| "Dear Tallulah, my beautiful daughter, I write to you from New York with great sorrow in my heart especially because of the way we left things.
You might still be angry with me but I hope you understand someday that I did all this for you.
I promise to repay the loan before the year runs up and get you back safe and sound.
That will be sooner than you expect.
I miss you so much dear" |
Love Dad ¶
A tear dropped on the letter as Tallulah read the last line. She was not really angry with her father anymore.
But still didn't understand why she had to be married off just for a loan.
She wiped away the tear from the letter and put it back into the envelope. She opened the bedside drawer and kept it inside.
As she got up, the other letter fell to the ground. She wiped the tears away from her face and walked towards the door stepping on the letter as she passed.
She put the lock in place at the door and turned towards the bedroom.
She let her dress slide from her shoulders to the floor before walking into the bathroom.
As she soaked herself in the rose water inside the bathtub with her eyes closed, her thoughts drifted to her father's words
"That will be sooner than you expect".
What did her father mean by that statement?
Why wasn't she happy that she would be leaving Mateo's mansion soon?
Camille's words replayed in her head as she soaked herself entirely into the rose water.
"Has it crossed your mind that this could actually be where you belong?"
Oh it never crossed her mind, but now it did.
The next few minutes, Tallulah found herself getting out of the tub, and getting dressed then heading downstairs.
"Oh my goodness, look at you". Camille said approaching Tallulah from the kitchen.
"You look gorgeous".
"Thank you Camille". Tallulah replied with a smile and immediately feigned a frown. "Do you mean I don't always look gorgeous?".
Camille laughed.
"I don't mean that dear, it's just that these past few days, you've being….. what's the word? Extra. Yes, extra".
"Is it too much?".
"No dear, I mean you've being extra careful and taking care of yourself, at least not harming yourself anymore".
"Oh…..that!"
"And what's that I see? You're glowing".
"Oh my gosh Camille, you flatter me". Tallulah said laughing a little.
"I'm not plus Mateo is waiting for you in the garden".
"He is?"
"Yes, I told him you didn't have breakfast, so…."
"Good morning ma'am, the boss awaits your presence in the garden".
A bodyguard said as he stopped a few feet beside Tallulah.
"Go on, enjoy". Camille said and gave Tallulah a slight push.
Tallulah walked into the garden, and there Mateo sat with all majesty at the table.
"Good morning Princess".
He greeted with a smile. "Have a sit".
"Good morning Mateo. Thank you". Enzo came behind and pulled the chair out for her. She sat down and mouthed a thank you to Enzo.
"Heard from Camille you haven't had breakfast".
"I was about to buy then I needed to do something".
"I guess it's fate, this happened so you'll get to eat with me".
"Pft….am I getting a trophy for eating with Mr. Mateo Hernando?"
"Oh you are princess, you are".
When Mateo saw the I want more info face on Tallulah, he just chuckled.
"You'll see".
•••
"So you write"
Mateo asked as he walked beside Tallulah in the garden later that day.
"I do". Tallulah replied taking the sight of the garden having seen it in the day time for the first time.
"New York's Bestseller I suppose".
"Pft, I wish". Tallulah laughed it off.
"You will get there someday". Mateo assured her.
"I believe I will though. There was actually a book I was working on before….." Tallulah stopped speaking.
"You were kept hostage by me?". Mateo completed and stopped walking, so did Tallulah.
"I wasn't going to say hostage. Before I was married off without my consent ".
Tallulah looked around desperate to find a distraction, anything.
"Oh look! It's a flower garden". She said and sighed internally having caught sight of the garden.
She left Mateo and hurriedly went to the garden. She squatted and looked closely at them.
"They belonged to my mother".
She heard Mateo say behind her and she got up immediately almost colliding with him as she turned.
"Easy". He said holding her hand. "You'll fall".
Not that it had anything to do with the present moment, but Tallulah had already fallen.
She'd already fallen in love.
She didn't even know how it happened but it did.
She stared back into Mateo's eyes as he drew her closer by the waist. They'd gotten this close before but not body-to-body.
The thin layer of fabric was the only barrier between them but she felt the heat.
He moved away strands of hair from Tallulah's face.
"Beautiful". He commented.
"What?". Tallulah asked, maybe she didn't hear well or something.
Mateo just showed her a rose and then put it behind her ear.
Of course he was talking about the rose she thought.
Tallulah looked away and her eyes darted here and there. She looked everywhere but at Mateo.
"Mirame princess" (Look at me princess).
He said in his thick Spanish accent and held Tallulah's chin, turning her face as she looked him in the eye.
At that point, one would think she had asthma because her breathing got shaky and she almost started panting as though she'd run a marathon.
Mateo started moving his face close to hers while still maintaining eye contact. His eyes only drifted to her lips when his face was only a few inches away from hers.
She closed her eyes and he smiled.
"I can't do all the things I want to do to you and you want me to do to you without your permission princess".
Tallulah's eyes fluttered open.
"Not until I hear you beg with this pretty mouth of yours".
He looked up into her eyes again and then let go of her waist.
"Let's go, we're going somewhere".
Tallulah was dumbfounded, she couldn't utter a single word nor could she react.
Mateo was already driving her crazy in just a few months of her stay there.
Oh God, did she need a way out and fast.
Tallulah sighed and followed Mateo behind.
When they reached the carpark, he opened the car door for her and she got in not daring to make eye contact.
Even the drive to wherever he was taking her was awkward.
"Princess".
He called gently and placed his hand above her knee as he controlled the wheels with one hand.
"You've being so quiet"
"No I've not". Tallulah said with a forced laugh. "I'm talkative".
He just looked at her and smiled. She literally looked away when they locked eyes.
"So where are we going to?".
"A tour around Spain".
"Oh that's exciting ". Tallulah's eyes lit up.
"But it's almost evening. Like can we do that?".
"We will at a stretch, you'll see".
•••
"Oh! so this was the stretch you were talking about?".
Tallulah asked staring at the whole city while seated on the car bonnet.
They sat on the elevated high grounds staring at the large city and the lights illuminating from the buildings, traffic and bustling cars in traffic.
"It's beautiful". Tallulah commented laying down and looking up the stars.
"It is". Mateo agreed but referring to her. His eyes never leaving her.
He also laid down and Tallulah turned to look at him.
"Thank you for this Mateo". She said appreciatively with a smile.
"Only for you princess".
He said and want in for a kiss.