses that Kyros was into that and Genevieve being a little more experienced caught the meaning behind every hinge of tension among the three even though Maria remained oblivious to all the subtle brouhaha that was occurring. She noticed not the tension except that things were a little bit awkward knowing Reid’s intention towards her and at the same time her feelings towards Kyros.
Reid stood up and offered to drop Maria off at the building since he was leaving anyway.
“I’ll drop her,” Kyros said as he stood on his feet, arranging his suit well. He stared straight at Reid who doesn’t seem defeated.
They stared at each other for as long as to make anyone think it was a staring battle going on between them.
Maria looked up at the two men who doesn’t seem to be backing down for the other. She had a confused look on her face.
“I just think you should stay back with Ms Pierre to look over the documents while I drop her off,” Kyros explained and Reid seem to surrender.
“Fair enough,” Reid said, sitting back in his seat.
Maria stood, smiling broadly at them even though it seem awkward already before walking away with Kyros.
As they drove, the silence her by the time and was a little quieter than when they were at the table.
Kyros looked at Maria a few times as she looked out to enjoy the evening fresh air. He stifled the urge to hold her hand but he was ready to take things a step after another.
He pulled up at the building’s parking lot and offered to walk her to her apartment which she didn’t decline.
“Did I mention the last time that you have a very beautiful apartment?”
“I guess you did. Even if you didn’t, I wouldn’t think much into it. I wouldn’t compliment it either myself,” she said, pouring him a glass of water from the fridge.
“Did I also mention that you look exceptionally beautiful yourself? God, you’re so damn gorgeous,” he complimented before offering him a glass.
She blushed at his remark, staring deep into his eyes before looking away and walking to the balcony and Kyros followed behind her.
His eyes walked swiftly to her butt and he immediately looked away as his heart did multiple falls.
“Damn!” he thought.
“What are your intentions? Tell me what you feel, Kyros because I know mine,” she said without looking over at him.
“Look at me,” Kyros instructed, gently pulling her face to look at his but Maria diverted her eyes down.
“Look into my eyes, Maria,” he continued in a soft tone.
She looked at him and she saw an expression that was inexplicable to her.
“Would you be my girlfriend?” he asked the question with his heart pumping fast in its place. He waited for her response earnestly. She looked tensed and not certain of what to answer him with.
She used to be certain that she fancied him but suddenly, it seems she wasn’t sure of anything anymore.
Kyros withdrew his hand from her face, turning to look at the view in front of them.
“Yes,” she answered. “Yes, I will be your girlfriend,” she added.
“I love you, Maria,” Kyros said with a broad smile as he tucked a strand of stray hair behind her ear.
“I love you, Kyros,” Maria replied with a smile before resting her head on his shoulder.
“I won!” he muttered but just enough for Maria to hear and she giggled.