She had no idea for how long they sat there like that. Finally when she felt him relax she pulled him from her embrace and gently tried to wipe his wet cheeks. He held her hand in the mid air as he looked at her with guarded eyes.
He was back on his guard, Eva noticed. Was he regretting now about why he told her everything, she wondered.
She gave him one of her gentlest smile and said," It's alright. You don't become weak if you cry. Rather I would say that crying is a really good stressbuster. It makes one feel relaxed and his eyes beautiful. Though your eyes are already enticing enough but now they are even more hypnotic."
He looked at her without batting an eye and said, "Who said I was crying?"
His eyes look humourless and challenging.
He looked just like a child who was angry because his ego was hurt. She had wanted to laugh at his cute expression but she decided to hold that laugh and put forth the best smile she could manage.
" It's alright. I'll not tell anyone that you were standing in the rain."
"If you dared to tell anyone else then I'll spank you." He said.
Eva had just opened her mouth to argue but then closed it again as the meaning of his words created some really erotic images in her head and she turned scarlet. Liam chuckled at her embarrassment.
She was glad that now he finally got released of the guilt he was carrying during all these years and now he was smiling. So she decided to ignore his audacious behaviour from a second ago but still there was one thing she really wanted to say.
"You are quite brazen, Mr Richardson." she said pursing her lips.
Just then another kiss landed on her soft pink lips and the wolfish gleam was back in Liam's eyes as he said, "And you are quite forgetful, Miss Rose."
"You- you kissed me again!" she hit him in the chest and he held her tiny fist close to his heart.
"Because you used honorific again."
" I am not your friend to call you by your name."she protested.
"Who said you are my friend?" he gently rubbed her lower lip with his thumb as he continued,"You are my girlfriend."
"No, I was your fake girlfriend." she said reminding him and her own self that there was no real meaning to their relationship. It hurt but it was the truth.
She tried to get up but he snaked his arms around her waist and pulled her even closer to him. His sudden action surprised her and she looked at him in shock.
"And what if I always saw it as real and not fake? Can't we become a real couple?"
"No."
"Why is that now?" his face hardened a bit. No one had ever said no to to him for anything. Was this woman woman born on earth just to disagree with him on each and every freaking thing? Even when he had opened his heart like a book in front of her why was she being so stubborn?
"You don't even like me." Eva said slowly but it was loud enough for him to hear.
"And who said I don't like you?" he was surprised at her answer.
"Do you think I would kiss just anyone and let just anyone sit on my lap?" He asked raising a brow.
She looked at their sitting position and realised that she was still sitting on his thigh and the realisation made her blush.
She tried to get up but he held her from her waist, restricting any of her movement.
"Who said you could get up? Answer my question first. What in the world made you think that I don't like you?"
"Er- that.." she tried to gather her chaotic thoughts which were running wild due to this close proximity.
"You looked so angry when you called me to your office for the first time. I mean, I know I shouldn't have kissed you but -"
" I was angry because I hadn't slept well for one whole week because I kept thinking about you. I had so many questions on my mind and there was no answer to them. There was no one who could answer them. I hate it when people try to invade my private space but then why didn't I fired you when you kissed me? This question kept bugging my mind and almost drove me crazy."
"Then the handkerchief that I gifted you took me hours to prepare but instead of my hard work all you noticed was a blood stain. I know it wasn't that expensive but -"
"But it was precious for me. No one had ever put that much of effort on preparing a gift for me." he smiled as he touched her cheek.
"You know it became my lucky charm. It always bought me more time with you. It always brought you closer to me. I used it when we went for business dinner and you ended up spending a night in my house. Then I used it when we went to meet my grandmother and I got to introduce you as my girlfriend. And then the charity ball at which you declared openly to Louisa that I am yours." He smiled at her expression because she looked a bit embarrassed but cute at the same time.
"The only time I forgot it was when we went to London and there all those things happened." He sighed and then looked at her once again.
"So I brought it here with me today and see we are alone again." he gave her a heart stopping smile.
Eva's eyes went from his face to his jacket's pocket and she pulled the handkerchief just a little. She could see the embroidery she had made on it. It was the same handkerchief she had gifted him.
"So you were using it all this time?" she asked feeling excited and awed at the thought of him cherishing it.
"Of course, it was the first gift that you gave me. How could I have not cherished it?"
"So... so you... you like me?" she asked still looking a bit confused.
He kissed her forehead.
"Finally you little beautiful fool, you understood."
She frowned.
"But why do you like me?" she asked. She had understood why he had trust issues and why he hated women who tried to get close to him and why he hated lies. But then again she herself belonged to the same opposite sex he was not very fond of and had always frowned upon. Then why does he like me.... unless he thinks that...
"I am straight, Mr Richardson. I am a woman and I know you are not very fond of women but still I am a woman and I am proud of myself. You should know that not every person is the same. Some do have values and morals. Other than that there is nothing special about me. I come from a very modest family. I am not be very rich but my parents are very loving and caring. I don't think there is anything that is similar between you and me. We both are from different worlds. You are too rich. You shine and glow and -" her blabbering was quietened by a kiss on her lips. A kiss that lasted more than minutes.
Finally when he pulled away he looked at her and said, "I am reminding you again, it's Liam and not Mr Richardson. And of course I know you are a woman." He chuckled and touched her cheek with the back of his hand and said, "or else why would you turn pink every time I touch you."
"Then why... why do you like me?"
"Because I couldn't hate you. I couldn't fire you when you kissed me and then I couldn't get you out of my head. I decided to find reasons to hate you. So I called you to my office and asked you about the kiss. I had thought that you would lie or that you'll try to seduce me but you ended up blurting the truth. Then I decided I would keep you where I could see you everyday and maybe I'll be able to find a reason to hate you. But my plan backfired because you always seemed so engrossed in your work and never even looked my way." he smiled to himself.
Only if he knew how many glances she had stole on him, Eva thought but then decided to keep it a secret and continued listening to him.
"Your ignorance of me irritated me. So I decided to over work you. I thought you will get tired and you would quit but you proved me wrong again. You worked hard. Slowly and slowly my feelings started to change for you. I felt jealous when I saw any man standing anywhere near you and that was a first. You kissed me and I didn't fired you that was a first. I allowed you to work on the floor which was exclusive to me and Alex, another first. Your ignorance irked me, another first. I couldn't help but appreciate your hard work, another first. I started to grow in love with your wild imagination, another first. There are still many more firsts." He smiled.
"Then why did you forced me to become your fake girlfriend?" asked Eva.
" I am not sure. Maybe because all my attempts to find a fault in you failed miserably and that only attracted me towards you. After so many years it was for the first time that I didn't feel hate and disgust at a woman's touch. Rather I enjoyed your company. Even you drunken talks were entertaining." He chuckled.
"What did I say when I was drunk?" she asked not sure if she really wanted to know. She just hoped that she hadn't confessed her feelings to him.
" I would tell you about that some other time." he said grinning.
"And then when at my grandmother's charity party you saw me and Louisa together instead of snapping at me as to what I was doing with her you spoke in my favour. You supported me and that was when I forgot the fake couple thing and started to like you for real."
She couldn't believe her ears. Was he telling the truth, she wondered.
"Then why didn't you talk to me during the ride back home after the charity ball?" she asked.
"Because I had no idea what to say. It was the first time that someone had supported me, fought for me." he said looking into her eyes. His eyes was filled with warmth.
His mom had died when he was just a kid. His dad had left him in his grandmother's care and even she had to leave his side. In the end he was left with his little brother in whose life he played the role of a father, of a friend and a brother. After his brother's death he worked hard day and night so that his father could rest. So during all this time it was him who was offering protection to those around him. He himself never got to experience how being protected felt like, Eva realised.
"So you want me to be your girlfriend? Like real girlfriend?" she asked.
He was quiet for a minute. His eyes never giving away his thoughts.
"Now that I think about it again...No. I don't want you as my girlfriend."
Special thanks to Ctb1lala who named this chapter. 🥰