Chapter 7 07 | touch

Let me tell you how unbelievably convenient it was to have a chauffeured vehicle driving you around.

It was extremely convenient.

It took me the whole morning to get used to. I felt odd at first with a man behind the wheel driving me around like a twelve year old, but I soon accepted the reality of it all. It was better than catching the train or carpooling anyway.

The first time I was dropped off at campus, just after I'd left the office of Harris Enterprises, the driver whose name I didn't know actually got out to open the door for me. I froze on the spot, feeling students spare a curious glance in the direction of the car. Glances which then morphed into confusion.

I sighed, instantly detesting the attention.

"Thank you, sir. But next time I'll get the door myself." I told the man. He nodded, indifferent as he returned to the vehicle and manoeuvred it to a spot on the large parking space. Now, that was another thing. He would just sit in the car for ages until I returned. I'd planned to ditch the ride but the chauffeur was adamant, insisting he was following his employer's stern orders. Finn's orders.

That man. I had a subtle feeling nagging behind my head that he definitely had something up his sleeve. Did I want to know? I had no idea.

"You sly devil," Ingrid snuck up on me and matched my pace as we made our way to the labs. "Why did you come in that car? Does it have to do with Finn?"

I relayed the whole story to her and watched as her face lit up a notch.

"He likes you." She said, nudging my shoulder with hers.

"Please. Did you miss the part where he practically told me to my face to fuck off? I can't believe someone as annoying as him is related to Professor Mallard. Anyway, after I get my car back we'll both go our separate ways and forget we ever met."

"Highly doubt it. I could start listing the obvious indicators, but if we don't get to class in thirty seconds we'll be on night shifts for the next week." She said hurriedly and right on cue we both burst into power walks.

Later in the afternoon after my classes ended early I walked to the faculty library for some much needed studying. I hadn't been thoroughly invested in school work in the past week like I'd hoped to, so I settled on a table at a corner and dived deep.

When I peeled my eyes from my work and checked the time I realized I'd spent more time here than planned. It was almost eight and I yawned, stretching out the tension from my muscles. I thought about patronising a spa this weekend. It was Ingrid's turn to pay this time.

My phone vibrated on the table. I unlocked it to see a text from an unknown number.

Unknown

7:45 PM

Where are you?

I frowned. This was creepy.

Me

7:45 PM

who is this?

A reply came immediately.

Unknown

7:46 PM

It's Finn. Your driver said he hasn't seen you since eleven in the morning. Where are you?

Me

7:46 PM

Keeping tabs on me, are you? I'm flattered. I'm studying. And how did you get my number?

I was saving him into my phone when his next text came in.

Finn

7:47 PM

You should really be leaving, it's late. And you called my secretary earlier, remember?

Right.

Me

7:47 PM

Thanks for your concern, but I can take care of myself just fine

When I returned to where I'd left the car, it was still parked in the same spot. I balled my hand into a fist and softly knocked on the window. The lock was switched and I pried the door open and sat, closing it behind.

"Have you been here since?" I asked.

"Took a lunch break and a few bathroom breaks, but yes." The middle aged man said without sparing me a glance as I dropped my bag on the seat beside me. "Where to?"

I bit my lip in thought. I was probably going to regret this. "Harris Enterprises."

The drive there was quiet with only the soft rumble of the vehicle filling the emptiness. I yawned again, actually feeling the full brunt of exhaustion weighing on my eyelids. I took out my phone and scrolled through my contact list, pulling out my dad's number. I dialled him and listened to it ring. He should be done at work by this time.

He picked after the fourth ring. "Hey, baby girl." His cheerful voice filtered through and I smiled at the sound. God, I missed him. Sometimes hearing his voice made me want to return home the next day. It went to show how home sick I was, despite how hard I tried to be independent.

"Hi, dad. How are you?"

"I'm great. I just got back home not too long ago and your mum just went into her study with this huge thermos filled with coffee. And I bet nothing is bringing her out tonight, even if the house was on fire."

I laughed. "You should be well aware of her night owl tendencies by now."

My mom was a bestselling author who had two of her books adapted into movies and a third coming out during the summer. She wrote. A lot. If she wasn't doing that, she'd be living in fictional worlds in her head.

"I'm trying. How's school?"

"Stressful as ever. The work just keeps piling up by the day."

I knew we were both stalling the topic of my picture appearing in the media.

"You just have to persevere, it will all be worth it." He paused and I braced myself. "Your mom told me your explanation. I wasn't as paranoid as she was when Lars mentioned it, mainly because you're too smart to be kidnapped by a drug lord, but a bit disappointed you didn't tell us earlier."

I pursed my lips and nodded although he couldn't see me. "I know dad. I'm sorry. I just thought it would fizzle out and it'd be like it never happened."

"I trust you to be honest. If anything comes up, don't hesitate to let us know."

"Okay, dad. I think I hear mum calling for you."

He chuckled. "She probably needs something to go with that coffee. I'll talk to you later sweetie, okay? Bye."

"Bye, dad. Sleep well."

When I hung up the car was already reaching a stop in front of the building. I grabbed my bag and stepped out, marvelling at what became of the buildings at night-brightly illuminated towers.

I plugged my earbuds in and scrolled through my playlist as I stepped into an elevator. I hummed softly with the music and tapped on the last floor. Just before the elevator doors came shut, a man slipped in with me. His looming height towered over me and his broad figure took up a lot more space in the car than I'd have preferred. I examined him casually and realized he was good looking, with brown ombre hair layered with blonde streaks. He was also checking me out apparently, his blue eyes lingering longer than necessary on my face.

"Going up?" I asked to ease the awkwardness in the small space. He nodded, noting my headphones.

When he turned to me and said something I removed a plug. "What?"

"You're the girl," his voice was deep, really masculine, "from the party. The one Finn danced with."

"I've been getting that way too often." I said with a sigh, pausing the music. "But, yeah."

He laughed and stared skywards. "You're way too beautiful for him." I barely heard him mutter.

"What?" I asked.

He turned to me, curious eyes sparkling. He looked nice enough, no red lights had gone off in my head yet. "I'm just surprised he managed to charm you. I mean, Finn's not the type to go after girls as nice as you. He likes the torture."

"Who says I'm nice?" I scoffed. I perceived he was subtly condescending.

"I can tell."

"Can you? I wish you could also tell nothing is going on between us."

"Beautiful but naive?" He looked me straight in the eye. "I could see the appeal. Very unlike the women he's been with."

I concluded that I didn't like this man. His bluntness, unsolicited and irritating, seemed like second nature to him. I searched his clothes for any indication that he worked here, a name tag or and ID, but found nothing.

"I couldn't care less about his girlfriends."

"Girlfriends? Finn doesn't date, if that's what you're hoping for. I'm sorry to be the one to break it to you. He's notorious for his one night stands. You do not want to be in that club, trust me." He said with a cocky smirk.

I visibly paled at his words, feeling claustrophobic all of a sudden. "I don't like you at all, stranger."

"Sadly."

"And you talk about Finn like you know him so much?"

"He's my brother."

I gasped. I knew he looked familiar. The resemblances were faint, but those good genes were something else.

"I'm River."

"Amanda."

Ding.

The elevator came to a stop and opened, signalling the end of our conversation.

I'd heard that name somewhere before.

"Well, it was nice meeting you Amanda. You're obviously here to see Finn but a real friendly advice-I don't think he's someone you want to get involved with."

Wordlessly I stepped out of the elevator. I turned and watched him stay back, the doors shutting just as he lifted a hand up at me.

Well that was the most blunt encounter ever.

I walked over to the secretary's desk where Maggie was seated. She had her table cleared out and looked like she was done for the day. When she saw me confusion marred her features.

"Is your boss in?" I asked, gripping my bag nervously. Why was I so sweaty and antsy all of a sudden? I felt like I was going into a lion's den or a job interview.

"Yes. I'll ring him." She picked up a phone from her table. "Miss Reed would like to see you, sir... yes, she's here... alright." She dropped it and nodded. "Go right in."

She grabbed her bag and walked down the hall towards the elevator and I watched her move, wondering if I should leave too. Was I really doing this?

I pushed the door to Finn's office open and found him at his desk, swarmed by paperwork. As I neared his table I noticed his tie has been pulled off and the first button of his shirt undone. His eyes fleeted up to meet mine and something flashed through them so fast I almost missed it. Relief.

He looked exhausted, but handsome regardless. I was sure I looked tired and less composed than I was when I came over this morning.

He stood up and rounded the table, stopping a breath away from me.

"Amanda," his voice was raspy and low and I felt myself enjoying the way my name rolled off his tongue. "What are you doing here?"

I took a step back. "I don't want someone driving me around anymore."

A small crease formed between his full eyebrows. "Your car will be ready by tomorrow morning. It's just for a while longer."

Did he really care so much?

I shrugged. "Even better then. I don't need him anymore. Thank you for your help, though. I really appreciate it."

He stared at me, unmoving. Then he nodded his head slowly and returned back to his position behind his desk. I watched as he resumed his work, going through a stack of paperwork like I suddenly wasn't in the room anymore.

I should leave. This was what I wanted, right? To get it over with. But my feet remained rooted to the floor, impulse nagging at me to do something. I hated how drawn I was to him, like a moth to a flame. I knew I would get burnt, but I didn't care at this moment. All my reasoning and better judgement were nonexistent as I approached his desk.

I don't think he's someone you want to get involved with, River's words echoed in my head.

He had blatantly called me out at the café two days ago, but here I was, telling my brain to put a sock in it. I guess we were both stubborn.

"It's late. Shouldn't you be home?" I mimicked the question he'd asked earlier.

He didn't miss a beat as he moved from the stack of papers to his computer, nimble fingers typing swiftly. "I've got a lot of work to do."

"What time are you going to be done?" I was probably prodding, but couldn't care less. I was intrigued by this man.

"Probably around eleven. I don't know."

I took the liberty to finally appreciate the office space. Two large bookshelves stood at each side of the room and a large flat screen TV hung at one end, a pair of couches and a coffee table situated in front of it.

Finn let out a heavy breath of air, bringing my attention back to him. "I don't think I can get any work done with you standing there," I heard him say, hands running through his already mussed hair. "You're too much of a distraction."

"A distraction?" I asked, curious.

He pushed himself back in his chair and watched me for a moment. Behind him I could see the brightly lit city beneath the inky blackness of the night sky. Nothing could compare to the beauty, but the man in front of me was awfully close.

He stood up and walked up to me, not stopping until his face hovered in front of mine. My body tensed at the close proximity, my breath hitching in my throat. I noticed the unnatural length of his eyelashes, the way they kissed his cheeks when he blinked. His eyes flitted down to my lips for a beat and I followed the movement, my pulse racing. Slowly his hand came up to my face and made contact with my skin, and I felt my face flush red. He met with my bottom lip and he lightly stroked with the pad of his thumb. I shivered. He hesitated, pulling himself away, eyes narrowed. I found my self jolting back, the fog his presence had brought with it clearing out.

I turned around so fast I got a whiplash, internally cursing myself for being so, so fucking entranced. This was how I always fell. I had a knack for seeking things beyond my reach, hoping I'd be sufficient enough.

"I won't be able to hold myself next time." His voice was thick with an emotion I was too afraid to acknowledge.

There won't be a next time, I thought solemnly to myself.

I didn't look back as I left.