Shane

"Where are we going? We missed the left to home." She asked moving her gaze to me from the window.
I said firmly."We are not going home."

"You are scaring me, Shane." She says in a soft tone. She was scared by my different behavior. It has to be now. I can't hold it in anymore. "It's not like I am going to kidnap you."

She didn't say anything further and I drove to the lakeside. It was our vacation spot. The villa on the right is ours and we would come here to spend the holidays. There would no one to interrupt us and the view is beautiful at night so I figured it would be the best place to come.

I stopped the car and get down. While driving here, I had made up in my mind about the ways I would confess my feelings for her but now that we are here. I had no clue how. I was nervous. I get down the car walk in circles. She gets down and starts questioning me."What is the purpose of bringing me here, Mr.Shane?"

"You want to know the purpose. What are you doing Skyler?"
The entire week I had been trying to talk to her and she was ignoring me avoiding me and I don't know if I can handle her avoiding me.

"What am I doing? You dragged me out of there and brought me here."
She says, anger reflecting in my eyes.

"Dancing with my brother. Ignoring me and then whatnot. What happened all of a sudden? Things were going great." I want to know what happened that changed everything overnight. I want to know what I did wrong to experience this.

"What's wrong in that? I am single. I don't have a boyfriend.  I can do whatever I want. I  don't have to ask for your approval. What's the issue in that?"

"Issue." Issue. I scoffed throwing my hand in the air in frustration. Is she kidding me now? Does she not see that I am in love with her and how much she changed me?
I turn to her staring into her eyes and place my hand on her shoulders. "Don't you see why it is bothering me so much? You know I am not that good at expressing my feelings."

"What do you mean Shane?" She raised her eyebrows. I sighed. Here goes nothing.

"You make me do things which I have never done before. I surrendered myself about the deal. I came after you when you left. You are the first one I allowed in my house. My life was all boring before you entered. In between our hatred, I got used to having you by my side. You made me realize the world outside work. You changed my perspective."

"But Shane..." She tries to stop me but I place a finger on her lips. It took me longer to do this. I am not going to let it go without saying what I feel. I lower my gaze as I closed my eyes.

"Shhh! Let me speak. I don't know how long it took me to find the courage to confess. Maybe because of the liquid courage but finally, I can. I never thought I would say this to you or anyone else for that matter."

I take a pause and take a deep breath. Then looking back in her eyes I say."I LOVE YOU and I can't stand seeing you with someone else."

She smiled but it lasted seconds. She got rid of my hands and turns around such that her back was facing me. I was confused. "You say you love me and then You hug Hailey and say you missed her on top of that everyone is so happy that she is back and they are talking about how inseparable you two were when you were children and how can I forget the blondie at the Gala. What was her name? Emily. What do you have to explain about that?"

"Is this the reason you grew distant?" I couldn't stop laughing. I tried hard to control it but then I gave in. So hard that my stomach hurts from the laughter. Hailey was right, She was jealous and I don't know why I felt nice to know how she felt jealous like I do when she talks to other guys.

She turns around when she hears me laughing and she was pissed. "What the fuck Shane!! You are laughing."

"I am sorry I can't stop laughing. You think Hailey and I are a thing." She was raging and I could see the anger and frustration in her eyes but it was too funny.

"I am leaving." She takes a step and I held her waist pulling her close to me."I can't believe this. You got it all wrong."

"Kindly explain because I don't understand a thing." She rolls her eyes at me. I laugh again looking at her jealously. "You are jealous of them."

"No I am not and even if I am. I don't want anyone to play with my feelings. I have already lost enough."
I take her hands in mine and kissed them. I feel her facial expression soften a bit.

"What can I say, Skyler? I know you have been through a lot and I hope you can share it with me someday
I wish I could take away your pain and sorrow but I can only promise that I will never hurt you intentionally. I promise to NEVER LEAVE YOUR SIDE NO MATTER WHAT. I have eyes only for you and you only and Hailey is the daughter of my Aunt Silver and Uncle Austin so you see." I let it all out and she covers her face with her hands in embarrassment. She looked cute and I chuckled and take her hands off her face.

"What about Emily?"

"She is our client's daughter. We did go on a date in high school and that's it. I hate her and she won't back off. I can't bear her for a minute. You can ask anyone." The biggest mistake of my life was going on a date with her. She kept talking about how we fit together. It was the worst date I had been on.

"I am so so stupid." This was not the first time she acted upon things. Like the time she heard about us talking in the office and thought I was playing with her feelings. "You always act so fast. I don't blame you. I should have told you but promise me You will talk to me before acting over it whatever be it."

"I promise." She said smiling.

"I couldn't find the courage to confess. Now that I have done it, I will say it again. I LOVE YOU SKYLER." I forgot about asking her for an answer. I wanted to know that she loves me back. She never replied about my confession so I had to ask.

I was expecting a positive answer but I would respect whatever it is.
She mumbles and I was cloud nine."I LOVE YOU TOO SHANE. I was waiting for you to say. I was scared that You don't feel the same."

This feels so good that I can't put it in words. If I had known I would have done this earlier."I can't believe my ears. Can you say it again?"

"I love you, Shane." She said blushing to cause a dimple on the corner of her cheek. Her light brown eyes sparkled as they met mine...

"This is the best thing that happened to me today." I couldn't stop smiling either. It was nothing that I expected in my mind. Maybe it was meant to be like this and I wouldn't change it for the world. She lowers her gaze. She always did that while she used to talk with me and was shy."Kiss me."

"Wait what." Did she say to kiss her or am I dreaming? I take a step back in surprise.

"I don't think you need to be told twice." She smiles.

"I have been waiting too long for this moment." It was happening. I had waited for this so long. It was the best decision of my life. I leaned in and she tilted her head a little and tiptoed to match my height. A few months ago I was a work-oriented serious man who didn't believe in love and here I am kissing the love of my life but the most important thing was it felt right.

It was the beginning of many more.

It was the beginning of a new chapter.

It was the start of the US...

I felt myself smiling between the kiss. She pulled back. She looks down and couldn't meet my gaze."Shane,  before everything I want to talk to you about something."

She looked worried now. I was concerned about seeing her like this. Maybe she is doubting her decision and that scared me."What do you have to say?"

Her gaze fixed down I held her chin lifting it forcing her to look at me. Her eyes were filled with tears and she choked on her words."There is something you should know."

"Skyler you are scaring me now."
I wipe off the tears from her cheeks and then she just wraps her hands around me pulling me into a hug and I held her back.
"Shhh! I am here.Relax."

Before Skyler could say anything, my phone rang and I see Tyler's name on the screen."I have to take this."

Tyler yells at me through the phone."Where the hell are you?"

"I am...Uhm..."

"No time. Dad is losing it. He wants you here. It's time. Hurry up. You can't even imagine what he might do now. I can't handle him anymore." I swear I forgot about the Gala. You can't blame me. This was equally important.

"On my way."I hang up the phone and look at Skyler."Skyler, we need to go back now but we will talk about it later."

The drive back to the venue was silent. I could see she was trying to say something but was nervous. I was wondering what it was.

Amidst everything, I forgot I was going to step up as the CEO. I rushed to the place and reached within fifteen minutes because I drove too fast.

"There you are. Come with me now. We are late." Everyone looks at me when I entered in with Skyler. Dad was waiting for me at the entrance and he held my arm."I will be back Skyler."

He dragged me to the stage. The spotlight was focused on him. Then he started with his speech.
"Good evening ladies and gentlemen. I have a few announcements to make. Everyone knows the purpose of this Gala. It's been a great success with your support. We have raised more than the targeted amount."

Crowd applauds

"Thank you, everyone. Moving on, as many of you may know I am retiring soon and with great pleasure, I am passing over my position to my eldest son. I have seen a lot of potentials. He has proved himself worthy of the position. I am sure he will do better than I did. Now I will pass over the mic to Shane to say a few words."

He smiles handing me the mic stepping aside. I take a deep breath and I found Skyler standing in the audience. She smiled at me and I start with my speech.

"Thank you so much, Dad. This would not have been possible without you and Mom's support. Dad, you are the pillar of my success and you made me believe I can do this. It gives me immense pleasure to stand here with you. You have been my biggest inspiration and I promise to do what's the best for the Blitz. It will be hard to walk on your steps and take your position but I will do my best. Thank you, everyone."

Crowd cheers

The rest of the night I spoke to various people who congratulated me for the same. I was waiting to go back to Skyler when Dad approached me. "Now that you are done talking to everyone. Kindly explain your sudden disappearance. Don't think I will let it go that easily."

I guess I do have to go an explanation for my disappearance before I get back to Skyler. "I am sorry Dad but I could no longer see Skyler with Tyler and she was refusing to talk to me so I had to take her somewhere far away and then I finally confessed."

"I was confused too. Seeing her with Tyler. What did she say?" Dad's face lit up and he smiled. Before I could say anything else mom came in."What confession are we talking about that I don't know of?"

A smile comes on my face automatically. If someone explained how I look now. They would say I look like a high school student whose crush accepted his promposal. I was all giddy inside."She loves me too."

"What?Who?I can't believe this. You have been hiding from me." Mom looks at me and then at Dad. No one except Hailey and Dad knew about this. Tyler may have guessed it but I haven't found the chance to talk to him recently. I explained.

"Skyler. I love her and she loves me too." I couldn't stop smiling at the thought of it. Today, I got to know the girl I love loves me back. I stepped up as the CEO and take over the company. It had always been my dream and I achieved it. I am so so happy.

"I knew it. There was this usual tension between you two and how you dragged her out today." She said smiling and then looks at Skyler who was talking to Taylor as she smiles back at us.

"You both are mind readers."

"We are not kids Shane. We have been through that phase. Right, Ava." That is correct.

"What are we waiting for? Go to her." Mom says the obvious. I quickly gave them a hug and bid goodbye to everyone and found Skyler who was no longer talking to Taylor. She was sitting alone at one of the tables.

"Let's go." We sat back in the car and were on our way home and I take a look at her and smiled. I have never been happier than today. "I still can't believe all of this. It all feels like a dream. I feel like the happiest man in the world. If only I knew this would make me this happy. I would have done it earlier.

"Me too." She nods and smiles faintly. I could feel she was tensed. I place my hand on her and smiled at her. She seemed to be fine for a moment but then I saw her taking deep breaths. She loosened her scarf wrapped around her neck and I held her hand."Skyler, you don't seem fine. Are you alright?"

"Stop the car now." She mutters and I immediately parked it in the corner. There weren't any vehicles late this night. She opened the car door and went outside gasping for air and I followed her.

"You don't seem well. We should go see a doctor." I suggest it but she insisted. She was claustrophobic and felt suffocated in close spaces. "I am fine. I was just feeling a little suffocated."

"Are you sure?" Still, I thought it would be a better idea if we go see a doctor but she refuses. "I have to tell you something, Shane. It's important."

We can talk anytime. We have all the time. I cannot watch her sick. It makes me worried."Nothing is more important than your health. Whatever it is can wait. Are you fine?"

"Yes, I am." She smiles at me and I pull her in my arms. We drove back home and went into our rooms to change. I got rid of the suit and wore some tracks and a t-shirt.
I went downstairs and made some coffee for the both of us and I saw her coming into the kitchen in her PJ's. "Do you wanna go outside and sit?"

"It will be nice." She said with a smile."You move ahead with the coffee. I will be back." I hand her the coffee mugs and went back upstairs to my room. I took some pillows and a blanket and head to the pool.

"It's chilly out here and I wouldn't like you to catch a cold."
I wrapped one side of the blanket around Skyler and I wrapped the other side around me. I couldn't believe I was doing this.

Never have I imagined myself doing something like this. I have changed a good lot after Skyler stepped into my life and I am not regretting it at all.

We snuggled into the blanket and she rests her head on my chest as I rest my head on hers. I hold her by her waist and I was liking this.
She whispers."This feels nice."

"I could get used to this." She blushed and I could feel my heart beat faster. "I love that smile of yours. It makes me fall for you more. I wish to run my fingers through your black hair, caressing your cheek. I wish I could look into your big brown eyes every time."

"I didn't know The Shane Smith was a hopeless romantic and has his way with words. I am impressed."
I smirk at my comment and she giggles. Even I didn't know I was this romantic. She brings out that side of me."Let me take you on a date."

"When?" She asks. Tomorrow is Sunday. I want our first date to be special. I can't arrange it in a day. I mean I can but I have waited for so long. I can wait for a day longer.
"On Monday."

"I will tell you when it's possible. I can't promise you anything. My arrogant and possessive boss won't let me take a day off or let me leave early for a date." She said jokingly.

"Oh is it. Then I will have to ask your boss then." I pull back from her and start acting as I was talking on the phone. I changed my voice a bit for the two roles and she was looking at me curiously.
"Hello, am I talking to Skyler's boss?"
"Yes.Speaking."
"Can Skyler take a leave on Monday for her first date with her boyfriend?"
"I don't see a problem with that.Enjoy."
"Thank you so much."
She giggles and I smile. I can't believe I used to treat her that way.

"Your boss isn't that arrogant."

"Then Monday it is. Shane Smith, My boyfriend, and  boss."
We both then laugh till our stomach aches from the laughing.

She comes back in my arms as I hold her and she rests her head on my chest. I take a whiff of her smell and closed my eyes relishing the moment.

"I can't wait. Of all the scenarios I didn't imagine sitting here with you curled up in a blanket and asking you on a date. I still remember the day we met. How we bumped into each other on the street and then our deal. Maybe it was fate that we met that day. Skyler..."

When she didn't reply. I take a look at Skyler and I notice that she was already asleep in my arms. I called out for her but she was in deep sleep so I decided to not wake her up. I pulled her closer drifting off to sleep.

(Now that Shane is Skyler are together. What happens next? Shane doesn't know the truth yet. Will he ever finds out the truth?)

...Thank you for reading...

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