Chapter 61: Chapter 61

Taylor's POV.

As we approach his office he begins to speak, breaking the awkward silence that has weighed between us for the past seconds. "Remember I told you I wanted you to meet someone real close to me today right?"

He opens the door to his office. "Yea, what about it?" I ask as he shuts the door.

He let go of my hand and I walks out from behind him to see a gingered haired guy with the familiar figure I slowly puts together as I see Keenan and panic grips me to the core.

He wraps his hands around my numb body and pulls me to himself in a claiming manner. "Hun. I want you to meet Keenan my best friend. Keenan, meet Taylor. The lady I've been talking to you about and the centre of my world."

What the hell?!

We both stare at each other in silence. While I don't want to offer him my hand for a shake, he seems scared and withdrawn to offering his to me.

This gesture makes Rory look down at me and then at Keenan. "You two know each other?" he questions, behind his calm voice lies uncertainty and insecurity I don't want him to have and for that cause, I answer.

"No. But we've met at your engagement party? Remember while we were looking for you, I ran into him a couple of times." I bite down on my lips so I can keep going, this lie is going to be the death of me. "I didn't know he was your best friend."

The tension in his body reduces and when he speaks, it's less uncertain. "Well, he is."

"Nice to meet you, Keenan," I say, stretching my hand and smiling in a not so friendly manner.

Keenan takes my hand into his cold ones and I almost pull back instantly. "You too Taylor."

"Don't mind him, Taylor, he's normally loud but he is not in his best days today," Rory explains and Keenan scowls lowly. "Girl trouble." He whispers into my ear before kissing my temple. "But once he's out of that phase, you are gonna love him."

Bet I still won't. I almost reply but shut my mouth.

The phone on Rory's desk begins to rings and he goes to answer it. "Yes, Cynthia?"

I notice Keenan gaze burning into my head, but I deliberately ignore it and move towards Rory who is on the phone.

"Tell him I'll be right there."

He hangs up the call and turns to me. "I've got to meet someone. He's a business partner from China. We have to close this deal if Pearl is to ever get shipped to China next year." He takes my hand and kisses it. "I'll be back before you know it."

"Okay." I nod even though I desperately want him to stay, I know he cannot because it's a business date that would mean a lot to him.

He kisses my forehead affectionately before turning to Keenan. "Take care of her while I'm gone okay?"

"You can count on it, bro."

Grabbing the key I guess are for his car from his desk, he walks out and shuts the door.

I walk to his desk and looking through the files neatly arranged in his desk, I find a photo of Rory and Keenan on the top deck, they were having a food fight when the picture was taken. Rory has something that looks like sauced egg and tomato in his hand and Keenan is holding a bowl of pasta. On their bodies, I can see different kinds of food and dessert have been smeared and the two still didn't look satisfied. I choke on my laughter and tear wail up in my eyes.

"It was the Hilton family Reunion." I am being drawn onto the knowing that I'm not alone when Keenan says this.

"Nice to know," I mutter under my breath, not bothered to glance at him.

We drift into silence again and I keep looking at the documents on Rory's table and I soon find a picture of me at the right side of his desk. I'm sleeping, or look like it, but it isn't a picture I've seen before, however my clothes which are Rory's clothes that I wore at the safe house. Then I realise that the picture was taken at the safe house.

Did he take the picture?

He was actually serious when he said he watched me sleep most times.

The thought of him watching me sleep is a little creepy to settle in.

Admit it, it's sexy.

I blush at myself and I drop the photo where it rightfully belongs.

"You don't have to ignore me you know."

I turn to Keenan with an uninterested gaze. I finally give him a proper glance for the first time and I realise Rory was right when he said it wasn't his best days.

His eyes look like one that hasn't had any sleep in the last forty-eight hours and although in a decent dressing, anyone that would look closer would notice that there was chaos happening even in his decent dressing.

I don't expect him to not feel bad after the stunt he tried to pull last night. A little part of me feel pity for him, but a larger part does not. He is capable of anything just to get what he wants and I don't even think he gives a damn if the girl he's trying to get is his best friend's girl. All he cares about is his own selfish need. And I was foolish thinking he's learnt his lesson from his past mistakes, but clearly, he hasn't and he doesn't even want to.

"I'm not ignoring you, Keenan, I'm just choosing to avoid anything you're involved in."

"Really? Then why didn't you tell Rory we know each other earlier?"

"Because unlike you, I care about how other people would feel, and react to the decisions I make." I shoot back with a shake of my head.

He clenches his teeth enough that the veins around his neck begin to pop out. "I remember what I did to you. And no, I do care what others feel and react to the decisions I make." He replies, sounding wounded and hurt.

"Really?" I fold my arms over my chest as I challengingly ask. "'Cause last night was a reminder of who you are. A cold-hearted, less caring, son of a bitch." I spit out harshly and I see the way he flinches as if I had poured a hot acid over him.

You can as well as shoot him on the spot Taylor.

He takes in a deep calming breath and doesn't reply with the word I expect him to. "Ero ubriaco la notte scorsa non ho potuto farne a meno. I was drunk last night I couldn't control or help myself. I never had that in mind... I want you but never wanted to for once considered forcing it on you. I'm sorry it had to happen that..."

I cut him off with a cold reply. "Last night was a mistake. Something that wasn't supposed to happen and I do not intend for Rory to find out about it or us. "

"The truth is bond to come out."

"I know that, he's been through a lot already and I don't want him finding out yet but I'm gonna tell him the truth when the time is right; just not about last night. I just want you to stay away from me."

He silently stares at me from his grieving, deep blue eyes and my breath cut. I can see his suffering, his pain and regrets, I just can't seem to see repentance in him.

"I was never selfish, Taylor, I've given up on the things I loved the most for people who didn't value it. I've been hurt, judged, cast out and betrayed. Everyone has their survival story and I am not saying you should forgive me for what I did last night, I just hope you know that I'm truly, truly sorry." when he says this, he turns and begins to walk to the door.

"Where are you going?" I surprise myself by sounding worried about what he may want to do to himself now.

He turns to me and can hardly form a smile when he says. "I can't stay here. Tell Rory I got a call from work." And with that, he walks out of the room and shut the door.