Something hot rolled over in my stomach. It felt like uneasiness that maybe shared a condo wall with terror. And maybe arousal lived a couple of doors down.
― Eli Easton

Neil Harris

"So, it is true what they are saying."

Mid-day, there was a little warmth in the air, at least that was how I felt in this cold season. Twirling the drink in the glass, I was just staring at the screen before me, unable to actually read what was shown. There was an urgency in me to escape this workplace as soon as possible, but my concentration level was never good since the beginning. 

The familiar savior's voice couldn't have come at a better place. Just what I needed. I stopped my out of tune whistling abruptly.

"You're back!" I exclaimed, setting aside the drink and stood up, walking around the glass table that had hardly any paperworks. As soon as I reached him, I excitedly embraced the man.

Tyler Sanders did not bother to hug me back. 

"Neil, take your hands off me."

Ah, it was good to have him back. Time to shift the weight. 

Smiling from ear to ear, I let go of his frozen body, without an offense, but kept my hands on his firm arms. "Man, I missed you."

"Yes." He jerked off my possessive hold, and replied drily. "I can see that."

As the office and he had been acquainted with each other for so long, Sanders made himself comfortable in my chair. I had no qualms of him seating himself in the CEO chair. Without him, there would be no office to begin with. For Sanders, he preferred the seat because he could oversee the whole floor. Even while he was conversing, he wanted to keep everyone on their toes. On the other hand, for me, it was respectful and deserving. He had the right to sit at the head chair because he put as much sweat and time as me in this business. 

I joined him, by sitting in the chair before him, eager to listen to his vacation stories. What could a workaholic do in a vacation?

"You have been happy." He noticed and I smiled broader. 

"Why wouldn't I be? Business is good." Leaning back, I gestured around the office, the lack of work was evident. Honestly, work and I were a match made with dilemma. 

"And, also marriage." Tyler stated and I paused with shifty eyes, but then shrugged. Well, there were some benefits to it. I had been availing those since past few days.

"Well, it is not as boring as I thought it would be."

"I see."

I squirmed as Tyler studied me with his haunting eyes. This was the time my state of bliss started to disappear. Life had been pretty content last week. I had tried some things which I had never thought I would, but most of all, Ashley tried things she deserved to try.

Our mornings started with me teaching Ashley survival tactics in the kitchen. Even though, she seemed to be hopeless in cooking, she never gave up, worked diligently and consistently. Moreover, she made a decision of embarking into the real world. As she had been homeschooled for her whole life, she decided it was time to finally pick up those brochures of colleges. When she found some prospective institutions, we went to check some of those options and let her get the feel of it.

I would never forget the awe on her face when I took her to a Music & Dance Academy at the end of our tour. From the very moment, I saw her dancing around in that makeshift studio in the penthouse, I knew this was her passion. She could easily major in Dance, but, Ashley surprised me when she said she wanted to get proper education on social science. Well, I did not care why she chose that program, but the only thing that mattered was that it was her choice.

The well-structured socialite was slowly breaking free. She had become more verbal about her opinions and emotions. She enjoyed the outdoors more often now. She loved the parks and lakes around the city. Could say, she was a romanticist, mesmerized by the nature. Moreover, I introduced her to the night life of New York city. Though it was getting harder and harder to stay in the clubs for long because her dances were getting more sensual night by night, and I couldn't wait to get her home and naked.

Also, I stopped berating her about her siblings so now she had more contacts with her annoying sisters, much to my dismay. Though they hadn't shown up to the penthouse again, but I believed it was going to change soon. Yet, what was more astonishing to realize was- she had finally taken charge of her own life.

"Hmm."

I broke away from my thoughts and removed that dopey grin from my face. On the contrary, Tyler's otherwise stoic face gained more intensity as he continued scrutinizing me. It was his past time hobby. 

Clearing my throat, I cracked the knots in my shoulder and neck, admitting to his unasked question with simple words. "She's nice."

A raised eyebrow was my only reply, coaxing me to elaborate.

So, I muttered. "Okay, she's way more than nice."

Now, both eyebrows rose, threatening me openly and I stood up defensively, crying out. "Yes, dude! I like her, okay? Chill out."

Sanders narrowed his grey eyes at me and I felt thousands of ants crawling on my body. "Damn it. I like her a lot. You got me."

Sighing, I walked off to the couch, far away from the interrogator and sat down to relax the rush of emotions in me. I peeked a glance at the brooding man and he was in a different position of authority.

And, it compelled to continue further. "I cannot believe I am saying this but I like being married." When I saw a twinge of an incoming mock-grin on his obnoxious face, I added with my signature smirk. "Well, it has its perks. I mean, you can get laid whenever you want."

I ran my fingers through my hair, looking down, and whispered to my benefit. "And not be alone afterwards."

Sex had been great with Ashley. Not just great. Mind-fucking-blowing. But what comes after sex was the one I appreciated the most. The simple presence of a person in my safe haven. It was self-assuring that I was capable of receiving affection but mostly, giving in return. Ashley clouded my mind, drifted me away from the path of destruction to a blissful haven. Life with her was addictive in the best way possible. I feared for the addiction. It was out of path to be used to her so soon and so vividly.

Probably, feeling somewhat envy towards the woman in my life, the one and only man in my life cleared his throats, and dropped a file I hadn't seen before on the table. "Remind me to forego any pleasantries from now on." He straightened from his seat while buttoning his suit jacket. "I caught a wind of your happiness. True. But I came here to talk business, but you seem to be preoccupied with your personal life and I am going to leave you to it."

He leisurely strode to the office door; however, halted with a glint in his mastermind eyes. "Because, frankly, you were sounding like a poor sap in love." He made a tsk sound and smirked. His whole face deserved to be in a mafia movie. Deadly, challenging serious face enjoying the pleasures of pain. "But that's highly unlikely, isn't it?"

What the hell. No way. No-fucking-way.

As soon as the shock wore off, I punched the seat beside me and groaned while hiding my face in the couch.

Once again, Tyler-fucking-Sanders showed me my true colors. Ah, shit.

*******

The monstrous mansion was not inviting at all nor was it welcoming to its guests, but since the dreaded owner was out of it, I sought sanctuary in it with the other beaming owner.

"Oh, Neil! Come in, come in!"

Claire Sanders opened her arms to me and I went to her for comfort. Her husband was the worst piece of shit in the world, and the only one who could sweeten his words was the boss lady.

"You need to divorce that brute husband of yours." I muttered into her shoulder and she sighed.

"What did he do now?"

She let go of me, leading me to the seating area, and shook her head. "We've been in the country for 12 hours only and complaints are pouring in already. What am I going to do with him, Neil?"

Even though, her words were being said in a grave tone, there was a mischievous smile on her lovely face. It would sound absolutely horrifying to outsiders that Claire was spouting such words about her husband, but behind closed doors, Claire definitely enjoyed roasting her dear husband with me.

I shrugged and took a seat in one of their plush seat. "You could always divorce his sorry ass and kick him out."

She rolled her pretty blue eyes and smacked my shoulder. "I'm sure that would be logical but alas, I'm too much in love with the brute."

With a helpless face, I shook my head and left her to a miserable fate. Shifting to the opposite couch, I laid down and stared at the classical murals. With the way the house looked from outside with its dark bricks, no one could have guessed there would be such victorian vibe in the interior. It kind of suited Tyler since he was such an old fashioned guy, and also kind of a pain in the ass too.

Why did he have to go and open a can of worms? When I had been going through some of the most happiest days in a while, he had to go and bring complications. It was not like whatever he said was true, but it did got me thinking a lot.

"Neil, are you going to tell me what's bothering you?"

I let a frustrating breath out and rolled sideways to face her beautiful face. "How's the little champ?"

Instantly, her beautiful face turned even more enchanting as she smiled and rubbed her round belly, housing another Sanders. Wow, Tyler was filling this monstrous mansion rather quickly. Guess it would've been the result of his absence for years in this house after his first wife's death.

"He's so energetic. I could feel him all the time. I feel like he's ready to be out any moment now."

I sat up and raised my hands in alarm. "Hey, hey, I don't want to be present when it happens. Keep him in there, will ya?"

A shudder went through me at the image of birthing. That was one scene I feared the most. This birthing shit would definitely ruin sex for me.

"Relax. There's two more weeks to go." She laid both her feet on the table and leaned back into the plush upholstery with a satisfying groan. "Now, don't change the topic. Tell me whatchu baking in your head?"

At once, I laid back down and studied the ceiling once more with utmost interest.

"You better spill the tea or else, I'll make sure to tell that brute husband of mine that I want Champ's godfather in the delivery room."

With a horrifying gasp, I jumped off the couch and looked at her devil face. "You wouldn't!"

"Wanna test me?" She threatened and I fell back down on the seat with defeat.

"Your husband is shit."

"Hey, now. Get past it already. He can be adorable at times."

"He said something today." I started, recalling our conversation in a loop. "It was very unsettling. It is not doing me any good even now."

"I'm sure he didn't mean it like that or maybe he did, but you shouldn't take things to heart. He means we—"

"Claire..." I stopped her rambling before it got a speed on. "Stop defending him. It isn't that serious anyway. I mean, it isn't even worth talking about it cause he's probably messing with me."

Mrs. Claire Sanders leaned forward and took a similar position of authority that was quite familiar and threatening to me. "Neil. I'm going to get up and smack you in the head if you don't tell me exactly what he said!"

To be on the cautious side, I quickly uttered in jumbled words. "Hesadiminlovwither."

"Stop mumbling. Speak louder!"

"I love her! Okay? God, you people!" I shook my head in exhilaration and glanced at her widened eyes. My eyes widened when I realised what I said and I immediately set forward to rectify it. "He said! Tyler said! Not me!"

"Tyler...loves who?"

Once again, I straightened with panic. "No. No. Tyler said I love her. Ashley. My wife! He said I might be in love with her which I am not!" I assured her. It did not seem convincing, but I scoffed. "I mean, seriously, me in love? Can you believe it? As if!"

There was silence so I checked to make sure she was there and listening. Claire was staring at me with a straight face. She was cool and collected which scared me because right then I realised my mistake.

"Aren't you supposed to be in love with your wife?"

"I—I..yes..I mean, I meant...well.." Although my brain malfunctioned, my instincts were quick to my rescue. I winked at her, masking what was troubling.  "Lusting trumps loving.

She raised her palm, stopping what was coming. "Don't create more lies. It's okay." She rubbed her forehead and showed a tiny smile which did not calm me at all. "I figured it out, Neil. From the beginning, I knew something was amiss. Tyler told me what he could but I knew he was keeping more things from me."

The fact that I complied Tyler to hide things from his wife hit me at this moment and I couldn't face her anymore. I turned away and walked behind the couch, to have some kind of barrier from the onslaught of the weight of my deeds.

"It's okay, Neil. Don't feel guilty." Claire told me as if she could read my mind and I grabbed the edge of the couch tightly when I realized still there was compassion on her face when she figured out I had been lying to her all along. "I have no problems with Tyler about this nor you. I know you would have told me if you could."

She gripped the handles and tried to stand with all her might but alas, she angrily huffed. "Come and help me."

Within seconds, I was helping her out of her seat, but she did not let go of me. She cradled my cheek and gave me a comforting smile. "I care about you. Tyler cares about you. My children loves you. Your family loves you. Neil, you must realise that there are people who care about you."

The words of assurance and affections had always unsettled me, but things could had been worse. She could had figured out connections and motives, but Claire always thought the best of people. 

"You deserve it."

"Do I really?" I automatically asked, the concealed doubt creeping on my voice. I had already done so much. I had been always letting my emotions get the worst of me. Wherever I went, I caused destruction. It had got me where I am. In the midst of troubles.

"You do!" She shouted, almost deafening my ears. "You have to let people in. You cannot keep on using this Casanova and detached persona to hide yourself."

"But it is what attracts the ladies." I gestured myself and cracked a flirty grin in order to broaden the door to escape from this vulnerable situation. The weight of her words were starting to suffocate me and I needed to find the space to breath.

"And, it's back."

The hand that was cradling my cheek now smacked my cheek. And, I felt the pressure letting off my chest already. The great thing about Claire was, she knew when to stop. Not her rambling. There's nothing to do about that. Not even her God could fix it. But she knew when to push and when to not.

"But I do want to say one last thing..."

I halted in relaxing. Did I speak too soon?

She grasped my chin playfully and winked. "My husband is rarely wrong."

There was little time given to me to process her implication because she walked to the foyer and called out gleefully. "Girls! Look who's here! Come quick!"

Before I could deny what she implied, I heard the pattering of tiny feet and soon, "Uncle Neil!"

I came to Claire and this monstrosity for sanctuary, but I should had known she was no better than her husband.

As soon as I felt the little bodies jump on me, I came to a realisation. This whole family was out to get me.

*******

For so many days now, this house seemed so peaceful yet now I was dreading it. Thanks to that shithead Sanders. Life was so beautiful until Sanders family returned back from vacation. Hadn't they caused enough trouble to wherever they vacationed that they had to come and put me in misery?

Why should I hesitate to enter my own house? It was not like whatever he said could be true. There was no fucking way I would ever feel that way. Too many days cooped up in the same house had me confused. That's all.

Cautiously, I entered the penthouse and instantly, felt like running away, but that ice princess turned sunshine beaconed me to our safe haven.

"Guess what? I finally chose a colle—-*

Ah hell. She needed to only speak and I would go crazy for her. Reaching her in quick strides, I pulled her towards me and swallowed her words as I couldn't help but kiss those delectable lips.

Damn, I missed her. I fucking need not care about that sadistic couple's words because I knew what I felt for her, and it was just tremendous amount of lust with occasional affections thrown here and there.

"Neil..." She sighed happily, her eyes taking a glazed look as she came alive in my arms. I did not need to satisfy anyone's curiosity. I needed to only satisfy her.

Before Sanders' words bombarded me once again, I picked her up and carried her upstairs with urgency. Whatever the matter was, I just knew that she was a pure bliss for me and I intended to keep it that way.

The whole day's constant bantering within myself seemed to have a heavy toll on me. So, as soon as we satisfied ourselves, I fell asleep with Ashley in my arms. It was yet another of many soundless sleep.

The next time I opened my eyes, I felt I was in a twilight zone. The sky had an ominous darkness and the noise was barely registering in me, but there was a slight trace of a ringing in my ear.

I searched around the amiss bedroom, tried to find something to hold onto, to get me out of this unfamiliar feeling. At that time, Ashley came out of the closet with a halo behind her. It was probably the light from the closet but it felt like halo beckoning Ashley as my angel destined to save me from my own destruction.

"Wha—" I croaked out then cleared my throat. "Where are you going?"

"Are you not hearing that?" She tightened the belt on her loose dress and went back inside the closet again.

"Hear what?" I shouted and tried to shake off the crazy aftermath of sleep and bliss.

She came out, tying her golden hair into a ponytail, looking as proper as she could after a wild tumble in the sheets and pointed towards our bedroom door. "That."

At that moment, my ears finally registered the doorbell of the front door ringing around the penthouse. I switched on the lamp and looked at the clock at the end table. It was past 8 o'clock. The staffs weren't allowed after 7 and Marco knew very well not to disturb me in my private hours. Only a number of people had the access card for the penthouse elevator and most of them are my staffs. Since it wasn't definitely them, who could it be?

I swung my legs, my bare legs and paused.

"It is fine. I will check." Ashley said, smiling mischievously. "Why do you not find something to wear first?"

"Wear, huh? You didn't tell me that when we were in bed." I smirked and stood up in all my naked glory. Instantly, her face turned bright red and I advanced. "Come here, you!"

She yelped and made a dash for it. I paused on the threshold of the bedroom and called out. "Make them go away cause I'm gonna get you naked once again!"

Laughing and shaking my head at the stiffness, I went to freshen up and let her deal with the unwanted person.