The Encounter
1180 Words
Emily sat upright upon hearing a man’s voice.
A man was standing beside the tree near the gazebo. No, it’s not just a man! It was the man she saw a while ago!
Her heart thumped inside her chest when he slowly made his way in the gazebo. She was just looking at him as he comfortably sat on the chair beside her.
“Who are you?” Thank God she managed not to sound afraid…no… excited?
He did not answer her. He just kept staring at her face. She suddenly felt uneasy. It was only the two of them in the gazebo, after all.
“Why do you stare at me?” she bravely asked.
“Because you’re beautiful.” he answered. His voice sounded deep, mysterious and at the same time sexy.
She blushed and shyly smiled at him.
“Is it OK if I keep you company here?” he asked while staring at her eyes.
“I’m sorry but I don’t even know you,” she politely answered.
The man suddenly stood and walked in front of her. He extended his right hand to her and said, “I’m Kai Stevens.”
She also extended her right hand to accept his handshake but was shocked to see Kai leaning his face down and planting a kiss on her hand.
“I’m very pleased to meet you, Emily Fort,” he said while straightening his body and looking at her with his deep- penetrating eyes.
Her face registered shock upon hearing her name on his lips. “How did you know my name?”
“I always make it a point to know the name of the woman I like,” his voice sounded husky. She blushed.
Without looking at him, she said, “I’m sure you have mistaken me from someone else.” It was impossible. With a handsome man like him, he could be with the most beautiful woman in the world.
He gave her a seductive smile. “Ms. Emily..It’s alright if I call you Emily, right?” She nodded.
“I don’t want to waste this precious encounter with you, and I am also the kind of person who doesn’t waste time,” he said with his serious tone of voice. “Would you say yes if I asked you to have a romantic date with me?”
Before she could answer, she noticed Albert making his way to the gazebo, all along staring at Kai. Kai noticed that her attention was not on him, and looked at where she was staring.
When Albert reached the gazebo, he went straight to Emily without taking his eyes off from Kai. The two men were staring at each other, as if assessing each other.
She stood nervously beside Albert and averted her eyes from Kai. She could feel that he was staring at her.
“Are you OK, love?” Albert asked.
She felt that Albert was being protective of her. She suddenly felt awkward upon hearing Albert’s endearment to her. Kai might think that they had a relationship.
Why should I care if he thinks that way? I don’t even… Does it mean that I like him?
“Uhm yes, I’m OK. I was just talking to Mr. Stevens. Oh! I’m sorry. Albert, I would like you to mee---” she was interrupted by Kai.
“No need to introduce us, Emily. We knew each other.” Kai said, this time looking at Albert.
She gave a questioning look at Albert. Albert understood. “We met at a global business conference held in Rimeca a few years ago. Remember? Uncle William and Marcus were also there.”
“Oh, yes! I remember now.”
“Mr. Stevens, I guess we need to leave you now. Emmie and I have matters to discuss. If you’ll excuse us.”
“Sure.” Kai offered his hand for a handshake with Albert and shifted his gaze on her. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Emily.”
She gave him a shy smile while being led by Albert back to the mansion.
Kai sat on the chair where Emily was seated awhile ago. She likes me, he thought.
Her eyes, her lips and her body said so. He could feel the excitement that ran all over his being upon the realization that his plan was going to be accomplished sooner or later.
No, she’s not a shy woman. She already has Albert Zorel and yet she did not hide her eyes from looking at me the way she did.
“What was that? What happened there?” Albert asked while they were on their way to her room.
She dared not lie to him. Albert knew her more than anyone.
“He approached me, that’s all.”
“What did he say to you?"
“He said tha--,” she did not continue what she was saying because her father was walking his way to them. Albert saw him, too.
“Uncle, nice to see you again,”
William Fort smiled at the man standing beside his daughter.
“Albert, when did you come back?"
“I just came back the day before yesterday, Uncle. I received Amelia’s invitation. She always throws the best parties in town!”
“Of course! She’s not my daughter if it’s not as best as this!” her father was beaming with pride.
Why have you never been proud of me, Father?
“Uncle, I asked Emmie to join me because it would be a shame if I don’t have a partner."
Her father laughed. “Indeed, it would. I’ll leave you two now. Emily, make sure Albert will come visit us often now that he’s here.” Her father just glanced at her.
“Yes, Father.” She meekly answered.
They both watched as her father left.
“Let’s go.” They both made their way to her room and Albert led her to her bed where they sat.
“What did Kai Stevens say to you?” Albert asked.
“Why do you want to know?”
Albert looked at her with a serious face. “He’s not someone you should trust, Emmie.”
“Why? What do you know about him, Al?”
“He’s a womanizer, Emmie. So, tell me, what did he say to you?”
She suddenly felt sad upon hearing what Albert said about Kai Stevens.
“He told me that he likes me.” Albert snorted.
“Don’t get me wrong, love. You’re a beautiful woman. Of course, men like you.”
“Not really.”
“Yes, they do. They are just afraid because of Uncle William. Who wouldn’t be? But Emmie, do not believe what he just said to you, OK? Yes, he is a very successful businessman. Uncle might even want to have him for a son-in-law but, he’s a womanizer, Emmie. Don’t you ever forget that.”
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He’s a womanizer.
She should just forget him. She should just forget whatever she felt when she saw him.
She was about to sleep when her phone started ringing. When she looked at the screen, it was an unregistered number. She thought of not answering it, but she suddenly felt the need to answer it.
“Hello? Who’s this?”
There was a brief silence then she heard a man’s voice.
“Hi, Emily.”
She knew who it was. How could she ever forget that voice?
“It’s Kai. Kai Stevens.”
“H-how did you get my number?” she stammered.
“I have my ways. I hope you’re not angry.” His husky voice was giving her goose bumps.
“No. not at all. It’s OK.”
“Thank God. I know it’s very late and you might even want to sleep now but you haven’t answered my question.”
“What question?” she knew what he was saying but she wanted to hear it from him again.
“Would you go on a romantic date with me?”
Dead silence.
He’s a womanizer. He’s a womanizer. Don’t you ever forget that.
“Sure.”
- Writer
