“I love you” he repeated himself for clarity and she gulped, staring at him. She knew she enjoyed spending time with him, she enjoyed laughing at his jokes. But love?
She had always thought love to be very sacred and was hoping to someday meet the one that would make her heart flip and finally, she had met him.
“I love you too” the words slipped out of her mouth on its own accord, making Harry’s eyes widen in surprise.
“For real?” he asked, still in shock. He wasn’t expecting her to say the words. She nodded in response and he broke into a wide smile before pulling her into a hug. They stayed in the hug for some seconds before he spoke. “I can’t believe this. You just made me the happiest man today.”
She smiled at him as he broke away from the hug. He held her hand as his expression suddenly turned serious. She noticed the changes in his mood and nudged him, probing him to tell.
“I know you probably know many things about me, the fact that I’m a player and all that, but this one is real. Everything I feel for you is real” he began with a sigh and she nodded with a knowing smile. “Will you be my girlfriend?”
She stared at him with an open mouth, a single tear rolled down her cheeks as she tried to maintain a smile. She was getting overwhelmed by emotions, she could barely stop the tears. “I love you Harry. I’ll be your girlfriend.” She replied with a bright smile and he pulled her into a hug. He smiled widely as she placed her head on his chest. They pulled away from the hug, and he took her lips in a kiss. He had been dying to taste those lips, and finally, he was able to. The kiss lasted for a few minutes, with him having a taste of every inch of her lips.
They laid on the beach in silence as they watched the stars in the sky. The moon was full and shining over the water which moved with the current. Harry had his right hand wrapped around Ciara. They had been in that position for over twenty minutes, both of them seemingly in thoughts.
“Are you really traveling back tomorrow?” Ciara was the first to voice out her thoughts. She turned slightly so that she was now staring at Harry’s face.
“Yes love, but I’ll be back soon.” he replied and her face dropped a little.
“Can’t you stay here a little?” she pouted and she smiled, pulling her cheeks affectionately.
“No. I have some deals to close, I’ll be back for you when I’m done.” he replied and she nodded, giving up on the argument.
****
The loud ringing of the phone on the table startled the sleeping Harry as he sat up on the bed. He cleaned his eyes with the back of his palm as his eyes adjusted to the brightness in the room. The ringing stopped and resumed few seconds later. He got out of the bed and walked up to the table, picking up the call before placing it on his ears.
“Hello” he said into the phone with his grumpy, early morning voice.
“Good morning sir.” his secretary’s voice came in. He removed the phone from his ear and checked the caller’s name again. He hadn’t checked it before picking up the call. “I called to remind you that your flight would be leaving in an hour.” his secretary added.
“Okay. Noted, anything else?” Harry questioned impatiently. He was itching to go off the phone with his secretary.
“No sir. Have a good morning.” his secretary responded before dropping the call. He sighed before dropping the phone back on the table. He returned to the bed and placed a kiss on Ciara’s forehead.
“It’s almost time to go.” he stated softly and she opened her eyes.
They had spent the night together at Harry’s hotel room after staying out at the beach past midnight. They had spent most of the night kissing under the moonlight after having a heart to heart conversation. She learnt more things about him and vice versa.
“Good morning, babe” she yawned as he sat up on the bed. “That was your secretary, I guess?” she asked, shifting into a hug.
“Yep” he replied, popping the p.” My flight reminder.” he replied, placing his hands on her ass, lifting her to his legs. “Nice ass though.” he complimented and she blushed, hiding her face in his chest.
“Thanks.” her voice came out low and muffled.
~~~
Jack stood by the window in his lakeside mansion as he dialled a number continually. He had already called thrice in the last few minutes, the calls going directly to voicemail. He looked visibly frustrated as he dialled the number again. This time it rang, and after ringing for a little over a minute, a soft feminine voice spoke up.
“Hello” He closed his eyes for few seconds before opening them quickly. Her voice was still the same as before.
“Alexa Ellyn Antonio” he called out after thirty seconds of silence. “How are you doing?” he asked with a soft smile
“Hey, big brother!” she exclaimed with a bigger smile after she recognized his voice. He was the only one who was fond of calling her by her full name. It had been months since she had last spoken with her brother. “I’m fine. How’re you?” she threw back the question.
“I’m fine. How is school? Is the first class pursuit still on?” he asked with a soft chuckle that made her smile. Before she left for school, she had challenged him that she’ll get a first class and he knew she was up to the task. She was literally the best student in the best high school in their city.
“Just a year left and everything is settled” she replied and he smiled lovingly at her through the phone.
“I’m proud of you, Ellyn,” he said with emotions.
“Thank you.”
They spoke about other things for few minutes before he finally spoke of her returning.
“Dad wants to see you, and it’s pretty urgent” he informed her through the phone.
“Hope nothing happened to dad?” she asked, a bit of panic showing in her voice.
“That, I can’t tell for sure. You’ll have to come home soon. ” Jack replied.
“I’ll be home soon, I promise.”
He dropped the call and moved away from the window. He was already dressed for work so he picked up his suitcase and took the stairs down.