The elegance and unreachable aura of the tan-suit guy made Rory's gaze linger on him for a couple more seconds. This good specimen of a man is an unusual sighting in this part of the airport, after all.
Looking at him closely, she thought she has seen him somewhere. And she was a little intrigued seeing him walking closer to them. His eyes met with hers probably because she was staring at him and she immediately averted her eyes.
Her lingering glance was long enough for Liam to notice it. He turned to see his assistant walking toward them. He clenched his jaws.
Her attraction toward dark-haired guys hasn't dwindled a bit, I see…
"Leave the baby here and go get the ticket, quick," he tried to send off Rory.
"Huh?" Rory did not like the tone he used. Her body stiffened up.
"Cherry," his tone softened a lot seeing the furrow between her eyes. "Go. I'll look after Aurelia."
Rory blinked. His soft tone immediately calmed her and she relaxed. And this is the first time she is hearing their daughter's name from his mouth. She was stunned out of happiness. He uttered their daughter's name so gently, that she felt the love.
This is all she wanted from him-- a little acknowledgement.
Liam held the tip of her fingers. "Go," he said and let go of her fingers immediately.
Rory let out a sigh. She forgot about everything else. She did want him to get to know their daughter. This would be a chance. She nodded and walked towards the ticket counter, after taking her purse.
Liam looked at Rory's back without even blinking his eyes. Then he let out a long sigh.
She looks very tired without her makeup on…
She never leaves her room without her makeup on. She has blond lashes and eyebrows and she is very conscious of it. She would wear makeup all the time to darken her eyebrows and lashes. She would help him with her tints too.
He couldn't believe she is at the airport with messy hair and without even a little makeup on. She looked good in the morning though.
He turned to his side. He didn't think she would leave the baby with him. But she did so without much protest.
He sat in the seat next to the carrycot and turned it to face him. He placed his big hand right below the baby's feet and took a peek. The baby was covered in her entirety in fluffy clothes.
She dressed her for the flight, huh!
"Do you not like the cold like your mother? Ah… you look very different now…" he whispered gently and his lips curved to a smile. He tried to get a good peek at the face of the baby but the light was blocked.
"Jake," he turned, gritting his teeth at the man wearing the tan suit. "Is the jet ready?"
"Yes, sir," Jake answered. He didn't fail to notice his boss placing his hand over the belly of the baby in a protective manner. And although he could not see his eyes, he could say that he was not very focused.
Jake couldn't understand anything. His boss is acting weird today. After sending off Allison, he was called by his boss and was asked to find out the travel plans of Aurora Roberts. And then he was asked to pack his boss' luggage and was brought to the airport.
Jake was wondering how his boss would find out where Aurora Roberts would be in this large airport, but he figured it out rather easily. 'She always wears grey hoodies for traveling,' he said and with a phone call he found out her location.
He didn't understand why he sent Aurora Roberts to buy a ticket when he borrowed the best jet their big boss owns though.
Wait… is he going to steal the baby? Is the jet to kidnap the baby? Did he send Ms. Roberts away to take the baby?
Jake wondered what he should do if his boss asks him to kidnap the baby. There is a security guard who is keeping an eye on them for some reason.
But it is doable once they get to the VVIP gate.
Jake started to make plans in his head to accommodate his boss' kidnapping plans. He found nothing wrong with it if his boss opts to take the baby.
It is his baby. It won't be kidnapping if he wants to take his baby for a ride, right?
Right!
Jake observed Liam. Liam was looking in the direction Aurora Roberts went. Through the little gap, Jake could see that his eyes were red. He wondered what his boss is thinking.
"Tell them to prepare fresh ginger chicken soup," Liam said breaking Jake's thoughts.
"Yes, sir," Jake took a deep breath. His boss likes to drink ginger chicken soup when he is catching a cold. Maybe he is feeling a little sick.
"She's catching a cold and running a fever…" Liam added and Jake furrowed his brows.
Isn't the baby too young to drink soup?
He decided to clear his doubt. "The baby-"
"And consult a doctor to get fever pills for a nursing mother. Ugh! She hates eating pills. Stupid…" Liam mumbled and Jake listened to him with his lips pressed.
So the medication is for Aurora Roberts. So… we are not kidnapping the baby? Then why did he send her to buy tickets?
Jake was more and more confused.
"What? Why are you still standing here?" Liam grumbled at Jake. "Take her bag and make sure the temperature is 75 degrees in the cabin…Uh… No, make it 78. She might get shivers. And… Get the medication immediately," Liam waved his hand dismissing Jake. "And shave your head."
Shave my head? Why? What does my hair get to do with anything?
Jake, more confused than he ever was, picked up Rory's bag and walked away just like his boss asked him to. In the end, his job is to do what his boss asks him to do and not question his motivation. He even wants to set the temperature warmly. He definitely is not well.
But he was not going to shave his head.
After Jake left, Liam bowed his head and wiped the corners of his eyes. He then fixed his sunglasses properly so that no one can look at his eyes. He turned around to see how crowded the place is. It has become a little more crowded.
As he was looking, he felt little movements from the baby. Before he could turn, he felt it… a little squeeze around his finger. Something so very soft and warm was covering his index finger.
His heart skipped a beat.
He looked at the baby. The baby was still having her eyes closed, but she held his finger. His hand started to tremble and he tried to stop it from shaking too much lest it would wake up the baby.
But he couldn't stop his hands from trembling and his hand went icy cold out of anxiousness. He knew she won't let him near the baby and that's why he sent her away to have a good look at the baby. But he didn't think this would happen.
"I just wanted to have a look at you… but don't wake up my sweet baby…" he whispered and patted the baby with his other hand.
But the baby didn't listen to him and opened her eyes. He knew the baby opened her eyes but he couldn't see it. Not because of his sunglasses, but because his eyes have clouded. His hand was trembling and the baby's hold on his finger tightened.
He removed his sunglasses and wiped his eyes with his hand. He could see the bright blue eyes of the baby just for a second before his eyes got blurry once more. He bowed his head and rested his forehead on the edge of the carrycot.
His entire body started to shake as he tried to muffle his cry.
He didn't know why he couldn't control himself. He didn't cry this much when his mother died. But without even being able to look at his baby, he started crying.