4. Desperate Eyes

CAROLINE

Why does he stare at me with so much… anger in his eyes and why does it make my heart pound?

I stare back, unable to break contact. Those eyes are piercing, enough to have one's feet glued to the floor. His whole face is scowling and I can't pinpoint why.

It almost looks like he knows me and has harboured so much hate for a long, very long time.

Once the words leave my lips, he's taken by surprise before scowling again as hard as ever and that's when I notice it; his eyes aren't trained at me. They are on my phone.

Is it irritation of seeing me again or… jealousy over what I've just said?

No, it can’t be the latter.

The man staring at me is… handsome. He looks more advanced and even handsome than his photos. His hair has more streaks of grey and there's little to no wrinkles on his face. I would believe him if he said he had Botox done but I know the handsome face I'm staring at hasn't been touched-- unless, of course, by his wife- Louise… that's her name, right?

I wouldn't know. It's not like I keep tabs on people.

My assistant does, not me.

"Mama?" the little questioning voice of my son jolts me out of my shock and I'm spinning on my heels, my back to him.

Clearing my throat, I brighten my face with a smile, "Yes, dear?"

"Where.. Did you go?" my little champion asks again.

I realise my heart is pounding heavily in my chest. This feeling is foreign and it brings a frown to my face. So much that I can feel darkness crawl around my heart trying to push into my memory and old familiar feeling-

"Nowhere, love. I'm right here," I smile, pushing the bad thoughts away.

I cannot let my heart be darkened by anything. I have long overcome such evil thoughts and now, all I want is peace.

"You'll really… really come here?" my little champ asks eagerly and his voice is all the light that I need in my life right now. The little ray of sunshine at the end of a rainy day.

"Yes, anything for you," I say and glance to the side, noticing a presence before his cologne merges with the air around me. "Let me… call you back. I love you. Wait for me." I say calmly and wait for him to reply then he hangs up before I turn to meet my guest.

He's standing so close to me like he could just lean down and be all up in my face. I'm taken aback by his sudden act that I flinch a little, causing more thudding in my heart like never before.

Having him so close only stamps in my consciousness how good looking this man is. He's buff and tall so he looks down at me despite my high heels. He almost feels like one of my guards.

I've never liked feeling so small and standing next to him is…

I don't wear the discomfort on my face, instead, I quickly glance down, take a step back and lift my eyes to him again.

The silence around us only grows thicker and his eyes continue to scrutinise me.

"Ahem," I clear my throat. "Hello. Is there something I can do for you… sir?" I ask in the most polite and neutral tone I can muster.

Suddenly, his eyes are going wide in shock and his lips are parting too. Now the angry look is gone and he's staring at me like the words I said are too hard to understand.

I didn't dabble into French again, did I? Lately, that's been a problem. I'm about to speak when he beats me to it.

"Sir?" he asks in a doubting tone with an eyebrow raised. He seems confused that I'd call him that but then again, those grey streaks on his hair are no jokes. He is elderly.

He searches my eyes with confusion in his orbs and I stay still for his evaluation. When he finds nothing, he moves a little closer to which I respond by taking a step back. Why does he want to invade my space?

"Caroline," my name rolls off his tongue like he's been saying it like the Lord's prayer for a while now and I'm almost smitten by it. "Caroline, look at me." he grabs me up the shoulder and I flinch, quickly knocking his hands off.

His actions bring a frown on my perfect mask and I hate how tainted it has become because of him.

"Can you not put your hands on me?" I ask, holding his gaze with a hard look. "That's rude.”

"Caroline, it's me," he says again, a bit of panic in his voice as he steps closer. "Don't you remember me?"

"Remember you? Touching me without permission is already an offence," I fold my arms. "I'm sure whatever memories I have of you cannot be pleasant. Tell me something, Sir, do you go around grabbing women?"

"What?" he whispers, unable to believe his ears as he still wears that confused look making him appear so clueless and… cute.

The look on his face is priceless, making my heart pound with so much ferocity that I feel alive. I flex my fist, trying to keep a straight face when in fact I want to break into a smile and roar with laughter at the emotions that I've managed to draw out of him effortlessly.

So this was how I looked too when that happened? Pathetic.

"Don’t you remember me, Caroline?" he asks again. His voice is small and needy and then his eyes are like puppies waiting for their mistress's love.

At this point, I can't help it. My lips curl and I'm smirking. I've played the fool for long enough and he has acted as my mirror.

"Well, when you ask me so desperately like that, I'm forced to remember you, babe." the night doesn't get better than this.