"I-I don't know what to say," Harold said.
"Harold, I just want you to be by my side. I don't care if I have to get a hundred bodyguards around me. All I want is you." Denise drew closer to him and placed her hands on his shoulders, making Harold tense up.
Without thinking, Harold in turn, put his arms around Denise's waist. None of them was thinking clearly. Before they knew it, they were leaning in to each other, when suddenly Harold backed away. He slowly let go of Denise and stepped back, away from her. Denise was a bit disappointed with the lack of contact between her and Harold but was relieved at the same time. Relieved because, Harold had stopped himself before anything stupid could have happened between them. It would have been too awkward for Denise if they had kissed like she had expected.
She groaned internally, when she realised what she was about to do and her face began to blush. She looked away from Harold, who had suddenly taken interest in the ground.
"We should head back to the house. It's almost evening, and we have a long day tomorrow at work." she was so embarrassed to look Harold in the eye.
Then, she felt him. He was hugging her, while her back was turned towards him. She turned, and looked him in the eyes, then hugged him back. They had so many things to say to each other but none was brave enough to voice it out. After a while of hugging, they finally decided to go back to the mansion. Elena had already left, and Mike was almost done on the maintenance of the cars in the house. None of the cars seemed to have any major problem, so it was much easier for Michael to work on them.
Mrs Wilson spotted Denise and Harold walking back into the compound when she had returned with money in her purse, to pay Michael. The two got closer to the older woman, and Harold greeted her.
"It's surprising how I have not really seen you the whole of today, even though we live on the same compound. Are you okay?" Mrs Wilson asked Harold.
"I am fine, ma'am. I was a bit tired from last night, so I decided to take a walk. Well, I am going back into my room now, please let me know if you need me for anything." Harold said and turned.
Mrs Wilson paid Michael for his job. He was delighted with the money that, he could not stop saying thank you to the older woman. After he left, Mrs Wilson turned to her daughter, who was leaning on the pillar, and seemed to be thinking about something. She smiled knowingly, and approached her daughter. She tapped Denise lightly on the shoulder and she jumped up.
"Denise, is everything okay? You seem a bit lost."
"I am fine, mom. Nothing's wrong. I am... Never mind, mom. I will be in my room, then. I have to prepare myself for tomorrow's meeting."
Denise turned to leave when her mother stopped her. "Which meeting are you talking about?"
"Oh, I thought I told you about it. it might have escaped me. Anyway, we have new business partners who wants to use our shipping line to export goods from London. And they will be coming today so that we can finalise their paperwork."
"I see. I guess you have everything handled well?" her mother asked, extremely proud of her daughter.
"Of course, mother. It wasn't that hard, to be honest. But sometimes, I just wish father was here to counsel me," Denise said, with sadness in her eyes.
Her mother walked closer to her. "Denise, is there something you want to tell me? Let's go inside and talk to me, alright?"
They both went inside the house, and went into the library to talk. They did not want anybody bothering them.
"Denise, let's talk here. I saw you walk in with Harold earlier. And I saw the way you were looking at him when he was leaving. Tell me dear, do you have feelings for him?" Her mother sat beside her on the large chair.
Denise looked at her mother with a shocked expression. Was it that obvious she was having feelings for Harold? She herself could not even understand what she felt for the young man. Harold had always been there for her. Maybe she liked him in an extreme way. But, what about the almost kiss in the garden? And the long hug? She was even confused, herself.
"I don't know, mother. I suddenly started seeing him in a different way. I am always happy around him. He makes me laugh and all the times I was sad and unhappy he was there and consoled me. And then last night, he protected me. I don't know. I see him differently now."
"Well maybe you have always seen him differently. It just took you time to realise it."
"You think so, mother? I don't want to hope again. I really don't want another broken heart, mother."
"I understand you, dear. I know how much you have suffered in the hands of men. But, that does not mean all of them are terrible. There are good men out there and Harold is one of them. It is even evident in his eyes that he likes you too."
"What? No, I don't think he likes me that way. He just sees me as a friend."
"Are you really sure about that?" her mother gave her a smirk.
Denise thought her mother was just making it up, but after thinking about it well, she realised her mother might not be far from the truth. Harold had been very stunned when she hugged him but he had eventually returned the hug and held her in a way she has never been held before. Then back at the garden, he hugged her and almost let himself kiss her. Could he really be in love with her?
Her mother smiled, and left her with her thoughts. Denise was really confused. She had been looking for someone to love her unconditionally. And now that it seemed like she was about to get the one, it scared her. What if Harold did not really like her? What if he is just doing this because it is his job? She shook her head and decided not to think about it anymore.
She stood up and headed straight into her bedroom to prepare herself for the meeting with the two investors.
Harold laid on his bed in his room, going through some pictures on his phone. Then he came across one he had secretly taken of Denise when she was once hanging out with Elena at her house. Elena and Denise were talking about something and laughing when Harold took the picture. Whenever Denise went out to see Elena, she took Harold with her. Harold happens to be a friend of Elena too, so she always welcomed him in and would also engage him in their conversations so that he does not feel left out.
He brushed his thumb on Denise's face on his phone, as if he could feel her through that contact. "What are you doing to me, Denise?" he sighed.