"Wait a minute," Yasmin exclaimed all of a sudden, making him stop on the track.
He looked back at her with a frown.
"I'm meeting my in-laws for the first time since my marriage. I am a bit nervous." Yasmin tidied her slightly creased skirt and combed her brunette hair with her fingers. "Am I looking good?" She pushed her bag's straps a little higher over her shoulders.
Declan observed her from head to toe.
Although her stature was slim, she had enough flesh where necessary, which made her appear curvy. The sleeveless top she put on was snug, and her blue skirt made her waist even thinner, elegantly accentuating her breasts.
'Sexy' was the only word that popped up in his mind.
He scratched his forehead, trying to hide his restlessness. "Not bad," he said casually. He then opened the door and walked out.
'Not bad!' She scowled at his departing figure. 'He could have said beautiful, pretty, or gorgeous. But he said, NOT BAD.'
Her teeth clenched together.
"This man is impossible," she fumed and dashed out the door, clutching her bag straps.
They boarded the private elevator, which quickly whisked them down to the ground floor. They emerged into the white sandstone and glass-walled lobby and made their way to the exit.
Everyone was in a rush since it was the closing time. However, they stopped in their places and watched Yasmin, who was closely following Declan. They murmured to each other.
Yasmin felt self-conscious in the face of their curious stares. She wasn't sure if her outfit was formal enough for that corporate environment. She didn't know if her make-up was okay either. At this moment, she remembered herself eating cotton candy.
'Oh, shit…'
She licked her lips to check for any sugar residue. Since she was not watching her steps, she stumbled upon him.
Declan halted and looked at her.
"Sorry," Yasmin mumbled, stepping back without breaking eye contact.
Although he said nothing, she couldn't help but shudder. From his indifferent look, she was unable to figure out what he was thinking.
Declan held her gaze for some time. Her nervous appearance made him uneasy. She was his wife. She should carry herself confidently, as she had earlier this morning.
He then cast a passing glance at the people looking at them, irritated at how they could intimidate his wife. He drew her in closer with his arm around her waist.
Yasmin's mouth hung open and her breathing caught in her throat. She walked out with him robotically, still gaping at his face.
He had initially chastised her. To keep her from leaving, he had kissed her as if coaxing her. He had not said a word to compliment her. He had not mentioned whether or not he liked her new appearance. But he did save her from embarrassment in front of the employees.
To her, he was an unsolvable puzzle. She was not sure if she could ever be able to know him in this life.
"Don't keep staring at me," he murmured. "It's rude, and it makes me uncomfortable."
"Oh…" Yasmin drew her gaze back, clumsily pushing a tendril of her hair behind her ear. "I am…"
"If you are going to apologize, don't do it," he cut her off. "Get into the car." He opened the passenger door of his Rolls Royce.
"Thank you." She mustered a smile as she stepped in.
He was behind the wheel and driving the car in a matter of a minute.
It took them nearly an hour to get to the mansion.
As the car drove through the massive iron gate, Yasmin rolled down the window glass and craned her neck to look at the two-story building that stood proudly ahead of her, surrounded by well-pruned hedges. The building was all white stone and tall glasses.
Tall concrete walls protectively stood around the perimeter. Every inch of the property was wired with cameras and motion sensors. Several guards in black pants and black shirts were roaming around the area.
Yasmin was not at all surprised. She had seen the same security arrangements in Declan's villa as well.
The courtyard was huge, with a three-tire white fountain in the middle, bordered by short-trimmed ornamental plants.
The car drove around the fountain and pulled over right in front of the mansion.
One of the guards rushed over and opened the door for Yasmin.
She got out of the car, eyeing the building.
"Good evening, Ma'am." The guard greeted her. "Please, in this way." He motioned for her to move ahead.
Yasmin nodded with a smile as she proceeded forward, trailed behind by Declan. Her chunky block-heeled sandals made a click-clack sound as she stepped up the marble stairs to the porch. Her heart started to pound as she approached the giant carved wooden door. There was a tight knot in her stomach.
Meanwhile, she realized she hadn't brought anything for her in-laws.
"Shit…" she cursed under her breath, her face turning ugly. It looked like she would start crying at any minute. How could she forget that? She wished to die immediately.
Declan halted his steps when she suddenly stopped. A frown flashed on his face as he noticed her flustered appearance.
"Is there any problem?" he asked.
"I forgot to bring gifts for them." She sulked.
Declan looked at her for a moment, as if he was thinking about something. "You don't have to worry about that. Francis is bringing gifts for everyone."
"Oh…" She cast him a surprised look, but she heaved a sigh of relief in secret. "You have already arranged the gifts!"
Declan didn't reply to her. He only stared at her with a blank expression on his face.
"Come…" He put his hand on her lower back and led her inside the house.
"Oh, my goodness… My calves hurt." A female voice resonated inside the hall. She kicked off her stilettos and sat down on the massive L-shaped black sofa. "Honey, can you massage my legs?" She lay supinely with her head on a cushion, eyes closed, her legs on the lap of a young man about Declan's age who sat beside her.
The man looked awkward and uneasy. But he obediently began to massage her feet without defying her.
"Mm… Don't you have any strength?" The woman yelled at him and kicked him in the shoulder. "Put some pressure." She slammed her leg into his thigh, causing him to jump in pain.
"Amber… Can you not do this here?" The man finally objected. He didn't sound confident, though. "The servants are looking at us." He nervously glanced around.
"Do as I say," Amber snarled, giving him a hard look.
The man hung his head down and resumed massaging her feet. His pale face indicated his embarrassment.
They were unaware that Declan and Yasmin were watching them from the foyer.
While Yasmin's mouth dropped open in bewilderment, Declan clenched his jaw in frustration.