65- Might be a woman
After her shower, she came out and put on another of Hunter’s t-shirt. She did not know whatever happened outside was right or wrong. But she liked it. And she wanted to do it again. Or maybe she should just stop!
She was confused. She wished Molly was here.
Damn, I miss her! She did not want another relation after Kyle. It was too much to handle. A man stayed good to her until he was her friend. The moment he would become more than a friend and whole thing would stop making sense.
They wanted her as their friend but they could not manage her as a girlfriend. She had learned it hard way. And she did not want another heartbreak.
No! No way! I can’t let that happen to myself. Not again. Hunter said himself that he was least interested in relationships. At least he had the decency to tell me, which Kyle lacked.
And kissing him or letting him near my body might make things complicated for us. We are friends. Right?
She was so busy that she could not hear him knocking on the door. Opening the door a little bit, Hunter peeked through it. “Abigail. Again you are taking time. Is it the same problem?” then looking at her he frowned and came inside.
“Now just look at you. The way you keep wearing my clothes…”
“T-shirts!” she was quick to correct him.
“Yes. Clothes!” he raised a mocked eyebrow.
“Not clothes, Hunter. ONLY t-shirts!”
she rolled her eyes.
“T-shirts ARE clothes, Abigail!” When he also rolled his eyes, she realized that he was teasing her. You are becoming so much precious to me, Hunter Levisay! I don’t want to lose you over my petty desires.
She did not realize that she was not only staring at him but her eyes were filled with unshed tears. The moment she realized it, she was quick to turn her face away from him.
But Hunter held her shoulders in time, “Abigail!” he was trying to look in her eyes. “What is it?”
She stayed quiet chewing her lower lip fiercely. “Is it something to do, we did there on the beach? Are you regretting it?”
She shook her head trying her best to avoid eye contact. Tears were now running on her cheeks. Very gently Hunter held her close to him, offering his shoulder to lean on. As always!
Here she was again taking that comfort but not able to reciprocate it. Every relation requires giving and taking. But this man! She cried harder.
“Love!” he was wiping her tears. Kissing her cheek rubbing her back. And it was the first time he had called her that.
“Please, stop it, Hunter!” She muttered and Hunter stopped at that very moment. His hands were still there on her back but he was looking at her face.
“I am not able to offer you anything. And here I am continuously taking this comfort from you.” She said in a hoarse voice.
Hunter chuckled, “Is that why you are crying, Abigail? Because you can’t offer me comfort?”
She slowly nodded her head. “And here I am thinking that maybe you did not like what we did outside…”
“Hunter…” She hesitated a bit. “It’s not about liking. Umm… I don’t know how to explain this but…”
“You want time?”
“Yes. Maybe. But I am scared!” she stared at his bluest of eyes. “I am scared that it might complicate us. Our relationship. This friendship.” She looked at his face but it was masked. Whatever he was feeling was not showing on his face at all. It was all hidden.
His face was expressionless.
His eyes were roaming on her face. She was waiting for him to speak. After taking a deep sigh, he hugged her tightly kissing her hair. They both were standing there quietly in each other’s embrace. That too in a walk-in closet.
“Abigail Levisay!” when he spoke his voice was too gentle and her heart skipped a beat. She wanted to get used to this sir name.
“Whenever I would need you, I promise I would let you know.” His fingers were lightly brushing her hair. Lifting her quietly, he carried her to the living area and sat on the couch settling her on his lap and her head on his chest.
“Don’t you remember when I called you a while back that I needed you in my office?” she lifted her head. “The days you spent at my office were a favor to me. You were there for me when your team needed you. You had been making yourself super tired by trying to steer two boats at the same time. And you were doing it beautifully, Abigail.”
Abigail was quiet.
“The problem is why you always underestimate yourself? Why can’t you see something good in you while you can create or come up with something positive about every other fucking soul?”
Abigail looked away trying to digest whatever he was telling her. It felt good to be praised by him.
He started brushing his knuckles on her cheek. “About that kiss.” that got Abigail’s undivided attention. “Don’t stop me from doing that, Abigail.” He whispered. “Please.”
Was there a trace of pleading in his voice? Was he pleading? Hunter Levisay was begging?
“We are on our honeymoon. I am not asking you to get intimate with me. But I am just a human, sugar. Instead of pretending a kiss in front of others and then being awkward about it later. Wouldn’t it be better if we get used to it for a while?”
He also wanted that touch? Damn Abi! No. He wants you to get used to his lips. But that’s near to impossible. How come she could get used to those velvety…
Stop it! She scolded herself for letting go of her train of thought so easily. She nodded her head slowly and earned a quick peck on her lips. Then he abruptly stood, making her stand before him, still holding her.
“Now come on. Let’s take a cottage tour. And then…” He moved a stray hair and tucked it behind her ear. “then we would spend our day on the beach. We would indulge ourselves in lots of rum, lots of hiking, lots of wandering around, and lots of …” His face was getting closer to her. It was serious while his eyes were twinkling.
“Lots of?” She wanted him to complete it. He leaned nearer. His lips were just a few breaths away from hers. She could smell that familiar minty breath. She closed her eyes waiting for his lips to touch her face.
“Lots of …” Now their noses were almost touching each other. “Coffee. Lots of coffee!” he gave a quick peck on her nose and chuckled.
“What?” she batted her eyes in confusion. He saw the disappointment on her face. “Not now sugar! Otherwise, we won’t be able to leave.” He smiled pinching her nose and making her blush. “Plus I need to go shopping too.”
Licking her lower lip, she tried to hide her disappointment and looked at him all confused. “Shopping? But why?”
“Obviously, when you are the one consuming all my clothes then I guess I would be the one ending up shopping. Not you!” He winked.
“Clothes?… T-shirts Hunter! T-shirts” She was screaming at the top of her lungs when Hunter laughingly escaped to the bathroom.
*
Ethan was in his office rubbing his temples. He could not decide what to do about it. He was still in San Francisco after Hunter’s wedding. Though he needed to return to Manhattan.
The head of the security department, Costner Alan was seated along with another executive. “Ethan. I think you should call Hunter and let him know whatever is going on here.”
Ethan was already shaking his head. His friend was on honeymoon. Though he did pretend that he was going to St. Lucia to have a look at the Sapphire Galaxy Resort.
But Ethan knew better. His friend wanted a getaway with his wife. It was a well-deserved honeymoon. And he did not want to burden him with the problems.
“Both the confidential files are inside the building. That’s for sure. Because our smart code scanner would have detected it by now. We either need our search team to trace the files. Or…”
He paused, being a bit hesitant.
“Or?” Ethan raised his head questioningly.
“Or we would need to involve the police. Whoever is doing this, it’s someone trustworthy. And very close to Hunter or you. Because no one will dare to take away the files.”
Ethan did not remark but kept thinking. Two days back they had again lost the deal to Alain groups.
Hunter did get the news but he did not want to ruin the honeymoon. This was about the involvement of someone from their team. Someone too close. “Do one thing.” He straightened, ” Start searching all the offices and cabins. Do your job.”
“Ethan. Searching means… We need to search Hunter’s office too.”
“Let’s leave Hunter’s office out of this. We won’t sabotage his privacy. Carry on with the search. If needed, I will talk to Hunter about his office. But before that, you need to do your homework.”
“I understand your reservations, Ethan. But what about miss Abigail?”
“What about her?” Ethan gave him a sharp look.
“What I mean to say…” He shrugged, ” Searching her office…”
Ethan could not let him finish, ” Costner. In case you have forgotten. Hunter and Abigail are not two people. They are spouses and share the same office. Whatever decision or rules apply to Hunter Levisay are automatically applied to MRS. ABIGAIL LEVISAY.”
Ethan intentionally tried to remind them that Abigail was no more a common employee of the firm.
“Fair enough, Ethen. I don’t have anything against Mrs. Levisay. It’s just the common procedure we are trying to follow.”
Costner was a senior man in the industry who had been with Hunter from the very beginning. Honesty and straightforwardness were the assets that made him a trustworthy person in the eyes of Hunter.
Hunter knew that if the time would come, Costner would not be least bit hesitant to search even Hunter’s pockets.
All his life, he had been a thorough professional and knew his job very well. Instead of answering, Ethan just sat there with his fist under his chin.
“What if we find any clue? Will you throw the person away?” Costner asked him casually.
“No. This time we will involve the police. We already spared Liam and now he is working in Alain groups. So this time whoever this man is. He needs to pay the consequences. I would recommend that we put him behind the bars.”
The security head itched his bald head, “Ethan. Who says it’s a man? It might be a woman too!”
