Chapter 4

Emily's POV 

"My flight got canceled, and I really want to leave the country; I don't want to be here anymore, it sucks so much ," I lamented. And instantly regretted it afterward because I should be heading the other way rather than standing there with the bane of my life. Indirectly but it still counts…

But looked genuinely concerned, and for the fact that kindness was an attribute I wasn't used to, it took me a while to accept his concern but I went with it anyway.

"Well, you could come tomorrow; better late than never, darling, trust me," he tapped my cheeks,causing me to blush. First for the fact that he was oblivious of who I was and second because I was always made to see him as a tyrant not someone to hold a stranger by the cheeks on a random night in an airport. There was something about seeing him for the first time that made me look at him intensively, totally smitten by his aura, and kind voice.

He didn't know me because he was away all this while; otherwise, he would have asked me about his grandchildren; he didn't even know he was a grandfather yet.

"Well true, but I don't want to go home. I might end up killing myself if I stayed here for one more minute, trust me." 

The honk of a car pulled our attention to the exit; it was his car.

"Then come with me; I would be staying over at a hotel room tonight; you could lodge as well, then leave for the airport tomorrow; would that be nice?" He said, and I nodded. Then we began to walk out of the exit, he helped me carry my bags till we got to the car.

It amazed me that he didn't even know me.

I wondered how he would react when he finally saw his son, and he knew I was his ex-daughter-in-law. 

"So what's your name?" 

"Emily," I said. He then took my hands then kissed my knuckles, his eyes resting on mine, and oh goodness, they glimmered under the nightlight. 

"Hozier," he responded.

"So tell me, why did you decide to stay away from home when your parents kicked you out?"

"My husband," 

He turned to look at me, totally flabbergasted, but since he wasn't going to see me again after today, it was totally harmless to tell him what had happened between me and his son.

"Wow, what happened?" 

"My husband cheated on me; I challenged him about his infidelity, then requested that we get divorced. After he laid his hands on me, he went ahead with the divorce, but because of my past, which I had confided in him, I am suddenly incapable of taking care of my kids, so seven years of marriage have gone down the drain." I let the pain ease out of me as I spoke my mind.

It felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulder. As I sagged back at the car seat, he took my hands then kissed my knuckles again. This time, it made my heart flutter in ways unimaginable .

"Let's have a drink instead, then you can let it all out." 

I scoffed. A drink with my ex-father-in-law, who still didn't know who I was?

"Sure,"

It was worth the try, and I know if Joan were to be here she would want me to do it for the plot, and since she wasn't reachable, it was only sane that I did this.

We drove all the way down to a hotel room, where he checked in. We were in two separate rooms. I tried calling Joan again but she wasn't responding and it was moving straight to voicemail.

"Girl! You wouldn't know what happened; I just stumbled against Henry's dad. You wouldn't believe it but we are going out for a drink. I will tell you all about it when I am done." I bid her farewell, then wore my clothes.

I didn't want to see it as a date, but I wanted to dress really nice, so I wore a V-neck loose gown, which only accentuated my cleavages. And I felt really confident in it. 

I came down to the bar, then I saw him at the table. With a tank top and shorts, he looked breathtaking.

An unsolicited blush flustered on my cheeks as I walked towards him; he stood up then drew a chair out for me.

"Good evening, my lady," he smiled once again, kissing my knuckles. I was going to see this as a fetish because he really enjoyed doing it. And damn… I loved it as well, a silent guilty pleasure I didn't want to stop.

"You look lovely." 

My cheeks burned with so much heat, I had to look away so he wouldn't notice.

The waiter brought a drink and two wine glasses.

"This is a toast to a new beginning, a world of thrills and new discoveries" he poured in my glass then raised his cup to click with mine.

Taking a sip, I looked at him; he looked wishful and stunning, and I hated myself for admiring.

"And this is a safe place if you want someone to talk to," he said.

I gave it a thought; it would do no harm to give him a chip off the iceberg.

"Well, yes, I have a lot to say but where do I start from?"

"Anywhere" 

He leaned closer, his eyes still staring at mine. Henry never talked about his father. All I knew was that he was a tyrant and he didn't take matters lightly. Should I tell him about the fact that his son Henry didn't climb up the ladder by himself? Since Henry chose to play dirty in court, what harm would it cost?

"Well, I helped my husband build his company. I stood beside him and helped him through all his problems, but because I became fat, he deemed me unattractive. That is my perspective because I thought about my flaws and I had taken accountability in making it work . I even lost weight, but he didn't see that; it felt like I wasn't enough anymore, and no matter what I did or said, my worth never exceeded what he deemed me to be." 

He nodded, then said, "You are a beautiful lady who deserves more, and if leaving was the only option, then you shouldn't regret it; embrace it." 

It meant a lot coming from a man who chose to disappear from the surface of the world for eight years without looking back.

Throughout the night, we talked about so many things—our likes and dislikes. And I found myself laughing so much; I haven't laughed like that in ages. I had no idea if it was because of the liquor or the fact that he really had a nice sense of humor.

It got really late, and we were the only ones in the bar at a certain point.

We looked around, and we could tell the waiters were gawking at us.

"Well, sweetie, I bet it's our cue to leave; it's already 2am" we laughed once again.

Then he stood; he took my hands. I staggered to remain on my feet, but he pulled me closer to him, our bodies against each other with my hands around his finely toned arms. My body flamed up with unholy desires, and I bet he felt the same.

I pulled away.

"I am fine," I lied. 

We walked in silence back to the lodge; he walked me to my room, and at the door, unable to bid him farewell, I didn't want the night to end, not at all.

"Uhm, goodnight Emily," he whispered, calmly making my body tingle with sensation.

"Goodnight," I responded, but he stood still, his eyes narrowed down to my lips, then back up to my eyes.

I wanted to kiss him so bad, licking my lips gently. I heard him gasp softly. He leaned in a little bit closer, his eyes still on mine. I remained unmoving till he closed his lips with mine.

A fiery sensation flooded my body as I let my purse fall down. I grabbed both sides of his face, deepening the kiss, till I was pinned on my door, with my legs wrapped around his waist.

He kissed my necks, lips, ears; I was a moaning mess.