Ch 28 - Lover's Quarrel
1190 Words
Oliver’s gaze found hers and it seemed like time stopped for a moment when their gazes met. She looked down at her plate, avoiding him.
Oliver was shocked, to say the least, and everyone at the table noticed. Rickard smirked and shook his head while taking a bite of the chicken. On the other hand, Oliver stared at Emily like he was seeing something foreign.
Emily was looking beautiful, Oliver thought to himself. He clenched his fists over the table to stop himself from getting up and dragging her to his room, in front of everyone else. It had been two days since he had seen or talked to her, even. He knew he missed her but he was still angry with the way she argued with him because of Raymond. He still wanted that man out of her life or professional life, but she was adamantly arguing on his behalf. It still infuriated him.
While in thought, he continued to stare at her until his father cleared his throat.
“Oliver, start your dinner. Everyone else is finishing,” Bernard interrupted, and Oliver slowly slid his gaze away from her. He noticed she hadn’t looked up at him once.
Emily noticed him from the corner of her eye starting to eat and she continued to eat while casually talking to Eleanor. She observed he had quieted down and wasn’t talking about his meeting anymore.
After dinner, when everyone got up from the table, Emily stood up and went towards the kitchen to place her plate even though Eleanor asked that the servants would do it.
“It’s okay, I am used to it,” Emily told her.
“I am in the living room with everyone else,” Eleanor said, and Emily nodded.
“Ok, I am just washing my hands,” Emily said, noticing the sauce on her fingers. Well, she couldn’t eat french fries with forks or spoons.
She placed her plate in the sink and turned on the faucet. After washing her hands, she turned around and almost screamed, seeing a towering figure behind her.
He stood leaning on the counter casually observing her with his sleeves rolled up to his elbows. Emily couldn’t deny that he looked like a sight to behold in his dark blue pants and white shirt. His eyes were trained on her and she felt them travel up and down her figure slowly and teasingly.
She bit her lip waiting for him to say something, but he only stared at her. Then he came forward and stood close to her staring into her eyes.
His blue eyes bore into hers as he leaned forward until his lips were a mere millimeters apart from hers. Emily felt his hot breath on her lips and curled her hands by her sides, almost waiting for him to kiss her.
Emily thought he was going to kiss her but he grabbed something from her side and leaned back slightly.
“I need a spoon. Dessert is being served,” he said and smirked as he saw the bewilderment and then the shock registering in her face.
She saw the smirk on his face and pushed him away angrily. Without saying a word, she stomped away, cursing herself inwardly for thinking that he was going to kiss her.
He was too stubborn to let go and she was naive to think that she looked good enough to distract him. She was thinking too much of herself.
Annoyed, she went to the living room and sat on the couch in the corner. She felt stupid and furious with herself that she felt tears stinging her eyes. Blinking several times, she put a stop to them but still felt stupid for thinking she could tempt him.
Rickard noticed and whispered something to Eleanor. Nodding to him, Eleanor went to Emily carrying a plate of cake.
“Emily, this is for you. I specifically ordered this one, it’s my favorite,” Eleanor said, extending the plate to Emily. With a forced smile, Emily took it and started to eat.
“You okay Emily?” Eleanor asked, and Emily looked up at her in bewilderment.
She lightly frowned and nodded. “Yeah, I am good. Why aren’t you eating?”
“Oh, Rickard’s bringing me one. I will sit with you,” Eleanor said, taking the plate from her.
They started to chat and then a maid came rushing to Eleanor. “Excuse me, Eleanor. Noah has woken up and he is asking for you,” the maid said.
Eleanor’s eyebrows rose and she stood up.
“Emily, you stay right here. I will be back shortly with Noah,” Eleanor said, and Emily nodded.
“Don’t worry, go see him.”
Emily continued to eat the chocolate cake and took a look around her. Rickard was talking to his father, while Oliver was sitting beside him casually. Her gaze caught him looking her way but she turned away, ignoring him. Ruth was nowhere to be seen and Emily wondered if she had gone to rest. Most of the days, whenever Emily saw Ruth, she appeared to be tired and restless.
Was she really okay? Emily wondered. Despite being in a wheelchair, Ruth had been in remarkable health but it looked like her body was giving up slowly. Emily could only hope and pray that Ruth remained in good health.
She was in her thoughts when she received a random message.
“Emily, why don’t you come sit with us while Eleanor is gone?” Bernard asked, and Emily looked up from her phone.
She glanced at Bernard and nodded with a polite smile. “Oh yeah, sure.”
She went to where they were sitting and sat on the other side of Bernard facing Rickard and Oliver. She could feel his gaze on her but she refused to look at him.
They continued to talk about the business and Emily took part in it. Almost half an hour later, Bernard looked at the time and excused himself.
“Emily, excuse me dear. I will have to check up on Ruth now. You three keep talking,” Bernard said, getting up and going to check up on Ruth.
“Good bye, Emily.”
“Good bye, Bernard,” Emily replied and glanced at Rickard while trying not to let her gaze slide to his brother.
“I… I hope Eleanor isn’t asleep with Noah. She gets tired while trying to get him to sleep. I should check up on her,” Rickard said, getting up and placing his glass on the side table.
Emily blinked at Rickard and nodded. She saw Rickard leave quietly and bit her lip, wondering if she should leave as well.
Of course, she should. Even though he remained sitting, Oliver hadn't talked to her and she was not going to wait for him like a desperate woman.
Emily got up and gathered her bag and phone. “Good bye,” Emily glanced at Oliver and said to him.
She turned around to leave but felt a hand on her wrist, stopping her. It was Oliver’s.
- Writer
