Chapter 14 You Smell Familiar
“How are you?” he asked. His voice was alluring as they were composed. On the one hand, they were pleasing to listen to.
Lyla shook her head and immediately released herself from him.
“I’m fine. Thank you.”
“You’re nervous.”
“I’m not,” she said, talking a few steps back.
She would deny that. However, Mark Pattinson had read countless others. He could easily tell if someone was nervous.
However…
Her scent… Was very familiar.
He got closer, little by little, and Lyla frowned immediately. She had to retreat. What was he going to do to her?
“What are you doing?” Lyla asked, annoyed. Looking at him alone made her more nervous than ever and now, whatever he was doing, how could she remain calm?
He knew she was nervous yet Mark continued to stare deep into her. The smile that formed from the corner of his lips was capable of enticing.
“What do you think I was going to do?”
Lyla remained quiet. No matter she says, she will only be at the disadvantage.
Lyla kept herself quiet and she looked at him saying, “President Pattinson. For you to be so close to me, others might misunderstand…”
Mark’s eyes remained glued to her. He was not answering, only his eyes lowered down and landed on her fair, beautiful face. Something about her seemed awfully familiar.
“Lyla Lowe…” he muttered the same nonchalantly again. His eyes stared deeply into her face. That suspicious look on his face was a sign. A sign that he was going to remember something. And that made Lyla’s heart beat so fast it could just burst through her chest.
“Your smell… It’s very familiar…” he said.
Lyla’s entire being got stiff. She just stood there, finally opening her mouth to talk, “President, jokes aside, I don’t use perfume.”
‘What kind of smell is he talking about?’
Mark Pattinson remained quiet.
Lyla immediately took a step back and said, “President Pattinson, if there’s nothing I can do for you more, I’ll take my leave.”
After that, Lyla turned around, and went through the door. Her pace was fast and hurried, fearing that if she was slower, Mark might call her out again.
Mark, on the other hand, was mere looking from the back. His lips arched into a trickster’s smile.
…
The moment Lyla exited the office, she could finally breathe normally.
She could not be sure if Mark Pattionson was the father of Hansel and Gretel. However, when she remembered something that Mark Pattinson said, her heart failed to calm down.
What if he was the father…?
What can she do?
Even though she had only met him a few times, she could sense that Mark Pattinson was not someone she could wrong. If he found the truth, what would happen then?
She stood there. Her mind raced but evidently, she shook it off.
‘Screw it! People can share the same look! He might even be the father! I should find out the truth first before deciding anything!’
When the thought came to her mind, Lyla finally had a breather. She then proceeded to the Department of Design.
‘But… even if people might share the same look. In this case, it’s just too much of a coincidence?’
…
While Lyla was busy with her work, she would occasionally recall Mark Pattinson’s face coming closer to hers. As such, she could not focus her thoughts into her work.
At that moment, her phone rang. She picked up the phone and saw the number and smiled. She answered the call.
“Hello, my darling…”
“Mummy, Gretel and I are already home from class! How are you doing?” Hansel asked caringly.
“Mhm. I’m doing fine. How is your sister?” Lyla said apologetically; it was their first day in kindergarten and yet she could not be there to pick them up.
“She’s fine!” said Hansel. “By the way,” Hansel added, “I’ve got to tell you some good news!”
‘Good news? What kind of good news?’ Lyla thought to herself. As long as nothing happens then it’s all good news.
“Uncle is here!” cried Hansel on the phone happily. “Uncle picked us up and got us home!”
The two little children were very close to their uncle since tender age. It was only natural since the children had no one to turn to as a father figure. Beside their mother, the other person they could attain love was their uncle.
“Did he now?” Lyla answered as a smile formed on her lips. To think that her elder brother would pay a visit and not inform her about it. Perhaps he was going to make it a surprise.
“There’s another news, uncle has already arranged himself a job! Do you think this is something worth celebrating?”
“Of course! It is something auspicious!” said Lyla as her mood got alleviated.
“Ok then! We’ll wait for you to come back from work! We’ll celebrate together!”
“Ok!”