Chapter 24 The Light To His Darkness
Bryce threw occasional glances at the woman seated next to him. Her head was very much outside the window and the wind blew up the fallen tendrils on her face as she laughed out her lungs to complete nothingness.
He shouldn’t be staring but the innocence that radiates on her face was calling out to his darkness. It marveled him how he was so taken in with this woman when he had been telling himself countless times that he wanted absolutely nothing to do with her.
“Where are we going Sir?” Hera asked, her voice echoing through the silence that blanketed the car.
He shifted his gaze when he realized that he had been staring too hard. He doesn’t want to stare but he finds himself doing the opposite of what he wanted to do.
“I don’t know.” Came his casual reply.
Her brows knitted together tightly. He was resisting the sudden urge to laugh. She looked like someone who just came out a horror movie. He found it very cute and alluring.
“Then we’ll get lost.” She blurted out slowly.
“Why would we get lost when I’m the one behind the wheels bellissima.”
Hera blushed hard. He called her beautiful. She had lived in the convent all her life to actually understand the meaning of that word. Most of the sisters at the convent had travelled far and wide and so she was able to learn and grasp a good number of foreign languages as well.
“Because you just said that you don’t know where you’re going and if you get lost, then I’ll get lost as well.” She replied truthfully
Bryce laughed hard. The last restraint he held onto was gone as he laughed his lungs out.
Hera watched her boss laugh. The more he did it, the more it made her smile. She wasn’t sure what she said but he found it funny. Maybe she did something stupid and that’s why he’s laughing at her.
“Did I do something wrong?” She asked when he had calmed down a bit.
“You didn’t. It’s just what you said.” He took a U-turn “Just so you know Hera, I won’t get lost and neither will you” He reassured her.
“It’s okay Sir. I’ll trust you with my safety then. That way, we won’t get lost.” she responded before throwing her face outside the window again.
She trusted him?
How is it that he’s affected by every word that spewed out of her mouth. No woman had ever used that word but this girl was doing the opposite of what he was used to.
A smile ghosted his lips as he pondered on what she just said. She was doing the most and wasn’t even aware of it.
They arrived at their destination and he pulled up in front of the parking lot before alighting the car and going to help her do the same.
“This place is hugeee.” She squealed happily, doing a three sixty degree turn to take in her surrounding.
“Since I figured you’re from the convent, I decided to show you around”
She eyed him curiously. She wasn’t convinced that her boss would bring her here, just to show her around. She wasn’t scared of him but she still doesn’t feel comfortable around him as much as she wanted to.
“What do you want to do first?” He asked, staring at her.
“What do you want to do first sir?”
“Bryce” He corrected.
“I don’t think I can call you that.” She responded truthfully.
He faced her squarely, hands dipped inside his pockets. “And why is that?”
“You’re my boss.” She said incredulously.
“How about we make a deal, you call me Bryce for tonight and I’ll reschedule another outing session for both of us.”
Hera stared at him wide-eyed.
This a pretty good deal. She thought in silence for a few minutes before saying “Deal Bryce.”
“You learn fast.”
Holding her hands, they walked together inside the shopping mall.
“Wait here!” He told her when they got inside. “I just need to get something, I’ll be right back.”
Hera nodded sharply.
Bryce took the other lane till he disappeared out of sight.
Hera waited patiently for him. She smiled happily to the people who greeted her and waved back those who waved at her.
She wasn’t sure how long time had passed until Bryce showed up in front of her with a shopping bag.
“What did you buy?”
“Something that I thought I’d need. Let’s go” He took her hands in his and led her outside the mall before she could protest.
Hera was excited to be outside, exploring the city. She wouldn’t complain if he dragged her anywhere because she wasn’t tired. The city was beautiful and she’d give anything to wander around till she gets tired and worn out.
They got to where the car was parked and Bryce held out the door for her to enter. He was becoming more of a human and it surprised him.
He drove to a fancy restaurant where they had dinner before deciding to call it a night.
When they got back home, it was already late into the night.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.
He helped her out of his car and just then, Nella approached them.
“I didn’t know you were stepping out today” It was more of a statement than a question.
“I thought I’d take a drive around town. Have you been here for long?” He asked.
“Not too long ago.” Came Nella’s gruff reply.
Hera watched the exchange between the two of them. She felt like a third wheel and so she did what any sensible human would do, she excused herself and quietly turned to leave.
“Hold on Hera” Bryce called out to her and she stopped in her tracks. He had noticed her leaving.
He walked up to where she stood and handed the shopping bag over to her. She gave him a quizzical look but still took it anyways.
“This is for you”
“What’s inside?”
“I don’t know. Find out later.” He smiled at her “Good night Bellissima.” He ruffled her hair and gave her a quick peck on the cheeks before walking away with Nella.
Hera watched him leave. The air in her lungs vanishing all of a sudden. He kissed her cheeks. She felt her knees go jelly. It intrigued her a lot when he does things like that to her but she couldn’t explain it no matter how hard she tried to.
She shook the bag gently to get a clue but it was pointless because she didn’t know what was inside.
She’ll just have to find out later then.