The day was so hectic and tiring as I had been attending meetings after meetings. After attending my last meeting with a client which was held in a restaurant I bid my farewell and came out of the restaurant only to find that the sun was already down and it was heavily raining.

I ran towards my car and picked the keys from the valet and sat in my car. I pulled the car on the road and drove slowly to avoid any accident as it was pouring heavily.

Suddenly, my eyes landed on a running figure who was covering her head with a shopping bag. Why do I always find her in situations like this? Always trying to hide and this time trying to cover herself from the rain.

I surprised her by stopping the car near her.

"Get in the car, Eloi," I spoke.

"What are you doing here?" She asked in surprise.

"This is not the time to answer that. Just come and sit."

She immediately came around and sat inside on the passenger seat beside me.

"Where is your car? Why were you running in the rain?" I asked as I started the car again.

"This happens when your time is not right." She mumbled lowly. I avoided asking anything because she seemed to be in some tension.

"Look at yourself. You're wet. My penthouse is just five minutes away from here. I'm taking you there so that you can dry yourself and rest a bit." I said giving her a side glance.

"No, Daniel. You don't have to. Just find me a taxi. I'll go home." She said looking outside the window, trying to find a taxi.

"Yeah? Not gonna happen. Your house is twenty minutes away from here and by the time you reach there, you will have a cold, Eloi." I reasoned out.

"Come on, Daniel. My immune system is not weak. Few drops of rain won't make me sick and..." She sneezed before she could complete her sentence.

"See? Symptoms have already arrived. You're coming with me and that's final." I announced.

"But I...I can't go to your h..house." She said directly facing me.

"And why is that?" I frowned.

"We barely know each other." Came her reply. Did she really say that? How could she?

"Really? Haven't you worked for my company? Weren't you the one who was lurking outside my company for four days just to get an apology? Weren't you the one to whom I showed my common eating place? Weren't you the one who offered the hand for friendship? And you're saying we barely know each other?" I asked in disbelief.

"I'm just helping you as a friend. If you have changed your mind and do not consider me your friend anymore then..."

"No, no. It's not what I meant." She replied hastily. "We are friends... Okay, fine. I'll go with you." She gave in. I smirked secretly.

Emotional Blackmail always works!

If she thought I was going to miss the chance to keep her with me then she was wrong.

And friends? I don't think I considered her just my friend. I was just playing along.

I parked my car in the private parking lot of the building and then we headed to my penthouse.

"Wow! Your house is beautiful." Eloise mumbled in admiration as soon as we stepped into my penthouse.

"Thank you. But the credit goes to the Architect and the interior designer. I just paid for this." I shrugged my shoulders.

"Wait a moment." I ran to my room upstairs and came down with my T-shirt and shorts in my hands.

"I only have these. Hope they'll help. That's the guest room." I pointed towards the door. "Everything is there in the bathroom. Umm... Take a warm shower or dry yourself, whatever suits you."

"Thank you." She hesitantly grabbed the clothes from my hand and went to the room.

And only then I realized what I did. I gave her my clothes. Uh oh! Did I just create trouble for myself by offering her my clothes? Why I didn't think before acting? But if not my clothes then what would have she wore?

I mentally reassured myself that it was not the big deal but somewhere inside I knew that it was because my heart was thumping loudly inside my chest.

I went to my room, took a warm shower, and changed into comfortable clothes then headed down. I seized my steps on the second last stair and peeked in the direction of the guest room. The door was still closed.

"*Phew*.. few more minutes to go to turn my world upside down," I mumbled and went inside the kitchen to drink water. I filled a glass with water and walked towards the living room while drinking the water.

I saw her coming out of the room and the other thing I saw made me choke on water. I started coughing hard. For a moment I thought I was going to die.

How the hell my T-shirt and shorts got converted into a sexy silk robe?

"Hey, hey, you okay?" She quickly ran to me and asked worriedly.

"Yeah, *cough* I *cough* am... I'm fine." I replied softly punching my chest to come back to my senses. I was trying not to pay attention to her bare legs and long black wet hair that was flowing down her back.

And as if she wasn't satisfied with my answer, she started rubbing my back with her palm. I groaned mentally when a weird sensation ran throughout my body.

"Is it helping?" She asked with concern.

Yes, it is helping but in something else! I wanted to say that but I just swatted her hand away.

"It's okay. I'm fine. Umm... Yo..your clothes?" I asked hesitantly.

"Oh! Err... The clothes you gave me were bigger... And I...I had these with me so I wore them. You don't mind right?" She asked cautiously.

"Oh, no... I don't mind..." I paused and gulped when I saw a glimpse of her lace bra peeking out through the slight slip of her robe.

"I..I..."

"Is everything okay?" She asked.

"Ye...yeah... Everything is okay. Umm... I'll be back in a moment." Saying that I entered one of the random rooms and shut the door softly.

"Everything okay? My foot! Nothing is okay!" I rubbed my chest to calm my racing heart.

"That robe is much more tempting than my shirt." I groaned. "How am I gonna survive?" I ran my hands in my hair.

"Okay, Daniel, just calm down," I said to myself and took a deep breath. "She's just a woman who is wearing tempting clothes."

"Goodness, that is the problem. She is a woman and she's wearing... Ugh!" I rubbed my face with my palms. "What has she done to me? I'm talking to myself like a fool."

I took a few deep breaths and walked out of the room to find her standing at the same spot in confusion.

"What happened? Why did you run into that room?" She asked.

"Err... Had to use the bathroom." I rubbed the back of my head. What else could have I said? That I went inside to calm down my raging hormones?

"Oh, okay." She nodded her head. Her wet hair again distracted me.

"Umm... You should use a hairdryer to dry your hair?" I suggested.

"I avoid using it when I have free time. And Daniel, I used your shirt to dry excess water from my hair. Hope it's not a big issue?" She hesitated to say that.

"No issues. I gave it to you so it's up to you how you use it."

Only women understand these wired hacks.

"It's almost dinner time and my chef is on leave. I think I should order something." I said as I took out my phone from my pocket.

"I don't think it's right to trouble any delivery man in this heavy rain."

I gazed at her face. She's so thoughtful. She's a little arrogant but she's kind too.

"Don't worry, the restaurant is just across the street. It won't create trouble for anyone." I assured her.

"So, what do you wanna have?" I asked her.

"Nothing greasy! I had enough extra calories last night." She huffed.

I laughed out loud. "Come on! That wasn't too much." She narrowed her eyes at me.

"Not too much? I did an extra intense workout just to burn the fat. You know, I almost had a bulging tummy."

"Now you're exaggerating." I scrunched my face.

The deadly look she gave me made me shut my mouth and I ended up ordering healthy food for both of us.

We sat in the utmost silence for a few minutes. She was sitting on a single-seater couch and I, on a long one. She had her legs covered as much she could but my eyes were involuntary landing on her exposed legs which was making me squirm in my seat. So, to distract myself I decided to break the silence.

"What were you doing in that crowded place alone when you know that people follow you?"

"I love to be alone when I feel stressed and pressured. And at that time I don't care about paparazzi or media, I just roam here and there to find peace." She mumbled lowly, looking at her lap.

What does she mean by that? Was she pressurized by someone? Or was it her work that was giving her stress?

"Is everything okay at work?" I asked politely.

"Yeah, everything is perfect." She gave a smile but I knew it was a forced smile.

Suddenly, her phone went off. She peaked at the screen and put the phone on silent. After a few seconds, the phone again went off and this time she cut the call. But I saw the name flashing on the screen. It was Rick Hashington, the cheapest and narrow-minded person I know. I never met face to face with him but I know him very well.

The last time I tried to warn her about Rick, she yelled at me. But I have to warn her. Rick is not a person to hang with, he might cause trouble for her.

"Umm... Eloi, don't get me wrong but you should stay away from Rick." I voiced out my words cautiously. "I mean, he's not a good person."

She first frowned in confusion then nodded her head in understanding.

"I know. And I'm trying my best to keep my distance from him." She paused for a second. "But he's trying to close the distance I'm making." She spoke looking at emptiness.

"Is he bothering you?"

"He is." She sighed. "But nothing I can't handle." She smiled assuringly.

"Are you by chance working with him?" I inquired. I just didn't want her to involve with him in any way.

"He offered... But I refused that's why he's coming after me." She lowered her head and pressed her forehead with her fingers.

I gulped when I saw something I shouldn't have. I averted my eyes from her cleavage and cleared my throat.

"Eloi, If you ever feel troubled, don't hesitate to tell me and make sure you tell me before anything goes out of hand. I'll help." I spoke softly. She looked up and smiled softly.

"Thank you for your concern." She smiled warmly but again she gazed into emptiness.

"What are you thinking?" I asked. Something was really bothering her. She stayed quiet for a few seconds then spoke,

"Life is cruel. It shows you things you don't want to. It makes you go through hardships. Why can't life be peaceful? Is it just my life that is chaotic or others too experience it?" She mumbled above a whisper.

I stayed quiet. Unknowingly, she was opening up to me. And I wanted to know her on a personal level so it was a thumbs up for me. I knew I was being an idiot for taking advantage of her stressed state but she needed to let it all out otherwise it would have eaten her up from inside.

"Sometimes I think, if I had a different job then my life would have been peaceful." She looked very miserable. Her face was dull. She looks bright and radiant when she is in snapping mode. Sadness doesn't suit her. Well, sadness doesn't suit anybody.

And she had a wrong conception about life. I think nobody ever told her what life exactly is.

I shifted to the edge of the couch and unknowingly my knee brushed her knee which made her flinch.

"I'm sorry." I apologized and shifted away slightly.

"It's okay. It happens." She said as she adjusted her robe. But I saw a tint of blush on her face.

"Eloi?"

"Hmm?" She gazed at me.

"You know, no profession comes without stress or pressure?" I spoke softly looking at her face. She tilted her head in confusion.

"It just depends on the individual how to handle it. If you think that it's just you who's life is chaotic then you're wrong. Every single person on Earth has problems." I tried to explain.

"But wherever I see, I find every single person enjoying and smiling like there is no problem in their life." She frowned deeply.

"It's their way to cope with it. They chose to smile instead of sitting and mourning about it. That only makes life dull. You have to choose happiness to make your life brighter. And that happiness should come from inside you, no one is going to bring it to you." I tried to make her understand.

"What if you don't know what happiness is? What if there is nothing to be happy about?"

She seemed melancholic. I never saw her like this. I mean, before this day whenever I saw her, she portrayed the image of a strong and confident woman. But now, she seemed wretched. And that was not a good sign.

"Happiness is everywhere, you just have to see it. You can find contentment in simple and small things. You don't even need to spend money to find one." I spoke what I feel.

"But from what I see, it's just money which brings happiness to people. I mean, every single person is running after money so that they can live their life without worry." She forced her statement.

"Yes, money plays an important role too but what I mean is, money is not the only factor. Many are happy just in the little they have. They do not need the luxury to live. Okay, tell me, Have you ever seen a child laughing just looking at the paper boat he floated on the deposited rainwater or in the river? That child's smile can't be bought even with millions. He found his happiness in a piece of paper. And the parents who can't afford expensive toys, standing behind the child, smiles in satisfaction because their child is happy with just a piece of paper."

"These are just made up things, Daniel. Don't you see, that happiness lasts until the boat drowns in the water? Nothing lasts forever." She chuckled bitterly.

"But that paper boat can be made again and everything will come back to normal again." I smiled but she didn't.

"You know, Eloi, I think you have the wrong conception about life which is making you not to see positive in anything. And if you don't mind..."

"Allow me to show you how beautiful life is."

"Allow me to teach you how to live happily."

"Allow me to teach you how to stay positive even in intense situations."

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