4- Two-faced Gentleman

My breath quickens as soon as Elliott's hands find mine and he helps me to get back on my feet. His warm hands set my body on fire with just a simple touch, sending waves of shiver. I'm not used to getting touched by strangers. Precisely, by strangers as gorgeous as Elliot Ivanov.

"Are you alright, miss?" The raw concern in his voice forces me to see him in a new light.

I dare to look up only to find him scanning my body worriedly to look for any visible injuries. My hands shake in anxiety. The way he is looking at me, it feels like I'm only seconds away from being recognized by him. Deep down I know his act of being a gentleman will fly through a window if he learns that it's me and not a random lady he bumped into.

I nod my head slowly, letting him know that I'm fine. I dare not say anything. Elliot Ivanov may be an asshole but I believe he is extremely smart given the fact that he built his empire on his own. While my voice isn't distinctive, it can still give away my identity. I consider myself lucky as my oversized hoodie, glasses and a mask which conceals most of my face, make it impossible for him to realise that it's me.

If only I could remove his hand from my forearm. His grip is gentle. It feels like a feather touch. However, it has the same effect on me as an iron grip.

I avert my eyes on my forearm, hoping he would take the hint and leave me alone. My thudding heart will burst any moment.

"I'm really sorry. I should have checked where I was going." His Russian is thick as he apologises, his blue eyes mirroring the regret his voice is holding, making me shove my dislike towards him to a corner.

The fault was mine. I was the one who wasn't looking but I better not say it. It's refreshing to see him being the nervous one, admitting his fault instead of making himself an arrogant jerk. It enhances his beauty, making me feel bad for even hating a man as beautiful as him. But I stand my ground well, having been at the receiving end of his humiliating behaviour.

I just nod my head at him, acknowledging his apology. He looks apprehensive but nods his head back, finally leaving my hand. I suck in a breath. Tugging at the leash of Milo, I try my best to make an exit but Elliot seems to have another plan.

"The coffee was hot. Are you sure you aren't hurt?" Elliot asks me, making me confused.

Coffee? What's he talking about?

I follow his concerned eyes and that leads me to my stomach. My hoodie is drenched in that particular spot. Apparently, I was so busy panicking that I didn't even realise that he accidentally poured hot coffee on me. Now that he has pointed out the obvious, I can feel my skin burn. It hurts. But my desire to get away from his gaze is much more acute than the little pain caused by coffee. I want to yell at him. Who jogs with hot coffee? But I hold myself back.

"Your hoodie is ruined." He comments, still looking at my white hoodie which is now stained with coffee.

"Thank you for your contribution to this great artwork." I want to say but I hold myself back. He is lucky that I'm trying to hide my identity.

"I know my sorry won't mend anything. If you aren't hurt then at least let me buy you a new hoodie?" He asks politely, looking at me with tender eyes.

His eyes have the power to pull anyone to himself. It's too powerful. Is he even aware of the power that his eyes hold? Knowing how arrogant he is, he must have an idea. Having been at the receiving end of his captivating gaze, I find myself nodding my head without even meaning to do so. When my mind finally comprehends what I'm doing, I try to rectify my mistake and shake my head furiously.

"Is that a yes or no?" He asks me, regarding me with his narrowed gaze.

I don't know how to explain it to him. Finding myself in the right spot, I try to get my cat to act and dash out but he is stubborn. He goes to Elliott and nudges his head at his feet. The scene doesn't cease to amaze me. Milo is indeed a friendly cat but he is careful of humans. Elliot is the last person whom I would consider as someone who is likely to be adored by my Milo so easily. I just stare at my cat, being appalled by the betrayal.

Elliot picks him up, a beautiful smile spreading on his lips. He looks genuinely happy as he pats my Milo's head. It melts my heart to some extent.

"Aren't you a good boy?" He cooes, smiling brightly at my cat, totally ignoring my presence.

My heart jumps out of my chest when Milo jumps away from his arms and runs ahead to God knows where.

"He should be fine. I have my men there watching over my dog. He went there too. See?" Elliot informs me which calms me down a little.

But his reassurance isn't enough for me not to be restless. However, he tries to earn my attention again by waving his hands in front of me. Suddenly, he starts to use his hands and starts doing strange signs. It takes me a few seconds to understand that he is trying to use sign language to communicate with me.

Yet another person who thinks I'm mute and deaf. I shouldn't be angry. The fault is all mine but I can't help the negative feeling. The memory of that day resurfaces where I tried my best not to stutter and acted according to the rules set by Amber, only for my confidence to be brutally crushed by this man. And now look at him being such a gentle man. His two faced behaviour is a mystery. A mystery that piques my interest.

I don't know how to use sign language. If I did, I would definitely give him a "fuck you" sign. Oh wait, I can flash my middle finger!

Without thinking anymore, I show him a middle finger, making him halt in his speech. He appears confused at that. I can understand his confusion. He has been nothing but a gentleman and here I'm flashing a middle finger like I'm holding a lifelong grudge. But when I realise how Amber forbade me from upsetting him further with my, for the lack of better word, rowdy behaviour, I immediately plan something else to handle the situation before it can escalate.

I show him another middle finger with my right hand and make a cross with both middle fingers as if to tell him that I don't understand sign language.

His lips temple as he tries to stop himself from laughing, amusement overtaking the confused expression on his face.

Not being entirely sure if my answer has come across right, I make a cross with my arms.

"You don't understand sign language?" He asks finally, making me sigh in relief.

I nod my head, eyes blazing with anger when he laughs. The desire to smack his head is too tempting.

"I'm sorry." He mutters a fake apology, still laughing like he has seen something amusing, " It's just that I have never seen someone saying no that way." He admits, trying to hold his laughter back.

"If you were smart enough, you would take the hint and understand that I indeed meant it." I hold myself back from retorting once again, cursing him in my head only.

"Mr.Ivanov!" Lailah spears suddenly, holding the leash of the Husky with whom Elliot was playing a while ago. Behind her, I can see my Milo playing with her Kitten.

"Hey, Lolo!" Elliot greets her, giving her a side hug.

"I've been observing you two for a while now. What's happening?" She enquiries, looking at him after sparing me a short glance.

"I accidentally poured hot coffee on this beautiful lady's hoodie." He gives her the insight.

But I'm just stuck on one word. Beautiful. Did he just call me beautiful? He did and for some reasons that made me happy.

"Oh no! Are you fine, Reg?" Lailah asks hurriedly, scanning me from my head to toe.

I nod my head assuringly though I'm not sure if I've succeeded as her eyes linger on me for a while.

"You two know each other?" Elliot questions, pointing his finger at us, his middle finger at that. It gets unnoticed by Lailah but not me and it successfully pumps anger in my veins. He is trying to poke fun at me. The mischievous glint in his eyes tells me that.

"We met a while ago. We just exchanged our names though. It was nice talking to you, Reg." Lailah smiles at me, making me nod my head.

"You can talk?" Elliot narrows his gaze at me, regarding me suspiciously.

"But she is rather shy, I must admit." Lailah hears the accusatory edge to his tone and jumps to my rescue which makes me grateful.

"Alright. Can you take Marshal to your home? I will have to buy her a new hoodie to compensate for the inconvenience that I've caused." He requests her politely.

"Now if you say it like that, how can I deny, Mr. Ivanov?"

"But please don't let him eat something funny like last time. I really don't want to go to the vet." Elliot says, looking pitifully at his dog to which Lailah rolls her eyes.

"I will try." She replies much to Elliot's disappointment who shakes his head.

Soon Lailah leaves us alone and by that time Milo comes back to me. I pick him up and place him on my arms, not wanting him to wander around again.

"Let's go?" He asks again, looking at me with the same tender look.

I don't know why and how I agreed to this. It's a bad idea, very bad idea to spend time with him. I'm at risk with him. But my mind doesn't listen to me. It wants to uncover the truth behind Elliot's two faced behaviour and what's better than spending time with him to do that?

Even though the rational part of my brain is telling me to sprint away and save myself from the trouble, the detective in me wants to solve the mystery called Elliot Ivanov. I need to know that to save Amber. I say that to myself, trying to justify my reckless decision.