A Millionaire, His Suit, And Poor Me

The elevator to Henris's apartment was silent, and we didn’t look at each other. After the car ride, I thought there couldn” be any more tension between us, but being close in a tiny space proved me wrong. And of course, there was Henris. Henris, his eyebrows furrowed and his cold gaze that did not change when the elevator stopped abruptly, his lips in a tight line. Henris, whose face was devoid of any emotion, except for the tension, put a han on my back and guided me to the exit of the elevator. Everything was silent, except for the constant ticking of my Louboutins and Henris leather Chelsea boots that tinkled to t rhythm of my footsteps along the marble corridors, echoes lining the empty rooms decorated with modern paintings. During the days that I spent there, I always noticed signs that someone really lived in this large modern apartment, such a stack of newspapers, a pen or a luxury jacket on the sofa. But at that moment it just seemed empty. I didn't ask any questions because Henris seemed to snap his fingers every second, his fingers clutching his phone and hi shoulders firm under his stiff black jacket. So I followed him because I didn't really know what to do in the middle of all this tension and this silence. “Sit down,” Henris said in a low voice, and it was so sudden, so unexpected in this silent space, that I had to stop abrupt He gave me a strange look and pointed to the leather sofa. “Wait here.” And, considering the fact that my knees were practically colliding due to nervousness, I wasn't sure I could protest. 50 1 myself fall quietly on the seat, my legs crossed and my hands intertwined in my lap as he disappeared. Little jingles and noises float from the kitchen for a minute, then he comes back holding two glasses of red bordeaux win in one of his huge hands. Dry and shy fingers brushed mine while he handed me the glass with a small smile. “Your favorite,” he whispered, settling elegantly on the couch next to me, cold and beautiful like a modern work of art whose “do not touch” warnings practically flash at its source. “I can tell that you are nervous.” I gave him a faint smile and lifted the wine. “Liquid courage, eh?” “Yeah, and Nia says it relaxes every situation or whatever, and he insists on drinking it every time we go out,” Henris explained. “So I thought it might help” This statement could have been acceptable if it had not been for two things. First, Henris managed to talk about another human being without a hint of disgust lurking in his voice. And two, Henris said he was out. To drink. Voluntarily. With a friend. “Nia?"l asked gently, cautiously, my lips brushing the edge of my glass. “Mr. Horan. We are in business now. And sometimes we go to lunch”’A pause, as he adjusted his sleeve. “Or dinner. Both, i fact"Another pause, and Henris let out another annoyed growl before sliding his jacket over his shoulders. “I hired an assistant.” Apparently, in the space of a week - or a shorter or longer period of time, because the days of self-pity and robotic movements seemed to merge ~ Henris had become a completely new person. One who was going out and drinking. And f hired assistants. I hid my confusion with a smile. It's, like. Cool. That's very cool” He smiled, rolling up his sleeves to the elbows, revealing a few tattoos on every inch of exposed skin. “Nia convinced me. And I spoke to Malik, since we have a full investment now, and he said that the deal is done. Everything will be normal. Better, actually.” “That's great,” I nodded and tried to sip my wine meanwhile and how I could concentrate as Henris continued to take off his clothes, this time the deep red tie from his neck. I swallowed forcibly and looked away. “Ym glad everything worked out.” “Once everything is sorted out, we can be together. It will be normal.” I choked on my wine. “It is... you want... What?" “We can be together,” he repeated, his cold, attentive eyes fixed on me as I was unattractively suffocating with only one pillow next to me. “Yes?” I took a good minute to clear my throat before I could answer. “I thought you didn’t want that? Remember the fiasco of nc showing up at the hospital, then the bullshit of leaving the hospital? You don't have time for that.” “That's why I hired an assistant, Noras," Henris blurted out. It looked like he wanted to roll his eyes, but he just clenched his jaw and stayed leaning against the sofa, his expression being one of casual domination. “Nia was right that I could fin time. You were right” At that moment of the conversation, any sense of the native language slipped from the corners of my mind, because ther was no way to start thinking about what Henris was saying. The apology slipped through smoothly, supported by a soft, poised voice, and came out too easily. Honestly, the whole situation seemed too easy. I saw Henris dismiss someone for calling too late, and I saw him take full control of a room just by entering it. Whatever it was, it was too easy. It didn't make sense. I gave him an incredulous look. “Are you drunk?” He finally let himself go rolling the eyes he had been holding back and put down his wine. “No, Noras. Everything can be said in simple terms. I'll have time for you, for us, and you'll have your share of the bed. There are disadvantages, yes, bu we could both benefit from them.” “Don’t use the businessman's speech with me, Henris. This is not some kind of agreement that we are making." “I know it's not.” “Well, it looks like that's what you're doing. Like, the pros and cons? That's not how normal people talk about relationshij As if it were some kind of investment that brings us both money.” Her expression weakened, the lips sagging and the eyes softening a little. “I don't know how to talk about it” “Why did you call then?"I begged you. “You must know what you mean if you called. I know. I know you wouldn't have invited me if you weren't sure” Henris remained silent. I watched him run his thumb over her cheekbone before sliding his hands through her hair, combing the soft curls before gently pulling on the ends. His eyes fell on our two glasses, now empty on the table. The ticking clock was striking somewhere in the background, and it was probably a stupid idea to come because Henris w still really, really silent, his hands now pressed to his lap, the fingers turning white with the knuckles outstretched. My eyes traveled the length of his arm where you could see the black prints slightly through the expensive fabric, to the unbuttoned button of his collar, then along his narrow jaw before finally settling on his eyes. Unlike the purple blues tha covered them, her gaze was clear and fixed. “You're staring at me” he said softly. I withdrew. “My God, I am so...” “Don’t apologize, Noras.” “No, I do want it to be, let's say, awkward." Henris stared me straight in the eye. He didn’t look scared or upset. He just seemed tired, stressed, like he could feel wh was feeling at that moment. Maybe his hands weren't sweating on his sides, but it was still something other than his cold indifference and I would have accepted it. “Nora.” My eyes closed. Are you going to talk? Or should I tell you what I think? I haven't got a clue. It's strange. Please, say something.” “Ym thinking" Henris replied in a low voice, his eyebrows furrowed with concentration. When he spoke, his voice was clea and controlled, bordering on hesitation. “I know where I must be, Noras. I just don't know how to get there. Not without your help.” I lowered my head to the floor. I'm not even good at this kind of thing. I'm starting to stutter and expect a lot. I guess I wa expecting you to know what you were doing and eventually open up, you know? Like, I've been dating Liam for so long an he's just so different” Henris's eyes darkened and the atmosphere around us cooled down in the blink of an eye. “You want to be with him." “What? No. Liam, like."l frowned. “He is like a nice little puppy that is better to have as a friend than as a boyfriend. He's t good.” “And me, right?"He replied. The elevator to Henris's apartment was silent, and we didn’t look at each other. After the car ride, I thought there couldn’ be any more tension between us, but being close in a tiny space proved me wrong. And of course, there was Henris. Henris, his eyebrows furrowed and his cold gaze that did not change when the elevator stopped abruptly, his lips in a tight line. Henris, whose face was devoid of any emotion, except for the tension, put a han on my back and guided me to the exit of the elevator. Everything was silent, except for the constant ticking of my Louboutins and Henris leather Chelsea boots that tinkled to t rhythm of my footsteps along the marble corridors, echoes lining the empty rooms decorated with modern paintings. During the days that I spent there, I always noticed signs that someone really lived in this large modern apartment, such a stack of newspapers, a pen or a luxury jacket on the sofa. But at that moment it just seemed empty. I didn't ask any questions because Henris seemed to snap his fingers every second, his fingers clutching his phone and hi shoulders firm under his stiff black jacket. So I followed him because I didn't really know what to do in the middle of all this tension and this silence. “Sit down,” Henris said in a low voice, and it was so sudden, so unexpected in this silent space, that I had to stop abruptly He gave me a strange look and pointed to the leather sofa. “Wait here.” And, considering the fact that my knees were practically colliding due to nervousness, I wasn't sure I could protest. 50 1 myself fall quietly on the seat, my legs crossed and my hands intertwined in my lap as he disappeared. Little jingles and noises float from the kitchen for a minute, then he comes back holding two glasses of red bordeaux win in one of his huge hands. Dry and shy fingers brushed mine while he handed me the glass with a small smile. “Your favorite,” he whispered, settling elegantly on the couch next to me, cold and beautiful like a modern work of art whose “do not touch” warnings practically flash at its source. “I can tell that you are nervous.” I gave him a faint smile and lifted the wine. “Liquid courage, eh?” “Yeah, and Nia says it relaxes every situation or whatever, and he insists on drinking it every time we go out,” Henris explained. “So I thought it might help” This statement could have been acceptable if it had not been for two things. First, Henris managed to talk about another human being without a hint of disgust lurking in his voice. And two, Henris said he was out. To drink. Voluntarily. With a friend. “Nia?"l asked gently, cautiously, my lips brushing the edge of my glass. “Mr. Horan. We are in business now. And sometimes we go to lunch”’A pause, as he adjusted his sleeve. “Or dinner. Both, i fact"Another pause, and Henris let out another annoyed growl before sliding his jacket over his shoulders. “I hired an assistant.” Apparently, in the space of a week - or a shorter or longer period of time, because the days of self-pity and robotic movements seemed to merge ~ Henris had become a completely new person. One who was going out and drinking. And f hired assistants. I hid my confusion with a smile. It's, like. Cool. That's very cool” He smiled, rolling up his sleeves to the elbows, revealing a few tattoos on every inch of exposed skin. “Nia convinced me. And I spoke to Malik, since we have a full investment now, and he said that the deal is done. Everything will be normal. Better, actually.” “That's great,” I nodded and tried to sip my wine meanwhile and how I could concentrate as Henris continued to take off his clothes, this time the deep red tie from his neck. I swallowed forcibly and looked away. “Ym glad everything worked out.” “Once everything is sorted out, we can be together. It will be normal.” I choked on my wine. “It is... you want... What?" “We can be together,” he repeated, his cold, attentive eyes fixed on me as I was unattractively suffocating with only one pillow next to me. “Yes?” I took a good minute to clear my throat before I could answer. “I thought you didn't want that? Remember the fiasco of nc showing up at the hospital, then the bullshit of leaving the hospital? You don't have time for that." “That's why I hired an assistant, Noras," Henris blurted out. It looked like he wanted to roll his eyes, but he just clenched his jaw and stayed leaning against the sofa, his expression being one of casual domination. “Nia was right that I could fin time. You were right” At that moment of the conversation, any sense of the native language slipped from the corners of my mind, because ther was no way to start thinking about what Henris was saying. The apology slipped through smoothly, supported by a soft, poised voice, and came out too easily. Honestly, the whole situation seemed too easy. I saw Henris dismiss someone for calling too late, and I saw him take full control of a room just by entering it. Whatever it was, it was too easy. It didn't make sense. I gave him an incredulous look. “Are you drunk?” He finally let himself go rolling the eyes he had been holding back and put down his wine. “No, Noras. Everything can be said in simple terms. I'll have time for you, for us, and you'll have your share of the bed. There are disadvantages, yes, bu we could both benefit from them” “Don’t use the businessman's speech with me, Henris. This is not some kind of agreement that we are making." “I know it's not.” “Well, it looks like that's what you're doing. Like, the pros and cons? That's not how normal people talk about relationshij As if it were some kind of investment that brings us both money.” Her expression weakened, the lips sagging and the eyes softening a little. “I don't know how to talk about it” “Why did you call then?"I begged you. “You must know what you mean if you called. I know. I know you wouldn't have invited me if you weren't sure” Henris remained silent. I watched him run his thumb over her cheekbone before sliding his hands through her hair, combing the soft curls before gently pulling on the ends. His eyes fell on our two glasses, now empty on the table. The ticking clock was striking somewhere in the background, and it was probably a stupid idea to come because Henris w still really, really silent, his hands now pressed to his lap, the fingers turning white with the knuckles outstretched. My eyes traveled the length of his arm where you could see the black prints slightly through the expensive fabric, to the unbuttoned button of his collar, then along his narrow jaw before finally settling on his eyes. Unlike the purple blues tha covered them, her gaze was clear and fixed. “You're staring at me” he said softly. I withdrew. “My God, I am so...” “Don’t apologize, Noras.” “No, I do want it to be, let's say, awkward." Henris stared me straight in the eye. He didn’t look scared or upset. He just seemed tired, stressed, like he could feel wh was feeling at that moment. Maybe his hands weren't sweating on his sides, but it was still something other than his cold indifference and I would have accepted it. “Noras." My eyes closed. Are you going to talk? Or should I tell you what I think? I haven't got a clue. It's strange. Please, say something” “Ym thinking" Henris replied in a low voice, his eyebrows furrowed with concentration. When he spoke, his voice was clea and controlled, bordering on hesitation. “I know where I must be, Noras. I just don’t know how to get there. Not without your help.” I lowered my head to the floor. I'm not even good at this kind of thing. I'm starting to stutter and expect a lot. I guess I wa expecting you to know what you were doing and eventually open up, you know? Like, I've been dating Liam for so long an he's just so different” Henris's eyes darkened and the atmosphere around us cooled down in the blink of an eye. “You want to be with him." “What? No. Liam, like."l frowned. “He is like a nice little puppy that is better to have as a friend than as a boyfriend. He's t good.’ “And me, right?"He replied. The elevator to Henris's apartment was silent, and we didn’t look at each other. After the car ride, I thought there couldn’ be any more tension between us, but being close in a tiny space proved me wrong. And of course, there was Henris. Henris, his eyebrows furrowed and his cold gaze that did not change when the elevator stopped abruptly, his lips in a tight line. Henris, whose face was devoid of any emotion, except for the tension, put a han on my back and guided me to the exit of the elevator. Everything was silent, except for the constant ticking of my Louboutins and Henris leather Chelsea boots that tinkled to t rhythm of my footsteps along the marble corridors, echoes lining the empty rooms decorated with modern paintings. During the days that I spent there, I always noticed signs that someone really lived in this large modern apartment, such a stack of newspapers, a pen or a luxury jacket on the sofa. But at that moment it just seemed empty. I didn't ask any questions because Henris seemed to snap his fingers every second, his fingers clutching his phone and hi shoulders firm under his stiff black jacket. So I followed him because I didn't really know what to do in the middle of all this tension and this silence. “sit down,” Henris said in a low voice, and it was so sudden, so unexpected in this silent space, that I had to stop abrupt He gave me a strange look and pointed to the leather sofa. “Wait here.” And, considering the fact that my knees were practically colliding due to nervousness, I wasn't sure I could protest. 50 1 myself fall quietly on the seat, my legs crossed and my hands intertwined in my lap as he disappeared. Little jingles and noises float from the kitchen for a minute, then he comes back holding two glasses of red bordeaux win in one of his huge hands. Dry and shy fingers brushed mine while he handed me the glass with a small smile. “Your favorite,” he whispered, settling elegantly on the couch next to me, cold and beautiful like a modern work of art whose “do not touch” warnings practically flash at its source. “I can tell that you are nervous.” I gave him a faint smile and lifted the wine. “Liquid courage, eh?” “Yeah, and Nia says it relaxes every situation or whatever, and he insists on drinking it every time we go out,” Henris explained. “So I thought it might help” This statement could have been acceptable if it had not been for two things. First, Henris managed to talk about another human being without a hint of disgust lurking in his voice. And two, Henris said he was out. To drink. Voluntarily. With a friend. “Nia?"l asked gently, cautiously, my lips brushing the edge of my glass. “Mr. Horan. We are in business now. And sometimes we go to lunch”’A pause, as he adjusted his sleeve. “Or dinner. Both, i fact"Another pause, and Henris let out another annoyed growl before sliding his jacket over his shoulders. “I hired an assistant.” Apparently, in the space of a week - or a shorter or longer period of time, because the days of self-pity and robotic movements seemed to merge ~ Henris had become a completely new person. One who was going out and drinking. And f hired assistants. I hid my confusion with a smile. It's, like. Cool. That's very cool” He smiled, rolling up his sleeves to the elbows, revealing a few tattoos on every inch of exposed skin. “Nia convinced me. And I spoke to Malik, since we have a full investment now, and he said that the deal is done. Everything will be normal. Better, actually.” “That's great,” I nodded and tried to sip my wine meanwhile and how I could concentrate as Henris continued to take off his clothes, this time the deep red tie from his neck. I swallowed forcibly and looked away. “Ym glad everything worked out.” “Once everything is sorted out, we can be together. It will be normal.” I choked on my wine. “It is... you want... What?" “We can be together,” he repeated, his cold, attentive eyes fixed on me as I was unattractively suffocating with only one pillow next to me. “Yes?” I took a good minute to clear my throat before I could answer. “I thought you didn't want that? Remember the fiasco of ni showing up at the hospital, then the bullshit of leaving the hospital? You don't have time for that.” “That's why I hired an assistant, Noras," Henris blurted out. It looked like he wanted to roll his eyes, but he just clenched his jaw and stayed leaning against the sofa, his expression being one of casual domination. “Nia was right that I could fin time. You were right” At that moment of the conversation, any sense of the native language slipped from the corners of my mind, because ther was no way to start thinking about what Henris was saying. The apology slipped through smoothly, supported by a soft, poised voice, and came out too easily. Honestly, the whole situation seemed too easy. I saw Henris dismiss someone for calling too late, and I saw him take full control of a room just by entering it. Whatever it was, it was too easy. It didn't make sense. I gave him an incredulous look. “Are you drunk?” He finally let himself go rolling the eyes he had been holding back and put down his wine. “No, Noras. Everything can be said in simple terms. I'll have time for you, for us, and you'll have your share of the bed. There are disadvantages, yes, bu we could both benefit from them.” “Don’t use the businessman's speech with me, Henris. This is not some kind of agreement that we are making." “I know it's not.” “Well, it looks like that's what you're doing. Like, the pros and cons? That's not how normal people talk about relationshij As if it were some kind of investment that brings us both money.” Her expression weakened, the lips sagging and the eyes softening a little. “I don't know how to talk about it." “Why did you call then?"I begged you. “You must know what you mean if you called. I know. I know you wouldn't have invited me if you weren't sure” Henris remained silent. I watched him run his thumb over her cheekbone before sliding his hands through her hair, combing the soft curls before gently pulling on the ends. His eyes fell on our two glasses, now empty on the table. The ticking clock was striking somewhere in the background, and it was probably a stupid idea to come because Henris w still really, really silent, his hands now pressed to his lap, the fingers turning white with the knuckles outstretched. My eyes traveled the length of his arm where you could see the black prints slightly through the expensive fabric, to the unbuttoned button of his collar, then along his narrow jaw before finally settling on his eyes. Unlike the purple blues tha covered them, her gaze was clear and fixed. “You're staring at me,” he said softly. I withdrew. “My God, I am so...” “Don’t apologize, Noras.” “No, I do want it to be, let's say, awkward" Henris stared me straight in the eye. He didn’t look scared or upset. He just seemed tired, stressed, like he could feel wh was feeling at that moment. Maybe his hands weren't sweating on his sides, but it was still something other than his cold indifference and I would have accepted it. “Noras." My eyes closed. Are you going to talk? Or should I tell you what I think? I haven't got a clue. It's strange. Please, say something.” “Ym thinking" Henris replied in a low voice, his eyebrows furrowed with concentration. When he spoke, his voice was clea and controlled, bordering on hesitation. “I know where I must be, Noras. I just don't know how to get there. Not without your help.” I lowered my head to the floor. I'm not even good at this kind of thing. I'm starting to stutter and expect a lot. I guess I wa expecting you to know what you were doing and eventually open up, you know? Like, I've been dating Liam for so long an he's just so different” Henris's eyes darkened and the atmosphere around us cooled down in the blink of an eye. “You want to be with him." “What? No. Liam, like."l frowned. “He is like a nice little puppy that is better to have as a friend than as a boyfriend. He's t good.” “And me, right?"He replied.