12 | hailstorm

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double update alert!
did you read chapter 11 first?

•••

A M A Y A

The elevator seems to take hours to go down which is strange considering we need to descend only two floors. I fight back my tears, my knuckles white as I clutch my handbag in front of my body, ashamed of the words I said to Carter.

I hurt him. The expression on his face is solemn and dark. He doesn't look at me once. His hands are tucked in the pockets of his jeans and I can make out that they are curled into fists. He is upset with me and for the right reasons.

Isn't that what I wanted when I agreed to marry Jeremy? I wanted Carter to think that I have given up because I have. Then why do I feel so bad for saying all that stuff to him? The ring on my finger wasn't given by Jeremy after a proposal. I asked him to buy me one and I wore it myself so that we can both get on with the act. That was the reason I was late for the meeting.

It is not like I chose Jeremy over Carter. I didn't choose anyone. I just want to help a friend in need while letting Carter know that I want nothing to do with him. I am doing it for my son. After the five years I spent raising him alone, I am so scared that Carter will end up breaking my bond with him.

I am an insecure mother. One can say that. I don't mind because it is true. My son is my world. I can't imagine anyone taking him from me.

The elevator stops with a ping and the doors part.

The chaos that is ensuing outside takes us both by surprise. Carter and I take a glance at each other before stepping out. The corridor is filled with employees on their phones, all of their faces looking worried. I spot Siana and Bryce on their phones too. People are loitering around the floor instead of being at work.

I feel a sudden rush of cold fear getting me as I take in the worried faces.

"What's happening?" I mutter in the air.

From between the crowd, I spot Dawson walking toward Carter and me at a brisk pace. He pushes through the other people as if annoyed by them blocking his path. His face is red and covered in what seems to be cold sweat due to stress.

"Where in God's name were you, Carter? I have been searching like a mad man! Who takes so much time in the elevator?"

He looks flustered as he glances between us with his hands on his hips.

"What happened here? I was only gone for ten minutes," Carter defends himself.

"There has been a hailstorm. It's still ongoing. The roads are blocked and the employees are worried as they can't go home," Dawson informs.

I put a hand over my mouth, my mind floating to Parker quickly.

"Hailstorm? Oh my God! I have to check on Parker," I say as I grab my phone from my bag and quickly speed dial Mom's number.

"Where did you leave him?" Carter asks in a grave tone, his eyes literally judging me in his worry.

"I left him with my Mom and Shaun. His babysitter's on leave." Mom's phone rings and she picks it up just as soon. "Hello, Mom?"

"Am..ya...you..kay?"

I hear Mom's voice but it cracks on the way, maybe due to the weather.

"Mom, where are you? Are you okay? Is Parker safe?" I ask her, covering my other ear with a finger to hear her properly.

"Ye...Yes...We...home," Mom's reply comes from the other end but before I can add another thing to say, the line breaks and the call goes silent.

"Shit!" I curse, turning back to Dawson and Carter, only to find Carter gone.

"Is he okay?" Dawson asks me.

I nod. "He's fine. They are at home." I look over his shoulder when I can't find Carter anywhere near us. "Where's Carter?"

"He has gone to check on the people to see if anyone needs anything," Dawson says, coming to stand beside me. "Asked me to stay here and look after you, ma'am."

"You don't have to do that. I can take care of myself," I tell him but he shakes his head.

"It's my duty, ma'am. Please..."

I sigh, not wanting to argue with him at this moment. We stand to the side, watching the number of people going about us, some are even crying as they realize that they won't be able to go home tonight.

"Where are we supposed to stay the night? When will it be over?" I turn to Dawson, facing him with a pout on my face.

"The weather reporters predict that it will go one for the night. Anyways, don't worry too much. Mr. Bell has ordered everyone to be given rooms in the hotel. There are enough rooms if people agree to share for the night," he replies. "He has asked everything to be arranged for them and is even inviting the others to join in."

I take note of how he usually refers to Carter as Mr. Bell but the moment he was worried for him a few minutes ago, it was just Carter. They seem to have a closer relationship than they like to show.

"The others?" I tilt my head up, craning to meet the face of the giant man standing beside me.

"This place is not just an office, Miss. Sommers. There are even restaurants, resorts, clubs, and theatres. There are people going in and out all day. Since none of them won't be able to go home, Mr. Bell wants the ones left in trouble to be given space in the hotel, free of cost."

That is sweet of him. This is the part of him that is so like the Carter I once knew him to be that I can't help but smile. He has always been the one ready to help anyone in need. That's how our story started in the first place - when he offered me shelter after I ran away from home to escape...

I shake my head quickly as that man's face flashes across me.

No, can't go there.

"Dawson!"

I spot Carter on the other side of the floor as he starts to walk back up to us.

He is once again in just the grey shirt, the veins in his forearms visible through the dust of hair that covers his skin. He is walking towards us in brisk steps, looking worried and stressed. A sheen of sweat lingers on his forehead and my fingers itch to move the locks of hair that fall over there.

He looks so handsome even at a time like this and my body is heating up as I recall the event that took place inside the elevator a few minutes ago. He had his whole body pressed to mine and I could feel him everywhere. It took a lot of restraint to not just grab him and attach our mouths together. The scent of him was of vanilla and cinnamon, delicious and urging me to get a taste.

"Yes, sir," Dawson says when Carter stops near us.

"I want you to check if everyone is provided for tonight," Carter instructs him. "I want the families to be given every facility we have available. I counted about ten families in the downstairs restaurant, which means there are more. Just make them share a room or two. We have big spaces here. One room can hold up to five families if we put the halls to use too. Get that done and...do get them to activate my penthouse. Amaya and I will be staying there tonight."

"Penthouse?" I interrupt them, more surprised by the fact that there is a penthouse here than the fact that Carter has invited me to share it with him. "You have a penthouse here? Do they allow that?"

Both Carter and Dawson give me such a bizarre stare that I am sure that they are judging me by their looks. Dawson has his lips slightly parted and as he gives a glance to Carter, his eyes look like they are asking something along the lines of: Is this the mother of your child? Are you sure?

Carter doesn't return Dawson's gaze as he keeps staring at me in perplexity. He seems rather annoyed and sticks his tongue out to lick over his bottom lip. That slight action makes my womb throb and I have to look away to cool the heat down.

"I own the building, Amaya," Carter says, shaking his head as he runs a hand through his hair. "Of course, I have a place to stay here. And yeah, there is a penthouse here. It has been there for a long time. I bought the entire thing when the companies merged."

"Oh..." I nod in understanding, feeling kind of foolish for not coming to that conclusion before. I have been here for two years and I had no idea about the building's layout. "Sorry, I'm still getting used to the whole "billionaire" thing."

I laugh at my own joke, quoting in the air which amuses neither Carter nor Dawson. Embarrassed, I stare at my heels, feeling slightly like prey caught between two lions.

"So, how many bedrooms does your place have?" I ask, trying to dismiss the ridiculousness of the situation.

"Just one," Carter answers, lifting a hand to scratch the back of his neck.

"Just one?" I repeat. "That's rather disappointing."

Dawson flicks his gaze at me with more scrutiny now. It is like he is practically asking me with his ice-cold features how I ever survived being so awkward in the social world.

"I don't use it often. It's for emergencies."

Carter's cold voice makes me bite my tongue.

"Oh yeah..sorry...forgot that!" I chuckle. "No worries...I'll sleep on the couch. You have that, right?"

"No, you can't sleep on the couch, ma'am," Dawson says. "The couch is for me and since there's only one couch, it'll be me sleeping there. You're taking the bedroom with Mr. Bell."

I swear, my belly does something between a disappointed growl and an exciting flip. Stupid belly. This is what happens when you have been horny for too long. The imagination runs wild.

"What? No, I'm not sharing a room with Carter."

Carter's jaw ticks, his lips pressing into a thin line.

"You're sharing a room with me. We have work to do and since you're my secretary, I want you by my side, even in a crisis like this," he pronounces in a raspy voice. "Now, unless you want to sleep on the floor in the hall in weather like this, you're sleeping with me in my bedroom. Do you get that?"

I blink at him, unable to understand how I landed in this situation in the first place. It almost feels like he planned the hailstorm too, knowing it would be a perfect opportunity to torment me.

"Amaya..." The strict octave of Carter's voice sends a chill down my spine.

"Yes?"

He takes a long step forward, invading my personal space as he looks down at me, his stare deep and unblinking.

"Do you understand?" he asks, the shape of his lips torturing me with their closeness.

I can already feel the heat of his skin over mine, can imagine our bodies sliding together, fitting into place like they once did. Swallowing a gulp, I open my mouth, and surprisingly, what I end up saying isn't what I wished to say at all.

"Yes, I'll stay with you."

•••

author's note

Woo-hoo! I didn't mean it to be a double update today but yay! There's only one bed after all. *smirks*

It took me a lot of time and effort to write and update these two chapters so please do comment a lot and vote as it helps with the algorithm. That's the one simple thing I'll ever ask of you guys. During all my time on Wattpad, I have managed to survive solely due to the extreme time and work I put here and because of you readers.

Hope you guys keep helping me to grow. I can't express my gratitude enough. 🧡

Thank you!


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