I sat up quickly, staring at him in awe. “How… How did you survive it?”
He shrugged. “My parents searched for a cure everywhere.” He smiled. “It wasn’t easy on them. Especially my Mom. There was no cure. Eventually, my father met someone, a surgeon who believed he could make me well again, off the records. It was a huge risk, a fifty-fifty sort of thing and very expensive because we were doing it off the books. We took the risk and here we are.” He said.
“How old were you when you had the surgery?”
“Thirteen.”
“Did you know the risks involved?” I asked.
He nodded. “My parents told me.”
I slid down, back into his embrace and released a breath. “You are such a fighter.” I whispered.
“Coming from you, I’ll take that as a big compliment. Now tell me, what was your nickname?”
“Bookworm.” I laughed. “I had a boring childhood.” I added.
“Well, I’m here to make your adulthood a memorable one.”
“And you’re doing that so well.” I smiled and snuggled tighter.
“What’s your plan for the weekend? Do you have somewhere you want to go to?”
I nodded. “I’m thinking of paying my parents a visit. Don’t know yet. I’ll call them and find out if it’s okay. But visiting them might be the coming week though.”
“Alright.” He said.
“What about you?” I asked.
“I have to close a deal tomorrow, sadly.” He groaned. “But I’ll be home first thing Sunday morning to spend time with you.” He said, but then, I sensed he wanted to say more.
“And?” I asked.
“And I’ll be away again on Monday. But I’ll be back by Wednesday. How does that sound?”
I shrugged. “Not so bad.”
The story about his childhood touched the strings of my heart that were attached to my tear ducts. But I pressed my face on his chest trying so hard to fight the tears and squeeze my tear ducts tight in the process. Luckily, it worked.
Other than the eerie blue screen glow of the TV, the room was quite dark. Hollis put his arm around me, providing me with warmth, reassurance and comfort, all at once. I wasn’t paying attention to the movie anymore.
I was asking myself if it would be possible to spend the rest of my life with this man. The possibility of such a big dream and its effect on my life. Hollis was no saint. He doesn’t claim to be one. I’ve seen him kill someone before.
I closed my eyes and nestled my head, inhaling my favored fragrance. I could hear his heart pound, quick beats at first. After a while, the booming in his chest steadied and sounded more like a lullaby. Then he broke the silence.
“Baby,” he called.
“Yes?”
“I… I think you should be mindful of Britney. She’s not a typical girl’s girl.” He said and I knew this had everything to do with discussion I had with Britney at the Villa garden.
“Rocco or Castello, which of them snitched on me?”
“None.” He replied.
“So we should blame the cameras.” I threw at him. “Hollis, I’m in such an emotional mood, I’m not in the mood to be ordered around,” I warned.
“I never order you around,” Hollis said.
“Oh, What about the other time when you gave me the third degree for talking to Hugh.”
“Who’s Hugh?” Hollis asked.
I sat up and he did the same. “Hugh is one of your guards, the one who’s been told to stay away from me, or else…” I told him, with as much patience as I could muster.
“You mean the tall guy with the bald hair who keeps looking at you with goofy eyes.” He mocked, but his expression had grown severe.
“So you’ve officially met him?” I asked with impatient sarcasm.
“He works for me, yes. But I didn’t say anything to him. Why would I?”
“Maybe you didn’t but Nero sure did. Nero works for you, doesn’t he?”
“Security is Nero’s job. And he’s been doing so great in that area. So, I don’t question how he manages the watchdogs.” Then he bent forward slightly. “What’s your interest in this Hugh guy anyway?”
“We’re just friends,” I sighed. “Unless you lock me in here, you can’t expect me to barricade myself in this room when you’re gone all the time.”
Hollis smiled ruefully. “Why not? You could sit here, counting the minutes till I got back after a hard day’s work and then, I’ll make it worth your while.”
I slapped his chest and chuckled. “You’re not talking your way out of this.”
He caught my hand and smiled. “Fine. I get it. You need some diversion and we’ve already discussed something that can work. But while we work towards it, can’t you find another form of diversion? Does it have to be with that guy? I mean, can’t you just hang out with Alessia, Maxine or Castel? You can engage in retail therapy too. There are lots of fashion stores you’re yet to visit.”
“I have everything I need. I have too many clothes already.” I whined.
“Well,” he said, “who’s complaining? No one.” He added, grinning full-toothed. “You know what? I promise to stay here with you starting from next week Wednesday till when you’re ready to resume working at the resorts. If I have to go anywhere before then, we’ll go together. And while we are at home, I’ll make sure to keep you really busy…” He winked.
“That’s quite an undertaking,” I responded, barely managing to catch my breath at such a beautiful and mindful declaration from him. “Well, If you keep to your words, maybe you’ll be sleeping and waking up with loads of beautiful orgasm.”
“Huh. I like the sound of that.” He groaned.
“I know you do.”
“How about you give me something to hold on to, while I imagine the rest. I mean…”
I didn’t let him finish. My lips shut him up abruptly and he moaned in satisfaction.