Scott
I smiled, lying on my bed. If I only knew that Lara Carter would be this sweet and caring, I should meet her the day I signed the marriage contract, bring her home with me, and live as husband and wife.
It's been two hours since she left, but my lips still tingle because of the kiss I gave her on her cheek. It was an innocent kiss, but the effect on me was not so innocent but far from it. In my mind, I'm picturing how soft and sweet her luscious lips are. How smooth her body is against me when I wrap my arms around her. God, I want her here in my arms always.
Lara Carter, I whispered her name, and I closed my eyes, reminiscing about how she felt in my arms, her smell, and her beautiful face: my wife, my beautiful wife. I smile, opening my eyes at the right time the door opens, and standing at the door is James with Owen, Lara's friend.
"Why didn't you knock at the door?" I snarled, my happy mood instantly replaced by annoyance.
"I did, but you didn't open the door, so I thought you were already sleeping, and I plan to wake you up because Owen has an important thing to discuss.
"Okay, you can leave now. Come in, Owen. You can sit wherever you want. " James left the room, and Owen stepped inside and sat on the couch near the window.
"I'm sorry to disturb you this late." He started.
"It's okay. Why are you here?"
"Stop sending men to follow her." I frowned. "Lara Carter stopped sending men to follow behind her, or they will only end up dead." I slowly sat up, this time leaning on the headboard.
"Owen."
"She saw them this morning and when she headed home after she left from here. She saw them following her."
"I thought you still didn't know who she was, but I guess you already know because you wouldn't send those men to guard her if you still didn't know her."
"What are you talking about?" I asked, feigning innocence.
"Blade." I stiffened, looking at him. "I recognized you as soon as I saw you the night Lara brought you home."
"How did you know me?"
"Ashley and I are working for her grandfather. No one knows our existence in the organization. We are raised and trained to become her guard. And we all know what's happening to her. I know you because his grandfather shows your face to us, just in case we meet each other. We also know you are her husband in the papers, but Lara doesn't know you."
"I just want to tell you to stop sending men to guard her. We can do it. We've been doing this since she was a child. Don't worry. There are four of us. She only knows Ashley and me. The two others are hidden, but they are just close.
"I will tell her that Scott Miller sent those men so that she won't investigate herself because if she did and found out who you are, she might run again."
"Okay."
"Prepare yourself tomorrow because she'll get mad when she finds out you sent those men."
"Okay, and thank you, Owen, and take care of her." He smiled this time.
"So you like her, huh?" I lowered my head this time.
"She's not what I expected. I expect her to be a stuck-up bitch, but she turns out to be a sweet, kind, and caring woman." Owen laughed this time.
"Caring and sweet, you said. See until you meet the furious Lara. All those compliments will fly into thin air."
"I wanted to see it," I said, smiling.
"You know what Lara thought about how your appearance looked? She thought that you were ugly, that's why you're hiding your ugly face behind your mask, but that is not why she's hiding from you. She saw you as a monster, and you're the person she feared."
"Why is that? I haven't done anything to her before."
"When she was thirteen, remember it was her birthday. Her grandfather announced to the organization that he would introduce her.
"Yes, but it didn't happen, and they said her grandfather didn't let her come because of what happened."
"No, she came the next day. Her grandfather hides her in her room, ensuring no one will see her. I was there guarding her. But in the middle of the night, she left her room and wandered around, and she stumbled into a room she shouldn't have. She went inside that room curiously. Your fault anyway. Why didn't you lock the door? She saw you there, torturing those men in the most gruesome ways.
I found her running back to her room, trembling in fear, and since that night, she has had nightmares. Luckily, as the days passed, it had become less, and now she only got it once in a while.
I sigh and close my eyes. Those people are the ones who ambushed her parents. I tortured them to get information about who was behind the killing, but they didn't talk until their last breath.
Lara's parents are like my second parents because when they died, they took me in and treated me as their own. My parents are part of the organization, and they also are close to Mr. Carter and his wife.
"I'll stay as Scott Miller to her as long as I can keep my identity to her. And hope she doesn't find out soon.
"Don't hope because she will eventually find out, no matter how you keep it. Just pray that when that time comes, her views of you have already changed."
I hadn't slept the whole night after my talk to Owen. Lara hid from me because she feared me and saw me as a monster.
I'm sure my eyes have dark circles around them because of lack of sleep, but I can't force myself to sleep.
Around seven, James brought my breakfast and helped me change the bandage on my wound and clothes.
At lunch, Aron was the one who brought my food, and here I am, waiting for Lara to arrive.
It's already five in the afternoon, and in a few minutes, she will step inside my door. I have already memorized my lies. Why I sent those men to follow her because I was afraid that those men that were chasing me that night would come after her. It's a lie because those men are already in the basement waiting for me to give the verdict.
After twenty minutes, a knock at the door came, and it opened, revealing my sweet, beautiful wife, but now she wasn't looking sweet at all. She looked like she wanted to murder me. Her lips formed a thin line, and her eyes threw me a death glare.
"Good afternoon." I greeted her, smiling. She stepped inside, and I cringed when she slammed the door shut. She looked small but looked scary when mad.
She crossed her arms over her chest, standing a few feet from my bed, still glaring at me, without uttering a word.
"You had a bad day at school today again?" I asked, but she kept glaring at me.
"Lara, what's wrong?" I asked.
"You will continue to act like you don't know why I'm being like this?" She asked, glaring at me.
"Being what? You look cute anyway." I cursed and winced when she punched my shoulder.
"Why did you punch me? I'm a patient here. Aw! That hurts."
"Continue to act; you don't know then." She said, then settled on the edge of my bed.
She harshly pulled me to sit up and opened my top. Then she removed it. This girl is maltreating me, but I don't mind as long as her name is Lara Carter.
"Ouch!! Lara, that's hurt." I winced when she peeled the bandage, not careful at all.
"Tomorrow, I won't come. If you can afford to hire men to follow me around, I'm sure you can afford to hire someone to care for you." She said while cleaning my wound, then bandaged it again.
"I'm sorry, I'm just worried. I'm afraid that those men that night will go after you. I want you to be safe.
"I'm not your property for you to put a guard around me." She said in a voice laced with anger.
"Of course, you are not my property because you are not a thing. You're a friend. Ouch!! What did I do this time?" I winced when she smacked my head. No one hit Blade, who was still breathing after. Only this girl is the exception.
"Nothing, I just want to smack you." She said and returned the first aid kit from the drawer. Then, she went into the bathroom. I'm sure to get water to wipe me. My guess is correct when she returns. She sat on the edge of the bed and wiped my face.
"You'll come back tomorrow, right?"
"No."
"Why? I have explained my reason already."
"Do I need to answer you? We are not close. I just met you a week ago, and to clarify things with you, we are not friends. I'm a stranger who can't leave a bleeding man bleeding to death in the parking lot." She said and returned the basin inside the bathroom. She went to my closet, took my pajamas, and helped me wear my top. Then she walked to the door.
"Where are you going?"
"I'll just get your food. You change your pants." She said and went to the kitchen.
"What the hell? I thought we were good now. I thought we were already close enough to be friends for a start, but now, why does she look so distant? Is it because I sent men to guard her? What's the big deal about it?"
She came back after a few minutes carrying a tray. She placed it on the bedside table, put some on a plate, and handed it to me. I took it from her hand but put it down beside me.
"Lara, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean anything when I hired those men to guard you. I'm just worried." I said, holding her hand, but she pulled it away from my hold and stood up.
"I hate it when people decide for me. I'm not too fond of it when people think they have a right to me, and I wouldn't say I like it when people think I'm weak and can't protect myself. I can protect myself, and I don't want someone watching every move I take and then reporting it to someone."
"I'm sorry. I won't do it again. Just don't be like this. Please don't treat me coldly. You're the only person I trust right now, so please don't distance yourself from me."
"You eat."
"I'm sorry." But she ignored me. I moved to the edge of the bed near her and held her hand. "I'm sorry," I whispered. Her shoulder slumped down, and she let out a sigh. Then she looked at me. I smile at her, but she looks me in the eye like she's looking through my soul. Then she looked down, picked up my plate, and fed me.
I smiled and gladly opened my mouth. Lara chuckled, and my smile widened, but I stiffened when she stole a kiss on both of my cheeks.
"I just take back the kiss you stole from me yesterday." She said, and I laughed this time when she grinned, but her face was blushing.
"How about the hug? Won't you take it?
"No, I'll collect it one of these days. I want to have an interest when I collect it." She said. I just chuckled and munched my food.
" Have you eaten already?" I asked.
"Yes." She answered shortly.
"You'll come back tomorrow, right?"
"I'll think about it."
"Please, we are friends now, right?"
"We are not friends. We are just strangers who meet unexpectedly, but we are far from friends.
"Stranger friends, then."
"Removed the friends. We are strangers to each other." She said," I wanted to sulk, pouting in the corner like a child, but I'm Blade, and Blade doesn't do those things.
"Blade, don't say sorry and beg." My mind told me. Aishhhttt!!! Never mind. Except with this girl, I pouted with pleading eyes looking at her and holding her hand again.
"Lara, can we be friends then?"
"No!" She quickly answered.
"Fine," I said, annoyed, arms crossed over my chest. This girl is more stubborn than an eighty-year-old woman. She gathered my plates, then returned them to the kitchen.
"I'm going." She called downstairs.
"Wait, Lara," I called out, but I heard the front door open and close, then it turned quiet. I slumped on my bed, pissed off.
Lara was true to her word. Two days in a row, she didn't come back. I have no news about her because I'm afraid to ask one of my men to watch her. After all, she might notice them again, and her hatred for me will worsen.
I feel a bit better now. My wound still hurts, but I can stand on my own, but I cannot stand for too long because I feel dizzy.
I can't take it anymore. I want to see Lara. It's already five in the afternoon, and I'm sure she is heading home from school.
I picked up my phone on my bedside table and called James. After two rings, he picked it up.
"Boss!
"Come into my room, and prepare my car. I'm going somewhere."
"But Boss.
"Just come up here." I snarled and hung up. I went to my closet, pulled out a shirt and pants, then put them on.
I waited for James for five minutes before the knock came, and he entered my room.
"Help me go downstairs."
"Boss!! But I glared at him. He sighed but helped me out of my room and down the stairs. When we reached the ground floor, it felt like my wound opened again because it hurt, but I ignored it and continued walking to my car with the help of James.
"Boss, you are still weak. Are you sure you can drive alone?"
"I'm okay. I am just going to Lara." I saw a slight smile on his lips, but he quickly hid it by clearing his throat.
"Okay, I'm just around, just in case."
"Okay." I closed my car door and drove off to Lara's house. I parked my car not far away from her house. She's not home yet because her vehicle is not in the parking lot. I just stayed in the car and waited for her.
I bite my lips when my wound throbs, but I endure it. I closed my eyes, leaning my head on my seat. This pain is nothing to what I've been through before. I opened my eyes when I heard a car approaching, and I smiled when I saw it was Lara.
She parked her car in a lot in front of her house, then stepped out of her car with her eyes on my car. I unbuckled my seat belt and then stepped out of the car, but I cursed when my leg gave in, and I fell sitting on the ground.
"What the hell are you doing here?" She snarled while jogging toward me and helped me to stand up. I winced but wrapped my arms around her.
"I missed her. I missed her so much." I thought.
"You didn't come."
"So, you came here?" She asked, glaring at me. I nodded my head in response, smiling.
"You're stupid. You don't get it. I don't go there because I don't want to. It's as simple as that."
"But I want you there."
"And why is that? So that you have a personal nurse to take care of you?"
"I miss you." She coughed and softly pushed me away. Then, she took a step back away from me.
"You're funny." She sarcastically said and made her way to her door.
"Lara! I called out. I felt dizzy, and I wanted to sit down, but the girl ignored me, continued to her door, and unlocked it. I cursed and held on to the side of my car. I grabbed the handle opening it to get inside, but I lost my balance when I accidentally pulled the door a bit stronger, hitting me on my leg, and I fell to the ground. I cursed and groaned in pain. I pulled myself up, then crawled to the driver's seat, panting and wincing in pain. I leaned my head on the steering wheel, then closed my eyes, hoping that it could ease the dizziness I felt.
"Scoot, you stubborn man." I smiled while still leaning my head on the steering wheel.
"A minute. I feel dizzy." I said. And the next thing I feel is her hand massaging my head. I sat up, quickly wrapped my arms around her waist, and buried my face in her tummy.
"We are still not friends." She muttered without pulling away from my hug.
"Okay, we are strangers," I said.
"Yes, we are. Do you feel better now?"
"Yes, now that you're beside me."
"Stopped flirting with Mr. Miller." She scoffed. I just chuckled and tightened my arms around her.
"Move to the passenger side so I can drive you home." She huffed. I let go of her and stood up, but I still felt dizzy. I held on to her shoulder, slowly moved to the passenger side, and got in with her help.
She closed the door, went to the driver's side, and drove to my house. I just closed my eyes with a smile on my lips.
When we arrived, she helped me out of the car and led me to my room, and helped me sit on the edge of my bed.
"Let me check your wound. I think it's bleeding again. How you fell earlier." She said and slowly unbuttoned my top.
"Yah!! She snarled when I stole a kiss on her forehead. I just grinned, ignoring her deathly glare. She scoffed, then removed my top, then slowly removed the bandage on my wound, and she was right. It was bleeding, but just a little.
She takes out the first aid kit, cleans my wound, then applies an antiseptic on it and bandages it back after.
She returned the first aid kit to the drawer before she pulled my pajama from my closet and handed it to me.
"I think you can do it yourself now."
"But you haven't wiped my face yet."
"Then, who helped you clean yourself in two days if you cannot do it?
"Fine, I'll do it." I scoffed. I stood up from my bed, went inside the bathroom, washed my face, and cleaned my body using a wet towel. When I stepped out of the toilet, Lara wasn't there already.
"Did she leave already? I haven't eaten yet, and I'm hungry. I went to the door and stood at the top of the stairs.
"Lara! Are you still there?" I called out, hoping she wouldn't leave.
"I'm cooking." She answered back. I smiled and went back into my room.
Forty-five minutes later, she came back carrying a tray with food. She set it on the bedside table, put some food on a plate, and handed it to me, and she scooped some for her.
"Thanks." She just rolled her eyes at me, and I chuckled.