Mr. Reid's Sweetheart

Chapter 12- Went to find him

This was the first time Abigail felt discomfort when Adian kissed her. Maybe it was because they had not kissed for a long time, or maybe she couldn’t trust him any longer after seeing him with Erica. Whatever it was, she didn’t want him to kiss her. 

Aidan’s expression turned even gloomier, and he asked, “Why? We are engaged, aren’t we? Or do you still want to retain your virginity for our wedding night?”

She pursed her lips and nodded, looking down at her lap.

Aidan let out a soft chuckle and caressed her cheek with his slender finger. “You didn’t change at all. You are still my sweet Abi.” He kissed her forehead and said, “Alright, go and freshen up. We will have breakfast together.”

Abigail was stunned and asked instantaneously, “You want to have breakfast with me! Aren’t you going to the office?”

He smiled and said, rubbing her head, “Come quickly. Don’t make me wait any longer.” He stood up and strode out of the room soon after he finished speaking. 

Dumbfounded, Abigail only stared at his departing back in a state of stupor. 

“Ugh…” She again whimpered, pressing her forehead and closing her eyes. She remained in the same position for a while. Then suddenly she remembered something and opened her eyes instantly. 

“Wait… I was at a bar. How did I come home?” She exclaimed frantically. Shock and puzzle blended like color pellets on her face. She tried to recall hard, but her headache only intensified, and she whined again. Then she vaguely remembered calling Charles. Oh… it was him who dropped her home.

“Phew…” She exhaled through her mouth, and the relief spread on her face, but very soon, she grimaced as she couldn’t remember anything after that. She got out of bed and went to the bathroom. 

………

Buzz… buzz… buzz…

The phone vibrated on the desk. Charles was resolutely focused on the computer screen. His expression was pensive while his eyebrows were knitted slightly.  

The phone went on buzzing, and he glanced at the screen, only to see Abigail’s number. The corner of his lips curled up involuntarily, and he reached out to pick the phone up. Just as he was about to answer the call, his fingers paused, and his smile disappeared straight away. He recalled Robert Mills’ cold words. But at the same time, he was eager to know why she was calling him. Not only that, but he also wanted to know how she was doing. After dithering for a while, finally, he pressed the answer button. Then he slowly put the phone on his ear and said, “Hello.” 

“Hi… um… I… Can we meet somewhere? I need to talk to you.” 

Charles recalled their conversation last night when he heard her anxious voice, and his throat went dry. He licked his lips and swallowed his saliva. His face also started burning to the tip of his ears. He cleared his throat and said, “Miss Mills, uh… I don’t think I can manage time to see you. And…” He paused for a while before continuing speaking, “Your father doesn’t like to see me with you. So, we shouldn’t see each other again. Sorry, I can’t come to see you. Goodbye, Miss Mills.”

“Wait, don’t cut the call,” Abigail yelled, but he had already hung up the phone. He might not have heard her. She pulled out the phone from her ear and looked down at the screen with disbelief, mouth slightly open. 

On the other end, Charles felt uncomfortable in his heart the moment he hung up the phone. Deep down in his heart, he wanted to meet her, but he restrained his desire not to create trouble for her as well as for himself. It was good for them to stay away from each other. He shrugged off his uneasiness from his mind and concentrated on the work. 

At the end of the day, he went to the hospital to check on Angelina. Her fever had subsided already, but she still looked pale. He asked her several times about her illness, but she just avoided that question. Charles didn’t force her further. He thought about meeting the doctor. He went to the doctor’s chamber, but the doctor was busy with surgery. He came back to the ward thinking that the next day he would meet that doctor for sure and ask about her condition. He stayed with her for two hours before driving back home. 

Upon his arrival at the apartment, he saw the familiar black Audi standing in the parking area. He frowned and looked at the car incredulously. 

The moment he got out of the car, Abigail also came out of her car and walked up to him. 

“Why are you here? And… How do you know my address?” Charles asked as soon as he saw her approaching him. He looked at her up and down curiously, eyebrows pulled together.

“It is not a big deal to get your address. I came to know you left the office at 6 o’clock, but when I checked into the apartment you were not there. Where have you been? You went to see your girlfriend, right?” Her heart trembled without any reason when she mentioned his girlfriend. She didn’t know why she couldn’t imagine him with another woman. 

Charles, on the other side, wanted to clear her misunderstanding. He parted his lips and said, “Miss Mills, actually…”

“Anyway, it’s good that you spent some time with your girlfriend.” Abigail didn’t allow him to finish speaking. “I am here to ask you something.” She took a few seconds to say the next words, “About Aidan.”

Initially, Charles wanted to tell her that he had no girlfriend but hearing her mention Aidan, he changed his mind. He looked at her for a while and said, “Okay. Come with me.” 

He turned around and headed to his apartment while she followed him obediently.

They entered the elevator, and he pressed the button to the tenth floor. They stood side by side inside the elevator. The awkward silence accompanied them. Neither of them spoke. Abigail happened to glance at him, and at the same time, he also looked at her. Their eyes locked for a while. Abigail smiled awkwardly, and so did he. Then they looked away from each other and fixed their eyes on the display screen of the elevator. Their faces flushed red, and their expression perplexed. The number of floors kept changing. Abigail’s heart was beating faster while Charles felt like the temperature inside the elevator had increased a few degrees. He wondered if she remembered what she had asked for last night. Sweat beads began to form on his forehead, and his hands sweated as well. He felt like the oxygen level of the air inside the elevator dropped down. It was suffocating. He was impatient to get out of the elevator. 

Ding…

Finally, the elevator halted at the tenth floor, and the door slid open with a swish sound. Charles stepped out first and started walking ahead, trailed behind by Abigail. He took out the key to his flat and opened the door. They came inside, and he pressed the switches of the lights. The room lit up brightly within a couple of seconds. 

Abigail looked around the room. It was a two-bedroom apartment. The hall was big with an open kitchen. There was not much furniture in the house. Only one big couch and a center table were there in the living room. A dining table was placed in front of the kitchen. 

Just as she was looking around, she heard him say, “Uh… Have a seat. Give me a moment. I will be right back.” 

Her eyes moved to him, and she nodded before sitting on the couch. Charles turned around and went to his room in haste.

The walls were painted cream. A big-screened TV was hanging on the wall opposite the couch. There were no decorative items in the house. It was quite simple, but still, Abigail liked this simple life of Charles. Her eagerness to know him further increased even more. 

Her wandering gaze landed on a photo frame hanging on the wall on her left side. It was Charles’s photo with a middle-aged woman. He was smiling while hugging that woman from behind. The woman also had a smile on her face. Her smile was the same as his. The arch of the eyebrows and the sharp nose were also similar to him. Only the eye color was different. Her eyes were dark green while Charles’s eyes were chocolate brown. The woman could be his mother, she thought.

Abigail’s eyes focused on his photograph. He looked young and energetic. A smile shone across her face, and she walked up to the photo frame. She reached out to touch his photo, and the smile on her face broadened.   

“Hey…”

Charles’s voice came from her right side, and she turned her head to look at him. He wore a pair of black trousers and a gray t-shirt. 

“Is she your mother? Where is she? She is not living here?” She asked with a smile on her face.

Charles’s expression changed, and he glanced at the photo. A glimmer of sorrow flashed in his eyes. He said, “She is no more. She passed away 8 years ago due to cancer.” 

“I am sorry.” 

“It’s okay.” He mustered a smile and looked at her. He changed his mood and asked, “Uh… what do you like to drink? Tea or coffee?”

“Um… I prefer coffee.” She also smiled back at him.

He snapped his fingers and said, “Wait a moment.” As he said, he turned and went to the kitchen.