Chapter 2: Meeting Nathan

Eleanor's POV

Fading in and out of consciousness, I stilled when a long forgotten scent hit me. No matter how much I tried, I couldn't really focus well and lost my consciousness yet again–

***

"Sir, shouldn't we wait a little–" that sounded like Mr. Chang.

I groaned; my head was messing up with me now.

"Don't tell me what to do and what not to, Chang!"

And fair enough, I jolted up hearing that threatening voice booming closeby.

My head hurt terribly but it was a reflex action. I was still scared by that voice without even realizing it.

"Boss!" 

And I followed the voice zoning out the loud footsteps that followed. My eyebrows knitted together when Mr. Chang approached me with a tight smile on his face.

Am I hallucinating?

He stepped aside and my eyebrows raised higher when I saw Nathan stride with an overbearing attitude.

Oh, oh!

I flinched as he extended his hand, unable to see the frown on his face. He gently cupped my cheek and I gasped when the warm tingling sensation followed. 

Shit! It's real! He's real.

As I dared take a glance at him, I noticed that I was in my bed--my own bed with my favorite covers on it.

"How are you?" Nathan asked and I don't want to accept how emotional he sounded.

As if… he had missed me too.

But no! He asked me to never return home.

I barely nodded when Mr. Chang interrupted us.

"Um, boss? How about we ask Miss about that guy?" Mr. Chang was playing with the fire; he sounded less confident and I knew why.

Nathan turned to give him sharp glares through that one look- 'did-anyone-ask-you'.

Meanwhile, confused as I was, I asked what he meant.

“Nothing, Ela.” Nathan smiled and my heart skipped its beat the same second.

Man! I didn’t realize that my crush for him had gone deeper with the distance. I hadn’t realized how much I missed him and how much I craved to hear his voice in person.

My eyes watered so I had to look away, acting as if I remembered something. Though, I saw his face fall.

“Um, Mr. Chang. How did I end up here?” I asked which made him speculate first and answer later.

“About that… I think the Boss has something to say.” He said and left by excusing himself, slowly closing the door behind him.

My heart drummed loudly in its cage, aware of Nathan’s presence. How am I supposed to calm down when I already have feelings for him?

“Nathan, how am I–” I stopped as Nathan grabbed my chin and forced me to look at him.

My eyes shut tightly, not daring to make eye contact in fear that he might get offended. Will he still be disappointed that my likeness has taken a new path? Will he never let me return back to this house after knowing the truth?

No matter what the situation was, his touch was making me crazy. I was scared for more reasons than just that.

“I suppose you were forbidden to attend any party, especially with the boys and what else, sneaking behind my guards back.” Nathan sounded furious.

Subconsciously, I crouched in fear that he might hate me more. Though, his fingers moved and I stiffened as they danced on my cheeks and played around my lips. A buzz formed and I felt as if I was vibrating with his touch.

Suddenly, I remembered what Mr. Chang mentioned and my eyes popped out; metaphorically.

“Jeremy!” I almost screamed and saw a stunned Nathan, giving me a calculative glance.

“Where’s Jeremy?” I asked now, fearing for him.

Deep down I had a bad feeling about this.

“So, he is Jeremy?” Nathan asked with a tinge of hatred in his voice.

I flinched, recalling he used that voice when I confessed my feelings for him. Probably, he doesn’t want me here…

“Please let him go. Jeremy has nothing to do with whatever happened last night.” I replied softly to which he gave me a baffled look.

“He’s got nothing to do??? Are you sure about that Eleanor?” Nathan’s voice boomed and I flinched in fear.

He was furious! I knew that… He has used that voice a few times on his phone when his business encountered some problems.

Nathan reached towards me and grabbed me by my hand. I struggled, scared that he might  vent his anger out on me. After all, I betrayed him.

“He was fucking clinged to you!!!” He shouted and my emotions took the best of me.

Scary!!!

This guy has never raised his voice at me. This was the first time and I hated to know that I was nothing special to him, anymore.

I sobbed and Nathan immediately let go of me, rubbing his face in annoyance. He cupped my cheeks while I tried to move back. However, being stuck against the headboard of my bed left me no space to move.

“I’m sorry Ela. I didn’t mean to shout.” He rubbed but I swatted his palms away and glared at him, heartbrokenly.

“You are just angry that I returned back and had to see me. I’ll leave as soon as possible but please don’t do anything harsh to Jeremy. He’s my friend’s boyfriend. All he meant to do was to help me. Please.” My head was stuffed in my knees, as I sobbed and laid out my feelings for him to understand.

He can just be honest.

A heavy silence fell upon us. I tried my best to control my sobbings. Furthermore, he was too silent, which made me delusional. Whatsomore, this was painful for me. I really really think that I love him. Nobody has treated me the way he did and made me feel wanted. Before I knew it I was loving this man. Yet, he is the one I can’t ever have because for him I was a mere child.

“This is your home, Ela.” His painful voice stunned me.

I never heard it before and I seriously doubt it belongs to Nathan. However, it was true as well. My sobbing died instantly and I peeked slowly at him. Nathan was gazing at me with an indescribable expression on his face.

He sighed and pulled out his phone before dialing a number.

“Let go of him.” He instructed and I craned my head to one side as I watched him with uncertainty.

“This Jeremy is freed, unharmed. Are you happy now?” He asked softly but all I could do was nod in answer.

There were numerous questions running through my mind.

Is this the right opportunity to talk to him? Does it mean I can stay here if this house is my home too. Is he willing to overlook my confession that I made four years ago and willing to share this space with me.

Or…

Has he already forgotten about my confession?

The thought stabbed my heart with an unrecognizable emotion. It felt ugly to think that might be one of the reasons he is willing to let me stay.

If that’s the case then I won’t stay here until he brings me home himself!

Angered, I took deep breaths before nodding.

“Thank you. Now, I’ll take my leave as well.” I answered and stood but was disappointed when Nathan didn’t call out for me.

I almost dashed inside the bathroom to get ready and sobbed inwardly.

Does he really not care anymore? Can’t he see how much I want to stay by his side? Has he forgotten how easily he was able to read me before.

No matter what these endless wishes I had–It wouldn’t work on Nathan, my legal guardian.

Thud*

I breathed well now that he had left my room.

Saddened, I decided to lay inside the bathtub until I was ready to leave this house once again.

***

Yawning, I decided to leave before I could catch a cold in this cold water. I can’t believe I actually drifted off while taking a bath. Anyway, I put on a bathrobe that was too short on me and wrapped a towel around my head.

Man! I have grown taller than before.

But it doesn’t matter now since I will be leaving again–

My jaw dropped seeing Nathan playing with his phone as he sat at the end of my bed. His eyes traveled from my legs to my face before meeting our eyes. I can feel my heart race crazily knowing that he has checked me out, just now. It was insane!

What was he thinking? Did he get excited like all the boys do? Or has it not affected him?

I was edgy and wanted to know what I made him feel like. His eyes went wide for a fraction of a second before he glanced away. My heart fluttered with hope. Could it be… that my appearance affected him?

What if he is just ashamed to see me this way?

My teeth gnawed at my lips when that awful thought crushed my hopes. Moreover, it seemed true as Nathan passed me a set of towels and bathrobes.

“I had forgotten that you might need them now. Sorry. Your sizes are stocked in your closet–” He almost stuttered and I frowned.

Has he realized that I am not a kid anymore or has he never expected my return?

“It was unnecessary since I’m leaving now.” I answered, shrugging indifferently while deep down I wanted to throw something in anger.

So, I threw my head towel harshly in the laundry basket before trying to find my hair blower, rummaging roughly through the drawers of my bathroom.

“In the closet.” Nathan mentioned and I wanted to scream at him.

I walked past him to enter my closet when he grabbed me by my wrist. This made me halt and take deep breaths in order to calm down.

“Let me do it for you.” He said and I almost cried hearing that caring voice he always used.

Liar! Show-off!

Before I could protest he pulled me towards the closet and made me sit in front of the dresser. Bad idea!

I hated seeing him stand so close behind me as he gently handled my hair and started blowing it dry. How could you not expect me to fall for him.

He smiled often as he caught me stealing glances at him in the mirror. My face turned red and I lowered my head only to regret. The bathrobe was surely too short. It had ridden above mid-thigh and I felt uncomfortable thinking what would Nathan deduce if he saw it.

I fidgeted and wanted to stop him but he wouldn’t give up. He acted normally and it was a relief as well as pain to me.

Once he was done, I thought of running away. I can’t handle this lovely gesture anymore. However, he smiled and froze me when he said,

“Your stuff has been moved out of the dorms and the lease is withdrawn. You’ll be staying here from this second.”

And god knows I was flabbergasted yet blank hearing those words.

Is it really happening?