"Stay right here. I'm going to look for the keys." Confused, Grae still nodded.
Audrey went around the left side of the house. There were flower pots near the window. She picked up the second pot from the right and took the front door key before putting the pot back.
She went back to the front of the house. Grae just watched her as she comes near him.
"This was my home since I was a kid. Until my aunt needed to go abroad. I decided to go to Manila to study." Audrey explains as she opens the door using the key. The doorknob clicked and she opened the door.
"Here! Let's go inside before we talk. I'm dead tired from all the chasing and running." She groaned. She entered first.
Grae just laughed before following her inside.
"You can stay in the guest room. It's just next to mine." Audrey explains as they climbed the stairs going to the second floor of the house. "And please don't touch anything antique. My aunt will definitely kill me."
"I'm not the type of person who touches things I don't own." He whispered but Audrey heard that. Having weird thoughts running in her head, she felt her cheeks turned red. She just shook her head and ignored those weird thoughts.
They finally stopped in front of the guest room. She turns to him and folded her arms and glared at him.
"What I just meant is don't touch anything. You can use this room," she pointed at the door behind her. "I'm going to pick some clothes for you. Please wait inside." He smiled and nodded before entering the room.
Audrey sighed before heading to her parent's bedroom.
She quickly went inside and searched through her father's wardrobe. After picking some clothes for Grae, she returned to the guest room. She was about to tell him that she has brought some clothes for him when she heard him talking with someone on the phone.
"Kate, you knew exactly why I had to do that," Grae argued with his secretary.
[Mr. Montereal, I understand what you're feeling right now. But you shouldn't have to drag that girl with you. You've just created more problems to fix. I don't even know how to explain this your-] Grae cuts her off.
"You don't need to explain to him. Just tell him you don't know anything." Grae quickly ended the call before realizing that Audrey had entered the room. "You're back."
"I just picked some of my dad's old clothes. I'm here to give them to you. I didn't mean...to…Uhm... Anyways, here." She quickly gave him the clothes.
"Thanks." Grae smiled at her.
"Don't thank me. I'm still angry at you." She turned her back at him before speaking again. "I'm going to take a shower before preparing our dinner. I'm not a good cook but my dishes are still edible. I hope you don't mind?"
"Actually, I was thinking about cooking for dinner. Would you mind?" She turned to face him again with a confused look on her face. "Just take it as my first apology gift. I guess?"
Grae smiled awkwardly at her. She just sulked.
"There's a grocery store not too far from here. Let's go there after you've prepared." Grae nodded before she left.
~***~
After taking a shower and changing into casual clean clothes, Audrey went to the living room and saw Grae waiting for her.
"So, how far is it? By car?" Audrey smirked.
"By feet." She said as a matter of fact. She went out of the house and he just followed her.
They just walked for about forty-five minutes until they reached the store.
"Well, this is not exactly how I pictured it." He suddenly looked at her.
Audrey folded her arms and looked at Grae.
"Told you it's not that far. Well, Mr. Montereal, what kind of dish are you going to cook for this lady you kidnapped?" Grae chuckled.
"Oh. I kidnapped you? Really?" He scratched the back of his neck.
"I guess cooking isn't just something I can compensate you with."
"At least you know you did something wrong." Grae just shrugged in response.
He pulled one pushcart from its designated area using one hand and the other held Audrey's hand.
"What are you doing?" She glares at him.
"Well… just making sure my hostage won't run." He winked at her. "I kidnapped you, remember?"
He smiled, showing his dimples.
"You're joking, right? Why would a kidnapper-" She paused and stared at him, confused. But finally realizes what he is trying to do.
Grae just pulled her close and started walking.
"Where can we get some vegetables? Oh! And some meat. We'll need that." Audrey wanted to think that she is having a nightmare and might finally wake up.
She just shook her head and guided Grae where they can find the ingredients he's been looking for.
"By the way, I can't use my credit cards here. Can I ask you to-" Audrey cuts him off.
"Don't worry. I have mine. It was given by my aunt." She assures him.
They walked to the powdered milk and flour section to get some ingredients for desserts.
"Does your aunt come home in the Philippines often?" Audrey shook her head and calmly pulled her hand away from him.
"No. She rarely comes home. Since my father died." She explains. "She only comes when she's needed here."
"Like?" Grae asked as he picks one of the ingredients he needed.
"I don't know. Business matters I guess?" Audrey shrugs.
"I see," Grae stated as he places the last ingredient in the cart.
"Whoa. Are you going to cook for a bunch of people?" She asked as she looks at the things they have in the cart.
"We need to stay here, Audrey. I know my dad. He will just keep looking for me and we can't risk staying in Manila. Now that I've got you involved in this mess." He looks at her apologetically. "I'm sorry."
"What's done is done. Let's go finish up buying groceries so we can head home and eat. I'm starving." She changes the subject.
"Sure." Grae agrees.
~***~
After buying groceries, they went straight home.
At home, Grae quickly started preparing his ingredients while Audrey unpacks the other groceries they bought. Some vegetables, eggs, and other food. She cleans them thoroughly and places every item in the refrigerator while the wet foods (meat, fish, and chicken) are placed in the freezer.
She took a quick glance at Grae when she realized that they look like a newlywed couple since they went to the grocery store. That made her feel awkward.
She suddenly shook her head and took the only two plastic bags left. Which contains both of their personal necessities. She even had a little argument with the bagger on packing these things.
She told him that she wants these to be packed separately. The bagger only assumed that they were newlyweds and she was just still shy. So he just listened to her demand.
"Uh, Mr. Montereal?" She calls him.
"Just call me Grae, Audrey." She nodded.
"Okay, Grae. So… I'm just going to bring these to our rooms. I'll be quick." She says as she shows him the two bags.
"Sure," Grae answered while cutting pork meat.
After she had left the bags in both of their rooms, Audrey assisted Grae while he was cooking Italian pasta.
When they're finished cooking, Audrey sets the table, and Grae prepares the Italian pasta before serving them.
"That looks delicious." She sniffs at the food as Grae comes closer and serves them on the table. "Smells like one too."
"Are you talking about me or the food?" Grae asked while laughing.
"Tss. Narcissist." Audrey rolls her eyes at him before sitting down.
"That's what makes me think what's on your mind while helping me out in the kitchen." Grae sat in front of Audrey.
They started eating. But there was another awkward atmosphere between them.
"I remember you mentioned your father earlier. What happened?" Grae asks.
���Plane crash. My aunt handled everything herself since then." Audrey paused for a minute before taking another bite of her garlic bread.
"I see. How about your mom?" Audrey stares at him for a moment before answering him.
"She left us when I was six." She continued on eating.
"Sorry." Grae apologizes.
"It's fine. You didn't know." Audrey stops eating and stares at him again. "How about you? I've been trying to stop myself to ask you. But since you've already asked me something about my parents… Why did you do that? Why did you ruin your own wedding?"
Grae weakly smiles before answering.
"My wedding is nothing but a business transaction, Audrey. And I can't bear marrying someone who is forced to marry me not because she loves me." Audrey was stunned by his answer. " About why I keep asking about your family, well, that is in case they caught us here. And of course, you need to continue studying here. Not in Manila. My dad will definitely try to trace us. He will not stop."
"Why would he do that?" Audrey asks him again.
"Because that's all he wants from them. Their company." Audrey was dumbfounded by his answer. "He's greedy for power."
"Wait. Does that mean we have to stay here?" She suddenly stands up.
"I should've said that while we were still at the grocery store." Grae closes his eyes for a second then opens them again. "We have to. My dad won't just be sitting still and do nothing, Audrey. You don't know what he can do."
"What do you mean?" Audrey asks.
Grae stood up and started cleaning up.
"You're tired. I'll clean this up before going to bed. Just go to your room and take a rest." Audrey glares at him.
"You're not my dad. Don't order me around. I will go there even if you don't tell me to." She already took a few steps away from the table when he suddenly talked.
"Sorry. I just don't want to involve you farther." He apologizes. "And you're still my hostage."
Audrey stares at him in disbelief. He just smiled while starting on cleaning up. Which makes Audrey more furious at him. She turned and went straight to her room.