The Pursuit

Five

FIVE 

Caleb led me to his car waiting in the lot with a hand on the small of my back. His hand barely brushed against the cotton of my shirt, but I still felt the electricity as if he touched me. He slipped his hand in his pocket briefly before retrieving it with a pair of keys in his hands. He pressed a button and soon the sound of a car nearby unlocking met my ears.

"This way," he murmured leading me by gently pushing me in between two cars finally stopping at the car in front of one.

Of course. It was the typical, expensive car that valued more than anything I owned in my life combined. I didn't even know what type of car it was. He unlocked the car once more and opened the passenger's door for me. 

"Thanks," I mumbled and got in. I had my hand ready on the handle to close the door, but he already did. What a gentleman.

I studied the interior of the car during the time it took him to walk to the driver's side. The car was a tiny bit cramped in the front but the extra space in the back made up for it. The car was minimally decorated. Only a few of his personal touches scattered the front. He wasn't a slob like most guys I knew from high school. I liked it.

"You could just drive to the city first, and I'll tell you where to drop me off," I offered in a small voice.

He barely nodded his head, and if it weren't for my gaze locked on his movements, I wouldn't have caught it. Caleb started the engine with a quiet purr and only got louder when he revved it. Soon, we were out of the parking lot in less than ten seconds flat. This car went from zero to sixty miles per hour. Insane. My car could barely start on the first try.

I gripped the two arm rests and closed my eyes taking in deep breaths. I never ever liked being in fast cars. The worst case scenarios always entered my mind. Finally after what seemed like an eternity, the car slowed down drastically. I opened one eye and looked at the side mirror. The site was already out of sight.

"Forgive me," Caleb's stolid voice broke the silence between us. "I'm so used to being in a car by myself and forgot my manners."

I took my hands off the rests and folded them in my lap. "No worries. Just pretend I'm not here. Drive fast if you want." I said in a soft voice.

He didn't reply but his speed never increased either. Thank God. I found myself relaxing in the seat after a moment and actually yawned. The day wasn't even close to being over, but I was already exhausted. I moved around in my seat getting comfortable and settled my head on the window getting ready to fall asleep...

I woke up to the sound of a heated voice. It was one of those sleeps where I was in and out. I didn't even know if it helped rest me, but it was only for a few minutes. I opened my eyes to find that I was still in Caleb's car (of course I was, he wouldn't have just ditched me on the side of the road).  I straightened up in my seat and sneaked a glance at Caleb.

His face was rigid, set as hard as stone. He had on one of those ear pieces to talk into. 

"Yes, I'm fucking right Parker. Ishmael doesn't know what he's talking about. He's fresh out of university for bloody's sake! Even my interns can do better than him!" 

I heard raucous laughter on the other end.

"What are you laughing for?" Caleb demanded, his grip on the steering wheel tightening for his knuckles were turning white.

Just when there was silence again in the car, my stomach let out a huge growl. My eyes widened, and I slapped my hands on my stomach as if it would stop it from growling. I could already feel my cheeks pink with embarrassment. I took a small peek at Caleb through my peripheral vision.