Billionaire's Cinderella

CHAPTER 19

CHAPTER 19

Sarah was in the shower, and Chris paced here and there in the kitchen. He eyed the trash bag with distaste. He wanted to flung it off the roof of this very skyscraper.

The fear on Sarah's face twisted his heart in pain. He wanted to ask so many questions. They had been bothering himself for a long time. He wanted to help her, wanted to share her problem. He had understood that someone was stalking her.

Chris sighed and braced his hands on the kitchen island. He remembered her off-handed comment about him stalking her; it made sense now. She was definitely running away from a stalker.

He thanked his lucky stars that she didn't run away. He was in love with her. He fell for her all those months ago when she tried to hide her identity. He wanted to talk about that period. He wanted to tell her how he felt.

He had been trying to convince himself that he was just attracted to her. But deep down he knew he was crazy about this woman. He knew that she was his Cinderella. Sarah was that mystery girl. He just wanted her to confess it to acknowledge his own feelings. But he was losing the battle of wills. He needed to tell her.

Chris kicked the trash bag so hard that it skidded several feet away. He wanted to burn its contents. He wanted to punch the douche-bag who scared his girl.

To distract himself, he started making himself coffee. He wasn't in the mood of drinking it, but he was tired. And the caffeine was his comfort drink. He switched on the TV.

When Sarah came out of the bathroom, Chris could stop staring at her. She looked ethereal. The loose night clothes gave her air of delicacy. He could smell his shampoo and body-wash several feet away from her. His hands twitched. He wanted to run his fingers through her wet strands. He wanted to feel them.

But not yet. He knew she wasn't ready yet. Not with her past.

When the sat down and burnt the stuff that stalker had sent her, he felt good. But he couldn't stop the feeling of hatred when he remembered that Sarah had misunderstood that he sent her those vile gifts.

He needed distraction; therefore, he suggested that they should play the game. Burning the items that caused her distress was now his favorite game.

Chris occupied the guest room. Had it been a few months ago, he wouldn't have given up his room for anyone. But for Sarah, he could do anything. This thought should have scared him. He had commitment phobia. But he welcomed it. Imagining a life with her wasn't tough. He could easily picture himself living with her, raising a few kids, driving her insane with his carelessness.

His day dreaming got a screeching halt when he remembered her words from earlier. She was concerned about the gossip in the office. He himself had noticed it but never paid attention to the employees. But it mattered to Sarah and he needed to proceed with caution. He had to formulate a plan to protect her from office gossip. And there was a huge possibility that press would get the wind of it. They'd harass them non-stop. However, the biggest concern was the faceless stalker who was scaring her.

Chris feared that that bastard would go insane if he found out about them. He could understand the psychology of that mentally deranged man. Sarah's protection was the utmost priority.

Chris knew he needed professional help. He could rely on his security detail for protecting Sarah but that would raise many questions. He needed to find someone else for this. Chris stayed wide awake, formulating a plan.

The persistent ringing of doorbell jolted him awake. Chris groaned and cursed many times before checking time. He had barely slept half an hour. He took a few seconds to make sense of everything.

Who could be disturbing him at five in the morning?

He opened the door to yell at the person but stopped himself. After a couple of seconds he shouted, "What the hell are you doing here? It's not your god damn house."

"I don't have time for your antics. It's an emergency. Sarah's not home and I can't reach her mobile. Do you know where she is?"

Chris huffed and stepped aside. He gestured him to come in. "She is sleeping here." The words barely got out of his mouth when Aviraj tackled him on the ground. Chris managed to avoid his punch. His quick reflex saved him.

"You bastard. I told you..."

"Before you finish that sentence you should know that whatever you're thinking is wrong. Something happened yesterday and I think you know what that is. She was scared and I just brought her here to keep her safe."

Chris shrugged Aviraj off easily as he had loosened his grip. They both got up. Aviraj seemed reserved.

"Is she alright?" Aviraj asked.

"Yes, she is now."

Exhaling a long sigh, Aviraj shoved Chris away from his path and headed straight to the kitchen. He rummaged through some drawers while Chris glared at him.

They didn't talk until Aviraj handed Chris coffee.

"Don't you have something to tell me?" Chris looked at the mug with distaste as he asked him.

"Did she tell you anything?"

"Well not enough. But I suspect she's being stalked."

"She's being stalked?" Aviraj's eyes widened.

"You didn't know." Chris nodded his head in understanding.

"What the hell is going on here?" Aviraj put his mug down and looked Chris in the eye.

Chris contemplated the idea whether to tell him or not. "Someone is sending her gifts. She didn't suspect it before."

"She's receiving gifts and didn't suspect. Why?"

"What why?"

"She received gifts multiple times. Why didn't she suspect? Someone sends you a gift and don't you wonder who that is?"

"People always write their names, so I don't wonder."

"So, whose name was written on the gifts Sarah received?"

"There was no name."

"And that's what I'm asking. Why she didn't raise alarm?"

"Because of a misunderstanding."

Aviraj huffed. He knew Chris was deliberately beating around the bush. "And what was the misunderstanding?"

"She just assumed something?"

"Chris, I need direct answer or... or... I'll dump this hot coffee on you."

Chris wanted to goad him, but then he relented. "She thought those gifts were from me."

Aviraj threw whatever he got his hands on at Chris. It fell on the ground with force and shattered.

"What are you up to?"

"You're being ridiculous."

"No, I'm not. Sarah assumed that you sent her gifts. Why would she unless there is something?"

"There is nothing. She thought I was apologizing or something?"

"Chris, you..."

"What is going on here?"

They both froze and turned towards the source of the voice. Sarah stood at a few feet away from the broken jar.