4 Chapter - 4 His Touch

Erica

Twilight melted away, the lines of glares that shot on my eyelids awaked me. The red-orange glow seeping over the white curtains as if the light was itself being poured from the molten sun.

I unconsciously smiled at the sight and my hand dripped under my pillow. 

"Just a few more hours of blackness" Before I could say further, my hand got something more interesting to investigate.

The same yellow file, but what's it doing under my pillow? I chuckled at myself.

I opened it and the first thing I read was three words written in black bold italics.

COLONIAL IRRIGATION PROJECT

I traced the words with my fingers. Before curiosity adorned my mind more, the door of my room was flung open. 

I immediately kept the file back just to meet the retreating figure standing in front of me, making me feel guilty for our last encounter.

"Mom..." I was about to start when she stopped me, "Your dad is calling you, better behave yourself this time." 

I nodded at her words and slipped down from my bed. 

After 40 minutes

Just 15 minutes, indeed the fastest breakfast of my life. 

"Go, your dad is in the living room." Mom said while dragging me there.

At the time we entered, I saw two more figures standing there, Daniel and Mr. Smith. 

Next dad threw the newspaper which I took Wednesday edition, on the table curled up with some other papers as well.

" Information about the 'Colonial Irrigation Project' in the next edition. But how?" He yelled at Mr. Smith.

I thought I had heard or read about it somewhere but where? I scratched my head making mom confused. 

That's when it struck my head, I had that file. I had it, oh my God!

"I don't know Sir, who has stolen that file? It was kept as safe as others were." Mr. Smith stammered.

Liar! He was the man who had given that file to our last night's admirable guest. "Admirable" please note the sarcasm. I hissed while remembering our encounter. 

" Dad, it has some proof of money laundering. Even we might be a drag in the process." Daniel said, making me flinch with their noninnocent deeds.

Why didn't they work honestly? 

"Smith you better take care of this, unless you start counting your days," Dad warned him.

I knew things were getting overboard, " Good morning dad." I moved towards him. 

The time they registered my voice as well as presence, they both projected their voice as far as their lips, then sulked because no one replied. 

"Erica, I will drop you at college." Daniel finally spoke. 

I nodded but my eyes were fixed on dad, he turned his face away making my heart sulked. 

" Come on...we are getting late," He said again.

"Let me bring my bag," I said silently.

I was about to move, " Erica" Dad said and moved towards me.

"Mr. Knight has personally called me after Aiden left and invited me to the party. I want you to be there. Don't mess up this time ." 

That's the first time I ever felt the coldness in his voice. 

How did everything change overnight? He had always ignored my tardiness, but why not this time? 

Then I felt a hand patted my head and caressed my hair, he gave me a faint smile and left the room with Mr. Smith behind him.

After 20 minutes

"How are you feeling?" Daniel said while stopping the car due to a red signal.

I stared at him, and then he touched the frown on my forehead and tried to straighten them, " I don't like these lines." 

"You don't like anything else too" I replied. 

" I like everything that makes you smile," He replied gently. 

"Then let me pursue my dream. Help me in getting that columnist job." I said.

In the next moment, Daniel clatter up, and transformed his expression from soft to steal once again. 

" You are not sneaking into the Print Trust Agency," He said bluntly. 

How could Daniel know that Lauren's cousin has got us the appointment with the co-founder Mark Wright?

"Oh," I whispered.

Then his hand settled down on my shoulder, 

" There's not a thing in this pretty world to be afraid of. I'm here always. Always there for you. Remember this."

I am astonished that I was listening to everything obediently but how much I'm going to obey was just another mystery, I smiled.

"I know and you have me, your little obedient sister," I said, making him laugh.

" yes! Of course. Who can turn into a spy anytime, right?" He added

In a few minutes, he jolted the car in front of the college entrance, and we hopped out.

"We are already indulging in some problems, we have no time to deal with more." He indirectly warned me.

I thought something and said, "Okay! Only if you can cover up for me for that stupid party. I don't want to go." 

He read my face for a few seconds and pecked at my forehead in an unsaid agreement.

"Only because I don't like that Aiden  Knight." He announced and left.

At 2:20 P.m 

" Call your cousin, Lauren?" I said in a hushed tone while standing in the middle of that secluded office.

"Erica, he is an administrator. We can't involve him further and risk his job." Lauren replied worriedly.

I then scanned that place and saw a dozen men moving towards the door with hoarding of NEWSROOM, at the front.

Then I saw a man sitting at the front desk of the office. Not a single presence of another gender. Do they all belong to the " We Are Superior" group? I shrugged.

"We have an appointment with Mr.  Mark Wright, " Lauren said while making the man astonished. Like he saw some ghosts.

"I'm not sure. But still, last room at the end of the corridor." and he dismissed us.

Rude, much wasn't it?

" Lauren, you should meet at Anant. And make sure he hasn't faced any problem yet. ", I told her worriedly. I don't want her to indulge in any mess of mine. 

Though we were best friends she had already done a lot, no more problems for her.

After 20 minutes

" Erica Wilson it's not easy. It's dangerous and..." Mark said softly.

"And you don't trust me, just because of Girish Wilson, being my dad" I completed and he got silent.

There was something that made him different, very different. 

I guess it didn't hurt that he was a good-looking man; but he was more than that, he was quiet but not because of any shyness. 

It was reserved, like a conscious choice to observe the situation before he got involved. 

Yet he wasn't standoffish but remained friendly-faced and had a welcoming body posture. 

" Somewhere yes! "He finished.

My hopes were shattering second by second and then I said," I deserve a fair chance to prove, isn't it?"

"Only if you are ready, to be honest with your work. No family relations can bargain." He said.

While showing me an article about money laundering in the newspaper showcasing two names: Michael Wilson and Oliver Knight.

" This is the truth, but we have no proof. We are trying to find it, you should also. Even a single proof can work." He said casually.

"Prove this and trust me, I will personally train you not only for the columnist but for the journalist as well." He completed. 

Mark was a man known for his honesty and credibility. 

That's when the cabin's door gets swung opened revealing the last men I wanted to see today.

"Before time Aiden, miraculous."  Mark gave him a sparkling smile.

" Don't tell me, you've started plotting against us again." He replied.

"Personally no, but professionally you never know. Nobody will be spared Aiden " Mark playfully said.

" I know, so I will keep your eagle eyes away," Aiden said in a stern voice.

Before they started again, the same man at the front desk, entered, "Sir, he has arrived and scared the staff." 

"Coming. " and Mark left, leaving me behind at the mercy of this man alone.

"New project with your friend here." He mocked me.

I decided to ignore him and left the room. 

"...or the continuing previous one." He continued. 

" Neither of them, unlike you. I believe in work, maybe you love to buzz in offices or houses more. Try to be a little worthy, Mr..? " I ended up like a question.

That's when I lifted my gaze, I wished I had kept my mouth shut.

His eyes were mossy green orbs with rings of silver- they twinkled with a sharp gleam like that of a hunter stalking his prey.

His gaze was both of a wise man and a thirsty murderer: it called for respect and promised severe consequences for denying him.

He had the power to dissect one bit by bit. With the least bit of care, there wasn't anything one could hide from him.

They had no warmth but coldness.

" Does your father know about you being here, all alone?" He asked with an authoritative voice.

I remain silent, so he is going to use this against me? I panicked even with the thought. 

Do I beg him? Do I apologize? Or...

Then he spoke, "Do I take this as a NO?"

Next, I instantly opened the door to leave and he followed me but I left amused with the very familiar figure standing at the corner of the corridor with his packed fist.

Daniel, I whispered. I had noticed a deliberate change in my brother. He looked harder. He had a switch and once Mark spoke something it seemed a fight came nearer. 

He flicked it and he was no more Daniel I knew. 

In a jerk of a second, some force pulled me back in the cabin again after closing the door with a loud thud behind.

I was baffled, had he deliberately saved me? 

Then I saw him standing a few feet away. We were too close, I thought. Too close for my liking. 

My heart was accelerating with high speed, too high for my well-being.

His shoulder touched mine as he leaned a little close, I turned to look the other direction, and my hair brushed his ear.

The entirety of my focus, every inch of mine was consumed in that little contact, where his shoulder shared its warmth with mine. 

"Are you stalking me?" I broke the trance.

He scanned my face and then laughed hysterically. 

" Don't flatter yourself, Miss. Wilson." He paused.

"I'm here to invite my friend with whom you were having a great time a few minutes back." He completed.

I shrugged his obscene comment. " Some other day, Erica," I whispered.

"I thought you were getting ready for me...he stopped abruptly, " I mean for my party." 

Now it was my turn, I smirked.

"Now..now Mr., don't flatter yourself, I'm not coming at your petty celebration." I snapped. 

"Oh! But I can foresee your future, standing there." He laughed with the hint of mischief.

" No. You are no one to boss me around. Get that." I irritatedly said. 

"Only if you want your dad to know about a few of your petty things like the visit of yours here" He bluntly said.

" Are you blackmailing me?" I asked coyly.

"I never said that.", then he took my hand and we were outside from the back door towards his car.

" Where are you taking me?" I protested thinking about Lauren.

"To your house, if you don't want your brother to take you." He made me remember Daniel.

But you didn't know Mr., with whom you were dealing?

Party...! We will see.

To be continued.

Purva Narang

Your Writer