Chapter 23: Chapter 23

Chapter 22.

Harry walks in looking like a Greek God. He is bewitchingly cute. He takes after his dad. He looks exactly like him. He is in a navy blue jeans and a red striped t-shirt. His outfit is a nice fit and I swallow dryly when I realize that he hasn’t pulled his gaze from me since he walked in and neither have I.

His long hands and squarely propelled in his jeans pockets. He looks like some model or something close to that.

He walks straight to Aliana and hugs her. I start walking ahead to the study but he stops me. He nods to Aliana who goes ahead leaving the two of us stranded, looking into each other’s eyes but not saying a word at all. Janet is standing at the entrance but when Harrison gives her a glare, she disappears without a trace.

‘’How was your night?’’ he asks maintaining the distance between us. ‘’Did you have a good night's sleep? Did you rest well?’’ he asks quietly. I nod at him. I am a bit exhausted so, I will not talk to him.

He takes a step towards me and I step back. I want to step back again but I remember that’s not a good idea. This is Harrison we are talking about here. He will always go for what he wants. A smirk covers his lips and I feel warm.

‘’Hey, beautiful, everything okay? You are running away from me.’’ Well, the dream. Where was Harry when I was going to see my parents with Alvin? Is this dream gonna come true one day? What would I have to tell dad if that ever happens? Am I going to let dad down that much someday? Will he ever forgive me if that ever happens? His hand squeezes my shoulder gently startling me from the trail of thoughts and I swiftly turn to look at him. ‘’I want to know if you are okay.’’

‘’Yes, everything is perfect,’’ I swear Mr. Psychologist will not buy that. I didn’t manage to make it sound as perfect as I wanted it to. I am so bad when it comes to pretense.

‘’You are lying to me. I know you so well and right about now, I can tell that something isn’t right. I know you don’t feel like talking but just respond with a yes or no.’’ I nod in assurance.

‘’Did Aliana or Juliet do something to you?’’

‘’First of all, she is Janet, not Juliet. Second, something like …’’

‘’Yes or no please!’’ I freak out when he shouts. Harrison is shouting, well, not so loudly though.

‘’No.’’

‘’Why are you like that?’’

‘’Like what?’’

‘’Like shit!’’

‘’Jeez! Thanks for pointing out the obvious. I am fine though, nothing to worry about.’’ He smiles sweetly at me.

‘’That’s my girl. Don’t hesitate to let me know in case you aren’t okay.’’

My heart leaps with excitement. He just called me his girl. This guy has no limits. ‘’Yes, daddy. But why would …’’’

‘’No buts, you aren’t allowed to ask me questions just do as I tell you.’’

I hate the bossy and arrogant side of Harrison. So commanding, tyrannical and domineering. I’d wish in double to have the humble one.

I lift my hands high in a bid to show him that I have surrendered. He opens his arms and I willingly walk into them. I don’t wanna do this but trust me, right now and here, I need a warm and tight hug. That’s the only way I can feel assured. I let my head lay on his chest and I internally rejoice at his heartbeat.

I have to be very careful with this guy. Whatever he does to me isn’t just something to ignore. It is not a wave that will go away with time. I try pulling back but he tightens the hold.

‘’You are lying to me, Clarita. Aren’t you?’’

‘’About?’’

‘’You being okay.’’

I forgot about his investigative instincts. I am not gonna tell him anything. He can go ahead and figure it out himself if he wishes.

‘’Hey,’’ I say pulling away and he lets me to. ‘’Do you trust me?’’ he nods. ‘’I am okay. Please don’t worry about me.’’

‘’I don’t trust those words but I will try for you.’’ He says at the same time that someone clears their throat. We turn to look at the direction and Aliana is standing there with raised brows and I freeze. I don’t know what she thinks of me.

‘’You guys should come in here. I have other errands to run. I cannot wait for you the whole day.’’ she says and walks back into the study room. I start to walk towards the door but this crazy bustard holds my waist from behind me and I almost scream.

He leans his head on my right shoulder. ‘’Don’t hesitate to tell me if you are not okay.’’ I nod. I don’t wanna tell him the mean comments. ‘’You are so beautiful, by the way.’’

‘’Thank you,’’ I say with a noticeable blush.

‘’Can you do me a favour?’’

‘’Madam Aliana is waiting for us.’’

‘’I know, now, can you do me a favour?’’

‘’Sure,’’ I say certainly so as to get rid of him.

‘’Relax, you are so tensed right now but I need you to relax, okay?’’ I nod and turn on my heels walking towards the study room door. Harrison catches up with me and we both walk in together. She gives us the ‘really’ look but we both ignore her.

Harry pulls a seat for me and my heart feels flattered. I sit on the seat gently facing Aliana and I hope they’ll start by telling me about their relationship.

‘’Clara,’’ she calls attracting my attention. ‘’I am going to tell you what I have never told any of my house helps.’’ I tilt my head towards her direction because that sounds abnormal I want to ask why but I reserve my question for later when I see her sad face. ‘’This idiot here is my brother.’’ Facepalm. ‘’His parents adopted me way before he was born. I was his parents’ daughter before they knew they’d have a baby boy as naughty as Harrison as you call him.’’ I smile slightly but rub that away when I realize she is very serious about that. ‘’Hi parents didn’t adopt me because they couldn’t sire a child, no, they did that because of what was happening in my life.’’ I nod, I swear I am pathetic in this. I don’t know what to tell her.

‘’What happened?’’ I am scared even as I ask for this.

‘’My dad was a village drunkard. A famous and notorious one. He could drink as if he was going to win a trophy by doing that. My mum, on the other hand, was those women who in real life can be termed as ‘good’ or ‘wife material.’ she was always present in our lives. She only had me and my drunkard of a dad wanted to a boy child. He viewed me like a bastard who could have never been anybody in life. He despised me and always made sure that he hit me in the morning and evening before sleeping. My mum was vulnerable and frustrated most of the time. She never wanted to offend him. At some point, she decided that enough was enough and that no one was going to force her to stay. I was ten then. She told me she had made the decision because I was old enough to understand that dad was an oppressor.’’

‘’What did she do? Or rather what steps did she take?’’

‘’She tried escaping. Dad mentioned that she will never leave her unless he is dead. Dad insisted and was about to call the police when dad hit her on the head. She fainted and to date, I don’t know why she had to endure so much. I feel like she would have saved the situation by walking away and never showing up from the word go, she should have made the first step and maybe she would be alive today. Hers was a toxic relationship and persevering there for that long was a wrong move.’’

‘’That’s sad,’’ I say sadly. I am so touched by the story that I feel torrents of tears rolling down my cheeks. Harrison’s warm hands are squeezing my shoulders gently making me feel warm.

‘’Days later she was buried and I had to be wife zoned by my own dad. I did all the chores a wife could do except going to bed with him. He made sure not to leave money for food but wanted food every time he came from his drinking spree. I never knew anyone whom I could run to. I remember one day I ran to someone who was like a village elder for help and when he was asked, he said that he had authority over me because he sired me and all those guys who were yapping around there had no idea what it meant to take care of me. Later on that day, he beat me up that it is a miracle that I am alive today.’’ She pauses for a few minutes before she sniffles audibly.

This story is literally freaking me out. I wonder why she had to go through all that as a small girl. I look at her and I know she is breaking down any time soon. His adopted brother is a psychologist and can console her better.

‘’Alia,’’ she turns to look at him when he calls. ‘’You can continue with the story tomorrow or maybe take a break until you calm down and you are ready to speak once again.’’ She shakes her head.

Deep down, I really feel her pain. But then again, I am really interested in hearing this story. Why would things happen that way? Why is she telling me this story? Anyway, I think I will wait until I hear from her.

‘’I want to be left alone.’’ She says softly.

‘’You know you cannot …’’

‘’I can. Get out and let me think.’’

Harrison holds my hand. We walk out together. Now I know the relationship between the two of them. I now know why she can never say no to him. He leads me to our bedroom. Janet isn’t in the room at the moment.

He claps the door once we are both in. he moves swiftly and pins me to the door. His arms are on both sides of my head. His big brown eyes are searching min and the butterflies aren’t giving me peace. I would like to know what is with him

He comes closer and I close my eyes in anticipation of what will happen. The only thing I can feel is our breathing. His, is erratic but mine is even. I don’t know how I have been able to control it. I make sure that my eyes stay tightly closed. I feel his lips rub mine but that’s it. He doesn’t do anything.

‘’You shouldn’t freak out at the story Alia was telling you.’’

‘’What do you mean?’’

‘’I have had therapy sessions with her. We have tried taking her to doctors but it has never worked. What she went through traumatized her so much that it will be hard to take her off her mind.’’

‘’Sorry, she will be okay.’’

‘’Sure, she will.’’ He casually shoves his hands in his trouser pockets then he walks towards the bed and I follow suit. He sits and asks me to sit on his laps. I am feeling tired, and I will not argue with him so I proudly do that.

I sigh when his fingers linger on my hair. ‘’She’s going through a very tough time.’’

‘’Hey, don’t be sad. She will relax after talking to you.’’ Just give her a few minutes and she might just call us back.