Cold man

Claire drove his hand through the canvas driving Cameron. The brush colored the canvas and thanks to Claire's help soon a draw appeared.

They drew a scenery of a field of sunflowers, and a sunny sky, then when the drawing was over Claire took a while to stare at the work of art they created together.

"I feel like an artist," Cole said, smiling at Claire.

"This is beautiful, it feels familiar to me but I cannot remember. It's like the memory is somewhere there, in the back of my mind but I cannot reach it."

"It's fine, you will one day."

it was time to show her the photograph of their special place to her and try that dangerous shoot.

Someone as wealthy and impassive as him, who did business with so many important clients and had tricked the most dangerous men in the entire world only to win a deal. The same cold man was now trembling in front of a petite girl, in the gesture of sliding out the photograph he held his breath and his mouth ran dry.

Yet he didn't lose his faith in the future that had been stolen from him so cruelly.

"Claire, I want to show you a photograph of a place very dear to me."

He said, struggling to maintain his voice low and not to let his emotions get the best of him.

He swallowed down, his hands now were as cold as his heart before meeting her and just his gaze was as vulnerable as his soul right now.

Finally, he showed her the photograph.

A lake spread next to a field of flowers and a windmill to the side, such an anonymous place that sealed more than a name in his wicked life.

Maybe before or later she will be to recognize that place and give it the name it deserves.

Claire's face morphed into an amazed facial expression, "this place…" she murmured.

"This is beautiful, where was it taken?"

Her eyes now turned confused, as if something was crossing her mind but she kept those thoughts to herself.

"Wow…" she whispered again.

"I want to visit this place one day." She darted her gaze through the scenery.

"Maybe I will bring you then," Cole replied.

This time Claire's puzzlement was obvious, she frowned on her forehead and sighed.

"Why are you like this?"

"Like what?"

Claire let the brush down to focus her attention on Cole.

"This nice and sweet and so…"

"So?"

"So different from how Brendon described you."

The words slid out of Claire's mouth uncontrollably, she realized what she said just when she read Cole's confusion in his gaze.

"What did my brother say about me?" He asked her. Little did he imagine that after all the cruel things Brendon did to him he would be the person who speaks behind his back and even spread fake rumors.

Why would he even do that?

"I'm sorry, I don't want you guys to argue because of me. I probably remember wrongly… it's alright to have some misunderstandings between brothers."

"I am nice to you because you deserve it, if I had ever been rude or meant to him it's just because he deserved that."

"How can you say that I deserve it if you barely know me?" Claire tilted her head to the side, she felt a heavy tight in her chest.

"I just know." He whispered, his gaze falling on her lips. He wished he could kiss them again.

"I shall go to sleep." She swallowed down, the tension was palpable and sharp enough to make her feel uncomfortable.

'Maybe you should, elsewhere I wouldn't be able to control myself and will kiss you.' He thought that to himself as he nodded.

"Good night." He said.

She stood up, before reaching the door she glanced at the photograph one last time.

"I hope we will visit that place sooner or later."

A smile grew on her lips and just like that she left after throwing such a bomb on Cole who made his day.

She wanted to visit that place with him, maybe the innate love bond was still there.

He stretched his hand and jumped "yes!" He exclaimed as he kept jumping and moving his hand in excitement. He looked like a kid whose team had just won the champions league.

Cole walked to his room as he passed by the corridor he noticed Claire was still awake.

He knocked on the door and slouched forward to peek through the fixture of the door.

"You shall sleep." He whispered.

"I'm trying but I can't." She whispered back, as low as she could not be heard.

"Let me try something."

He slowly walked to the window on the right side of the room, he rolled the shutters slightly down so that a bit of light could enter the room and alleviate the darkness.

"Maybe a bit of light will help."

"Thank you," Claire answered.

She laid to the side and tossed her head on the pillow cupping it with both her hands.

"Good night," Claire said.

Cole walked away and just like a miracle in a few minutes she finally fell asleep.