6

I walked into the office, only to be met with an unfamiliar lady propped by that desk side, figure stood close to him, while their eyes were fixed on a paper Cameron had laid out before him.

At each second, his eyes would flicker to the computer screen on the desk, and then back to the papers spread out, while the lady sealed it off with some stamps on its pages.

My utterance had put a pause to their conversation, while their gazes took in my form, and with the silence soon falling into the room, I watched the lady pack up the files, and in a second, she was making her way out the area.

A smile crossed her lips while she gave a little wave my way, even going out to congratulate me on the engagement.

And only then did the silence return.

While that figure sat over there, remained watching me, I gave myself proper entry into the area, finally meeting that calming gaze of his.

“I received your flowers” My utterance broke out, with eyes fixed on him, watching every little reaction he gave.

I could read him. I had gotten used to reading him even before we got together, and believe me whenever he pursed his lips, it meant he was uninterested.

But I didn’t want him being uninterested. I mean, he just had flowers delivered to me. Why then would he be uninterested?

Did my presence here not have any hold on him?

“What flowers?” His voice was low, gaze fixed on me the entire time.

“Adam delivered a bouquet of roses to me an hour ago”

“You don’t like roses” He stated, with form relaxing back in that chair. “I wouldn’t have delivered them to you” He added.

If Cameron didn’t send the flowers, who did?

“You left a note with your name on it” I added.

“It says, Mr Williams here” I clarified, pointing at the card held in my hands.

For a second, his eyes were squinted at the writings, going through. I was more perplexed that he could see what was written there, than him choosing to acknowledge it.

“It’s from Father” He let out at once.

“That’s his signature”

And then did the delight make leave out my eyes, with the silence soon falling.

Half an hour ago, my heart was left gladdened at the kind gesture, and that Cameron had tossed aside the unease between us, and had chosen to drop the issue, but realization just dawned on me.

“I should go thank him then” I forced a smile, turning around to leave.

If it was any other day, he might have pulled me back, telling me not to fake a smile at him.

He never liked me putting on a fake smile.

“I’d rather have your face dull at me, than you wearing a smile that’s the opposite of how you feel” He had uttered to me a year back.

“I want every truth from you, Nia. I want to be there all through, and even if I can’t manage to put a smile on your lips. I want to spend the rest of my life, filling you with every happiness I can give” He had mentioned

But he brought a smile to my lips every now and then. His presence around me did just that, and I was forever glad.

My steps were counted, slow and steady, hoping a voice from behind would halt me in my tracks, preventing me from walking through that door, but I didn’t hear the utterance I so sought, and I was just an inch from making my exit out his office, and right then did I spin around, deciding this was enough.

“So you’re not gonna say anything?”

His eyes were narrowed at me, body propped behind the desk.

“I get it Cameron, I might have been insensitive, my words left you pained—

“Might?” He broke in, with eyes fixed on me.

“Come on, it’s been two days already!” I yelled.

“You’ve refused speaking to me, at least let’s try to settle this together!” My voice followed

“We’re back from the trip, and you’re still keeping up with your attitude. You’re acting so much like a lady than I am”

“Oh, I’m acting like a lady because I can’t comprehend the reason why my fiancée wouldn’t let me engage with her!” There came his bellow.

And for a reason, I was glad he was pouring it all out, instead of leaving me in the dark, mind battered.

“So now you remember me being your Fiancée, yet you chose to act like I was some stranger”

“We’re committed, Nia” He called at once.

“We’ve fucked a number of times—

“All which were protected. That was way before we got engaged. And you used protection all through” I pitched in.

“Were you keeping track of that?” He scoffed.

“Cameron, the thing is—

“It’s fine, Nia. We’re not about to start arguing about using condoms or not”

“Just hear me out!” I snapped, but he only remained silent, eyes watching as I drew closer to the desk, over to where he sat.

“Us having unprotected sex is not the issue”

“Then what is? Cause it seems to me like that’s exactly what the issue is” He spoke

“Oh, will you just come off it, already?”

I knew Cameron was much stubborn, but not to a point where he chose not to see reasoning when he had to.

My words sure hurt him, that I am certain of, but it was only a precaution not to recreate the same mistake, and at this point, I was already getting exhausted.

The silence fell between us, his eyes held in mine, not taking a leave off.

“I want you more than you know, Cameron” My gaze was soft in his.

“And if us having sex unprotected, is all to show you how much I want you, then I would”

“So what’s stopping you, Nia?” Followed his response.

“You’re not telling me something, are you?”

“What wouldn’t I be telling you?” I let out.

“Dammit, Nia!” That thunderous voice had brought a jolt to me, figure flinching, while I took a step back.

For a moment, I caught his gaze soften the moment he realized how much his words had struck me, but in a second, that fury returned.

“We’ve copulated countless times, bare. Why did you choose now to turn away?!” His voice was much mellow this time, with his form soon tearing off the seat.

“I hate seeing us like this” He let out in a low voice. “I hate any hostility coming between us”

“I love you too much, to have anything pulling you away from me” Those words brought the calm to me, and with his eyes held strongly in mine, I saw every truth in that gaze.

I watched his figure push to the windows, onlooking the outlying environs, and maybe just maybe I was the one keeping him in the dark.

“I don’t want to go the same path my mother did”

My utterance had managed to snap his gaze this way, with eyes peering on at me, one could find the confusion held in there.

“She had me before she and father got wed” My voice was low, gaze fixed on him.

“And perhaps that’s the reason for all that happened between them, cause they never sought to get married. I was the only factor keeping them together” My voice was faint.

Cameron had walked over to me, figure pulling even closer, so we were just an inch away. And with gaze fixed intently on my being, he listened to the words leave my lips.

“It was a marriage of pity” I let out.

I was taken back by his sudden movements, and the next thing I knew was the gap between us being covered.

He had crashed his lips onto mine, hands pulling me closer to his chest, while our lips moved in sync.

The kiss remained light, arms wrapped around his neck, and believe me, I got every comfort I had longed for, just being in his hold.

He pulled back in a second, grey eyes taking in my profile.

“We’re not your parents, Nia” His words were soft, hands reaching to wipe the tears which had stained my cheek.

“Just because they made mistakes, doesn’t mean we would” He followed.

“This is our life. You and I”

“I’m sorry” My voice wavered. “I’m sorry for how I made you feel back in Maldives. It should have been our moment” I added.

He remained silent, eyes watching me.

“Don’t you wish to have babies with me?” His finger brushed through my lips, taking rest on my cheeks.

“Of course I do, Cameron. I wish to be the mother of your kids” I called at once.

“Well, I don’t like you speaking of using condoms while we are about having sex” He followed.

“We’re soon to get wed, Nia. You’re mine and I’m yours”

My mouth pulled open to make an utterance, but he had sealed my lips shut with a kiss, arms snaking through my waist.

“I love you” His words were so soft, more like a whisper yet I felt the weight in them.

“I love you” I drew even nearer to him, relaxing in his hold.