Thomas Tyler.

The man.

Equal parts enigmatic just like his daughter.

I had heard only good things about him which made him more unreal to me.

No man is perfect.

I had my life experience to draw that conclusion. The men I had come across, the ones I had heard about.

One look at his home and I was really jealous of him.

He truly had it all. A real home.

No wonder people give them work.

All those knick-knacks around their home, the lived in furniture, those paintings looked like breathing jewels in comparison to my drab houses.

I owned only one house which was close to a home.

My parent's old place.

The one we lived in before everything turned to dust.

"Unknown to them. I still own it."

I didn't consciously want to say it out loud but proximity with this woman has been heady. Am saying and doing things I haven't done ever.

People tried weird tactics to get a 5-min appointment with me and here I am squiggling my way in for her company twice in a day.

Does she feel that?

That she is important.

I was looking at her face when I'd accidentally said that out loud.

Perhaps she is confused about it all like me cause she doesn't respond.

She still has that mask on her face, all cautious as if I were some client and she hosting me.

You are a competitor wanting to be a partner.

Nothing more, nothing less.

And in walks the man, Thomas Tyler, the lucky guy.

He has that aura around him, that dad used to have, when Ma and Pa were happy and in love.

He gives me a warm smile. Much as it hurts me I have to play and pretend.

I need them aboard...

Though my compliment was not a lie. I really want to work with them. I want to learn from him, not architecture but life itself.

How did he do it for so long?

I haven't even started living the kind of life I wanted but then there never was a ray of sunshine which would compel me to.

But there is now...

Thomas says I like my coffee black and sugarless.

How did he know that?!

It was like a wake-up call from my daze.

Concentrate buddy!!

Maybe he came across it from one of my interviews.

He and I say all the right words, things are going smoothly. He takes the conversation to his study which is again tastefully done.

Not scary as a principal's office nor too light so as to maintain it's sombre official feel.

He sends Rose away to arrange for refreshments.

I was looking forward to her company and wit while we discuss the terms.

Maybe Thomas sensed that.

Cunning dad...

I'd be protective too, if I had a daughter like her...

He doesn't bring up the terms even though I see him going through them with a fine-toothed comb.

Signs of a shrewd businessman...

I truly wasn't lying when I said I'd get to learn from him.

Just when am about to ask if everything is to his preference he mentions what is music to my ears, " The project will be led by Rose from our end," and Rose enters at the exact moment.

I seriously can't take my eyes off her.

She looks a bit stunned.

As if everything was going too quick.

I feel things aren't going fast enough.

I show my approval by saying we wouldn't want the project otherwise.

Walking in she sits next to me keeping her eyes away as if looking at me were a sin.

I like the emotions at play in her eyes when she looks at me.

Honest.

Real.

I ask her if she's okay leading the project from their end compelling her to look up.

She answers with absolute élan that she is perfectly fine with it.

Oh what I wouldn't give to see that composure break willingly in my arms...

That makes me smile inwardly...

Oh you are such a sap and a goner...

That too for a girl you met yesterday...

Thomas mentions that she likes getting into projects headfirst like me.

Boy, is that music to my ears.

Like me...

I ask, "Does she?" hoping Thomas would say more about her and he does.

He says she's been working on the project already.

She is a hard-worker. I can bet my annual turnover on that fact.

Working on a project even before getting it.

She'd have to be over-confident or plain devoted to the work.

When she doesn't look up at her dad's words to take credit or brag, am sure it's the latter.

I half-lie when I say the reason am partnering for this project is for its betterment.

Locking gaze with me she echoes my sentiments as to how important this project is for her too and she's willing to accommodate for it.

But then she says the plans by us are crappppyyyyy..

Boy had I been waiting for her to say it to my face.

I give her a minute to take back her words or sugarcoat them...

But she doesn't...

Am I hot for her now or what?!

This woman is pure resolve and strength personified.

I want to kiss her forehead then and there.

I blurt out if I can see her plans which am sure must be great. I don't care if they are scratchings on paper.

She gives a straight face as if those plans are a state secret and doesn't want me to see them but relents and says they're in her room.

All of a sudden, all I could think was her plans in her room, designed by her, surrounded by her belongings, in her presence and I wanted to be there.

She was going to fetch them when I asked if I could see her room.

Skeptical as the smart girl is she asks why and the sleek bastard that I am, I spout it's purely for architectural and design inspiration point of view pulling in permission from Thomas.

I knew he wouldn't say no.

He'd literally given his blessings to the project seconds ago.

But then she says the room was designed by her now-dead mother and I feel I don't deserve to speak around her ever.

I would agree to anything to stop the hurt which is creeping into her eyes.

I apologize...

But I know words can't compensate for the hurt I just caused...

Thomas is a godsend when he diffuses the tension and asks Rose to show me the room that inspires her.

Reluctantly she turns and says I may see her inspiration.

I follow a couple of paces behind her for fear that proximity will break my self-control and I might end up trying to kiss the hurt away.

Oh woman...

Author's Note: A very precious reader mentioned regarding POV's. I personally am a very demanding reader and I dislike when up till the end of the book you don't know where the guy stands in the whole matter. 

If he likes her or if she's alone in this.

I know it might seem that there is no more chase or cliffhanger scenario in the story anymore but trust me this story is going to have them.

A lot.

XOXOXO