RED

17. Ivy

The fact that he couldn't help it was eating him up. Truthfully, he was behaving strangely. He was doing all the things he said he would never do for a woman. All his 'no personal feelings' rules. The craziest part was the fact that he wasn't even trying to woo her or something of that sort. She was just his assistant who happened to have been his best friend, on whom he had a crush on at one point in his past. That was it. An assistant who he had a childhood crush on in the past. Now, he was a grown man and such things as a crush was only a childish feeling. There was no way he still had a crush on her. Absolutely no way.

"I need the extra money." Kiana's voice snapped him out of his thoughts. He slightly took a look at her, while she stared ahead.

"May I ask for what reason? You have a roof over your head. I don't see any problem here." He commented and waited for a reply or comment of some sort from her, but none came, which caused him to take another look at her.

She sat silently staring ahead. No expression. No reaction. He had realised she wasn't planning on giving him an answer, but one thing became clear, Kiana has a lot more going on in her life than he had presumed. He recalled the day they were kidnapped by some goons who apparently worked for a loan shark. He recalled the man also mentioning the fact that she owed him for nine years. Nine years. That would mean whatever reason she had, happened around the same time they went their separate ways. The Kiana he knew never got involved with dangerous things. She was a brilliant student and she was his friend. She walked him home after school hours and then left.

Enrico slightly furrowed his brows. Recalling that exact part made him realise he had never been to her own home. She always told him that hers was farther down the street, then he would smile, wave and say his goodbyes. He never met her parents, her family or ever found out if she truly lived where she said she did. Thinking clearly, Enrico realised he knew nothing about her, except her name and that she studied at the same high school as he did. Slightly, he took a look at her and she still remained the same as earlier, staring ahead. Perhaps, it wasn't all Kiana's fault. He was so wrapped up in his fantasy that he believed everything she told him. He never bothered to find out her exact residence or how her parents actually looked like. He only daydreamed about her.

Kiana sneezed, covering her mouth in the process and Enrico immediately turned to her.

"Are you okay?" He asked in a worry filled voice and Kiana managed to nod, as she sniffs while sitting up, but Enrico was nowhere convinced.

"You're bound to get ill when you do unnecessary things like walking under the rain and forgetting to have your medication." Enrico stated as he looked away from her. Kiana took one look at him and remained quiet.

Honestly, she was way too tired to exchange words with Enrico. She really didn't care about what he thought or said. She really just needed to rest and besides, there was no pleasing him. Nothing she said would make him easy on her. Her every reply or comment will be backfired with something annoying from him, so she had made a decision. A decision to let him do whatever he wants. He could give whatsoever orders and she will do it. Perhaps, that would make him feel a little better about the past and she herself could atone for her sins against him.

They got into the penthouse later that evening without saying a word to each other, while it still poured outside. Enrico walked further in and Kiana followed behind. She let out a light cough. He stopped by the kitchen counter doing nothing in particular. Kiana barely noticed or wondered about what he was doing at that moment. All she thought about was heading straight to her room and having a good rest. A step or two past him, Enrico took hold of her wrist and swung her to face him. Falling slightly an inch closer to him, Kiana stared in surprise with widened eyes. He placed a hand on her forehead much to her surprise. Her breathing felt hitched within her throat. Her heart raced faster than normal. She stood still, as if frozen. The shock of it all was unexplainable. All she did was stare at him, whilst unable to say a word; unable to find herself. Her mind went blank whilst his warm hand remained on her forehead.