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If I could sum up yesterday's incident with Marcus in one word, it'd be the word surreal.
After our cinematic meeting, the conversation we had had been engraved in my brain for a lifetime.
The swoon-worthy with a drop-dead gorgeous face, contagious laughter and undeniably hilarious and ϋber rich Marcus Don Valentine just asked me to be his girlfriend.
I thought I was going to wake up today, knowing it was all a dream, but a sweet good morning message from Marcus made me think otherwise. My hands clasped my phone, a grin forming on my lips as I read his message sent to me at five in the morning.
Good morning babe. I'm off to Tokyo this morning for a meeting. I wish you're flying with me so I wouldn't be bored in the plane. I miss you already.
It was only day one since his confession and he already had my stomach coiled, angels singing hallelujah in my ears, and my heart pulsing faster as I reread the message over and over again. Those three words, even if sent as a text, didn't fail to put butterflies in my stomach.
My fingers pressed the digital pads of my phone, letters morphed into my own thoughts. I hit send with a widest grin on my face. Darn it. I must've giggled a little but who cares?
"That's it. You've gone gaga over Marcus but I won't blame you. The guy is completely hot and I totally and one hundred percent approve. Yup. I ship it."
"Erin!" I jumped up the couch, completely taken aback by her and she threw her head into a laughter. Since the house only had two rooms, Erin and I had to share the studio for the night since none of us would gladly take the couch in the living room. Erin survived the night with just the sleeping bag. It looked quite cozy, truth be told.
"Something juicy happened yesterday, eh? Spill, will 'ya?" Erin sat up, her ears paying attention to every detail of my story. Her eyes bulging and her mouth suppressing a loud squeal by putting both her hands on her mouth. I watched her expression morphed at each of every scene—from excited to disheartened, to excited and then that puppy dog eyes.
By the time I finished, she also wore the same grin I had when Marcus and I separated ways.
"Oh my Goood!" she yelped.
"I know!"
"Are you guys... you know... official?"
"I-I guess?"
We stared at each other, Erin's mouth still gaping.
"Did you guys do the kiss?"
my brows furrowed. "What kiss?"
"You know! The ultimate kiss! The notebook kiss!"
I hushed Erin as she started to get louder. She gladly pursed her lips and nodded.
"Well... It's kind of like that but we didn't kiss in the rain. It's kinda cold last night and he was soaking wet from walking in the rain."
The gleam in her eyes shined brighter and her long set of lashes batted. "Aww! It's just as good as the notebook. The atmosphere is just so romantic!"
I smiled at my best friend. "Thanks for everything, Erin. If it weren't for you, we wouldn't have settled it. Who knew he liked me back."
"Oh, Em, you dense little pumpkin. This is why every heroine needs a third person point of view in her road to finding prince charming. I see what you were trying to ignore and I can see the way Marcus look at you. He really adores you and you're just building up your walls. Now that I knocked some sense into you, my job is done. I can happily leave you be."
We laughed in chorus but kept it low. It was only eight in the morning after all, and the older ladies in the house were still in bed. Erin's laughter quickly faded, her face painting a sentimental look.
"What's wrong?" I asked her.
She shrugged. "Nothing. I'm just happy that my best friend will finally have her happily ever after before I go back to B.C in two days."
I gasped, my bewildered eyes never left hers. "What do you mean? We're all leaving together, right?"
With her nose scrunched up, she shook her head side to side then sat straight. "I'll go ahead because your mom decided to stay here for a few more days.
For a moment there, I thought I heard wrong but the gleam in Erin's eyes already told me otherwise.
"Isn't that a good news?" she added.
"No! I mean, yes it's nice but it's gonna be sad without you. We spent a lot of time together and it's gonna be a little too quiet without you here."
"Stop the drama, Em. We'll see each other again this school year. After all, we're roommates so you'll have a plenty of my yapping." Erin winked. My gut coiled achingly as she widened her smile. "Oh! Remember to register soon, okay? I just checked the school website. We need to choose our courses by the end of July so you better remember that, or else, you will get the crappy classes and hours. Wanna get the same electives? Philosophy of Love and Sex sounds interesting!"
Ah shit.
I never told her about the scholarship Marcus suggested to apply for.
Should the scholarship be granted to me, I would have to transfer to another university in Toronto and live here for the next eight months by myself. The thought of living without Erin's lively personality and endless yapping about her readings and essays in her courses made me glum.
I wasn't exactly at the both extreme ends of socializing spectrum so I was content with Erin and a couple of high school friends we often meet up when possible. Staying here would mean back to zero—new friends, fresh beginning, and new experiences.
I wasn't exactly sure how and if I could survive doing it all alone.
"Erin. Marcus wants me to stay here." I finally said as soon as the lump in my throat disappeared.
"As in like, move in? Are you guys that serious already!?"
"Oh no no! Not like that. Of course I wouldn't live with him that'd be insane and mom will really kill me this time. He told me to apply for this full scholarship. I just... I don't know how to tell mom."
"Hmm..."
"Yeah. The timing is really, really bad right now, and you saw what happened yesterday right? She wouldn't talk to me. I don't know how to tell her about the scholarship."
"She'll cool down soon enough, I know it. Besides, that's a full scholarship. Free school, honey. I'd be all over that if I were you. Let's not forget that you are more than capable of paying for your own expenses since you sold your painting. You can move out whenever you want; you're nineteen. You're legally an adult." She added.
She had a point. Free school meant less expenses for mom to pay. I knew her piano lessons were kind of rocky lately. But a huge part of me didn't want to leave to study across the country with bad blood between mom and I.
"So, you're okay with me moving here in Toronto?" I probed and Erin gasped.
"Em! You wound me. Of course I am! We're best friends—well, more like my sister from another mother and I want the best for you even if that means you're going to the other side of the country. If you already decided to study here, then all I have to do is respect that decision. Your mom will understand that for sure."
Erin and I pulled each other in for a tight embrace as if this was the last one we had. I had been a very lucky girl to meet someone as genuine as Erin Johnson—sweet, lively, honest.
"I'm gonna miss you though." Erin added, a small tear collecting on the corner of my eye.
"Yeah, me too."
*****
It had been a couple days since Erin left Toronto. Since then, I had no one to talk to at home and the situation barely improved. We talked a bit in between meals but the topic was nothing major at all. She never mentioned anything about the papers at all. Which was why I agreed to sneak out with Marcus.
I know. Bad girl.
In my defense, this was the first time that I had done something like this. My heart was hammering madly as I waited for the clock's hand to tick at twelve and each passing second was tormenting. Sneaking out at midnight was both scary and oddly enough, exhilarating.
But this was the only time that I could see him. E-mail and text messages were enough, but at the same time, not enough. Marcus had been in-and-out of the country lately because of work. Plus, I wouldn't stand a chance to go around long enough in midday without my mom nagging me with questions as to where I was going.
This was the only chance I have so I must grab it. I sighed inwardly. This could pass up as a tragic love story to me but it'd be worth fighting for.
"Where are we going again?" I broke the silence between us. Marcus gave me a quick side glance as he drove to the highway, then back to the road with his undivided attention.
"Oh, right. You probably have never been on this side of Ontario. Well, it's a small resort in Simcoe. We used to always visit in the winter time for any type of winter activities. It's quiet, calming, and away from civilization. A breath of fresh air from the loud city life." His right arm rested at the back of my head and it was honestly very sexy.
"But it's summer time, do they get a lot of tourist at this time?"
He shrugged. "I'm sure they still do since they also have summer activities."
"So... we're doing summer activities at this time of the day?"
Instead of answering me straight up, he only smiled suggestively. "Like I said, the resort is away from civilization. Not a lot of people are in that area at this time of the year, and I would love to spend some alone time with you."
I couldn't contain my blush and my heart rate rose considerably that I could hear each beat. Thank goodness for the music that was playing in the radio.
We had been on the road for over half an hour now and I was getting too anxious at what he had in store for our late night date. So far, this brain of mine was lurking at the most inappropriate ideas.
Snap out of it, Emerald!
I turned my attention outside instead. The surroundings blended with the darkness, the street lights and the stars as the only guide in our path. My head bobbed up and down as well as my lids, feeling heavier by the second. No matter how hard I tried to fight my sleepiness, my body couldn't resist. I checked the digital clock of the car, half-lidded.
12:54 A.M. I closed my eyes completely. When my eyes fluttered open again, we were now at a complete stop.
"We're here," my head turned where the deep voice came from. Marcus was smiling at me, his strong arm resting on the passenger's seat's headrest. "I didn't want to wake you up."
"What time is it?" I asked but it felt like a stupid question when my eyes averted to the digital clock. 2 A.M.
"H-how long was I asleep?"
"Since we got here?"
I nodded.
"About half an hour."
My jaw met the ground in an instant with my eyes round in disbelief. "Seriously!? A-and you didn't wake me up?"
Instead of feeling apologetic, his smile broadened. "But you're so cute when you sleep and I can't help it but watch you drool." My hand wiped the side of my face to check but there was nothing. I glared at Marcus as he laughed in delight. "Got 'cha."
I glared at him but I shut my eyes close when he leaned in to steal a kiss from me. It was only a small peck, but it was enough to set my cheeks ablaze, tainting it fifty shades of red.
"Let's go. We'll ride the cable cars down to the place I want to show you." Marcus opened the car door for me then offered his hand.
The chilly summer air carried the aroma of fresh cut grass. The hair on my skin tingled as it hit my bare arms and legs. My arms instinctively hugged myself, seeking for warmth. It seemed like we were in a golf course much larger than the one in Lakeshore Château.
Spotlights which were strategically placed on the edge of the concrete path casted a cascading effect on the vast grassland. It even changed colors from white, to yellow, to red. It felt like Christmas in the summer time.
"Here, wear this." Marcus hung a thick, heavy black coat hung over my shoulder, leaving himself only a plain white dress shirt that hugged his body very well. I looked up to him, meeting his darkened brown eyes.
"Thank you." I muttered softly with a small smile on my face.
"My pleasure." He took my hand and intertwined it with his and swung our hands together like children.
It didn't bother me at all. In fact, it just showed how relaxed he was around me. I noticed a picnic basket on his other hand as we walked along the grassy bunny hill.
Amused and curious at the same time, I asked him. "What's in it?"
"Nah. Nothing really special."
"Oh come on. Don't be shy now."
"Let's just say it's a remake of what I failed to cook the last time."
"The burnt omelet that you made?" I teased.
"It's not burnt this time. Have faith in my mediocre cooking skill, cupcake. You'll be blown away."
"That's so sweet of you." And I really mean what I said.
"It's only the tip of the iceberg." He leaned in a tad bit and pressed a kiss on top of my head.
That was definitely sweet and sexy—a combination of sugar and spice! A billionaire like Marcus actually found time to practice despite his tight schedule; that was enough to show how he really prepared for this unique date.
I couldn't help but wonder how many couple had done this kind of date on a wee hour, in the middle of nowhere, only the stars and the crescent moon as witness.
Marcus could really set up a romantic date, which was for sure. It was hella romantic if you asked me.
I had no idea how long we had walked but when the clearing was more visible, the lights were brighter. There were two sets of cable cars in an uphill slope. I could picture the winter time in this place—full and fun-packed for sure. But today, this place seemed to be just ours.
"Are we allowed to be here? At this ungodly hour?" I asked when we stopped by the operator who was beaming at us. Poor guy, up and awake at this time just to operate the cable car.
"I paid a considerable amount just to have this place for the two of us, and that guy to stay up longer." He said pointing to the operator.
"Is that even legal?"
The only answer I got from him was his wicked grin and a killer wink. I gulped. He claimed my hand once more and we walked towards the operator. A man in his work uniform greeted us back with delight and a perfect customer service smile. He neither showed a hint of exhaustion nor drowsiness. Hats off to him!
"Please stand behind the white strip. When the car is approaching, make sure you sit right away. Another employee is waiting at the top, ready to unbuckle." Employee number one explained the whole process. It did not take long before he finished and he showed us where we had to stand. The next cable car finally came to us and the employee quickly locked us in place and off we go.
With the speed that the cable car was currently in, it would take a while before we reach the top. I was already convinced that Marcus instructed the operator to go slower based on the way his grin carved on his delectable mouth- wicked and full of mischief.
"So, how's work?" I asked Marcus. "You've been in and out of the country lately. Are you tired? Do you even eat? Do a lot of people give you a hard time? Please tell me you ate something before coming here."
Marcus chuckled. "Glad you're worried about me, but one question at a time, cupcake." He then pressed a kiss on my forehead, making me giggle a little.
"And to answer your question in no particular order: Yes, I'm tired because the old geezers of the Board has so many complaints and that they think I'm not suitable for the position after all, thus, making me work harder than usual. I sometimes forget what time it is. I take a series of naps instead of a full five-hour-sleep in the office. I spend a lot of time meeting different people and just skip meals just so I can get back to reviewing proposals for our business venture in Japan." He added, his voice was lethargic as he talked about his work, completely disinterested around that topic.
"Since Denise left the company—who actually knows my schedule from A to Z- the new PA can't keep up at how fast paced I am. It's only her first week so I understand."
A pang of guilt instantly hit me.
"Marcus, if this is your only rest day, perhaps you should—" My words remained stuck in my throat when Marcus suddenly claimed my lips in a lip lock. Long yet not very forceful. By any means, he just had his own way of saying "shut up". That was all.
"If I hear the words "go home", I will jump off of this cable car, understand?" The timber of his voice sent shivers down my spine. I nodded when I felt his head fell to my shoulder.
"Yes sir."
He sighed and dropped his head on my shoulder. "I'm sorry for being so forceful." His breath was warm over my skin and the sensation of the vibration of his voice melted my insides. I let him be. It was a much needed comfort for the both of us.
"You're unfair sometimes. But it's okay. I forgive you because missed you."
"I missed you too." Then a heavy sigh escaped his mouth. "Honestly, just seeing your face right now and being with you is enough to relieve my stress, Emerald. I know I asked for too much—to see me at this time of the day even though it's risky. So, thank you."
A smile crept into my mouth at his sincerity. "No, thank you."
"Sorry for being so corny."
"If it makes you feel any better, I'm super attracted to that side of yours."
Finally, he pulled away from my shoulders to meet my gaze. "You mean my dorky side? You're the first."
"Uh-huh." My smile broadened. "And I hope you're showing that dorky side of you around me and just me—not with anybody else."
"Just you, baby." Marcus nuzzled his head to my shoulder once more, taking in a sharp breath. I felt him press a kiss on my shoulder blades, sending a shudder of content. "You always smell so good."
Brace yourself Emerald. Marcus is coming in hot!
Marcus made me feel special in many ways more than one. His tongue kneaded words of endearment, causing my heart to palpitate faster than usual. A weird sensation on my core pooled with every contact—skin to skin, lips to lips. I could be imagining things but the way he looked at me was more penetrating as if he was looking beyond my physical self.
Those eyes, a familiar glimmer of lust lingered in them as I felt the same gaze with Jack. The only difference was that Jack always seemed to rush it—his hands were too eager to move south, down to my treasure. Don't get me wrong, I did look at Jack as one of the most integral part of my life, the special one who'd take my first.
How did I survive that relationship? I didn't know anymore as I thought of it as a thing of the past—a memory that once made me whole yet completely shattered in a blink of an eye, and all those memories went down the drain. Maybe at some point in our relationship, we lost sight of what was important.
Marcus was in a whole different level. He easily made Jack's high school-ish moves mediocre. His hands didn't wander past the small of my back and his kisses were pleasurable enough to leave me wanting more. They were sometimes chaste and warm yet it never failed to make me leave a weird sensation in my center.
The clinic scene, however, was a different story. The kiss was fervent, hungry, and dominating. Marcus explored my mouth like a madman who hadn't had a passionate exchange of kiss in a long time.
"A penny for your thoughts?" Marcus snapped me back to reality. I must've been silent longer than I imagined. I was about to tell him when he redirected his attention to employee number two who was waving both his hands to us.
It took less than a minute before we found ourselves standing next to the employee. After Marcus thanked the guy, the employee rode one of the car and took off.
With an arched brow, I turned to Marcus. "Where's he going?"
"It won't be romantic with him around so I told him to come back in three hours."
I didn't add any comment after. Instead I helped Marcus lay out the picnic cloth he carefully placed on top of the basket. He immediately settled down. With waggling eyebrows and a flirtatious smile, he tapped the empty space by his side, inviting me to sit beside him which I happily obliged.
"Making us food and stargazing—jeez Marcus, you've outdone yourself." I told him, earning his gaze from the star studded sky back to me.
"Also the best place to see more stars. Remember when I said "the heavens is not ready for it yet"? That "it" is this view. I figured it'll be better to stargaze somewhere less populated like this place."
And I couldn't agree more. I never felt so close to the sky that it felt like I was inches away from touching the shiny stars above. Breathtaking and quite the view, truth be told.
"Why did you bring me all the way here though?" I asked.
"I told you; it's quiet, calming, and away from people. I know you're having a hard time at home so I want to take you away some place far away even if just a few hours."
Since our fateful and romantic rendezvous under the tree on a rainy day, I had told him about my situation with my mom. I truly appreciate him doing this all for me but a small voice at the back of my head was telling me something else. He might not just be doing it for me but for himself too.
The weight of his job was finally weighing him down. He was human after all. I shifted uncomfortably with my eyebrows drooped down as I looked at him eye to eye.
"Marcus, I'm really worried about you." I told him and with one quick stroke, his fingers tucked a few strands of my hair that framed my face behind my ear, his gaze did not leave mine.
"There's nothing to worry about." He said in almost a whisper that it tore my heart slowly.
Marcus must've had possessed the ideal personality of a leader, but that did not exempt him from feeling what a normal person would feel. With a lot going on in his personal and business life, his body might not show the strain, but his emotional state could be suffering.
He constantly wore a smile that masked his exhaustion perfectly. No matter how I wanted to convince myself that he was alright, my gut feeling kept bugging me.
No, he wasn't alright. He was tired and he was just good at hiding it.
I softly pressed my cheek on his palm, taking in the warmth of his skin. "The two most valuable women in my life always tell me that a heart is paper thin—that even though it's not very malleable, it is the strongest muscle. It gets torn apart, crumpled, burned to ashes due to the things that happen around us, but that doesn't mean that our heart stops beating. Sometimes it recovers through time and sometimes there's somebody that helps mend that paper heart." When I opened my eyes, he was intently staring at my cerulean eyes with an amused smile on his face.
"Sure you're this ruthless and visionary CEO that everyone in this world perceives you to be, but that does not exempt you from feeling negative emotions. You, too, Marcus, have a paper thin heart. So please, stop saying that there is nothing to worry about. I'm really worried about you and with all the bat shit crazy things going on around you, I'm sure it's getting you emotionally too. You have me so don't hide anything from me, okay?"
Marcus's fingers pressed the sensitive spot behind my neck, the gleam on his eyes more noticeable with the moon and stars shining upon us.
"May I know who the two most valuable women are?"
"My mom and of course, Nana too."
"One day, I have to thank them for raising such a good girl like you, and since you want to know what really worries me then I guess I should tell you." He breathed in a sharp breath before continuing. "I'm so consumed by work that sometimes I just want to put my pen down and... quit."
I bit my lips as I watched him study my face. "I will lose the position surely if I don't get a hold of the business venture in Japan."
I mentally let out a gasp, my eyes only bulged in disbelief. "W-what? Can they do that?"
He shrugged. "The Board of Directors basically supervise my way of handling the company and they feel like I'm incompetent. They believe they need someone with more experience."
Flared with anger, I crossed my arms over my chest. "They're jerks. I mean, you're the CEO!"
"They're doing their jobs. The board represent the stakeholders and they cater to the best interest of their clients. If the CEO cannot fill the shoes of a good leader, then they can kick me out in a blink of an eye."
With all the business terms Marcus was throwing in the conversation, I couldn't help but blush in embarrassment. I wish Erin was here to tell me what they meant.
"So... what now? Are you going to quit?"
He shook his head as he kneaded his fingers on my hands. "I don't know, Emerald. I've been shaping my life, programmed myself to fit this kind of lifestyle, and there's no way in hell am I going to give up now. I'll do whatever it takes to retain my position. Who knows what kind of greedy leader the Board has in mind?"
A smile crept in my mouth. "See? You love your job after all."
He smirked proudly. "That really boosts my motivation, love." He pressed a kiss on my forehead. "So don't worry about your man too much. I know it's hard right now, but it's not impossible."
I looked back up to him, a wide smile on my face. "Hey, that should be my mantra when I get an artist's block. That's clever."
"That'll cost you a kiss." Marcus was about to reach for my lips when a loud grumble interrupted him.
"We should eat the food I prepared first." I nodded in agreement as he reached for the picnic basket beside him. He pulled out two Tupperware that contained his self-proclaimed perfect omelets.
He made the same cheese omelet. Once I opened it, the aroma of the cheese filled my nostrils. So far, it looked appetizing and when I finally took a bite, it was better than I expected.
"Do you like it?"
I ate a mouthful of omelet that I only answered in a nod.
Marcus's smile broadened with an obvious pride. "I practiced after you left my pad. It took me over three dozens of eggs until I got it to a perfect taste."
"You actually went back to the grocery store... by yourself!?"
"Don't be too surprised. Grocery shopping is actually fun."
I arched a brow. "Let me guess. You picked up the most expensive eggs again, didn't you?"
"Actually, Cedric helped me pick up the eggs and cheese from local farms. He's a chef, too, so he knows the best place to get them." He retorted.
I took another bite of the omelet and let my mouth savor the flavor at each chew. No wonder it tasted better—It didn't exude the generic egg and cheese taste and half of me still couldn't believe that Marcus made these. We ate in silence and after a few minutes, Marcus already finished his food.
After we ate, I put back all the empty Tupperware in the basket.
"Thanks for the food... and for taking me to this wonderful place." I said.
"You're welcome... but it's too early to say your thanks. We're only getting started."
My brows furrowed. "You have more for me?"
Mischief was written all over his face. He pulled me in, my back leaning completely on his chest. My body felt small as his arms wrapped around my body, reassuring that I was safe with him, in his arms, under the star-studded night.
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A/N: Sorry for the late update! I've been busy lately, working on another project.
Fiction Award 2016 is going on right now. I will need your help and support on this one as it will be a bloodbath to get an award on this one. Simply nominate me by typing the title of the book and tag me under "Best Chicklit" or "Best Romance" line. It will be extremely appreciated!
I hope you like this update, and happy reading!
Song: Tenerife Sea by Ed Sheeran