[The next day…]
"What do you think?"
Ayla was pulled out of her mind with a slight tap on the shoulder.
"Huh?" She glanced at the intruder as she drew her brows together.
"Where are you lost?" Claude squinted his eyes down at her as he leaned forward to have a better look at her face. "Are you tired already? We can come back another day." He proposed. The idea of her being unwell didn't settle well with the man. He was already planning on giving his doctor a call to come and check on her as soon as they arrived back at his penthouse.
"What? No!" Ayla shook her head. "Why would we need to come back here? We are already here and have seen half of the place."
The duo decided to come and check out the old, abandoned mansion for themselves the very next day. More precisely, it was Claude who came up with the idea. According to
"That's because I was not sick, Claude." Her voice was no longer meek as she responded to his questions. "I was feeling a bit down because it's that time of the month…"It took Claude some time to process her words. But in the end, he came up with nothing. The frown nestled in between his brows only grew deeper as he found himself to be at a loss."What are you trying to say?" He finally found his voice after a good couple of seconds. "What time of the month?" Claude failed to decode her riddle, if that it was to begin with."Are you kidding me?" It was Ayla's turn to be confused. She knew that she wasn't really forthcoming with her answer, but she was sure that it wasn't that hard for anyone to guess what she was talking about."No." Claude gave his head a firm shake. "I really don't know what it is that you are talking about."Ayla stared ba
Several minutes later, Claude walked in with a tray in his hands and a hot water bottle tucked under his arm. Ayla watched him make his way further into the room with squinted eyes. The frown from earlier was no longer there and his brows seemed to have relaxed in the time he was gone. A sigh of relief escaped her lips as she eyed the man. She hated it when she was the one causing him pain."Where are you lost?" Claude settled down next to her on the bed, placing the tray in between the two of them."Just thinking…""About?" Claude probed. He was eager to know what could be so important that she barely acknowledged his presence. But he wasn't expecting the reply he got in return."You." Ayla shrugged as if it was only normal for her to be thinking of him."I hope it's all good." He glanced up at her with hopeful eyes."It
Feeling a little more than groggy, Claude stretched his arms out in the air to help ease the stiffness embedded in his shoulders. He turned around to his other side, wanting to go back to sleep. But something made him snap his eyes open. His legs were almost dangling off the edge of the bed. Since when did he grow out of his bed, or did it shrink. Neither did he have a habit of rolling around the bed in his sleep.A groan of protest resonated deep within his throat as he pushed the upper half of his body up using his hands. It took his mind a good minute to get rid of the fogginess which his nap had left behind in its wake. Once he was in his senses, he took his time in taking in his surroundings. But what caught his attention was the ruffled sheets behind him. He looked over his shoulder, only to be left gaping as air left his lungs.Ayla was sleeping… in his bed… next to him.It was then
"No, you don't, Claude." Ayla shook her head. "You can not go around taking my decisions for me all because it will make you feel better. You lost that right a long, long time ago. You lost that right when you chose to ruin our marriage!"It was too late when realization dawned on her."I-I… I didn't mean it like that."Claude scoffed as he looked down at his own slippers clad feet. With a shake of his head, he smiled at her, a smile which was a reflection on his emotional turmoil. "No, Ayla. What you said is true. I lost that right a long, long time. But you know what?" He paused but didn't wait for her reply. "I may have ruined our relationship, but it wasn't me who ruined our marriage. It was you.""Claude, don't, please." Her voice quivered as she took a step back."Why?" He scoffed. "Since we are setting the scores correctly, why should I
"One and a half years later, I am still in love with you."The world seemed to be revolving on a new axis for Claude as his mind processed her words."You what?" He looked down at her as he cupped her cheeks, making her look at him."I what?" Sniffling, Ayla questioned him in return."You said something just now. I would very much like you to repeat it for me." Claude insisted. He was having a hard time believing his ears."You want me to repeat it all?" She frowned. "Were you not paying attention to what I was saying all this time?" Ayla was no longer a sobbing mess even though the tears didn't stop."Ayla!" Claude pulled her flush against his chest. "Say it again!" His voice was stern, giving her no other choice.Ayla knew that she could no longer beat around the bush. She had realized her mistake the
"So there you are!"Two strong arms came around her as she stood by the glass wall, gazing up at the sky"Hey…" Ayla didn't have to turn around to know who it was. First, there was only one person beside her in the penthouse. Second, she could always recognize his touch. It felt like she belonged in his embrace; it felt like she was home finally."I was looking all over for you. Claude leaned forward and brought his chin to rest on her shoulder."I am sorry for making you worry." She turned her face to the side and placed a kiss on the side of his head."I am not taking that sorry, but I will gladly accept another kiss. Though somewhere else." He wiggled his eyebrows, making her laugh at the innuendo."And there's the smile I fell in love with." He snuggled his face deeper into the side of her neck, taking a whiff of
"You seem in a good mood today, Boss."Claude's secretary spoke up as he passed him the file he asked for."Are you complaining?" Claude barely glanced at him as he took the file from before his attention went back to the document he was reviewing on his laptop. He was eager to finish his work as soon as he could and go back to Ayla—his home.The duo had slept in separate rooms only since it would have been pushing things too much. They finally had a good start and had all the time in the world for themselves."Never, Boss." The man replied before taking his leave. Just as he was about to leave the room, Claude called for him."When will Ethan be arriving? Do you have any news on him?" He really wanted to have Ethan back even though his current substitute wasn't half bad. Especially given that Ethan was indeed training him to fill in his shoes
"Because it looks like I interrupted something important."Her frown was the only thing which Claude could see but the helplessness which filled her eyes was enough of a giveaway for him. She was feeling guilty for interrupting their meeting. Well, it was more of a tour now. The actual meeting had already been wrapped up a while ago. It was what had Claude believing that her interruption was not going to have any repercussions. Even if there were any, he didn't care."It's fine. Don't worry." Claude rubbed his hand up and down her back to calm her down. Turning his attention to the group, he began. "Apologies for the interruption everyone, but let me introduce you all to my girlfriend." He was smart enough to not announce her name to the team. Though he wondered where Ayla was going with the secrecy."I am sure she must have a name." It was Mr. D'Souza who spoke up. There was a small smile playing acros