Published June 28, 2019----Sept. 30, 2020

Jared walked towards her while pushing wheeled luggage with a duffel bag on top of it and looking so handsome in a navy blue chino pants, worn together with a white dress shirt.

"She likes it when he wears casual clothes as he looked dapper on it. Isn't she a lucky girl to be married to him?" She thought while stifling a giggle.

"Tori, why are you still sitting here?" Katelyn was surprised to see Jared's face in front of her. "Did he again hear her giggling?" She asked herself while trying to survey his facial expression of any hints that he does.

"Is something wrong?" concerned etched on his face as he asked.

"Thank God! His question answers hers."

She blinked her eyes and answered. "Nothing, I thought if I brought all the things I needed in the two nights that we are not here," she fabricated.

"We need to get going now as I will still have a lunch meeting, and it's an hour's drive," Jared told her while he straightened himself and took their baggage.

"So, she was right to think the reason he will be going to the resort was that he has a business meeting there. What to expect on a workaholic? To sit down on the beach, relax, and count the bikini-clad women? Of course, he will not waste his time doing that; they will besiege him."

She was the one who made it a big deal that he asked her to the resort and thought that she could finally have him to herself.

They will walk in a sandy shore holding hands, have a spa for couples, candlelit dinner with waves as background music, and simply relax under a shade. But all those were just dreams and besides she was not even sure if it's a beach or a mountain resort.

"Their so-called "Couple days" will be like the past weekends." Katelyn thought in dismay, "The only difference was that instead of her lazing around the house watching movies while he sat beside her busy with his computer, she would be sunbathing and drooling over the hunks in the beach.

"As if she will drool over them, her husband is too gorgeous for her to look around."

Katelyn was disillusioned of the weekend she invasion spending. She looked at her watch, and upon seeing the time that it's half-past eleven already, hurriedly, she gets up from the couch and follows Jared.

"I can carry the duffel bag, Jared," she offered.

"No Need, just make sure that the lights are off and then lock the door," Jared answered her at the same time, opened the door and walked out.

"Today, he never failed to make her heart flutter. Even earlier, she was slightly disappointed," Katelyn smiled, touched by his being gentleman.

She walked to the doorway, with her left hand on the doorknob she turned off the lights and then went out of the door while Jared just stands in the corridor.

"I will wait for you at the elevator," Jared told her when she was locking the door. Once she finished securing their place, she walked to where Jared is.

Their apartment is one of the four penthouses on the topmost floor of the building owned and managed by Steele Group of Companies. So far, she had not met anyone of the owner of the other three, but she knows that the occupant of their floor exclusively used two elevators while the rest shares the common one.

The customized carpet of the corridor gave the floor style and sophistication and minimized the noise of anyone that tread on it, giving the impression that they are the only ones who live there.

She will have no idea if not for Nicole telling her and Tess that the famous actress, Lindsay Stone, and the vocalist of The Legion, Louis Owen, lives there too.

That was in her thought until she was only a step away from Jared, and the other elevator opened. She saw a man came out of it.

In his signature leather jacket and dark shades, Louis Owen came out of the door, followed by his manager, and when he saw her, he stopped. "Hi! How are you?" he extended his hands.

Katelyn immediately shakes his hands while introducing herself, feeling overwhelmed that he noticed her.

"Do you live here too?" The excitement was in his voice as he asked with his soft hands still holding her.

She nods her head for an answer while trying to pull her hands. It was only then he released it.

"I'm so sorry, I am just excited to see girls of my age on this floor," he explained, and then in an undertone, he came closer to her and said." I thought that all who live here are like Mr. Steele, an old person trapped in a young man's body" His statement brought a smile on her face.

But the voice of his manager greeting Jared reminded Katelyn that she had forgotten that she and Louis were not alone in the corridor. She distanced herself from him and turned around only to see the scowling face of Jared. She realized her star-struck face and agreement with what Louis had said, and he knows it.

"Will he be childlike again and let her pay the consequences? She hopes not or else her weekend will not only be ruined, but it will be full of dread.

"Hi! Mr. Steele," Louise greeted him while he extended his hands for a greeting, but when Jared didn't shake it, he pretended just to swipe his hair, and the turned to smile at her.

The manager then engaged Jared for a chat that she was not so keen on knowing as Louis asked, "I have a party tonight, could you come?"

"Thank you, but I won't be here for the next two days." she answered him, but she wanted to tell him, "make it on another time and if she can bring her friends." Because she knows Nicole and Tess would like to meet him in person as she heard them listening to his songs.

"You are British?"

"Yes, I am." She answered him.

He smiled and then uttered." Cool." Then he pointed out his fingers to Jared as if asking her relationship with the later.

She looked on Jared, whose eyes were on them, and suddenly he turned to walk inside the elevator.

"Bye, Louis, and nice meeting you," she bid Louis her goodbye as soon as she saw Jared punch the elevator button and hurriedly went inside without answering his question.

Once inside and the door closed, she took a deep breath and looked at Jared's expression on the side of her eyes. Fear suddenly crept into her mind as she noticed his angry face. She turned to face him to explain her behavior earlier, but the ringing of the phone distracted her from her thoughts.

Jared opened the duffle bag and then took out his phone and then answered it.

"Yeah...hmm... I am inside the elevator. I will call you once I am out of here." She heard him answered, and she knew that it was Charlize because he spoke so gently, as if he doesn't want her to listen, hence the abrupt conversation.

He then turned off his phone and put it on his pants back pocket without looking at her.

They came down to the basement area without a word coming out from them after that.

He handed their things to the driver while he walked a few meters away from them while taking out his phone.

She knows that he will call Charlize, so she entered the car lest he will accuse her of being an observer.

It was more than ten minutes before he came inside the car and sat down beside her; still, no sound came out of his mouth.

Mark gave him a laptop, and immediately he engaged himself with browsing and typing in there.

The flirtatious Jared of this morning turned into this tough businessman. Intimidation made her sit gracefully in the chair.

Once in a while, she glimpsed out of the window. She looks at the scenery that they passed, but it seems invisible as her mind became preoccupied.

In times like this, Katelyn felt lonely. Rare though it is, but she had those moments too. She never felt this kind of lonesomeness, even on the time that their family was in debt. The feeling of being inside a tunnel with no air to penetrate and you wanted to crawl out of it, but you can't because you are too weak.

That is what she felt now, a need to shout out, but it is not allowed.

She took a quick look at Jared and saw him still engrossed with the computer.

"Why is she like this? Was the reason for her being vulnerable to this feeling of insecurities is because she is in love? Or because deep in her heart, she yearned to be like the girl of her age, free to enjoy meeting people like Louis and express herself without being criticized?"

But she should not be sad or dream of being a carefree person. It was her choice to sacrifice her freedom to help her family, she must only remember the compensation they had received, and beside Jared, she has never been untrue to her. He had warned her never to fall in love with him, so it will be her fault if she does and get hurt.

"But the way he kissed her told a different story." Trying to appease herself even though she knows not to hope for anything.

Her mind is so preoccupied that it was a surprise for her to see the car went over the driveway leading to an impressive hotel.

The car stopped in front of the hotel door, and Mark went out of the car first, and of course, afraid of being seen with them, she just stays put.

"What are you waiting for, Tori? Mark is opening your door already." Finally, he had spoken only to reprimand her, but still, it was a relief.

She looked sideways to smile at him, but he was already getting off the car, so she scrambled out of the door to the surprise of Mark.

Upon seeing Mark's eyes widen, she immediately straightened herself and stood gracefully, feigning innocent.

She saw Jared was already walking in the twin glass doors with golden handles that were being open by porters that welcome him.

"He didn't even wait for her," feeling dejected she just follows his progress with her eyes.

"Mrs. Steele, why are you still standing here?" She heard Mark asked behind her that made her turned around if anyone had heard how he addressed her. Good thing that the head of the valet was busy instructing his subordinates as another car arrived.

She was going to answer him, but he had passed her by with their luggage. She closed her mouth before any words came out of it especially that Mark was then met by the porter and became busy arranging things.

Once he finished, he guided her inside the Hotel. The lobby was light and airy and boasting the magnificent view of the sea. The glittering chandelier that lights the white marble floor made the place looked more pristine. But the one thing that had made her stopped was the scent that lingers in the room.

It's vanilla with the aroma of different spices that she can't describe, but it's there, and for her, that complements the environment and effectively enhances one's sense of being in a place suitable for relaxation.

She turned on her right side to cross towards its lounge area where Jared is standing and talking to Chase.

But suddenly Jared talked to another man; Katelyn stopped walking and turned around only to see Mark on his way towards her. "Mrs. Steele, did you forget something?" He asked when he is in front of her.

"Why does Mark has to call her formally all the time? In a public place too, as if he is going to broadcast to all and sundries?"

Worried that someone will hear him, she immediately answered him." No, I did not forget anything, but as Mr. Steele is busy, I would instead go directly to our room."

"But, it is already on the agenda that you will accompany us during the lunch meeting."

"But Jared never mentioned it to her." She pondered and then looked down on her attire of maxi dress and flats, and maybe Mark saw her worried face as he told her. "Don't worry, Mrs. Steele; the dress code is not formal, its dress down."

Relieved that she will not be out of place, she turned around and followed Mark.

She almost blamed Jared for not telling her about her being a participant in his meeting, but then as she went nearer, a problem besieged her again. "What will be her role this time?"

"Surely not as his wife or girlfriend, but she can be a secretary. Everyone knows that Mark is the executive secretary; well, she can be an assistant."

In the end, it is not up to her, but as always will depend on Jared. As she came nearer, he summoned her with a nod.

"Mr. Larman, this is Katelyn Darcy, Grandmother's best friend's granddaughter." She heard him introduced her once she was beside him to a man in his fifties. She offered her hand for a handshake.

"You already know, Chase," Jared told her afterward, and so she turned and smiled at Chase for a greeting.

"So this is the Lady that your grandmother had chosen, beautiful. Now I know the reason you accepted." Jared laughed at what Mr. Larman commented.

"Yes, as you can see." Then he encircled his hands on her waist that made her look in his eyes. "Honey, he is one of the men that supposed to witness our wedding, but..." Jared turned his face to the older man and asked." Where were you at that time?"

"Oh, that day, my wife was hospitalized."

"So this man knows the circumstances of her marriage." she thought, but then politeness made her inquire about his wife. "Oh, I'm so sorry for what had happened to her, but how is she now?

"Thank you for asking. My wife is well now; we are here because of the wedding of her friend's daughter."

"Excuse me, Mr. Bennet, everyone is already inside," a man wearing the uniform of the staff informed Chase and cut their conversation.

"Nice to meet you again, Mr. Larman. We will invite you for dinner one of these days." Jared told the older man, and then he turned to Mark," Just check on my schedule and inform Mr. Larman's secretary.

Katelyn then had an opportunity to put distance from Jared in case some paparazzi will be able to photograph her with him.

They were ushered on inside the dining area and then to a private room with a long table that can accommodate 12 people. People she doesn't know occupied most of the chairs, and what was left was enough for the four of them.

Someone ushered Jared in the head table, while Chase on the other end. She followed where Mark sat down on Jared's right side.

Once everyone was seated, Mark introduced everyone. But during the introduction, she felt nervous again of Mark slipping about her connection to Jared but good thing he just added her name without designating her position. Afterward, they talked about something she was not interested in while the waiter served the drinks. Her eyes drifted to Jared, talking to Chase about the things that need changes in the chain of hotels that he managed. Upon hearing it, Katelyn realized that Tess would be a very busy person comes next week.

Bored with what they are talking, Katelyn's minds began to drift away from their conversation and concentrate on the juice. The smell of food as the server nears their table made her stomach gurgle. Thankful that food will distract her; she immediately took a bite on the appetizer.

Everyone stopped exchanging their ideas when the waiter served the main course, and its smell filled the room. It was then that the cutlery's clinking as it hits the plate is the only sound heard, lots of it frequently.

After finishing their food, the conversation again started on the topic that they had left behind. There were recommendations of material and the suppliers to convince Jared.

Katelyn felt like a spectator on all that is happening in front of her. When the waiter served the dessert, it is where she focused her attention.

Finally, when after an hour had passed and a tea, Jared accepted the plans he deemed fit to be used for the betterment of the Hotel. He then gets up from his chair, and everyone then stands up to bid him goodbye. Once he steps out from the table, they returned to their chairs, even Katelyn.

"Tori, let's go now," he told her before she can settle back on her chair.

She looked at the people in front of her, surprised was etched on their faces and made worse by Jared's insistent behavior.

Mark quick action of diverting everyone's attention to him as he distributes the minutes and other things to do after a meeting enables them to go out.

They walked out of the room while Jared held her hands, paying no heed to what others would think, but once they were out of the dining area, Katelyn immediately pulled her hands. Her action received a scathing look from him, and then he continued his stride while she followed.

They were halfway to the door when she saw the elevators opened and came out a familiar face that made her run to hide someplace.

END OF PART 12

Who do you think came out of the elevator? Please comment and don't forget to vote.