SEAN'S POV
When the president's scandal became the top headline of the day, Calla came to my mind. A part of my investigation was to check who were the prominent people that came to Sama Island shortly before Calla left Eric. Although hundreds of people swarmed the island, only a few belong to the description of "someone richer and more famous". And among them all, there was someone consistent in visiting the place.
I also checked the owner of that private property, where I met Calla. Though it belonged to the name of a person not known in our business circle, it linked to the name of the president after a series of investigations. I felt sorry for Calla--she had wasted her prime years with a married man--someone who could never be her own. What else did she want when Eric could provide everything that she wished?
I came to see Red again that morning when the news hit all over the country. Aside from wanting to comfort her from her shock of having appointed a great responsibility, I also had to be there to protect her from any unpredictable outcome. As we talked while sipping our drinks at the coffee shop, my mind kept on playing the incident of that single call that bothered me all day.
"Mr. Grey, someone is on the phone. He wants to talk to you," my business partner told me as soon as I went inside his office. "He said it's highly confidential."
I gathered my brows as I looked at him. "Who?'
He didn't answer me but instead handed me the wireless phone.
"Good morning. How may I help you?"
"Mr. Grey, this is President Ric Abella. Please don't ask me anymore as to how I get your number. I know I can trust you. You must have heard the news. I sent my woman to your hospital. Please keep her safe..." He put the phone down, leaving me staring at the receiver.
If I am right with my presumption, I'm going to see her finally!
No one knew how big was the effort I allocated just to find her. The outbreak in Sama Island had gone worse daily, and I wanted to protect her and her family. She may not be the woman for me, but she had shared a part of herself that I thought I could never forget. Yet, no matter how much I poured into the effort, Calla disappeared like a bubble. Only after I shifted my focus on Red, did she vanish from my thoughts.
I felt my heart stopped from beating when I saw her arguing with the PGI and the nurses. She was still as beautiful as that last time I saw her disappearing from my sight during my last, passionate night with her. Scenes of our sexual encounter then played in my mind as I stood behind Red, not expecting I'd see Calla again this way.
I was glad Red could not see my reaction as Calla did not hesitate in staring at us. What's worst was that Calla let her mouth hang open as she gazed at us. Anyone could tell that Calla knew me, judging from her eyes that lingered at my hand, wrapping around Red's waist. Perhaps, Calla couldn't believe I have found a woman that fast because she knew she was my first.
When that obstetrician-gynecologist-on-duty pulled Red over to their lounge, I sighed in relief. Calla was about to insist again on her want to discharge against medical advice but I intervened.
"Excuse me," I said, running my eyes to all of them around before I fixed it on Calla. "I'm so sorry to intrude, but may I have a moment with you, ma'am?"
She nodded, and the nurses and interns sprinted right away from us. I was glad they did because I must do it fast before Red would emerge from their room.
"Calla, I'd be short. I'll talk to you and help you once you will be in your room," I whispered, looking at my left and right, while my ears were picking sounds from the door where Red entered.
Calla stared at me with those beautiful and gentle eyes of her. Having recalled what Cynthia warned me before, I looked away. She's right after all. On those few seconds I looked at her eyes, it seemed to have a pulling force, drawing you to stare at her longer.
Having said no words other than those implied by the silent message of her eyes, I stepped away. Calla also walked over to the nurses' table and announced her plan to withdraw from her request. A nurse then stood up and led her back to her bed.
As soon as Red went back to work, I went up to Calla's room right away. And as soon as I closed the door she ran to meet me, throwing her arms right away around my neck.
"Sean, I missed you," she exclaimed in a hoarse voice, emphasizing the magnitude of her statement.
"Calla-"
"Sean, I mean it," she said, crushing her lips on mine the next moment. I was taken aback. My mind stopped working for a second before I extracted her arms from my neck.
"Calla, please don't. I'm getting married already," I said as she resisted my effort, sealing my mouth instead, and sucking roughly on my lips.
"I don't care." She released my lips for a moment and looked up to me. "Just as you did not care also when you made love with me despite knowing that I was with someone."
I would be lying if I said I had no reaction, even if I applied force in taking her claws off me. She may have pulled her arms away from my neck but she suddenly cupped my throbbing manhood.
"Calla, what we had was something wonderful, but I am already committed to someone else," I said, closing my eyes as I caught her hand away.
"Then why are you here?" she sighed, glints of frustration registering in her face.
"To talk to you, and to help you get away from here."
Calla then threw herself at me in gratitude for what she foresaw as pronounced freedom. "Please, I want to get away from him."
"Why? Because of the scandal? Or, you have caught another much bigger fish again?" I asked myself, waiting for her excitement to die down.
When she finally released me, I asked her to sit down for a talk. To avoid looking at her deceptive eyes, I sat beside her on the couch.
"Calla, why did you do this. President Abella is a married man. Why are you inviting trouble into your life? Why did you leave Eric?'
To my guilt, she let out a mirthless laugh. "Wow! You already know a lot about me."
"Yes, I'm sorry."
Then she turned to me and said, "It only means you're interested in me. Sean, it's not too late yet."