Have I fallen for you?

"Ashton" She was still in a slumber and repeated his name twice in an extremely soft voice. If he has not been so close to her in the moment, he would have not heard her.

She was in a slumber when she felt warm breath fanning her face. She didn't know who it was but she could feel the warmth that enveloped her. In a daze, she uttered Ashton's name because no one other than him had ever been this close to her. But she was unknown to the impact that it created on Regan's heart.

He realized what he did in a spur of moment and regretted it instantly. He knew he had no rights to claim her or get close to her..... He was about to retreat when she opened her eyes and blinked them to adjust with the lights. She gasped when she realized their closeness. She frantically tried to get up but failed.

Regan was too stunned when she opened her eyes as he was afraid that she might misunderstand his actions. He straightened himself and said in a very nervous tone, "I am sorry Anastasia. It's nothing...I mean, we reached your hotel and I was about to wake you up. I... I was just trying to loosen up your seatbelt. There's nothing you should be worried about. I..." He did not even realize that he was continuously blabbering.

"It's okay Regan."

"No Anastasia, you are taking it wrong.....I didn't... Wait a sec. What did you say?"

"I said its okay. It was my fault actually. I dozed off instead of accompanying you during the ride. I am sorry." She said softly and looked down.

'What kind of a girl is she?' He thought. Instead of blaming him, she was apologizing for doing nothing. He was about to say something when she spoke again and caught him off-guard.

"I know what you are thinking. Don't worry..... I haven't misunderstood your actions because I trust you." She smiled and looked into his eyes.

He could not believe what he heard from her and gawked her in a daze. She was indeed intrigued by their proximity. If it was not him, she might have got panicked by now. Eventually, after he explained her the situation, she understood that he had no ill intentions. However, when she saw him blabbering like a kid... her lips curved upward in a beautiful smile.

"I know we don't know each other for long but whatever it is, it's enough for me to understand that you are a good man Regan and you would never hurt me."

Regan didn't know how to respond her. His tongue was tied as no words came out from his mouth. He was still unable to believe that she trusted him so much. Earlier her confession near the pond made him happy but now after what she said..... He felt a wave of relief washed over his entire being. He never knew that her few words would make him feel so euphoric. He never experienced before, the feeling of such content and joy in gaining someone's trust. Even the biggest business deals never made him this happy. For a moment, he forgot about his heart ache but he came out of his trance when he heard her again.

"Thanks for everything. But I should leave now, it's too late. Bye." She has just turned around to open the door when he said,

"Anna...it's raining outside. Let me help you."

"That's okay..... I..." Before she could speak further, he already exited the car. After a couple of seconds, he opened her door with an umbrella in his hand.

They both were standing under the umbrella. While he was closing the door behind her, she was taking in all his actions. She was quite surprised by his gentleness and chivalry. She remembered his cold attitude back then at his home. She could not help and asked him hesitantly, "Regan... are you okay?"

"Hmmm? Of course I am okay. What would happen to me?" He was astounded on the sudden inquiry about him.

"But you don't seem to be."

"It's nothing..... I am....."

"It's fine if you don't want to share Regan. I know it's not my place to ask you anything but you don't look okay for a fact." She then gave him a soft smile and continued, "Whatever it is, I hope you would get over everything that is troubling you. Just don't be too anxious."

He nodded his head and said, "Okay..... let me walk you till your room." She wanted to deny but didn't because so far she understood how stubborn he was. She knew that he would not budge over his decisions if he had fixed his mind over something.

They were walking through the reception area when she said, "By the way... I am going back to New York tomorrow. I have already shortlisted some good pieces of land keeping in view our upcoming project. Please let me know, when you would get free to come and check them out so that we can start the construction at the earliest."

"My bad..... I was about to inform you about it today itself but it somehow slipped from my mind. I was already thinking of coming to New York in the upcoming week. May be after a day or two. In fact, I am planning to shift to New York till the completion of this project. New York will still be a new place for the Knights Enterprise to venture in the hotel business and I don't want to take any chance for misapprehensions."

"Oh!" Anna was quite surprised after hearing his plan to shift to New York as she least expected him to do so. However, she collected her line of thoughts and said, "Great then... I would make arrangements for your new office and other things."

By the time, they were already standing outside her room.

"Don't worry about that..... I have already asked Nolan to do the arrangements needed to be done before my arrival. Don't rile yourself with unnecessary stress. Ah! We have reached your room. I'll take your leave then... See you next week."

"See you next week. Drive safe." She said and closed her door unknown of the fact that he was still standing outside her room for God know how long. The thought of leaving her, the thought of her being with someone else, the thought of loosing her, her trust, her care, devastated him to the core. The memories of the moments that they spent together came back to his mind again and again, tormenting him and forcing him to reconsider his mind which decided to forget her... to let go off all the feelings for her.

He did not know how he managed to reach the hilltop located at the countryside... his favorite place to find solace whenever he felt low. But whatever he tried, his heart was clouded with grief and sorrow. The peace and happiness he felt with her were irreplaceable.

He was unable to hold back his emotions anymore..... He wanted to take out everything from his heart and therefore he said aloud.....

'Is it possible? Is it possible for me to let you go? I thought to let you go Anna...to let you live your life with the one you love. Then why..... then why is it so difficult to let you go? Why do you care so much? Why do you even ask? Why? Why Anna? Why are you making it so difficult for me to let you go? It's not your fault... It's mine to give you the power to destruct me. When? Why? How?...I don't know... I don't know. Earlier, I wanted to contemplate about my feelings for you but this...this was not what I expected when I met you. Is this called falling for someone? Have I fallen for you already? Have I? But I don't want to...Not anymore Anna. I am Regan.....Regan Knight. My only love and passion is my work. No one can replace it..... not even you Anna. Because you are not mine. You can never be mine.'

He fell on his knees and gasped for air and his breathing became heavy. He was emotionally devastated but finally decided and made up his mind to stay away from her.....to stay away from Anna for he knew her power to destroy him to the extent that he would be unable to recollect himself back. He knew that it was too late to back out from their business deal. But he decided to keep it mostly professional with her to save himself and his heart from the excruciating pain that was already tormenting him.