Unexpected Encounter: A Second Chance at Love

"Next time, call me if you have late meetings like this."

Thinking she had heard him wrong, Emma looked at him.

"Call me beforehand, I'll come and pick you up," he added. "It's not safe to stand in the road alone at this time."

"Wait a minute—" Emma placed her hand on her chest. "Are you worried about me?"

"Yes."

She was taken aback by his answer. She didn't expect such a bold reply from him. "Are you alright?"

"I am fine," he vaguely answered without taking his eyes off the road.

His vague answers and the silence that followed were enough for her to understand that he was mad. So she decided to give him some space and not say anything.

After a long awkward silence, George finally said something. "Are you going home or your apartment?"

"Apartment."

….

[Outside Emma's apartment]

He stopped the car right in front of her apartment. Emma thanked him and was about to get down when he stopped her.

"Do you know Uranus Refter?"

"He is one of my clients," she answered. "Why do you ask?"

Keeping quiet for sometime, he stated, "Stay away from him."

"What?" she frowned.

"Stay away from him," he repeated the sentence with the same overbearing commanding tone.

"He is my client," she snapped at him. She wasn't liking the tone he was using.

"One time Emma, for one time can't you listen to me?" he snarled. His voice was relatively louder than usual.

Emma pursed her lips but did not say anything. She just kept staring at him.

George tightened his grip on the steering wheel and closed his eyes. He took a deep breath to control his overbearing emotions. "Just leave."

"I am not until you tell me what's wrong," she remarked. "Why are you so mad?"

Just then her eyes landed on his bruised bleeding knuckles.

"How did you get hurt?" She grabbed his hand. "Did you get into a fight?"

Retracting his hand back, he looked away. "Go home."

"George—"

"Leave Emma."

She wanted to stay but seeing how awful his mood was, she quietly stepped out of the car.

…..

[Next day, Collins mansion]

When Andrew woke up, Rachael was already up.

Thinking that he must have overslept, he asked, "What time is it?"

"Seven," she answered.

"Why are you up so early?" he frowned.

"Well, I woke up around six, took a quick shower and made breakfast for us." Picking up the blanket from the couch, she said, "Go freshen up."

"Yeah."

When he placed his hand on his nape and frowned, Rachael asked, "What happened?"

"Nothing." He stretched his neck. "I think I slept weird."

"Maybe it's the couch." Without waiting for his reply, she said, "It's clearly small for you." When she woke in the middle of the night, she saw him cuddled on the small couch. He looked very uncomfortable. She wanted to wake him up and ask him to take the bed but she knew he would never agree,

Taking the blanket from her hand, he kept it aside. He then grabbed her hand and made her sit beside him.

Inching closer, he gently ran his fingers through her slightly damp hair. "Good morning."

"Andrew, you can't continue to sleep this way. You will break your neck someday." She was very worried for him.

"You won't let it go, right?" he sighed. "Okay then what do you suggest? There is no way I will let you sleep on the couch."

"But—"

"Okay, I'll get the air mattress and sleep on the floor. Is that okay?"

"You can't sleep on the floor. It's getting chilly, you'll catch a cold." She straightaway rejected the idea without even considering it.

"Then what do you want? We'll do whatever you say." Pausing for a while, he asked, "You want me to sleep in the other room?"

When she did not say anything, he sighed, "Okay, I'll use the bed in the other room."

Before he could get up and walk away, Rachael grabbed his wrist to stop him. "The bed is big."

"Huh?" Andrew looked at her. He didn't quite understand what she meant.

"I mean—" she got up. "T-The bed is big enough to fit two people. You can take one side and I'll take the other. No one will have any neck problem and I won't feel guilty for making you sleep on this tiny couch."

When he did not say anything, she felt very embarrassed. She had gathered all her courage to pitch in her suggestion but his silence made her feel even more nervous than she already was.

She gently nudged him. "Say something—" When he kept staring, she decided to run away to save herself from the embarrassment. "I'll go check the food downstairs."

She was about to walk away, when he grabbed her hand.

"Are you inviting me to bed?"

Rachael: " "

The way she said it and the way he did were so different. His way inclined towards the weird side. It sounded kinda sexual.

"I accept your invitation."

Rachael: " "

He accepted an invitation she didn't send. Rachael was speechless.

"Okay—" He led her towards the bed. "Let's finalize a few things. Which side do you want?"

"The right side."

"Okay, go to your side," he instructed her before jogging towards his side.

She had no idea what he was trying to do but she still decided to compel.

"Lie down."

"Huh?"

"Come on, lie down," he instructed while doing the same.

When she did the same, Andrew pulled the quilt up and covered them.

Rachael, who was still confused about what he was trying to do or prove, finally decided to ask him. "What are we doing?"

"Let's take a short nap, okay?" He turned, facing her. "It's still early."

"But—" She turned towards him. "What about the break—"

"Sshhh—" He placed his finger on her lips. "We can eat after we wake up."

The moment his finger touched her lips, Rachael's heartbeat accelerated. His slightly hoarse and a little dominating morning voice made it impossible for her to reject anything he said.

He was looking at her with his two beautiful loving eyes. The guy had no idea how incredibly cute and hot he looked at the moment. How on earth could she say 'NO' to anything he said?

…..