21- Locked Door
The whole office was almost empty. Even the employees who used to stay for late sittings had left on time due to weekend excitement.
His laptop clicking was more audible now because of the extraordinary quietness.
At last, he closed his laptop and stretched in his seat. He knew it was way more past dinner time. He held the laptop bag and entered the private elevator to reach the penthouse floor. Once he entered the living room, his eyes fell on the other portion where lights were out. He changed into pajamas with a white button-down soft cotton shirt.
Abigail must have gone out for the weekend. Thank God for that. It was a mistake inviting her. He did not want her to keep her hopes high.
Celine also did that and thought that she could take advantage of him. He had few bed partners in the past. But he never let them involve except making him happy in bed. Once done with the pleasure, they were welcome to leave. None of them was ever allowed to spend the night in his bed.
Celine had been a sensible person. She never had expectations from Hunter. She used to appear in all social events beside him as his date.
That was the reason that he offered her a contract marriage. He offered her money. Actually, it was more than a fair amount. But she thought that he was nothing without her and tried to double her price.
In the end, she was the one left empty-handed.
He did not feel hungry so he planned to have beer on the pool side when he heard a knock on his bedroom door.
Uh uh. Was James still there because of him?
He opened the door and found Abigail standing in an oversized t-shirt paired with old cotton trousers. Her hair was tied in a messy bun and she looked adorable.
‘Look at you. Where were you? I was getting worried but didn’t know who to ask. Ethan was not
aking my call. Are you alright?”
Crowning at her, he could not understand what she was talking about.
You were having migraine, you should have come earlier from the office. Staying late is never jood for headaches.”
Dh. She was talking about migraine which he developed to avoid going out with her.
Yeah. Now I am home so I guess I will go to bed and take my rest.” He pursed his lips giving her a
ight-lipped smile.
ut his tone? Well! For some odd reason, it lacked the usual friendliness.
Umm. Do you need anything, Hunter?” She did not back off.
“Nope. Just some rest.” Again that coldness…
“Yeah. Right. Rest! You should rest.” She shrugged and stepped back, “Sleep tight.”
“You too.” With that, he closed the door immediately on her face and came to bed. Guilt slowly started taking over his soul.
But he knew, it was for the best. He took off his shirt and the moment his head hit the pillow there was again knocking on his door.
“Yes?” This time he knew it was Abigail, “Please come in.” He sat up, waiting for her, intentionally putting a boring expression on his face.
The door opened a little and her head appeared in the doorway, “I can’t find coffee in your kitchen cabinets.”
***
“What are you exactly doing, Abigail?” He was sitting on the small table in his kitchen corner. She was roaming around in the kitchen as if she owned it.
“I am going to put a cold pack on your head first. I know you haven’t taken your dinner but I would suggest not to take something heavy. Chewing food right now can aggravate the pain.”
She opened the freezer and took out a cold pack, which she had placed a while ago. Wrapping a washcloth around it she placed it on his forehead.
“Hold it. I will bring coffee and your pain will vanish in no time.” Hunter did not utter a word. He was sitting there dumbfounded.
“Why are you doing this?” He whispered a little.
“Wrong question, Hunter.” She smiled switching on the coffee machine, “I did not ask you why you were feeding me that pancake when I made it for you.”
Now he understood. She was trying to return the care. No. It was not a payback. Abigail was just trying to be there for him. Just like he tried it when he was living with her.
Something was simmering on the stove. What was it? Tea? She took a spoon from it and tasted.
“Hmm. Perfect.”
“What are you cooking?”
“Umm. I found some strawberries in the refrigerator. So I decided to make some strawberry custard.”
He could not stop himself from smiling, “You are making custard? For me?”
“Yes. Who else would I make it for?” She was pouring the concoction in a bowl now.
Taking a deep sigh Hunter placed the cold pack on the glass top and went to her. She was now putting strawberry pieces in it.
Holding her hand he turned her around towards him, “Abi.”
She did not seem to hear him, “I will put it in the freezer for a few minutes. We can’t over freeze it”
He was looking at her face intensely. Holding her face he kissed her forehead. She did find him extremely attractive and this gesture was extremely sweet. There was something in his eyes that she could not decipher.
Closing his eyes, he took deep breaths and shook his face, “What did you have for dinner?” Now there was the same gentleness in his voice which she was getting used to.
“I .. I had umm… Pasta.” Now she did not want to tell him that she could not take her dinner.
“Just leave everything, sugar. I am ordering food for both of us. Let’s have our dinner here.” He started ordering dinner on the intercom while she dashed off towards her apartment to bring her phone.
The door she had left slightly ajar was now closed somehow. She tried to open it but it had got locked
“Shit!” She muttered but Hunter heard her.
“What is it now?”
“My door. It got locked Keys are inside.”
“Oh. Punch in your four-digit code number, it will open in no time.”
“I don’t remember my code number. I changed it and now it’s saved in my phone.”
“Then look it up in your phone.”
“Phone is left inside, Hunter.”
Their order was supposed to arrive after thirty minutes. During that time Hunter tried various combinations. Abigail’s year of birth, Chloe’s, Geena’s, Molly’s, her father’s and everyone’s.
“I told you. My memory is like an eighty years old woman.” She sat tiredly on the couch.
Hunter called James to solve the matter. He promised to do something about it.
“Now go and freshen up. The room service is about to arrive.”
“No, it’s okay. I am full.” She said with an over-brightened smile. She hoped, he did not hear her stomach growling.
He sighed then pulled her up, holding her by her shoulders he turned her around and pushed her towards his bedroom. “Go freshen up. The restroom is in there. Ten minutes!”
Shaking her head she took a deep breath and nodded. “Ok.”
When she came back, the hotel staff was loading the table with Breaded Pork Tenderloin, barbecue Platter, fried chicken with freshly baked bread, a tempting salad tray having Romaine,
bacon, mint Oregano with lemon and olive oil dressing. Topped with coddled eggs.
He must be thinking that I am a crazy woman with an abnormal appetite who can’t think of anything else except food and coffee.
She wanted to jump out of that window.
“You ordered all this just for me, Hunter? Seriously?”
He waited for the staff to leave and then turned to her, smiling. “No, I ordered it for myself, sugar!
Just wanted you to accompany me.”
He was being a perfect gentleman.
“Umm. Would it be ok if I pay for this dinner?” She was having this sudden guilt attack. A perfect handsome guy who was exceptionally rich and a CEO at such young age, not only providing her with a roof but was also providing her a lavish meal. She was feeling like a parasite.
“Abigail!” she looked at him with her big black eyes. “I might be needing favors from you in the future. And I would be a lot hesitant if my friend would not accept something…”
Friend? Does he think of me as a friend? Abigail thought happily.
“Do you mean to say that you would have brought any of your friends here under the same circumstances?” she was getting curious now.
“Well! … Almost!” he shrugged.
“Almost?” She raised her brow.
“Almost!” he smiled, “Right now we can be friends and discuss whatever we plan to do.”
Then she suddenly remembered something. He wanted certain favors! Her eyes creased into a thin line. Before she could stop herself she asked him, “What kind of favors will you need? I hope they are not sexual ones.”
Shit! Abigail, you are crazy!
Hunter laughed at that. And she blushed looking around everywhere except his face.
“Those favors can wait, Abigail. Because right now I am starving and our food is getting cold.” He said while holding her hand. “Now come on! Has anyone ever told you, you talk a lot?”
