CHAPTER 5: MIKEYY

  " I' am soooo sorry I.... I didn't know he was important.... I thought he was a stranger.... and that's why I was scared..... He.... he looks...... (she looked at Mr. Parker and just blinked her eyes, she took a deep breath and swallowed the actual words she wanted to say) I hadn't seen him before so I couldn't recognize him.... is he there outside. If yes, then please ask him to come inside. I want to apologize ...." she said hesitantly in a very low and soft voice and looked down.

    They were all astonished and glad as they didn't expect her to ask about him, it was the first time she herself asked about someone and initiated to have a conversation. "It's okay Davi you don't have to force yourself I will talk to him and apologize on your behalf...." Mr. Parker immediately replied but she insisted on meeting him.

Usually, she was the one who was least bothered about her behavior towards strangers and most of the time avoids meeting people and stays inside her room and only getting out if there was an emergency or for attending her counseling sessions, she even applied for online courses to avoid going to university. 

    They quickly went out and called Michele and told him that she asked about him and wanted to talk to him. He felt as if he was on cloud nine he felt exhilarated and his heart and mind rejoiced but he didn't express his feelings in front of anyone and made a blank face and went inside to meet her.

    Michele entered her room, when she saw him a wave of fear spread her whole body. She tried to smile but failed miserably. She couldn't even look at his face due to nervousness, but somehow composed herself and was about to speak but Mr. Parker interrupted and informed her, he had to go to his office to attend some important meetings and asked Michele to take care of her. She looked at Mr. Parker with pure shock whereas Michele looked at Mr. Parker with a victory smile. Before she could utter a word, he kissed her cheeks and left the room. She was dumbfounded, followed by Mr. Parker even Mr. and Mrs. Marshall excused themselves and left the room saying they had to attend to other patients and asked Michele to do all the formalities for her discharge and drop her back home. Both Mr. and Mrs. Marshall gave her a broad grin and winked looking at Michele and left the room.

Everything happened so quickly that she was astounded and her words died inside her mouth. She clearly understood what they were up to and she chuckled and shook her head by now she had calmed down and tried to be comfortable around him.

    Michele was too happy to notice anything, he felt like a baby who got his favorite candy all to himself but he tried his best to make an emotionless face, which he miserably failed. He couldn't control his grin. He looked at her and gave a blank innocent look and shrugged sheepishly.

She very well knew what they were all trying to do but she didn't say anything and just shook her head and a small smile appeared on her face. Her little smile made his heart and mind dance in ecstasy.

    For a few minutes, there was utter silence in the room. He didn't know what to ask her or how to start a conversation. He felt a bit awkward. He looked at her and saw her staring at him with a scared and worried face. He didn't know why she was so scared of him. He didn't want to scare her anymore, especially after seeing her health condition.

He knew his cold attitude would definitely scare her more and he didn't know how to speak in a soft and sweet manner, so he sat on the couch near the door and looked down. 

    For her, his presence was still too intimidating and he was oblivious to it. She was constantly looking at him expecting him to start a conversation, but he was so lost in admiring the beauty of the floor. He could feel her intense gaze on his body, but he didn't look at her. 

    There was an absolute silence inside the room for a good amount of time. She cleared her throat while fidgeting her fingers while expecting him to look at her, but he didn't look at her, instead smiled sheepishly like a teenager blushing after seeing his crush. Seeing his actions she was amazed and suddenly melodious laughter burst out, it was like music to his ears and he looked at its source. It was a breathtaking moment for him. Yes, she was laughing. He didn't know why she was laughing, but he enjoyed the site, it was the most beautiful scene for him. 

    She looked like an extremely gorgeous angel while laughing, her flawless milky white skin which was glowing like crystals, her dimpled smile, her cherry-like heart-shaped lips, her sparkling light brown eyes, her rosy cheeks, and straight-edged pink nose, everything looked so perfect, her messed up wavy hair which was slightly spread on her face which had a brownish shade in the sunlight that reached up to her mid-back. She was like an epitome of beauty and elegance. He couldn't take his eyes off her. For a minute he forgot everything and, got lost in her beauty, but her sweet words brought him back from his wonderland.

    " I am sorry.... I couldn't stop myself from laughing,.... *laughs* look at your face..... *laughs* ooo.... my...... god you are...looking so....damn funny.... Your face.... it has turned so pink due to shyness .... I have never seen anyone like this.... so shy *laughs* ....It doesn't suit your personality..... Yesterday you looked so intimidating... and now... you look so funny...... like a pink panther.....*laughs*." and smiled widely, showing all her teeth.

     He clearly didn't like what she said and it pissed him.... He has heard people calling him hot, charming, handsome etc but it was the first time a woman called him pink panther. He wanted to yell at her and tell her that he wasn't shy and definitely not a pink panther and was just trying to be nice by not scaring her.... but on the other hand he was extremely glad that at least she laughed because of him and is no more scared of him.

He could see her happy face other than her scared kitten face. He didn't say anything and just tried to smile, he just wanted to be nice around her instead of being a cold-heartened, emotionless bastard. 

    She thought she hurt him by her words seeing his emotionless face and about to apologize but his words stopped her " No, need for any sorry....sweetie..... I am not hurt... I have heard worst so it was nothing..... (he lowered his gaze and said) in fact this is the cutest thing someone has ever said to me... (she blushed) It's just that I don't know how to express myself.. I am so used to being cold, bossy and arrogant. I absolutely forgot and don't know how to be nice and friendly around people and I really didn't want to scare you, you were already so scared and you are here because of me.... so I am really very sorry and I hope you are not scared of me anymore...." he said and in a low cold tone and she felt guilty and just looked down. She just shrugged and smiled warmly looking at him and said

    " I am She..... (she paused and automatically her eyes welled up but she tried to hide it with a warm smile but she miserably failed, a lump of emotions built up in her throat and it made her unable to speak. She looked down and blinked her eyes multiple times. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath to calm her rising emotions and gave a warm, confident smile and said in a low stuttered voice) I.... mean... I... I am...uhhh ..... I ..... am.... Davina.... I mean... uhh.... I am Davina Parker." and sighed in relief.

Introducing herself was the most difficult task for her nowadays and it was the first time in so long that she introduced herself to someone. 

    He just smiled and said " Relax sweetie, I don't eat humans." and winked, making her chuckle. He was scrutinizing her each and every move.

    She didn't know that he was very clever, smart, and a keen observer and was noticing her each and every move like an eagle watch its pray but he didn't react at all and gave her a blank look while she was speaking and unknowingly a smile appeared on his face when she successfully finished her sentence. She noticed his warm smile and complimented him and asked him to smile often, as it seemed less intimidating, he was so flattered after hearing her praise him.

    " I am Michele Nicholas Bell.... and you can call me Mike." said Michele and tried to smile again like before. But he miserably failed. She noticed it and chuckled and nodded her head. He liked it whenever she smiled especially because of him. He so badly wanted to ask her many things but he didn't want to cause more trouble.

He wanted to ask her to spend her time with him till evening so that they could know each other, but he didn't want to bother her. But her words resolved his perplexed mind.... " Don't worry I don't eat humans you can ask me anything..." and smiled at him.

She used his words against him and he genuinely smiled and asked her to accompany him for a coffee at any place of her choice. At first she hesitated, but then when she looked into his deep blue ocean-like eyes, she felt hypnotized, she felt a strong connection, a bond of trust and she agreed to accompany him.

    Michele filled out all the forms and completed all the discharge formalities and collected her reports. After that, they met Mr. and Mrs. Marshall and talked for some time, and left the hospital. They reached towards his car. It was a metallic black-color Rolls-Royce Ghost, one of the most expensive car. Looking at his car she panicked for a moment but composed herself. He made her sit on the passenger seat of his car and helped her with buckling her seat belt and he took the driver's seat and buckled himself.

    For a while, there was utter silence inside the car, she was busy admiring the outside view, the beauty of Sydney Harbour bridge. He didn't want to look anywhere else other than her face. Unfortunately, he was the one driving. He wanted to know her more, he had never felt this much attraction and such a strong connection towards anyone. It was the first time that he wanted to be around someone so badly.

He wanted to ask her a lot of things about her life, but somehow he felt it was a sore topic for her and definitely didn't want to hurt or freak her out by asking many questions like a desperate creep.  After a lot of thinking and battling with all his inner voices he decided to initiate a conversation with her. 

    " Which coffee shop would you prefer?" from all possible questions, that was the only thing he could come up with. The most eligible bachelor in Australia, a popular and successful businessman who was well known for his flirty, confident, outspoken and shrewd nature, one who was known for his charm and attractive aura, was nervous about initiating a conversation with her and didn't know what else to ask her. 

    She bit her lips to compress her chuckle and just slightly smiled and asked him to take her to a nearby restaurant and said she was really very hungry and so hungry that she could eat a whole elephant and folded her hands and made an angry face and pouted.

He couldn't stop himself from laughing after hearing her words and her cute gestures. He was perplexed and thought to himself ' Is this really the same girl who fainted in his arms and screamed when she saw him.' unknowingly, a smile appeared on his face and he just shook his head and looked at her who was so lost in her own lala world and smiling.

Whereas his talks, walk, powerful aura and everything was a constant reminder for her of the person she despises the most.

They were about to reach the restaurant and out of the blue she asked "Do you own that hospital....?"

He nodded and answered "I bought that hospital on my Mom's memory. She took her last breath there.... so..."

    Before she could say or ask, they reached the hotel. He pulled over to the parking area of the hotel. The place looked elegant and more sophisticated. On the fortieth floor was the restaurant and it was the most popular restaurant in Sydney and one of the best restaurants in Australia.

Even though the place was mesmerizing, it scared her, she wasn't comfortable, her body trembled seeing many unknown faces. He noticed her nervousness and held her hand, but she shivered due to his touch and pulled her hand back and looked down. Tears welled up in her eyes and he felt really bad. He apologized and asked her whether she wanted to go back but she smiled and said 

    "I am fine. Its just that...... I.... I am scared...... when I see ........unknown people and ...... there's no need ........ for.... you...... to..... apologize, .....you ..... didn't do..... anything..... wrong..... ( and took a deep breath to calm her throbbing heart, only she knew how she managed to speak in front of  him.... every time she stuttered like anything while speaking to him ) my body.... becomes numb ......and frozen up..... whenever.... you.... you..... touche me, and then I will feel dizzy..... that's why.... " and pursed her lips in a thin line and looked down as tears fell from her eyes. He bent down and looked into her teary eyes and wiped her tears and gave a sad smile in understanding. 

    "Its okaaayyy sweetie relax, Shall we get in, my new friend was really very hungry, Right?" he said and winked his eyes and she giggled like a baby and they walked towards the entrance where the doorman greeted him with a smile and opened the door. 

    They reached the elevator and pressed on to the fortieth floor. The elevator had glass doors and one could clearly see the beauty of the hotel from inside. There was an artificial waterfall and a beautiful fountain at the lobby which could be clearly seen from the elevator and she was so lost in admiring its beauty and he was lost admiring her beauty and was staring her as if she was his long-lost love. 

    When they reached the restaurant, her breath hitched seeing the most beautiful view. There was a huge aquarium in front of the room, also the theme of the restaurant was kind of an aquarium. She couldn't believe her eyes that such a beautiful place could exist and he loved this admiration in her eyes. When the doorman saw them, he opened the door and greeted them with a warm smile which both of them returned gladly.

The host saw him when they entered and he informed the manager and both of them rushed towards him and greeted him with a warm smile. She was perplexed seeing their behavior, but then the reality hit her that she was with ' the Michelle Nicholas Bell ' and it was his restaurant. 

    All eyes were on them, somewhere drooling, while some were murmuring which scared her like hell, and unknowingly, she held his hands tightly and closed her eyes. His heart skipped a beat, he felt butterflies in his stomach when she touched him for the first time willingly. He looked at her scared face and gently cupped her face and made her look into his deep blue ocean-like eyes.

His intense gaze gave her a feeling of warmth and assurance and she got lost in its beauty. All her fears and insecurities vanished instantly. He took her in his embrace, but this time it was different for her. She didn't tremble, she didn't feel dizzy, but a feeling of warmth, safety and comfort took over her body instead of fear.

He held her hand very delicately and led her towards the VIP area of the hotel, but even there quite a number of people were seated and all the eyes were on them, which again made her uncomfortable, which wasn't unnoticed by him, and he whispered something to the manager. The manager left them for a while and came back and took them to the open area of the restaurant from where the breathtaking view of Sydney could be seen. 

    There was a single table near the railing where the view was more beautiful. The table was decorated with white table cloth and beautiful flowers were arranged. It was almost evening and a beautiful sunset could be clearly seen. The whole floor was empty except for them. He asked about her favorite foods and ordered all of them along with his favorites. They ordered a lot of food as they were starving from the previous night. When the mouth-watering aroma of the food hit their nostrils, their stomachs growled due to hunger and both chuckled. They ate like some hungry animals who hadn't eaten for months.

When they realized it, they looked at each other, and both bust out in laughter. They started talking like long-lost best friends on random topics. He still couldn't believe that it was the same girl who trembled when he touched her, who freaked out and fainted when she saw him.

    That day she realized that all men were not the same and that Mike is nothing like HIM - the evil incarnation.... the devil of her past. There exist few people who can be trusted, unlike 'HIM'. It was the beginning of her new life and a new friendship. That was one of the most auspicious moments of her life that she could cherish forever. 

                           

      *** PAST ENDS ***

 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

    Kindly, please support me by following me and my book and please feel free to comment, with your opinions.