CEO’s REDEMPTION

“Done!” I mumble after bandaging his wounds. They are healing just fine, gladly. At least none of them looks infected or adamant about healing. In about a week he should be fine.

“Thank you.” He asserts as I amble back to him after returning the first aid kit.

I angle myself in front of him, scanning for any trace of change in him, and sure, he doesn’t look dismal and dull like he has always been since I met him. The cold look on his face is still so permanent, but I think I have been with him enough to distinguish his physical features from masks. The icy demeanour is his nature. A beautiful one, I must say. It exudes both ice and fire. It exhibits boldness and authority. I am glad that the masks are not so evident right now, and I hope they fade away completely and for good.

“What is it?” He implores after noticing my stern gaze on him for a while.

“What do you want to do?” I ask.

I think before I impose all the crazy childish ideas to aid his recovery on him, I should at least know what he likes and what he wants, right?

“I don’t know.” He murmurs, shrugging his shoulders. “Nothing. I’m okay here.” He says, his tone of voice low and cold.

Nothing? Come on now? How can I help him if he acts like this?

I kneel between his legs, resting my elbows on his thighs. I sense his discomfort, but I am not here for some naughty stuff, not even for a kiss like the one lingering in my head. I am here for the business I signed up for.

“Listen, Jerol. If you want to get out of this, you must make an effort. I need your help to be able to help you.” I state, staring up at his face as his gorgeous features tickle me from a few inches above mine.

He averts his gaze from me, turning to the side, but I cup his warm face, tilting it in my direction. Our eyes lock, mine pleading for him to warm up to my aid, and his pleading for something else that I can’t quite decipher. He looks susceptible, like he is afraid – afraid to start again. I understand his fears and uncertainties, but I promised to be here every step of the way, as long as he allows me to.

“Hey. You know, your eyes tell me that you are a strong gentleman. Show me the strong Jerol. Toss this fear aside and try to move on. I’m certain greater things are awaiting you ahead, Jerol.” I utter, caressing his cheeks with my thumbs to soothe him.

I frankly never thought that a man can be broken to this level. I thought this stone-hearted gender don’t break down. But after meeting Jerol, and discovering all his torments and predicaments, I just realised that before anything, they are humans. They have feelings. They are bound to get hurt and feel the pain, and just like us, there is just a limit to what they can take too.

“It’s not that I don’t want to but,” he massages his neck with his palms, “it’s just that there are things that don’t interest me anymore.” He breathes out a sigh, boring into my eyes again.

“What are they?” I plead, still cupping his face and reading the language of his eyes. I love how they look when they melt like this. The dark glow in them sparkles with flames of fire. A very alluring sight that I would stare at the whole day and even get lost in it.

“The gym was my only hobby aside from work.”Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

That got me to smile real broad, releasing a small chuckle.

“What?” He queries.

“I never in my life heard of work being a hobby. I’m hearing it for the first time.” I state, standing up because my knees are beginning to hurt.

“Well, it was for me. Maybe still is. A lot has happened. I just don’t know where to start. I… am… afraid…” He looks down.

Afraid? That is his empire. He built it. I understand that it has suffered some losses and the investors might be not welcome him with a broad smile. But he still is the owner. Everyone goes through some crisis at some point and it was his time. They have earned profits all the years. They can not crucify him for just this one time. It’s not like the company has completely collapsed. There is still enough time to reform it, and I strongly believe he can get the empire back on its feet if wants to.

I part his legs with mine, and position myself between him, making him look up at my crazy gesture. I sit on his lap, wrapping an arm around his broad shoulders, while the other one goes to his perfectly shaped jaws. Well, I should enjoy the benefits of being his wife as long as they last.

“What are you afraid of?” I query.

“Facing them. The mess is just too much. It was so unprofessional of me and I have no justification for that.” He explains, and I can see the weight of his fears through his eyes.

“Listen, Jerol. That empire is yours. The board might be angry right now but I am sure they will come around. We are bound to fall at some point, even countless times, but the most important thing is us rising every time we fall. You’ve stayed on the ground for so long, but nobody has the right to question you for that because no one knows the pain you had to deal with. You are getting up, you are starting again, and that is all that matters. Nothing else.” I rant, as if I were a motivational speaker. Meh!

I wish I had someone to encourage me like this in my life. Maybe I would have gone a little bit further in life. Maybe I would have become somebody in life. But all is gone now, all the same, I am glad that I have been given a chance to do what no one ever did for me – to encourage someone. If this works, if I manage to restore Jerol, I will be a happy soul.

“But…”

I place my index finger on his moist lips to stop him. Doubts will not help. He needs to believe in himself.

“No buts, Jerol. You will do it because you can. I believe in you, and you should do the same. Believe in yourself, Jerol. And I will be right beside you whenever you need me.”

He breathes out a deep sigh eyeing me, his hands encircling my waist.

“Whenever I need you?” He implores, and whether that has a hidden meaning or not, I don’t care. I know what I mean, and I can bear the weight of my words.

“Whenever, Jerol.”

“I’ll hold you to that.” He winks, his features glowing a little.

He looks dangerously handsome when he is like this. A harmless opinion, though. This ice in his eyes sparkles with a strong spell one of fire when he smiles.

“I’ll never back down.” I affirm.

“Thank you.” He murmurs. He is so appreciative.

I don’t understand the gesture in his hand drawing circles on my thigh. It’s tickling me weirdly and since I don’t know whether he is aware of what he is doing, I pull away from him and stand from his lap.

I clear my throat. My idea of sitting on his lap was probably not a good one. I feel kind of weirdly hot all of a sudden, and him kidnapping my hands and holding them this tight is not doing me any good. The effect of not being this close to a man ever, I suppose?

“Aahh…” Ahem! Ahem! I clear my throat once more, trying to pull my hands from him slightly but he doesn’t let go. Since I don’t want to seem awkward, I give up trying, and give him the satisfaction of holding them. “Can we go out after lunch?” I query before my breath runs out on me.

“Where?” He asks, standing up and towering in front of me.

“Anywhere. Wait,” an idea just crossed my mind. He arches an eyebrow, curious to know what I have in mind, “how about you show me around the castle?”

He needs to first familiarise himself with his place once again. He has shut himself in for far so long. I doubt he recollects the glamour of this castle. He has become like an alien in his own surroundings for those three months he has been caged in depression. I am eager to tour the castle, but this is more about him than myself.

“Okay.” He mumbles.

“Okay. I’ll go set the table.” I ecstatically whirl around, but a step away, he pulls me to him with force.

I turn around, crashing into his chest as he pulls me to him. He drapes his strong arms around me and buries his features on my shoulder, encompassing me so tight that I am finding it difficult to breathe. The scent of his pheromones makes me close my eyes as I savour their rich seductive odor. They smell like scarlet and lavender. They scream nothing but a sin call.

“Tessa!” He whimpers in my ear, his breath tickling my sensitive skin.

I wrap my hands around him, stroking him gently.

“I’m here, Jerol.” I whimper back.

It feels surreal to hear him mumble my name. I love how it sweetly rolls out of his mouth those few times he has called me.

He pulls away gently, still pressing me to him and resting his forehead on mine, his eyes closed. I’m in awe, and that is why despite all these weird combo of feelings, I am maintaining my gaze on him, even now as his lips brush mine.

It’s getting too hot and intense in here, but I promised to be here whenever he needs me. I know he wants to forget the kissing of that bitch, Ellie, and am right here for him. A kiss doesn’t hurt, right? My virginity is still intact and as long as it’s not touched, I am in for anything to help this man that is putting my walls in shambles.

His lips are stranded on mine, but I give him the go-ahead signal. I peck him, and he wastes no time in returning the favour with a heated kiss that leaves both of us trembling and breathless.

He holds me steady after, supporting me until I regain my strength back. He pulls away a little, cupping my cheeks and lifting my face to his, his gorgeous eyes on mine.

“This wasn’t part of the deal either.” He mutters.

“Yeah.” That is all I can afford to whimper, my gaze surrendering to his alluring one.

“Are you okay? I’m being too selfie.” He states.

I cup his face too, pulling him to my face until we are an inch apart.

“No, Jerol. I’m okay. We are in this together.” I assure him.

“Are you sure, Tessa?” He implores, his thumbs printing traces of fire on my cheeks as they caress them.

I nod my head, unable to utter a word. The heat between us is just too much and I am finding it difficult to breathe. It’s weakening my bones.

“One last one?” He pleads, and I nod my head to whatever that means.

As he pulls me gently for another slow-burn kiss, I find myself dangling on his neck for support, and he pulls me with him to lie on the bed.

I must have lost all my senses in this kiss because even as he hovers on top of me, I don’t move a muscle to object. All I can think of is the sweet taste of his mind-blowing kisses and the sensation of this fire that’s erupting in me. I am burning.

“Mmh…” I didn’t mean to, the soft moan just escaped my lips, worshipping his kisses, righting this wrong!