After around an hour of drive, they reached a high-end restaurant. Carl Black had already reserved a private room so they entered directly to the room. They were sitting opposite each other. Very soon a waiter came and they placed the order.
Lisa was avoiding eye contact with Carl Black. She was so nervous that she started rubbing her palms impatiently. This was a very common habit of Lisa. Whenever she felt nervous she started rubbing her palms continuously.
Carl Black was looking at her every action attentively. He rubbed his chin and thought something. He suddenly placed his palm on her forehead. Lisa was startled by the sudden action and asked in panic "Mr. Black, what is it?"
"I was checking whether you are having a fever or not."
"Huh...?"
Carl Black fixed his gaze at her as if he was examining her. Lisa looked away from him. She was scared that he could see through her and found out what she was thinking.
After a long pause, he started saying indifferently "I have noticed that you are lost somewhere. Care to tell me?"
"Um...."
Lisa couldn't find any proper word or more precisely, she was unable to say anything. She didn't know where to start and how to start, so she kept quiet.
Carl Black slowly started saying "Lisa, you can trust me. If you have any problem, tell me I'll try my best to help you."
Lisa only lowered her head to conceal her internal turmoil. Only she knew how confused she was at that moment.
He continued speaking "You know I was only 18 when my father passed away. As an elder son, I have to take the responsibilities of my Mom and brother. Mack was only 14 at that time. I was working hard to fulfill all the needs of my family. There was no time for my own happiness. For me, the happiness of my family is the happiness of mine." He sighed and continued again "I have never dated before. I thought dating is a waste of time and energy. But when I saw you, I had lost all the guards around my heart. I wanted to keep you by my side. For the first time, I wanted someone to be by my side for my own happiness. I felt like I will be the happiest person in the world if you stay by my side."
He looked straight into her eyes and said "Lisa, I want to protect you and give you all the happiness of the world. I want to solve every problem of yours. I want to win your heart."
Hearing Carl Black's confession, Lisa's heart started aching so much that she couldn't control her tears to fall down. She asked in a low shaky voice "Why do you care so much?"
Carl Black stood up, went to her side, and sat down beside her. He wiped her tears with his thumb and said huskily "because I like you.”
He cupped her face and placed a soft kiss on her forehead and said gently "Don't cry.”
Lisa blinked a few times before she fixed her gaze at his eyes. Her heart was racing wildly inside her chest. She swallowed hard in nervousness.
By then the waiter came to serve the dinner. Carl Black retracted his hands and moved away from her, maintaining a safe distance.
When the dinner served, they both started eating quietly.
Lisa's mind was covered with haze. She was too shy to make eye contact with him. She didn't know what the future holds for her. She was very confused at that time. But she had to tell him about Daniel Brooke. She should not hide it from him.
After a long pause, she started saying slowly " You said that you like me. But you hardly know me. If I say I don't like you then what will you do?"
Carl Black chuckled and said, "I'll make sure that one day you start liking me."
Lisa was speechless and thought 'this man is really overconfident.'
She cast an unpleasant look at him and said "You don't know my past. You don't know my friend circle. In fact, you don't know anything about me. What if I have …"
He interrupted "I don't care about your past. I only care about the present and future of us. I'll do my best to keep you happy."
Lisa was really helpless. This man was not giving her any chance to explain. She was too lazy to continue this conversation so she started eating quietly. Carl Black also didn't say anything.
After sometimes she said, "I am full."
"Ok, let's go then."
Very soon they came out of the restaurant and drove away. Lisa was sitting on the passenger seat looking outside in a daze. Carl Black glanced at her and said "Don't think too much. I really don't care if you have dated someone or not. You have agreed to the marriage and this is the most important thing for me."
Lisa frowned deeply and turned around to look at him. This Man was very serious about her. Suddenly she remembered what her mother and Anna Green told her. They told her that Mr. Carl Black is a very good person and she will be happy with him. She stared at him and thought 'will I be happy with this man?'
He was aware of her piercing gaze, so he glanced at her through the corner of his eyes and asked "Is there anything on my face?"
"Huh?"
"You are staring at me for a long time."
Lisa was feeling so ashamed that she looked away and stammered "Um... n-nothing."
"Hahaha..... I was teasing you."
Lisa looked outside immediately and her face turned completely red. She was biting her lower lips to control her emotions.
The remaining drive was quiet. After another half an hour of drive, they reached Lisa's apartment. As usual Carl Black got down and opened the door for her. When Lisa was about to go, he called her and said "Mom was asking me to take you home once."
Lisa turned around to face him and said after thinking something "Mr. Black actually....."
He interrupted her "Please don't say no. Mom will be very happy if you come."
Lisa couldn't deny his request so she said "I'll come."
"Ok then, I'll call you."
"Good night Mr. Black."
"Good night Miss Holmes and don't forget to call me once you reach your room."
Lisa shook her head helplessly and said "Mr. Black I am safe here. You go first."
"No."
Lisa was too lazy to argue with him so she quickly rushed inside. Carl Black was smiling mischievously to see her action. He was leaning on his car while waiting for her call.
Very soon he got her call and heard her alluring voice from the other end of the phone "Mr. Black I am in my room, now you can go."
"Ok."
When he was about to cut the call, he heard her saying "Drive safely."
"Ok."
He couldn't conceal the smile on his face. After hanging up the call he drove back to his villa.
Lisa was panting and her heart was beating very fast. She placed her hand on her chest to calm down. These small actions of Carl Black were curving deeply in her heart. Unknowingly she started caring for him. After a long shower, she lay down on her bed and tried to sleep.
Suddenly her phone started ringing. She saw Daniel Brooke's number was flashing on the screen. She immediately answered the phone "Hello."
"I saw you today to enter a private room with Carl Black."
"You... Are you spying on me?"
"It was a coincidence. I was there to meet my client."
"Oh...."
"Did you tell him about us?"
Lisa knew that Daniel Brooke would ask this question. But she was too lazy to think about this, so she tried to change the topic and said "How is the progress of your case?"
"Don't change the topic. Answer my question." Daniel Brooke sounded irritated.
"I'll tell him when the time comes."
"What?... You were alone with him and you didn't tell him? Are you enjoying his company?"
Lisa was very frustrated at that time, so she said angrily "Daniel I am really tired today and feeling sleepy. Good night."
She hung up the phone immediately.
On the other side, Daniel Brooke was so angry that he was about to vomit blood. He threw his phone in frustration and shouted "How dare you?" Unable to control his anger, he smashed the night lamp and slammed his fist hard on the wall. Immediately blood started coming out of the wound. He closed his eyes, ran his fingers through his hairs, and cursed loudly “F**k”.
That was a sleepless night for the trio. Each of them had their own reason for sleeplessness. Who knows what is hidden in the future.