Meeting Mr. Mogul: A Billionaire Contemporary Romance (27 page)

 “I’m fine. I’m glad that I saw you here. I thought you’d never talk to me again after that…” he raved as he weakly tried to get out of my hold.

 “Terry!” I called aloud as I scanned my eyes towards the booth where I last saw him.

 Within seconds, Terry got up and jogged towards me. “What’s wrong?” he asked as he studied William and me. “Is he alright?” he asked as his gaze landed on William worriedly.

 “No. This idiot is drinking when he still has a freaking fever,” I replied in annoyance as I tried to tighten my hold on him.

  “I’m fine. Damn it. Don’t talk like I’m not here,” William interjected intently as he tried to push me away again.

 “Do you see any guys in black suit around here?” I asked Terry while I scanned the bar for any signs of his driver, Mark.

 “No. I don’t think so…” Terry replied with uncertainty as he kept his eyes on William.

 “Please check outside!” I instructed aloud, making a few people turn and look at us.

I scanned the slightly empty bar, feeling relieved that no one had noticed the man beside me. I studied William’s current condition and grimaced at his lack of response. He looked like he was struggling. His breathing was slightly ragged, but he was able to stand straight without swaying.

 “How long have you been drinking, William?” I asked, grabbing his attention again.

He looked down at me with a small frown before he replied. “I think it was after you asked me to get out of the hospital. If you’re looking for Mark, he is not here. I drove myself today,” he replied dully, his eyes slightly squinting.

I mentally fumed at his words. I can’t believe that he was capable of being incompetent for someone who looked so dignified.

 “We’re going to my place. I don’t want people seeing you like this,” I chided softly as I lightly nudged him to walk while I kept my arm around his waist.

William chuckled and patted my back roughly. “If I’ve known it would take me being drunk to get you to take me anywhere, I should have done it before.”

I rolled my eyes at his comment and paid for our drinks. After that, I ushered him towards the door. And for a brief moment, I enjoyed a drunk and sick William. This was another side of him I’ve never seen. And it’s side of him that I find really cute in a weird way.

“I think he’s dead,” Terry alleged softly as we lightly placed William’s body down on top of my bed.

I rolled my eyes and sat on the edge of my bed. “Can you help me take his clothes off?” I asked inaudibly as I quickly removed one of William’s shoes.

“I thought you’d never ask,” Terry replied with a huge grin as he rubbed his hands in excitement.

I turned towards him with my eyebrow raised and my hand held up, telling him to stop. “Wait. I change my mind. Can you please order some Chinese take-out, preferably some soup? William would need it when he wakes up.”

He stopped mid-stride and eyed me in defeat. I kept my expression serious until he let out a defeated sigh. “Fine. Call me when he starts assaulting you. Wait… I don’t care if he does.  The man looks dead anyway,” he grumbled in reply as he walked out of my room, slamming the door shut in a childish manner.

I chuckled and continued to remove his other shoe and socks. After trying to remove his shirt, I stopped stripping him and pulled the blanket over his body. When I was done, I sat back down on the edge of the bed for a moment and looked at his peaceful, sleeping face.

“Thank you,” William suddenly mumbled as his closed eyes fluttered twice.

“For what?” I asked softly, keeping my face blank.

“Thank you for taking care of me,” he replied weakly, his eyes fluttering again and closed. He let out a small yawn. “I’m going to stay here for a while,” he stated dreamily.

“Sure. I’ll leave you,” I chuckled at his words and slowly stood up.

“Wait! Can you stay here with me?” he asked aloud, his eyes wide as he sat up in my bed, making me turn around.

 I gaped at him for a moment as I stared at his pleading eyes. So, he was awake all this time? “I… I’m…” I stuttered as I tried to come up with an excuse.

“Please,” he begged, his voice deep with need. Then, swiftly, he moved out of the bed and grabbed my hand. He tugged me back to where I sat and went back under the covers.

“Okay,” I replied softly as I watched his every movement.

 He leaned towards me and pushed the blanket aside as he patted down his hand in invitation. “Come on. I know you’re tired as well,” he noted.

 I gapped at him in shock. “I’m not sleeping with you.”

“Technically, in an intimate way, that would be impossible. But if you’re up for it when I’m better…” he countered with a grin.

I slapped his leg playfully as a smile crept on my face. “Jerk,” I mumbled as I shook my head in disbelief. Without thinking too much of it, I crawled on the space William had offered.

With a victorious grin, William pulled the blanket over both of us. I quickly grabbed one of the pillows under me and place it between us like a barrier.

“Don’t think I’ll let you cuddle me,” I stated resolutely, though I couldn’t help hide my smile.

“You’ll give in one of these days, Andy,” William retorted with a chuckle. Then, I felt a slight movement in the bed and gasped as the pillow between us suddenly vanished. “Don’t flatter yourself. I don’t like cuddling either,” he said sarcastically he placed the pillow by our feet.

I rolled my eyes at his comment and turned from his smirking face. I couldn’t help but feel happy in the moment, even though nothing had changed between William and me. Or am I the only one assuming it?

I didn’t know I fell asleep when I was woken up by a warm, hard surface on my back. Faintly, I could feel something moving behind me. When I realize and heard someone breathing on my neck, I quickly moved away from the figure. I didn’t realize I was close to the edge when an arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me back safely from falling off the bed.

“Careful there or you might fall.” William’s deep raspy voice was by my ear, evoking a sensation through my body.

“Let me go or I’ll make sure your mini you won’t see the light of day,” I hissed in reply as I sat up and moved towards the foot of the bed.

William quickly moved as he raised both of his hands in surrender. “Are you always this feisty?” he asked with his eyebrow raised and a mischievous grin on his lips.

“You should see her kick me out of bed. You’re lucky she just squirmed and yelled at you,” Terry agreed. His voice suddenly made me notice his presence by my desk.

I stared at him, shocked at his calmness. “How long have you been watching us sleep?” I asked in a low voice as I controlled my anger.

“I don’t really know. Since the soup has gone cold, I would say for a while,” Terry replied nonchalantly though I could still see the teasing glint in his eyes.

My eyes hardened at his words. I was about to scold him when I heard a faint chuckle beside me. I turned towards William and gave him a dry look, which made him stop mid-chuckle.

With a defeated sigh, I slid out of the bed and stood up while I lightly straightened out my wrinkled clothes.

“I’m going to get something to eat. Stay here and rest. I’ll get your soup,” I turned back to William as I reached the door and stared him down to make my point clear.

“Yes, ma’am,” he replied with a faint southern accent, making me raise my eyebrow at him. He just gave me a wink in reply.

I shook my head in disbelief and got out of the room before things got weirder for me. As I finally took myself out of the current situation I was in, I recounted on what I just did today.

First, I had a make-out session with the man I thought I loathed and then I slapped him “accidentally.” Also, I rudely asked him to get out of my father’s hospital room, where he clearly overstepped a boundary. And now, I’m taking the responsibility of taking care of him because he is both sick and drunk and he is my boss’s brother. I didn’t know it would take a day to make life shift so quickly. And I almost forgot, I think I just flirted with him. Yeah, because agreeing to sleep with him is a form of flirting.

I felt the stupidity of my actions. Why do I feel so attuned to his presence? Do I really hate him in the first place? And I did admit to Terry that I had a thing for him. What is happening to me?

“Are you okay?”

I looked up, startled at Terry’s entrance. “I’m fine,” I assured as I placed a hand on my chest and let out a sigh of relief.

“Good,” he studied me for a moment before taking a few steps towards the main door. “I think I’m going to go now. Andrew wants me to pick him up from work,” he said as he took another step away from me.

“What? You’re leaving me with him?” I squealed in disbelief as I pointed at the door leading to my room.

“You’ll be fine. Besides, if he does something to you, just shout to your neighbors,” he proposed sarcastically with a light chuckle.

“You’re abandoning me…” I pouted my lips in a ploy to make him feel sorry for me.

Terry wasn’t falling for it. He laughed at my expression and continued to walk towards the door. I followed behind him, pleading half-heartedly. But in truth, I wanted him to stay. How was I supposed to act normal after what just happened with William and me?

Before I closed the front door, Terry gave me a brief farewell and a few lewd gestures— making kissing faces as he pointed at my bedroom. In reply, I closed the door with a slam. Now I’m alone with a man I may or may not have feelings for.

I silently walked back to the kitchen to check on William’s soup that I was reheating. When I was done, I carefully poured the soup in a small bowl and placed it on a tray. I grabbed a bottle of water to go with the soup. With ease, I carried the tray towards my room.

It took me awhile to open the door using my foot since I had my hands full. As I entered the room, I heard a soft rumbling snore coming from my bed. I stopped at the foot of my bed and watch William’s peaceful sleeping face. I can’t believe he went back to sleep when I just told him I’ll be serving him food.

I stood there for a few minutes debating whether to wake him up or not. And after much deliberation, I slowly walked out of the room and quietly closed the door behind me. With a strained sigh, I looked down at the wasted soup and decided to eat it myself.

That night, I decided to sleep on my couch. I’ve been destined to sleep in one since I’ve moved into this city. Even when I already had my own bed, fate made it clear that I will go back to sleeping on a couch. I sighed and mumbled a good night to no one in particular as I closed my eyes to a dreamless sleep.

The first thing I heard was a slight swish and chatter from somewhere in the kitchen. I was still half asleep and thought that it was just part of my dream, which was weird since I can’t seem to remember what I was dreaming about. And then, a loud crash made my eyes flutter wide as I stiffened at the sound.

Swiftly, I twisted on my back since I was lying face down and almost fell on the floor. I gasped as I balanced myself with my right foot while my right hand grabbed the head of the couch as my brain registered the situation I was in.

“God!” a deep voice called from where I heard the sound of metals and utensils clashing together.

I quickly stood up. I glanced down at the clothes I wearing, which were the same clothes from yesterday. I can’t believe I didn’t even bother changing my clothes last night.

 “What is wrong with this thing?” the voice grumbled but this time it was clearer and louder.

I froze at the sound, recognizing to whom the voice belonged to. I looked down at the couch, which was a little messy from my sleep. So, I grabbed the pillows and neatly placed them back in position before going to the kitchen.

As I was about to make it known that I was awake, William cursed again as he flinched away from something. His actions made me raised one of my eyebrows as I glared at his back. I noted that he was also wearing the same clothes from yesterday, though his hair was slightly wet. I grimaced when I realized he had already taken a bath while I didn’t.

“What are you doing?” I asked, finally voicing out and making my presence known.

William quickly turned around, his eyes wide in surprise. I mentally chuckled at his startled expression, which was quite rare.

“You’re up,” he stated softly, his face softening as he continued to study me.

“Actually, I’m not. I’m sleepwalking right now,” I replied sarcastically as I shook my head in disbelief. “What are you doing?” I asked again.

  “Oh. This…” He finally snapped out from his trance and twisted his body aside as his hand gestured towards a frying pan on my gas stove. “I’m cooking breakfast. Well… I’m trying to cook breakfast…” he continued with a soft chuckle.

“Oh. So, why were you screaming like a girl?” I asked as I narrowed my eyes at him though it was evident that I was teasing him.

William’s expression cracked as his amused face faltered. “I wasn’t screaming like a girl. This grease is splattering all over my skin,” he defended as he eyed the frying pan like it was his mortal enemy.

His response finally did it. I burst out laughing and grabbed the nearby counter as I clutched my stomach. William watched me with anger at first, and then his eyes slowly softened and his face broke into a grin.

“This isn’t funny you know…” William said but the amusement in his eyes didn’t waver.

“Yes, it is,” I countered as I tried to catch my breath from laughing.

I quickly walked towards him and eyed the frying pan. “You get this reaction from cooking eggs. I can only imagine what would happen when you try frying bacon,” I remarked and chuckled from the thought.

“The bacon is already cooked. Didn’t you see it on the counter?” he asked and pointed at the island counter behind me.

I looked at the table with wide eyes. There were already two plates neatly placed across each other with a plate of bacon in between. There was also a glass of orange juice beside each plate.

“You did all this?” I asked breathlessly as I continued to study the counter.

“Yes. I was hungry and I saw you sleeping in the couch and I thought I’d cook you something… as a thank you…” he replied, mumbling the last few words.

My head whipped towards him as I flashed him suspiciously. I walked towards him and directly placed the back on my hand on his neck and the other on his forehead without second thought. This made his eyes grow wide, which I tried to ignore. His temperature had gone down from the last time I checked.

“Glad that your fever has gone down,” I muttered as I removed my hand from his skin. There was a fleeting knot in the pit of my stomach as I released that contact.

“Uhm...” William agreed silently as he stepped away from me and resumed cooking the eggs. “This will be ready in a few minutes,” he added softly.

“Okay. I’ll go and wash up while you finish here,” I mumbled as I stiffly walked away towards my bedroom, suddenly feeling the awkwardness of the situation.

“Okay,” he called back abruptly, his back to me.

As I took one last look at him, I could see the tip of his ear slowly getting red. I smiled at his embarrassment. It was a sight to see a blushing Mr. Mogul. Here’s another new thing I know about him. Even the most serious person can have such a cute expression.

When I finally reached my room, I quickly closed the door and scanned the place. The bed was poorly fixed, but the rest of it looked the same. I sighed in relief as my heart slowly thumped to its normal beat. I hadn’t noticed that I was nervous all this time. Now, how am I going to face him afterwards without making it awkward again?