Versailles Series Book 9: The Lawyer [COMPLETED]

CHAPTER 66

E N T E N G

I parked my car at exactly six in the evening in front of Hera's building. I am done cooking at home. I asked for Mom's help and she was too willing to help. My hands feel clammy and my heart is rapidly beating in my chest as I watch her emerge from the elevator in a more casual dress and low-heeled sandals.

"Are you okay?" Hera asked as she sat in the passenger seat, enveloping my car in her familiar strawberry scent.

"Yes."

I kissed her hand before driving off to the highway. It's the first time I'm bringing her to my new house. I'm nervous about what she'll think about the place. I worked with Dallas in renovating the house to look closer and get the same feel as my house in Switzerland.

"Where are we going?" Her eyes wandered to the path in front of us as I drove through the subdivision. "I thought we were eating at your place?"

"We are." I parked my car at the front of my house because I didn't expect her to stay with me tonight. Hera wanted to take it slow so I will take her straight home after dinner.

"This isn't your Mom's..."

I placed my hand behind her as we came up to my gate. "It's my house. The penthouse was given to Enchong since I'm not with the company anymore, Hera."

"Oh." Her gaze went back to the house's facade.

When we entered the house, I watched the expressions dancing on her face as she took in the mixture of light brown wood panelings and brick walls inside. I said no to a fireplace because I am in a tropical country and fireplaces may look out of place. Zeus has his nook at the corner where he is currently lounging off after we petted him.

"Did you like it?" I asked her as we walked into the dining area. The first storey had an open floor plan where there were no walls between the kitchen, dining area, and living room. My office is upstairs with three guest rooms and one master bedroom with a bathroom each.

"It's your house, Enteng. You should like it."

I made her face me as I slowly caressed her shoulders. "I had you in my mind when I chose it. The study can have two working desks in it. The master bedroom has a bed big enough to have your corgi plushies around. The living room has a sofa bed where we can watch movies and eat strawberries with chocolates. Aside from that, I want it to have the same look and feel as my house in Switzerland."

"Enteng..."

I smiled. "I know, we're taking it slow and you may be uncomfortable with the idea that some areas here remind me of you but I realized one thing the last time you were at my penthouse." I squeezed both of her hands as her eyes watched mine. "That penthouse was my space and somehow, I didn't make you feel that it also belonged to you. I want to change that. I want you to know as soon as you are ready, as soon as you want to date me again, that everything that's mine is yours. You can change this house however you want. I want this to be your home as much as it is mine."

I thought I saw her eyes become teary but she hugged me and buried her face on my chest. My hands went to her back and caressed it. She isn't sobbing so-

"You didn't have to but you did."

My thumb swiped her cheeks to wipe her tears. "Of course. I have lived for thirty-five years with just me, two years ago I had Zeus. Now I have you. I've never shared my personal space with anybody but you're not just anybody now, Hera. I'm in this for the long run which is why I want to share the things I own with you." My thumb caresses her lips, something I've been missing to kiss since we started trying again. "I love you, Hera. I am sleeping every night knowing that I finally know what the fast beating of my heart means. The skin-tingling sensations whenever we touch. I finally met the green-eyed monster I kept hearing about before when I heard you ask Damon out. I felt so helpless because I wanted to claim you back then but I didn't have the right to. I'm the last person who has the right to. I always thought love was overrated. Something everyone wanted because everyone claimed it is the best feeling in the world." I kissed her forehead. "It is. It is the best feeling in the world, Hera. I could already imagine everything that's going to happen in this house. It is nothing but wonderful."

I made her sit in one of the chairs and unveiled all the platters of food waiting for her at the table.

"Is this going to be my last meal?" Sabi niya habang tinitignan ang mga plato sa harap nito.

"My Mom helped me cook all of my favourite food from home." I gave her small portions on her plate so she could taste everything. "I grew up eating these. Mom cooked Filipino food then but she isn't as good as she is now. I guess it comes with the ingredients too."

"I...can never be a good cook, Enteng. I can try but I won't even be half as good as you."

I gave her a warm smile. "I enjoy cooking with you. Gumagaling ka naman na mag-hati ng mga gulay. May naiiwan pa namang patatas pagkatapos mo siyang balatan." I chuckled when I remember her reducing the potato to half after she peeled them.

She swatted my arm as her cheeks reddened with embarrassment. "I told you, there was discolouration."

"It's oxidation, baby." I pumped up my chest. "I really feel proud when I know more things than you."

"I'm not that good with numbers. Passable but not as good as you."

"And I can't memorize for shit. My mind...is never focused on one thing for long periods of time. For sure you are way better than me in that."

"It's good that we complement each other. I always thought we'll never make it work because we're just so...different."

"I think different is good. I learn a lot from you and you from me. Plus, we have activities to keep us occupied." I winked at her. Ah...the things I can do to her in bed.

She made me eat the spoonful of food in her hand. "How about you eat too? Iyung utak mo may pinupuntahan nanaman."

I chuckled and kissed her knuckles lightly before eating with her. She told me a lot of stories about her life as a teacher and some funny family stories and how her relatives annoy the hell out of her.

"So...you'll take me to the next reunion?"

"I don't want you to be subjected to their dumb questions, Enteng. They'll probably ask you when you'll marry me and why you even like me. Or something."

"I could marry you now if you let me. But I know you want it slow. For sure, marami ka ring gusto pang gawin sa buhay. I will wait for you until you're ready. And what's not to like? You're very beautiful and sexy and smart. Scary sometimes but that's you." I sighed. "Hindi ba nila alam kung ilang lalaki ang kailangan kong makalaban para sa atensiyon mo? Damon probably is my hardest opponent plus he has been courting you for a long time."

"I forgot to ask what he did to you that day when you had that bloody face in the elevator." Her smirk made me think she knew exactly what happened that day.

I scratched my chin as if it refreshed my memory. "He punched me because I hurt you. I deserved it so I didn't fight back. It's then that I realized that I love you. And when you asked him later that day to go out with you, it made me feel that losing the chairmanship was child's play. Losing you was like losing a limb. I was ready to fight Damon even if I was unworthy of you."

She nodded as she popped a grape in her mouth. "Yes, you were not worthy of me then."

"How am I doing so far?"

She roamed her eyes around the room again. "Looks like there's a chance. You still have to work your ass off. Surely you can still do better?"

I chuckled. I can see the answer from her eyes and from the way she touches me. But I won't be complacent. Even if she'll let me date her again, I won't stop making her feel that she is the queen of my house, my life, of my heart.