Hard of Desire

Chapter 8

I sighed as I mindlessly wrote down some notes as my professor babbled something about our upcoming assignment.

No one asked me what happened that night the next day. I am immensely grateful because, in all honesty, even I don't remember what happened that night. All I know is that I ran into Declan and everything after that is very hazy in my mind.

Even though that's pretty good news, I had bad news too. My father grounded me from 'ever driving again'. Again, thanks to Declan for that. My father told me that Declan mentioned my little accident with him and that made him take away my precious car from me because he was worried about other people's safety while I am driving.

I protested but it was futile. My father already assigned a chauffeur for me. I had no other option so I just accepted the fact that my once-perfect life fell apart completely now. Well, it fell apart since Harry had passed but I didn't think it will get any worse than this. Aishah was not happy with the chauffeur as well but she did not comment further on it.

When the professor dismissed us, I lazily got up and gathered my things before exiting the class. I was the last person to get out so I took my sweet time as I switched off the lamps and air-conditioner as I passed the switchboards. Just as I stepped out, someone grabbed me by my bicep and pulled me to side.

I braced myself and tried to shake off the intruder, "What the hell-" I shrieked and turned around to face the most annoying human being on the planet and I immediately stopped flailing my hands around, "Declan?" I asked.

"The one and only" He grinned down at me, "What on earth you're doing here?!" I asked him in a distasteful manner as I yanked myself away from him.

He ignored my attitude and smirked at me, "Guess?" He asked me.

I pretended to think very hard, "Came to ruin my life?" I asked him and immediately his smirk faltered.

"Don't be so sour, will you?" He said, narrowing his eyes at me, "I came to take you for some shopping. A dress. Bridal gown, to be more specific" He added with a small smile playing at the corners of his lips.

I elbowed him and he didn't even budge a centimeter, "Can you keep it down?" I whisper yelled as my eyes frantically made sure that no one heard him, "I do not want people to hear that"  I scowled at him, slightly relieved that no one is in the classroom.

"Come with me then" He smirked and I so badly wanted to wipe that smirk off his face.

"No," I said, starting to walk away from him.

"Alright"

"I said no- wait, what?" I stopped mid-step and turned around to look at him.

"That's okay," He said and stuffed both his hands into his jeans pockets, "You're giving up?" I asked him as I watched him warily.

A mischievous smile adorned his lips and he looked like a cheeky teenager at this very moment, "Never. I am just going to find the office and make an announcement that you and I are getting married" He said and I instantly paled at thought, "Gotta invite all these people" He said and before starting towards the office's direction.

I broke into a sprint and caught his elbow but he kept walking, "No, you wouldn't" I huffed out, gasping from all that running I did. Or maybe, I was just nervous.

"Is that a challenge, Hanna?" His eyes shot down to mine and for a moment I was scared to test this man's ego or patience.

I bit my lip and my shoulders slumped in defeat, "Fine" I said under my breath, "Let me call my chauffeur to let him know" I started to dig into my bag.

"Already done that" He informed me.

"Aishah-" I started, still trying to locate my phone.

"Already taken care of," He said and I stopped looking for my phone and narrowed my eyes at him.

Seems like he planned out the entire thing quite well.

Before I could say something, someone intentionally bumped on my body and I was suddenly falling, my face down. I braced myself for the impact and mentally prepared myself for the pain I was about to experience.

A set of strong arms caught my hips and steadied me before pulling me to a hard surface. I gasped and I peeled my eyes open that I didn't realize shutting. Staring back at me was Declan's chest and I lifted my eyes up to look at him watching me in concern.

I sighed in relief and stood to own my own feet turning around to locate the person who just bumped into me. I was not shocked when Anna and her little group standing a few feet away from us.

Anna sniggered, "Look at this, Hanna is trying so hard for this handsome man!" She laughed with extra effort. Then for the very first time, her eyes darted to the person standing next to me and her eyes widened in astonishment, "Hey handsome, I am pretty sure there is nothing pleasing about her. Come with me, instead" She twirled her hair locks in between her fingers and gave him a seductive wink.

I feel like puking.

"No thanks" Declan literally waved her off, "And for your kind information, she is the most pleasant thing that has ever happened in my entire life" With that he put his hand on the small of my back and started to lead me away from Anna towards the parking lot.

I glanced over my shoulder and what I saw was something that definitely wouldn't get erased from my memory for an eternity. Anna's jaw literally hit the floor as she still gaped at us in shock. I turned back around and hid the smile that was threatening to form on my own lips.

The car ride was annoying. Declan tried to make a conversation and I didn't answer any of his questions. I kept my face straight ahead, staring at the road.

"Do you want to play twenty questions?" He asked me after twenty minutes into the ride.

Silence.

"Are you hungry?"

Silence.

"Hanna, come on, talk to me!"

Silence.

"Fine! If you want to sulk, then so be it!" He exclaimed at last and I turned my face to the window to hide a satisfying smirk that was now playing on lips.

I'll make your life hell, Declan.

He pulled the car into a parking lot in front lavish boutique and got out of the car. I sighed and unwilling got stepped out from the car and both of us started towards the boutique.

"Bonjour! Welcome, welcome!" A feminine thick accented voice greeted us as soon we stepped inside the boutique. A saleswoman in a white dress shirt and a tight pencil skirt looked at us in an extreme interest.

"I am here to pick a dress for my beautiful bride here" Declan gestured his thumb at me and I gave the saleswoman an uninterested nod.

"I am sure you will find the most perfect piece here. All our clothes are designer ones and have only one piece..." I stopped listening after that. The saleswoman continued to show around the boutique with a proud smile.

For the next one and a half hours, I tried on a bazillion gowns. Declan was a choosy person. He kept rejecting the dresses that I tried on.

"No"

"Nope"

"Absolutely not"

I wanted to throw a chair at his so badly but I gritted my teeth and tried on another dress. I looked in the mirror and fell in love with this dress. It was so pretty with transparent lacey sleeves. The flowy flair of the dress was a cherry on the top. The dress hugged my body perfectly, not showing so much skin. Simple yet elegant.

I hoped he picks up this one. I walked out of the fitting room and stood in front of Declan who was tapping away on his phone.

He raised his head to look at me and his eyes widened a little when he saw me. He leisurely scanned up and down the dress I was wearing with an interested gleam in his eyes.

"Ah, I think this is the one!" He said in approval and I secretly did a victory dance in my head, "What do you think Hanna?" He asked me and I raised my eyebrows, trying so hard to look indifferent.

"Nevermind" He waved me off, "Pack this one" He instructed the saleswoman.

"This dress comes with a complimentary designer shoe that matches the dress. Can I know your shoe size?" The saleswoman asked me, politely.

"6" Declan answered her without hesitation.

"How did you-?" I started to ask but stopped myself from finishing the sentence as I remembered that I was giving him a silent treatment, "What? You're talking to me now?" He asked me, arching his perfect brow.

I kept quiet after that. Declan paid for the dress and I stood there, feeling awkward that he is buying something for me. I do not like it when someone spends so much money on me. It makes me feel like a prisoner for some reason. I felt like I got tied. Like I am bound.

Declan took me to have lunch next to the cozy restaurant that we met for the first time. I was going through the menu card when Declan cleared his throat. I ignored him and flipped the menu card the other way.

"Are you going to continue to pretend that I am invisible?" I heard him ask in an under his breath.

"Yes," I blurted out before I could stop myself.

"Finally, a response after two hours," He said and I could literally hear the smile on his lips when he spoke, "You know, it's too early to start silent treatment with me. Usually, people tend to do that after their wedding" He said as I put the card down.

"Silence is the best answer for a fool," I said, glancing at him. I hit the call button and waited for the waiter to come and take the order.

"Yes but we both know that I am not a fool, Hanna," He said after a few moments.

"Hey, it's you," I said and smiled in recognition when the waiter attended us. It was the same waiter I bumped into and spoiled Declan's shirt a few days ago.

"Hi" The waiter greeted back with a kind smile, then he glanced at Declan and his eyes tightened visibly but he still managed to smile, "Are you ready for your orders?"  The waiter asked politely and took our orders before leaving us.

"How come you're nice with him and not with me?"  Declan asked, looking slightly pissed off.

"I was nice with you until I got to know that you're the one who I getting married to, forcibly" I reminded him.

"Hanna, you're acting as if getting married to me is the end of the world," He said in a cold tone.

"It is the end of the world for me" I scoffed.

"Why?" He asked.

"What do you mean why?" I retorted.

"Besides the reason that you're too young to get married to someone who you don't love, what other reasons you have to not agree with this marriage?" He asked me, watching me with calculating eyes.

"It's an obstacle for my future career and goals" I clenched my jaw, looking right at him.

"Hanna, do you really think that low of me?" He asked looking bewildered, "Do you really think that I wouldn't let you achieve your goals and perform extremely well in your career?" He asked me, raising his eyebrows at me.

I looked away, not having an answer to his question. Deep down I knew that he is not that kind of a person. I was just trying to put up reasons to escape from this marriage.

"If anything I would do, I will help you in every way I could to achieve your goals, Hanna," Declan said when I didn't answer him, "Your father helped your mother too. Besides, your mother is married and still, she became a successful lawyer" He reminded me and it felt like he just slapped me with that fact.

"What other reasons?" He pressed when he was met with my silence.

I shook my head and kept my eyes on the table, feeling a little ashamed.

"You have none?" He asked me knowing full well that I don't have any other reasons, "I thought so" He said to himself grimly. Declan took out his phone and started to type furiously on it. He looked pissed off

The waiter came back with our orders and both of us started digging in without another word. Declan took me home after having our lunch  and he didn't even attempt to talk to me this time during the car ride.

"Thanks for the ride, I guess," I said awkwardly when I got out from the car, "Four more days to go," He said before speeding off. I watched the car disappear out from my sight and walked into my house.

I went to my room and dumped my bag on my bed. Toeing off my shoes, I went to the bathroom to have a quick shower. I stood under the cold spray for a good fifteen minutes, just washing clean and thinking about what Declan said. I changed into comfy pajamas and went to my study table.

I did some research for the assignment my professor gave today. My mind kept going back to the conversation Declan had during lunch. I couldn't focus on the article that I was reading. I sighed and looked away from the laptop screen, rubbing my eyes.

Maybe there is no reason for me to treat him so lowly like that. But, he could have helped me out to escape from this marriage. He could have said that he didn't want to marry me.

My heart and brain do not agree with each other. It feels like a war going on inside of me. My heart says yes but my brain says no.