Luka
I had arrived back to NYC and headed straight to see Liya. It had been two days since I saw her and those days were like hell. She also seemed to be really busy because my calls started to go to voicemail which normally doesn't happen.
She's always picking up my calls. And it isn't even that I'm always calling her. Her house was locked and her car was parked in Chase's driveway along his car. Hmm, that's new.
The devils siding with each other in harmony for once. I have to see this. I rang the doorbell to which his maid answered the door.
"Are Chase and Liya home?" I asked.
"Yes, sir," she answered allowing me into the house.
As soon as I enter I see Liya sliding down the rain of his stairs in an oversized shirt that looked like Chase's. But happiness came across her as she saw me.
"Luka!" she yelled jumping off the rail, giving me a close heart attack because she's so risky with her playfulness.
Chase was coming down the stairs when Liya had ran across the living hall, barefoot and... hugged me. Her body collapsed into me, giving me a shake. My body froze with surprise.
This was the first time Liya had ever hugged me. Her arms tight around me. My arms wrapped around hers as a response but slowly because I could nearly pass out.
"I missed you so much," she softly spoke looking up to me with her gorgeous smile.
"I missed you too my little devil," I responded patting her head.
She wasn't reacting negatively anymore. Our eyes locked as we both processed this. I was happy that she could finally feel secured and safe with me being in physical contact with her.
"How come you're here? Are you two arguing again?" I ask looking to Chase who stands with a serious expression staring at Liya.
Liya lets go of me and stands straight, nodding no.
"Your little devil had someone follow her back to her house. So, I decided that she'd be safe here," Chase explained with an eye roll.
"That was so rude," Liya spoke in a high tone taking a step towards him.
"Whatever. Change out of my clothes and make sure you have them washed. I hate the smell of strawberries and sweet shit," Chase complained, abruptly annoyed by Liya.
Liya gasps at his words and glares at him. Chase heads back upstairs to his room after ignorantly letting us know that he has a business on his shoulders.
"Take this bag of problems with you Luka now that you're back," were the words he said before leaving us to be.
Liya's lips scrunched into a mad pout and she marched towards the entrance.
"Liya, shoes. Now," I commanded.
She turned back and headed up the stairs to get her shoes. Then she angrily walked out again. I stopped her by the arm and she didn't flinch at all.
"You were followed by someone? You should have told me," I spoke looking into her eyes.
Her body tensed a bit at me bringing this up. I have given her a pager she can use to alert me if she's in any danger. She's used it a few times with her panic attacks but we haven't had any emergency recently.
"It was David," she told leaving my eyes to expand.
Her eyes could nearly tear up. I wrap my arms around her because now I can and she comfortably wraps hers around me too.
"I was so scared Luka. He followed me out of the mall and to the house," she sobbed onto my shirt.
"Why didn't you tell me instantly?" I broke us apart to take her face in my hands.
"I didn't want you to leave your shoot. Besides, Chase said I could stay with him until you come back so I wasn't worried," she told sniffing her nose.
I had only seen David in photos. He was a businessman, with a bad reputation. I had never encountered him in real life and I'm glad I hadn't. The psychotic me would have shot a bullet right through his head for what he put this innocent soul through.
"I also saw him before. At the masquerade Chase took me to," she elaborated softly because the masquerade was ages ago and she was telling me now.
"Liya, why didn't you tell me before? Is he threatening you? Has David got a hang of you or something? Tell me," I stressed with scare fullness that something could have happened to her right under my nose.
I have been busy with trips outside of NYC that David has got the chance to intimidate Liya twice.
"No. No one has been threatening me. I just can't put your life in danger," she stressed.
"I'll be arranging security for you. But for tonight, you'll be staying at mine," I decided.
She nodded her head yes and agreed. Well at least I'll have the night with her. Which reminds me that I also had something to show her. Before we left, she had grabbed a few clothes in a bag and other necessities she needed. She had settled into her room at my house.
I refused to change anything there and cleaned it myself so that no one took her things. She immediately falls onto the bed as if she'd missed it so much. Whilst she sets her things up, I make the phone call for the security arrangement. Liya is stubborn enough to move back into her house because she wants some independence.
I know she thinks I won't always be there to look over her but I will be there to look over her, always. There's nothing of equal value to me than Liya. Not even my career, let alone my life.
I hired security guards, around four that will guard outside her house. A personal bodyguard would piss her off as she'd feel invaded. Once all that was done, I had taken a shower and then a nap as I was jetlagged.
*the evening*
"It must be a really blessed day to have Chef Luka cook for me," Liya exaggerated taking a seat at the dining table.
"It really is a blessed day. But a blessed day with a few surprises," I added with a spark.
"I love your surprises," she laughs cutely before plastering a gorgeous smile.
I'm glad you love them Liya.
I take the plate of spaghetti Bengalese I made for her and place it in front of her. It was one of her favourite dishes along cheesy salmon rice cake, spicy seasoned chicken (homemade by me), chicken filled pastries and lastly, strawberry cake.
She was always in an extra great attitude when these foods were in front of her. Liya had issues with her eating because of her past but thank God she's doing better now.
"Now eat up quickly. I have something to show you," I told sitting down next to her.
I had my plate of food in front of me and we both talked as we ate. We talked about the hug and she just shrugged her shoulders.
"I'm glad I didn't react negatively. I've always wanted to physically interact with you like a normal person," she expressed with a little shrug again.
"I'm glad you're healing," I said, soothing an expression to her face.
I had never seen her this relaxed, ever. She was always scared that she'd be triggered and even though at times I made her feel like I wanted to desperately hug her or when she wanted to desperately hug me, she would cry because she was always scared of how her body would react to it.
She makes me want to actually live and I never understood why it was that way. Maybe it was because she walked into my deep end to get me into the bright light when everyone else had refused to. Probably, that's why I love her so much.
"Done. Now what's the surprise?" she spoke finishing the food on her plate.
"You're going to have to close your eyes for that," I told getting up from my chair and taking both our plates into the kitchen.
She goes in to wash her hands first and dries them before getting ready to close her eyes. They shut and she grabs onto my hand for me to guide her. Her hand, so soft like marshmallows. They sent a sparkling tingle into my body which excited me.
My heart raced dramatically because I was just so happy. I guided her out into the back lawn which she hadn't seen for a few months. Not because she had moved but because of how busy she had become with shoots that she barely spent time at home. She'd be back for dinner, sleep and then breakfast. Otherwise, the house was empty.
"Alright, you can open them," I instruct.
I watch her eyelids lift slowly and her breath stops halfway. She walks forwards and into the garden of roses I had planted for her. I had planted her, her own rose field because she loved roses.
Roses were her favourite. There was a path mowed in between for her to walk through and I followed behind, watching her run her hand through the roses and breath the scent in.
"Luka," she called my name, turning around to look at me.
"I- I don't know what to say. This is really beautiful," her tongue stuttered, lost for words.
"But you're more beautiful," I spoke looking at the glow the roses had brought to her eyes.
"Now if you don't mind, will you have a dance with me?" I asked her formally, giving out my hand.
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